Ma Hongjun's First Battle, Controlling the Evil Fire

Perhaps spurred on by Ning Rongrong, Ma Hongjun no longer felt curious about other spirit beasts.

He began searching everywhere for traces of the Blazing Lion King.

"Boss, where exactly is that spirit beast you mentioned? When will we be able to find it?"

Ma Hongjun held an unshakable belief in his boss's words.

Since his boss had spoken and declared that his optimal spirit beast was the Blazing Lion King, he would absolutely not seek out any other.

"Let's head south."

"This place is not where fire-attribute spirit beasts prefer to live."

Ye Ruilin looked up to observe his surroundings before speaking.

The Sunset Forest was exceptionally vast, home to countless spirit beasts.

Every type of attribute-based spirit beast had its own preferred living environment.

Fire-attribute spirit beasts naturally would not live in dense forests; they preferred dry environments much more.

The group headed south, stepping deeper and deeper into the heart of the Sunset Forest.

The surrounding vegetation gradually thinned until the ground was completely covered by grass and gravel.

Looking at the plains before him, Ma Hongjun muttered to himself.

"I never imagined such a place existed deep within the Sunset Forest."

"Look, what is that group up ahead?"

Gazing at the black dots in the distance, Ma Hongjun immediately grew excited.

Phoenix wings sprouted from his back, and his figure shot straight into the air.

Ever since he began cultivating the Nine Heavens Burning Fire Art, his martial soul seemed to have undergone a slight change, unexpectedly granting him the ability to fly for a short duration.

Although it only lasted for ten seconds each time, it was more than enough.

Ye Ruilin had been somewhat surprised to learn that this kid possessed the ability to fly briefly even before obtaining a spirit ring.

After all, according to the original trajectory, this kid only gained the ability to fly after obtaining his third spirit ring.

Transforming from a "Grass Chicken" into a "Phoenix".

Furthermore, to maintain sustained flight, the activation of his third spirit skill could not be interrupted.

Ye Ruilin subsequently realized this might be a benefit brought about by the cultivation technique, so he told the kid to practice hard and strive to master it as soon as possible.

Soon, Ma Hongjun's figure descended, his expression wilted.

"It's a pack of wolves."

His tone carried a sense of disappointment.

He had thought he finally found the Blazing Lion King.

"You idiot, can you use your brain for once?"

"We have only just stepped onto this plain; a lion pride would never live in such an outer area."

"That pack of wolves must be the Demon Shadow Wolf Pack that lives on the border of the plains and the forest."

Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes at Ma Hongjun, thinking the kid was far too foolish.

A sheepish grin appeared on Ma Hongjun's face, and he finally quieted down.

The group moved quickly, and in a short time, they had entered the depths of the plains.

Just as Ma Hongjun was feeling bored, a lion with red mane hair suddenly charged out from ahead.

"Blazing Lion!"

Ma Hongjun exclaimed in surprise.

Sword Douluo shifted his gaze, shielding Ning Rongrong behind him as he prepared to strike.

Ye Ruilin spoke immediately.

"Hongjun, as a battle spirit master, you cannot lack combat experience. This lion must have just lost a struggle for dominance; it is only five hundred years old."

"Take it down!"

Ye Ruilin commanded.

As the words fell, Ma Hongjun's expression immediately turned serious.

This was his first time taking action, and his first time doing so in front of his boss; he did not want to perform poorly.

His figure darted out rapidly, agile as a leopard under the enhancement of his cultivation technique.

During this period, while cultivating his spirit power, he had also been training his physical body.

Though the time was short, the progress in his physical strength was quite evident.

Flames surged over his fist, quickly enveloping it, and he smashed his fist fiercely toward the top of the Blazing Lion's head.

The Blazing Lion's movements were far faster than anyone had anticipated.

Ma Hongjun's attack had clearly thoroughly enraged it.

A layer of dazzling red light spread from its body, and the surrounding temperature rose instantly.

