Falling and Rising

The White Tiger Intense Light Wave was unleashed directly at Huo Yuhao, while the other soul skill of his first soul ring, which he had never stopped releasing, was activated simultaneously.

The Mental Interference Domain was released at full power. Invisible fluctuations flooded the space between the two, and this interference caused Dai Huabin, who had yet to recover from the previous mental attack, to lose his sense of direction.

Just like that, Huo Yuhao calmly utilized Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to dodge an attack he could not have otherwise blocked. Though he wore a smile, there was no mirth in it; the blood pouring from the wounds on his face and his nostrils only added a touch of horror to his appearance.

Not understanding why his attacks could not land on Huo Yuhao, Dai Huabin felt somewhat at a loss. He lacked competitive experience, as the training provided by his family had put little pressure on such an important heir, yet it had ultimately cultivated good fundamentals in him.

Dai Huabin adjusted quickly. Since long-range attacks could not hit Huo Yuhao, he would engage him in melee combat; the two previous collisions had already proven that Huo Yuhao was fragile, and he should not use his own weaknesses to attack the enemy's strengths. The knowledge he had previously learned surfaced in his mind. Only now did he truly begin to learn how to use his own power—the gap in their foundations was, after all, significant. When he had first studied these things, he had been dismissive, thinking he already knew everything and had no need to learn.

Only in real combat could one truly temper oneself. It was no wonder that the vast majority of elites on the continent wanted to enter Shrek Academy; it was a place to genuinely improve one's strength.

At this moment, Dai Huabin felt a surge of ambition, thinking that he would surely carve out his own path at Shrek Academy and would certainly surpass the achievements of his older brother.

As for the Huo Yuhao before him, he was merely a backdrop that allowed him to see more people and abilities—nothing more than trash that could be discarded or crushed at will.

A layer of intense, pale white light erupted from his body. As Dai Huabin ran recklessly, he stretched out his arms and puffed out his chest. The muscles all over his body coiled like the roots of an ancient tree, and the movement caused his entire skeletal structure to crackle and pop. He visibly strained the expensive, luxurious clothing he wore, and anyone watching could feel that wild, absolute power.

Four faint lines appeared on his forehead, manifesting the character that humans associated with power: King. It was the heritage of the White Tiger Family.

Dai Huabin's body was also in motion, his double pupils turning a deep, dark azure as he stared intently at his enemy. He was a bloodthirsty predator.

Changes also began to occur within Huo Yuhao's body. It was no longer the monotonous gray from before, but a gray infused with a touch of green—the breath of life. At the edges where the two met, they did not clash violently but began to merge. It was an indescribable, unseen existence, yet it could be seen directly on Huo Yuhao; a bloodthirsty light appeared in his eyes, replacing the dead silence.

All his power began to boil. The Mysterious Heaven Technique circulated at a speed Huo Yuhao could not have imagined, his heart beating rapidly to pump oxygen-rich blood to every part of his body. Every cell hungrily absorbed energy while releasing its maximum output; every part of him was doing its utmost for a single goal.

For absolute power—to be higher, faster, and stronger. To ignite all potential, release maximum power, and truly defeat this enemy, perhaps even kill him.

Both displayed their best states until the moment of impact.

Spiritual Detection continued to provide Huo Yuhao with every move Dai Huabin made. This could salvage some of his disadvantage, allowing Huo Yuhao to avoid his own weaknesses and gain more opportunities for counterattacks. Indeed, even with his absolute power unleashed, Huo Yuhao was still no match for Dai Huabin.

The absolute gap in their physical bodies could not be bridged simply by pushing past his limits. Huo Yuhao used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track at full capacity, barely managing to keep up with the rhythm of Dai Huabin's attacks. Every time he blocked a strike, he had to use all his strength, unable to afford the slightest relaxation. He even began to employ the Mysterious Jade Hand; under the pressure of this desperate situation, the technique finally reached a level of proficiency, providing a slight boost to Huo Yuhao's defensive capabilities.

Dai Huabin laughed maniacally as he attacked Huo Yuhao. Punches and kicks—simple attacks were enough to leave his opponent unable to parry, and then a heavy blow sent Huo Yuhao flying. This time, he intended to finish him off.

"White Tiger Barrier." Having learned from his previous mistake, he did not use his second soul skill, opting instead for the most basic and conservative attack to finish Huo Yuhao, refusing to waste soul power on attacks that carried a risk of failure.

White Tiger Barrier was a very simple soul skill that increased a soul master's strength and defense, allowing the White Tiger Martial Soul, which already had few rivals in base attributes, to sweep through its peers.

Huo Yuhao immediately experienced the power of a top-tier martial soul. With a tiger-like pounce, Dai Huabin thrust his claws, which were eight inches long and shimmering with a cold, dark blue light, directly at Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao endured the exhaustion and forced himself to stand, attempting to dodge. He was still a fraction too slow; the claws missed his lethal neck due to his evasion but slammed into his chest. The sharp talons left several gashes across his thin torso from top to bottom.

Dai Huabin's assault did not end there. As soon as the hand attack finished, he launched an attack with his leg. A sweep arrived in the blink of an eye. Having exhausted all his strength, Huo Yuhao had no way to dodge again, and the sweep struck his left leg. Once more, Huo Yuhao was sent flying.

This time, the injury was severe. The gash on his chest looked terrifying, but it had little effect on his combat ability; the most fatal blow was the one to his leg. Looking at his somewhat bent leg, Huo Yuhao regained a measure of clarity. The intense pain arrived shortly after the initial shock.

Huo Yuhao found it difficult to breathe and tried to take a deep breath, but he coughed up a mouthful of blood, which sent him into a violent fit of coughing.

Dai Huabin had no intention of finishing Huo Yuhao quickly. He watched Huo Yuhao, approaching slowly like a cat toying with a mouse. He wanted to dispose of this damned trash bit by bit, though it was a pity he couldn't kill him here; he couldn't ruin his own future for the sake of this garbage.

Tang Ya and Bei Bei, watching from the stands, could no longer sit still. No matter how much they trusted Elder Xuan, they couldn't just watch Huo Yuhao suffer such heavy injuries; it wasn't worth it. Elder Xuan, however, showed no reaction, his brows still tightly furrowed as he watched the duel. The proctoring teacher also wanted to step in and end the match, but seeing that Elder Xuan made no move, he suppressed his own impulse.

Just as Dai Huabin was about to stomp his foot onto Huo Yuhao's face, Huo Yuhao's hands suddenly caught the attack. Ignoring the look of surprise on the other's face, he threw Dai Huabin away.

Huo Yuhao struggled to his feet, and his clearly fractured leg underwent a change that shocked everyone.

A "crack" sound, though small, echoed throughout the arena as his muscles forced the bone back into place, healing it by sheer force. The severe injury no longer hindered him, and he even erupted with combat power that exceeded his original state.

Huo Yuhao's eyes were no longer cold or savage; they were the eyes of a true human. He said to his enemy, Dai Huabin, "You know, villains die because they talk too much."

He declared his return.