All-Out Firepower, Overwhelming Victory

Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy's spectator area.

"Is she a Soul Saint, or does she have an Ultimate Martial Soul?" Elder Ma said in shock, then shook his head. "It's over. It looks like defeating Shrek this time is impossible."

The team members beside him all fell silent.

On the competition stage.

The instant Ma Xiaotao's seven Soul Rings rose,

the expressions of the seven members from Star Luo Imperial Academy changed.

Xu Jiujiu stood in the center of her team. Her previously calm gaze abruptly darkened the moment she saw those seven Soul Rings—two yellow, two purple, three black. A standard Soul Saint configuration. Moreover, the light flowing over those Soul Rings was far denser than that of Soul Masters at the same level. What made her heart tighten even more was the aura radiating from Ma Xiaotao. It was not ordinary fire-type soul power, but a pure, ultimate fire so blazing it seemed capable of devouring everything.

Ultimate Fire.

Xu Jiujiu clenched the scepter in her hand and said quietly to her teammates, "Don't confront her head-on. She's a Soul Saint, but we have the numbers. Work together, hold her back, and wear her down."

Her teammates nodded, but none of them had much color in their faces.

The seven members of Star Luo Imperial Academy spread out in a fan formation. Two defense-type Soul Masters stood at the very front, thick earth-yellow soul power condensing into two translucent shield walls before them.

Xu Jiujiu stood behind them with her scepter raised high. A circle of pale golden light spread out from her body. It was an auxiliary skill of her Star Crown Martial Soul, capable of restoring soul power and enhancing her teammates' spiritual power. The other four circled around from both sides, attempting to find an opening along Shrek's flanks.

The tactical plan was clear, and their execution was not bad. Against any ordinary team, this would have been a strategy capable of gaining the upper hand.

But Ma Xiaotao gave them no time to settle into position.

She took a step forward.

The moment her foot landed, the tiles across the entire competition stage let out a deep hum. Crimson flames erupted beneath her feet, like a volcano suddenly bursting from beneath a tranquil lake.

The flames were far deeper in color than ordinary fire-type soul power, carrying an almost incandescent heat as they swept in every direction.

The moment the two earth-yellow shield walls touched the edge of the crimson flames, they began to sizzle. The dense soul power rapidly evaporated under the heat, and the glow on the shield walls visibly dimmed.

"We can't hold it!" one of the defense Soul Masters at the front shouted through gritted teeth. His soul power shield was already smoking.

Xu Jiujiu reacted swiftly, pointing her scepter forward. "Spread out! Don't take it head-on."

But before she could finish speaking, Ma Xiaotao had already charged in.

She was too fast. Her flame-wreathed figure streaked across the competition stage, leaving behind a crimson trail.

"Fifth Soul Skill, Cloud-Piercing Phoenix Strike."

Ma Xiaotao's voice came from within the flames, carrying a hint of excited laughter.

Ma Xiaotao spread her Phoenix Wings and flew into the sky. A black Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring lit up beneath her feet, and the crimson flames surrounding her swelled violently as if some catalyst had been poured into them.

After charging for three seconds, Ma Xiaotao unleashed a massive pillar of fire toward the ground. Flames erupted across a huge area, burning and suppressing the clustered enemies below.

Protected by her teammates, Xu Jiujiu retreated again and again. Her scepter moved so fast it was nearly impossible to see its afterimages as pale golden shields continuously appeared before her.

The members of Star Luo Imperial Academy struggled to maintain their formation within the sea of flames. Burn marks had already appeared on some of them. Others had been forced to the edge of the stage, barely keeping their balance with both feet planted on the rim.

Xu Jiujiu knew she could not delay any longer. Gritting her teeth, she slammed her scepter into the ground and called out, "Everyone, gather."

Her six teammates immediately converged on her. Some still had sparks and scorch marks on their bodies, while a small patch of hair had been singed from others, but none of them hesitated.

The seven regrouped in one corner of the competition stage, rapidly contracting into a tight defensive formation centered on Xu Jiujiu.

Xu Jiujiu's sixth Soul Ring lit up.

In that instant, her soul power surged dramatically. The scepter in her hand seemed to transform into solid starlight as she raised it high. Pale golden light poured from her body, enveloping the six teammates around her and healing their small wounds and burns at a visible rate.

That was her trump card: the sixth Soul Skill of the Star Crown Martial Soul, Starshine Protection.

For a short time, it greatly increased the defense and recovery speed of all her teammates. The price was that her own soul power would be completely depleted after three minutes. If they could not turn the battle around within those three minutes, Star Luo Imperial Academy would have no chance left.

Meanwhile, the others from Shrek were simply watching after activating their Martial Souls.

Before they had even taken the stage, Ma Xiaotao had said she wanted to take on all seven alone and asked them to hold the line from the side. So none of them made a move, quietly watching as Ma Xiaotao displayed her might.

Ma Xiaotao hovered above the arena and looked at the cluster of golden light opposite her. The corner of her lips curled up. The next strike will finish you.

"Seventh Soul Skill, Phoenix Avatar."

"Sixth Soul Skill, Phoenix Meteor Shower."

Ma Xiaotao directly activated her Martial Soul avatar, completely transforming into a giant black phoenix. All her attributes surged as countless burning fire meteors descended from the sky, a massive area-of-effect attack with broad coverage and continuous burning.

Even the protective barrier mounted atop the one hundred and eight metal pillars around the competition stage let out a muffled boom, as though something had struck it from within.

Xu Jiujiu closed her eyes.

Starshine Protection held against that golden phoenix for two breaths before shattering.

The fractured golden light scattered through the air like glass shards blown away by the wind. The seven members of Star Luo Imperial Academy were driven backward by the shockwave. Some fell off the competition stage, while others barely avoided tumbling down only because their teammates grabbed their arms.

Xu Jiujiu knelt on one knee on the stage, using her scepter to support herself. Her face was as white as paper, sweat streaming down from her temples.

A hand wrapped in flames extended before her.

Ma Xiaotao stood in front of her. Most of the flames around her body had already receded, revealing her youthful face. She looked at Xu Jiujiu and smiled. There was less arrogance in her tone now, replaced by sincere respect.

"You're strong. For a Soul Emperor to use the Star Crown to this extent... I definitely wouldn't have been able to beat you two years ago."

Xu Jiujiu looked up at the outstretched hand. After two seconds of silence, she reached out and took it. Ma Xiaotao pulled her to her feet with a tug.

The figure of the referee, Heavenly Fiend Douluo, reappeared at the center of the competition stage.

His gaze swept across the stage, confirming that the six Star Luo students below had left the combat area. Only Shrek's seven members and Xu Jiujiu remained standing on the stage.

"Victory goes to Shrek Academy."

The stands erupted once more. The roar was fiercer than ever, as if the ground of the entire Star Luo Square were trembling with it. Flags waved wildly through the crowd. Some people cried, some laughed, and some kept shouting even after their voices had gone hoarse.

Ma Xiaotao stood in the center of the competition stage, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and waved toward the spectators. Her gaze passed over the surging sea of heads and landed on a white-robed figure in the stands.

Yan Jingzhe sat there with a smile at the corner of his lips, applauding along with everyone around him.

Ma Xiaotao's delicate face broke into a smile. Then she turned and led her teammates off the stage.

Behind them rang the cheers of the entire square.