Huo Yuhao's First Merciless Strike!

As Yan Shaozhe slowly descended onto the referee's platform, the boisterous crowd instantly fell silent. Some people scarcely dared to breathe!

Seeing the effect of his entrance, Yan Shaozhe nodded in satisfaction. It seemed his prestige was still considerable. After clearing his throat twice, he spoke. "Hello, freshmen!"

"I am Yan Shaozhe, dean of Shrek Academy's Inner Court. You may call me Dean Yan. Today is the final match of the Freshman Assessment, and I will bear witness to see who claims the championship."

"And for today's match, friendship comes first, competition second. Contestants, show your strength and talent without reservation!"

As soon as Yan Shaozhe finished speaking, thunderous cheers erupted across the arena. Once the atmosphere had been sufficiently stirred up, Yan Shaozhe glanced at the referee beside him. Understanding his meaning, the referee immediately shouted, "Begin!"

The moment his voice fell, Wang Dong shot forward. His Winged Guillotine unfolded and slashed fiercely toward Zhu Yu. One yellow and one purple Soul Ring flashed around him. Zhu Yu refused to yield, her two yellow Soul Rings lighting up as dark-energy claws condensed over her hands.

The guillotine collided with the claws, sending sparks flying. Meanwhile, Cui Yahao unleashed his Martial Soul. A pair of fox ears appeared atop his head, while a plump fox tail grew from behind him.

"First Soul Skill! Enchantment!"

Pink streams of light rose around Cui Yahao. Xiao Xiao, who had been watching him, was immediately affected and stood there in a daze. Noticing this, Huo Yuhao frowned and unleashed a Mental Shock, shattering Cui Yahao's Enchantment.

"Ugh! How is that possible?" Cui Yahao was startled. His Enchantment had been interrupted. Xiao Xiao also snapped out of it. Seeing Cui Yahao's stunned expression, she immediately controlled the Soul-Calming Cauldron and smashed it toward him!

With his spiritual control skill rendered useless, Cui Yahao could only use an offensive soul skill.

"Second Soul Skill! Fox-Tail Needles!"

The fur on Cui Yahao's fox tail instantly stood on end and shot outward like steel needles. A dense rain of sharp needles descended upon Xiao Xiao.

Facing the incoming needle rain, Xiao Xiao split the Soul-Calming Cauldron apart, forming a shield above her head. The needles struck the cauldron with a constant clattering sound.

With Dai Huabin's two teammates tied down, Huo Yuhao immediately summoned the Human Emperor Sword. He stared coldly at Dai Huabin, who looked back at him with equal calm.

"Hmph! It seems you're the only one here qualified to fight me." Dai Huabin had watched Huo Yuhao's previous performances. A one-ring Soul Master with the strength of a Soul Elder!

Huo Yuhao ignored Dai Huabin. His eyes held only the desire to kill the man before him. He lunged forward in a single step, his figure becoming blurry. Alarm bells rang in Dai Huabin's mind as he instantly possessed his Martial Soul.

His body expanded, black fur emerging across its surface and giving him the traits of a tiger. An imposing king character formed from black fur also appeared on his forehead!

"You're courting death!" As if he had predicted Huo Yuhao's movement, Dai Huabin slammed a tiger paw down before him. The tremendous force tore through the air, as though it would smash Huo Yuhao to pieces.

Huo Yuhao did not dodge the incoming tiger claw. He slashed with his sword, and the two forces collided, sending shockwaves spreading outward. Seeing that he was somewhat weaker than Dai Huabin in raw strength, he improvised and redirected the tiger claw off course.

He then thrust his sword at Dai Huabin's throat. However, Dai Huabin had long been prepared. His first Soul Ring lit up, and a golden protective barrier appeared around his body, easily blocking Huo Yuhao's thrust.

"First Soul Skill! White Tiger Protective Shield!" His defense instantly surged. Then, tiger claws swept toward Huo Yuhao one after another. Huo Yuhao remained unruffled; under Spiritual Detection, Dai Huabin's every next move was crystal clear.

