In the sky, Ma Hongjun and Xiong Jun faced off, their auras clashing.
Two more ferocious beasts emerged from the Lake of Life, clearly disturbed by the intense energy clash earlier.
"Xiong Jun, you are indeed strong, but not enough to make me leave my right hand."
Ma Hongjun flew back into the sky, creating some distance between himself and Xiong Jun,
mocking him .
After their clash, he had already sensed Xiong Jun's power;
it was formidable.
Therefore, Ma Hongjun was considering retreating.
Because of Xiao Wu's injury, the ferocious beasts in seclusion had been alerted, and Ma Hongjun could no longer seek the soul ring he desired in the Star Dou Great Forest.
Di Tian would not allow Ma Hongjun to hunt down the 100,000-year-old soul beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Xiong Jun was furious, but he also abandoned his contempt. This young human soul master was truly a hidden master.
"My methods have not yet been unleashed."
Xiong Jun's aura erupted, and his dark golden claws extended once more.
With a swift swing of its claws, streaks of dark golden light shot out as its body leaped through the air.
"Terror Claw Flying Light!"
Seeing the massive golden claws slashing towards him, Ma Hongjun rapidly shifted his position, his Fire Feather Wind Wings flapping rapidly, a blue light tinged with fire.
His figure flickered in the air, dodging the golden claws.
This was the Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear's ranged attack; the bear king used this move to slow Ma Hongjun's speed while simultaneously closing the distance.
For a ferocious battle spirit beast like the Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear, close combat and tearing enemies apart were essential.
The bear king's face grew increasingly agitated; it could no longer contain its urge to tear this human to shreds.
Having been in seclusion for too long, it could no longer hold back; a power within it needed to be released.
Ma Hongjun had already activated his Wind Domain skill, further increasing his speed.
However, it seemed to have limited effect on the bear king; its golden light could dissipate the effects of Ma Hongjun's Wind Domain.
Indeed, neither were simpletons.
Seeing the bear king closing in, Ma Hongjun dared not simply turn and flee.
Xiong Jun's ultimate skill, the Sky-Tearing Claw, has a powerful attack effect that can tear through space; at this distance, escape is simply impossible.
Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Sky-Shattering Strike, arguably the most powerful fire-based soul skill, failed to harm Xiong Jun, so Ma Hongjun wouldn't choose to use the Martial God Spear for close combat.
The Chaos Spear is his last trump card, but even that isn't absolutely guaranteed to severely injure Xiong Jun.
This fusion soul skill isn't an explosive soul skill; even if it could injure Xiong Jun, it wouldn't be able to instantly cripple him.
And Xiong Jun only has a sliver of resistance; even Ma Hongjun couldn't withstand its Dark Gold Terror Claws.
The Fire Feather Wind Wings fully illuminated, the Vermilion Bird feathers on the bone wings dazzlingly colorful—pale, pink, crimson orange—
each feather independent yet interconnected.
These true Vermilion Bird feathers, aged for 100,000 years, represent the essence of a Vermilion Bird's lifetime of cultivation.
Each one possesses immense power.
Besides granting speed and powerful fire abilities, the Vermilion Bird feather bones
are also a powerful divine artifact in themselves.
"Vermilion Bird Feathers, Sky Dance!"
Ma Hongjun stood upright in the air, his fiery wings unfurling, the light from his azure bone wings propelling them outwards.
One by one, Vermilion Bird feathers detached from his wings, propelled by Ma Hongjun's wind and fire power, shooting outwards.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh~"
Dozens of Vermilion Bird feathers of various colors shot through the air like arrows, transforming into streaks of light.
These feathers intertwined and advanced in the air, their flight paths not straight, but like dancing, tracing graceful arcs.
In an instant, the Vermilion Bird feathers reached Xiong Jun, each feather trailing a slender flame.
"Clang clang clang~"
The Vermilion Bird feathers struck Xiong Jun's body, producing crisp metallic sounds.
The defense of the dark gold bear fur was too abnormal; even the Vermilion Bird feathers couldn't penetrate it.
