Power of Myriad Forms: Even a Tiger Must Bow Its Head!

Facing the howling assault, Ao Yin stood quietly in midair, utterly motionless.

To outsiders, he looked as though he had frozen up—either unable to react in time or too arrogant to even bother defending himself.

Seeing this, Dai Mubai's lips curved into a faint smile.

He had seen many proud geniuses, but he had also seen many geniuses die because of their pride.

The young man before him spoke arrogantly, yet he was so careless in actual combat. This White Tiger Fierce Light Wave would definitely hit.

Boom!!!

A violent explosion erupted!

The White Tiger Fierce Light Wave slammed viciously into Ao Yin, its savage shockwave sweeping through the entire hall.

Watching the dazzling white light explode in midair, wild joy surged through Dai Mubai's heart.

It hit!

This was his second soul skill, White Tiger Fierce Light Wave, unleashed with all his Soul Power. It was currently his strongest long-range killing move!

As far as he knew, no Soul Master of the same generation could withstand this attack head-on.

Even if his opponent possessed a powerful body or a special Martial Soul, taking this explosive soul skill head-on would surely leave him with churning blood and severe injuries.

At best, he would be seriously wounded and collapse. At worst, he would lose the ability to fight altogether!

Dai Mubai had even planned his follow-up attacks in advance.

If Ao Yin chose to dodge, he would immediately close in and activate the White Tiger Body-Protecting Barrier. Using his speed advantage, he would suppress him at close range and follow up with consecutive attacks to finish him off.

But now, there was no need for that at all!

His opponent was arrogant and insisted on taking it head-on. He was simply asking for trouble!

Dai Mubai's gaze remained fixed on the center of the explosion, a confident sneer curling across his lips.

Among the younger generation in all of Suotuo City, no one had ever been able to get back up and fight after taking his White Tiger Fierce Light Wave head-on.

"Sorry about that!"

"You were far too careless. You won't even get the chance to swing your staff once. You're guaranteed to lose this spar today!"

His tone was certain and filled with pride, as if the outcome had already been decided.

But just before Dai Mubai's words fell, at the very instant he was certain of victory!

Amid the blinding white explosion, a brilliant mass of black-red flames suddenly surged forth!

Boom!

A Coiling Dragon Staff wrapped in blazing Southern Bright Lihuo forcibly pierced through the violent white light wave!

A crimson tide instantly swept across the entire hall like a wildfire that could burn all things to ash, swallowing and dissolving Dai Mubai's full-powered White Tiger Fierce Light Wave in the blink of an eye!

The once-violent impact of Soul Power vanished in an instant, without even the slightest aftershock spreading outward.

The smoke and dust slowly dispersed. In midair, Ao Yin stood tall and still.

His robes fluttered gently in the wind, his body as steady as a mountain. From head to toe, he had suffered not the slightest impact or injury.

Forget coughing up blood from serious injuries—even a single strand of his hair was out of place.

His young face was cold and calm, and beneath the flickering golden flames, he radiated even greater pressure.

Ao Yin spoke indifferently, his cold voice echoing throughout the hall.

"Not bad, but not enough."

"W-what?!"

Dai Mubai's pupils abruptly contracted. His mind went blank as he stood there stunned.

He was completely dumbfounded!

His all-out second soul skill had been neutralized so easily?

It had not even broken through his opponent's defenses?

After the extreme shock, the powerful combat instincts forged through years of life-and-death battles erupted instantly!

He had no time to think. The Soul Power within his body surged wildly as he activated his first soul skill in an instant!

"First Soul Skill! White Tiger Body-Protecting Barrier!!"

A thick silver-white barrier of Soul Power instantly enveloped his entire body, layer upon layer, protecting every vital point!

And at the very instant the barrier formed!

Ao Yin, wielding his flaming Coiling Dragon Staff, had already dived down!

His speed was so great that he became a fire dragon tearing through the air!

"Power of Myriad Forms!"

Bang—!

The incomparably heavy Coiling Dragon Staff, carrying immense force, smashed down viciously onto the silver protective barrier!

Bzz!!

A piercing vibration exploded through the hall!

The White Tiger Body-Protecting Barrier, originally solid and thick enough to withstand several powerful attacks, lasted only three brief breaths before shattering like broken glass!

That terrifying power poured down without restraint!

Dai Mubai was like a man struck by a charging beast. His body shook violently, his feet carving two deep trenches into the floor as he was hurled backward close to the ground for several meters!

He finally stopped only after crashing hard into the hotel's hard bluestone counter!

"Cough, cough, cough..."

The violent impact made Dai Mubai cough fiercely. His chest roiled with pain, his blood and qi thrown into chaos as a metallic sweetness surged up his throat.

He clutched his chest tightly, his eyes filled with shock. Only one thought remained in his heart—too strong!

This young man before him was absurdly powerful!

Ao Yin looked down indifferently at the bedraggled Dai Mubai.

"It's not that I'm too strong. You're simply too weak."

Those seven simple words struck Dai Mubai's heart like a heavy hammer, instantly turning his face livid.

He was filled with unwillingness, yet he had no way to refute it.

He was now a level thirty-seven, three-ring Soul Elder, with a full set of three soul skills.

His first soul skill, White Tiger Body-Protecting Barrier, offered extreme defense;

His second soul skill, White Tiger Fierce Light Wave, was a long-range offensive attack;

His third soul skill, White Tiger Vajra Transformation, enhanced his physical body.

The attack he had just unleashed was his second soul skill, the most powerful attack at his disposal!

That strike had been the limit of his current explosive power!

Yet even such a peak attack had been taken head-on by his opponent with ease, leaving him completely unharmed.

And his prideful defensive soul skill could not even withstand one ordinary strike from his opponent's staff.

