Shrek's Tragic Plight

The referee finally snapped out of the extreme shock brought on by that hundred-thousand-year spirit ring.

He was drenched in cold sweat, hurriedly blowing the copper whistle in his mouth.

"Shrek Academy concedes! Skywater Academy wins!"

"Captain of Skywater Team, please cease your attacks immediately!"

The referee's voice even carried a distinct tremor; he dared not approach the area shrouded in red light.

That was a peerless monster possessing a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring; as a mere referee, how could he dare to court disaster?

Hearing the referee's whistle, Xue Tianyu slowly moved his foot away from Tang San's face.

He glanced at the bloodstains on his boot sole with disgust, casually wiping them off on the pristine ice surface nearby.

On the arena stage.

Tang San's face was covered in blood, his eyes rolled back, and he had already fallen into a deep coma.

The remaining broken Eight Spider Lances lay limply at his sides, his entire person a miserable sight.

The other members of Shrek, Tailong, Huang Yuan, and the others, all sat slumped on the ground with weak legs.

They couldn't even muster the courage to look Xue Tianyu in the eye.

Shui Bing'er, Xue Wu, and Shui Yue'er walked up quickly.

Looking at Xue Tianyu's slender back, the adoration and fanaticism in their eyes were nearly overflowing.

This was their Skywater Team captain.

A god whose strength could sweep away everything!

"Captain."

Shui Bing'er called out softly, handing over a clean white silk handkerchief from her sleeve.

Xue Tianyu took the handkerchief, casually wiped the dust from his hands, and tossed it onto Tang San.

"A bunch of trash that can't withstand a single blow."

He turned around, not even sparing the people from Shrek a second glance.

Leading the girls of the Skywater Team, he walked straight off the arena stage.

Wherever he passed, everyone in the spectator stands subconsciously held their breath.

No one dared to make a single unnecessary sound.

In the entire Great Soul Arena, only the shrill, miserable wail emitted by Yu Xiaogang after he rushed onto the stage remained.

Yu Xiaogang's shrill wail echoed throughout the Great Soul Arena.

He held the blood-covered Tang San, his hands stained with foul-smelling poisonous blood.

"San! San, wake up!"

Yu Xiaogang trembled all over, tears and snot sliding down his face as he desperately shook the unconscious Tang San.

Tang San's nasal bone was completely collapsed, his once-prized Eight Spider Lances were shattered into fragments, and he looked like a pile of rags.

At the entrance to the rest area.

Oscar's legs went weak, and he had to cling to the door frame to keep from collapsing to the ground.

Watching the tragic scene on the arena, his teeth couldn't stop chattering.

Fatty was dead, Teacher Zhao was dead.

Now, even the strongest in the team, San, had been beaten into a cripple.

How were they supposed to fight?

Their Shrek Academy was nothing but a joke.

Tailong and Huang Yuan were even more terrified, their faces drained of color; they didn't even have the courage to step forward and help carry Tang San down.

The figure of that white-clad youth had already become a shadow that would haunt them for the rest of their lives.

At this moment, Xue Tianyu had already reached the steps at the edge of the arena.

Shui Bing'er followed behind him, respectfully maintaining a half-step distance.

The entire audience held their breath, watching the departure of this peerless god of slaughter who possessed a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring.

No one dared to make the slightest sound.

They were terrified of disturbing this star of slaughter.

Just within this deathly silence, a jarring sound of grinding bones rang out abruptly.

Dai Mubai, who had been kicked away and slammed into the edge of the arena's protective barrier, suddenly twitched his fingers.

Intense pain stimulated his nerves, forcing him to wake up from his deep coma.

Dai Mubai struggled to open his eyes, his vision a sea of blood-red.

He gasped for air, every breath tugging at his broken ribs, causing his entire face to twist violently in agony.

Following his line of sight, the first thing he saw was Tang San, collapsed in a pool of blood, his life or death unknown.

He saw Yu Xiaogang kneeling nearby, wailing in despair, his dignity utterly trampled.

He saw Oscar trembling in fear.

This scene was like a sharp blade, stabbing fiercely into Dai Mubai's heart.

Tang San was ruined.

The Shrek Team had been crushed underfoot.

Dai Mubai's eyes suddenly bloodshot, the veins on his forehead bulging like earthworms.

He was a prince of the Star Luo Empire!

The noble blood of the White Tiger Clan flowed through his veins!

How could he be treated like a dead dog here, a laughingstock for others to mock!

An extreme sense of humiliation instantly shattered his reason.

All the ostracization he had suffered in the Star Luo Empire, all the hardships he had endured to escape the royal struggle.

In this moment, it all transformed into endless malice.

"Stop!"

Dai Mubai bit the tip of his tongue, using the very last shred of his soul power to force his broken body to stand.

He staggered forward two steps, his eyes locked onto Xue Tianyu's back.

"Xue Tianyu!"

