The energy of the evil fire is extremely powerful. If this power is not guided, absorbed, and refined, and left unchecked in the body, it will cause significant side effects. The power of
the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Scripture was revealed. After several attempts to ignite the evil fire, Ma Hongjun discovered that a major reason he could use the evil fire to refine his body was the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Scripture.
This technique has a strong compatibility with the evil fire generated by the phoenix mutation.
However, although it can refine the evil fire, it still affects the body, and some of its effects cannot be eliminated.
With the help of the evil fire, the improvement of physical strength became much faster.
Two months later, Ma Hongjun's running load gradually increased from five kilograms to ten kilograms, and other exercises also increased by ten kilograms.
He could finally wield a twenty-kilogram iron spear with ease. Instead of rushing to replace it with a heavier spear, he began practicing spear techniques in water and on wooden stakes.
A new training element was added: sparring with his father, Ma Ming, without using martial spirits or soul power, purely physical combat.
After the sparring, it became clear that Ma Hongjun wasn't far behind in physical strength, managing to hold his own against Ma Ming.
This surprised Ma Ming, but it was also within his expectations. He had personally supervised Ma Hongjun's training during this period and was well aware of his progress and strength.
Given Ma Hongjun's current training intensity, he doubted he could even sustain it.
In terms of soul power, Ma Hongjun was level 20, while he was level 27.
Keep in mind that he was a Great Soul Master, and both his soul rings were hundred-year rings—one three hundred years, the other six hundred years. His next soul ring goal was a thousand-year ring; his physical strength exceeded the average Soul Master's.
By the third month, Ma Hongjun's load had gradually increased by another five kilograms.
The iron spear remained at twenty kilograms, but he began practicing with it below the waterfall.
Besides practicing with the iron spear, he also dedicated some time to cultivating his first martial spirit, the Dragon Soul Spear.
Ma Hongjun can now summon the Dragon Soul Spear at will, but the Dragon Soul Spear still consumes too much soul power, and can only maintain its power for a minute.
Even if he uses all his soul power, he can only unleash one strike.
Despite this, the power of this single strike is immense. Ma Hongjun and his father, Ma Ming, tested it, and the power of a single strike using the Dragon Soul Spear was stronger than Ma Ming's first soul ring skill. Furthermore,
combined with the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Spear, its power is even greater. Currently, due to his inability to break through the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Sutra and the short training time, Ma Hongjun has only truly mastered the first two forms of the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Spear technique: Hundred Birds Leaving the Nest and Hundred Birds Returning. He is
most proficient in the Hundred Birds Leaving the Nest form, and Ma Hongjun has dedicated this last month to practicing it specifically with the Dragon Soul Spear.
After three months of intensive training, Ma Hongjun can now fight Ma Ming physically without being at a disadvantage, and his physical strength is comparable to Ma Ming's.
After three months, Ma Hongjun had grown considerably, increasing in height by five centimeters and becoming noticeably stronger, looking like a boy of about ten. His muscles were clearly defined, exuding explosive power. His skin, due to the medicinal baths, was slightly yellowish, and the bronze color gave him a more mature appearance, already displaying the demeanor of a teenager. Speaking of the
medicinal baths, the medicine Ma Hongjun had purchased over these three months had completely depleted Ma Ming's savings of over a thousand gold soul coins.
Indeed, cultivating a soul master was no easy feat, far beyond the means of an ordinary family. This was also the reason why most soul masters cultivated slowly and lacked a solid foundation.
Ma Ping finally sent a messenger, instructing Ma Ming to bring Ma Hongjun to Musu Town and find him at the entrance of the Soul Hunting Forest.
After receiving the message, Ma Ming packed his bags and equipment; Ma Hongjun also brought his 20-kilogram iron spear, which he was already accustomed to using during his training.
In the Soul Hunting Forest, having a weapon was always better than having none.
Ma Ming possessed a storage soul tool, a ring with limited space; it was a relatively low-end soul tool, which he had acquired by chance.
"Dad, why are you bringing so much stuff?" Ma Hongjun asked, puzzled, watching Ma Ming pack so many supplies.
"You haven't been to the Soul Hunting Forest, so you don't know. I've lived there for years, and I know the basics. Entering the Soul Hunting Forest doesn't guarantee you'll encounter a suitable soul beast and obtain a soul ring immediately; if you're unlucky, you might not encounter a suitable soul beast for three to five days, or even seven or eight days. So you need to be prepared," Ma Ming explained, patting Ma Hongjun's head. Thankfully,
he had a storage soul tool, making it much more convenient to carry items; Ma Hongjun also wanted one.
After packing their luggage, the father and son quickly made their way to the Soul Hunting Forest.
The Soul Hunting Forest in Musu Town was vast, and it was said that ten-thousand-year-old soul beasts had appeared there, but Ma Ming hadn't encountered one. Of course, with Ma Ming's strength, encountering one would be tantamount to death. Soul
masters throughout Soto City and the surrounding towns basically needed to hunt for soul rings here.
Outside the Soul Hunting Forest, the area was bustling with activity. Rows of houses stood side by side, and shops of all kinds lined the streets.
The atmosphere was as lively as a market, with vendors shouting their wares, mostly selling weapons, equipment, and daily necessities.
"Looking to hunt strength-type soul beasts in a group? Need a warrant. Ten gold soul coins."
"We have warrants. Looking to hunt agility-type soul beasts in a group? Need an attack-type battle soul master. Ten gold soul coins."
...
Many soul hunting teams were shouting, either lacking members or warrants, but judging from the voices, the teams lacking warrants were more numerous.
There was a soul hunting team in Ma Family Village, and Ma Ming was an attack-type battle soul master, an important member of the team.
They usually roamed the Soul Hunting Forest like these small teams, helping others acquire soul rings to earn gold soul coins.
"The Soul Hunting Forest isn't open to just anyone. Only soul masters with a warrant issued by the Spirit Hall can enter to hunt soul beasts. Although there are those who sneak in, they rarely have a good ending. These soldiers are just for outer defense; inside the Soul Hunting Forest, there's a special enforcement team from the Spirit Hall that checks warrants at any time. Those people are ruthless,"
Ma Ming said to Ma Hongjun, pointing to the soldiers at the entrance. Clearly, he was somewhat wary of these soldiers. This relationship was like that between a merchant and city management officials.
"The Spirit Hall issues six levels of warrants, with level one being the lowest and level six the highest. The level is determined by the patterns on the warrant; the number of patterns indicates the level.
Most Soul Hunting teams don't have warrants, and neither do I. However, your third grandfather has one; it's a level three warrant, which can be used permanently, unlike level one and two warrants which can only be used once and then revoked."
...
Without Ma Hongjun asking, Ma Ming explained everything he saw to him. This was also a form of instruction; the more one learns, the more knowledge one gains.
They met Ma Ping at a restaurant near the entrance, where he had been waiting for a long time.
After three months, seeing Ma Hongjun again, Ma Ping was truly impressed. His robust physique alone was enough to demonstrate Ma Hongjun's hard work over the past three months.
He looked at Ma Hongjun with satisfaction, patted him on the shoulder, and then walked towards the entrance.
He took out a warrant and handed it to the soldier at the door for inspection.
Upon seeing the three patterns on the warrant, the soldier respectfully returned it, indicating that the three could enter.
Ma Hongjun also saw the three symbols on the token; he knew they were the symbols of three top-tier martial souls.
They were:
the Seven Kill Sword,
the Clear Sky Hammer, and
the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex!
I'm about to hunt for my first soul ring, brothers, please lend me your support by voting, adding to your favorites, checking in, and commenting!
(End of Chapter)