Soon, the Luo father and son finally arrived—this time, they were different, not the least bit timid, even walking in with swagger.
Behind them was a man and a woman—the man with red hair and red clothes, flames rising from his body, handsome features; the woman in a purple short skirt, charming and pretty.
Seeing the girl, the Ao brothers' eyes lit up. They hadn't expected the Luo father and son to bring such a beautiful girl—prettier than any they'd taken from the Heaven Dou Empire. Surely she was a gift for them.
If the father and son were so loyal, perhaps they could even leave a bit of meat on the chicken bones for Luo Fujii later.
As soon as the red-clothed man entered and smelled the delicacies, he couldn't help himself, found a table, and began to gorge himself regardless of the others, his mouth covered in grease.
The purple-clad girl sighed helplessly and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his mouth. "Hongjun, why are you eating so fast? Are you that hungry?"
"You don't know, Xiangxiang. When I was in the Scorching Hell, what I ate and drank every day was awful—I was so hungry I ate dirt, so thirsty I chewed ice. We won a battle a few days ago and were promised braised fish, one each, but before I started, Zhuqing snatched mine, saying I needed to keep slim or I'd bounce back. Funny how she has no boyfriend but isn't afraid of putting on weight herself." Ma Hongjun grumbled, his resentment almost overflowing.
Hearing this, Bai Chenxiang commented enviously, "You know Zhuqing's fat always goes to the right places."
Their casual conversation infuriated the Ao family. Ao Erbai slammed the table. "How dare you! My grandfather and Lord Ghost Leopard haven't allowed you to sit, yet you're already eating? Luo Hengji, how could your guests be so rude? That girl is here to serve me, right? Send her over, and throw out the red-haired one."
"My brother's right. Dog slaves don't deserve meat—a bone is a reward," Ao Erduo chimed in.
Ma Hongjun's eyes turned cold. With two swishes, a wing bone and a drumstick bone landed in the brothers' mouths.
"Speaking of dogs, aren't you guys Spirit Hall's dogs? Here's a bone for you." Ma Hongjun smirked.
"Insolent—" Ao Ersi, the brothers' father, was about to curse when, with two more swishes, a chicken head and a chicken butt landed in Ao Erfu and Ao Ersi's mouths.
Seeing this, Ghost Leopard Douluo, who had just been watching, immediately became wary. The Ao brothers were just trash, but Ao Erfu and Ao Ersi were real Soul Douluo-level soul masters.
Yet they couldn't dodge a chicken head and butt, and even Ghost Leopard Douluo barely saw the red-haired youth's move.
This was someone as strong as him.
"Luo Hengji, aren't you going to introduce him?" Ghost Leopard Douluo kept up appearances.
"Your Holiness Ghost Leopard, these two are my son's friends, also the big brother and sister-in-law he acknowledged. The red-haired youth is Ma Hongjun, a former soul master tournament participant—his appearance has changed, so you didn't recognize him. The purple-clad girl is Bai Chenxiang, young lady of the Speed Clan—you've met her before, but probably didn't remember. They're both from..." Luo Hengji paused dramatically, "the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"
"What? Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?" Ghost Leopard Douluo instinctively activated his martial soul. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was Spirit Hall's greatest enemy! "Luo Hengji, you dare collude with them? Don't you want the antidote any more?"
Luo Hengji calmly sipped his wine. "First, I'm not colluding with them—I've been a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect man from the start. My son's big brother is the Holy Demon Douluo, and since my only son chooses to follow him, how could I choose otherwise?
Second, the best poison master and alchemist are both with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Why should I need your antidote? I've played the coward in front of the Ao family for years—now I can finally hold my head high."
Luo Hengji snapped his fingers, "Fujii, go report!"
"Yes, father." Luo Fujii immediately went to Ma Hongjun and wailed, "Third Boss Hongjun, you need to help me! The Ao family bullied me terribly these years…"
"Don't worry. I was just delayed by dinner. The others should have already wiped out Spirit Hall's forces in Jialing Pass. Time for me to get to work." Ma Hongjun stood up, full. "Whoever bullies my big brother's little brother bullies me. Ghost Leopard Douluo, Ao family scum, draw your line. Today I'll avenge my brother."
Hearing this, Ghost Leopard Douluo shuddered. He should have realized—Ma Hongjun wouldn't come alone. With the Luo family's help, the entire Jialing Pass, even the whole Lima Plain, and the former Silvis Kingdom territory, might already be in Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect hands.
He was right. Lima Plain was already in Tianlin's hands, and Tianlin had set out for Silvis Kingdom himself. For efficiency, he only sent a few people to Jialing Pass, but it was enough.
With Spirit Hall's main force at the front, the only real fighters at Jialing Pass were Ghost Leopard Douluo and the Ao family, and even together, they were no match for Ma Hongjun wielding his divine weapon.
"Arrogant brat, let me teach you a lesson on behalf of your big brother!" While Ghost Leopard Douluo hesitated, Ao Erfu, full of old and new grudges, attacked.
The Sunflower Martial Soul bloomed, and a golden beam shot at Ma Hongjun.
"Idiot!" Ghost Leopard Douluo cursed. The fool couldn't sense the power gap—this opponent was likely even stronger than a Title Douluo.
"Oh, so you're the one who bullied my big brother, Ao Erfu? Well, since you lost your ears, how about your whole head?" Ma Hongjun flipped his hand, and the Fire God Spear appeared. With one move, "Phoenix Nods," he pierced both the golden beam and Ao Erfu's skull.
Ao Erfu's head exploded, his brain splattering as he died. A mighty Soul Douluo, killed in one blow!