Chapter 22: Heaven's Punishment
[Great Forest Star Duo]
Currently, Aotian was running through the forest, while Ma Hongjun and Mengqin followed behind him.
They were looking for a suitable soul beast for Ma Hongjun within 1300 years.
Or that is what they believed. Aotian had other thoughts.
He wanted to get a spirit soul for Hongjun, so he improves his physique, soul power, and bloodline.
For Mengqin they would have to go towards the Far North if they wanted to find something suitable for her.
Suddenly, Aotian sensed with his spiritual power a strong soul beast.
She is in heaven, and she feels how the elements of fire are going to her in abundance.
"I found a soul beast, follow me"
Aotian tells them, and quickly runs off in one direction, while Hongjun and Mengqin follow from behind.
When they get to where the soul beast is, they find a flaming bird, madly absorbing the fire elements throughout the environment.
It was a Fiery Vermilion Crow that was trying to pass to 10,000 years.
"Big Brother, I feel a sense of comfort when I get close to the beast."
Honjun cheerfully tells Aotian that he has an affinity for the soul beast. So it is likely that he has a phoenix bloodline.
Just as Aotian was thinking about how to convince the soul beast to become Hongjun's Spirit Soul. He feels the sky begin to cloud over, and numerous lightning bolts begin to fall on the soul beast.
"Oh no, Big Brother, he's trying to pass 10,000 years, I won't be able to absorb him if that happens."
Hongjun realizes that this soul beast is too strong for him to absorb, so he becomes depressed.
"Easy, I have a way for you to absorb this soul beast as your soul ring. Here you will see what is the secret technique of our sect"
Aotian calms Hongjun down and watch as the heavenly punishment hits the bird.
Gradually the rays turn light blue and appear to be infused with the element of water and ice.
It seemed heaven had every intention of killing this soul beast.
When the soul beast is at a critical point to advance, the sky starts to accumulate a lot of lightning in a single point.
The flying soul beast senses this and begins to cover itself in a blanket of golden flames.
Mengqin and Hongjun get behind Aotian to protect them while watching a critical moment.
Then suddenly a bolt of lightning the thickness of a bowl of soup strikes, which seemed to contain millions of bolts packed together.
Normally Heaven wouldn't expend that much energy on a breakthrough to 10,000 years, but this soul beast had two divine bloodlines, and each time it evolved they would sublimate, and there would come a point where it would become the strongest soul beast.
And since the laws of the divine realm hurt soul beasts so much, even if it passed this test, the soul beast would probably die in the advance to 100,000 years.
As the lightning strikes the soul beast's flame cloak, it emits a long cry of frustration, hatred, regret, and reluctance.
Then the sky begins to clear up, and it returns to its calm state, while the bird that was receiving the punishment, drops to the ground, and appears to be dying.
Aotian then advances with Hongjun and Mengqin, and they approach the soul beast.
The Fiery Vermilion Crow seeing how some humans approach seems to be ready to implode so it doesn't become a soul ring.
"Listen to me little one, I have a proposal for you. If you accept, you will not only live, but you will also have a chance to ascend to the Divine Realm."
The raven seems to be interested in Aotian's proposal, so he stares at it, while he waits for Aotian to continue speaking.
"It's very simple, you become a Spirit Soul for my friend here. he has a Phoenix Martial Soul, and has great potential. he could be heir to the God of Fire, so when he ascends, you will also ascend to the divine realm with him. It's very simple to do, you just give your life origin to it, and merge your whole body with it. Then your soul will remain in his soul rings. Becoming an Intelligent Soul Ring."
The crow seems to be very tempted, for if it is true that this boy can ascend to the Divine Realm, he could become a Divine Beast, and with the Divine Lineage from him, it is likely that he can become very strong.
'Testing'
Then, out of nowhere, Aotian feels a voice speaking in the spiritual sea of him. This beast was communicating through spiritual power.
"Hongjun, I am about to show you a very important secret, so I hope you will keep it."
Hongjun nods. And out of nowhere, he feels how the environment begins to darken. Darkness begins to come out of the body of his older brother which seems to freeze everything around him.
He then sees as from the back ofAotian begins to form the silhouette of a huge Dark Dragon, which scares him as he feels a huge blood essence starting to come out of his body.
She then is shocked to the core when he sees four Gold and Orange rings coming out of Aotian's body.
"Now I will show you the evidence"
The Burning Vermillion Crow who seemed to be in a trance snaps out of her daze as he feels everything around him start to freeze at an impressive rate.
Then she sees how a great Majestic Ice Dragon comes out of Aotian's Body, which is approximately 100 meters long, and his entire body seems to be made of giant pieces of ice.
"This is my spiritual soul. It is an Ice Dragon, which is on the path of evolution into an Ice Dragon King. He was originally a 190,000-year-old Soul Beast. But when he became my spirit soul his age advanced to 200,000 years without needing to suffer the Calamity. So if you become my friend's Spirit Soul, you will ascend to 10,000 years. And with the tests of the God of Fire, you will be able to increase your age even more."
The Vermillion Crow no longer hesitates and nods.
"Very well, Hongjun come closer"
Guarding Xiaobai and the martial soul from him, Aotian calls Hongjun to approach the soul beast.
"Very well, Hongjun, with my spirit power I will guide the consciousness of the Fiery Vermillion Crow towards your Spirit Sea. You will suffer immense pain, as it will not only be becoming your ring but immensely purifying your Bloodline and nourishing your physique, as well as triggering a second awakening in your Martian soul. It could be said that you would ascend to heaven in a single moment, so you will have to prepare yourself for the pain you will endure."
Hongjun is surprised at all the benefits that absorbing this beast and taking it with him will give him, it could be said that all the flaws that his current martial soul would have would disappear.
"Okay Big Brother, I'll bear it, so I can help you in the future, and get a beautiful Wife."
Although it seemed like Hongjun's focus was elsewhere, Aotian nods, preparing himself for the process.
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What do you think of the chapter?.
Tomorrow you will see how Hongjun receives massive changes. Just as soon we'll be leaving Shrek, and we'll start drastically changing some things. They have to do with Dugu Bo, Liu Erlong Academy, as well as some Oc that will become pillars of the new Aotian sect.
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