Chapter 40

The referee stepped onto the competition stage, cleared his throat, and announced the rules:

"This friendly exchange match will follow a best-of-three format. Each round, both sides will send one contestant to compete; the winner remains to defend the stage, while the loser is replaced. The first team to win two rounds takes the victory."

"For the first round, Shrek Academy's Yu Longheng will face off against Spirit Pagoda's Yuanen Yehui!"

As the words fell, the audience erupted into thunderous cheers once again.

Yu Longheng smiled faintly, leaped into the air, and landed steadily in the center of the stage. He scanned the spectator stands, basking in the roar of the crowd.

He then looked toward Yuanen Yehui as she walked slowly onto the stage, a flash of admiration crossing his eyes.

This girl... her temperament is so cold, but she is truly beautiful.

He cleared his throat, struck what he considered his most dashing pose, and spoke in a clear voice:

"Shrek Academy, Yu Longheng! Martial Soul Blue Lightning Overlord Dragon, twenty-seventh-rank Soul Grand Master! Please advise!"

Yuanen Yehui looked at him expressionlessly, as if she were staring at a rock.

Three seconds of silence passed.

"...Spirit Pagoda, Yuanen Yehui. Martial Soul Titan Giant Ape, twenty-fourth-rank Soul Grand Master."

Yu Longheng raised an eyebrow slightly.

Titan Giant Ape? That is a top-tier soul beast! No wonder she was chosen to compete.

"Your aura is certainly cold," Yu Longheng chuckled, his tone carrying a hint of playfulness. "But don't think I'll go easy on you just because you're a girl. On the competition stage, I don't believe in showing mercy to the fair sex."

Yuanen Yehui remained expressionless, not even bothering to respond.

Yu Longheng frowned slightly, a flicker of annoyance crossing his mind.

He was a pride of Shrek, the center of attention wherever he went; when had he ever been ignored like this?

"Fine, then let's see what you're really made of!"

Soul power erupted from his body, and two purple soul rings manifested beneath his feet! At the same time, his body began to undergo an astonishing transformation.

Muscles bulged, fine blue scales emerged across his skin, his eyes turned into vertical slits, and his right arm instantly morphed into a dragon claw.

Dragon Transformation!

The signature ability of the Blue Lightning Overlord Dragon martial soul!

Once in Dragon Transformation, his strength, speed, and defense were enhanced in every aspect, and he could command the power of lightning!

"Haa--!"

Yu Longheng kicked off the ground, turning into a blue afterimage as he charged straight at Yuanen Yehui!

He threw a punch, the wind of the strike crackling with lightning as it headed straight for Yuanen Yehui's face!

Yuanen Yehui did not dodge or parry; she threw a punch of her own!

"Boom--!"

The two fists collided, and a violent shockwave of air exploded outward from the center of the two! The defensive arrays carved into the stage lit up instantly, barely managing to contain the impact within the arena!

The audience gasped in succession!

Yu Longheng's pupils constricted as he felt a terrifying, massive force surge from her fist, causing his entire arm to go slightly numb!

This woman's strength... how can it be this powerful?!

He was in his Dragon Transformation state! His strength far exceeded those of the same rank!

Yet, in this direct clash, he hadn't gained the slightest advantage!

Yuanen Yehui didn't give him time to think, as her second punch arrived! It was still a simple, unadorned strike, but that pure power was enough to make any technique seem pale in comparison!

Yu Longheng dared not take it head-on, lightning flickering beneath his feet as he narrowly dodged. But Yuanen Yehui followed him like a shadow, her blows landing with a terrifying force capable of shattering stone!

"Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom--!"

On the competition stage, the thunderous sounds were incessant.

Yuanen Yehui was like a humanoid beast, using the most pure and savage methods to force Yu Longheng into a steady retreat!

The audience was stunned.

Wait, this little girl looks so cold and delicate, how is it that once she starts fighting, she's like a humanoid tyrannosaurus?

At this moment, on the viewing platform, Cai Yue'er stood up abruptly, her eyes filled with incredulous shock.

"This is... the Titan Giant Ape martial soul? A pure strength-type?!" She stared fixedly at the petite figure on the stage, her voice changing pitch. "Is this your Spirit Pagoda's secret weapon?"

Leng Yaozhu smiled slightly, picked up her teacup, and took an elegant sip without saying a word.

Ya Li also narrowed her beautiful eyes.

