Ma Hongjun Gets Defamed

Dai Mubai heard this, and his expression instantly turned odd.

"Didn't you just vent your evil fire in a brothel before you came here?"

"Hehe."

Ma Hongjun gave a wretched smile. "How can I visit a city for once and not experience the local customs and practices? Dai Boss, don't you think so?"

"This..."

Dai Mubai frowned slightly. "Before the dean came, he told me to keep an eye on you and not let you run wild under the excuse of venting your evil fire."

Ma Hongjun rolled his eyes, leaned in, and lowered his voice. "Dai Boss, how can you call this running wild? Aren't I doing this to maintain my optimal combat state?"

"If this evil fire stuff is suppressed for too long, it easily affects performance. What if I lose control on the arena stage later and burn the opponent to death? How great would that be!"

"You've got a whole set of crooked logic."

Dai Mubai rolled his eyes at him in exasperation, but couldn't be bothered to deal with it anymore. "Alright, go register at the Great Soul Arena first. If you dare delay important business, I'll tell the dean when we get back and dock all of your next month's allowance."

"Don't do that, Dai Boss! I guarantee I'll make it quick!"

Ma Hongjun instantly shrank his neck, though his pace quickened a bit.

Only, those little eyes still didn't forget to glance toward the singing and dancing beauties along the street.

The two of them walked all the way through the bustling streets, arriving before the towering architecture of the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena.

Ma Hongjun looked up at the towering arches and the flashing soul guide signs, and couldn't help letting out another "Whoa":

"So magnificent! Much better than that broken shed in Suotuo City!"

Dai Mubai couldn't be bothered to reply, heading straight for the registration desk.

While waiting in line, Ma Hongjun stood on tiptoe to peer forward, suddenly tugged on Dai Mubai's sleeve, and lowered his voice excitedly:

"Dai Boss, did you hear what that guy in front said? 'Karma Fire Phoenix'? That nickname is pretty arrogant, fifty consecutive wins? You've got to be kidding!"

The soul master discussing it just ahead turned his head, glanced at Ma Hongjun, and sneered:

"New here? You don't even know the Karma Fire Phoenix? That guy's fire is scarlet gold, and when it burns, even Soul Ancestors can't take two hits! He just claimed his fiftieth win last night, and now the whole arena is betting on when he'll break the record!"

When Ma Hongjun heard this, his fat face was instantly filled with defiance:

"Scarlet-gold flames are a big deal? Fat Grandpa's Evil Fire Phoenix is also a top-tier beast martial soul! If we really run into each other, who burns who isn't certain yet!"

That soul master looked as if he had heard some kind of joke, looked up and down at his roly-poly figure, and immediately let out a scornful laugh:

"You? The Karma Fire Phoenix is already a Gold Grade Soul Fighting Badge holder, averaging under a minute per match. With your physique, how many seconds would you last burning?"

"You!"

Ma Hongjun's face flushed with anger, and just as he was about to roll up his sleeves, Dai Mubai pressed him down.

"Behave."

Dai Mubai frowned as he looked at the registration window, his heart stirring slightly.

Fifty consecutive wins... Gold badge...

This was no simple matter.

He had been knocking around in the Suotuo Soul Arena for so many years, and he only had a silver-grade badge.

Yet the quality of soul masters in the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena was clearly much stronger compared to Suotuo City.

"Hmph, what damn Karma Fire Phoenix, if he runs into Little Master's evil fire, I'll have to burn him into a capon."

Ma Hongjun spat disdainfully, returning to the queue.

Yet before long, a tall, muscle-bound soul master walked up, his pupils shrinking when he noticed the filth on the ground.

"Who did this?"

An angry voice resounded through the registration hall.

Ma Hongjun was so startled by this sudden roar that he shuddered, pulling his neck back and shifting half a step backward, though he refused to soften his words:

"What, what's wrong? Did you pave this floor?"

The big man slowly turned around, revealing a sharply defined face, his gaze scraping over Ma Hongjun's roly-poly body like a knife.

"You did it?"