"You despicable villain!"

This roar sounded jarringly harsh in the silent arena.

Hearing the commotion, Yu Xiaogang turned his head abruptly.

When he saw the teetering, murderous Dai Mubai, he was scared out of his wits.

"Mubai! What are you doing!"

"The match is already over! Stop at once!"

Yu Xiaogang screamed hysterically, wanting to rush over and pull Dai Mubai back.

But he was still holding the heavily injured Tang San and could not break free.

Tailong finally reacted, scrambling and crawling toward the arena.

"Boss Dai, don't be impulsive!"

"Even Third Brother lost; if you go up there now, you're just throwing your life away!"

Tailong's voice was choked with sobs.

Dai Mubai slapped Tailong away as he climbed up.

"Get lost!"

"Even if I, Dai Mubai, die, I will never live in disgrace!"

Xue Tianyu's footsteps came to a halt.

He turned around, looking down at Dai Mubai from a few meters away.

His expression was as calm as if he were looking at a wriggling corpse.

"Despicable?"

Xue Tianyu let out a soft scoff.

"A piece of trash who couldn't even take one of my kicks has the nerve to talk to me about being despicable."

Dai Mubai trembled with rage, spitting out another mouthful of blood.

"If it weren't for you relying on the suppression of a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, how could I have lost!"

"You ruined Little San, you ruined Shrek!"

"You trampled our last hope into the mud!"

"Even if we perish together today, I will drag you down to the grave with me!"

As his words fell, a violent white light erupted around Dai Mubai.

He ignited his own life essence, forcibly driving the remaining soul power within his body.

The White Tiger Vajra Transformation, which had already been shattered, miraculously coalesced once more.

A phantom image of a white tiger roared madly behind him.

Its golden fur was stained with specks of blood, exuding a recklessness that disregarded all consequences.

The audience in the stands erupted in gasps.

"Is he crazy! Burning life essence will shorten his lifespan!"

"This is completely overdrawing his life force!"

"Are the people from Shrek all a bunch of suicidal lunatics!"

The referee's face turned deathly pale as he blew his copper whistle with all his might.

"Skywater Academy has already won!"

"Shrek team member, stop this suicidal attack immediately!"

"If you do not stop, your entire academy will be disqualified!"

The referee's voice was completely drowned out by Dai Mubai's roar.

Dai Mubai slammed his legs into the ground, leaving a deep crater in the bluestone floor.

He transformed into a white meteor, charging straight toward Xue Tianyu with a desperate, death-defying resolve.

"Die!"

He gathered all of his soul power into his right fist.

The violent force compressed the surrounding air, creating a piercing sonic boom.

This punch had far exceeded the limits of a level 44 Soul Ancestor.

It had even reached the power level of a Soul King.

Shui Bing'er frowned, and a surge of cold air instantly rippled from her body.

"Captain, let me handle him."

Shui Yue'er also looked furious, her fists clenched tight.

"These Shrek people are simply shameless, launching a sneak attack even after losing!"

Xue Tianyu raised his hand, gently blocking Shui Bing'er.

"No need."

"Since he is in such a hurry to die, I will grant his wish."

Watching the violent gale of the punch draw closer, Xue Tianyu did not even blink.

He slowly raised his right hand.

Without any flashy movements, he simply reached forward.

His slender fingers spread open, meeting that dazzling ball of white light.

Pa!

A dull thud echoed throughout the arena.

A shockwave spread wildly from the center of the two, sending the surrounding ice shards flying.

Dai Mubai's full-force punch, which had gathered all his life force and even carried a sonic boom, was caught by Xue Tianyu with a single palm, as if it were nothing.

Violent soul power raged wildly where their palm and fist met, emitting a continuous, piercing sizzling sound.

Yet, Xue Tianyu's figure remained as immovable as a towering Mount Tai.

Not even a single wrinkle appeared on the ice-blue coat draped over his shoulders.

In contrast, look at Dai Mubai.

A series of snapping sounds, like popping beans, erupted from the bones of his right arm.

Blood vessels burst beneath his skin, and blood instantly dyed his entire arm red.

"What?"

Dai Mubai's eyes widened, his pupils contracting violently.

His desperate, life-burning killing blow hadn't even forced his opponent to take a single step back.

The gap in their strength had reached a point of utter despair.

"Is this your so-called mutual destruction?"

Xue Tianyu's tone was indifferent.

He applied a slight pressure with his five fingers.

Crackle!

Dai Mubai's fist was crushed raw.

The crisp sound of breaking finger bones was exceptionally clear in the silent arena.

Blood mixed with bone fragments spilled out from between his fingers.

Before the scream could even escape his throat, Xue Tianyu had already raised his right knee.

A vicious knee strike slammed directly into Dai Mubai's abdomen.

The power of this blow was unleashed without reservation.

The clothes on Dai Mubai's back instantly exploded into shreds.

