The Three-Legged Golden Crow spews golden flames, a completely new type of flame.
While both are fire-attribute, the differences are vast.
Almost every different colored flame possesses different extended abilities.
Of course, burning and high temperature are characteristics of flames.
Huo Wu's orange-red flames are more shadowy, elusive, and give an unpredictable feeling.
Ma Hongjun's flames are malevolent; besides their powerful adhesion, they also possess a burning effect on the soul, capable of arousing inner desires.
The Three-Legged Golden Crow's golden flames are linear, possessing strong penetrating power and are very suitable for long-range attacks.
The golden fire lines it condenses can attack at great distances.
This is a very powerful flame. Generally, ordinary soul masters' flames cannot be released too far, and if it's a long-range attack, it's mostly like Huo Wu's own Fire Dance Radiant Sun, condensing into a large fireball.
Fire lines and fireballs are very different.
At least in terms of soul power control, application, and consumption, there's a significant difference.
The Three-Legged Golden Crow's golden flames are almost entirely linear attacks, giving Ma Hongjun the feeling of a laser.
The earthen spear clashed with the golden flames, and finally, the earthen spear, which had always been invincible against fire, suffered a setback.
The golden flames actually pierced through the earth-attribute soul power's defense and struck the Martial God Spear directly.
Golden sparks bloomed on the spear, like fireworks.
Ma Hongjun struggled to defend himself and finally understood why Huo Wu was injured by the opponent's single fire line.
The three-legged golden crow was furious, letting out another low cry. Its three crimson-golden legs straightened, and its claws formed a crescent shape.
It flapped its wings and fiercely attacked Ma Hongjun.
At this moment, the huge sycamore tree became Ma Hongjun's best hiding place.
The three-legged golden crow seemed unwilling to damage the tree, so its movements paused slightly.
However, Ma Hongjun still underestimated its strength. One of its three legs suddenly attacked, a claw shadow clawing towards Ma Hongjun's back.
With a tearing sound,
the flesh was ripped open, leaving deep grooves.
Burning! Tearing!
It was an excruciating pain.
The three-legged golden crow was incredibly powerful; this was the first time Ma Hongjun had faced such a formidable attack.
Even his dragon scales proved ineffective; the golden flames of the three-legged golden crow must have reached the pinnacle of fire, otherwise the scales wouldn't have been so easily broken.
Furthermore, its third leg was far too powerful.
Fortunately, he had the dragon scales, otherwise the claw might have pierced his body.
If Huo Wu had been attacked by that claw, she would likely be a corpse.
It wasn't that Ma Hongjun wasn't fighting back, but rather that his defenses were simply insufficient to withstand the three-legged golden crow.
Moreover, in the air, the three-legged golden crow's speed was far superior, giving him no time to react or unleash his soul skills.
"Get up quickly, back to the lava lake!"
Ma Hongjun shouted, reminding Huo Wu, and circled the phoenix tree with the three-legged golden crow.
The strength of this three-legged golden crow was beyond his capabilities; hunting it would be extremely difficult. At this point, Ma Hongjun could only stall for time.
Huo Wu had already stood up; the line of fire from before had pierced her right chest, the power of golden flames raging within her.
She quickly gathered her strength, knowing this was no time for sentimentality or hesitation. She simply didn't have the power to fight the Three-Legged Golden Crow, so she sped back in the direction she had come from. She
dared not fly into the air again now.
At the same time, she shouted loudly to Ma Hongjun,
"I'm charging up my 'Fire Dance Radiant Sun' ahead. When you come over, fly low and I'll meet you."
"Hurry up and go, stop talking nonsense!"
Ma Hongjun snapped impatiently.
He had no energy left to be distracted, even though he had mastered the Three Apertures Control Heart.
"Wind Domain!"
A crimson light rose into the sky, Ma Hongjun's first soul ring encircling him.
With the Wind Domain unfolding, the pressure on Ma Hongjun finally lessened. With the speed difference, Ma Hongjun had a chance to counterattack.
Wind Wings flew out one after another, and three figures of Ma Hongjun materialized simultaneously.
The Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Spear attacked, one clone drawing the Three-Legged Golden Crow's attention while the other two launched their attacks.
"Clang! Clang!"
The three-legged golden crow's wings were as hard as metal, impossible to pierce.
Too powerful.
