The White Tiger Intense Light Wave shot straight at Huo Yuhao. At the same time, the other Soul Skill of his First Soul Ring, which he had been releasing without pause, activated.
He unleashed the Mental Interference Domain with all his might. Invisible ripples filled the space between them. The interference threw Dai Huabin, who was already reeling from the Mental Attack and hadn't recovered, completely off balance.
Huo Yuhao calmly used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to dodge the attack, which he couldn't have blocked. Though he wore a smile, there was no hint of mirth in it. The wounds on his face and the blood welling from his nostrils lent him a chilling air.
Dai Huabin couldn't understand why his attacks kept missing Huo Yuhao, and he was at a loss. He had little experience in actual competition. The White Tiger Family's training put too little pressure on one of its most important heirs, though it had still given him a solid foundation.
Dai Huabin quickly composed himself. If his ranged attacks couldn't hit Huo Yuhao, he would fight him hand to hand. Their two earlier clashes had already proved Huo Yuhao was no match for him. He couldn't use his weaknesses to attack his opponent's strengths. The lessons he'd learned surfaced in his mind, and only now did he truly begin to understand how to use his own strength. In the end, it came down to the gap in their foundations. Before, he hadn't taken those lessons seriously, believing he already knew everything and had no need to learn.
Only real combat could truly hone a person. No wonder nearly every elite on the continent wanted to enter Shrek Academy. It was the best way to truly improve one's strength.
At that moment, Dai Huabin was filled with ambition. He was certain he'd make his own way at Shrek Academy and surpass his elder brother's achievements.
As for Huo Yuhao, he was nothing more than a backdrop that let Dai Huabin see more people and abilities—a piece of trash he could toss aside or crush whenever he pleased.
A fierce, pale light burst from Dai Huabin. As he charged recklessly, he spread his arms and thrust out his chest. His muscles coiled like the roots of an ancient tree, and his bones cracked all over. His body swelled, stretching the clearly expensive clothes that flaunted his wealth. Anyone watching could feel the wildness and overwhelming power he exuded.
Four faint lines appeared on his forehead, forming the character for "king"—a symbol of the strength humanity revered. It was the White Tiger Family's legacy.
Dai Huabin's body kept moving. His four pupils turned a deep, clear blue as he stared unblinkingly at his enemy. He was a bloodthirsty predator.
Huo Yuhao's body began to change as well. The gray that had once dominated his aura was now mixed with a touch of green, the breath of life. Where the two met, they didn't clash as fiercely as before; instead, they began to merge. It was an indescribable presence, impossible to make out, yet it manifested clearly in Huo Yuhao. A bloodthirsty gleam appeared in his eyes too. They were no longer lifeless.
All his strength began to surge. The Mysterious Heaven Skill circulated at a speed Huo Yuhao would never have imagined possible. His heart pounded, sending oxygen-rich blood to every part of his body. His cells hungrily absorbed energy and released all they had. Every part of him was giving everything it had toward the same goal.
Absolute strength. Higher, faster, stronger. To unleash every bit of potential and bring forth his greatest power, to truly defeat his current enemy—even kill him.
Both of them reached their peak, and then they clashed.
Spiritual Detection still let Huo Yuhao follow Dai Huabin's every move. It helped him make up for some of his disadvantage and protect his weak points, giving him more chances to counterattack. That was right: even after unleashing all his strength, Huo Yuhao still couldn't match Dai Huabin.
The gulf between their bodies couldn't be bridged just by forcing himself beyond his limits. Huo Yuhao used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track with all his might, and could barely keep up with Dai Huabin's attacks. He had to give everything he had just to withstand each blow, without a moment's slack. He'd started using Mysterious Jade Hand too. Under the pressure of this desperate situation, he had finally mastered it enough to put it to use, improving his defenses somewhat.
Dai Huabin laughed wildly as he attacked Huo Yuhao, punching and kicking. Even these simple attacks left Huo Yuhao struggling to defend himself. Then a heavy blow sent Huo Yuhao flying. This time, Dai Huabin would finish him off.
"White Tiger Barrier." Learning from his last mistake, he didn't use his Second Soul Skill. He would take the simplest, safest approach and defeat Huo Yuhao without wasting Soul Power on an attack that might fail.
The White Tiger Barrier was a simple Soul Skill that increased a Soul Master's strength and defense. With its already formidable basic attributes, the White Tiger Martial Soul could sweep aside its peers.
Huo Yuhao was about to experience the power of a top-tier Martial Soul firsthand. Dai Huabin pounced like a tiger, driving his eight-inch-long claws, gleaming with a cold blue light, straight toward Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao forced himself to his feet despite his exhaustion and tried to dodge. But he was still a little too slow. His speed couldn't match Dai Huabin's. His attempt to evade kept the sharp claws from striking his neck, but they slammed into his chest instead. They raked several long gashes down his thin torso.
Dai Huabin's attack didn't stop there. The moment he finished with his hands, he attacked with his legs. A sweeping kick came at Huo Yuhao in an instant. Huo Yuhao had already used up all his strength and couldn't dodge again. The kick struck his left leg, sending him flying once more.
This time, he was badly hurt. The gash across his chest looked frightening, but it didn't do much to hinder his fighting ability. The truly devastating blow was the one to his leg. Looking at the leg, now bent at an odd angle, Huo Yuhao regained a little clarity. The intense pain had only just begun to hit him.
Huo Yuhao struggled to breathe and tried to take a deep breath, but blood spilled from his mouth instead, making him cough violently.
Dai Huabin had no intention of finishing Huo Yuhao quickly. Like a cat toying with a mouse, he watched Huo Yuhao and slowly approached. He would take his time dealing with the damned trash. It was a shame he couldn't kill him here; he couldn't ruin his own future over such a nobody.
Tang Ya and Bei Bei could no longer sit still in the stands. No matter how much they trusted Xuan Zi, they couldn't just watch Huo Yuhao suffer such severe injuries. It wasn't worth it. But Xuan Zi didn't react. He merely watched the fight between Huo Yuhao and Dai Huabin, his brows still tightly furrowed. The examiners also wanted to step in and end the match, but seeing that Xuan Zi made no move, they held back.
Just as Dai Huabin was about to plant his foot on Huo Yuhao's face, Huo Yuhao suddenly raised both hands to block the attack. Ignoring Dai Huabin's astonished expression, he threw him away too.
Huo Yuhao struggled to his feet. The leg that had clearly been broken underwent a change that shocked everyone:
A faint crack rang out across the arena. His muscles pulled his bones back into place, forcing them to heal. His grievous injuries no longer hindered him, and he burst forth with strength beyond what he'd had before.
Huo Yuhao's eyes were no longer cold or feral. They were truly human eyes. He said to his enemy, Dai Huabin, "You know, villains die from talking too much."
He had announced his return.
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