Yu Tianxin vs. Dai Mubai

After finishing his meal, Jiang Huai headed to Shrek's meeting place, where Gu Yue and the others were discussing tactics.

When Jiang Huai arrived, everyone stood up. Jiang Huai waved for them to sit back down.

Jiang Huai asked how far they had gotten in their discussion. Dai Mubai told him they were talking about that afternoon's match against Plant Academy. Since all the members of Plant Academy's team had Plant Martial Souls, Dai Mubai, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong had unanimously decided that Tang San, who also had a Plant Martial Soul, should compete.

Gu Yue, Zhu Zhuqing, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar, on the other hand, all thought that Ma Hongjun, whose abilities were fire-based, should compete.

A single Plant Academy had split the Shrek Nine Devils into two camps, leaving Jiang Huai at a loss for words.

Jiang Huai asked, "Tang San, you can compete, but the members of Plant Academy are all women, just like those of Skywater Academy. Women are more flexible than men, and they've also focused their attributes on controlling their plants' resilience. Do you think your abilities can match theirs?"

Tang San still wanted to make his case, but after considering that his control abilities were lacking, he closed his mouth.

Looking at everyone, Jiang Huai said, "As captain, I'm going to assign the matchups. Ma Hongjun, you'll compete. Your Evil Fire isn't just any fire—fire can burn all things, and yours is exceptionally hot. So I want you to take on all seven opponents by yourself!"

Ma Hongjun froze at that, and the others were stunned too.

Dai Mubai said, "Boss, are you sure? Fatty's Martial Soul is fire-based, but his Soul Power will be greatly depleted after one match after another. What if something happens to him?"

Jiang Huai raised a hand to stop the others from speaking. "I've considered it. Don't rush to worry about that."

Before long, it was almost time for the competition. Flender, Liu Erlong, and Yu Xiaogang led Jiang Huai and the others into the arena.

Not long after the Shrek Academy Team entered, the other participating teams began arriving one after another.

Next, Xue Ye, Xue Xing, and Xue Qinghe took their seats in the judges' area, followed by Salas, Ning Fengzhi, and Sword Douluo Chen Xin. The three Soul Douluo members of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy Education Committee also took their seats.

The competition officially began. Shrek Academy's match against Plant Academy would have to wait a while; the first match was between Elephant Armored Academy and Skywater Academy.

During the qualifiers, Shui Bing'er had been effortlessly defeated by Jiang Huai, leading most people to underestimate her strength.

Huyan Li was the captain of Elephant Armored Academy's team and its strongest member.

Everyone watching thought Huyan Li could withstand the cold and defeat Shui Bing'er. But despite his thick skin and sturdy build, he couldn't endure the cold. Shui Bing'er's third Soul Skill, Resistance Light, forced him backward until he stumbled to the edge and was eliminated.

And so Elephant Armored Academy was eliminated. They had no chance of continuing in the competition and could only leave the Royal Hunting Ground and head to Spirit City to await the finals.

A short while later, the host announced the next match: Shrek Academy versus Plant Academy.

Ma Hongjun glanced at Jiang Huai. "Brother Huai, I'm heading out. Just wait for the good news!"

Jiang Huai nodded. "Remember, flames can forge weapons and burn everything to ash. Yours is no exception."

At that, Ma Hongjun nodded firmly. As he made his way to the arena, he silently repeated Jiang Huai's words to himself.

Suddenly, the flames around Ma Hongjun grew dramatically hotter. The first member of Plant Academy's team to take the field was a Soul Master with an Azure Vine Martial Soul.

The young woman introduced herself. "Lin Shan. Martial Soul: Azure Vine. Forty-second-level Control System Battle Soul Ancestor. Please guide me."

Ma Hongjun introduced himself in turn. "Ma Hongjun. Martial Soul: Evil Fire Phoenix. Forty-fourth-level Power Attack System Battle Soul Ancestor. Please guide me."

When Lin Shan heard Ma Hongjun's Martial Soul, she panicked. It was a Phoenix, and its name even contained the word "fire"—without a doubt, it was a powerful fire-type Martial Soul. What was more, Ma Hongjun was two levels above her.