Titan Giant Ape martial soul... such a top-tier, pure, and extremely rare bloodline strength-type martial soul, did it really exist in a human?

And looking at her, the girl's mastery over her martial soul was already quite mature; this was definitely not something achieved overnight!

No wonder Yaozhu was so confident about this competition.

The match continued.

Yu Longheng grew more alarmed and stifled the longer the fight dragged on.

As the dignified successor of the Blue Lightning Overlord Dragon Clan and the acclaimed top genius of the Shrek outer courtyard, how was he being suppressed by a girl who looked even younger than him?

Moreover, his opponent hadn't used a single soul skill; she was relying entirely on the simplest, most primitive, and most unreasonable brute force, landing punch after punch on his flesh!

"Roar--!"

He let out a furious bellow, casting aside all reservations as his second soul ring suddenly flared to life!

Thunderous Might!

In an instant, countless bolts of lightning surged from his body, transforming into an ocean of electricity that engulfed the entire competition stage!

Every single bolt was powerful enough to pierce through steel and instantly paralyze a soul master of the same rank!

Yuanen Yehui was finally forced back half a step.

Yu Longheng seized this opportunity and unleashed a frantic barrage!

Lightning rained down like a downpour, the deafening roars shaking the air!

He could not lose! He absolutely could not!

He was the pride of Shrek! He was the hope of the Blue Lightning Overlord Dragon Clan!

The victory in this match had to be his!

The lightning grew increasingly violent, nearly swallowing Yuanen Yehui's figure entirely!

The audience held their breath, staring fixedly at the sea of thunder.

Yu Longheng panted heavily, a trace of a smile finally appearing on his face.

This should be the end of it, right?

However.

In the very next instant.

That smile froze on his face.

From within the lightning, a petite figure slowly walked out.

Her body was covered in charred marks, her clothes were torn in multiple places, and a trickle of blood even spilled from the corner of her mouth.

But her eyes remained as cold as frost, without the slightest hint of wavering.

Her second soul ring lit up.

Yuanen Yehui's body suddenly expanded! Her muscles bulged, her stature grew, and she seemed to transform into a miniature Titan Giant Ape!

That pure, primitive aura of power, capable of crushing everything in its path, swept across the arena like a mountain-toppling tsunami!

"Roar--!"

She let out a roar that sounded inhuman, stomped her feet, and launched herself like a cannonball, reaching Yu Longheng in an instant!

One punch.

A simple, unadorned punch.

But this punch carried the full explosive power of the Titan Giant Ape martial soul, infused with all of Yuanen Yehui's fighting spirit and conviction!

"BOOM--!!!"

Yu Longheng's protective lightning was instantly shattered. He flew backward like a kite with a broken string, slamming heavily into the barrier at the edge of the stage before bouncing to the ground.

He struggled to climb back up, but every bone in his body was wailing, and his soul power was so chaotic he could barely mobilize it.

The referee quickly stepped forward to inspect him, and after confirming he had lost the ability to fight, raised a hand high.

"First match, Spirit Pagoda, Yuanen Yehui wins!"

Silence.

A deathly silence.

For three full seconds, the entire arena was hushed.

Then.

"BOOM--!!!"

A roar of cheers, like a volcanic eruption, instantly drowned the entire arena!

"Yuanen Yehui! Yuanen Yehui! Yuanen Yehui!"

"Spirit Pagoda! Spirit Pagoda!"

The spectators who had bet on Shrek turned pale, while those who had bet on the Spirit Pagoda cheered wildly; the entire arena descended into a boiling ocean of noise.

Yuanen Yehui stood in the center of the stage, the light around her body slowly fading. She remained expressionless, but the moment the match ended, she subconsciously looked toward the contestant preparation area, toward that figure with black hair and black eyes.

Well done!

Luo Yang was smiling and giving her a thumbs-up.

The corners of Yuanen Yehui's mouth curled up almost imperceptibly.

On the viewing platform, Cai Yue'er's face was livid, and she remained silent.

Ya Li smiled slightly, her gaze falling upon the petite figure below the stage, a flicker of appreciation crossing her eyes.

Leng Yaozhu leaned elegantly against the back of her chair, picked up her teacup, and took a slow, deliberate sip before looking at Cai Yue'er with an exceptionally brilliant smile.

"Elder Cai, there are still two rounds to go."

"Take your time."

"No need to rush."

Cai Yue'er's face turned even paler.