Phoenix Burns the Vines

The third member of Plant Academy had the Blue Oil Vine as his Martial Soul.

Blue Oil Vine leaves secreted an oil that caught fire at the slightest touch of an ordinary flame. It seemed a perfect target for Phoenix flames, but the thick smoke it produced when burned absorbed the surrounding air and carried a sweet scent that made people dizzy.

Ma Hongjun had read about this Martial Soul in the pre-match briefing.

When the referee announced the start, he did not unleash his flames immediately. His third Spirit Ring lit up first.

A pair of flaming wings spread from his back.

Phoenix Wing Soaring lifted him into the air, clear of the first wave of Blue Oil Vines creeping across the ground.

His opponent thrust both hands upward. The vines rose from the ground, spraying oil from their leaves toward Ma Hongjun.

Ma Hongjun beat his wings, blowing the droplets away.

"You think all I know how to do when I see a plant is burn it?"

He dove from the air, ignoring the vine net closing around him, and charged straight at his opponent.

The Blue Oil Vine Soul Master immediately pulled every vine back in front of himself and wove them into three layers of shields.

At that moment, Ma Hongjun snapped his wings shut and dropped to the ground.

He had been watching the Blue Oil Vine's roots from the start.

The moment his feet touched down, his fourth Spirit Ring lit up.

"Phoenix Sky-Shaking Strike!"

The ground before Ma Hongjun shook with a roar. Blazing pillars of fire erupted beneath every Blue Oil Vine root. The vine shields remained intact, but the roots underground had been snapped by flame and impact.

Soul Power surged back through the vines into his opponent's body, and his