Shrek Academy had won three consecutive round-robin matches, sweeping all before them. But their opponent in the fourth match made the atmosphere in the entire waiting room turn tense for a moment—Zhengtian Academy.
This was no ragtag team like the ones they had faced before. They were a formidable squad that had made it to the quarterfinals in the previous tournament.
Captain Ye Wuqing was a level 58 Power Attack System Battle Soul King; vice-captain Yu Mengdi was a level 53 Two-Winged Angel Spirit King; and Tang Xiaolei was level 52. With three Spirit Kings on their roster, they were strong enough to contend for the top four in past tournaments.
"The Two-Two-Three Battle Method." Zhang Lexuan looked at the draw, her brows knitting slightly. "They have three Spirit Kings. If we meet them head-on, our other team members will definitely be at a disadvantage."
"No need to make this so complicated."
Huo Yuhao, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them. A confident smile tugged at his lips. "Teacher Wang, Nier and I will take this match."
Zhang Lexuan paused. "Take it? You mean..."
"Steamroll them." Huo Yuhao spoke the two words calmly, as if he were discussing what to eat for dinner. "Since it's the Two-Two-Three Battle Method, we'll fight all three rounds. Nier and I are more than enough to send them home."
Beside him, Jin Nier twirled the Golden Dragon Spear in her hand. Her stunning face was full of fighting spirit. "I've been itching to stretch my muscles. Those Spirit Kings look like they can take a beating."
On the Soul Fighting Arena, the Zhengtian Academy team looked tense. Though they had three Spirit Kings, no one dared underestimate Shrek Academy, with its prestigious name.
For the first match, Zhengtian Academy sent out Yu Mengdi, who possessed the Two-Winged Angel martial soul, and Yang Yifan, an Agility Attack System Soul Ancestor.
"Shrek actually sent out their two strongest members right away?" Yu Mengdi stared at Huo Yuhao and Jin Nier across from her, her brows furrowed. "They think they can take on our whole team with just two people? Arrogant!"
"Whether we're arrogant or not, you'll find out once we fight." Huo Yuhao chuckled. Nine thin, razor-sharp throwing knives had appeared beside him at some point, gleaming with a bone-chilling light.
The match began!
Yu Mengdi spread her wings, holy light swirling around her as she charged at Huo Yuhao with a pair of sacred swords in hand.
As a Spirit King with the top-tier Two-Winged Angel martial soul, her close-combat ability was exceptionally powerful.
"I'll take this a little more seriously."
Golden light flashed in Huo Yuhao's eyes as his Psychic Power erupted. The nine throwing knives seemed to come alive, transforming into streaks of light that wove together into an impenetrable net and instantly enveloped Yu Mengdi.
"Clang, clang, clang—"
A barrage of impacts rang out. Yu Mengdi was horrified to discover that the nine little knives had pinned her down so completely that she could barely move!
Every knife contained terrifying force and attacked from an unpredictable angle, leaving her no choice but to defend with all her might.
Meanwhile, on the other side—
"Get down!"
With a sharp cry, Jin Nier swept out with the Golden Dragon Spear like a flood dragon bursting from the sea, its overwhelming power surging through the air.
Against such absolute force, Yang Yifan's vaunted speed seemed utterly insignificant. The spear launched him into the air, and he traced an arc before landing off the stage.
After dealing with the weakling, Jin Nier flashed across the arena, instantly joining Huo Yuhao and Yu Mengdi's fight.
"Down you go!"
The Golden Dragon Spear crashed down with tremendous force. Trapped by the throwing knives, Yu Mengdi had nowhere to dodge and could only block with her greatsword.
"Boom!"
A deafening impact rang out. Yu Mengdi felt a tremendous force slam into her. Her palms split open, and she flew backward like a kite with its string cut, crashing heavily off the stage.
Shrek won the first match!
Before the audience could recover, the second match began.
Zhengtian Academy sent out Xuelang and Yan'er, two Soul Ancestors. Their strategy was clear: wear them down!
