Perhaps because of Ning Rongrong's provocation, Ma Hongjun no longer paid attention to other soul beasts.
He began searching everywhere for traces of the Blazing Lion King.
"Boss, where exactly is that soul beast you mentioned? When will we find it?"
Ma Hongjun had absolute faith in his boss's words.
Since his boss had said that the Blazing Lion King was his ideal soul beast, he would definitely not look for any other soul beast.
"Let's head south."
"This isn't a place where fire-attributed soul beasts like to live."
Ye Ruilin looked around before speaking.
Sunset Forest was vast and teemed with countless soul beasts.
Every type of soul beast had an environment it preferred to inhabit.
Fire-attributed soul beasts naturally would not live in dense forests. They preferred dry environments.
The group headed south, gradually venturing deeper into Sunset Forest.
The vegetation around them slowly thinned until the ground was entirely covered in grass and gravel.
Looking at the plain before him, Ma Hongjun muttered to himself.
"I never knew there was a place like this deep within Sunset Forest."
"Look, what are those up ahead?"
Seeing the dark spots in the distance, Ma Hongjun immediately grew excited.
Phoenix wings appeared behind him as he shot into the air.
Ever since he began cultivating the Nine Heavens Burning Fire Art, his Martial Soul seemed to have undergone some changes, granting him the ability to fly briefly.
Although he could only fly for around ten seconds at a time, that was enough.
Ye Ruilin had been somewhat surprised to learn that this kid had gained short-term flight before even obtaining a soul ring.
After all, in the original course of events, the kid had only gained the ability to fly after acquiring his third soul ring.
Transforming from a "Grass Chicken" into a "Phoenix."
And if he wanted to keep flying, he could not interrupt the release of his Third Soul Skill at all.
Ye Ruilin figured it was likely a benefit brought by the cultivation art, so he told the kid to practice hard and become proficient as soon as possible.
Soon, Ma Hongjun descended again, looking dispirited.
"It's a pack of wolves."
His tone was full of disappointment.
He had thought they had finally found a pack of Blazing Lions.
"You idiot, can't you use your brain?"
"We've only just entered this plain. A lion pack couldn't possibly live this close to the edge."
"That pack should be the Demon Shadow Wolf Pack, which lives in both the plains and the forest."
Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes at Ma Hongjun, feeling that he was far too stupid.
Ma Hongjun gave an awkward laugh and finally settled down.
The group moved quickly and entered the heart of the plain in no time.
Just as Ma Hongjun was growing bored, a lion with a red mane suddenly charged out from ahead.
"Blazing Lion!"
Ma Hongjun cried out in surprise.
Sword Douluo's expression changed. He pulled Ning Rongrong behind him and was just about to act.
Ye Ruilin immediately spoke up.
"Hong Jun, as a battle soul master, you can't lack combat experience. This lion was probably a male that just lost a challenge. It's only around five hundred years old."
"Take it down!"
Ye Ruilin commanded.
The moment his words fell, Ma Hongjun's expression turned serious.
This was his first time making a move, and also his first time showing his skills before his boss. He did not want to embarrass himself.
He dashed forward swiftly. With the cultivation art enhancing him, he was as agile as a cheetah.
During this period, while cultivating his Soul Power, he had also trained his body.
Though it had not been long, his physical improvement was already obvious.
Flames surged over his fist, swiftly enveloping it completely as he smashed it viciously toward the Blazing Lion's head.
The Blazing Lion moved far faster than anyone had expected.
Ma Hongjun's attack had clearly enraged it completely.
A dazzling red glow spread from its body, and the surrounding temperature instantly soared.
Feeling the heat radiating from the Blazing Lion, Ma Hongjun sneered.
"If you used some other method, I might still be wary."
"But when it comes to playing with fire, I'm no less skilled than you."
His speed increased again as he slammed into the Blazing Lion.
The Blazing Lion did not dodge, even though Ma Hongjun's strike was aimed directly at its forehead.
It opened its huge mouth, exposing sharp fangs as a vicious gleam flashed through its eyes.
A new king had been born within its pack, and as the defeated challenger, it had naturally been driven out.
But it would not give up its former status. It needed to find food, recover its strength, and charge back to reclaim its place.
Ma Hongjun was its food.
A soul master brimming with Soul Power was a tremendous tonic to it. If it ate Ma Hongjun, its cultivation would surely increase by years.
But this time, it was disappointed.
The flames that had previously troubled its opponents had no effect at all this time.
In fact, when Ma Hongjun's fist struck its body, the Blazing Lion actually felt a scorching heat.
The smell of singed fur immediately rose from its body.
"Roar!"
Its massive head snapped violently, and Ma Hongjun felt an immense force. He used the momentum to retreat.
Phoenix wings appeared on his back, and he quickly stabilized himself in midair.
Ma Hongjun did not choose to pause. Instead, he pressed his advantage.
As the Blazing Lion shook its head in pain, he flashed to its side once more.
Flames surged forth and immediately engulfed the entire Blazing Lion.
The raging blaze swiftly devoured the fire covering the Blazing Lion's body.
In an instant, it spread across its entire body.
For the first time, the Blazing Lion experienced the agony of being consumed by flames, and it continuously let out miserable cries.
This fire seemed to possess an exceptionally powerful corrosive quality.
No matter what it tried, the flames on its body seemed impossible to extinguish.
Ma Hongjun gave a dashing turn before returning to Ye Ruilin's side.
He reached up and brushed aside the loose hair at his forehead.
"Well, Boss?"
"Was that cool or what?"
His words were full of pride.
Ye Ruilin had long expected his strength.
After all, the kid's Nine Heavens Burning Fire Art had already reached the minor completion stage.
Bone Douluo stared at the kid in surprise.
It had only been about half a month, yet the kid seemed completely transformed.
It was only a five-hundred-year soul beast, and though it was somewhat injured, wasn't this far too easy?
Looking at the Blazing Lion struggling in the distance, a glint flashed in Bone Douluo's eyes.
Could this kid be a genius?
"Why do your flames make it suffer so much? Isn't it a fire-attributed soul beast?"
Ning Rongrong curiously watched the Blazing Lion struggling without end.
"You're only level ten, yet your flames are this powerful?"
The little girl was utterly confused.
In truth, she was not the only one confused. Even Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo shared her doubts.
"It's all thanks to Boss."
"Under Boss's guidance, the flames I cultivated are far stronger than ordinary flames."
"Not only that, the flames I control carry a trace of the corrosive nature of my Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul."
Pride appeared on Ma Hongjun's face.
He owed his current strength to his boss.
"Here, this is the Evil Fire that was originally stored within my body."
"With Boss's help, I can now control this Evil Fire smoothly, and I can even use it for myself."
Looking at the flame dancing on Ma Hongjun's fingertip.
Ning Rongrong covered her mouth with her small hand, her expression full of surprise.
She still clearly remembered when Ma Hongjun's entire body had burned up and he had jumped into the Cold Pool.
Even Grandpa Sword had said there was no way to resolve it for the time being.
She had not expected Brother Ye to actually solve it!
He had even raised that stinky kid's strength to another level.
Sword Douluo was stunned.
The Ye Family kid had actually resolved this fellow's Martial Soul problem so quickly, and in such an ingenious way.
If it had been anyone else, they would probably only have thought about how to eliminate the Evil Fire within his body, rather than how to make use of it.
Before you continue