The young man turned around and saw that the boy's hand had been pierced, with a bloody hole in his palm; blood was also flowing from his mouth, and he was terrified, leaning against Ma Hongjun's chest, his neck being gripped by Ma Hongjun's hand.
He never expected that his younger brother, who was level 20 and possessed a hundred-year soul ring, would actually be defeated by that kid, and so quickly at that.
The young man grabbed Ma Ping, his black tiger claws gripping Ma Ping's neck, his gaze gloomy, a ruthless glint in his eyes, and then he said sharply to Ma Hongjun.
"Let go of my brother!"
Ma Hongjun tightened his grip, and the boy's eyes widened, revealing most of his white pupils.
"Fine, you can release my third grandfather first."
"Brother...brother!"
The boy used all his strength to slightly raise his hand, his throat was being choked, and his voice was barely audible, but just by looking at his lip movements, it was clear what he wanted to express.
A stalemate ensued. Ma Hongjun couldn't release the man first, as the three of them were no match for the young man; their safety was paramount.
Just then, a ten-man squad approached. They wore the standard robes of the Spirit Hall, eight in yellow and two in purple.
Ma Ping also possessed a purple robe, signifying a Soul Master.
"Deacon Ma."
"It's Old Ma, what's going on?"
...
"Young man, Ma Ping is from our Spirit Hall. Release him first. Any misunderstandings can be cleared up." The
leader, a man in purple robes, spoke loudly and confidently, displaying the confidence expected of a member of the Spirit Hall.
They were the Spirit Hall's special enforcement team in the Soul Hunting Forest, typically refraining from intervening in such battles between Soul Masters. However, given that the person they encountered was Ma Ping, as members of the Spirit Hall, they couldn't simply ignore the situation. Ultimately,
with the enforcement team's intervention, both Ma Hongjun and the young man released the man.
Upon learning that Ma Ping was from the Spirit Hall, the young man's momentum weakened slightly.
The law enforcement team members seemed to know about the Black Tiger Martial Soul and were somewhat wary. After rescuing Ma Ping, they didn't make things difficult for the young man, letting the two arrogantly leave.
Before leaving, the two brothers gave Ma Hongjun a deep look and left him with a sentence.
"Just pray you don't run into me again."
Ma Hongjun retorted, not to be outdone.
"The same goes for you."
The two chased after the Spotted Demon Tiger.
Today's mission had an unfavorable start, and both Ma Ping and Ma Ming were injured. Finally, with the help of the law enforcement team, the three of them withdrew from the forest and rested outside.
They found a hotel outside the Soul Hunting Forest and stayed there. Fortunately, Ma Ping and Ma Ming's injuries weren't serious, and they would recover after a few days of rest.
Ma Hongjun also learned about the origin of the Black Tiger Martial Soul from Ma Ping.
The Xiang family, one of the three major families in Soto City, possessed a powerful Black Tiger Martial Soul inheritance, with a Soul Emperor in the family.
One has to admire the peculiarity of the Black Tiger Martial Soul. Before the Soul Saint, the Black Tiger and the White Tiger were evenly matched, both being top-tier Martial Souls.
Unlike the White Tiger, the Black Tiger Martial Soul reaches its limit after cultivating to the Soul Emperor level, unable to break through level 69 and condense its true Martial Soul body.
The main reason for this is that the Black Tiger Martial Soul inherently possesses a malevolent aura.
This malevolent aura is somewhat similar to Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire, producing side effects.
Evil Fire accelerates physical growth, causing expansion, excessive Yang energy, accumulation, and a continuous flow of essence.
Malevolent aura, on the other hand, affects a person's personality, making them tyrannical, irritable, easily angered, twisted, cruel, and bloodthirsty.
"No wonder that young man and boy were so short-tempered, always causing trouble, ready to kill at the slightest displeasure from strangers. It's because of the malevolent aura."
This was much easier for Ma Hongjun to understand, just like when his Evil Fire erupted, it severely affected his rationality.
"That's why they say when a man thinks with his lower body, he's no different from a beast."
Ma Hongjun sighed deeply.
However, it was also because of this malevolent aura that the Black Tiger Martial Soul could rival most Soul Saints with the strength of a Soul Emperor. This is why the Xiang family firmly established itself among the three major families of Soto City. However, because of this martial soul, he incurred the hatred of many and was relatively isolated in Soto City.
But this was also a characteristic of a fierce tiger.
Ma Ming went out to inquire and found out that the young man was the eldest son of the Xiang family, named Xiang Chengsheng.