Every attack was easily deflected by Huo Yuhao's sword techniques. Tiger palms and sword strikes tore through the air, and even the air itself seemed to be ripped apart by their clashing moves.

Damn it, this can't continue. We'll only remain deadlocked. Zhu Yu and Cui Yahao aren't Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao's match. I need to finish this quickly! With that thought, Dai Huabin stopped engaging Huo Yuhao in close combat.

He directly slashed out with a tiger claw, and Huo Yuhao raised his sword to meet it. At that moment, Dai Huabin's leg suddenly lashed out. Caught off guard by his abrupt change of move, Huo Yuhao had no time to react.

He could only forcefully block with his arm. The kick sent him flying into the air, and Dai Huabin immediately opened his mouth as his second Soul Ring lit up.

"Second Soul Skill! White Tiger Cleaving Light Wave!"

A white beam blasted out, roaring fiercely toward Huo Yuhao in midair, intending to finish him off. However, Huo Yuhao was not so easily defeated. He steadied himself and swung out a streak of sword qi, which collided violently with the White Tiger Cleaving Light Wave.

The violent explosion sent Huo Yuhao hurtling downward, accelerating his descent. Then he slashed out three streaks of sword qi. One must return the favor!

Seeing Huo Yuhao's counterattack, Dai Huabin showed no fear. He stood his ground and took the attacks head-on. With the White Tiger Protective Shield, he easily blocked them, ripples spreading across the barrier as the sword qi struck it.

"It seems ordinary sword qi can no longer hurt him."

Huo Yuhao restrained his aura as Soul Power began circulating through his Heavenly Cycle. He prepared to use another technique. The sword intent around him suddenly surged, and he charged toward Dai Huabin like an unsheathed blade.

Sensing Huo Yuhao's change, Dai Huabin's expression grew solemn. He instantly fired a White Tiger Cleaving Light Wave. The white orb flew toward Huo Yuhao, only to be split diagonally in two by Wind-Swept Cold River!

After arriving before Dai Huabin, Huo Yuhao completed the diagonal slash and instantly thrust straight ahead. Dai Huabin was startled by the sudden change, but he remained utterly fearless and swung his tiger claw in counterattack.

Seeing that the thrust of Startling Wind Through the Forest had failed, Huo Yuhao immediately poured Soul Power into his blade and swept it horizontally. The sword qi forcibly drove Dai Huabin back, causing his attack to miss while he endured the sword qi's damage.

"Kid, don't get too cocky!" Dai Huabin roared in fury. As the son of the White Tiger Duke, he had actually been forced back by a brat with a white Soul Ring. How could he face anyone after this?

Yet in the next instant, Huo Yuhao rapidly wielded the Human Emperor Sword. Slash! Thrust! Cut! Lift! The four moves flowed together in rapid succession, leaving Dai Huabin able to do nothing but swing his tiger claws to meet them.

As Huo Yuhao unleashed more and more sword techniques, sword winds gradually formed around the blade, preventing Dai Huabin from widening the distance between them.

After nearly dozens of exchanges, Dai Huabin found himself growing increasingly strained, while Huo Yuhao fought with ever greater momentum. The sword winds even condensed into sword qi, attacking Dai Huabin from the side.

Being led around like this made Dai Huabin, the duke's son, feel deeply humiliated. Moreover, maintaining the White Tiger Protective Shield was steadily draining his Soul Power.

"Damn it! You brat, you really don't take me seriously!" Dai Huabin roared as his third Soul Ring lit up.

"Third Soul Skill! White Tiger Vajra Transformation!"

In the next moment, Dai Huabin's body continued to expand, growing a full head taller than before. His attack power surged tremendously as his enormous tiger claw swung fiercely at Huo Yuhao.

However, Huo Yuhao had already finished gathering power in his sword techniques. That was right—he was using the Gale Swift Sword from The Smiling, Proud Wanderer!

He had now reached the final three killing moves!