Hong—— The Flame brought Ma Hongjun to dash into the air, the enormous purple flame wings unfurling behind him. In midair, he could naturally find his opponent’s silhouette as easy as anything, and he threw himself at the opponent without the slightest hesitation, using Phoenix Ascension.
Ground versus midair, how could he dodge? Whether in speed or flexibility, they just weren’t on the same level.
In the forest of brambles, the Scarlet Flame Thistle Spirit Master could only sense Ma Hongjun’s actions, but was unable to see. Until this moment. With Ma Hongjun already risen into the sky, he knew just how formidable his opponent was. Watching his opponent pounce, he could also only use his last resort.
His fourth spirit ring flared, purple light glittering, and the scarlet brambles covering the ground was enveloped in a faint purple light, appearing on the thorns of the thistles. The next moment, countless purple specks of light dashed towards the sky, gathering towards Ma Hongjun in midair.
Thistle Rain, fourth spirit ability. The sharp thorns infused with powerful fire element could attack a wide area, but could also be focused into one attack. If it hit, the fire toxin it contained would spread through the opponent’s body, causing enormous destruction.
Ma Hongjun truly endured this spirit ability attack. In midair, the opponent could no longer hide from him, but it was also very difficult for him to dodge. To say nothing of those sharp thorns coming from all directions.
Bathing Fire Phoenix and Phoenix Ascension immediately reached their highest peak, and when the thorns entered Ma Hongjun’s vicinity, they immediately turned to ash.
But. This was after all a thousand year spirit ring ability, and still the opponent’s fourth spirit ability. Even though Ma Hongjun suppressed his opponent in attributes, it wasn’t as serious as the previous several opponents. Consequently, even though he filtered out the sharp thorns and the fire toxin they carried, the impact force still hit him to some extent.
If it was only a few hits, or a few dozen hits, perhaps Fatty wouldn’t even feel it. But those were thorns numbering in the thousands and tens of thousands. It wasn’t actually painful, but it still caused a constant itch that was even harder to bear.
Ma Hongjun was already thoroughly enraged. Without holding back any more spirit power, unleashing the speed of Phoenix Ascension, he swooped down directly.
Hong, Ma Hongjun heavily struck the ground in front of the opponent, his fourth spirit ability launching.
Ma Hongjun’s fourth spirit ability, Phoenix Cry Heaven Strike, was originally a follow-up ability. Its greatest weakness was that it could be dodged, unable to lock in on the opponent. But ironically, this Botanic Academy Scarlet Flame Thistle Spirit Master had arranged a forest of brambles from the very start of the fight. His goal had of course been to restrain Ma Hongjun, but the one to be fettered right now was still him.
With a loud explosion, the shock of Phoenix Cry Heaven Strike burst out the instant Ma Hongjun hit the ground, distorting the air nearby and completely wrecking the bramble forest around him. Within that distortion, the Scarlet Flame Thistle Spirit Master sunk into a daze without any suspense.
“Fatty, go easy.”
Outside the ring, Tang San, Dai Mubai and the others saw Ma Hongjun attack with Phoenix Cry Heaven Strike, and shouted hastily. Phoenix Cry Heaven Strike was split into two parts, the first part was the follow-up restraint, the second part was the terrifying Phoenix Magma Burst. If this second part was completed, the already completely deadlocked Scarlet Flame Thistle Spirit Master would undoubtedly die. As the spirit ability with the most formidable burst attack among the Shrek Seven Devils, Phoenix Cry Heaven Strike would cause serious injuries against even a fiftieth or sixtieth ranked Spirit Master. Let alone a mere fortieth ranked opponent.
The Shrek Academy team’s anxiety was wasted. Even though Ma Hongjun’s entire body itched with the desire to vent his anger, having been together with his comrades for so long, he had still learned to control his temper. The instant the opponent was stunned, the Phoenix Ascension fire attribute attack power invaded his opponent’s body. At the same time, Fatty turned nimbly, driving a roundhouse kick into the opponent’s stomach.
