.
The Sword Douluo who came wasn't Tang Hao, and he wasn't familiar with Tang San and Xiao Wu, so it was entirely possible for him to kill Xiao Wu to obtain her spirit ring.
The only problem was that they lacked someone to absorb a 100,000-year spirit ring.
Ma Hongjun certainly couldn't kill Xiao Wu, after all, she was a 100,000-year spirit beast, and persuading the Sword Douluo based on emotion alone would be difficult.
Therefore, Ma Hongjun needed to find a way to convince the Sword Douluo.
"I never expected Xiao Wu to be a 100,000-year-old soul beast. How interesting.
But Grandpa Sword, I don't want to kill Xiao Wu. She's my junior sister now, and Rongrong's good friend. She's very innocent; I don't think she's any different from us humans.
If I really have to use her soul ring, I don't think I can bring myself to do it.
Besides, Rongrong would be very sad."
Sword Douluo stroked his beard and said angrily, "Hong Jun, you're still young. You don't understand the power that a 100,000-year soul ring represents. Even among Title Douluos, there's a qualitative difference between having a red 100,000-year soul ring and not having one.
You could say that possessing a 100,000-year soul ring represents absolute strength among Title Douluos."
Ma Hong Jun didn't care and continued, "There are many paths to becoming stronger. Why choose to kill your companion? Besides, Xiao Wu isn't the only 100,000-year-old soul beast. Even if I need one, I can hunt others. I
'd rather not kill Xiao Wu for a 100,000-year soul ring!"
Sword Douluo said in a fit of rage.
"You're too naive. A 100,000-year spirit ring is every spirit master's pursuit. You don't want it because you don't understand. Besides, do you think 100,000-year spirit beasts are so easy to deal with? Are there that many 100,000-year spirit beasts?"
From Ma Hongjun's perspective, talking about feelings with Xiao Wu was too far-fetched, since the two had only known each other for three days at most. So, after expressing his position, Ma Hongjun decided to reason with Sword Douluo.
"But Grandpa Sword, if we capture Xiao Wu now, she certainly won't just surrender and wait to die. Spirit beasts won't submit to spirit masters. I think if we do that, she might very well commit suicide.
A 100,000-year spirit beast committing suicide, I don't think you can stop her."
Sword Douluo pondered for a moment, and it seemed that it was indeed difficult. He estimated that it would take at least ten years for Ma Hongjun to cultivate to the Spirit Saint level, and those ten years were full of variables.
If they didn't capture Xiao Wu and let her cultivate for ten years, she would be close to the Spirit Saint level. A 100,000-year spirit beast at the Spirit Saint level wouldn't be so easy to deal with.
Ma Hongjun continued to drop bombshells, raising his voice:
"Furthermore, Xiao Wu and Tang San have a very good relationship; they've been together for many years.
What I want to tell you is Tang San's identity. His father is also a Title Douluo, and the youngest Title Douluo in the history of Douluo Continent.
His surname is Tang; I think you should have heard of his father's renown."
Sword Douluo exclaimed in surprise,
"Haotian Douluo!"
No one in the high-level Soul Master world was unaware of Tang Hao's name. Back then, in the battle against the Spirit Hall, he even killed Qian Xunji, the Pope of the Spirit Hall.
Of course, this was just hearsay; the true cause of Qian Xunji's death was another matter entirely.
"Yes, it's Haotian Douluo. He left Shrek Academy just before you, so Xiao Wu's identity couldn't be hidden from him either. Since he didn't attack Xiao Wu, there are only two possibilities.
One is that, like you, he wanted to leave Xiao Wu's spirit ring to Tang San, so he didn't attack her to avoid alerting him and let her stay by Tang San's side. He planned to kill her when Tang San was able to absorb a 100,000-year spirit ring.
The second possibility is that Tang Hao accepted Xiao Wu and allowed her to stay by Tang San's side, treating her as a person.
Actually, I think I'm more inclined to the second possibility. Given the current relationship between Tang San and Xiao Wu, to kill Xiao Wu, one would have to kill Tang San first, so Haotian..." The possibility of Douluo killing Xiao Wu is unlikely.
Grandpa Sword, I'm saying all this because I don't want you to harm Xiao Wu.
I fully understand what a 100,000-year-old soul beast's soul ring means, but we are human. We can't let our humanity be extinguished just for power. Even soul beasts have feelings; are humans inferior to them?
Putting aside Xiao Wu's soul beast identity, in the present moment, what difference is there between her and a human? Besides, she hasn't done anything to harm humans.
If it were any other soul beast with whom I had no connection, I wouldn't hesitate at all, but Xiao Wu is different; she's my friend."
Sword Douluo isn't actually a ruthless person. In fact, he truly possesses the chivalry of a sword immortal; in the original work, his image is full of justice and magnanimity.
"Hongjun, the fact that you can say these words proves you've matured. Indeed, what makes us human is our humanity and emotions; without these, we're no different from animals.
Strength is important, but a person's character is equally essential. The strong don't reach their peak solely through external means; following one's inner state is also crucial.
Everyone has their own principles and their own path. The path of the strong is one of following one's heart. If killing Xiaowu clouded your judgment, even if you temporarily gained power, it will become an obstacle in your mind, breeding inner demons and preventing further progress.
Very well, I respect your choice!"
Sword Douluo looked at Ma Hongjun with satisfaction. Although he felt a little regretful, he could see that Ma Hongjun was someone Ning Rongrong could entrust her life to. He wasn't a slave to power; his humanity was warm.
"Thank you, Grandpa Sword!"
Sword Douluo glanced outside the village and then said,
"They're back, so I won't expose myself. That soul beast is still too dangerous in human cities. If you really don't want her to be harmed, let her leave."
"Not everyone is as easy to talk to as I am. I'm already a Title Douluo, and my spirit rings are full. If I met her when I was a Spirit Douluo, I don't think I would let her go.
Similarly, if I'm like this, then the other Spirit Douluo powerhouses are even more so.
If they see Xiao Wu, they will definitely kill her at all costs and take her spirit rings and spirit bones."
After Sword Douluo finished speaking, Ning Rongrong walked over!
"Grandpa Sword, the Dean and the others are back."
Sword Douluo glanced at Ma Hongjun and Ning Rongrong and said,
"Rongrong, I came to Shrek Academy secretly. No one else knows. Don't reveal my whereabouts, or it will be bad for your father.
Hongjun, you can tell Flander that I came!" "
Sword Douluo disappeared in a flash after saying that.
Usually, he and Bone Douluo would stay by Ning Fengzhi's side to protect him. If others knew that Sword Douluo wasn't with Ning Fengzhi, they might use this opportunity to attack him. Ma
Hongjun continued to stand in the deep pit with the stone on his back. Flander and the others came over. Dai Mubai and the others were chatting and laughing, especially Xiao Wu, who was the happiest. It seemed that their first time fighting in the Great Soul Arena tonight had given them all a different feeling.
Seeing Ma Hongjun still squatting there, the group stopped laughing and looked at him pitifully.
"You all go back and rest. Ning Rongrong, you go back too!"
After everyone left, Flander took the stone off Ma Hongjun's back.
"What happened?"
Flander pointed to the collapsed houses not far away, which had been spread by the Seven Treasures Exquisite Spear's attack.
Ma Hongjun looked up at the sky and then said to Flander:
"Sword Douluo was here!"
(End of this chapter)