Soul Grand Master vs. Soul Elder, Victory is Mine!

The lights of the Shrek Academy Great Soul Arena converged upon the central stage the moment the quarter-finals commenced.

The deafening roar of cheers and shouts threatened to blow the roof off the arena.

The audience's gazes were fixed on the entrances at both ends of the stage; this quarter-final was the most anticipated and volatile showdown since the start of the Freshman Assessment.

On one side stood the Spirit Eye Team, the dark horse that had remained undefeated throughout their journey, and on the other, the powerful and prestigious White Tiger Team.

Not to mention the irreconcilable personal feud between the two team captains, which had already pushed the tension of this match to its peak before it even began.

Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao walked out side-by-side from the tunnel on the left side of the stage.

Huo Yuhao led the way, his face devoid of any unnecessary expression, save for his Spirit Eye, which shone with an astonishing brilliance, concealing a decade of suppressed hatred deep within.

At the other end of the stage, Dai Huabin swaggered out with Zhu Lu and another sturdy youth.

Dai Huabin wore a golden combat outfit with a White Tiger badge pinned to his chest, his face full of arrogance and disdain.

His gaze swept across the arena, locking firmly onto Huo Yuhao, his lips curling into a vicious sneer as he even made a throat-slitting gesture toward him.

Beside him, Zhu Lu, clad in a black combat outfit, possessed a slender figure; her eyes were as cold and venomous as a viper as she glared across the stage, the aura of her Hell Spirit Cat flickering in and out of existence.

The final youth was a level 31 defense-system battle Soul Elder with the Vajra Bear martial soul; he stood at the front of the team like an iron tower, radiating a heavy sense of oppression.

"Contestants, enter the arena!" the referee's voice boomed through the Soul Tool Loudspeaker, echoing throughout the entire arena.

All six stepped forward, walking to the center of the stage to stand opposite one another.

The distance between them was no more than ten meters, yet the air was already thick enough with gunpowder to ignite. The surrounding cheers gradually died down, and everyone held their breath, waiting for the start of this fated duel.

"Huo Yuhao," Dai Huabin spoke first, his voice dripping with undisguised contempt.

"I'll give you one last chance. Kneel down, kowtow three times to apologize, and crawl out of this arena, and I might let you suffer a little less physical pain. Otherwise, once we start, I can't guarantee I won't accidentally cripple you, you piece of trash."

His voice, amplified by the arena's Soul Tool, spread throughout the entire venue, instantly inciting an uproar.

Wang Dong was instantly enraged; he stepped forward and glared at Dai Huabin. "Dai Huabin! Keep your mouth clean! If you have the guts, prove it on the stage. What kind of skill is just flapping your gums?"

"Is there any room for you to speak here?" Dai Huabin glanced at Wang Dong coldly, dismissing him with disdain.

"You dare to bark at me? I'll deal with you along with him later."

"You!" Wang Dong's cheeks flushed red with anger and he moved to step forward, but Huo Yuhao reached out to stop him.

Huo Yuhao slowly raised his head, his gaze calm as he looked at Dai Huabin, his voice low but carrying a bone-chilling coldness.

"Kowtow and apologize? You are the one who should be kneeling." Huo Yuhao's voice rose sharply, the hatred in his eyes no longer containable.

"Today, this match will make you understand that the White Tiger bloodline you are so proud of is worthless in my eyes. I will defeat you fair and square, and let everyone see exactly what kind of person the legitimate son of the White Tiger Duke Mansion really is."

"Good! Very good!" Dai Huabin was thoroughly provoked by his words; his face turned ashen, and he gritted his teeth, enunciating every word.

"Huo Yuhao, you are courting death! If I don't beat you until you're paralyzed today, I won't be surnamed Dai!"

"Contestants, retreat! Prepare for the match!" The referee, seeing the tension between the two had reached its limit, shouted immediately, fearing they would start fighting before the match even officially began.

Huo Yuhao and his team turned and retreated to the back of the stage, while Dai Huabin and his team did the same. Both sides stood their ground at opposite ends of the arena and released their martial souls and soul rings.

At both ends of the stage, the halos of soul rings lit up almost simultaneously.