The Scarlet Flame Thistle Spirit Master’s body flew in a graceful parabola through the air, falling directly outside the ring, caught by one of the teachers from Botanic Academy. Right now, even though he was still stunned, he hadn’t suffered any true injuries.
After the Botanic Academy teacher had swiftly inspected the Scarlet Flame Thistle Spirit Master’s physical condition, he immediately understood that the opponent had already started off leniently. With a deep inward sigh, he indicated to the referee that they renounced the last fight, conceding.
The Shrek Academy team cheered, rushing out into the ring as if greeting the return of a triumphant hero, tossing Fatty’s spherical body into the air.
Since the start of the ranking competition, it was the first time someone singlehandedly defeated seven. And it was moreover still done by a never before seen on stage member of Shrek Academy. This fact shocked all the participating Heaven Dou Empire academies.
With a faint flickering brilliance, Fatty’s expression was completely radiant. He hadn’t fought any outsiders for a very long time. Being able to beat all the opponents was admittedly related to his spirit countering the opponents, but it was also a result of Fatty’s arduous cultivation over these days. Even Fatty himself felt that his spirit power had advanced by leaps and bounds ever since eating the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower. In the whole team, his attack output had already become a necessity.
In overall strength, Fatty was already second only to Tang San and Dai Mubai among the Shrek Seven Devils, roughly a cut above Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing.
“Fatty, well done!”
Dai Mubai clapped Ma Hongjun’s shoulder.
Ma Hongjun smiled with immense pride:
“But of course, how could the effort we brothers have expended over these days be a waste? Watch me in the later ranking competition. But to tell the truth, boss Dai, defeating seven people singlehandedly really is a pleasurable feeling, hahahaha!”
Grandmaster wore a smile on his face as he looked at Ma Hongjun, saying:
“Don’t be too proud of yourself. Today’s victory was only because you restrained your opponents’ spirits too harshly, letting you beat seven in succession. Under any other circumstances it wouldn’t have been so simple. For instance, would you still have any faith in your chances against Skywater Academy’s Shui Bing-Er? Her Ice Phoenix and your Fire Phoenix mutually counter each other, you don’t have any advantage in attributes, but she’s clearly above you in spirit ability and spirit power control. Perhaps it wouldn’t even require mutual restraint, as long as you encountered a rather agile agility attack system Spirit Master, it would also be difficult to win. And even if you could win, you would also have consumed a tremendous amount of spirit power.”
“Eh……”
Ma Hongjun scratched his head, the feeling of excitement immediately dropping a lot, he looked at Grandmaster without speaking.
Grandmaster smiled:
“As the most powerful attacker in the team, there’s no need to doubt your efficacy. But you must also understand that precisely because you possess such terrifying attack power, you will also be the easiest for the opponents to notice and the first to be destroyed. In a team, power attack system Spirit Masters and control system Spirit Masters are doubtless the most important, but they’re the first the opponents pay attention to. Consequently, not only must you display your attack power even better, but at the same time you must also protect yourself as far as possible. There will inevitably be comrades accompanying you at your side. For the sake of your future, you’re the one who most of all has to learn single combat fighting, this is something power attack system Spirit Masters must possess. No arrogance in victory, no despair in defeat, keep a level heart.”
Part 3 (TL by Bagelson)
Combining fighting an
d teaching, this was no doubt the best method. Grandmaster’s words weren’t just for Ma Hongjun, but at the same time also for Dai Mubai and the other power attack system Spirit Masters to the side.
“Alright, we can leave.”
Grandmaster waved his hand, bringing everyone towards the rest area.
Just at this moment, a fiery red figure suddenly appeared in everyone’s line of sight, blocking their path. This person appeared very abruptly, practically blocking in front of the Shrek Academy team in a split second.
Seeing this person, Grandmaster couldn’t help revealing a faint smile, his gaze turning to the basically already recovered Tang San next to him.
This fiery red silhouette was hardly unfamiliar, but precisely that just like a dazzling flame Blazing Academy vice captain, possessing the Fire Shadow Spirit, Huo Wu.
