Chapter 114: Ma Hongjun: "Even Dogs Should Avoid Spirit Hall"
Caomu Village, Spirit Hall Branch. Inside a worn-down wooden shack, a Spirit Hall deacon conducted one martial soul awakening after another—only to end in disappointment each time. The children of Caomu Village mostly awakened martial souls related to chickens, and not a single one had soul power. Not a single future soul master.
Finally, he reached the last child—a somewhat handsome little boy. As the golden light enveloped him, a searing blaze suddenly erupted, mixed with dark flames.
To a soul master with sufficient cultivation, it was obvious: that "black flame" wasn't a rare variant—it was an impurity. This child's martial soul was defective.
"I-Is this… the Fire Chicken Martial Soul?!"
The deacon watched as the boy's body bulked up slightly, and his black hair turned flaming red.
"What chicken?! This is a phoenix!"
The boy's tone turned from humble to arrogant. He didn't even glance at the Spirit Hall deacon, who was only a Grandmaster-level soul master. This little boy was none other than Ma Hongjun—the reincarnated God of the Phoenix.
He had ascended to godhood in his previous life. Grandmasters? Trash. Especially a Spirit Hall Grandmaster. He hadn't participated in the God War due to lower talent than Tang San, but he had absolutely pummeled Spirit Hall's Qingluan Douluo and launched Jin'e Douluo into orbit during the Title Douluo War.
He and his friends had utterly destroyed Spirit Hall, this so-called holy land of soul masters.
"Come, let's test your innate soul power," the deacon said, not noticing Ma Hongjun's shift in demeanor. He was too excited—perhaps he'd found a genius and could earn himself a promotion!
Ma Hongjun placed his hand on the crystal orb. Instantly, it lit up with a blinding brilliance.
"Innate soul power level nine! Phoenix Martial Soul! Heavens, I've struck gold!"
The deacon was ecstatic. "Little one, what's your name?"
"The name's Ma Hongjun, kiddo."
He smirked and flipped his bangs. This is what real talent looks like.
"Brother Hongjun, would you like to join Spirit Hall? With your talent, you'll receive the best training—maybe even reach the pinnacle: Title Douluo!"
The deacon held Ma Hongjun's hand tightly, desperate not to let go.
Ma Hongjun scoffed. Title Douluo? Please. Even among Title Douluo, the gap in strength was wider than that between man and dog. The true peak was God King—Tang San's level. Spirit Hall's top two women never even had the talent to reach that.
He was going to follow Third Brother and destroy this evil den called Spirit Hall. Even dogs wouldn't join it.
"Kid, don't you know the benefits of joining Spirit Hall? We're the continent's strongest force—the holy land of soul masters!"
The deacon continued trying to persuade him, but Ma Hongjun wasn't interested.
"I said I'm not joining, and that's final. You're annoying." He glanced around, looking for Flender.
In his past life, he'd almost been coaxed into joining Spirit Hall. But Flender had shown up just in time to save him and guide him to the right path.
"Still not considering it? Trust me, only in Spirit Hall will you be nurtured to your full potential—"
"Hey. He said no, didn't he?"
Flender's voice rang out. Hands behind his back, he walked out of the shack. He had been nearby doing odd jobs to raise funds for Shrek Academy. Passing through Caomu Village, he'd sensed a phoenix's pressure—like a chicken before a king—and came to investigate.
What a find. No way he'd let this treasure slip away.
Ma Hongjun turned and saw Flender. He ran over and hugged his leg. "Teacher! I don't want to go to Spirit Hall! This guy tried to force me!"
The deacon's eyes widened. "Kid, you liar! When did I—"
Flender raised a brow at being called "Teacher," but if it meant landing such a talented disciple, he was thrilled. He patted Ma Hongjun's head gently.
"Don't worry. With me here, no one's forcing you to do anything you don't want."
"You hear that? This kid's under my protection. He's not joining your damned Spirit Hall."
The deacon felt an immense spiritual pressure. "Y-You dare oppose Spirit Hall?!"
"Oppose?" Flender laughed coldly. "So refusing to join is now opposing you? You think Spirit Hall controls the entire continent?!"
Flender released his martial soul: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black—seven rings. Soul Saint.
The deacon paled. A Soul Saint… in a place like this?
"Then scram!"
"Y-Yes, sir!"
The deacon fled in panic, completely abandoning his recruitment hopes.
"Teacher, you were awesome!"
Flender knelt to Ma Hongjun's height. "My name is Flender. You called me 'Teacher' earlier. Do you know what that means?"
"Of course. It means 'guide.'"
Ma Hongjun grinned respectfully. After all, this was his beloved Flender—his teacher from his past life.
Flender ruffled his hair. "Smart kid. Since you've chosen me, I'll call you Hongjun. You're gifted. With the right teacher, I'll turn you into a little monster."
"I'm in! Let's do it!"
Ma Hongjun nearly jumped for joy. Shrek Seven Devils—my brothers and sisters—we'll reunite again. And Xiangxiang… this time, I'll train hard, inherit the Fire God position, and take you to the divine realm for a shamelessly sweet life.
"Good. Let's go. Shrek Academy isn't far."
Spirit Hall, Conference Room.
Qian Xunji had his feet on the table, half-asleep.
"Spirit Hall's rot is getting worse. No one even reported geniuses like Oscar and Ma Hongjun…"
He didn't care much about Ma Hongjun. After all the resources spent, the guy never even became the Fire God.
But Oscar—that was different. A once-in-a-millennium food-type soul master with innate full soul power. If nurtured properly and made a Title Douluo by 40, he could reach God of Food status and be part of Qian family's future lineup.
If Ning Rongrong fell for Qian Renchuan and failed, Oscar would be the perfect fallback—God of Food plus Nine-Colored Goddess. A win for the Qian family.
"Forget it. When I send Renchuan to Tianshui Academy via Soto City, I'll pick up both of them easily."
Oscar's slight loss of talent from a delayed start wasn't an issue. And the rotten flesh within Spirit Hall—he'd let Qian Renxue clean them out later, in the name of spreading Angelic Faith.
The blood they suck would pay for divine salvation.
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