Battle Against Dai Huabin

"I... lost?"

Huo Yuhao dropped onto the ground, staring blankly at the images of Class Nine's three members on the big screen.

His eyes drifted, and his spirits plummeted. He had truly lost. He would no longer have the chance to avenge his mother!

The result struck the back of Huo Yuhao's head like a heavy blow, leaving his mind completely blank.

Having lost the match, how could he defeat Dai Huabin? How could he avenge his deceased mother?

At a loss, Huo Yuhao sat stupidly on the ground, his eyes devoid of light.

A surge of regret exploded within his heart.

It was as though a voice was speaking beside his ear.

It was all your own fault. You were far too arrogant.

If you had agreed to Wang Xiao's request back then, would things have turned out differently?

"No, it shouldn't have been like this..."

At that moment, Huo Yuhao regretted it. He had originally had the opportunity to face Dai Huabin, but he had buried it with his own hands.

Absorbing the Million-Year Spirit Ring had caused fluctuations in his mindset.

Ever since entering Shrek, everything had gone too smoothly for him. He had broken through to seventeen ranks of Soul Power in three months, then caught the attention of the Soul Guidance Department. He had gradually lost himself.

Only after losing the match did he awaken to the truth: he was still the same Huo Yuhao. He was no cultivation genius, merely an ordinary talent relying on those around him.

Without the Mysterious Water Pill Xiaoya had won for him, he could not have broken through to rank thirteen.

Without the compensatory Soul Ascension Pill Wang Xiao had extorted for him, he could not have reached rank seventeen either.

"If I cultivated at my own pace, I could never have broken through to rank seventeen."

Huo Yuhao was dazed, on the verge of breaking down inside.

He really was just useless. He could not change anything at all.

Sensing his collapsing mentality, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm hurriedly comforted him. "Little Yuhao, don't lose heart. I told you long ago that once you reach rank twenty, I'll give you a gift."

"When that time comes, your talent will surpass every genius and astonish everyone."

"Brother Sky Dream, really?"

A light rekindled in Huo Yuhao's heart.

He could not believe it. Could he truly change everything and become the genius people spoke of?

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm promised, "When has Brother Sky Dream ever lied to you? But before that, you need to help me get in touch with Wang Xiao. We need this young man's help."

Meanwhile,

Inside the competition area's lounge,

After the match ended, Wang Xiao, Ning Tian, and Wufeng immediately returned to the lounge to meditate and recover their Soul Power.

That afternoon, they would face Dai Huabin's team. Time was tight.

Even though it was the final match, Wang Xiao did not dare let his guard down.

"I haven't developed my second Martial Soul yet. All my offensive methods rely on ninjutsu."

"If my chakra is exhausted, I'll only be able to use Soul Power."

Wang Xiao knew that in this kind of Soul Power levitation match, even the Blue Silver Emperor could no longer play much of a role.

He asked Mu Jin for food. He needed to replenish his energy now.

Before long, Mu Jin pushed in a cart full of food.

"You three, don't rush. Eat something first. Just do your best."

She felt that this would be difficult.

By the time the match ended, it was already close to noon. The afternoon match would begin soon, leaving them at most three hours to rest.

Wufeng was all right, but Ning Tian had consumed the most Soul Power due to supporting the others. She simply did not have enough time to recover it.

Thinking of this, Wang Xiao decisively activated his first soul skill, condensing small golden-green trees for the two of them to absorb and restore their Soul Power.

Ning Tian froze. "If you give them to us, what about you?"

"Absorb them yourself. Don't worry about us," Wufeng refused, her heart faintly stirred.

After fighting together for so many days, they had long regarded Wang Xiao as a companion.

Ning Tian had already decided that, once the competition ended, she would recommend Wang Xiao to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

With his strength, once he matured, he could marry an outstanding female disciple with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and create a fine tale.

