Great Soul Arena, Part Two

"Next up! The Legendary Lollipop team, formed by the level 16 Soul Master Phoenix Legend and the level 19 Soul Master Super Lollipop!"

At the host's excited introduction, the bloodthirsty spectators watching the matches burst into applause. They didn't care how much Soul Power the fighters had. They wanted a fight to the death! They had paid copper coins for tickets and silver coins for bets, not to watch some half-baked scuffle. They wanted blood!

"The Legendary Lollipop team currently stands at five wins and seven losses in the Soul Master division. They may have lost more than they've won, but their tenacious fighting style makes every match impossible to call until the final moment. They've even pulled off several astonishing comebacks! Audience, do you love them?" the host shouted.

"Hell yeah! Lollipop, you've got this!"

"Yeah! Phoenix Legend, beat them to a pulp!"

Listening to Ma Hongjun and Oscar's ring names, Jodio wanted to cover his face and run. Those two brats had a sense of humor, all right. He had casually mentioned a few stories he'd watched as a child, and they had shamelessly borrowed the names, just like Ziyan next door. Damn it, why did Ma Hongjun and Oscar have to be like this?

"And their opponents! The brothers who call themselves Super-B: Divine Wood Monkey and Stone-Armored Bear! Please welcome these two Soul Masters, with level 18 and level 19 Soul Power respectively. Let's hear it for Legendary Lollipop versus Super-B!"

Jodio felt a powerful urge to hide his face and flee, but he took two deep breaths and found a sofa to sit on. He was curious whether Ma Hongjun could beat those two. They had a couple of levels on him. This probably wouldn't be easy.

"Little fatty, you'd better hurry home and nurse. With that body, I bet you couldn't even catch my Divine Wood Monkey's backside. And you, pretty boy, you belong at Takamagahara—that famous host club in Suotuo City—not in the manly Great Soul Arena!"

As the cheers grew louder, the skinny monkey Soul Master from Super-B came over to talk trash. Ma Hongjun refused to back down and fired right back.

"What are you two doing, cosplaying Big-Headed Son and Small-Headed Dad? One of you is so bulky he looks ready to ascend to Planet Steroid. The other's so scrawny he looks about to wander onto the set of Prehistoric Humans and cosplay an australopithecine. This is an arena for people of Douluo. We don't let other species fight here." Ma Hongjun planted his hands on his hips as he spoke.

"I never taught him that," Jodio explained to the other healing-type Soul Masters, looking utterly innocent. They all knew the two kids below had some connection to him, but they hadn't expected them to have tongues that sharp. That was some impressive pre-match trash talk.

"Match, begin!"

"Phoenix Legend!"

"Divine Wood Monkey!"

The two powerful beast martial souls clashed at once. Wait. Jodio's eyes went round. A speed-type fighter was taking on someone who looked like a power-type fighter head-on? The other guy even had a fire attribute, while Divine Wood Monkey had a wood attribute!

"Phoenix... Fist!"

With agility that seemed impossible for a fat kid, Ma Hongjun easily dodged the skinny monkey's grab. He spun, planted his foot, rose, and delivered a side kick in one fluid motion, sending his opponent flying three meters. His Evil Fire Phoenix really could overwhelm an opponent through sheer force. Without the evil fire problem, it would probably be a top-tier martial soul. In fact, it was much better than the martial souls of several of the other little monsters.

"That's cheating! Didn't you say fist?!" the skinny monkey Soul Master demanded, clutching his nose. When he heard Ma Hongjun call out Phoenix Fist, he had instinctively watched the boy's hands. He never expected a side kick. That flying kick had nearly taken out his kidneys. Only then did he realize how absurdly powerful Ma Hongjun's martial soul was. What on earth was it?

"I don't want my enemies controlling my corpse after I die. Is that explanation good enough?" Ma Hongjun said, taking up his stance again. Why did I call out a punch and then kick? Isn't it obvious? I'm an offensive Soul Master fighting two of you. How am I supposed to win without a dirty trick or two? Just watch that bear go over and pummel my good buddy Oscar?

"Hmph. Let me!" The Soul Master with the Stone-Armored Bear martial soul charged forward, looking ready to tear Ma Hongjun apart. Ma Hongjun grew serious too. His first Spirit Ring lit up, activating his first soul skill. Phoenix Scorching Flame Protective Shield!

Just before their fists met, Ma Hongjun rolled sideways again and avoided the heavy blow. Then he accelerated to top speed, pursuing the skinny monkey as he ran toward Oscar. Who fought head-on these days? He specialized in speed and defense. What was the point if he didn't use his strengths against their weaknesses?

"Phoenix Nebula Split!"

Roaring purple-red flames covered Ma Hongjun as he rushed toward the skinny monkey with a staggering gait. It looked clumsy, but he was moving so fast that he was almost upon his opponent. With his martial soul fully unleashed, his speed had clearly risen. At the very least, he could catch up in a burst.

"Hongjun!"

Oscar wasn't standing idle either. According to the combat lessons Jodio had taught him, a support-type Soul Master naturally drew twice as much enemy attention as other Soul Masters. He was practically a walking target. If he didn't learn to position himself, all he could do was wait for a blast from the Sky Azure Bull Python to turn him into a dead sausage, then into a reeking pile of python dung a week later. Run. Yes, keep running. Stay on the move at all times, ready to link up with Ma Hongjun!

Three sausages flew from Oscar's hand into Ma Hongjun's mouth. Ma Hongjun immediately perked up and burned through his Soul Power almost recklessly to go even faster. Jodio saw his lips moving as though he was muttering something. Then Jodio nearly lost it. Watching even one more second felt beyond him.

"Su. Per. Big. Sau. Sage!"

Jodio's vision went dark, and he nearly passed out. He resolved to borrow Zhao Wuji's belt tonight and give those two little bastards a thorough whipping. What kind of person came up with a line like that? Those two were destroying every shred of his dignity.

Ma Hongjun unleashed his full power and swept a leg out, forcing the skinny monkey to leap high. Then Ma Hongjun sprang up after him and came down like he was going for a dunk, nearly slapping the monkey's head into his chest and turning him into Tom Cat. Ma Hongjun tossed him toward Oscar without looking, then ran to intercept Stone-Armored Bear. He trusted Oscar to kick the skinny monkey out of the arena like a ball. Then it really would be two against one.

"How is that possible?! He took Divine Wood Monkey down so easily!" Stone-Armored Bear said in shock.

"This is my Phoenix Legend!" Ma Hongjun leaped again, twisting around as he drew back a deliberate punch.

"You're dead, you stinking bear!"

← To Be Continued

Currently available information:

Martial soul: Evil Phoenix (level 16)

Holder: Ma Hongjun

Spirit Ring: Yellow (210-year Flame Bull)

Destructive power: B, speed: D, range: D, endurance: D, precision: E, growth potential: B

Martial soul ability: Summons raging flames and a phoenix phantom to envelop him, increasing his attack power and speed. However, he cannot sustain this martial soul for long. It is better suited to hit-and-run combat.

Phoenix Scorching Flame Protective Shield halves the impact he takes and increases the range of his flames. Combined with his high attack power and relatively high speed, it can be quite effective. As his Soul Power grows, his speed has also improved noticeably.