Xuan Zi Intervenes, Final Draw

Spectator stands.

Mu Jin and Zhou Yi also sensed Huo Yuhao's aura rapidly rising. In an instant, it had reached the level of a Soul Emperor and was still climbing. The cold he released swept across the entire Eighth Zone and even spread into other Assessment Zones, affecting the other students.

Snowflakes began to fall from the sky. The walls of the Assessment Zone and the spectator seats were covered in a layer of frost. The temperature plummeted, and everyone felt a bone-piercing chill.

The older students in the stands all focused their gazes on Huo Yuhao. They used their own Soul Power to resist the cold while discussing among themselves.

"Hiss... What is that one-ring kid doing? Why is it so cold?"

"Looks like he's about to use a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with that little pretty boy. He wants to go all out against that monster."

"This is ridiculous. The match hasn't even been going for a minute, and they're already using their ultimate move."

"Can they not? That monster is so strong that even we aren't his match, much less two freshmen."

"Should we move farther away so we don't get caught in the crossfire?"

"Good point."

Some students sitting closer to the arena hurriedly began shifting their seats, moving to the back to avoid being caught in the Martial Soul Fusion Skill later.

A figure appeared behind Zhou Yi. He had an aged face and wore ragged clothes, looking utterly unkempt. He held a wine gourd in his hand, and the scent of alcohol wafted from him. He looked like a beggar by the roadside, the sort of person others would not even spare a second glance.

The old beggar's arrival caught Fan Yu's attention. He quickly reminded Zhou Yi, who was intently watching the match.

"Elder Xuan is here."

Hearing that Xuan Zi had arrived, Zhou Yi snapped back to her senses. She turned and bowed respectfully to him.

"Elder Xuan."

Seeing Xuan Zi's arrival, Mu Jin also respectfully saluted him and greeted him, "Elder Xuan."

Xuan Zi ignored Mu Jin completely. He merely nodded to Zhou Yi, his gaze settling on the arena as he spoke calmly. "This match will probably be difficult to end cleanly."

"Please trouble Elder Xuan to intervene later."

Hearing this, Zhou Yi asked Xuan Zi to act. She could already tell that the Martial Soul Fusion Skill Huo Yuhao was using would likely be extremely powerful. It would naturally be good if he could defeat that Gu Shengge, but if he struck too heavily and crippled him, he might be expelled from the academy. That was not something she wanted to see.

Xuan Zi picked up a chicken leg, nodded, and began gnawing on it. Yet his gaze never left the arena—not precisely. It never left Huo Yuhao.

As for Gu Shengge, although those three hundred-thousand-year Soul Rings were indeed intimidating, he had already learned from Yan Shaozhe how those Soul Rings had come about.

Using some method, the energy of hundred-thousand-year Soul Rings had been sealed and suppressed to a suitable level for a soul master to absorb. Only as the soul master's cultivation rose would the Soul Ring energy gradually be released. It truly was a remarkable method.

Based on what a Soul Elder could withstand from a Soul Ring, that kid's Soul Rings should be equivalent to thousand-year Soul Rings.

Xuan Zi did not believe Gu Shengge could withstand Huo Yuhao's Martial Soul Fusion Skill.

From his senses, the energy fluctuations produced by Huo Yuhao's Martial Soul Fusion Skill were already infinitely close to those of a Soul Sage.

On the arena, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm controlled Huo Yuhao's body and slowly raised an arm, extending one finger. A stream of icy-blue energy gathered there, dyeing even his fingertip icy blue.

At the same time, Gu Shengge's aura changed, becoming deeper and more majestic. The Creator God's Rune on his brow transformed into the Angel God Rune. His platinum eyes shifted into dazzling golden ones, and eight angel wings unfurled behind his back. Endless power of light spilled forth, scorching beyond measure. The formerly freezing temperature abruptly rose, and the ice and snow melted away.

Qian Renxue took control of Gu Shengge's body, her perception of the outside world becoming even clearer.

In an instant, her divine sense swept across Shrek Academy and noticed a Rank 98 Super Douluo on the spectator platform above.

It seems I cannot use too much power.

Qian Renxue silently thought to herself. If she used too much power, it would inevitably attract too much attention. She could not cause trouble for her master.

Sensing that the energy fluctuations of the person opposite had stalled at the peak of Soul Emperor and could not reach Soul Sage, Qian Renxue made her decision.

"Hehe~ Brother will claim this victory!"

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm pointed forward with his index finger. An icy-blue beam immediately shot from his fingertip, flashing through the air. Wherever it passed, it froze into a narrow path of ice. Its frigid aura was shocking as it shot straight toward Gu Shengge!

As the ice beam came rushing over, Qian Renxue's first Soul Ring lit up with an eerie glow, crimson as blood. Countless wisps of platinum Lie Yans rose around her, incomparably brilliant. Within their blazing heat was holy light capable of purifying everything in the world. Wherever the Lie Yans passed, filth, dust, and bacteria were cleansed completely, leaving behind a space of absolute purity.

"First Soul Skill—Pure World Holy Flame."

She gently raised her hand, gathering endless Pure World Holy Flame at her fingertip and condensing it into a spark. With a light tap of her finger forward, the Pure World Holy Flame likewise transformed into a white beam and shot toward Huo Yuhao.

The students and teachers watching nearby could not help holding their breath, staring fixedly at the arena for fear of missing even the slightest detail.

Just as the Pure World Holy Flame and the ice beam were about to collide, a thoroughly gnawed chicken bone suddenly fell from the sky. A uniquely strange devouring Soul Power lingered around it, and it landed directly between the two attacks.

That devouring Soul Power abruptly erupted, absorbing and annihilating both attacks, preventing the immense force generated by their collision from destroying the Assessment Zone.

This also made the students and teachers breathe a sigh of relief. They could all sense the tremendous power contained within the two attacks. If they had collided and caused an energy explosion, they would likely have been injured as well.

When Qian Renxue and Sky Dream Ice Silkworm saw their attacks absorbed by a chicken bone—and that the bone remained completely unscathed—they knew that the Rank 98 Super Douluo had acted.

"Yuhao, an expert has arrived. Brother is leaving first."

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm feared that Xuan Zi would discover him, so he decisively returned control of the body to Huo Yuhao and quickly hid himself away.

Qian Renxue frowned slightly. She had not expected that mysterious expert to intervene so suddenly. If she acted again, it might cause unnecessary trouble.

"Master, an academy teacher has interfered. I'll return the body to you for now."

Qian Renxue also returned the body to Gu Shengge.

Gu Shengge regained control of his body. Looking at the chicken bone that had fallen into the center of the arena, his gaze sharpened. He had roughly guessed who it was.

"Let this match be a draw."

Then, an aged and lazy voice rang out from the spectator platform, directly declaring the result of the match over the assessment teacher's head.

Hearing that it was a draw, Huo Yuhao exchanged a glance with Wang Dong, and both revealed delighted expressions.

Gu Shengge raised his eyes toward the spectator platform and saw a scruffy old man reclining in a chair, a wine gourd in his hand. It was indeed him.

Taotie Douluo, Xuan Zi.

A draw? Draw my ass! I don't accept it!

PS: I don't know why, but I had no passion while writing this. It feels too bland, and the more I write, the less interesting it becomes.