Gnawing on a chicken leg and drinking deeply, Wang Xiao said, "I have plenty of Soul Power, so don't worry. If you two don't recover, it'll be hard to win this afternoon's battle."

Although activating his first soul skill had consumed seventy percent of his Soul Power, his current fighting style did not rely much on Soul Power. It was better to let the two of them use it to recover.

"Dai Huabin's team has the lineup closest to perfection. Though I don't want to crush your confidence, support types are better suited for seven-person team battles."

Mu Jin hoped the three would not place too much hope on winning. If they could not take the championship, second place would do.

To her, defeating Zhou Yi was already the greatest joy.

That woman had suppressed her for so many years. Today, she had finally vented her resentment.

Ning Tian herself knew that support types were at a disadvantage in three-person battles. Being short one combatant was fatal.

When their strength overwhelmingly surpassed their opponents', it was barely noticeable. But against foes whose Soul Power exceeded theirs, that gap became deadly.

"Young Mistress, rest assured. I'll do everything I can to protect you," Wufeng said firmly.

Wang Xiao smiled. "Don't be so pessimistic. We aren't without a chance. Maybe I can hold Dai Huabin back."

"But what if they have a Martial Soul Fusion Skill?" Ning Tian asked worriedly.

Mu Jin spoke gravely. "Indeed. If Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu have learned a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, then we have almost no chance of winning."

"The Dai Family's Hell White Tiger is one of the continent's strongest Martial Soul Fusion Skills. It possesses the power and defense of the Evil-Eyed White Tiger, combined with the speed of the Hell Spirit Cat. You can't stop such a fusion."

Ning Tian and Wufeng fell silent, suddenly feeling immense pressure.

Wang Xiao pondered. Perhaps Susanoo could overpower the Hell White Tiger.

Mu Jin told them not to put too much pressure on themselves. "You don't necessarily have to fight for the championship. Little Wang, even if you draw with Dai Huabin, the Hell White Tiger's overall strength has already reached the standard of a Soul Ancestor."

"In other words, you need the strength of a Soul Ancestor to have a chance at defeating the Hell White Tiger."

"Teacher, then we won't give them the chance to use their Martial Soul Fusion Skill," Wufeng said.

Mu Jin shook her head. "The idea is good, but you only have two combatants. They have a power attack type, an agility attack type, and a control type. You have almost no chance."

"Indeed. We probably won't even be able to withstand Dai Huabin, a power attack Soul Elder," Ning Tian sighed.

Wang Xiao felt that his physical strength might not necessarily be weaker than that of a Soul Elder.

"How about this? Later, I'll take on two of them alone. Wufeng, you eliminate Zhu Lu as quickly as possible."

The two were instantly shocked and stared at Wang Xiao in disbelief.

"Little Wang, don't act recklessly. You'll be seriously injured," Mu Jin objected.

Wang Xiao smiled. "Don't worry. I'm confident."

Mu Jin sighed inwardly. If they did this, the pressure on Wang Xiao would be enormous.

"All right. Rest first."

The three meditated and began recovering their Soul Power.

Time passed quickly. At around two in the afternoon, the final match began.

Wang Xiao checked his condition. His Soul Power had only recovered to fifty percent, but fortunately, Ning Tian and Wufeng were nearly fully recovered.

The three entered the arena and arrived at the center of the stage.

Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, and their teammate stood opposite them.

"I really didn't expect that the one who made it to the end would be you, a Blue Silver Grass user." Dai Huabin yawned, looking as though he had not woken up yet.

His posture was lazy as he stretched, as though he did not take the match seriously at all.

Zhu Lu yawned as well, completely without pressure.

To the three of them, whether it was Huo Yuhao's team or Wang Xiao's team, there was essentially no difference.

They were merely a rabble.

No matter which team fought its way here, wouldn't Dai Huabin's team still win in the end?

Seeing that all six were present, Zhang Lexuan announced, "The final match of the freshmen assessment will be Wang Xiao's team against Dai Huabin's team. I declare that the match begins now!"