What Is the Strongest? The Difference Is Obvious!

After dealing with the sneak attacker, the newly summoned clone and the clone that had been competing earlier did not stop.

The two stood side by side and formed hand seals at the same time.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

Whoosh—!!!

A violent hurricane burst from the new clone's mouth and accurately surged into the Great Fireball that was locked in a stalemate.

Wind fueled the flames!

The already enormous fireball instantly tripled in size under the boost of Wind Release!

Its color shifted from orange-red to a heart-stopping golden red!

"This..."

The madness in Wu Feng's eyes instantly turned to despair.

Before this world-destroying power, her Dragon's Fury seemed utterly insignificant.

Rumble—!!

The sea of flames instantly engulfed Wu Feng, and Ning Tian, who was maintaining the amplification behind her, was unable to escape as well.

"Ah—!!"

Two screams rang out.

Wu Feng and Ning Tian were like kites with broken strings, blasted viciously off the arena by the Flame Storm. Their bodies were charred black and steaming with smoke.

Nanmen Yun'er, buried in the dirt with only her head exposed, stared blankly at the scene, too terrified to speak.

The flames dispersed.

Three Huo Yuhaos stood on the arena, their expressions equally cold and indifferent.

The clone in the middle slowly withdrew his hand, looked at the wrecked opponents below the stage, and said calmly:

"What is the strongest?"

"The difference is obvious."

The referee swallowed hard. Looking at the bizarre scene, he announced in a trembling voice:

"The... the outcome has been decided. Huo Yuhao's team wins."

Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao walked forward, staring at the three Huo Yuhaos with question marks filling their minds.

"Hey, Huo Yuhao, this..."

Before Wang Dong could finish asking—

Pop. Pop. Pop.

Soft sounds rang out.

The three Huo Yuhaos did not dissolve into smoke like Shadow Clones.

Instead, their bodies rapidly withered and warped, eventually turning into several lifeless pieces of dead wood that fell onto the arena.

The entire venue fell silent.

Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao exchanged a glance. Both saw deep disbelief and... a hint of fear in each other's eyes.

"I didn't see that wrong, did I... Those were pieces of wood?" Wang Dong's voice was dry.

"So..." Xiao Xiao pointed at the dead wood on the ground and stammered, "these past few days, the one slaughtering everyone in the arena... has always been Huo Yuhao's clone?"

"Then where's his real body?"

"Could he... still be cultivating?!"

Below the stage.

Wu Feng, who had just been revived by a healing Soul Master and was still coughing up blood, happened to hear those words.

"W-What?!"

"You mean... that Huo Yuhao who just beat me like a dog... was only a clone?!"

Pfft!

Overcome by fury.

The Red Dragon Soul Master spat out another mouthful of blood, rolled her eyes back, and fainted from rage.

After waking up, Wu Feng stumbled over to Yan Shaozhe, who was preparing to leave.

"Dean!"

Wu Feng's voice was hoarse, her eyes filled with resentment and indignation.

"I want to report him! That Huo Yuhao broke the rules!"

"These past few days... he never competed personally! He's been using that damned wooden clone to humiliate us!"

"Shouldn't freshmen assessments require the person themselves to participate? This is cheating! This is contempt for the academy's rules!"

Yan Shaozhe abruptly stopped.

He turned around and looked at the two disheveled freshmen before him, surprise appearing on his face.

"What did you say?"

"You're saying... the one who just knocked you, a Soul Grandmaster of the assault type, off the arena together with support from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda..."

"Was merely one of Huo Yuhao's clones?"

Wu Feng gritted her teeth. Though she did not want to admit it, it was indeed the truth. "Yes! That final clone turned into wood!"

Yan Shaozhe froze.

A clone?

A mere clone could use Self-Created Soul Skills of multiple attributes and instantly defeat a powerful combination bolstered by the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda while fighting one against three?

Then what about his real body?

Yan Shaozhe's breathing quickened, and an uncontrollable ecstasy rose from the depths of his eyes.

