Suppression! Innate Full Soul Power! Becoming Flender's Disciple!

Flender's excitement lasted only a brief moment.

Because he saw that something was wrong with Ma Hongjun.

The child was trembling all over, the veins on his forehead bulging, his teeth clenched so tightly that blood had seeped from the corner of his mouth—he had bitten through his tongue. His eyes were bloodshot, dark red flames reflected in his pupils, and it was as though some force had seized control of his mind.

Evil Fire Backlash.

Flender's expression changed drastically.

Of course, he knew the drawbacks of the Evil Fire Phoenix. Ancient texts recorded that the Evil Fire would continuously erode its host's mind, causing uncontrollable desires. If not guided in time, it could lead to demonic deviation in mild cases, or death by explosion in severe ones.

And this six-year-old child had only just awakened, yet the Evil Fire had already begun to backfire.

This meant that the quality of the child's Martial Soul was even higher than he had imagined—so high that the instant it awakened, the Evil Fire had already reached the point where it needed to be suppressed.

"Everyone, step back!"

Flender gave a low shout, and his aura suddenly erupted.

Seven Soul Rings rose beneath his feet—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black. All seven rings gleamed beneath the sunlight with a dazzling radiance.

How had the villagers in the square ever seen such a sight?

The pressure emanating from those black Soul Rings was like a mountain pressing against their chests, leaving them unable to breathe. Several timid women collapsed directly to the ground, while the children burst into terrified sobs.

"A... a Soul Saint!"

One knowledgeable villager cried out shakily, his legs trembling uncontrollably.

Flender ignored the commotion around him.

His gaze remained fixed on Ma Hongjun. He extended his right hand and curled his fingers in the air. A vast surge of Soul Power poured from his palm, transforming into invisible chains that enveloped Ma Hongjun's entire body.

The yellow first Soul Ring lit up. Streams of azure wind spiraled from Flender's palm, gently yet irresistibly winding around Ma Hongjun's body and wrapping layer upon layer around the dark red flames in his palm.

The Evil Fire seemed to sense the threat and suddenly erupted.

The dark red flames thrashed violently as the phantom of the Turkey struggled madly, trying to break free from the suppression of Wind Binding. Ma Hongjun's body trembled along with it, and a muffled groan escaped his lips.

Flender frowned even more deeply.

The ferocity of this Evil Fire far exceeded his expectations.

A child who had only just awakened, and his Martial Soul could actually contend with Flender's first soul skill? Though he had used less than a tenth of his strength, that was still astonishing enough.

"Suppress it!"

Flender shouted lowly and increased his output of Soul Power.

His second Soul Ring lit up as well, doubling the number of azure wind spirals and locking the Evil Fire down tightly.

The dark red flames rammed wildly through the wind spirals, but eventually calmed down and withdrew into Ma Hongjun's body.

Ma Hongjun's body suddenly stiffened, then his legs gave way as though all his strength had been drained, and he toppled forward.

Flender reacted quickly and caught him.

"Kid, are you all right?" Flender's voice carried a rare hint of concern.

Ma Hongjun gasped for breath, sweat streaming down his cheeks.

For a moment just now, he had nearly thought he was going to die.

That evil impulse had come too fiercely, like a wild beast starved for a hundred years, desperate to tear him apart. If Flender had not stepped in to suppress it in time, he truly did not know what he might have done.

No wonder the Ma Hongjun from the original story had gone to brothels.

That had nothing to do with self-control. The Evil Fire Backlash itself was a form of physical torment. Even an adult might not be able to endure it, much less a child.

"I... I'm fine," Ma Hongjun said hoarsely, trying hard to steady himself.

Flender stared at him for several seconds. Only after confirming that he had truly regained his senses did he release him.

"Your Martial Soul isn't an ordinary Turkey." Flender's voice was low and solemn. "If I'm not mistaken, this is a mutated Martial Soul—the Evil Fire Phoenix."

Evil Fire Phoenix.

The moment those four words were spoken, the surrounding villagers looked utterly bewildered. They did not understand such things. But Ma Hongjun had long been prepared, and merely put on a confused expression.

"Evil Fire... Phoenix?" he repeated, his voice carrying just the right amount of confusion.

"That's right." Flender nodded. "It is a mutated form of the Phoenix Martial Soul. Its flames possess an evil nature, and its power far surpasses that of ordinary fire-type Martial Souls. But you've already felt the price—Evil Fire will continuously backfire upon its host, causing you to develop... certain impulses you shouldn't have."

He phrased it vaguely, since the child before him was only six years old.

But Ma Hongjun nodded as though he only half understood, while thinking to himself, Of course I know. I even know how you solved it in the original story—by sending me to brothels.

"Teacher... Headmaster Flender," Ma Hongjun changed how he addressed him, lingering fear in his eyes. "Will that feeling from just now happen again in the future?"

Flender's silence was the best answer.

Ma Hongjun's heart sank.

"My suppression is only temporary." Flender sighed, revealing a rare trace of helplessness. "The evil nature of the Evil Fire Phoenix is rooted in the Martial Soul itself. External force can only suppress it, not eradicate it. And... the more fiercely it is suppressed, the more violent the backlash will be in the future."

He paused, looking at Ma Hongjun with a complicated expression.

"Kid, your life won't be easy from now on."

Ma Hongjun fell silent.

Not out of fear, but because he was thinking.

Flender had not treated Ma Hongjun poorly in the original story, but his solution had indeed gone in the wrong direction. Releasing it in brothels could only treat the symptoms, and it would make the Evil Fire grow stronger and stronger, creating a vicious cycle.

But he was different.

He had a better solution.

"Headmaster Flender," Ma Hongjun raised his head, his eyes clear and resolute, "can my Martial Soul... still be saved?"

Flender did not answer immediately.

He closed his eyes, rapidly reviewing the knowledge he had accumulated over the years. Records of the Evil Fire Phoenix were already scarce, and anything about completely curing the Evil Fire problem was utterly nonexistent.

"I don't have a perfect solution for now," Flender finally said honestly. "But I can teach you to control your Soul Power and slow the frequency of the Evil Fire's outbreaks. In addition, choosing suitable Soul Rings may have a certain regulating effect."

At that point, his tone shifted, and his gaze became sharp.

"But that's for later. Right now, let me see your Soul Power."

Flender took a pale blue crystal ball from his robes. It was a standard tool for testing Soul Power. The crystal ball was not large, just enough to fit in one's palm, and a gentle sheen flowed across its surface.

"Place your hand on it and channel your Soul Power with all your strength."

Ma Hongjun took a deep breath and placed his right hand on the crystal ball.

He knew that this moment was the key to determining his fate.

In the original story, Ma Hongjun had Innate Soul Power at rank nine, already making him a genius among geniuses. But his six years of training had not been in vain—unwavering daily physical training, combined with a transmigrator's soul and its precise control over his body, had made his physical condition and the openness of his meridians far superior to those of his original counterpart at the same age.

He wanted to see what result all that effort could bring.

His Soul Power surged.

The crystal ball lit up.