(A beautiful picture of Ning Rongrong)
Ma Hongjun panted heavily, his Soul Power almost entirely depleted. He hurriedly pulled out Oscar's sausage from inside his clothes and took a vicious bite.
After chewing twice, his expression changed.
"Little Oscar, has this sausage of yours gone bad? Why is it restoring so little?"
Oscar looked utterly baffled and scratched his head. "Impossible! I just squeezed it out, and it was still warm!"
Ma Hongjun's eyes went wide. "Then what's going on???"
He felt as if the Soul Power inside him were a leaking balloon; no matter what he did, he couldn't get it back up.
Ma Hongjun gritted his teeth and roared, "Forget it! Second Soul Skill, Bathing Fire Phoenix!"
The second Yellow Soul Ring on his body lit up, and flames engulfed him, making him look like a burning turkey.
When this enhancement Soul Skill was activated, it strengthened his Phoenix Flame by 30%!
As long as he activated this Soul Skill, he would definitely be able to defeat his opponent!
Yet Ma Hongjun felt his Soul Power churning in disorder, and he could barely keep Bathing Fire Phoenix going!
The flames flickered and dimmed, like a candle about to go out.
His face paled, and he cursed angrily, "Little Oscar, that sausage of yours has definitely gone bad!"
Oscar looked aggrieved. "I really did just squeeze it out..."
The real cause was Xiao Jue's Abyssal Turbid Waves!
He had controlled the corrosive abyssal black water to strike, and the black water carried soul corrosion!
Anyone who came into contact with it would continue to lose health for a certain period, their Soul Power would fall into disorder, and healing effects on them would be reduced!
It could be said that, having been struck by his black water, Ma Hongjun and Oscar were already turtles trapped in a jar!
But Ma Hongjun refused to accept defeat. Clutching the Chicken Talisman in his hand, he slowly rose into the air.
"Let's see how you hit me when I'm up here!"
He hovered in midair, looking down at Xiao Jue with a smug grin.
He unleashed Phoenix Fire Line once again, but this time he aimed it not at Xiao Jue, but at Ning Rongrong!
"Without the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's enhancement, you're definitely no match for me!"
A scorching stream of flame sped straight toward Ning Rongrong!
Ning Rongrong squeezed her eyes shut in panic, her pretty face drained of color as she screamed.
At the very last instant, Xiao Jue flashed forward and wrapped an arm around Ning Rongrong's waist, dodging the Phoenix Fire Line!
Their bodies pressed together, and Xiao Jue could feel how soft Ning Rongrong was and how she trembled.
Ning Rongrong opened her eyes and looked at Xiao Jue holding her in his arms. Her face reddened, and her heart began to race.
She placed her hands on Xiao Jue's solid chest, feeling his strong heartbeat.
"Y-you... let go of me..." Ning Rongrong said softly, but her hands didn't push him away.
Xiao Jue smiled faintly. "Don't rush. It's not over yet."
With his other hand, he released black water to strike back at the air.
This time, the black water was stronger than before!
The black water transformed into a column and shot straight into the sky!
Ma Hongjun cried, "Whoa!"
Like a bird struck by a high-pressure water jet, he fell with a splat, the Chicken Talisman flying from his grasp.
Xiao Jue switched his Martial Soul from Leviathan, Sin of Envy, to Beelzebub, Sin of Gluttony!
Several flies flew out with a buzz, caught the Chicken Talisman with precision, and delivered it into Xiao Jue's hand.
Without a change in expression, Xiao Jue put the Chicken Talisman into his system space.
Ma Hongjun crashed onto Oscar, leaving himself dazed and battered, while Oscar was knocked out cold.
"The Seven Seven Team wins!"
The host announced in a loud voice.
Still in Xiao Jue's arms, Ning Rongrong looked at him, her face red.
So, so he's this strong?
Now Ning Rongrong liked Xiao Jue even more.
She had originally been relying on a stroke of luck as she spent time with Xiao Jue, but if he was such a powerful Battle Soul Master, he could absolutely marry into their Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!
Her father, Ning Fengzhi, would appreciate him too!
The more Ning Rongrong thought about it, the happier she became, and the corners of her mouth rose despite herself.
Seeing her grinning foolishly, Xiao Jue couldn't resist tapping her on the head. "What are you thinking about? Let's go."
"Huh? Oh!" Only then did Ning Rongrong come back to her senses and hurry after Xiao Jue.
Just then, the system popped up in front of Xiao Jue with a ding-
[Ding! Chicken Talisman detected. This system will gladly accept it!] Xiao Jue thought, *??? Come on, bro, I worked so hard to get that Chicken Talisman!* [Don't worry, you'll get your share.] [Chicken Talisman devoured. Obtained 7 Pride Points!] [Current Pride Points: 7] [Martial Soul Lucifer, Sin of Pride, unlocked!] [Martial Soul bonuses: Spiritual power increased! Mental resistance increased!] [The higher your Pride Points, the greater the bonuses!] [Activating the Martial Soul Lucifer, Sin of Pride, grants the ability to fly!]
Xiao Jue rejoiced inwardly. That's more like it!
All seven Martial Souls were unlocked!
Ning Rongrong leaned closer and asked curiously, "Little Xiaozi, you really kept that hidden. I didn't expect you to be so strong."
Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow smugly. "There's a lot more you don't know."
Ning Rongrong followed him with shining eyes, chattering nonstop like a little sidekick.
Xiao Jue asked, "Aren't you going to meet up with the others?"
Ning Rongrong shook her head and said softly, "Mm... I just want to stay with you."
Xiao Jue put his hands behind his head and strolled along at his leisure. "All right, suit yourself."
Elsewhere.
The six members of Shrek came out of the Soto Great Soul Arena.
Tang San, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar were all injured, their faces bruised and swollen, looking thoroughly battered.
Dai Mubai, on the other hand, seemed to have won his one-on-one match easily, his white clothes immaculate.
"Where's the dean?" Tang San asked Dai Mubai.
Dai Mubai shrugged helplessly. "Heaven knows where he went. He told us to head back first once our Soul Fighting was over."
"You all go back first. The dean just told me to stop by his shop," Ma Hongjun suddenly said, a gleam of excitement flickering in his small eyes.
A hint of an ambiguous smile appeared on Dai Mubai's face. "Then we'll head back first. Take it easy."
"Boss Dai, are you coming?"
"No. Cut the nonsense and get going." Dai Mubai glared at him irritably, but the corner of his eye drifted toward Zhu Zhuqing.
The fatty was clearly a little slow on the uptake and failed to catch the meaning in Dai Mubai's gaze. His chubby face was slightly red with excitement:
"Come on, let's go together. Didn't you say women don't count as people, but as resources?"
Dai Mubai finally lost his patience. "Get lost. My taste isn't as bad as yours."
Ma Hongjun snorted in displeasure, but faced with the angry light flickering in Dai Mubai's evil eyes, he opened his mouth and ultimately didn't dare exchange words with the Evil-Eyed White Tiger. He turned and left.
"Boss Dai, where's that lecherous fatty going?" Xiao Wu asked.
Dai Mubai laughed. "You've already called him lecherous. What else could he be going to do? He can't keep his Evil Fire under control anymore."
Xiao Wu said irritably, "Off to harm girls again? I really wonder whether his Martial Soul Mutation has something to do with his inborn personality."
Dai Mubai said, "I wouldn't call it harming them. Don't you know there are places in this world called brothels?"