Capítulo 62: Ma Hongjun's Third Spirit Ring (2)
Two weeks had passed since Ma Hongjun and the team arrived at the Outer Area of the Great Star Dou Forest. The forest was bustling with activity, with many figures moving about, their expressions a mix of determination and frustration. Despite over a week of extensive searching, there was still no sign of the Fire Spark Phoenix.
Ma Hongjun and the group were on edge, not only due to their inability to locate the Fire Spark Phoenix but also because they had yet to find any trace of Sheng Jun. Unlike Flender and the others, who were focusing on specific landing points based on their calculations, the Sheng Company had deployed manpower across the entire Outer Area in a relentless search. Meanwhile, a smaller, stronger group was tasked with combing through the more dangerous Inner Area of the forest. Each passing day only added to their anxiety.
At that moment, Frank engrossed in conversation via his Dalu Link, abruptly turned to face his comrades. His expression turned serious as he nodded repeatedly, signaling the end of his communication.
"The Fire Spark Phoenix was seen at the border of the Outer Area, not far from here," he commanded decisively, his voice cutting through the tension in the air. "Let's get going."
At Frank's command, Ma Hongjun and the team swiftly moved following Frank's lead as they hurried towards their destination where the Fire Spark Phoenix had been spotted. The forest around them was dense and filled with the sounds of wildlife, but their focus was solely on their mission.
The chaos in the Inner Area had driven the Fire Spark Phoenix back towards the Outer Area. While other teams were occupied with searching for Sheng Jun they didn't try to catch it. It fell upon Frank's team to assist Ma Hongjun in obtaining his third spirit ring.
As they approached the marked location, their anticipation grew. Soon enough, they caught sight of the Fire Spark Phoenix perched calmly on a sturdy branch. The phoenix was about two meters long, its vibrant orange feathers shimmering in the sunlight. Every movement it made caused sparks to dance in the air around it.
The age of the Fire Spark Phoenix could be estimated by its size; at its current length, it was still in its early stages of development. Spirit beasts like the Fire Spark Phoenix grew approximately one meter longer for every thousand years of age. If it were to reach a hundred thousand years, it could potentially grow to a staggering length of one hundred meters, becoming a formidable force in the spirit beast world.
Ma Hongjun's heart raced with excitement and determination as he beheld the majestic creature before him.
However catching the Fire Spark Phoenix was no easy task, primarily due to its notorious traits. Its name wasn't merely for show; besides the sparks that danced around its body, the creature was infamous for its tendency to resort to self-destruction when cornered. The sparks would intensify, heralding an imminent explosion.
As they faced the Fire Spark Phoenix not far ahead, Frank turned to Ma Hongjun and the others with a solemn expression. "Stand back," he commanded firmly, his voice carrying authority and concern.
Taking a step forward, Frank's demeanor shifted as he invoked his Martial Soul Possession. "Martial Soul Possession!" he muttered, his voice resonating with power. Six rings emerged and floated around him: one white, two yellow, two purple, and one black. An eerie, pulsating mass materialized behind him, oozing with dark energy that seemed to defy the natural order. As it merged into Frank's body, his flesh appeared on the verge of disintegration, emitting a foul stench that permeated the air. Even the grass under his feet withered and crumbled at his presence.
Ma Hongjun, witnessing this phenomenon for the first time, couldn't suppress his astonishment. "Evil Martial Soul?" he exclaimed, taking a step back instinctively. In this world, Evil Martial Soul users were often viewed with suspicion and fear. Their abilities were seen as dark and dangerous, capable of turning their wielders into ruthless killers driven by an insatiable thirst for power.
It wasn't unjustified. Throughout history, most Evil Martial Soul users have been marginalized and oppressed. Their inherent abilities and the bloodthirst induced by their Martial Souls often led to violence and chaos. Society had little tolerance for such individuals, branding them as threats to peace and stability.
However, those around Ma Hongjun who were already accustomed to such sights remained unfazed. Many core personnel within the Sheng Company themselves possessed Evil Martial Souls. They had long grown accustomed to these powers and understood that the nature of one's Martial Soul did not inherently define their morality.
In their experiences, they had witnessed individuals with supposedly "good" Martial Souls commit heinous acts, while some with Evil Martial Souls upheld justice and kindness. Their Savior, Sheng Jun, had taught them that it was the person, not the Martial Soul, that determined their character.
