Dawn Light Spirit Crane! Ma Hongjun's First Soul Ring!

At dawn the next morning, while the sky was still dim, the group gathered at the academy gates.

Flender led the group, with Zhao Wuji accompanying them as protection.

With two Seven-Ring Soul Sages in charge, there was no need to worry about their safety.

Fu Wen, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun stood in a row, full of energy.

"Is everyone ready?"

Flender glanced over them.

"Ready!"

The three answered in unison.

"Let's go!"

Flender waved his hand, and the group set off for the Soul Hunting Forest in a grand procession.

Soul Hunting Forest.

It was the largest place in Suotuo City for raising Soul Beasts, managed jointly by Spirit Hall and the Empire.

The oldest Soul Beasts there were over five thousand years old, more than enough for Soul Masters at the first and second rings.

Flender revealed his status as a Seven-Ring Soul Sage, and the patrolling soldiers let them pass without stopping them.

The group entered the forest, with Zhao Wuji leading the way.

"Dad, where can we find the Dawn Light Spirit Crane?"

Ma Hongjun followed behind Flender, looking around curiously.

"Dawn Marsh, in the eastern part of the Soul Hunting Forest."

Flender said, "It's a fairly remote place, and few people go there."

"There are very few Dawn Light Spirit Cranes. There might only be one or two in the entire Soul Hunting Forest."

"Whether we find one depends on luck."

Ma Hongjun gave a quiet "oh" and said no more.

The group walked for about an hour, passing through several patches of woods, and the scenery gradually changed.

The trees grew sparse, and the ground became damp, soft underfoot.

A faint, earthy smell hung in the air.

"We're almost there."

Flender lowered his voice. "Keep quiet. Don't startle the Soul Beasts."

Fu Wen followed behind, scanning their surroundings.

Dawn Marsh was larger than he had imagined, stretching beyond sight.

Mist hung over the marsh, limiting visibility.

This kind of environment was ideal for bird-type Soul Beasts.

Zhao Wuji stopped and twitched his nose twice.

"I smell something."

"What do you smell?"

Flender asked.

"A Soul Beast. Up ahead, about three hundred paces away."

Zhao Wuji pointed to the front left.

Flender narrowed his eyes and looked in that direction.

Through the mist, he could just make out a white figure.

It wasn't large, about the size of an ordinary crane, but a tuft of golden feathers atop its head stood out in the mist.

"A Dawn Light Spirit Crane!"

Flender's eyes lit up.

Their luck was excellent—they had found one as soon as they entered the marsh.

"Xiao Pang, can you see it?"

Flender pointed at the white figure.

Ma Hongjun widened his eyes and strained to look ahead.

"I think... I can."

"That's a Dawn Light Spirit Crane, around four hundred years old. Just right."

Flender lowered his voice. "Teacher Zhao and I will take it down. You deliver the final blow."

"Remember, don't be afraid, and don't hesitate."

"Hunting a Soul Ring is something every Soul Master has to go through."

Ma Hongjun took a deep breath and clenched his fists.

"Master, I'm not afraid."

Flender looked at him and nodded.

Then he exchanged a glance with Zhao Wuji.

They moved at the same time.

The two figures shot forward like ghosts, reaching the white figure in the blink of an eye.

The Dawn Light Spirit Crane sensed danger and let out a piercing cry. It spread its wings and tried to take flight.

But it was too late.

A four-hundred-year-old Soul Beast couldn't react fast enough to a Seven-Ring Soul Sage.

Flender pressed down with one hand. His Soul Saint-level Soul Power gathered into a gigantic palm and slammed into the Dawn Light Spirit Crane's back.

Bang!

The Dawn Light Spirit Crane was knocked to the ground and struggled to get back up.

Zhao Wuji followed close behind, planting a foot on its wing and pinning it firmly to the ground.

"Xiao Pang, hurry!"

Zhao Wuji called over his shoulder.

Ma Hongjun froze for a moment, then bolted forward.

His round body suddenly burst into astonishing speed.

Fu Wen and Oscar followed, but stopped at a safe distance.

What came next was Ma Hongjun's responsibility.

He had to finish it with his own hands.

Ma Hongjun ran up to the Dawn Light Spirit Crane, panting.

He looked down at the beautiful bird, his hand trembling slightly.

Its feathers were as white as snow, and the tuft of golden feathers on its head glowed softly in the sunlight.

Its eyes were large and bright. Now they stared at Ma Hongjun, filled with fear and unwillingness.

"Xiao Pang, do it!"

Flender urged him. "Soul Beasts have strong vitality. If you take too long, it might recover and cause trouble."

Ma Hongjun took a deep breath and drew the dagger Flender had prepared beforehand from his waist.

His hand was shaking, but his gaze gradually grew firm.

"I'm sorry."

Ma Hongjun whispered those three words.

Then he drove the dagger hard into the Dawn Light Spirit Crane's neck.

Squish!

Blood gushed out, splattering across Ma Hongjun's hand.

The Dawn Light Spirit Crane let out a mournful cry and convulsed violently a few times before going still.

The light slowly faded from its eyes.

Ma Hongjun released the dagger, took two steps back, and dropped onto the ground.

He looked at his bloodstained hand, his face pale.

"I... I killed it."

"You killed it."

Flender crouched down and patted Ma Hongjun on the shoulder. "You did well."

"This is something every Soul Master has to go through."

"The strong prey on the weak. That's the rule of this world."

Ma Hongjun said nothing, staring at his hand for a long while.

Then he looked up at Flender.

"Master, I'm fine."

"It's just... I'm not used to it yet."

Flender nodded and said nothing more.

Something like this needed time to process.

Buzz!

Points of light began to gather above the Dawn Light Spirit Crane's body.

The light grew brighter and denser, finally coalescing into a yellow Soul Ring.

Four hundred years old, yellow.

Ma Hongjun's First Soul Ring.

"Xiao Pang, sit cross-legged, summon your Martial Soul, and use your mind to guide the Soul Ring into your body."

Flender's voice turned solemn.

"Absorbing a Soul Ring will be painful, but you have to endure it."

"If you do, you'll become a true Soul Master."

"If you can't..."

He didn't finish.

But everyone knew the consequences.

Ma Hongjun took a deep breath and sat cross-legged.

The phantom of the Evil Fire Phoenix appeared behind him, and the yellow Soul Ring slowly rose and settled around it.

Then the Soul Ring turned into a warm current and flowed into Ma Hongjun's body.

Ma Hongjun's body jolted, and his face instantly flushed red.

It was a reaction to the Soul Ring's energy entering his body.

The light-attribute Soul Ring of the Dawn Light Spirit Crane clashed violently with the Evil Fire within Ma Hongjun.

Fire and light seemed to share the same source, but their powers were fundamentally different.

The two forces collided, tore at each other, and fused within Ma Hongjun...

The veins bulged on Ma Hongjun's forehead, and beads of sweat rolled down continuously.

He clenched his teeth and didn't make a sound.