"Do you know how I've lived these past years?" Ma Hongjun began, his voice resolute. "The constant pain, the feeling of being consumed by flames..."
As his words trailed off, the Plant Academy contestant opposite him started to respond but abruptly froze. A sudden shiver ran through her body, and her cheeks flushed an unnatural red.
She stared at Ma Hongjun with wide eyes, her expression one of disbelief.
What's happening? This… this feeling...
"So? Big sis, my pain isn't something simple, right?" Ma Hongjun asked smugly, arms crossed, watching her reaction.
The Plant Academy contestant: "…"
This shameless little chubby guy!
What kind of flame is this?
Evil Fire. Truly, it was evil.
She tried to activate her martial spirit to counter him, but the searing sensation in her chest—the burning desire...
The audience exchanged confused glances. What's going on? Why does the contestant from Plant Academy look like she's running a fever?
"I… I surrender. I surrender!"
Her voice was weak, trembling.
"You shameless little fatty!" she managed to shout before collapsing to the ground, exhausted.
The crowd: "???"
Ma Hongjun withdrew his Evil Fire, a satisfied look on his face. This energy was precious.
"What do you mean, shameless? Lust and desire are normal human emotions," he said matter-of-factly. "I simply let you experience the pain I've endured day and night for years. You lasted less than a minute before giving in. How disappointing!"
He sighed dramatically, his tone completely unapologetic.
The audience turned their attention to the fallen Plant Academy contestant, then back to Ma Hongjun. From their expressions, dialogue, and reactions, they quickly pieced together what had happened.
The female Soul Masters in the crowd paled, their gazes at Ma Hongjun filled with a mix of fear and revulsion, as if he were some vile demon.
If they had to face him, what could they do?
The male Soul Masters, meanwhile, twitched at the corners of their mouths. This guy's martial spirit was strange, but his Evil Fire Phoenix could indeed become one of the most powerful beast-type martial spirits.
After all, in battle, being affected by such a strange flame would be a severe handicap. Losing 20% of their combat effectiveness would be the best outcome for most opponents.
The Plant Academy team ran up to help their fallen member, but as soon as they touched her, they quickly recoiled.
"Ahhh!"
Gasps filled the air. She was burning hot to the touch!
No wonder she had surrendered. What else could she do?
"Sorry, I… I…"
"It's not your fault. That chubby guy completely counters us."
"If it were another elemental Soul Master, they might not have been affected so quickly, but we use plant-based martial spirits," the Plant Academy captain explained, her face serious but resigned.
Losing was one thing, but losing like this was humiliating.
With a sigh, the captain shook her head. "Plant Academy forfeits this round."
"Captain…"
The other team members hung their heads. This chubby guy played dirty, using such despicable, shameless, underhanded...
Fortunately, their teammate wasn't seriously injured. Her soul power being higher than Ma Hongjun's had helped her maintain some control, sparing her from a more embarrassing outcome.
"I… won?" Ma Hongjun scratched his head, unsure.
His self-created soul skill had consumed nearly a third of his soul power. At most, he could have used it once or twice more before being forced to leave the stage.
He never expected the Plant Academy team to surrender so easily.
And this was only the first match!
The Plant Academy girls glared daggers at Ma Hongjun. Who wanted to lose face like this?
"Plant Academy surrenders!"
"Shrek Academy versus Plant Academy—Shrek Academy wins!"
The referee's voice rang out, though his expression twitched as he glanced at Ma Hongjun.
If even one of the Plant Academy contestants had been male, they might have fought Ma Hongjun to the death. But against a fire-type Soul Master—especially one with such bizarre flames—Plant Academy was completely countered.
"Not my problem," the referee muttered, shaking his head as he called for the next competitors.
Ma Hongjun stumbled back to the Shrek Academy rest area, where Flender immediately approached, clapping him on the shoulder.
"Well done, Hongjun!"
"Teacher, I…"
"Don't worry about what others think. As you said yourself, you're a pioneer, a trailblazer!" Flender declared passionately. "When you become a true powerhouse, who will dare speak ill of you?"
"Teacher, I don't care about that stuff. I have thick skin," Ma Hongjun replied confidently. "I just want to thank Boss Dai. He helped me find a new path."
Flender nodded approvingly. "Good! As for Dai Mubai… if he decides to take the throne, support him well. You might even fulfill your dream of becoming a great general. If not, then you'll remain brothers who'd die for each other!"
"Understood!" Ma Hongjun's gaze grew even more determined.
"Hmm, with you by his side, I can rest easy," Flender said, a sense of relief washing over him.
Ma Hongjun wasn't just his personal disciple but his spiritual successor. With no children of his own, Flender saw Ma Hongjun as his own son. Watching his growth brought him immense pride.
"Congratulations, Fatty! A one-vs-seven victory!" Dai Mubai said as he approached, clapping Ma Hongjun on the shoulder.
The congratulations weren't just for the win but for Ma Hongjun finally unlocking the true potential of his Evil Fire Phoenix.
"Boss Dai, one-vs-seven? Come on. If they hadn't surrendered, I'd have only managed one-vs-three before running out of soul power," Ma Hongjun replied modestly.
"Since when did you become so humble?"
"Huh???"
"Say it—who's the best in the world?"
"I'm the best in the world!"
"That's more like it!"
The two burst into laughter before Dai Mubai suddenly turned to Flender and Ma Hongjun.
"Dean, let Zhao Wuji handle the drawing for the next match. I've got a little gift for Fatty. In a few days, he might even reach the Soul Elder level."
Seeing Dai Mubai's confident smile and mention of a gift, Flender's eyes gleamed with curiosity.
From the start, he'd been puzzled. With Dai Mubai's strong bond with Ma Hongjun, why hadn't he given him one of those precious immortal herbs? After all, Dai Mubai had given Flender two!
Now it seemed Dai Mubai had been planning this all along.
"Fatty, thank your big brother!" Flender prompted.
Ma Hongjun: "???"
(End of Chapter)
Notes-Read all chapters in patreon.com/Shadow_D_X