Chapter 242: Hidden Chess

As for the Holy Maiden of the Baohua Sect, legend says she is a fairy born from the flowers, with an unparalleled and dazzling beauty.

Her most outstanding trait is her cultivation talent; the sect has placed great expectations on her, and she may become the third titled Douluo in Baohua Sect's history.

This time the Holy Maiden of the Baohua Sect appeared in Baohua City, naturally attracting many young talents.

"I just happened to pass through here."

"I understand; you keep Zhuqing in your heart, just like me, only Ning Rongrong occupies my thoughts," Oscar said, flashing a lewd smile.

"But everyone has an eye for beauty; this Holy Maiden of the Baohua Sect truly lives up to the rumors—seeing her is never a loss."

Tie Li was not very interested in that; instead, he was curious about Oscar's appearance in Baohua City and asked the reason.

Oscar did not hide anything and explained his situation; as a Food Soul Master, his combat power was destined to be modest, but his purpose in wandering the Soul Master World was to hone himself so he could protect Ning Rongrong.

Combat is often the best way to improve oneself, but for a Food Soul Master, it seems somewhat impractical.

Fortunately, Oscar carried hidden weapons prepared by Tang San, giving him self‑defense capability.

Before meeting Tie Li, Oscar had been coerced by a Soul Master family, which demanded that he join them; his outstanding talent would attract attention from many SoulMasterForce factions.

That is why Oscar now neglects his appearance; his thick sideburns conceal his age.

Having fled to Baohua City with no money, he happened to encounter Tie Li at that moment.

Tie Li and Oscar left the inn; a well‑fed Oscar wanted to find a place to lie down for a while.

"Oscar, is that you?" a crisp voice sounded.

"So it's you, little beggar. Too bad you were a step slow; otherwise I could treat you to a feast, now I can only offer you a bun."

Tie Li also glanced at the little beggar behind Oscar; though covered in gray‑black mud that hid the face, a handsome visage could still be discerned, and the clothes were ragged, full of patches.

Dressed as a man?

When Tie Li first saw her, he sensed something different about her—a faint soul power fluctuation, but one that was very unusual.

Sss?

Somewhat familiar, but he couldn't recall at the moment.

She looked at Oscar with an odd expression.

"Buns are fine too, hurry up, I'm starving."

"Alright."

The two must have spent a long time together, building a solid rapport; their behavior reveals that.

Oscar didn't realize the little beggar was a girl; he treated her more like a brother.

At that moment, Tie Li suddenly turned back, sensing a surge of malice, but it vanished in an instant.

In a corner, an elderly woman showed a flash of surprise on her face.

"A mere Soul Emperor can actually find me?"

The woman's actual age had long surpassed a hundred, yet she was impeccably maintained, her skin delicate, surpassing even that of a young girl, with a head of jet‑black hair draped over her shoulders.

Her entire body radiated an immensely strong soul power fluctuation, and she was highly adept at concealing her aura; even if she harbored murderous intent toward a Soul Saint, the target would not detect it.

What she didn't expect was that the murderous intent she just felt toward Tie Li was already sensed by him.

"Brother Da Li, what's wrong?" Oscar asked.

"Nothing."

After the three left, the woman emerged from the shadows.

At that moment, three Elders of the Baohua Sect appeared behind the woman, their faces respectful, daring not to show any negligence in protocol.

"Supreme Elder."

"Has the investigation been completed? Who is that youngster?" the woman asked.

The three Elders, not daring to delay, immediately recounted the situation.

"We've already investigated; it is said to come from the Shilake Academy, the champion team of this Soul Master Competition."

"After graduating from Shilake Academy, he joined the Seven Treasure Liuli Sect."

"During the Soul Master Competition, he was already a member of the Four Ring Soul Sect, and despite his age, he was likely still under twenty."

Sss, this shocked the woman even more; cultivation for a Food Soul Master is extremely difficult, and reaching the Four Ring Soul Sect before twenty indicates a terrifying talent.

If her status within the Baohua Sect weren't so special, the woman might indeed be willing to trade her for a genius Soul Master.

But for the Baohua Sect's future, she could not do that.

"Supreme Elder, shall we act?"

"Hold off for now; go investigate the Soul Emperor beside them."

"Yes!" the three Baohua Sect Elders replied in unison.

……

Compared with Oscar's path of experience, Ma Hongjun, among the Shilake Seven Freaks, was the first—after Tang San—to break through to Soul Power Level 50, three strides faster than Dai Mubai.

Now Ma Hongjun had shed his earlier bulk; his physique was robust and powerful, his appearance much more handsome, though a hint of otherworldly ferocity lingered in his eyes.

Having broken through to Soul Power Level 50, he returned to Shilake Academy; after all, with the Fifth Soul Ring, his goal was certainly the Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, and with his current strength he was still far from handling Ten Thousand Year Soul Beasts.

"Fatty, it's been over a year; your change is quite remarkable," Zhao Wuji said, unable to hide his comment as he looked at Ma Hongjun's transformation.

When Ma Hongjun first entered Shilake Academy, he was almost unrecognizable.

"Impressive, reaching Level 50 in such a short time; I guess you haven't neglected cultivation," Yu Xiaogang said, his face unchanged but his inner shock no less than Zhao Wuji's.

Ma Hongjun gave a faint smile, attributing most of the credit to the pill that Tang San had refined using Immortal Herb.

It had no side effects and dramatically accelerated cultivation speed—a truly rare treasure pill.

"I recall Xiao San mentioning that the pill's effect wanes greatly after you break Forty Level," Zhao Wuji asked, puzzled.

"Perhaps my martial soul is special, allowing the effect to last a bit longer."

"No need to dwell on this; next I'll accompany Fatty to the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain his Fifth Soul Ring," Fulangde said.

Zhao Wuji and a few people nodded after hearing; the fat guy came back at this time, and the main purpose should also be the fifth soul ring.

Fulangde intended to personally take Ma Hongjun to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt Soul Beasts; with his Soul Saint cultivation, facing a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast would basically pose no problem, and since this time only Ma Hongjun would go, he alone would be sufficient.

On the second day, Fulangde took Ma Hongjun and set off for the Star Dou Great Forest.

"Come on, tell me how you raised your cultivation; you can deceive Zhao Wuji and the others, but you cannot deceive your teacher me."

(End of chapter)