Wang Xiao vs. Huo Yuhao

"Kid, why did you come back?"

"I told you long ago not to flatter yourself over so many things."

Wang Xiao remained expressionless and said nothing more, merely having him begin the match as usual.

Zhang Lexuan understood immediately and announced, "The Freshman Assessment finals: Class One's Huo Yuhao team versus Class Nine's Wang Xiao team. Contestants, please take the stage."

Huo Yuhao held his head high and strode onto the arena with a resolute expression.

"Who the hell are you trying to impress?"

Wufeng's face darkened, fury building in her heart. If Ning Tian had not stopped her earlier, she would have slapped him already.

She hated trash with only one ring the most. Their strength was laughably weak, yet they always put on an arrogant, confident front.

The two sides walked to the center of the arena and released their Martial Souls.

Seeing this, Zhang Lexuan called out, "I declare the match begin!"

"First Soul Skill, Spiritual Detection! Spiritual Sharing!"

The golden eye on Huo Yuhao's forehead shone, firing two streams of energy that merged into Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao.

With things having come to this, Wang Xiao had nothing to say. He formed hand seals.

With a hiss, arcs of electricity erupted across his body, crackling as dazzling lightning flared.

He would go all out and give his friends the greatest respect.

Wufeng had a fiery temper and never held back. She mocked, "You love acting so high and mighty, so I hope you don't cry when my flames burn you later!"

"Seven Treasures Have Names: first, Speed; second, Strength!" Ning Tian flicked her azure glazed pagoda, sending four rays of light into Wang Xiao and Wufeng.

She was merely gentle by nature, but as the young mistress of a great sect, how could she be easy to push around? She would never go soft on those who needed to be taught a lesson.

Whoosh!

The two sides clashed, Soul Skills colliding. Yesterday's friends had become today's opponents.

VIP stands

Mu Jin found Zhou Yi and provoked her, "The deans made a bet. Zhou Yi, do you dare make one with me too?"

"Hehe, why wouldn't I? How do you want to bet?" Zhou Yi saw through her intentions at once, but still agreed.

She believed in the strength of Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong'er, and Xiao Xiao. They would not disappoint her.

"A Soul Bone. We'll bet on which of the classes we lead wins this match. What do you say?" Mu Jin asked.

"Humiliating yourself."

Zhou Yi adjusted her glasses and sneered. "Mu Jin, I hope you have your Soul Bone ready."

"You're far too confident, Teacher Zhou. I hope you can afford to lose." Mu Jin laughed as she left.

She sneered inwardly. Once Wang Xiao won the championship, the Outstanding Teacher title this year would undoubtedly be hers. Then, every outstanding student would be taught by her.

Elsewhere

Yan Shaozhe watched the one-sided battle below and laughed. "Old Qian, the Huo Yuhao team you favored doesn't seem like much. Whether it's strength, Soul Power, or speed, they can't possibly surpass the enhancement of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."

Though he said that, he had actually acknowledged the strength of the two girls.

Wang Dong'er in particular could actually match that freak Wang Xiao. She was the first to ever manage it.

One had to know that Huang Chutian's Mighty Divine Ape Martial Soul possessed absolute strength, yet he had still lost to Wang Xiao in that regard.

That was enough to prove that Wang Dong'er was no weakling. She was definitely stronger than Huang Chutian.

"Old Qian, your eye for talent is passable. This Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao are indeed quite good. They have the potential to become core disciples."

Yan Shaozhe had developed an appreciation for talent. If Qian Duoduo wanted these two students, he was somewhat unwilling to give them up.

As for Huo Yuhao? He was merely a level-seventeen burden. Yan Shaozhe had never cared about him.

"Old Yan, don't worry. The person I want is definitely someone you'd never expect." Qian Duoduo's voice was full of confidence.

Yan Shaozhe only smiled without speaking. The prerequisite was that they had to win first.

On the arena

Wufeng faced Xiao Xiao. Both went all out and fought fiercely.

With the enhancement of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, Wufeng's strength rose dramatically. She was nearly invincible against any Soul Grandmaster.

Unfortunately, Xiao Xiao was a defense-type Soul Master. Three massive cauldrons circled her body, leaving Wufeng helpless.

Wang Xiao fought Wang Dong'er. He wanted to go all out without holding back as well, but when he thought about how they would be sharing a bed that night, he truly did not dare use any killing moves.

It was not that he would not hit women. He was mainly afraid she would take revenge while they slept.

Helpless, Wang Xiao could only use the Blue Silver Emperor for control first.

Finally, after an intense exchange, Wang Dong'er accidentally fell victim to a Blue Silver Emperor Seed. The Light Goddess Butterfly behind her was bound, leaving her unable to flap its wings or take flight.

