Fighting

With a dull thud, Tang San withdrew his leg and stepped back. The fat boy was also knocked back several steps by the kick. The two were evenly matched. The fat boy's Soul Power seemed to be only slightly weaker than Tang San's.

The fat boy froze for a moment. "So you're a Soul Master too. No wonder you dared meddle in my business. Let me show you what real strength is."

As he spoke, the fat boy gave a low shout. "Phoenix Avatar."

At the word "Phoenix," Tang San's heart tightened. Among Beast Spirit Souls, there were several exceptionally powerful ones, and the Phoenix was one of them. A Phoenix was also called a Seven-Colored Bird. A Phoenix Spirit Soul not only granted its host the ability to fly, but also bestowed powerful fire-attribute attacks. It was among the finest of assault-type Spirit Souls.

Purplish-red light surged from the little fat boy's body. The short hair on his head suddenly grew longer and gathered toward the center, forming a Mohawk. Wings did not appear, but the instant that purplish-red light emerged from his body, it released intense heat. Two yellow Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet at the same time. Long feathers extended from his thick, bare arms, and his hands transformed into claws.

Lan Xue burst out laughing when she saw him. "Is there really such a fat Phoenix? No matter how I look at him, he seems more like a farm chicken."

Ma Hongjun really did look rather comical at the moment. With his round body, arms covered in long purplish-red feathers, and upright hair, if he claimed to be a Phoenix, probably no one would believe him. He looked more like a fat hen.

It was as though Ma Hongjun had touched a raw nerve. He flew into a rage. "Who are you calling a farm chicken?" He raised both hands, and the first Soul Ring on his body abruptly lit up. Opening his mouth wide, he spewed a thin stream of purplish-red flame toward Lan Xue and Tang San.

The searing heat warped the air. The purple flames did not seem particularly violent, but they shot through the air like an extended line of fire.

"Watch out." Tang San flicked his right hand, and a long blue vine gently wrapped around Lan Xue's soft, slender waist, pulling her sideways to his side and avoiding the firelight Ma Hongjun had spewed.

But Ma Hongjun clearly had no intention of letting them off so easily. The flames from his mouth remained burning at a length of five meters, sweeping sideways after Lan Xue's body like a five-meter-long flaming weapon.

Tang San grabbed Lan Xue's hand and retreated rapidly. At the same time, several strands of Blue Silver Grass swiftly extended along the ground. After a brief observation, he had already realized that Ma Hongjun's flames were probably extremely hot, but they had one weakness: their attack range was only five meters. As long as Ma Hongjun's movements were restricted, dealing with him would not be difficult.

Sure enough, just as Ma Hongjun was about to give chase, he felt his feet stiffen. His legs had already been tightly bound by Blue Silver Grass. An intense stabbing pain came from the skin of his legs, followed by a numbing sensation.

Ma Hongjun was startled. Looking down, he saw the Blue Silver Grass winding around him. Without hesitation, he immediately activated his second Soul Ring skill.

With a bang, violent purple flames suddenly erupted from his body. Ma Hongjun's fat body instantly burst outward from within, the flames spreading in all directions. The Blue Silver Grass wrapped around him caught fire the instant it touched the purple flames, turning to ash in the blink of an eye.

Tang San could not help but be startled at the sight. He could clearly sense that Ma Hongjun's Spirit Soul seemed to be the natural nemesis of his own.

Although the Blue Silver Grass had become extraordinarily tough under the effects of two Soul Rings, it was still a plant. At least for now, it remained extremely afraid of fire.

With purple flames blazing over his entire body, Ma Hongjun looked far more imposing. Furious fire blazed from his eyes as he strode toward Tang San and Lan Xue, spewing flames from his mouth as though a god of fire had descended.

"I'll do it." Tang San failed to catch her in time before Lan Xue had already darted out. The crystalline Ice Jade Orchid Emperor trembled slightly as she moved at high speed. White light flared from her body as her Soul Power was fully released.

When Ma Hongjun saw Lan Xue charge at him, it was exactly what he wanted. Without the slightest courtesy, he spat a line of fire at her. The fire line drew a circle through the air, sealing off every path Lan Xue could take forward.

Ma Hongjun thought to himself, You little brat, you dared call me a farm chicken. If I don't teach you a lesson, then I'm not the Evil Fire Phoenix. Still, she's pretty. Better not burn her too badly. As he thought this, the flames he spewed weakened somewhat. They were enough to injure, but not to kill.

Lan Xue naturally sensed the drop in temperature of the purple flames. This fat guy is holding back? Fine, then I'll go easy on you too.

Just as Ma Hongjun thought Lan Xue was about to be injured by his first Soul Ring skill, Phoenix Fire Line, suddenly, Lan Xue's Ice Jade Orchid Emperor formed a defensive wall before her, rebounding all of Ma Hongjun's flames back at him.

Fortunately, they were Ma Hongjun's own flames. Even so, being struck by them made his stomach churn, and he slammed hard into the wall.