Chapter 37: Marked by the Soul-Devouring Seal

The sudden appearance of the man made Blue Lotus Frost frown slightly. At the same time, everyone in the Prodigy Class fixed their eyes on Jiang Xiaofei.

Blue Lotus Frost scrutinized the unfamiliar man before her and asked, “Who are you?”

Jiang Xiaofei looked at Blue Lotus Frost and smiled. “Hello, my name is Jiang Xiaofei. I’m a professor from the Genius Class. I mean no harm by coming here; I just wanted to check on this student’s condition.” As he spoke, he gestured toward Teng Pan, who was lying on the ground.

“He’s actually a professor from the Genius Class?” The students of the Prodigy Class were all stunned by Jiang Xiaofei’s words. Their shock was matched only by their obvious lack of welcome for his presence.

Among them, Song Jie wore an expression of clear displeasure. After all, he had had a rather unpleasant encounter with Jiang Xiaofei just yesterday. He called out to Blue Lotus Frost, “Sister Blue, don’t believe anything he says! He must be a spy sent by the Genius Class, trying to infiltrate us!”

As soon as Song Jie spoke, other students chimed in, “That’s right! Sister Blue, this guy is definitely a liar. You mustn’t trust him.”

Blue Lotus Frost ignored the crowd. She looked at Jiang Xiaofei and asked, “Are you saying you can save Teng Pan?”

Jiang Xiaofei smiled. “Let me take a look at him first, and then we’ll see.”

Blue Lotus Frost said nothing in response. Seeing this, Song Jie stepped forward, his tone cold and harsh. “Didn’t you hear Sister Blue hasn’t agreed? Get lost, or I’ll make you regret staying.”

Other students immediately joined in, shouting, “Get out! Go back to your Genius Class. Don’t be an eyesore here.”

Jiang Xiaofei frowned but suppressed his anger, ignoring the Prodigy Class students with disdain. He turned and headed toward the exit of the field.

To be honest, he was both angry and amused. He had come with good intentions, only to be met with hostility and scorn. He even began to regret meddling in the first place.

Blue Lotus Frost watched his departing figure. As if making a decision, she suddenly called out, “Hey, you— I agree. You can look at him.”

Jiang Xiaofei turned back, frowning slightly. “What did you just call me?”

Blue Lotus Frost remained silent.

Seeing she didn’t answer, Jiang Xiaofei turned away once more.

Realizing this, Blue Lotus Frost hurriedly called out, “Professor Jiang, please help us find out what’s wrong with him.”

At her words, Jiang Xiaofei finally turned around with satisfaction. He walked toward Blue Lotus Frost, smiling. “At least you have manners, unlike some people who lack even basic courtesy.” With that, he cast a pointed glance at the Prodigy Class students.

Though indignant under his gaze, no one dared to speak up. After all, with Blue Lotus Frost allowing him to stay, opposing further would only embarrass themselves.

However, Song Jie couldn’t hold back. His face darkened as he prepared to confront Jiang Xiaofei physically, but Zhao Shengwei quickly held him back. “Let him take a look first. There’s time enough to settle things with him later—no need to rush.”

At Zhao Shengwei’s words, Song Jie managed to control his anger, snorting coldly. “Let him have his moment.”

Jiang Xiaofei overheard their exchange, scoffing inwardly without deigning to respond. He turned to Blue Lotus Frost and smiled. “I’ll begin detoxifying him now.”

Blue Lotus Frost replied with an indifferent tone, “I hope you actually have some ability.”

“I’ll do my best,” Jiang Xiaofei said, then knelt beside Teng Pan under everyone’s watchful gaze, reaching out to grasp Teng Pan’s blackened hand.

Yan Guchen, watching Jiang Xiaofei check Teng Pan, remained skeptical. He turned to Blue Lotus Frost and asked, “Do you really believe he can save Teng Pan?”

Truthfully, Blue Lotus Frost did not believe Jiang Xiaofei could cure Teng Pan. At Yan Guchen’s words, she replied, “Right now, a life is at stake. We have no solution ourselves—at this point, any hope is worth trying.”

Yan Guchen said, “We could take Teng Pan back to the Magister Association and ask for help from above.”

Blue Lotus Frost shook her head. “His condition is critical. I fear there’s no time. And I still don’t know what technique Takagi Aki used to harm him so severely.”

Meanwhile, Jiang Xiaofei closed his eyes, carefully sensing the situation within Teng Pan’s body. He quickly discovered that Teng Pan’s case was dire—his life was hanging by a thread. Jiang Xiaofei’s brow furrowed deeper.

Yan Guchen, seeing Jiang Xiaofei’s tightly shut eyes and furrowed brows, snorted inwardly. To him, Jiang Xiaofei was merely putting on a show. Even as a Mystic-tier Magister, Yan Guchen himself had found nothing; how could Jiang Xiaofei possibly discover anything?

Just then, Jiang Xiaofei released Teng Pan’s hand and stood up, his expression grave as he addressed Blue Lotus Frost. “Miss Blue, may I speak with you privately?”

Blue Lotus Frost, seeing his seriousness, thought he must have discovered something. She nodded and followed Jiang Xiaofei toward the Ferrari parked nearby.

Yan Guchen, apparently uneasy, followed as well. The other Prodigy Class students also wanted to go, but Zhao Shengwei stopped them.

Seeing Yan Guchen tagging along, Jiang Xiaofei frowned at Blue Lotus Frost. “Him?”

Blue Lotus Frost replied, “He’s my brother, not an outsider. Please speak freely.”

“If you insist.” Jiang Xiaofei nodded, then said with utmost seriousness, “Are you aware of a particularly sinister sorcery in this world—the Soul Devouring Mark?”

Blue Lotus Frost shook her head. “I’ve never heard of it.”

But she was quick-witted and immediately asked, “Could it be that Teng Pan has been afflicted with this Soul Devouring Mark?”

“Exactly.” Jiang Xiaofei nodded and explained, “The Soul Devouring Mark is a highly malicious sorcery. Anyone afflicted will, within seven days, suffer an onslaught of a thousand vengeful spirits devouring their body, dying in excruciating agony.”

“What?” Blue Lotus Frost was shocked, her worry deepening.

Yan Guchen, however, was unconvinced. He sneered, “You claim there are spirits, but when I examined Teng Pan, I sensed no trace of ghostly energy within him.”

Jiang Xiaofei replied coolly, “That only proves your abilities are insufficient to detect it. Besides, the Soul Devouring Mark lodges itself in the sea of consciousness, its aura withdrawn and hidden—ordinary people cannot perceive it.”

“You—” Yan Guchen flushed with anger. To be so insulted as a Mystic-tier Magister was intolerable.

Blue Lotus Frost intervened, raising her voice. “Enough! Both of you, stop arguing!”

At her words, Yan Guchen restrained his impulse, turning to Blue Lotus Frost. “Don’t believe him. He’s a fraud.”

Jiang Xiaofei frowned slightly. “Believe me or not, it’s your choice. But I must warn you that, although I’ve temporarily suppressed the Soul Devouring Mark within him, I sense it will erupt tonight.”

“More nonsense!” Yan Guchen snorted in disbelief.

Blue Lotus Frost ignored Yan Guchen and asked Jiang Xiaofei, “How can we resolve the Soul Devouring Mark?”

Jiang Xiaofei replied, “If you trust me, bring him to this field at midnight tonight. I’ll find a way to save him.”

“Do you really have a way?” Blue Lotus Frost asked, barely able to believe it.

Jiang Xiaofei said nothing, turning away toward the exit of the field.