On Dai Huabin's side, three soul rings rose in unison—yellow, yellow, and purple—the optimal soul ring configuration shining brilliantly on the stage.

A level 32 power-attack battle Soul Elder, his White Tiger martial soul released; white fur instantly covered his body, his muscles surged, the 'King' character on his forehead glowed, and the roar of a tiger made the stage tremble slightly.

Zhu Lu's body was also surrounded by three yellow, yellow, and purple soul rings; her Hell Spirit Cat martial soul was released, her figure becoming even more slender, her nails turning sharp as blades, and her eyes filled with cold, murderous intent.

The final defense-system Soul Elder transformed directly into a two-meter-tall giant bear, with yellow, yellow, and purple soul rings circulating; his heavy defensive power radiated outward, standing before the other two like an indestructible shield.

Three Soul Elders!

Thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the stands. Such a lineup was absolutely the top tier among freshmen, which explained how the White Tiger Team had swept their way into the quarter-finals.

On the other side of the stage, when the soul rings of Huo Yuhao's trio lit up, the cheers in the stands weakened instantly.

At Huo Yuhao's feet, one white-gold and one purple soul ring rose slowly; the white-gold halo of the million-year soul ring, even if it appeared to be an ordinary ten-year soul ring, emitted a heart-palpitating pressure.

A level 25 control-system tool Soul Master, his Spirit Eye martial soul activated; a pale blue halo enveloped the entire stage, and his spiritual power spread out like a tide.

Behind Wang Dong, the wings of the Radiant Goddess Butterfly unfolded instantly; the blue-purple halo was dazzling, like an elf of the forest, and two yellow and purple soul rings rose, the aura of a level 29 power-attack battle Soul Master released without reservation.

Beside Xiao Xiao, three large black cauldrons floated slowly; her Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron martial soul was released, with two yellow soul rings circulating.

Three Soul Masters against three Soul Elders.

Even with Huo Yuhao's ultimate spiritual attribute, in everyone's eyes, this match remained a crushing defeat without suspense.

The absolute gap in levels could not be easily bridged by talent alone.

In the front row of the stands, Gu Yuan, Gu Yuena, and Jin Ruiqiu sat quietly.

Jin Ruiqiu clenched her small fists, watching the stage nervously, and muttered, "Your Excellency, can Yuhao and the others win? The opponents are all Soul Elders."

"Don't worry," Gu Yuan smiled faintly, his gaze landing on Huo Yuhao in the center of the stage, his tone certain.

"Dai Huabin has no idea what he is facing. This match will only be won by Yuhao."

If it were the previous Huo Yuhao, it might have been a bitter struggle. But for the current Huo Yuhao, whose body had been greatly strengthened and who possessed the full power of Tian Meng, it was a piece of cake!

Gu Yuena nodded slightly, her tone devoid of any ripples. "Ultimate spiritual power has the capital to fight across ranks. Besides, that fellow Tian Meng isn't just sitting idle."

Just as the two were speaking, the referee's whistle suddenly rang out.

"The match—begins!"

The moment the whistle fell, Dai Huabin moved instantly.

His first soul ring lit up, activating White Tiger Protection Barrier. His muscles surged in size, and a golden halo shimmered over his white fur, instantly doubling his defense and strength.

Immediately after, his second soul ring flared. White Tiger Intense Light Wave was unleashed, a dazzling beam of white light hurtling toward Huo Yuhao and his team like a cannonball.

Beside him, the Vajra Bear soul master simultaneously activated his first soul skill, Vajra Body Protection. He stood like an iron tower at the front, his third soul ring pulsing as he prepared to intercept any counterattack.

Zhu Lu's figure turned into a black afterimage the moment the match started, silently circling toward the side of the arena. Her target was Xiao Xiao at the back of the formation, clearly intending to eliminate the support-type soul master first and collapse the Spirit Eye Team's formation.

From the very start, the White Tiger Team unleashed their most ferocious offensive. Their coordination was seamless, clearly the result of tactical planning meant to secure a swift victory through an absolute advantage in rank.

Yet, every one of their movements was as transparent as glass before Huo Yuhao's spiritual power.