Yao Zi, the captain of Plant Academy's team, furrowed her brow. She was starting to worry about her teammate.

The match began. Ma Hongjun immediately used his third Soul Skill, Phoenix Wings Soar, and took to the air. Seeing this, Lin Shan unleashed her first Soul Skill, Green Vine Entanglement.

Ma Hongjun didn't dodge. He hovered in place and let the vines ensnare him. But he wasn't flustered. He covered himself in flames, burning the Azure Vine tendrils to ashes.

While Lin Shan was still in shock, Ma Hongjun said, "My turn!"

"First Soul Skill: Phoenix Fire Line!"

Ma Hongjun spat out a mass of flames. Lin Shan immediately used Azure Vine to shield herself, layering vines over her body.

Jiang Huai called out to the arena, "Fatty, stop! She'll die otherwise."

Jiang Huai was speechless at Plant Academy's training methods. They actually taught their students to protect themselves this way. If Ma Hongjun hadn't stopped, wouldn't Lin Shan inside have turned into a beggar's chicken?

Ma Hongjun stopped spewing flames. The Azure Vine had already turned to charcoal, and the heat had left Lin Shan unconscious inside.

Yao Zi hurried over to help her teammate and check on her. Lin Shan's body was frighteningly hot. Shui Bing'er could no longer stand by and do nothing from the spectator stands, so she went onto the arena and used her ice to cool Lin Shan down.

A short while later, Yao Zi carried her teammate back to the spectator stands and sent the others onto the arena one after another to wear down Ma Hongjun's Soul Power.

But Ma Hongjun wasn't worried in the least. He defeated Plant Academy's Mu Yun, Lin Wei, Su Rui, Lin Na, and Ye Ling one by one.

Seeing all her teammates defeated by the chubby boy's flames, Yao Zi grew furious. Her six teammates had all been defeated, and now it was her turn to compete.

After taking the arena, Yao Zi introduced herself. "Yao Zi. Martial Soul: Blazing Thorn. Forty-fourth-level Control System Battle Soul Ancestor. Please guide me."

At that, Ma Hongjun prepared himself too. Whether he could pull off a seven-person sweep like Xiao Wu depended on this last round. But he was also starting to worry that he wouldn't have enough Soul Power. He and his opponent were at the same level, and after six consecutive rounds, he had very little Soul Power left.

Suddenly, Ma Hongjun attacked first. "First Soul Skill: Phoenix Fire Line!" Flames shot from his mouth.

Yao Zi swung her right hand, and a thorny vine whip appeared. She cracked it, scattering the flames. "Your fire is pretty good, but unfortunately, my Blazing Thorn is fireproof!"

"What!" Ma Hongjun blurted out in shock. This time, he was truly panicking. He didn't have enough Soul Power left to use Phoenix Roaring Sky Strike. He could only use the first stage of his fourth Soul Skill, Phoenix Magma Rush, once.

Suddenly, Ma Hongjun narrowed his eyes and shouted angrily, "I'll go all out! To hell with it!"

"Fourth Soul Skill: Phoenix Roaring Sky Strike!"

Ma Hongjun soared into the sky. The ground split apart, crack after crack, as magma surged upward. This was Phoenix Magma Rush.

Just as Ma Hongjun was about to unleash the second stage, Phoenix Burst Strike, he ran out of Soul Power. As a result, he couldn't inflict his full damage, but the intense heat of Phoenix Magma Rush still forced Yao Zi backward until she stepped to the edge of the arena.

Yao Zi was eliminated, and Ma Hongjun won the match, achieving a seven-person sweep. Shrek had also advanced to the day's final match, where they would face Godwind Academy for the last qualification spot.

Still, whichever team lost—Godwind Academy or Shrek Academy—they wouldn't be eliminated. Both teams had already qualified to compete for the championship in the finals.

The next morning, Skywater Academy and Plant Academy would face off. The two all-female academies would compete for third place in the promotion tournament, since only the top three teams could advance to the finals.

So Skywater Academy and Plant Academy would fight for the final spot, while Shrek Academy and Godwind Academy had both already qualified.