His entire body arched once more like a boiled shrimp.

Large chunks of internal organs sprayed from his mouth, splattering onto the pristine icy surface.

It was a shocking sight.

Xue Tianyu took the opportunity to release his grip.

Dai Mubai collapsed heavily at his feet like a pile of mud with its bones removed.

He gasped for air in ragged gulps, lacking even the strength to let out a scream.

"Mubai!"

Yu Xiaogang was overcome with grief, kneeling on the ground and kowtowing desperately.

"Xue Tianyu, I beg you, stop!"

"We have already conceded!"

"I will agree to whatever compensation you want—spirit bones, Gold Soul Coins, we Shrek will find a way to gather them all!"

"Please, spare him!"

Xue Tianyu did not even glance at Yu Xiaogang.

He slowly raised his black leather boot and stepped precisely onto Dai Mubai's chest.

"When this piece of trash ambushed me just now, why didn't you tell him to stop?"

Xue Tianyu applied a slight amount of pressure with his toe.

The sound of breaking sternum echoed once more, and Dai Mubai let out a pained, guttural roar.

"You want to talk to me about rules?"

"Does Shrek even deserve to?"

In the VIP seating area.

Emperor Xue Ye's brows were locked in a tight frown, his expression turning extremely grim.

He had recognized Dai Mubai's identity.

That was the Second Prince of the Star Luo Empire, currently living in exile.

For the past few years, the Heaven Dou Empire's intelligence department had kept files on Dai Mubai.

If he were merely severely injured during the match, it could be brushed off as the unpredictability of combat.

After all, casualties were inevitable in soul fighting tournaments.

But if Dai Mubai were trampled to death in public, the Star Luo Empire would absolutely use it as a pretext for war.

Once the Emperor of Star Luo flew into a rage, a full-scale war between the two empires might erupt ahead of schedule.

This would trigger a severe diplomatic crisis.

"Bishop Salas."

Emperor Xue Ye turned to look at the Platinum Bishop beside him, his tone carrying a hint of dissatisfaction.

"The match is already over, yet the contestant continues to inflict harm."

"As one of the organizers, shouldn't Martial Soul Hall step in to stop this?"

Salas narrowed his eyes, his fingers tapping lightly against the sandalwood chair back.

The old fox's face was full of the expression of someone watching a show.

"Your Majesty jokes."

"That boy is a peerless monster who possesses a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring."

"With this kind of killing intent, even if an old bone like me were to step in, I might not necessarily come out unscathed."

Salas was calculating his own interests.

He was hoping that Xue Tianyu would kill Dai Mubai.

As long as a full-scale war between Heaven Dou and Star Luo was ignited, Martial Soul Hall could take advantage of the chaos to rise and reap the benefits.

As for the troubles of the Heaven Dou Empire, what did that have to do with Martial Soul Hall?

Emperor Xue Ye let out a cold snort and stood up directly.

This old man was clearly intending to stand by and watch.

"Men!"

Several powerhouses at the Spirit Saint level, clad in the armor of the Royal Knights, appeared instantly behind him.

Their armor clattered with the crisp sound of metal striking metal.

"Go and stop Xue Tianyu!"

"You must preserve the life of that Star Luo prince!"

"He must not be harmed within Heaven Dou City!"

"Understood!"

The three Soul Saints of the Royal Knights simultaneously released their Martial Souls, darting rapidly toward the direction of the arena.

On the arena stage.

Although Dai Mubai was pinned beneath a foot, blood bubbling incessantly from his mouth.

He still heard the commotion around him and saw the Royal Knights descending from the sky.

That was the most elite force of the Heaven Dou Empire.

He knew that the Heaven Dou Imperial Family had stepped in.

As long as the Heaven Dou Imperial Family intervened, no matter how strong Xue Tianyu was, he would absolutely not dare to kill him.

Amidst extreme pain, Dai Mubai actually grinned with his blood-filled mouth, letting out a burst of manic laughter.

"Hahaha!"

"Xue Tianyu!"

"Do you dare to kill me!"

Dai Mubai coughed up blood while roaring with all his might.

His eyes were filled with a pathological sense of triumph and malice.

"I am the Second Prince of the Star Luo Empire!"

"I am of the direct bloodline of the White Tiger Clan!"

"If you kill me, the entire Star Luo Empire will become your enemy!"

"My Imperial Father will surely raze Skywater Academy to the ground and tear you into ten thousand pieces!"

"You will be hunted endlessly by Star Luo assassins; your family, your friends, all of them will die without a burial place because of you!"

"You dare not! You coward who only dares to show off your might on the arena stage!"

This incredibly arrogant clamor was transmitted through the amplification Soul Tool, spreading throughout the entire Great Soul Arena.

The whole venue fell into dead silence once again.

All the spectators gasped in unison.

No one had expected that this member of the Shrek Team would possess such a terrifying background.