The flames on Ma Hongjun grew more and more intense, their color gradually shifting from red to dark red, while a nauseating aura of evil clung to them.
Flender's expression was grim.
His Soul Power was suppressing the flames, but it wasn't having much effect.
Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire seemed even stronger than last time.
"Old Zhao, come help!"
Flender shouted.
Zhao Wuji rushed over and pressed both hands against Ma Hongjun's back. The Soul Power of his vajra bear surged into Ma Hongjun, trying to help suppress the flames.
But the Evil Fire seemed to have developed a mind of its own. Not only was it not suppressed, it grew even more violent.
Boom!
A burst of flame exploded from Ma Hongjun, knocking Flender and Zhao Wuji back a step at the same time.
"This Evil Fire... How is it so strong?"
Zhao Wuji's eyes widened.
"Xiao Pang's Soul Power has increased, and his Evil Fire has grown stronger along with it."
Flender's brow furrowed into a deep crease. "The purification power of the dawn light spirit crane is almost unable to hold it back."
Ma Hongjun knelt on the ground, supporting himself with both hands as he gasped for breath.
His eyes had turned blood-red, and flames burned in his pupils.
"Master... I feel awful..."
His voice was hoarse, tinged with tears.
"Xiao Pang, hang on!"
Flender clenched his teeth and charged forward again.
But this time, before he could even touch Ma Hongjun, a wave of scorching air sent him flying back.
"Dean, this won't work!"
Li Yusong stood to the side, stamping his feet in panic. "Xiao Pang's Evil Fire is rejecting outside forces. The more you suppress it, the harder it rebounds!"
"Then what do we do?"
Shao Xin hurried over too, carrying a basin of water and unsure where to throw it.
"Let me try."
Fu Wen's voice came from behind them.
Everyone turned to look at him.
Fu Wen stepped forward, his expression calm, but his eyes grave.
"Xiao Wen, do you have a way?"
Flender asked.
"I don't know, but I can try."
Without another word, Fu Wen released his Martial Soul.
The phantom of the China Divine Crocodile appeared behind him, and two deep-yellow Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet.
He walked up to Ma Hongjun, crouched down, and placed a hand on his forehead.
"Xiao Pang, relax. Don't resist me."
Ma Hongjun raised his head and looked at Fu Wen with blood-red eyes, pain and fear filling his gaze.
"Brother Wen... I... I can't control it..."
"I know."
Fu Wen's voice was calm. "That's why I'm here to help you control it."
He closed his eyes and circulated the Innate Divine Crocodile Art with all his might.
Soul Power surged through his body, coursing through his limbs and gathering in his palm.
A cool Water Power flowed from Fu Wen's hand, slowly entering Ma Hongjun's body.
At the same time, Fu Wen called upon the power of his Second Soul Ring.
Flow-Severing.
It wasn't meant to attack, but to interrupt.
He was going to interrupt the uncontrolled Evil Fire inside Ma Hongjun.
Flow-Severing forcibly interrupted the flow of Soul Power for three breaths.
But against something like the Evil Fire, which wasn't Soul Power but depended on it, its effectiveness would be diminished.
Still, Fu Wen was betting that as long as he could interrupt it for a single instant, that would be enough.
Buzz!
The power of Flow-Severing entered Ma Hongjun's body.
The flames around Ma Hongjun suddenly faltered.
In that instant, the Evil Fire's flow was forcibly cut off.
It lasted less than a breath, but that was enough.
Seizing the opportunity, Fu Wen unleashed the Innate Divine Crocodile Art at full force. His cool Water Power surged into Ma Hongjun's meridians like a flood bursting its banks, encircling the Evil Fire.
Water overcame fire.
That was the law of heaven and earth.
But Fu Wen's Water Power wasn't ordinary water. It was Primordial Water, born with the China Divine Crocodile.
Its power was rich and heavy, carrying the aura of the primordial past.
Trapped within the Primordial Water, the Evil Fire struggled and fought back fiercely.
But Fu Wen gritted his teeth and didn't give an inch.
His face flushed red, veins bulging on his forehead, and sweat streamed down his cheeks.
"Xiao Wen!"
Flender tried to rush over and help.
"Don't come any closer!"
Fu Wen roared.
Flender froze in place, not daring to move.
Fu Wen took a deep breath. The two Soul Rings around him lit up at the same time.
The First Soul Ring's Primordial Bite was activated, not to attack, but to strengthen him.
The Second Soul Ring's Flow-Severing was activated once more, not to interrupt, but to suppress.
Guided by the Innate Divine Crocodile Art, the two powers merged as one and surged into Ma Hongjun's body.
The flames around Ma Hongjun began to weaken.
The dark red gradually faded to red, then to pale red.
The evil aura, too, was slowly forced back.
"It's working!"
Zhao Wuji cried out in surprise.
Flender clenched his fists, too tense to breathe.
Time passed, second by second.
Fu Wen grew paler and paler, beads of sweat rolling from his forehead one after another.
But his gaze never wavered.
The Innate Divine Crocodile Art had reached its limit, and his Soul Power had been nearly drained.
But he didn't let go.
He couldn't.
If he did, Ma Hongjun was finished.
At last.
Buzz!
