An Encounter with Flander and Ma Hongjun

"Roar—"

The accompanying Soul Sage unleashed a tiger's roar as he entered his Martial Soul Possession state. Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black...

Seven soul rings circled around him as a pair of tiger wings spread from his back.

This was his Martial Soul, the Flying Tiger. Though its quality was not top-tier, it had no obvious weaknesses either. That was precisely why Qian Renxue had selected him from among several Soul Sages to hunt a soul ring for Ouyang Ling.

"Please don't make a move."

As soon as he spoke, two figures arrived from the direction the Fire Rat had fled earlier, appearing before Ouyang Ling and his companion.

One was a burly middle-aged man in his forties with a hooked nose and a face that looked rather like the sole of a shoe. A pair of square black-framed crystal glasses rested on his nose, giving him a shrewd air. The seven soul rings circling him also displayed his strength.

He was carrying a little fat boy in one hand. The boy was not very old, with short red hair, and could not exactly be called handsome.

But those features were far too distinctive...

Could these be Flander and Ma Hongjun?

Ouyang Ling narrowed his eyes without changing expression. He swiftly stepped back, placing the Flying Tiger Soul Sage in front of him.

It was always better to be careful.

Still...

His gaze discreetly shifted toward the frozen Fire Rat.

This was probably their target—the first soul beast Ma Hongjun intended to hunt. Unfortunately, they had arrived at the wrong time.

Perhaps because of the pressure released by the two Soul Sages, coupled with being trapped between them while frozen in ice, the Fire Rat was suffering both physical and mental oppression. Its condition was steadily worsening.

It would not be long before this Fire Rat croaked.

At the same time, the appearance of Flander and Ma Hongjun made the Flying Tiger Soul Sage tense. Compared to soul beasts, he was more wary of encountering Soul Masters. Especially since the seven soul rings on the other side were no mere decoration, openly displaying their deterrence.

Naturally, Flander shared that concern.

He, too, feared the malice in people's hearts.

But seeing their vigilance, the way the Soul Sage shielded the child, and their fine clothing—especially the soul tool hanging at the child's waist...

As an old hand in the world, Flander concluded that this was "a guard from some faction escorting a young master out to obtain a soul ring," and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

After all, when hunting soul rings for a "young master," there would always be more reservations. They generally would not resort to violence, which meant there was room for negotiation.

But he had to take a step back first.

Because any force capable of making a Soul Sage willingly serve as a guard was absolutely beyond his ability to offend.

That was experience gained from years of wandering.

Besides...

Flander's sharp gaze swept over the frozen ice.

This master and servant did not need this Fire Rat.

Thus, Flander deliberately eased his aura and made his expression noticeably gentler. "The commotion earlier may have startled you two. Please forgive us." As soon as he spoke, the atmosphere around them was no longer quite so tense.

"What is it?"

The Flying Tiger Soul Sage glanced at Ma Hongjun beside Flander, then at the frozen Fire Rat, and immediately understood what had happened.

Though he inwardly marveled that this little fat boy was also a genius, his outward attitude remained unchanged. He even knowingly asked the question.

Flander pretended not to care and instead introduced himself. "I am Flander. In recent years, I took in a disciple who happens to need a soul ring. This Fire Rat was the target we selected, but unexpectedly, it ran into you two."

"Could you perhaps show some mercy? After all..."

His gaze swept over Ouyang Ling. While secretly marveling that he had reached level 20 at such a young age, he continued aloud:

"This little brother has no use for it either."

"So it is one of the Golden Iron Triangle—the Flying Horn."

The Flying Tiger Soul Sage's expression did not change.

He, too, had lived through that era and naturally knew of the great reputation the Golden Iron Triangle had once made for themselves in the Soul Master world.

But so what? He was only one corner of the triangle.

Still, the Fire Rat...

With the thought that avoiding trouble was better than seeking it, and that bringing the young master back safely was what mattered, the Flying Tiger Soul Sage felt that agreeing would not hurt.

Thus, he lowered his gaze slightly. Only after receiving Ouyang Ling's approval did he say, "Since the Flying Horn needs it, I can give you this favor."

"Then many thanks."

Flander pretended not to notice that glance. Turning, he signaled Ma Hongjun with his eyes. "Brat, hurry up."

Ma Hongjun, who had remained silent until now, was overjoyed. He had waited far too long for this moment and hurried to the solid ice.

He pulled out a short blade and prepared to chip it open. "Clang—"

After a crisp sound, it left only a white mark on the surface.

Ma Hongjun was immediately at a loss.

He could only turn a pleading gaze toward his teacher.

Flander suddenly wanted to smack his disciple hard across the head, but with outsiders present, he merely lowered his voice and reminded him.

"Use fire."

Ouyang Ling and his companion watched coldly from the side.

They did not help melt the ice, and Flander did not ask them to. Otherwise, if something happened midway, who would be responsible?

"Oh, oh—"

Ma Hongjun immediately gave a low shout. "Phoenix Possession."

Upon hearing the word Phoenix, the Flying Tiger Soul Sage's heart tightened.

A beast Martial Soul like that was among the finest of all Martial Souls! This little fat boy who looked like he had come from the countryside actually possessed such a Martial Soul!?

He instantly became serious!

He needed to mention a commoner genius like this to the young master.

Meanwhile, Flander was even more annoyed.

But his anger was directed both at Ma Hongjun and at himself. It was probably something like: Why did you shout out your Martial Soul, you brat!? Can't you see there are outsiders here?! Sigh— and it's my fault too. I never taught him to keep a low profile.

At the same time,

Ouyang Ling's attention had also focused on Ma Hongjun.

He was quite curious about Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire.

A scorching heat rose as purplish-red light surged from Ma Hongjun's body. Other than his hair, only his arms grew feathered plumage, and his hands turned into sharp claws. There were no other changes.

This temperature was really high.

Ouyang Ling observed and considered it carefully, discovering that the quality of Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire was nearly on par with the ice attribute within his own Martial Soul.

But its flaw was also obvious: its fire attribute was not pure.

Perhaps because he had spent so much time with Qian Renxue, he could clearly sense that the power contained within Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire conflicted with hers. Even more, one trace of that power was deeply familiar to him.

What conflicted with the light attribute was darkness,

And what conflicted with holiness, and felt familiar to Ouyang Ling...

Was evil!

Of course, this evil power was not an attribute, merely a quality of energy. That was the reason his Evil Fire was so adhesive, as well as why he needed to resolve it through the union of man and woman.

If Qian Renxue—no!

It should be said that any Soul Master with a Martial Soul possessing light and holy qualities could discern the true nature of the Evil Fire's power.

As for why Ouyang Ling found it familiar...

It was because he had encountered it before.

At the same time, "Whoosh—"

Ma Hongjun pressed both hands against the solid ice, allowing the Evil Fire wrapped around them to continuously melt it away.

But before the Fire Rat's body could be exposed,

"Buzz—"

A different fluctuation of soul power spread out, followed by Ma Hongjun's shout, "Teacher! Look!"