Staring fixedly at the having just now obtained six successive victories Shrek Academy team in front of her, Huo Wu clenched her teeth, hardly concealing her target, her burning hot gaze was focused on Tang San. But that gaze no longer seemed the have that kind of unaccepting anger and wildness as it did before. Her gaze seemed a lot more complex.
“Miss Huo Wu, what’s the matter?”
The first to speak up was captain Dai Mubai.
Huo Wu’s gaze swept past Dai Mubai, nodded, and said to Tang San:
“Tang San, I want to talk to you.”
The other six Shrek Seven Devils and the four substitute members’ gazes all immediately focused on Tang San. But Tang San himself was somewhat startled, frowning,
“Is there something that can’t be said here?”
Huo Wu shook her head,
“I want to talk to you alone.”
Tang San felt a sudden pain at his waist, and when he turned his head to look, Xiao Wu was looking at him very resentfully, something indiscernible in her gaze. But Dai Mubai was still somewhat helpless. Among the Shrek Seven Devils, in appearance, Tang San could only rank a bit above Ma Hongjun. Whether it was Oscar’s practically inhuman handsomeness or Dai Mubai’s evil eyed charisma, clearly they were more attractive to girls than him.
Huo Wu was undoubtedly an extremely outstanding young woman, at nineteen she had long since blossomed into a slender and elegant woman, and her figure was even more extremely perfect from the unceasing training. Even if Dai Mubai who had innumerable women couldn’t help somewhat having some thoughts about her. If it wasn’t for Zhu Zhuqing, perhaps he would have launched his own wooing offensive.
But what Dai Mubai couldn’t understand was how from seemingly only having met in two battles, Huo Wu’s attention was always focused on the not externally particularly outstanding Tang San. Even though Tang San was very strong, he still made Dai Mubai somewhat doubt his own charisma. Later everyone learned that the reason why Huo Wu was so fixated on Tang San was most importantly because of the blow he dealt her that time. Huo Wu was an aggressively competitive minded extremely powerful girl. The more people followed her, the less attention she would pay to them, and the enormous blow Tang San had struck her the first time the two academies battled had produced a situation where Tang San was the only person on her mind.
Grandmaster glanced at Tang San, then again at Huo Wu:
“Go, return directly afterward.”
Tang San walked towards Huo Wu, and Xiao Wu’s face revealed an anxious and peculiar expression. She was about to say something, but was stopped by a glance from Grandmaster.
“Let’s go back.”
Under Grandmaster’s lead, the rest of the Shrek Academy people returned to their camp.
Not having gone far, Xiao Wu couldn’t help asking:
“Grandmaster, why did you let little San meet alone with that Huo Wu? Hasn’t she caused enough harm to little San?”
Grandmaster looked at Xiao Wu with some meaning deep in his eyes, and said:
“She’s no threat to little San, that’s the first point. Second, child, remember, a man’s heart can’t be forced. Once yours, it’s yours forever. Trust, is the foundation for mutual feelings. Tang San is an extremely affectionate person, having been together for seven or eight years, haven’t you seen it? In his heart, nobody could take your place.”
Changing the direction of the topic, Grandmaster’s gaze floated over to Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing,
“Of course, people and people are different. Regarding men of different nature, you must use methods of different nature. The key is to first grasp their nature. You’re growing up day by day, and feelings will be in a state of confusion. I hope that you won’t let questions of emotions affect your future. I hope that all of you can reveal your talent to the greatest degree.”
……
Huo Wu looked at the calm faced, snot green uniformed Tang San, and the expression in her eyes changed somewhat,
“Come with me.”
Finished speaking, she turned and walked towards the rest area.
Even though Huo Wu coming to find him was somewhat baffling to Tang San, he still followed Huo Wu into the rest area.
Huo Wu walked directly for a secluded corner in the rest area and stopped. Right now, the ranking competition was still continuing outside, and the students were all looking at the fight. This so-called rest area was actually a specially allocated camp, used to get in order before the competition. Right now there was nobody here.