"Even monsters have limited Soul Power!" Zhengtian Academy's accompanying teacher gritted his teeth from below the stage. "Use four people to drain the Soul Power of those two. As long as we make it to the third match, Captain Ye Wuqing will enter alongside Tang Xiaolei and Shangguan Can. We're bound to win!"
But reality gave him a hard slap in the face.
Facing the two Soul Ancestors, Huo Yuhao didn't even use his throwing knives. He opened with Soul Shock, and Jin Nier followed up with her attacks.
It took only ten seconds.
Before Xuelang could even transform, Jin Nier kicked him off the stage. Yan'er hadn't even finished forming her fireball when Huo Yuhao fixed her with a glare, leaving her dazed. Then he tossed her off the stage.
They won the second match! Their speed was downright outrageous.
"Is this... their attrition strategy?" Someone in the audience couldn't help commenting. "Isn't this more like a strategy for giving away free kills?"
At last, the deciding match arrived.
Zhengtian Academy's three remaining members took the stage: captain Ye Wuqing, Power Attack System Spirit King Tang Xiaolei, and Control System Soul Ancestor Shangguan Can.
Seeing Huo Yuhao and Jin Nier still standing calmly across from him, Ye Wuqing's expression darkened. "You've fought two matches in a row. You must have hardly any Soul Power left, right? You're only Soul Ancestors. Who are you trying to fool by pretending to be relaxed?"
In his view, no matter how extraordinary two Soul Ancestors were, their Soul Power had to be nearly depleted after unleashing so much power in two consecutive high-intensity matches.
Huo Yuhao couldn't help laughing at that. His laugh was tinged with disdain. "Hardly any left? Fighting trash like you barely uses up any of my Soul Power. I'm not even warmed up yet."
"Arrogant! Shangguan!" Ye Wuqing barked.
Shangguan Can understood at once. He shook the Soul-Absorbing Bell in his hand and activated his first Soul Skill, Soul Sway, trying to disrupt their minds.
"Jing, jing, jing—"
The eerie chime rang out, but the next moment, it abruptly stopped.
"Argh—!"
Shangguan Can let out a heartrending scream, clutching his head. Blood ran from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth as he crumpled to the ground.
Huo Yuhao curled his lip. "None of you ever learn. Don't you know I'm a Spiritual-type Soul Master? Trying to use mental attacks against me—is your life not precious to you?"
Ye Wuqing and Tang Xiaolei's expressions changed drastically. He had taken out a Soul Master of the same rank in one move?! And they thought he'd run out of Soul Power?!
"Don't panic! Keep your distance!" Ye Wuqing shouted. Golden Leaves whirled from his hand, turning into a storm of golden blades. Tang Xiaolei also drew his Zihua Bow, sending arrows raining down like drops of rain.
Both were top-tier ranged attackers, and they tried to use their advantage in distance to suppress their opponents.
"Trying to keep us at a distance?" Huo Yuhao scoffed as the nine throwing knives whistled into action once more.
This time, the knives didn't attack. Instead, they formed an impenetrable wall of shields.
"Clang, clang, clang, clang—"
Whether it was the sharp Golden Leaves or the highly penetrating arrows, all were precisely blocked by the nine throwing knives. Not a single attack could get past them.
"Nier, go!"
"Got it!"
With Huo Yuhao's flawless cover, Jin Nier charged through the rain of attacks like a furious golden dragon, reaching the two opponents in an instant.
Once the Golden Dragon got close, the outcome was obvious.
"Thud! Thud!"
Two muffled groans rang out.
Ye Wuqing and Tang Xiaolei didn't even have a chance to fight back. Jin Nier struck each of them across the waist with the shaft of her spear, sending them flying off the stage in the most brutal fashion.
The arena fell silent, then erupted in deafening cheers!
Two against seven—and a complete victory!
Shrek Academy had claimed their fourth consecutive win with ease!
Huo Yuhao recalled his throwing knives, dusted off his hands, and looked at the opponents below, who were all staring in shock. He left them with one calm remark:
"I told you, I really didn't use up much Soul Power."
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