"Y-Yeah, so what if I did!"

Ma Hongjun stuck out his neck, putting on a tough front. "This place doesn't have a sign saying you can't spit!"

Dai Mubai cursed an internal "idiot," quickly stepping forward to block in front of Ma Hongjun, and cupped his fists toward the big man:

"This brother, it's my companion here who doesn't know the rules. I'll apologize on his behalf."

The big man stared at Dai Mubai for two seconds, then suddenly grinned.

"Alright, since you're admitting the mistake, then we go by the rules."

"Either you get down right now and lick it clean. Or..."

His voice paused, soul power violently erupting around his entire body as four soul rings—two yellow and two purple—rose from beneath his feet, the air seemingly growing somewhat heavy.

"I'll help you clean it up."

Ma Hongjun's face turned pale, and only then did he notice the badge on the other's chest.

Silver background, four star patterns.

A four-ring Soul Ancestor!

Dai Mubai's gaze sank as well. He was currently only a three-ring Soul Elder, and though he relied on the formidable nature of his White Tiger Martial Soul, going up against an actual Soul Ancestor meant his chances of winning weren't high.

Not to mention this person was also a Soul Ancestor with a silver-grade badge; his strength would only be greater.

"This friend, it's just a small matter, there's no need to take it seriously, right?"

Dai Mubai attempted to smooth things over. "We're new here and don't know the rules of this place. How about..."

"Rules are rules."

The big man interrupted him, loosening his wrists as his knuckle joints made crisp crack sounds. "Since you chose the second path, don't blame me for hitting hard."

Seeing that the conflict was on the verge of breaking out, the surrounding crowd in line had long since tacitly retreated by a circle, every single one of them stretching their necks, practically ready to grab a small stool and crack melon seeds.

"Tsk, tsk. Where did these brash youngsters come from, daring to spit in front of Iron Fist Liu Mang?"

"Liu Mang is a famously violent temper among the silver rank. Last time a Soul Elder tried to cut in line, he pounded him into bed rest for half a month!"

"There's a good show to watch!"

Hearing the discussions around him, Ma Hongjun broke into a cold sweat. He tugged at the corner of Dai Mubai's sleeve and said in a low voice, "Dai, Dai Boss, how about... we run?"

"Run?"

Liu Mang had sharp ears and sneered. "Once you've entered the gates of this soul arena, just where do you expect to run?"

He took a step forward, the ground trembling slightly.

"Asking one last time, lick, or fight?"

Dai Mubai took a deep breath, knowing there was no settling this amicably. His gaze turned sharp as his White Tiger Martial Soul possessed him, his three rings rising in tandem: "In that case, offense taken!"

"Yo-ho, another stubborn stubble?"

Liu Mang laughed instead of getting angry. Clenching his fist, his first soul ring lit up: First Soul Skill: Stone Skin!

His bare skin instantly took on a grayish-white luster, akin to being covered by a layer of rock.

"Fatty, get back!"

Dai Mubai shouted in a low voice as his second soul ring flashed: White Tiger Intense Light Wave!

A blazing white light wave spewed forth, directly blasting toward Liu Mang's chest.

Liu Mang didn't dodge or evade, grinning hideously as he took the blow head-on.

"Boom!"

The light wave exploded, yet he merely swayed his body. The rock skin on his chest cracked with a few fine lines, returning to normal in the blink of an eye.

"Is that it?"

Liu Mang twisted his neck, his second soul ring lighting up: Second Soul Skill: Mountain Crushing Fist!

His right fist, wrapped in a gray-yellow radiance, smashed toward Dai Mubai like a cannonball.

Dai Mubai's pupils contracted as his third soul skill instantly triggered: White Tiger Vajra Transformation!

His figure bulged explosively, his arms crossing in a block.

"Thud—!"

The muffled impact sounded like a beating giant drum.

Dai Mubai was blasted back sliding several meters from the punch, the soles of his shoes scraping two white marks into the ground, his arms numb and a sweet taste rising in his throat.

"Dai Boss!"