Star Emperor Hotel, the conference room reserved for Shrek Academy.
The atmosphere was solemn and tense.
Senior Sister Zhang Lexuan stood before the tactics board, her expression serious as she analyzed the situation ahead.
"The four teams in the semifinals have been decided: Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy, Star Luo National Academy, Di'ao Academy of the Heaven Dou Empire, and our Shrek Academy."
"All three teams are tough opponents. Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy is undoubtedly our greatest enemy. According to our intelligence, their lineup is likely one Spirit Emperor and six Spirit Kings. Even more frightening, every one of them is equipped with the finest Soul Tools, giving them tremendous explosive power."
At that, everyone's faces grew solemn. A lineup of one Spirit Emperor and six Spirit Kings wasn't frightening by itself. What was frightening was that they were equipped with powerful Soul Tools from Mingde Hall, the mainland's foremost center of Soul Guidance Technology.
With that kind of strength, they would have been the clear champions in any previous tournament.
"Di'ao Academy shouldn't be underestimated either. They also have one Spirit Emperor and six Spirit Kings. Their Soul Tools aren't as good as the Sun Moon Team's, but their Martial Soul foundation is formidable."
Zhang Lexuan continued, "As for Star Luo National Academy, they don't have a Spirit Emperor, but they do have six Spirit Kings. And now that the tournament has reached this stage, their captain still hasn't appeared. As the host team, they also have the advantage of favorable timing, location, and support."
Huo Yuhao narrowed his eyes. The captain of Star Luo National Academy really was an unexpected figure.
"The rules for the finals have been adjusted. The matches will consist of a team battle, an individual elimination round, and the Two-Two-Three Battle Method. This places even greater demands on our tactics. So we must be extremely cautious in our next two matches. We can't afford the slightest mistake!"
At this, Zhang Lexuan paused and looked over everyone present, finally settling her gaze on Huo Yuhao. The sternness in her eyes softened somewhat.
"But—" Zhang Lexuan's tone shifted, her voice growing impassioned. "I believe that no matter who our opponents are or how the rules change, this year's championship will still belong to Shrek!"
"Shrek will prevail!" everyone shouted in unison, their morale soaring.
By the time the meeting ended, night had fallen.
Huo Yuhao didn't return to his room. Instead, he went straight to Ling Luochеn's room and knocked on the door, as though he knew the way by heart.
"Come in," came a cool voice from inside.
Huo Yuhao pushed open the door. Ling Luochеn was sitting cross-legged on her bed in a cool silk nightdress, icy mist swirling around her.
When she saw Huo Yuhao enter, a flicker of panic crossed her normally frosty, pretty face.
"Yuhao, you... what are you doing here?"
"The big battle is about to begin. I thought you might need me." Huo Yuhao chuckled.
"I... I do need your Ultimate Ice to help me cultivate and get into peak condition," Ling Luochеn said, doing her best to stay composed. But her faintly trembling lashes betrayed her nerves.
"Glad to help, Senior Sister." Huo Yuhao's lips curled into a playful smile as he closed the door behind him.
A few days ago, this icy senior sister had barely given him the time of day. Now was the perfect time to get even—and then some.
This was destined to be a sleepless night.
The Soul Power of Ultimate Ice coursed through their bodies. They were doing it for cultivation, of course, but the process was... rather "intense."
Ling Luochеn was put through the wringer.
The domineering force of Ultimate Ice, combined with Huo Yuhao's seemingly bottomless reserves of Soul Power, battered her until she was on the verge of collapse.
If she hadn't finally begged for mercy through her tears, reminding him that she had to compete in the semifinals the next day, Huo Yuhao might really have left her bedridden for days.
It wasn't until dawn was near that Huo Yuhao finally left, refreshed and full of energy.
Watching him go, Ling Luochеn lay limp on the bed, biting her red lip, her expression conflicted.
She understood now. This boy's Soul Power was like a bottomless pit. She absolutely couldn't let him build up too much of it in the future, or when he unleashed it all at once, her small frame wouldn't be able to take it!
The next day, at Star Luo Plaza.
The semifinals officially began.
Star Luo Emperor Xu Jiawei personally took the stage to announce the start of the semifinals and host the draw himself.
To show how seriously the semifinals were being taken, the referee had also been replaced by a heavyweight figure: the Star Luo Empire's Guardian Douluo, Huang Jinxu, whose title was Heavenly Calamity.
Seeing the stern-faced old man on stage, his aura fierce and intimidating, Ma Xiaotao leaned close to Huo Yuhao and whispered, "Yuhao, that's Heavenly Calamity Douluo! I heard his Martial Soul is a baleful star in the heavens, and that his fate is so hard he's known as the Lone Star of Heavenly Calamity. All his friends and relatives have died one by one because of his fate. He's only level ninety-two now, but thanks to his Martial Soul's unusual attributes, he can even stand up to a level-ninety-five Super Douluo!"
Huo Yuhao only chuckled at that, looking unconvinced. "Fate is what you make of it. Believe in it and it exists; don't, and it doesn't. As long as you're strong enough, you can smash any Lone Star of Heavenly Calamity with a single punch. Xiaotao, once you become a Titled Douluo, you'll definitely be stronger than him."
Ma Xiaotao rolled her eyes at him, but she was secretly delighted.
By then, the captains of all four teams had stepped onto the platform.
Across from them stood the captain of Star Luo National Academy's team: the chief auctioneer Huo Yuhao had met once at the auction house, and the Star Luo Empire's eldest princess, Xu Jiujiu.
Xu Jiujiu had traded her ornate gown for a fitted team uniform that day, giving her a more valiant air. When she saw Huo Yuhao, she smiled and nodded in greeting.
Huo Yuhao politely nodded back.
"The draw begins!"
The Star Luo Emperor swept his hand, and four golden balls marked with their match numbers soared into the air.
"Grab one!"
At almost the same moment, all three captains besides Huo Yuhao sprang into action, using their own methods to race toward the balls.
Huo Yuhao, however, stood motionless where he was.
Just as everyone thought he had given up the chance to take the initiative, Huo Yuhao slowly raised his right hand and reached toward the air.
"Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon? No, it's Psychic Power!"
One of the golden balls seemed to be pulled by an invisible force. It traced a strange arc through the air, slipped past the others scrambling for it, and obediently landed in Huo Yuhao's hand.
He had taken it from midair with such effortless ease that the move was spectacular!
The crowd erupted in thunderous applause.
Huo Yuhao opened his palm. The golden ball split apart, revealing the number inside: One.
At the same time, Xu Jiujiu landed on the platform and glanced at the ball in her hand, momentarily taken aback. Then she smiled wryly and showed Huo Yuhao her number.
It was also One.
"Looks like fate has brought us together." Xu Jiujiu looked at Huo Yuhao, a hint of regret flashing in her eyes. "I'd hoped to face your Shrek Academy in the finals. I didn't expect we'd have to settle things early."
Huo Yuhao smiled, battle intent rising in his eyes. "It's my honor to face you, Princess. But Shrek is claiming that ticket to the finals."
"Then we'll see." Xu Jiujiu's smile faded, and her gaze sharpened.
The first semifinal, Shrek Academy versus Star Luo National Academy, was about to begin!
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