Three Soul Ascension Pills! Divine Skill: Flash Step! A Hidden Scheme? Ma Xiaotao: I Want to Fight You!

"Gulp."

No one knew who had swallowed, but the sound was especially jarring in the silence.

"Th-That was too fast..."

"Three seconds... It was over in three seconds?"

"I didn't even see what happened!"

"Monster... This is a damn monster!"

On the arena.

Dai Yu released his grip on Ximen Ao's throat.

Ximen Ao's legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

The arrogance had vanished from his eyes as he looked at Dai Yu. All that remained was deep fear.

This man... wasn't human at all!

Dai Yu clapped his hands and looked at Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao.

"Job's done."

Wang Dong put away his Clear Sky Hammer and curled his lips.

"Tch, I hadn't had enough yet."

Huo Yuhao was practically glowing with excitement.

"Yu Ge! We won! Five victories in a row!"

Only then did the referee come to his senses. He hurriedly raised his hand.

"Th-The First Arena's first match goes to the Red Team!"

The entire venue erupted in deafening cheers.

"Five victories in a row!"

"Another overwhelming victory!"

"Dai Yu is too strong!"

"A genius of the Four Great Families couldn't last three seconds against him!"

"This is a new student?"

"This is a monster!"

Below the arena, the countless spectators' gazes had completely transformed into fanaticism.

The representatives of the various families no longer had time to send messages. They all pulled out paper and brushes and began recording frantically—

"Defeated Ximen Ao, Nangong Yue, and Beigong Han in three seconds!

He seems to possess a third ability!

He can release Extreme Gold and Extreme Fire simultaneously!"

"This person cannot be opposed by force! We can only befriend him!"

"Report to the family head immediately!

Win this child over at all costs!"

At the Viewing Stand.

Dean Yan Shaozhe drew a deep breath and turned to Du Weilun.

"You're certain... he's really only eleven years old?"

Du Weilun smiled bitterly.

"He filled out the bone-age test himself... B-But with his strength, I'd believe him even if he said he was ten."

Yan Shaozhe fell silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"This child... will surely become a great talent."

In the corner.

Mu En's eyes were completely open now.

An unprecedented light flickered in those murky old eyes.

"Three seconds... suppressing three people at once... and he still didn't use his full strength..."

"This boy... has hidden himself even more deeply than I imagined."

"Looks like Shrek's future... is truly secure."

[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on completing the fifth round of battle!]

[Suppression Rating: S-rank (overwhelming victory in three seconds, displaying absolute dominance)]

[Rewards obtained:]

[1. Gold Soul Coins *8,000]

[2. Soul Ascension Pills *3]

[3. Spiritual Power Cultivation Progress +25% (current progress: 65%)]

[4. Special Reward: Favorability with the Four Great Families +30 (current relationship: Attention/Awe)]

[5. Hidden achievement "Three Second Man" triggered. Additional reward: Skill "Flash Step" (teleport instantly to any location within ten meters, cooldown: ten seconds)]

Dai Yu looked at the System Panel, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

Flash Step?

That was a good thing.

Combined with his Extreme Gold and Extreme Fire, it was like adding wings to a tiger.

And the cooldown was only ten seconds?

This was practically a divine skill!

"Let's go."

Dai Yu called the other two over and left.

As he walked down from the arena, his footsteps paused slightly, and his gaze fell on Ximen Ao, who was still sitting on the ground.

"Your teamwork was pretty good."

"Unfortunately..."

"In the face of absolute strength, teamwork... is useless."

With that, he led the other two away in large strides.

Ximen Ao stood frozen in place, silent for a long time.

After a while, he gave a bitter laugh and looked at Nangong Yue and Beigong Han, who were equally disheveled.

"We... didn't lose unfairly."

"This Dai Yu... isn't human at all."

Back at the dormitory.

Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao were still excitedly discussing the day's battle.

"Three seconds!

We won in three seconds!

Yu Ge is too fierce!"

"Hmph, if this great master hadn't blocked those two with that hammer, could Yu Ge have won so easily?"

"Give me a break, Wang Dong. That hammer of yours almost missed~"

"Huo Yuhao! You're looking for death!"

Watching the two bicker, Dai Yu smiled faintly.

He walked to the window and gazed at the distant sunset, a profound look flashing through his eyes.

Five victories in a row.

Tomorrow would be the sixth round.

With one more victory, he could enter the Top Thirty-Two.

And after entering the Top Thirty-Two...

Dai Yu's gaze fell on the [Spiritual Power Cultivation Progress: 65%] displayed on the System Panel.

If he could win the championship in the New Student Assessment, perhaps his Spiritual Power could break through to the extreme directly.

By then...

"Old Man Yao."

Dai Yu sank his consciousness into the Sea of Consciousness.

"Hmm?"

Old Man Yao's illusory figure appeared, stroking his beard with a smile.

"Boy, your performance today was pretty good.

Taking care of three geniuses from the great families in three seconds. That was bold enough."

"Routine operation."

Dai Yu spoke calmly.

"Old man, I have something to ask you."

"Go ahead."

"If my Spiritual Power reaches the extreme, how much will it increase the success rate of alchemy?"

Old Man Yao froze, then laughed.

"Extreme Spiritual Power?"

"Boy, your ambitions aren't small."

"However..."

He paused, a trace of approval flashing in his eyes.

"If you can truly accomplish that, alchemy will be as simple as eating or drinking to you."

"Even..."

"You'll be able to refine pills stronger than anything this old man could make back then."

Dai Yu nodded.

"That's good."

The next day.

The sixth-round Match List was announced.

When Dai Yu saw the names on the Light Screen, his pupils contracted slightly.

[Central Arena: First Match]

[Red Team: Class One · Dai Yu, Wang Dong, Huo Yuhao]

[Blue Team: Inner Court · Evil Fire Phoenix Ma Xiaotao, Chen Zifeng, Lin Xi]

Wait.

The Red Team... was Dai Yu's team.

The Blue Team... was from the Inner Court?!

And Ma Xiaotao?!

The spectators below instantly exploded.

"What's going on?!

Why is there an Inner Court team in the New Student Assessment?!"

"Ma Xiaotao?!

That Evil Fire Phoenix Ma Xiaotao?!"

"The number-one maniac of Shrek Inner Court?!

A Soul Emperor-level existence?!"

"This is a New Student Assessment?!

This is murder!"

At the Viewing Stand, Dean Yan Shaozhe abruptly rose to his feet, his face turning livid.

"What's going on?!"

Du Weilun was also utterly shocked. He frantically flipped through the Match List in his hands.

"No, that's not right... The list clearly says..."

Before he could finish, a cool voice rang out.

"I changed it."

Everyone turned toward the voice.

A red figure slowly walked onto the Central Arena.

Her red hair was like fire, and her eyes were like blood.

A suffocating, scorching aura swirled around her.

It was none other than the number-one maniac of Shrek Inner Court—Ma Xiaotao!

She stood on the arena, looking down at Dai Yu. A cold smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

"You're Dai Yu, right?"

"I heard you had a great time fighting?"

"I heard you possess Extreme Fire?"

"I heard you knock out one little brat with every punch?"

"Perfect."

"I've been wanting to pit this Evil Fire of mine against your Extreme Fire."

Ma Xiaotao paused, then raised an eyebrow:

"Throughout Shrek—no, throughout the entire continent, you're the only one with extreme fire."

"So—"

"Today, I've come to seek your guidance."

"Regardless of the outcome, you will advance and win."