The moment Dai Huabin's soul power began to circulate, Huo Yuhao's Spirit Detection Sharing had already transmitted every detail precisely into the minds of Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao.

"Xiao Xiao, block the White Tiger Intense Light Wave to the front left! Wang Dong, right flank, intercept Zhu Lu!" Huo Yuhao's voice was calm, devoid of any ripples as it rang clearly in their ears.

The moment the order was given, Xiao Xiao moved. Three *Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron*s flew out instantly. Her first soul skill, Group Stun, was activated; the three massive cauldrons collided in mid-air with a dull roar, sending invisible sound waves rippling outward.

This not only drastically reduced the power of the incoming White Tiger Intense Light Wave, but also caused Zhu Lu, who was circling the flank, to falter, her soul power circulation stuttering for a split second.

Following this, her second soul skill, Cauldron Shakes Mountains and Rivers, was activated. The three cauldrons slammed down, precisely blocking the path of the White Tiger Intense Light Wave. The white beam crashed against the cauldrons with a deafening explosion, yet it was completely halted, unable to push even a ripple past them.

Meanwhile, the Radiant Goddess Butterfly wings on Wang Dong's back flapped, lifting him into the air. His second soul ring lit up, and countless blue-purple Light of the Butterfly God beams rained down like a storm toward the faltering Zhu Lu.

As the butterfly wings beat, his first soul skill, Wing Blade, was activated simultaneously. Sharp blades of light sealed off all of Zhu Lu's escape routes.

Zhu Lu's expression shifted drastically. She had not expected her stealth and surprise attack to be seen through so clearly. In her haste, she could only activate her first soul skill, Nether Slash, to barely block the Light of the Butterfly God, but the shockwave from the Wing Blade sent her stumbling back repeatedly. Her blood surged, and she nearly suffered an injury.

In less than three seconds, the White Tiger Team's fierce opening offensive had been neutralized, and Zhu Lu had nearly been eliminated.

A gasp erupted from the stands. No one had expected the Spirit Eye Team, despite their absolute disadvantage in rank, to so easily withstand the White Tiger Team's first wave of attacks.

"How is this possible?!" Dai Huabin looked at the three unscathed opponents, his expression turning incredibly ugly.

He had never imagined that Huo Yuhao's Spirit Detection Sharing could be this precise, perfectly capturing even Zhu Lu's stealth and predicting all their movements in advance.

"Frontal assault! Zhu Lu, harass the flanks! I'll take the lead!" Dai Huabin roared. His third soul ring lit up, and White Tiger Vajra Transformation was activated!

In an instant, his physique surged again, his fur turning a brilliant gold. His strength, speed, and defense increased more than threefold. Releasing his power without reservation, he charged fiercely toward Huo Yuhao.

The Vajra Bear soul master simultaneously activated his third soul skill, Vajra Roar. A sound wave blasted toward Xiao Xiao's Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron, and his massive frame followed closely behind, charging into the center of the arena to tear open a path for Dai Huabin.

Zhu Lu moved again, pushing the speed of the Hell Spirit Cat to its limit. Black afterimages flickered across the arena, constantly harassing Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao, draining their focus.

For a time, the sound of clashing soul power echoed incessantly across the arena.

Dai Huabin's White Tiger Vajra Transformation was immensely powerful. Every pounce carried earth-shattering force; Xiao Xiao's Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron trembled violently under his claws, fine cracks appearing on its surface.

The frontal charge of the Vajra Bear only added to the pressure on Xiao Xiao. She used every ounce of her strength to barely hold off their onslaught, her soul power depleting rapidly as cold sweat beaded on her forehead.

Wang Dong was pinned down by Zhu Lu. The speed of the Hell Spirit Cat was too great; his Light of the Butterfly God struggled to land a precise hit, forcing him into a passive defense, unable to spare any energy to support Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao had become Dai Huabin's primary target.

Countless Spirit Shock attacks struck like arrows toward Dai Huabin's spiritual sea. However, with White Tiger Vajra Transformation active, Dai Huabin's defense was greatly enhanced. Though the spiritual attacks left him with a splitting headache, he maintained his offensive, his ferocity only further ignited, making his attacks increasingly violent.