Thus, while the world outside might judge them based on their Martial Souls, within their ranks, such prejudices held little sway. They knew better than to discriminate based on a person's inherent abilities.
Observing Ma Hongjun's reaction, Frank's smile was tinged with understanding. He had grown accustomed to such responses ever since he first Awakened his Martial Soul. Few had looked upon him with kindness in the past since that day. A fleeting sadness crossed his eyes, a reminder of the loneliness that often accompanied his abilities. Shaking off the melancholy, he refocused on the task ahead, deciding to leave the past behind, it was different now. He wanted to finish this quickly and go help others looking for Sheng Jun.
With practiced calm, Frank extended his open palm towards the unsuspecting Fire Spark Phoenix not far away. His Fourth Spirit Ring glowed brightly as he invoked his technique. "Parasitic Restraint" he invoked with a steady voice. From his palm, a black lump of mysterious substance shot forth with incredible speed, latching onto the Fire Spark Phoenix.
The creature shrieked in surprise, instinctively trying to escape by taking flight into the sky. However, the black substance began to animate, writhing as it forcefully invaded the Fire Spark Phoenix's body through its eyes and mouth, penetrating deep within.
The Fire Spark Phoenix let out desperate shrieks, thrashing against the surrounding trees in a futile attempt to dislodge the mysterious substance attached to its body. Its eyes turned black as the unknown material infiltrated its very being, causing it to plummet from the sky, landing motionless on the ground below.
"It's done. Go and finish it off," Frank urged urgently, gesturing for Ma Hongjun to take action. Frank knew his Fourth Spirit Ring Skill wouldn't have such a profound effect on creatures of equal power, but as a Spirit Emperor, against a mere two-thousand-year-old Spirit Beast, it was more than sufficient.
After recovering from his initial shock, Ma Hongjun nodded resolutely. His brother had also taught him not to discriminate based on someone's Martial Soul. He was just surprised earlier because it was his first time seeing one in action.
He approached the fallen Fire Spark Phoenix, which lay still on the ground. Condensing numerous Phoenix Fire Bombs, he swiftly stuffed them into the creature's mouth. Despite its innate resistance to fire, the relentless onslaught from within overwhelmed its defenses.
The Fire Spark Phoenix convulsed briefly, its struggles gradually subsiding until it lay still. With a deep breath, Ma Hongjun stepped back, before sitting cross-legged.
The purple spirit ring hovered above the Fire Spark Phoenix's lifeless body before slowly floating towards Ma Hongjun's body. With his current physique and strength, absorption of the two-thousand-year-old spirit ring was a straightforward task.
As Ma Hongjun opened his eyes, he immediately sensed the surge in his powers. His Heavenly Dao Sutra had broken through to the Fourth Level, marking a significant advancement. This breakthrough not only allowed his Third Spirit Ring to become growable, but it also enhanced his existing abilities. Furthermore, his soul power had soared to Level 33, a remarkable increase of three levels.
His Third Spirit Ring Skill name is Phoenix Sacrifice. This Spirit Skill consumed all of his soul power to unleash a devastating explosion. The more soul power, the greater the destructive force of the attack. At his current level, he enjoyed an additional 30% boost in power when using this skill. Moreover, each new spirit ring he acquired would grant an additional 10% boost, further enhancing its potency over time.
Ma Hongjun took a moment to absorb the implications of his newfound strength. With these enhancements, he felt more at ease.
Each stride forward in strength meant a greater capacity to safeguard those he cared about.
"My burst power should be unmatched at this stage" he mused happily to himself, feeling the weight on his shoulders lift slightly. With his newfound abilities, he could finally provide Bai Chenxiang with the support she deserved.
Standing up with renewed determination, Ma Hongjun was ready to beg them to allow him to join the search for Sheng Jun. He envisioned a future where he could protect both his brother and Bai Chenxiang.
Hope flickered brightly within him. "If Tang San and Xiao Wu could return, then surely Brother Jun can too," he thought optimistically yet again, gazing out towards the horizon. "Brother, wait for me..."
With a steadfast resolve and a heart full of hope, determined to play his part in bringing Sheng Jun back.
REFLEXIONES DE LOS CREADORES 
Aczekial
Aczekial Hongjun is unfortunately about to face a tough reality. I don't hate Ma Hongjun I swear this is for the plot.
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