Who is the Prey?

Star Luo Plaza was bustling with noise and excitement.

The massive plaza, capable of holding two hundred thousand people, was packed to capacity, with cheers rising wave after wave like a tsunami.

On the towering city walls of the imperial capital, the Star Luo Emperor, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, led his civil and military officials to attend in person, a testament to the importance the empire placed on this continent-wide grand event.

Under the gaze of the masses, the Shrek Academy representative team slowly entered the arena.

Leading them was the senior sister Zhang Lexuan, who appeared composed, gentle, and dignified. Yet behind her followed a group of faces that had not yet shed their youthful innocence.

"Are those the contestants from Shrek? Why do they look like a bunch of children?"

"Except for the beauty leading them, the others probably aren't even fifteen yet, right?"

"What is Shrek thinking? Sending a Reserve Team to the knockout rounds? This is too arrogant!"

Whispers spread through the rest areas of the various teams; many academy teachers and students wore expressions of indignation. Losing meant going straight home, yet Shrek dared to be this conceited?

Watching the surrounding discussions, Zhang Lexuan felt a slight tension in her heart, but when her gaze fell upon the calm-looking youth beside her, she instantly felt at ease.

Huo Yuhao, this twelve-year-old boy, though only at the rank of a Soul Ancestor, possessed combat power in his normal state comparable to a Spirit Emperor.

Once he unleashed his full strength, he could even contend with a Spirit Saint.

With him here, this tournament might truly become a one-man show.

"The first match, Shrek Academy versus Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy!"

Following the host's loud announcement, the members of both sides stepped onto the stage.

The seven members of Tianling Academy looked at the "little brothers and sisters" before them, their faces twisted into ferocious smiles.

Among the seven of them, there were five four-ring Soul Ancestors and two three-ring Soul Elders, which would have been considered quite standard in previous years.

But this year, they had the opportunity to eliminate Shrek Academy and potentially break Shrek's invincible golden reputation; how could they not be incredibly excited?

"Little brats of Shrek, go home and drink your milk!" the Tianling captain roared arrogantly, releasing his martial soul first.

However, in the next second, the entire arena fell silent.

Huo Yuhao slowly took a step forward, and the halos beneath his feet rose.

Purple.

Black.

Black.

Black!

One purple and three black!

That deep, dark radiance swallowed all the surrounding light like a black hole, and it also swallowed the arrogant spirit of the Tianling Academy members.

Huo Yuhao did not even bother to use his Simulation soul skill to fake a hundred-thousand-year soul ring; the soul ring configuration of his Golden Eyes martial soul alone was shocking enough.

"This... how is this possible?!" The Tianling captain's eyes were practically popping out of their sockets.

"The match begins!" The referee, also startled by this terrifying soul ring configuration, hesitated for a second before shouting.

"Silence."

Huo Yuhao uttered these two words softly, and golden light suddenly erupted from his eyes.

Group mental soul skill—Soul Shock!

An invisible mental storm instantly swept across the entire arena; the seven members of Tianling Academy felt as if their brains had been struck hard by a heavy hammer, and their soul power circulation was instantly severed.

The seven of them stood like puppets with cut strings, all falling into a brief state of paralysis.

"Attack!"

At Huo Yuhao's command, his figure shot out like lightning.

Beside him, Jin Nier let out a clear dragon roar, the Golden Dragon Spear in her hand, her momentum like a rainbow.

This was no match; it was clearly a wolf entering a flock of sheep!

Ning Tian's Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda shone brightly, providing precise boosts to strength and speed; Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection Sharing allowed everyone to have a god's-eye view.

Wang Dong's Light of the Butterfly Goddess, Xiao Xiao's Three-Life Soul Suppression Cauldron, and the Lan Sisters' hair net rained down upon their defenseless opponents.

"Boom, boom, boom—!"

A series of explosions rang out, accompanied by screams, as the seven members of Tianling Empire were blasted off the stage like scattered flower petals.

From the start of the battle to the end, it took only a short three seconds.

The cheers in the audience were still stuck in their throats when the match had already ended.

Huo Yuhao retracted his martial soul and stood with his hands behind his back, glancing faintly at all the competing teams, his eyes seeming to say: Who's next?

Returning to the Star Emperor Hotel, Zhang Lexuan quickly gathered everyone for a meeting: "Next is the round-robin tournament; we must break through the group stage. Although we won today, we must not let our guard down."

Everyone nodded in agreement, except for Huo Yuhao, who looked relaxed.

After the meeting, Huo Yuhao walked straight toward Ma Xiaotao's room.

Just as he reached the corner of the corridor, a man and a woman walked toward him.

The man was tall and slender with an arrogant expression; the woman was delicate and cute, her long wine-red hair particularly eye-catching.

They were none other than the siblings Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen from the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy.

"You're Huo Yuhao?"

Xiao Hongchen blocked his path, chin slightly raised, looking down at Huo Yuhao with his nostrils flared. "Remember my name. I am Xiao Hongchen. In the upcoming matches, I will personally shatter the glory of Shrek and show you what a true genius is."

Huo Yuhao stopped in his tracks, glanced at him as if he were looking at an idiot, then ignored him entirely and turned his gaze to Meng Hongchen beside him.

"This young lady is quite pretty; that wine-red hair suits you very well." Huo Yuhao's lips curled into a playful smirk, his eyes filled with appreciation.

Meng Hongchen had originally intended to back up her brother, but upon seeing Huo Yuhao's handsome face and the domineering, heroic posture he had displayed on the competition stage just moments ago, her face instantly flushed red. She stammered, "Ah... th-thank you. You... you are also very strong."

"You!" Xiao Hongchen's face turned green with rage.

This bastard actually ignored him and then flirted with his sister right in front of his face?!

"Meng Hongchen, let's go!" Xiao Hongchen grabbed his sister, who was still acting lovesick, and stormed off in a fit of pique.

Huo Yuhao shrugged and pushed open the door to Ma Xiaotao's room.

Inside the room, Ma Xiaotao was sitting cross-legged on the bed. Her complexion was still somewhat pale, but her explosive figure still made it impossible to look away.

"You won?" Ma Xiaotao opened her eyes and cast a glance at him.

"Naturally, a one-hit kill." Huo Yuhao poured himself some water. "Don't forget who is leading the team."

"Tch, it's just the elimination rounds; the opponents were all a bunch of small fry. What's there to be so cocky about?" Ma Xiaotao chuckled dismissively. "If I were able to take the stage, I'd have burned them all to a crisp with one fire."

Huo Yuhao set down the glass and raised an eyebrow.

This woman, her mouth was still as stubborn as ever.

"It seems you're in good spirits, Senior Sister. Since that's the case, let's add a little something extra to today's treatment." Huo Yuhao revealed a "kind" smile and slowly walked toward the bedside.

Seeing the malicious glint in Huo Yuhao's eyes, Ma Xiaotao felt a strange sense of panic. "You... what are you doing? I'm warning you, I'm a patient, don't you dare mess around!"

"I'm just helping you suppress the Evil Fire."

Huo Yuhao grabbed Ma Xiaotao's wrist, and the aura of Ultimate Ice erupted instantly, making Ma Xiaotao shiver all over.

He leaned close to her ear and whispered, "I was provoked by someone outside just now, and I'm in a bad mood. Sister Xiaotao, you'll just have to suffer a little and let me... vent."

"Huo Yuhao! You dare... Mmph..."

The temperature in the room plummeted, and accompanied by Ma Xiaotao's indignant protests, a unique "treatment" officially began.