Huo Wu

Duanmu Ci's true body once again headed to Sea God Island,

while the Spirit Master Competition remained fiercely contested, time slowly passing by.

Duanmu Ci still appeared on Imperial Dou Team 3's arena.

But he had no real interest in fights involving nothing more than Soul Ancestors.

Although Huo Wu's words had made some sense,

unfortunately, he truly did not want to fight.

Now, his fighting style had changed to sitting down.

Using Wood Release, he instantly wove a vine chair.

He calmly sat down, as though he had moved the spectator stands onto the arena.

It was not bad, either.

The viewing experience was excellent.

The opposing team members had already grown used to this behavior from him.

Whenever their gazes passed over Duanmu Ci, they were filled with deep apprehension.

No one dared to approach and disturb him.

Everyone understood that defeating Zhu Zhuqing and the other three with all their strength first

was their only possible chance at victory.

Unfortunately, even with a clear strategy,

not a single team had yet been able to shake the undefeated might of Zhu Zhuqing's group of four.

The month-long preliminary rounds were finally nearing their end.

The battle Huo Wu had been eagerly awaiting—the clash with Imperial Dou Team 3—had finally arrived!

Yet when she truly stood on this arena and faced the figure seated in the vine chair,

even someone as competitive as Huo Wu could not stop her heart from skipping a beat.

But that was precisely what made him so alluring to her.

Duanmu Ci skillfully made another vine chair and was just about to sit down.

"Hey!" A crisp feminine shout brimming with fighting spirit rang out.

Huo Wu stepped forward, her fiery red eyes locked tightly onto Duanmu Ci.

"I'm not like them! Stand up and fight me!"

"Little sister! Don't be reckless!" Huo Wushuang shouted urgently behind her, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

He had never approved of directly provoking Duanmu Ci.

Based on the experience of the other teams, ignoring him and focusing all their strength on defeating the other four

before gathering the entire team to surround and attack him was their only hope.

The other members of the Blazing Fire Team also looked worried.

But seeing Huo Wu's resolute posture, unwilling to stop until she got what she wanted,

they could only helplessly swallow their objections.

"Heh..." Duanmu Ci paused and gave a soft laugh.

He slowly rose to his feet, his gaze casually sweeping over Huo Wu's pretty face and fiery figure.

There was a trace of appreciation in his tone.

"Your courage is commendable. Fine, I'll make an exception today and grant your wish."

After speaking, he casually waved at the four Zhu Zhuqing and the others, who were standing ready for battle.

The four immediately understood and tacitly retreated to one side.

Looking at Duanmu Ci's back, Shana blinked her lively big eyes and could not help moving closer to Dugu Yan.

Lowering her voice, she spoke with excitement.

"Hey, did you see that? The way Brother Mu looked at Huo Wu just now!

Could he be... interested in Huo Wu?"

Hearing this, Dugu Yan's alluring eyes immediately slid toward Zhu Zhuqing beside her.

Her red lips curled into a teasing smile as she deliberately drawled,

"Heh~ It's more than just 'interested.' Look at that gaze—it's like he's admiring some rare treasure.

Shana, haven't you noticed the pattern yet?

Our Brother Mu treats gorgeous beauties with long legs and slim waists differently!"

As she spoke, her gaze swept over Zhu Zhuqing.

Zhu Zhuqing's cool profile instantly stiffened, and the roots of her fair ears seemed to flush with a faint, almost imperceptible red.

There had never been many words between her and Duanmu Ci.

But when they first met, he had casually tossed out the line, "For saving your life, how about offering yourself to me?"

And afterward, he would tease her from time to time.

Though she had never given him much of a response,

her feelings had always been different.

But the fate of her family weighed upon her like a stone.

She simply did not dare make any promise or response.

But now...

He had actually looked at Huo Wu, whom he had met only a few times,

with that kind of... obvious appreciation?

Why?

What did that make her?

Zhu Zhuqing's gaze could not help drifting toward Huo Wu.

A woman's instinctive urge to compare quietly began to rise in her heart.

Wasn't Huo Wu only two or three years older than her?

Wasn't she just... perhaps a little taller?

Other than that, how was that woman superior to her in any way?

She unconsciously straightened her chest.

On the arena, Huo Wu instantly bristled at Duanmu Ci's casual expression.

"Who asked you to grant my wish?"

"A battle should be fair and aboveboard! Come on, defeat me!"

Duanmu Ci helplessly shook his head. I should go a little easier on her later.

The referee's voice was like a spark igniting a fuse.

"Both sides, summon your Martial Souls! Spirit battle—begin!"

"Boom—!" The spectator stands instantly erupted with thunderous cheers.

Everyone's attention focused on the figures about to clash in the arena.

Duanmu Ci rarely fought personally.

That alone was enough to draw countless spectators and team members.

Huo Wu instantly cast aside all distracting thoughts as her Martial Soul, Flame Shadow, appeared.

A figure identical to her in shape, yet formed entirely from blazing flames, rose behind her and radiated scorching heat.

It was her Martial Soul—Flame Shadow!

Huo Wushuang and the others did not hesitate either. Martial Soul Possession!

Huo Wushuang transformed into a One-Horned Fire Tyrannosaur, his entire body covered in blazing flame scales.

The other team members also revealed their respective flame Martial Souls, causing the temperature on the arena to surge.

Duanmu Ci merely raised his right hand with extreme casualness.

His five fingers spread slightly as he aimed them from afar at the seven members of the Blazing Fire Team.

That stance!

Huo Wu's pupils abruptly contracted!

"Spread out!" she shrieked, a barely noticeable trace of alarm in her voice.

The Blazing Fire Team members scattered in every direction like startled birds, their formation instantly collapsing!

They stared fixedly at Duanmu Ci's hand, their hearts in their throats.

One second... two seconds... three seconds...

The only sounds on the arena were the crackling of flames and the tense breathing of the Blazing Fire Team.

Duanmu Ci's hand remained suspended there, perfectly still, and there was even a hint of boredom on his face.

"You...!" Huo Wu instantly realized what had happened. The fury of being toyed with rushed straight to her head, turning her pretty face bright red.

He had merely raised his hand to scare them?

"Ring Fusion—!"

Her extreme anger instead ignited an even fiercer fighting spirit within her.

Huo Wu gave a sharp cry as the four Soul Rings surrounding her suddenly erupted with dazzling light.

Her innate ultimate technique activated!

The energy of all her Soul Rings was forcibly gathered together and poured entirely into her fourth Soul Ring.

"Fourth Soul Skill—Huo Wu's Blazing Sun: Extreme!"

She raised both hands above her head as violent flame energy wildly gathered, compressed, then compressed again.

In an instant, a gigantic fireball larger than any she had ever produced formed above her head.

The moment the fireball appeared, the surrounding air seemed to be sucked dry, letting out a piercing shriek!

"Go!" Huo Wu swung both arms down with all her strength!

That white little sun radiating terrifying heat tore through the air

and crashed down with a roar toward Duanmu Ci, who still stood where he was!