Halting, Huo Wu turned her head to look at Tang San, the expression on her face clearly becoming a lot gentler,
“How are your injuries?”
Tang San nodded silently,
“Basically already recovered.”
Even he himself was astonished by his body’s recovery ability. Let alone his skin and muscle, even some minute cracks that had formed in Eight Spider Lances due to the explosion had already completely healed. Were it not for Grandmaster repeatedly stressing that he wasn’t allowed to fight again, there would have been no problem for Tang San to participate in the ranking competition.
Huo Wu seemed to loose a breath,
“That’s good.”
Tang San was somewhat unable to make any sense of her,
“You calling me here, was it in order to ask this?”
Huo Wu glanced at Tang San, and couldn’t help feeling a bit discouraged. From childhood, even though she’s always pursued formidable strength, always trained arduously, she had still equally had confidence in her own appearance. She had still never met a boy who would seem impatient in front of her, but unexpectedly Tang San was doing just that right now.
“Are you really unwilling to talk to me?”
Huo Wu’s familiar fiery temper seemed to start to ignite again.
Tang San shook his head,
“That’s not it. I just don’t understand what there is to talk about between us, after all, we’re rivals in the competition.”
“How are you so slow-witted? Are you a normal human?”
Huo Wu had never paid attention to anything called subtlety, and directly spoke her thoughts.
Tang San frowned,
“If you want to say it like that, then there’s nothing for you to speak of. Capable of participating the ranking competition, it seems there aren’t many normal people. Even more, our Shrek Academy has always been famous for producing freaks.”
“You……”
Huo Wu was choked speechless. Rethinking it, what Tang San said wasn’t wrong, he really wasn’t a normal person. How could normal people possess that kind of strength, and even more a ten thousand year level fourth spirit ring.
Tang San looked at the seemingly about to flip out again Huo Wu and calmly said:
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll return first.”
“Wait a moment.”
Seeing Tang San was about to leave, Huo Wu hurriedly called out for him,
“Did I ask you to be that impatient? You can leave, but let me ask you a question first.”
Looking at Huo Wu blocking in front of him, Tang San said:
“Ask.”
&nb
sp; Burning eyes staring fixedly at Tang San’s eyes, Huo Wu asked in a low voice:
“That day, why did you save me? Why did you use your own body to block the attack? That was the attack I launched at you.”
Tang San looked with astonishment at Huo Wu,
“This is your question? The reason you asked me to come?”
Huo Wu nodded,
“More or less.”
Tang San somewhat helplessly said:
“You’re indeed my opponent, but you aren’t my enemy. Launching that attack was only so that you could win. There’s no deep hatred or great regret between us, and you’re even more a woman. What use would your death be to me? It would even deepen the conflict between our academies. With me to take that attack, death certainly wouldn’t have been the outcome, saving you was very normal.”
“Just that?”
Huo Wu looked stupidly at Tang San. She discovered that Tang San’s reply was a bit different from what she had imagined.
After Tang San had been hurt saving her that day, Huo Wu had thought of a lot of things. First of all she had thought that Tang San liked her. There were a lot of people who pursued her openly like Feng Xiaotian, but there were even more who were secretly in love with her. Being accustomed to thinking like that, this was the first thing Huo Wu thought of. Her coming to find Tang San today was because she wanted to hear what Tang San had to say. It seemed to her that Tang San wasn’t a person of sweet speech and honeyed words, and would inevitably reveal what he thought of her.
But who could have thought that Tang San would describe it in terms of beneficial concerns, apparently without a thought to his behaviour that day.
Seeing Huo Wu’s lifeless appearance, Tang San decided not to stay here. Right now, his mind was filled with Xiao Wu’s peculiar expression as she left. He was even more fearful of what Xiao Wu would think. Therefore, taking advantage of Huo Wu’s moment of lifelessness, he turned to leave.
“Tang San.”
Huo Wu suddenly roused herself, and hastily chased after.
Douluo Dalu - Volume 01-48 Page 202