"Hmph, wanting to become a saint? It's not that easy," Ma Hongjun chuckled inwardly upon hearing the name. It seemed that the inability to break through to Soul Saint with one's martial soul had become a hereditary ailment in the Xiang family.
The boy was his younger brother, Xiang Chengwang; and the other two Soul Venerables were also his family's guest elders.
The Xiang family had come to the Soul Hunting Forest this time to add a second soul ring to Xiang Chengwang.
In any case, Ma Hongjun was now at odds with the Xiang family, and he wouldn't be friendly next time they met.
Xiang Chengsheng and the others didn't emerge from the Soul Hunting Forest until the evening of the second day.
With three Soul Venerables present, hunting the Spotted Demon Tiger wasn't difficult. Ma Hongjun guessed that the delay of a day was because Xiang Chengwang had been injured by him.
On the third day, Ma Hongjun and his companions set off again, entering the Soul Hunting Forest.
Without lingering, they traversed the first three mountains, slowing their search at the fourth.
Soon, darkness fell, forcing the three to choose a campsite.
Ma Ming gave Ma Hongjun another practical lesson.
How to choose a suitable campsite?
Could they start a fire?
What was snake repellent powder?
What was its purpose?
How was it used?
What precautions should be taken in the forest at night?
…
Although these were details, they were very practical. As a Soul Master, one would frequently venture into the Soul Beast Forest, a place fraught with danger. With limited strength, more experience meant greater safety. After a
simple meal of dry rations, Ma Ping told Ma Hongjun to rest, while he and Ma Ming took turns keeping watch. This was to ensure Ma Hongjun maintained good physical condition for absorbing Soul Rings, especially the first one, which was crucial and could not be taken lightly.
Ma Hongjun didn't complain; the love of his two elders didn't need many words to express.
The night passed uneventfully, and the next morning, the three continued their search for Soul Beasts.
Around noon, they stopped before a lush bamboo forest, and Ma Ping and Ma Ming's eyes lit up.
This bamboo forest was vast, connecting the fourth and fifth mountains.
"This is Green Bamboo, also a type of spirit beast. Green Bamboo is non-aggressive, a very gentle plant-type spirit beast. Its spirit rings are easy to absorb, and spirit masters generally choose those close to their spirit ring limit.
Moreover, it has vigorous vitality, making it the first choice for many healing and support-type spirit masters."
Before Ma Ming finished speaking, Ma Hongjun asked,
"What does this have to do with me?"
"Very much. If nothing unexpected happens, your first spirit ring is secured." Ma Ping replied, slightly excited.
"Choose Green Bamboo?" Ma Hongjun asked doubtfully.
"Of course not, look, look closely!"
"Look there!"
Following Ma Ping's direction, Ma Hongjun finally saw clearly—it was a snake's body coiled around the Green Bamboo, only part of it visible. Because the snake's body was also green, it was easy to miss if you weren't paying attention.
If it weren't for the bright sunlight reflecting off its fine green scales, Ma Hongjun wouldn't have been able to find it.
Ma Hongjun: "What's it called?" Ma Ming
: "The Green Bamboo Sound Serpent!"
Ma Ping: "The Green Bamboo Sound Serpent lives only in green bamboo forests. It's non-venomous and can possess green bamboo, also possessing some of the bamboo's vigorous vitality.
Its greatest characteristic is speed. A thousand years ago, the Green Bamboo Sound Serpent could only be called a Green Bamboo Serpent. Only after a thousand years does it truly become a Green Bamboo Sound Serpent because it can briefly burst at speeds exceeding the speed of sound.
If a Green Bamboo Sound Serpent has better talent, it could also reach brief supersonic speeds a thousand years ago.
Its strongest attack method is simple and swift: it flies up, forms a straight line, and shoots out like a green arrow.
In the air, it makes a crisp sound of breaking bamboo, and its speed is extremely fast, like green lightning."
Ma Hongjun: "Then how do we determine its age?"
Ma Ming: "The Green Bamboo Sound Serpent also has bamboo-like stripes on its body; one bamboo segment represents one hundred years."
The three were having a fascinating conversation when the Green Bamboo Sound Serpent noticed the three outsiders.
It began to weave among the green bamboo. Its body wasn't large, but it could change shape freely; when it lay on the bamboo, it was wide but thin; when it moved, it was long but slender.
Ma Hongjun observed it, counting the bamboo joint stripes on its body.
"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine!"