However, the Martial God Spear's penetrating power was still strong; this spear had already caused the three-legged golden crow pain.
Another loud cry rang
out, seemingly angering the three-legged golden crow. Its golden feathers scattered, merging with the crimson leaves of the paulownia tree.
Suddenly, flames flowing from the paulownia tree erupted, forming a fiery inferno centered on the tree.
Ma Hongjun was trapped inside.
This was a domain skill.
The Three-Legged Golden Crow had actually used the power of the paulownia fire spirit tree to activate a special domain.
The scorching flames burned Ma Hongjun, clashing with the purplish-red flames erupting from his body.
Undoubtedly, Ma Hongjun's flames couldn't withstand it.
The power of the golden flames had already surged into his body.
The age of this Three-Legged Golden Crow was unknown, but its strength was probably comparable to a typical Title Douluo.
If Ma Hongjun unleashed his full power and used all his abilities, he could handle a typical Title Douluo, like Poison Douluo.
However, dealing with the Three-Legged Golden Crow was proving very difficult.
This special golden flame could penetrate the defenses of the dragon's scales and also suppressed Ma Hongjun's purple flames.
"No, I can't stay in its domain."
Battles also depend on timing, location, and the opponent's strength.
The area within the paulownia tree was too advantageous for the Three-Legged Golden Crow.
Its domain was a fire domain, while Ma Hongjun's was a wind domain.
It couldn't utilize the power here at all.
"Break!"
The three clones merged into one, the azure wind domain rapidly contracting, a point of azure light gathering at the spear tip.
Domain against domain!
Ma Hongjun flew out of the opponent's fire domain.
Then he flew at low speed.
The three-legged golden crow flew over again. This cunning human had actually escaped its domain, which enraged it greatly. Its
golden crow beak opened, flying towards Ma Hongjun.
Ma Hongjun hadn't flown far when he saw Huo Wu holding a large fireball, waiting there, poised to unleash it.
Suddenly, a powerful suction force came from behind, as if a hand in the air was pulling Ma Hongjun.
The three-legged golden crow opened its large golden crow beak, within which was a golden vortex; it wanted to suck Ma Hongjun into its belly.
Huo Wu's face was already pale, large beads of sweat sliding down her forehead. Charging up the Fire Dance Radiant Sun technique was already very taxing on her, not to mention she was injured at the moment.
Judging from her current state, it's hard to say whether she can even land a hit on the Three-Legged Golden Crow.
The suction force behind him was getting stronger, and Ma Hongjun hardened his heart.
"Release it quickly!"
Huo Wu was still hesitating. At this moment, Ma Hongjun was in front of her, and if the fireball was released, it would only hit Ma Hongjun.
"Don't stand there, I have a way. Aim at me and release it quickly.
Release it and run!"
Huo Wu took a deep breath, her chest expanded, and then she pushed the fireball out.
Ma Hongjun relaxed his resistance slightly. His second soul ring lit up, and as soon as the fireball rose into the air, it was pulled by the suction force of the Three-Legged Golden Crow, rushing into its mouth along with Ma Hongjun.
Ma Hongjun was in front, and the orange-red fireball was behind.
If it was sucked into the mouth of the Three-Legged Golden Crow like this, the fireball would be able to seal the Three-Legged Golden Crow's big crow's mouth after Ma Hongjun entered.
A ball of purple energy gathered on the Dragon Soul Spear and was fired.
"Explode!"
Ma Hongjun fired after his body entered the mouth of the Three-Legged Golden Crow.
The purple fireball and the orange-red fireball collided.
"Bang!"
The two forces exploded upon impact, blasting the giant crow's beak into a deformed shape.
However, this golden crow's beak was far too powerful.
The Three-Legged Golden Crow dared to suck Huo Wu Yaoyang in, confident it could withstand this power.
Such a powerful soul beast couldn't be lacking in intelligence.
The Three-Legged Golden Crow possessed great compatibility with fire-attribute power, so it wasn't afraid.
However, its beak was still a weakness; this power was enough to cause it some damage.
Of course, it could bear this price, as the human had already been absorbed into its belly.
Huo Wu, unable to see much, was extremely weak after unleashing her ultimate attack. At this point, she couldn't possibly help; staying would only cause trouble.
The Three-Legged Golden Crow, dazed and confused by the explosion, had blood and foam slurring its breath. It was during this brief moment that Huo Wu escaped.
