Chapter 178: Detonation

This slip, like dry grass on the ground meeting a Fire Star, ignited the Evil Fire inside Ma Hongjun, and his whole body became scorching hot.

And Ma Hongjun's abnormality was also noticed by Zhang Xiaohe and Jue Dun.

"What did he just spit out?"

"It couldn't be something good; you can tell by his appearance."

Ma Hongjun, with his Evil Fire ignited, had a dazed look and staggered toward the distance.

His current thought is to extinguish the Evil Fire and quickly reach a place, but the torment of the Evil Fire is slowly eroding his will.

I need to hurry and find Xiao Hong…

It hurts so much, really hurts, I can't take it any longer…

There's a girl in the alley ahead… No, I can't do that.

But I really can't stand it, I'm going to be burned to death, ah ah.

A strange crimson hue flickered in Ma Hongjun's eyes, yet he still couldn't withstand the Evil Fire's corrosion.

When he regained consciousness, a girl's corpse lay beneath him; her terrified face revealed the torment she endured before death.

"Ah."

Ma Hongjun let out a scream and, rolling and crawling, fled back to Shilake Academy.

His panicked state caught Dai Mubai's attention.

"Pangzi, you look thinner? Is it just my imagination?"

Ma Hongjun saw someone block his path and reached out to push them away.

"Snap"

Ma Hongjun lowered his head, not looking at the other's face, only feeling a strong grip on his wrist before he finally looked up.

Dai Mubai released Ma Hongjun's wrist; the scorching soul power almost burned his palm.

"Pangzi, where have you been? Why are you so disheveled?" Dai Mubai asked.

"It's Dai, the boss. Nothing… nothing, just ran into a little mishap."

After speaking, Ma Hongjun hurried away, fearing that staying would expose the matter.

Watching Ma Hongjun's departing back, Dai Mubai glanced again at his palm, his brows slightly furrowed, but he relaxed soon after.

Back in his dorm, Ma Hongjun took a long time to calm down.

"Did my Soul Power Level break through to Forty Level?"

At this moment, Ma Hongjun finally felt the increase in his internal Soul Power Level, even though he had only just broken through to Thirty Nine Level not long ago…

Ma Hongjun couldn't help but recall today's changes, his thoughts becoming tangled.

……

Zhang Xiaohe and Jue Dun didn't know what medicine Ma Hongjun was selling in his gourd, but it didn't stop them from participating in the Team Duel.

After absorbing the soul bone, Zhang Xiaohe's strength greatly increased; under everyone's watchful eyes, he dared not reveal the Soul Bone Skill, yet the attributes granted by the soul bone gave him an outstanding performance.

After winning the Team Duel, Zhang Xiaohe and Jue Dun returned to the academy, and during the journey, Zhang Xiaohe told Jue Dun about his absorption of the soul bone.

"What, your family prepared a soul bone for you?" Jue Dun's voice was full of disbelief.

Zhang Xiaohe didn't intend to hide it from teammates and teachers; he planned to present the soul bone as his overt strength.

Jue Dun understood Zhang Xiaohe's thinking; with the soul bone's boost, he was no longer just an Agile Attack-type Soul Master.

But Jue Dun's view differed; if he obtained a soul bone, he would definitely conceal its existence and not expose it easily.

Their positions and views differed, so their actions naturally varied.

On their way up the mountain back to the academy, they happened to see Yu Feng and Ao Si Luo, but their expressions were not pleasant.

Zhang Xiaohe and Jue Dun tried to greet them, but were ignored as the two walked straight past.

"What's wrong with them?" Jue Dun asked, puzzled.

"Tch, who are they showing that sour face to?" Zhang Xiaohe complained.

When the two returned to the academy, they finally learned why Yu Feng and Ao Si Luo's faces were so grim.

Yu Tianheng tried to challenge the boss across ranks, only to be easily defeated.

"I wondered why their faces were so grim; turns out their Team Leader lost to our boss," Zhang Xiaohe said, feeling much better after learning the reason.

In terms of personal strength, the Second Team members all considered Tie Li the undisputed top among all Tian Dou Royal Academy students.

At that moment, Tie Li was just leaving the cafeteria, heading to the simulated training area on the mountaintop, when he saw Zhang Xiaohe and Jue Dun.

Seeing Tie Li, the two immediately approached to ask how their boss dealt with Yu Tianheng.

Tie Li gave a brief account, and Zhang Xiaohe also talked about obtaining a soul bone from his family.

The five-thousand-year Giant Bear Left Arm Bone—Zhang Xiaohe's purpose in absorbing this soul bone was obvious at a glance.

With this soul bone, he was no longer a replaceable spot in the team.

"Come, let me try your Soul Bone Skill."

"Alright."

Tie Li was quite interested in the Soul Bone Skill Zhang Xiaohe obtained, wanting to see how much a soul bone could boost him.

Within Tian Dou Royal Academy, First Team and Second Team each have dedicated training grounds.

Zhang Xiaohe summoned all Second Team members, intending to showcase his soul bone before them; Zhao Tianhe was among them.

Everyone was extremely envious of Zhang Xiaohe obtaining a soul bone from his family.

That's really a soul bone!

"Boss, I'm going to attack."

"Alright!"

Tie Li summoned the Zhen Long Chui Spirit, assuming a defensive stance, waiting for Zhang Xiaohe to unleash the Soul Bone Skill.

"Huh"

A heavy aura manifested on Zhang Xiaohe's left arm, and a faint phantom of a giant bear could be seen appearing behind him.

Giant Armor Bear Left Arm Soul Bone Skill, Giant Armor Rock Crushing Strike!

Zhang Xiaohe's left arm swelled outward, forming a layer of heavy shell.

"Boom"

The Soul Bone Skill released by Zhang Xiaohe is in no way inferior in power to the Four Ring Soul Ancestor.

Tie Li blocked his strike with the Thunder Dragon Hammer, and by the force transmitted through the hammer he could clearly gauge the strike's power.

"Very strong Soul Bone Skill," Tie Li said.

Zhao Tianhe, watching from the side, reached the same conclusion: this Left Arm Soul Bone Skill gave Zhang Xiaohe a soul skill that is not inferior to those of the Four Ring Soul Ancestor.

Relying on soul bones to boost strength is hard to replicate in other trainees; the value of a soul bone is so high it exceeds what most factions can afford.

Zhang Xiaohe comes from a great noble family and has a fairly ordinary relationship with Avalanche, so his family is willing to invest in him.

Even great nobles rarely spend large resources on the younger generation.

Zhang Xiaohe looked excited; after absorbing this soul bone, his strength was undoubtedly greatly enhanced, raising his importance within the team.

"This soul bone grants you attributes that are not inferior to those provided by absorbing a Soul Ring; you are no longer just an Agile Attack-type Soul Master, which can make our tactics more diverse," Zhao Tianhe said.

When a team member's strength is increased, the overall power of the Second Team rises, which is a good thing for Zhao Tianhe as the Team-leading Teacher.

(End of Chapter)