The gap in rank was magnified infinitely at this moment. The sustained assault from three Soul Elders pushed the Spirit Eye Team into a disadvantage, forcing them to endure immense pressure with every passing second.

"Yuhao!" Xiao Xiao gritted her teeth, pushing the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron to its limit to block one of Dai Huabin's claws, nearly spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"I can't hold on much longer!"

"Xiao Xiao, pull back! Wang Dong, return to defense!" Huo Yuhao shouted immediately, the light in his eyes growing sharper.

He knew that they were no match in a raw test of strength. To win, they had to find a flaw.

Spreading his spiritual power to its limit, his Spirit Eye locked onto the three of them, capturing every detail of their soul power circulation and every gap in their movements.

Just as Dai Huabin smashed Xiao Xiao's Cauldron Shakes Mountains and Rivers with another claw, in the split second where his old strength was spent and his new strength had yet to arise, a purple-gold light suddenly ignited in the depths of Huo Yuhao's eyes.

"Now! Group Stun!"

His spiritual power transformed into an invisible shockwave, enveloping Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, and the Vajra Bear soul master. Huo Yuhao poured his entire strength into this strike, even drawing upon the power of the Life Gold within his spiritual sea. The power doubled, rivaling the full-force strike of an ordinary Soul Ancestor.

The three attackers felt a buzz in their minds, as if struck by a heavy hammer. They fell into a daze, their movements stalling in unison as their soul power circulation was instantly interrupted.

That one second of stagnation was enough to change the course of the battle.

Xiao Xiao reacted immediately. She brought the Jade Flute to her lips, and a clear, resonant melody rang out. Invisible sound waves enveloped the stunned trio, making their bodies feel incredibly heavy and drastically slowing their speed. Even as they recovered from the stun, they were unable to dodge.

The Radiant Goddess Butterfly wings on Wang Dong's back folded together, and a massive blue-purple blade of light descended upon Dai Huabin and the others like a strike that could split the heavens!

"Oh no!" Dai Huabin's face turned deathly pale. He tried to activate his White Tiger Protection Barrier, but it was too late. He could only raise his arms in a desperate attempt to take the hit head-on.

BOOM!!!

The Butterfly God Slash slammed into Dai Huabin. His golden White Tiger Protection Barrier shattered instantly. Dai Huabin was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily onto the arena floor. He spat out a mouthful of blood, and his White Tiger Vajra Transformation was forcibly interrupted.

The Vajra Bear soul master was caught in the shockwave, stumbling back several steps as his Vajra Body Protection shattered, leaving him with significant injuries.

Zhu Lu, slowed by the flute music, was struck by a stray Light of the Butterfly God from Wang Dong. She collapsed beside Dai Huabin, her aura chaotic and her body heavily wounded.

In less than a second, the tide of battle had completely turned! All three members of the White Tiger Team were injured, falling into an absolute disadvantage!

The stands erupted, the thunderous applause and cheers nearly blowing the roof off the Soul Fighting Arena.

No one had expected the disadvantaged Spirit Eye Team to pull off such a shocking reversal through sheer coordination, instantly crushing the White Tiger Team!

"Well done!" Wang Dong landed, shouting excitedly at Huo Yuhao, her eyes brimming with joy.

Xiao Xiao also let out a sigh of relief, a smile appearing on her face as she looked at the fallen Dai Huabin and his companions.

Huo Yuhao did not relax in the slightest; his Spirit Eye remained locked onto the fallen Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu, a sense of intense unease rising in his heart.

He knew Dai Huabin too well; a man proud to his very marrow would never concede so easily.

Sure enough, just as the referee prepared to step forward to announce the match results, the fallen Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu suddenly moved in unison.

The two sprang up from the ground simultaneously, ignoring their injuries to stand face-to-face, their four hands gripping each other tightly.

Dai Huabin's White Tiger Martial Soul and Zhu Lu's Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul were released to their absolute limits, three soul rings—yellow, yellow, and purple—lighting up around both of them as they began to fuse frantically.

A terrifying aura erupted from the pair. A white tiger shadow and a black cat shadow intertwined and merged in the air, finally transforming into a massive, winged Hell White Tiger!

The Hell White Tiger had manifested! A Martial Soul Fusion Skill!