"Good chance, Blue Silver Emperor Entanglement!"

Wang Xiao raised his hand, and more than ten golden vines shot forth like venomous snakes, climbing over Wang Dong'er's delicate body and binding her tightly.

"Bastard, what are you trying to do to me?!" Wang Dong'er cried out in embarrassed fury. She was suspended in midair by Blue Silver Grass, with both her hands and feet restrained.

The sight was far too humiliating.

"Hurry up and admit defeat, or I'll tickle the soles of your feet." Wang Xiao threatened as he walked forward, clutching a golden leaf in his hand.

But at that moment, a stabbing pain struck his forehead, as though someone had pressed a sharp weapon against it.

Huo Yuhao seized the moment when he had let down his guard and decisively launched a sneak attack.

"Soul Shock!"

A surge of spiritual energy shot out and pierced toward Wang Xiao's head.

Wang Xiao turned his head and was hit directly.

In an instant, scarlet ocular power burst from his eyes. His black pupils vanished, replaced by a nine-pointed floral pattern.

Bang!

Without any warning, Huo Yuhao rolled his eyes back and fainted on the spot.

On the roof, the old man who had been dozing suddenly opened his eyes.

He sat up, his cloudy gaze sweeping over Wang Xiao on the arena as his expression gradually turned cold.

"That's right. This icy aura contains evil power."

Within his sea of consciousness, Nine-Tails' voice sounded. "Kid, your mastery of Genjutsu is far too poor. Practice more later."

Wang Xiao had no mind to respond. His forehead throbbed violently, and his head buzzed as though he had been struck by a club.

The Soul Shock of a Million-Year Spirit Ring was indeed somewhat formidable.

But that was all. Even without Nine-Tails acting, it still could not cause him any substantial harm.

Wang Xiao had Nine-Tails backing him, while Sky Dream Ice Silkworm lived inside Huo Yuhao and could likewise help him break free of Genjutsu.

Before long, Huo Yuhao stood back up.

Ultimately, Genjutsu controlled opponents by disrupting the Soul Power or chakra within their bodies.

There were two kinds of people who could never fall victim to it.

The first were Jinchūriki. Like Huo Yuhao, who had Sky Dream Ice Silkworm living within him, as long as his Soul Power circulation remained stable, even the strongest Genjutsu could be dispelled.

The other kind possessed exceptionally strong control. Madara and Hashirama could never be caught by it.

"I'm done holding back."

Since he had already activated his Mangekyō, Wang Xiao did not want to waste his ocular power. He would end this quickly.

Ignoring Wang Dong'er, who had already broken free of her restraints, he stomped down hard and vanished with a whoosh, leaving only a flash of lightning behind.

"Xiao Xiao, please leave the arena."

A voice rang by Xiao Xiao's ear. As if facing a great enemy, she whirled around and controlled a massive cauldron to swing toward him.

Blue light lit Wang Xiao's palm as he slammed a Rasengan into the Soul-Calming Cauldron. With a bang, the cauldron was blasted away.

The next instant, he appeared behind Xiao Xiao, grabbed her by the collar, and flung the little girl out of the arena.

"Ah! Brother Wang, I can't fly!"

Xiao Xiao screamed in panic, flailing helplessly through the air.

Zhang Lexuan acted, catching her with Soul Power.

On the arena

After dealing with Xiao Xiao, Wang Xiao immediately charged at Huo Yuhao without pausing for even a second.

Wang Dong'er took flight, intending to support Huo Yuhao.

Whoosh!

A fiery-red figure soared into the air, fist wind carrying a vast blaze as it intercepted her.

Wufeng sneered. "You want to save someone? Did you ask me first?"

"Yuhao, you should leave too." Wang Xiao appeared before him and struck swiftly.

"Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track! Mysterious Jade Hand! Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon!"

Huo Yuhao used his movement technique to evade, but before the Mangekyō, every one of his movements was crystal clear.

Wang Xiao appeared in his only path forward and kicked him squarely in the rear.

With a bang, Huo Yuhao flew off the arena and was caught by Zhang Lexuan.

"I... I lost?" His pupils contracted, his face pale as he stared blankly at his hands, unable to believe it was real.

Meanwhile, only Wang Dong'er remained on the arena, one against three.

"Dong'er, admit defeat." Wang Xiao could not bear to attack her, so he could only force her to surrender this way.

"You win, all right?" Wang Dong'er conceded helplessly.

She huffed inwardly. Stinking man, you actually dared make me admit defeat. Just wait until tonight!

Zhang Lexuan stepped forward and announced, "Class One's Wang Dong'er has conceded. I declare Class Nine's Wang Xiao team the victors."