After a period of dizziness, Ma Hongjun entered the Three-Legged Golden Crow's belly.
He initially thought it would be a smooth slide down the intestines.
Unexpectedly, the three-legged golden crow's belly held a hidden world.
Ma Hongjun felt as if he had entered a golden world, with wisps of flame rising.
Refining Domain!
The three-legged golden crow's body was like the fire domain skill he had just unleashed using the phoenix tree.
However, the previous fiery domain was mixed with the crimson flames of the phoenix tree, while here, it was pure golden flames.
It looked like a furnace.
The intense heat made Ma Hongjun feel as if his body was about to melt.
The golden flames relentlessly baked and relentlessly invaded Ma Hongjun's body.
This was the Three-Legged Golden Crow's method.
Ma Hongjun had even thought of entering the monster's body like Sun Wukong, breaking through from within, and emerging. He
never expected that the Three-Legged Golden Crow's body would be such a huge trap.
It truly broadened his horizons before his death.
However, Ma Hongjun was not giving up; he was searching for a way to save himself.
Looking around, the small space had walls made of gold, the material of which was unknown, but it didn't seem to be made of flesh and blood.
He had never heard of such a powerful soul beast as the Three-Legged Golden Crow in the Douluo Continent.
Ma Hongjun only called it that because its shape resembled the Three-Legged Golden Crow from the myths and legends of his previous life.
However, whatever it was, its abilities were powerful and unknown.
The green patterns on the Martial God Spear erupted, and Ma Hongjun decided to try the same approach as before.
He would use the "Life Drain" skill to break through from the inside.
The golden body of the Three-Legged Golden Crow was too strong in defense; Ma Hongjun had already tried, and it was difficult to break through its defense from the outside, hence this attempt.
Otherwise, if he could pierce its body from the outside, he could use the Life Drain skill to fight a protracted battle with the Three-Legged Golden Crow, and eventually wear it down.
He thrust out the spear.
With a clang,
"It's working!"
The spear tip pierced a small part!
The green patterns lit up, and Ma Hongjun activated Life Drain.
"It's working!"
Ma Hongjun was overjoyed; the Martial God Spear could draw power from the golden barrier.
However, after a moment, Ma Hongjun discovered a problem.
The green patterns were dimming, as if a force was burning them.
This made the Life Drain process extremely difficult, although some of it could be replenished into Ma Hongjun's body.
But it was far from enough to solve the problem.
Golden flames raged against Ma Hongjun. If it weren't for the numerous soul bones that strengthened his body, he wouldn't have lasted much longer.
Without replenishment, Ma Hongjun would be worn down to death.
Calm down,
he had to stay calm.
In this life-or-death situation, he couldn't be hasty, or he'd lose his ability to think.
Ma Hongjun didn't want to die. He
'd only just entered the Fire Domain for training; the Fire God's assessment hadn't even begun yet.
He didn't want to die so ignominiously.
To be honest, this was a truly bad start. Their luck was terrible; they'd encountered such a powerful soul beast right away
. Ma Hongjun didn't believe all soul beasts in the Fire Domain were this strong; otherwise, what was the point of training?
Looking at the various patterns on the Martial God Spear, Ma Hongjun fell into thought.
"Fire overcomes wood!"
Ma Hongjun suddenly realized the key to the problem.
The Three-Legged Golden Crow's fire attribute was too strong; the power absorbed from it must also contain a strong fire attribute.
It was itself a soul beast of extreme fire.
And the green patterns on the wooden spear—the power condensed there was wood attribute.
It was like using an IV drip to deliver magma.
Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth!
The five elements, mutually generating and restraining each other.
Ma Hongjun's Martial God Spear already possessed the power of metal, wood, water, and earth.
The energy he needed to absorb and transfer was precisely the missing fire element.
Thinking it, he decided to try!
Ma Hongjun simultaneously activated his third, fourth, fifth, and sixth soul rings!
The four-colored patterns on the Martial God Spear glowed brilliantly.
Combined with the absorbed golden flame energy,
the five elements were complete!
Ma Hongjun activated it again.
This time, the Martial God Spear changed; the glowing patterns began to intertwine and flow.
At this moment, Ma Hongjun felt a special and powerful force.
The Martial God Spear suddenly and easily pierced the golden barrier.
