"Fatty, be cautious out there," Dai Mubai advised. "The opponent likely has three Soul Elders above level 40, and…"
He paused briefly before continuing, "They also have a plant-type Soul Elder with high fire resistance. Not that it matters much—you probably won't even get that far."
Indeed, even though Ma Hongjun had an elemental advantage, taking down all seven opponents alone was nearly impossible. He was just a Soul Elder, after all.
Hearing this, Ma Hongjun's lips twitched in frustration. "Boss Dai, I haven't even started yet, and you're already making my prospects sound bleak!"
Dai Mubai patted Ma Hongjun on the shoulder and then cast an almost subconscious glance at Tang San before saying, "Relax, your future's bright."
If Tang San were gone, and his spirit bone given to Ma Hongjun… wouldn't his future shine even brighter?
Tang San suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. A sense of impending doom washed over him, though it disappeared just as quickly, leaving him to dismiss it as an illusion.
"Well, I'll take your blessing, Boss Dai!" Ma Hongjun replied.
"Will Ma Hongjun from Shrek Academy please take the stage?"
"Will the contestant from Plant Academy please step forward…"
Plant Academy's representative was a graceful young woman, a control-type Battle Soul Elder. In fact, the entire Plant Academy team specialized in control-type martial spirits.
"Oh, little brother," the contestant teased, covering her mouth with a hand. "Everyone knows Shrek Academy is strong. Can you not make our loss too embarrassing?"
After learning about Shrek's formidable reputation, Plant Academy had initially planned to forfeit. However, surrendering outright would hurt their pride.
Though not as famous as the Five Elemental Academies, Plant Academy's comprehensive strength and history rivaled theirs, making it one of the top-tier advanced Soul Master academies in the Heaven Dou Empire.
Ma Hongjun paused, thought for a moment, and replied, "Big sis, our captain sent me up first just to give you all a chance. I'm just a Soul Elder, you know."
"Among the Shrek team, I have the weakest soul power. If it weren't for my teacher being the dean, I wouldn't even have made it into the tournament this year."
Everyone: "…"
Wow. So this chubby guy was the dean's personal disciple?
The Plant Academy girls exchanged glances. If what he said was true, he really was Shrek's "watered-down" starter. Just a Soul Elder, after all.
"Alright then, big sis will take it easy on you."
What ill intentions could a Plant Academy big sister have?
Ma Hongjun: "…"
Most of what he'd said was true, but he definitely wasn't the weakest in Shrek Academy!
"Evil Fire Phoenix Possession!"
Ma Hongjun shouted, activating his martial spirit.
Dai Mubai had once told him that while his martial spirit's mutation wasn't perfect and had significant flaws, this imperfection granted him the unique "Evil Fire"—an extraordinary flame.
If he could master this Evil Fire, his Evil Fire Phoenix would rank among the most powerful martial spirits. But if he failed, the name "Evil Fire Phoenix" would fade away, leaving only the "pure" Fire Phoenix behind.
However, would a pure Fire Phoenix necessarily be stronger than an Evil Fire Phoenix?
Purging impurities might remove the "evil" aspect entirely, but Evil Fire had unique properties, capable of influencing desires and emotions—something far more potent than a conventional phoenix, even in the Divine Realm.
"Fire Phoenix?"
The Plant Academy team froze. You're kidding, right?
You send your weakest member to "take it easy," and he's a Fire Phoenix?
Was Ma Hongjun the weakest? Maybe.
But against Plant Academy, his threat level surpassed even their strongest members!
"It's not a Fire Phoenix. It's an Evil Fire Phoenix!" Ma Hongjun corrected proudly.
He had come to terms with his martial spirit. So what if it wasn't a pure phoenix? When he reached the peak, his Evil Fire Phoenix would outshine even the purest of phoenixes!
"I lost my way at first," he admitted. "After all, I'm the first to ever possess an Evil Fire Phoenix martial spirit. I'm a pioneer, a trailblazer!"
"Come, I will prove the Evil Fire Phoenix's worth. It will be recognized as one of the most powerful beast martial spirits on the Douluo Continent!"
With these words, Ma Hongjun's soul power surged. Without Dai Mubai's advice and guidance, he might never have reached this epiphany.
"Big sis, you'll be the first to experience my self-created soul skill!"
Plant Academy's representative: "???"
Her blood boiled at his passionate declaration. In fact, many in the audience felt similarly.
Even Flender, in the stands, couldn't help but shed a tear. He had failed to properly guide Ma Hongjun. If the boy had realized his potential earlier, how far might his talent have taken him?
"A self-created soul skill… Are all Shrek Academy members this terrifying?" the audience murmured in astonishment, their eyes fixed on the stage.
Dai Mubai was equally stunned. He had only shared a few words with Ma Hongjun after the preliminary rounds, yet somehow, Ma Hongjun had reached enlightenment.
This wasn't normal… unless…
Ma Hongjun, one of the original supporting characters, had the potential to inherit the Fire God's divine position. Though he ultimately failed and became a second-tier deity, his destiny was still remarkable.
Even without consuming the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, Ma Hongjun's latent fortune seemed to have granted him this breakthrough.
If Ma Hongjun's luck had been this extraordinary, what about Oscar?
Dai Mubai turned to Oscar and asked, "Xiao Ao, after the tournament, have you thought about going on a little adventure?"
Oscar: "???"
I have a girlfriend. Why would I go adventuring?
On the stage.
"Self-Created Soul Skill: Lustfire Inferno!"
With a shout, Ma Hongjun's black-and-red flames surged, enveloping him in an intense blaze. Without triggering any soul rings, his fire expanded until it formed a massive black-and-red "sky dome."
The temperature soared to unimaginable heights, though the flames' peculiar nature left the Plant Academy representative momentarily confused.
"Chubby boy, is this it? Your self-created soul skill?" she asked, puzzled and slightly amused.
"Big sis, don't be impatient. Soon, you'll feel the pain I've endured all these years," Ma Hongjun replied, his voice calm yet intense.
(End of Chapter)