The gap between them was obvious at a glance!

Ao Yin slowly raised the Coiling Dragon Staff in his hand, its tip pointing at Dai Mubai from afar. His tone was calm, but filled with absolute confidence born from overwhelming superiority.

"I overestimated you just now."

"You won't need to take three strikes."

"If you can firmly receive this second strike and remain standing, then I, Ao Yin, lose."

Hearing this, Dai Mubai's face darkened, crushing pressure weighing down on his heart.

Humiliation, unwillingness, shock, solemnity—countless emotions tangled together within him.

But as the leader of the Shrek Seven Monsters and a prince of the Star Luo Empire, the pride in his bones would never allow him to surrender!

He suddenly gritted his teeth and raised his head to stare straight at Ao Yin, his gaze incomparably firm.

"Fine!"

As soon as he spoke, Dai Mubai stopped holding anything back!

He stepped forward, his body tightening as all the Soul Power in his body completely boiled over!

The three soul rings beneath his feet spun rapidly. Yellow, yellow, and purple—the three rings all erupted with dazzling light!

Especially the purple third soul ring that represented a thousand years of cultivation. Its violet glow surged brilliantly!

All his Soul Power, all his foundation, all his potential erupted at this moment!

Boom!!

The aura around him surged wildly, instantly reaching the highest peak of his life!

"Third Soul Skill—White Tiger Vajra Transformation!!"

A thunderous roar rang out!

Whoosh!

Visible white beast-spirit power wrapped around his entire body, and Dai Mubai's fingers instantly transformed into sharp, pale tiger claws.

The muscles all over his body bulged and knotted, his powerful beast-like physique tearing apart every shred of clothing he wore!

At this moment, his savage aura soared to the heavens. His body was burly and ferocious, like a bloodthirsty white tiger that had fully awakened, its murderous presence intimidating the entire hall!

"This strike! I, Dai Mubai, will take it!"

Watching Dai Mubai erupt with all his strength and reach his peak state, Ao Yin's lips curved slightly.

Not bad. He had backbone, and a little of a true powerhouse's bearing.

Since his opponent was going all out, then he would grant him his wish!

Ao Yin gripped the Coiling Dragon Staff tightly with both hands, and his body suddenly soared into the air!

Bzz—!

The Coiling Dragon Staff in his hand expanded rapidly in the wind, instantly becoming twice as thick!

The Southern Bright Lihuo coiled around its surface blazed fiercely, flames shooting into the sky. Its might was several times greater than before!

"Power of Myriad Forms! Lin, Bing, Dou, Zhe, Jie, Zhen, Lie, Zai, Qian!"

As the nine-word mantra fell, the power within the staff exploded completely!

Wrapped in flames that could burn the heavens, the terrifying staff force that could crush all things came crashing down from above with a thunderous roar that tore through the air!

Firelight exploded in midair, like a fire dragon falling to earth!

On the ground, Dai Mubai, having activated White Tiger Vajra Transformation, did not dare relax in the slightest. He raised both arms with all his strength, his sharp tiger claws weaving rapidly!

Layers upon layers of white Soul Power formed into a massive net that protected the space above his head!

"White Tiger Body-Protecting Barrier stacked with White Tiger Vajra Transformation!! Hold it!!"

Bang—!!

Heaven and earth trembled!

The enormous fire-dragon staff smashed down upon the white curtain of light!

In just one breath!

The seemingly incomparably sturdy curtain of tiger power shattered, scattered, and vanished instantly like a spiderweb meeting blazing fire!

Terrifying, peerless force crushed down viciously!

Crack!!

The bluestone tiles beneath his feet cracked densely in an instant, and the entire floor collapsed with a boom!

Dai Mubai's entire body shook violently. His body trembled intensely, as though all his muscles and bones were about to be shattered.

Under that extreme pressure, even with both skills stacked and his physical body at its peak, he still could not hold on!

His legs gave out!

Boom!

Dai Mubai, the mighty level thirty-seven, three-ring battle Soul Elder and genius of Shrek Academy, finally could not endure any longer and crashed heavily to the ground!

"Finished. That's a wrap."

Ao Yin lightly clapped his hands and turned toward Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu's eyes lit up. She leaped forward and quickly threw herself into Ao Yin's arms.

"Big Brother Ao, that was amazing!!"

After speaking, Xiao Wu craned her head to look at Dai Mubai, who lay motionless at the bottom of the pit, and a trace of concern rose in her heart.

"Eh? Why isn't he moving? You didn't hit him too hard and injure him, did you?"

Hearing the word "injure," the two women who had come with Dai Mubai tensed up. They hurried to his side, their anxious voices on the verge of tears.

"Young Master Dai! Young Master Dai!"

The hotel owner, who had been trembling beneath the counter, also crawled out at this moment. Looking at the wrecked hall, he wailed in anguish.

"You two little ancestors! Look at this! A perfectly good establishment has been smashed into this state! These tables, chairs, and floor tiles—all of it costs money to repair!"

Cough, cough...

A weak coughing sound rang out.

Within the deep pit, Dai Mubai slowly regained consciousness.

Every muscle in his body throbbed with pain, and his legs were numb and weak. The slightest movement sent soreness rushing through his entire body.

"I... what just happened..."

"You lost."

Ao Yin walked up to Dai Mubai, crouched slightly, and calmly declared the result of the match.

"I lost..."

Dai Mubai muttered to himself, his emotions complicated.

As the leader of the Shrek Seven Monsters and a freak genius with some renown in Suotuo City, he had actually lost today to an unfamiliar young man. For a moment, he found it impossible to accept.

"A gentleman's word is his bond!" Ao Yin said with a smile as he looked at Dai Mubai.