Huo Lei Versus Shrek, One Against Seven (Part 1)
Yu Xiaogang looked at everyone with a serious expression. "I didn't expect to draw Blazing Fire Academy so early. Their Soul King is quite troublesome. He will definitely participate in the battle this time, but I don't know where he's ranked. Even so, I don't know how to arrange things for you all right now. Xiao San, tell me your thoughts."
Tang San pondered for a moment before speaking, "First of all, I want to declare that as members of the Shrek Academy, we will absolutely not back down, but will rise to the challenge. This is also a good opportunity for training; if we plan properly, it is still possible to defeat Huo Lei."
"Next, I'll talk about my thoughts on the order of appearance for the match. Dai Mubai will be the first to go. As long as the opponent isn't Huo Lei or Huo Wu, we should be able to win the first round. Next, Jing Ling, Huang Yuan, Tai Long, Zhu Zhuqing, and Xiao Wu will try to wear down the opponent as much as possible. I'll be last. Even if the opponent is Huo Lei, with our multiple team members wearing him down, I'll be very confident of defeating him."
Ma Hongjun looked at Tang San and asked, "Third Brother, why aren't you arranging for me to play?"
Tang San forced a smile. "Fatty, you're also fire-attribute, so you can't counter them. Besides, you haven't appeared before, so let's keep some mystery. If someone gets seriously injured during the battle against the Blazing Fire Academy, we'll have someone to use in the next match."
"I agree with the Xiao San's arrangement," Dai Mubai echoed.
Tyrone said with a simple-minded look, "I agree too."
Everyone nodded in agreement with Tang San's idea.
Yu Xiaogang nodded slightly. "Since everyone agrees, let's go with the lineup Xiao San suggested. Everyone go back and get some rest, so we can be in good spirits and try to win a few more matches against the Blazing Fire Academy tomorrow."
Nothing more was said that night.
The Promotion Round are much faster-paced than the Preliminary Round. There are no ordinary spectators watching; all that matters is the result. Without the tedious process and the noise of the audience, it's easier for Soul Master to unleash their full potential.
The match between the Blazing Fire Academy and Shrek Academy was the fifth to take the stage. The previous four matches included a game between the Godwind Academy and Thunderclap Academy, which Huo Lei and Thunder Academy watched very attentively.
Besides observing the other three elemental academies, Huo Lei also noticed two strong teams: the Plant Academy and the Silas Academy.
Silas Academy has three students above level 40, making them roughly equal in strength to the other three elemental academies. As for the Plant Academy's participants, all possess plant-based Martial Soul, and like Skywater Academy, they are all female. It's worth noting that they have only had three members participate since the start of the competition.
Of course, this was also because they hadn't encountered any powerful opponents. Although their team members were all Soul Elder in their thirties, they were all Control System, and they didn't suffer any losses when facing opponents above level forty. The Plant Academy only fielded three Soul Masters, yet they achieved two consecutive victories in the matches that had already concluded.
"This Plant Academy is quite interesting. It keeps a low profile and seems to be a very independent and unassuming academy. In the later parts of the original story, they didn't participate in the empire's battles either." Huo Lei thought to himself with a touch of fascination.
As time went by, it was finally the turn of the Blazing Fire Academy and Shrek Academy to make their appearance.
When Huo Lei, representing the Blazing Fire Academy, was the first to enter, the Shrek Academy team members immediately showed expressions of astonishment.
Dai Mubai was the first to appear from the Shrek Academy.
As Huo Lei appeared on the competition field for the first time, Tang San and Yu Xiaogang's faces were instantly filled with worry.
"I didn't expect Huo Lei to be the first to appear. This is going to be a problem for Boss Dai." Tang San punched the railing of the stands.
Yu Xiaogang comforted him, "Whoever encounters the Huo Lei first won't fare well. Besides, the competition rules state that the order of appearance cannot be changed once submitted. Mu Bai is Four-Ring Soul Ancestor, after all; even if he loses, he won't be seriously injured. Don't worry."
Dai Mubai stood Huo Lei, his expression grave. He had assumed that Huo Wushuang, who had won three consecutive victories yesterday, would be the first to appear, and he was prepared to fight Huo Wushuang.
But what appeared before him was Huo Lei, who had left a deep impression on him.
Huo Lei remained calm, even with a slight smile on his lips, just as he always did when facing any opponent.
"The match begins," the referee's voice rang out.
Almost simultaneously, the two completed the process of releasing their Martial Soul. Huo Lei raised his right hand in front of him, and golden-red Flame rose from his palm, leaping merrily and radiating intense heat. Five Soul Ring swirled around his body, exuding Soul Power pressure that made people's hearts tremble.
The teams of Soul Master from the kingdom and duchy were all stunned when they saw the five dazzling Soul Ring on Huo Lei's body.
The other students from the Three Elements Academy also focused their attention on the competition venue, because Huo Lei had only used his skills once in the Preliminary Round, against the Shrek Academy, and that was with Lightning. This time, they all wanted to see what Huo Lei's Flame Martial Soul Skill was and how powerful it was.
Huo Lei's First Soul Ring lit up, and with a wave of his right hand, fireballs attacked Dai Mubai.
"First Soul Skill, Fireball Barrage!"
Dai Mubai dared not be negligent, and his Second Soul Ring lit up.
"Second Soul Skill, White Tiger Fierce Light Wave!"
A beam of light shot from Dai Mubai's mouth, shattering all the oncoming fireballs.
After Dai Mubai broke through the Huo Lei attack, he immediately activated his third Soul Skill, and a purple Soul Ring instantly appeared from his body.
"White Tiger - Vajra - Transformation!"
Dai Mubai's height increased instantly, and his body became stronger. Five sharp tiger claws shot out from his hands, and his aura suddenly surged. He then charged towards Huo Lei.
Huo Lei's lips curled slightly upwards, "Second Soul Skill, Flame Ring Bind!"
A ring of fire, formed from Flame, encircled Dai Mubai.
The ring of fire rapidly shrank in mid-air, and when it encircled Dai Mubai, its diameter contracted even further, effectively binding him.
Dai Mubai scoffed, "Trying to trap me with your second Soul Skill? How laughable. Break free!"
His aura surged once more, causing the fire ring to shatter and sparks to fly everywhere.
With blood trickling from his mouth, Dai Mubai roared, "Even if I can't beat you, I'll make you pay!"
"Fourth Soul Skill, White Tiger Meteor Shower!"
Dai Mubai's right fist Huo Lei, and countless golden rays burst forth like a meteor shower.
"Hmph! At the end of its rope. Fourth Soul Skill, Lava Armor!" Huo Lei scoffed.
In an instant, Huo Lei's body was covered with a layer of red armor. The armor was like a red-hot iron block, made up of a single piece of continuous lines, with Flame rising from it, radiating a scorching heat.
Dai Mubai's fourth Soul Skill struck Huo Lei, but caused no damage, only knocking him back a step.
"Let's see how much Soul Power you have left! Flame Ring Bind!"
A Flame halo once again enveloped Dai Mubai.
At the same time, Huo Lei also started moving, channeling his Soul Power to rush towards Dai Mubai.
Dai Mubai was once again bound by the fire ring. Just as he was struggling to break free, Huo Lei's fist arrived. The Flame right fist struck him hard, Dai Mubai flying several meters away. He crashed to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood and fainting.
The battle lasted very briefly, less than a minute, before Dai Mubai, a Soul Ancestor level cultivator, was knocked unconscious.