If even his clone was this formidable, how strong was his real body?

Such terrifying talent, such astonishing Elemental Control...

Xiaotao's Evil Fire problem truly had hope of being completely resolved this time!

At that thought, the trace of sympathy in Yan Shaozhe's gaze toward Wu Feng instantly vanished, replaced by indifference.

"I understand."

Yan Shaozhe clasped his hands behind his back, his expression swiftly returning to one of solemn fairness.

"The academy will conduct a thorough investigation into whether Huo Yuhao violated the rules."

"You should return and recover from your injuries first."

"Dean!" Wu Feng wanted to say more.

"Enough! I am the dean." Yan Shaozhe frowned, releasing an invisible pressure. "I will uphold the academy's rules. I do not need you to tell me how to do my job."

With that, he turned and left, his steps light as though he had found some priceless treasure.

As for how it would be resolved?

Naturally, it would be swept under the rug.

In this world where strength was revered, geniuses had privileges.

And for a monster like Huo Yuhao, one who could save his disciple's life, those privileges were limitless.

Training grounds.

Huo Yuhao sat cross-legged, faint fluctuations of Chakra and Soul Power surrounding him.

As the last trace of medicinal power was refined, the Soul Power within him surged endlessly through his meridians like an overflowing lake.

Level twenty.

Although he had not obtained his second soul ring and could not break through the level cap, the medicinal power of the Foundation Strengthening Pill had already accumulated within his body.

Once he hunted a Spirit Beast, this deeply accumulated Soul Power would erupt without reservation and propel me directly to a higher realm.

At that moment, two Shadow Clones wore the heavy weighted gear as they carried out dull yet intense taijutsu sparring.

Several other Shadow Clones were scattered around the area.

Some practiced Water Release, while others contemplated Earth Release.

Suddenly.

"Pop."

Huo Yuhao slightly raised his brows.

He sensed that the Wood Clone sent to compete had automatically dispelled after exhausting its Chakra.

The clone's memories flooded into his mind.

Wu Feng's provocation, the amplification from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, and the final instant kill with the Wind-Fire Combo Ninjutsu.

Huo Yuhao slowly opened his eyes, an extremely disdainful sneer curling across his lips.

"Tch."

"They really are just a bunch of trash."

"Not wasting time on this childish game was the right choice."

He could not muster the slightest interest in these freshmen.

If there was anyone in this freshmen assessment who could make me somewhat interested...

Huo Yuhao's gaze shifted toward a point in the void, and his eyes abruptly turned icy.

Dai Huabin.

The direct culprit behind the death of his mother, Huo Yun'er.

That beast who, within the Duke Mansion, had relied on his status as the legitimate son to torment him and his mother in every possible way, even refusing to leave them a path to survival.

Dai Huabin's name had long been carved at the very top of Huo Yuhao's kill list.

I remember the unlock condition for that Tiger Mask template was to guide two key figures toward different fates.

Tang Ya was the first.

Then this second one...

A cruel plan emerged in Huo Yuhao's mind.

Simple slaughter would be letting him off too easily.

Hehe, Dai Huabin, just wait.

I will crush you like an insect.

Then I'll make you regret being born into this world amid endless despair!

Huo Yuhao took a deep breath, suppressed the killing intent in his heart, and refocused on the cultivation in his hands.

He slowly raised his right hand.

At that moment, a black Chinese character faintly appeared in the center of his palm.

It was the character [Seat].

Huo Yuhao looked at the character in his palm and felt the suppressive law within it, one specifically aimed at Tailed Beasts and enormous creatures.

This was the technique Senju Hashirama had used to make the Nine-Tails instantly obedient as though patting a dog's head—Kuan-an Entering the Marketplace with Helping Hands!

The Hell White Tiger, was it?

The Dai Clan's pride, was it?

Huo Yuhao clenched his right hand, and the character "Seat" vanished into his palm.

Once you encounter this Wood Release secret technique that could pin even the Nine-Tails to the ground and grind it down...

Dai Huabin, I look forward to your performance.