Then, powerful streams of energy flowed through the Martial God Spear and into Ma Hongjun's body,
slowly restoring his strength.
This time, Ma Hongjun felt more than just the previous life-absorbing power.
This energy seemed very mixed and abundant.
Life force is only one aspect.
He could also clearly feel the energy of fire and water.
Originally, being burned, his body was rapidly losing moisture, so Ma Hongjun could clearly feel his body replenishing its fluids.
Furthermore, the fire energy made Ma Hongjun's resistance to the golden flames increasingly stronger, and the pain caused by the golden flames was diminishing.
Connecting this to life force, which is essentially a type of wood-attribute energy, it was transformed by the wooden spear to suit the human body.
From this, Ma Hongjun realized that this might be a powerful skill, but he hadn't yet grasped it, nor did he have the conditions to do so.
The Martial God Spear is truly powerful.
Judging from the energy absorbed,
this should be called
"Five Elements Absorption!"
The three-legged golden crow's body was exceptionally rich in water, fire, and metal energies.
While Ma Hongjun pondered, he was also frantically absorbing energy, this time truly achieving a balance of strength and weakness.
...
The three-legged golden crow had already flown back to the Wutong Fire Spirit Tree,
and two of its fire spirit fruits had been picked.
At this moment, it opened its mouth and ate a fire spirit fruit.
However, just then, a pain shot through its body.
Suddenly, it felt its energy rapidly draining away.
Struggling, it fell from the phoenix tree,
thrashing and rolling on the ground,
emitting mournful cries.
The rich golden light began to fade, and its massive body slowly withered away.
As if drained of all its blood, it quickly became skin and bones.
It was too weak to roll anymore. It
slowly breathed its last.
With a tearing sound, a cold light shone from the three-legged golden crow's abdomen.
With a dragon's roar, Ma Hongjun burst forth from its body, wielding the Martial God Spear.
At this moment, the various patterns on the Martial God Spear had separated and returned to calm, with only a golden dragon shadow swirling around it.
Ma Hongjun's physical strength could not withstand the entire energy of the three-legged golden crow, so a large portion was absorbed by the Martial God Spear.
Points of light condensed, and a spirit ring slowly formed!
The red light blended perfectly with the dominant color scheme of this world, seemingly not out of place.
But Ma Hongjun's heart skipped a beat.
"A 100,000-year spirit ring!"
This was the first 100,000-year spirit beast he had killed.
Under the paulownia tree, Ma Hongjun carefully examined the spirit ring.
Its vibrant red was interspersed with wisps of golden light.
At this moment, Ma Hongjun was in excellent condition, having just absorbed the energy of the Three-Legged Golden Crow.
He was considering absorbing this spirit ring.
However, he needed someone to protect him.
Otherwise, in this fire domain, who knew what dangers might suddenly appear?
Moreover, although this paulownia fire spirit tree hadn't shown any aggression, Ma Hongjun couldn't guarantee it was harmless.
Most creatures in the fire domain were unfamiliar to him. He
quickly returned to the lava lake.
Ma Hongjun saw Huo Wu lying on the ground, her eyes glazed, in a semi-conscious state.
Clearly, the strain on her body had reached its limit, but the perilous environment prevented her from completely falling into a deep sleep.
Her curled-up body evoked pity and a strong desire to protect her.
However, Huo Wu was wearing very little clothing; with her body curled up, it was difficult for her to wear that miniskirt.
Ma Hongjun's eyes flickered for a moment; he felt a pang of sympathy for that short skirt
!
It was unavoidable; the angle was just right. Any
normal man would turn his head.
Let alone someone as abnormal as Ma Hongjun,
so he glanced at it a few more times.
A little scenery is nothing to be ashamed of!
After a brief moment of distraction, Ma Hongjun remembered that Huo Wu was still injured and unconscious.
"What a sin!"
Suddenly, a dangerous thought appeared in Ma Hongjun's mind.
"No, she still needs to absorb the soul ring; it's taking too long!"
Ma Hongjun stopped his impulsive thoughts. He realized that this source of evil, the thought, really needed to be controlled, otherwise it could easily lead to crime.
With that, Ma Hongjun placed his hand on Huo Wu's right chest.
It was still bleeding from the wound inflicted by the golden flames of the Three-Legged Golden Crow.
Ma Hongjun tried to help stop the bleeding.
(End of Chapter)