However, these Vermilion Bird feathers were extremely resilient, swirling around Xiong Jun's body.
The Vermilion Bird feathers were highly intelligent bone feathers, and Ma Hongjun controlled them very easily.
With a flick of the wrist, the Vermilion Bird Feather flew back once more, gathering its strength before shooting out again.
"Whoosh!"
A pale white feather pierced the Bear King's body.
Not every Vermilion Bird Feather is equally powerful; of course, no feather is weak, but a few special feathers are stronger.
The pale Vermilion Bird Feather is a true feather from the Vermilion Bird King, seven hundred thousand years old, so its power is far greater.
Led by the pale feather, the other colored feathers also attacked the same spot.
Soon, numerous thread-like holes appeared on the Bear King's body,
and clusters of flames remained within its flesh.
Taking advantage of the lull in the Vermilion Bird Feather's attack, Ma Hongjun flapped his bone wings and flew into the distance.
Without the Vermilion Bird Feather, the bone wings were much slower, but controlling them to distract Xiong Jun while flying made it much safer.
At least Xiong Jun wouldn't have time to unleash ranged attacks.
The beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest were terrified; the battle in the sky made them tremble, each hiding in their lair
, afraid to come out. Those that occasionally ventured out remained hidden in the forest, not daring to show their faces.
Every now and then, a streak of fire or golden light would fall from the sky, randomly dismembering lucky soul beasts.
"Boy, you think you can escape!"
Xiong Jun roared. Humans were indeed cunning; it had already sensed Ma Hongjun's intentions.
They were now outside the inner circle.
"Xiong Jun, I've remembered you.
Keep your soul ring safe; I'll come back for it,"
Ma Hongjun shouted.
With that, he waved his hands, and all the Vermilion Bird Feathers flying in the air returned.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"
The Vermilion Bird Feathers returned to his bone wings. Ma Hongjun's speed instantly increased, widening the distance between him and Xiong Jun.
"Trying to escape!"
Xiong Jun sneered, its right palm gleaming brightly, five sharp claws piercing the sky in a flash.
It hadn't expected Ma Hongjun to flee, assuming he was merely using his soul skill to create distance.
It hadn't expected him to be so cunning. However, Xiong Jun wouldn't let him escape.
"Sky-Tearing Claw!"
The sky turned a dark gold as the five claws slowly activated, their speed seemingly slow.
Ma Hongjun, already far away, was greatly alarmed; the five dark gold claws pierced through the air.
Xiong Jun, who was clearly still far behind, suddenly had its right hand arrive.
Sensing the threat of death,
Ma Hongjun's body tensed.
He had underestimated Xiong Jun's Sky-Tearing Claw.
"Dragon Soul!"
Ma Hongjun shouted.
The patterns on his Martial God Spear lit up, the fire phoenix fully unfurled, and his soul bones glowed.
A golden dragon soul appeared, intertwining with the purple fire phoenix.
In an instant, a seven-colored protective barrier formed around Ma Hongjun's body.
Five gigantic claws pierced the sky, completely enveloping Ma Hongjun.
The claws cleaved downwards, embedding themselves step by step into the seven-colored barrier.
The penetrating power was immense.
The Heaven-Tearing Claws ripped through the sky.
Ma Hongjun was in a panic; he couldn't withstand it!
This power was too great; the dark golden claws were closing in step by step. If they broke through the seven-colored barrier, Ma Hongjun would be instantly torn to pieces.
"Let me help you!"
A childish voice suddenly rang in Ma Hongjun's mind.
Then, Ma Hongjun saw a chubby silkworm wrapped in a ball of white light fly into his seven-colored barrier behind him.
A cool sensation instantly entered his body.
The golden dragon soul immediately shone, and within the golden light, a ball of white light shone at the heart of the golden dragon.
The dragon's eyes, those pale and pinkish-white pupils, also shone.
The dragon soul instantly changed.
A platinum-gold soul ring rose within the dragon soul.
(End of Chapter)