A burst of golden light suddenly erupted from Ma Hongjun.
It was the purifying power of the Phoenix Holy Light Strike.
With Fu Wen's Primordial Water suppressing it, the Evil Fire had lost the ability to fight back, and the purifying power finally gained the upper hand.
The golden light and the cool Primordial Water intertwined, forcing the last trace of evil out of Ma Hongjun's body.
Ma Hongjun's breathing gradually steadied, and the blood-red color faded from his eyes.
He lifted his head and looked at Fu Wen.
"Brother Wen... I... I'm all right now?"
Fu Wen didn't answer.
He released his hand and dropped onto the ground, gasping for breath.
His face was as pale as paper.
"Xiao Wen!"
Flender rushed over and caught him.
"I'm fine."
Fu Wen waved a hand, his voice weak. "I just used up too much Soul Power."
"Don't speak yet."
Flender pulled an Oscar Big Sausage from his robes and shoved it into Fu Wen's mouth.
Fu Wen chewed a few times and swallowed. Only then did some color slowly return to his face.
"Xiao Pang, what about you? How do you feel?"
Flender turned to Ma Hongjun.
Ma Hongjun stood and tested his body, then lowered his head to look at his hands.
"Master, I... I feel like the Evil Fire inside me has been suppressed. It's even more stable than last time."
"Really?"
Flender was both surprised and delighted.
"Really."
Ma Hongjun nodded. "And... I feel like my Soul Power has gone up a little."
"Gone up a little?"
Flender froze. "By how much?"
Ma Hongjun closed his eyes and sensed it. Then he opened them, his face bright with surprise.
"From level fourteen... to level fifteen!"
"Good!"
Flender clapped his hands. "A blessing in disguise! Another blessing in disguise!"
Zhao Wuji walked over and looked Fu Wen up and down.
"Xiao Wen, what power did you use just now? How were you able to suppress Xiao Pang's Evil Fire?"
"The Water Power that comes with my Martial Soul," Fu Wen said. "Combined with Flow-Severing's interruption effect, I first broke the Evil Fire's control, then suppressed it with Primordial Water."
"Flow-Severing can be used like that?"
Zhao Wuji's eyes widened.
"It was my first time trying it too," Fu Wen said. "I took a gamble, and won."
Zhao Wuji fell silent.
He had been a Soul Master for many years and had seen countless prodigies, but he had never seen anyone with just two rings use a Soul Skill to such effect.
This was beyond talent.
It was battle instinct.
Battle instinct he'd been born with.
Flender crouched down and looked at Fu Wen, his eyes full of concern.
"Xiao Wen, don't push yourself so hard next time. You only have two rings, and your Soul Power is limited. If you fail to suppress it, you could be burned by the Evil Fire too."
"I know."
Fu Wen nodded. "But there wasn't time to think about that."
Flender sighed and patted him on the shoulder.
"All right, go back and rest. You're off for the day. Take it easy and recover."
"No need."
Fu Wen stood up. "I'm fine."
"Don't be stubborn."
Flender glared at him. "I said you're off."
Fu Wen opened his mouth, then said nothing more.
Fu Wen returned to the dormitory, lay on the bed, and closed his eyes.
His Soul Power slowly recovered as the Innate Divine Crocodile Art circulated automatically, again and again.
He thought back over everything that had happened.
Flow-Severing's interruption effect, combined with the Innate Divine Crocodile Art's Primordial Water, could indeed suppress the Evil Fire.
But it was only temporary.
Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire would grow stronger as his Soul Power increased.
Once his Soul Power broke through to the third or fourth ring, the Evil Fire's strength would multiply.
By then, even if Fu Wen reached the third or fourth ring, he might still not be able to keep it under control.
The problem had to be solved at its root.
Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower.
Fu Wen opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling.
Where on earth was that thing?
According to the original story, the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well was home to a great many Immortal Herbs.
Infernal Delicate Apricot, Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum...
Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower should be there, too.
But the problem now wasn't where to find the Immortal Herb. It was whether he could get to it.
The Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well lay deep in the Sunset Forest, surrounded by Soul Beasts that were over ten thousand years old.
With his current strength, going there would be like walking straight into a meal.
He'd have to wait until he reached at least the fourth ring, or even the fifth, before he could consider it.
Until then, he could only rely on the Dawn Light Spirit Crane's purifying power and his Primordial Water to tough it out.
"Brother Wen, are you asleep?"
Ma Hongjun's voice came from the doorway.
"No."
Fu Wen sat up. "Come in."
Ma Hongjun pushed open the door and walked to Fu Wen's bedside, his head bowed.
"Brother Wen, thank you."
"For what?"
Fu Wen said calmly, "You're my brother. If I don't help you, who will?"
Ma Hongjun's eyes reddened.
"Brother Wen, I really thought I was going to die just now."
"You won't."
Fu Wen patted his shoulder. "With me here, you won't die."
Ma Hongjun nodded hard and wiped away the tears at the corners of his eyes.
"Brother Wen, I'll work hard at cultivation. Once I'm strong, I'll be the one to protect you."
"Sure."
Fu Wen smiled. "I'll be waiting."
Ma Hongjun smiled too, and tears streamed down his face again.
Before you continue