Ning Rongrong glared at Oscar, while Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing also looked displeased.
Oscar: "???"
Dai Mubai, caught in the crossfire: "???"
"It was those shameless women who came up to him first. Hongjun didn't make the first move," Rongrong snorted with her arms crossed.
Hearing that, Xiao Wu turned away awkwardly, a guilty expression on her face.
She couldn't shake the feeling that Rongrong was indirectly referring to herself.
"Alright, let's all go back and rest. Don't worry about Hongjun," Flander said, waving his hand.
That large man had given Flander two 60,000-year-old soul bones, and now he might be giving Ma Hongjun some special treatment.
Since Flander had spoken, the boys and girls didn't linger. They returned to their rooms one after another.
As they walked, Ning Rongrong was still mulling over the mysterious female Titled Douluo. Looking up absentmindedly, she suddenly froze.
"Hey, Xiao Wu, you've got green leaves on your head. Did you pick them up while running?"
"Really, Rongrong? Looks like you've got some too."
"Hmm… there's one on Qingqing's head as well. How strange! Did we all roll around in the grass together?"
"No idea."
—
At the edge of the Star Dou Forest—
"AHHHHHH!!!"
Tang San let out a distorted roar. Blood gushed from all seven of his orifices as his body pulsed with light, expanding and contracting repeatedly before slowly condensing.
After an unknown length of time, the glow finally faded. Tang San opened his eyes, ignoring the blood streaking his face, and called out with a trembling voice, "Brother Tianmeng? Master Tianmeng? Are you still there?"
"Well done, kid. You succeeded," said a voice inside his mind.
Hearing that, Tang San couldn't contain his joy any longer. He threw his head back and laughed wildly.
"Hahahahahaha! I did it! I really did it!!!"
The inheritance of a million-year-old soul beast!
A sentient soul ring!
A process that flirted with death!
But in the end, he had survived. He still possessed Xuan Tian Gong, still held control over his fate—he had triumphed!
Ma Hongjun, your good days are numbered!
Thinking of the humiliation he'd endured, and Xiao Wu's betrayal, murderous rage filled his heart.
"It's fine… With this power… this power…"
Tang San clenched his fists slowly, basking in the overwhelming energy surging through him.
Hmm?
His expression twisted slightly.
As he flexed his fists, he realized something shocking—his physical strength, stamina, and soul power all seemed… unchanged.
"This must be an illusion…"
Taking a deep breath, Tang San released his spirit ring.
When a pale white soul ring emerged in front of him, his eye twitched violently.
"A ten-year soul ring??!!"
After all that suffering, he had only gained a ten-year soul ring?!
And judging by the color, it was the lowest-grade one—barely even a proper soul ring!
"Brother Tianmeng, what's going on?!"
He panicked. This was his third soul ring! According to his teacher, he should be able to absorb a thousand-year soul ring by now!
"Kid, do you think you can absorb my ring that easily? Don't forget—you're still just a weak little soul master," said the voice of the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm gently.
"Brother would've gladly given you a ring with a thousand, ten thousand, or even a million years… but your body can't handle it. Look how much effort it took you just to absorb this ten-year ring!"
So that was it?
Tang San nodded slowly, realization dawning.
Of course. Brother Tianmeng was a million-year soul beast. This ten-year soul ring must not be ordinary at all. Its soul skill should be something special—
"Spiritual Detection… with a diameter of one meter??"
Tang San froze.
What use was that?! You could see farther with your own eyes!
"Hey, kid, being dumb again, aren't you?" Tianmeng said, exasperated. "Do you really think my soul ring is that simple? As long as you continue to feed it immortal herbs and rare medicines, the soul skill and its age will evolve. At certain thresholds, you might even gain additional soul skills!"
Tang San's eyes went wide.
It could evolve?!
So in the future, he could raise it to ten thousand years? A hundred thousand? Even a million years?!
His breathing became erratic.
"Kid, if your body wasn't so weak, this soul ring would've started at a thousand years, and you'd already have at least three skills," Tianmeng sighed. "Do your best."
"Don't worry! I won't let Teacher Tianmeng down!!" Tang San said emotionally, tears in his eyes.
Indeed, a million-year-old soul beast was something else—it felt like a dream.
Hmph! Ma Hongjun! Just wait until I upgrade my soul ring to ten thousand years. Let's see how you plan to fight me then!!
He clenched his fists tightly, his eyes brimming with dark resolve.
—
"Cough, cough!!"
The silver-haired girl coughed violently and collapsed to the ground, panting heavily. Her beautiful face was flushed red, her amethyst eyes clouded with dizziness.
She instinctively raised her hand to wipe the fluid at the corner of her mouth, but recalling the boy's instructions, she hesitated—then shyly extended her small tongue and licked it clean.
Watching her, Ma Hongjun nearly lost control again.
"How are you feeling? Any better?" he asked, touching his nose in guilt as he watched the steam rising from her body.
At the crucial moment, he grabbed her head tightly and pushed his cock deeper. Thinking back, she hadn't even resisted...
"You…"
Recalling what had just happened, Gu Yuena trembled inwardly, a mix of shame and anger burning in her chest. She glared at him, about to speak, when a powerful wave of warmth suddenly spread through her body like fire.
But instead of destroying her, the warmth dissolved the destructive energy inside her without harming her. The excruciating pain that had tormented her for tens of thousands of years… was disappearing.
The pain eased little by little—until she could barely feel it at all!
"This… this…"
Gu Yuena raised her hand in disbelief. With a slight movement, she realized the agony was gone.
Her internal injuries were still there, but at least one-tenth had healed!
This level of recovery should've taken at least ten thousand years of deep meditation!
Ma Hongjun let out a long breath as he watched the visible improvement in her aura.
If this hadn't worked, he would've died with the system…
With that in mind, he opened his system panel.
[Name: Ma Hongjun]
[Age: 12 years old]
[Soul Power: Level 33 (Spirit Elder)]
[Martial Soul: Celestial Flame Divine Phoenix (Half-soul state of the original Phoenix)]
[Soul Rings: Yellow (390 years), Yellow (670 years), Purple (3300 years)]
[Soul Skills:]
Phoenix Flame Surge
Phoenix Rebirth
Divine Phoenix Descent (Summons a phantom of the Divine Phoenix to possess the user, continuously causing high fire damage to the area. Flight speed increases by 100%, personal fire damage increases by 50%, and affected targets suffer an undispellable, undefendable burn that increases damage taken by 50%.)
[Trait: Grace of the Ancestral Phoenix (Level 2)]
Increases soul power through reproduction and has a rare chance of plundering. Those blessed by you receive enhanced vitality and recovery after a ceremonial union. If the target possesses creative energy, effects are greatly enhanced.
[Trait: Favor of the Serpent (Level X)]
Reduces all damage from snakes by 20%, poison damage by 40%. Flames gain a minor purifying effect against poisons. If the poison originates from a creature linked to a plundering trait, all effects increase to 100%.
[Current Fate Reversal Progress: 21%]
[Evolution Points: 5000]
A blessing ceremony, huh?
Looking at the new trait, Ma Hongjun was at a loss for words.
Luckily, the system hadn't failed him. Although the ceremony was a bit unorthodox, its effects were remarkable.
After closing the panel, the red-haired boy turned to the girl and shrugged.
"How is it? Told you I wasn't lying. Ugh!"
Before he could finish, a warm, delicate body flung itself into his arms—and he saw the girl's face, tears glistening in her eyes.