Feeling the heat radiating from the Blazing Lion, a cold sneer appeared on Ma Hongjun's face.

"If you were using other methods, I might have been on guard."

"But when it comes to playing with fire, I am not the least bit inferior to you."

He accelerated once more, slamming fiercely into the Blazing Lion.

The Blazing Lion did not dodge, even though the spot Ma Hongjun struck was its very forehead.

It opened its massive maw, revealing sharp fangs, a fierce glint flashing in its eyes.

A new king had been born in the pack, and as the loser, it would naturally be driven out.

But it would not abandon its former status; it needed to obtain food, recuperate, and slaughter its way back.

Ma Hongjun was precisely its food.

A soul master filled with soul power was a great tonic for it; eating Ma Hongjun would surely increase its cultivation by many years.

Yet, this time, it was disappointed.

The flames that usually caused trouble for its opponents had no effect whatsoever this time.

In fact, when Ma Hongjun's fist landed on its body, the Blazing Lion actually felt a scorching heat.

The smell of scorched fur immediately rose from its body.

"ROAR!"

With a violent shake of its massive head, Ma Hongjun felt a tremendous force and used the momentum to retreat.

Phoenix wings appeared on his back, and he quickly stabilized his body in mid-air.

Ma Hongjun did not choose to linger; instead, he struck while the iron was hot.

While the Blazing Lion was shaking its head in pain, he flashed to its side once again.

Flames surged forth, instantly enveloping the entire Blazing Lion.

The raging inferno rapidly devoured the flames on the surface of the Blazing Lion's body.

In an instant, it had spread across its entire frame.

For the first time, the Blazing Lion tasted the agony of being consumed by fire, letting out incessant wails.

This flame seemed to possess an extremely powerful corrosive nature.

No matter how it tried, the fire on its body seemed as if it would never extinguish.

Ma Hongjun performed a stylish turn and arrived beside Ye Ruilin.

He reached up to brush back the stray hair on his forehead.

"How was that, Boss?"

"Was I cool?"

His words were filled with smugness.

Ye Ruilin had long anticipated his strength.

After all, this kid's Nine Heavens Burning Fire Art had already reached the level of minor completion.

Bone Douluo looked at the kid before him in surprise.

It had only been about half a month, yet this kid seemed to have been reborn.

A 500-year soul beast, even if it was slightly injured, was being dealt with far too easily.

Watching the Blazing Lion struggling in the distance, a glint flashed in Bone Douluo's eyes.

Could it be that this kid is a genius?

"Why does your fire cause it so much pain? Isn't it a fire-type soul beast?"

Ning Rongrong watched the incessantly struggling Blazing Lion with curiosity.

"You're only level ten, yet your flames have such power?"

The young girl was truly puzzled.

In fact, it wasn't just her who was confused; Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo were equally perplexed.

"This is all thanks to Boss."

"Under Boss's guidance, the flames I cultivate far exceed ordinary fire."

"Not only that, but the flames I control also carry a trace of the corrosiveness of my Evil Fire Phoenix martial soul."

A look of pride appeared on Ma Hongjun's face.

That he could have such strength was all thanks to his boss.

"Here, this is the evil fire originally hidden within my body."

"With the boss's help, I've managed to successfully control this evil fire, and now I can even put it to use."

Ma Hongjun pointed at the flames dancing on his fingertips.

Ning Rongrong covered her mouth with her small hand, her expression one of astonishment.

She still clearly remembered how Ma Hongjun had been burning up earlier and had to jump into the Cold Pool.

Even Sword Douluo had said there was no way to resolve it for the time being.

She never expected Brother Ye to have actually solved it!

He had even managed to take this brat's strength to the next level.

Sword Douluo was taken aback.

The Ye Family kid had resolved this fellow's martial soul issue so quickly, and with such an ingenious method, no less.

If it were anyone else, they would likely only think about how to purge the evil fire from within, rather than how to harness it.