Even More Terrifying Than Shrek

"Sixth Soul Skill, Phoenix Meteor Shower!"

Ma Xiaotao spread the wings on her back to their fullest. Boosted by her second and third soul skills, Phoenix of Rebirth and Phoenix Wing Sky Dance, her black sixth Soul Ring shone even brighter.

High above, countless crimson fireballs formed out of thin air. Like meteors, each trailing a long tail of flame, they rained down on the seven opponents.

The entire arena turned scorching hot in an instant, as though it had become a sea of hellfire.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Deafening explosions erupted one after another.

Flames surged skyward and blotted out the sun. The seven opponents vanished beneath the sea of fire.

Seeing the danger, the Referee immediately intervened to rescue them. Even as a seven-ring Soul Sage, he nearly failed to hold back the raging flames.

"Ma Xiaotao, stop!"

Mu Jin shouted from the sidelines, afraid Ma Xiaotao would lose control and cause serious casualties.

Fortunately, Ma Xiaotao withdrew her attack the next moment, and clarity gradually returned to her crimson eyes.

The Referee let out a long breath and wiped the cold sweat from his brow. After checking the seven opponents' injuries, he announced the end of the match.

"Shrek Academy wins!"

The stands erupted.

Some spectators marveled at Shrek Academy's strength; others were stunned by Ma Xiaotao's terrifying power.

Many also murmured that Ma Xiaotao had gone too far.

After all, five of Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy's seven fighters had four rings, while the other two had three. Their overall strength was relatively weak.

But the Shrek team paid no attention.

This year's Shrek team had suffered one setback after another, leaving most of its main fighters unable to compete. They only wanted to win as decisively as possible, intimidate the other teams, and improve their chances in the matches ahead.

On the raised platform, Xu Jiawei, emperor of the host nation, the Star Luo Empire, watched the scene and sighed in admiration.

"As expected of Shrek. I'd heard Dai Hao's son had already reached the level of a Soul Emperor, but I never imagined this young girl would be even more terrifying."

"At full power, she's probably not far from a Soul Sage."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the square, every member of Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy wore a grave expression.

Even Xiao Hongchen, the most arrogant among them, had lost his smile.

"Elder Ma, I don't recall seeing this student in the reports."

The elder leading Sun Moon Academy's team exhaled a puff of smoke and shook his head.

"Shrek Academy certainly lives up to its reputation. Its depth of talent is remarkable."

Captain Ma Rulong carefully scanned the Shrek team, his brow furrowing.

"Their captain from last time, Dai Yueheng, doesn't seem to be here."

"Apart from that girl named Ling Luochеn, none of the others look familiar. Most of them seem rather young, too."

Xiao Hongchen snorted. "Do they think the other teams aren't worth taking seriously?"

"They look like a group of reserves."

"They'd better hope they don't meet us in the round-robin stage. If they do, we'll make them regret it."

Elsewhere, in the Just Sky Academy viewing area, Ye Wuqing, Yu Mengdi, and the others were still marveling at Ma Xiaotao's strength.

Song Que stood to one side, speaking quietly with Huo Yuhao.

"Any word from the sect master?"

Huo Yuhao shook his head. "He hasn't shown himself yet, but Senior Sister Vena and Senior Brother Ao Tian have arrived. I'm sure Master is nearby."

Song Que chuckled. "Good. Otherwise, things could get difficult to wrap up later."

"Get ready. Our match is this afternoon."

Huo Yuhao nodded.

An announcement rang out across the arena.

"Next match: Just Sky Academy versus Earth Ze Academy!"

Ye Wuqing, Yu Mengdi, Yan'er, Shangguan Can, Xu Sanshi, Wang Dong, and Huo Yuhao filed into the arena.

Once inside, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xu Sanshi stood shoulder to shoulder at the very front. The other four spread out behind them on either side, as though guarding the three in front.

The strange formation sent a wave of chatter through the crowd. For a moment, no one could make sense of Just Sky Academy's strategy.

Most striking of all were Huo Yuhao's and Wang Dong's youthful faces.

The Earth Ze Academy team, initially somewhat apprehensive, relaxed at the sight and gradually regained its confidence.

"Hey, Just Sky Academy! Are you sure about this lineup? If you send two kids up here, we won't go easy on them!"

Earth Ze Academy's Soul King captain sounded as if he were testing them, but his expression made it clear he was afraid they might change their minds.

Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong exchanged a glance. Proud smiles appeared on their faces as they gave him a cool look without saying a word.

The Referee waited no longer and declared the match underway.

The Shrek team watching from the sidelines looked surprised as well.

Dai Huabin curled his lip. "See? They really are a No-Name Academy. They actually sent Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong into the match."

Mu Jin shook his head. "It's hard to say. Ye Wuqing is still out there. Even quite a few teachers from Shrek Academy's inner court have acknowledged his talent. If he joined Shrek, he'd have a strong chance of entering the inner court."

Dai Huabin snorted and said nothing more.

He fixed Huo Yuhao with an icy stare, the urge to kill growing stronger in his heart.

Beside him, Ma Xiaotao frowned slightly and turned toward Song Que below the stage, her expression conflicted.

The next moment, sudden cries of shock around her snapped her out of her daze. She looked up at the arena.

"How is that possible?!"

Blood-red light illuminated the entire stage in an instant, and a terrifying pressure filled the arena, making it hard to breathe.

One, two, three, four, five, six!

Six blood-red Soul Rings had appeared around that boy whose face still carried a trace of childishness.

"A six-ring Soul Emperor?!"

"They're all 100,000-Year Soul Rings?!"

"How is that possible?!"

An uproar swept through the arena. Everyone stared, mouths agape, unable to believe their eyes.

At the same time, Wang Dong and Xu Sanshi, standing on either side of Huo Yuhao, revealed their own Soul Rings.

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black. Their six Soul Rings were nowhere near as startling as Huo Yuhao's blood-red ones, but they still stunned the entire crowd.

"Two more six-ring Soul Emperors?!"

"How is that possible?!"

"How is this Just Sky Academy even more terrifying than Shrek Academy?!"

Shock rippled through the crowd, leaving the spectators speechless.

The seven members of Earth Ze Academy went deathly pale.

Everyone, including their Soul King captain, trembled from head to toe. Their legs turned weak, and they could barely remain standing.

The seven stood frozen, staring blankly at the blood-red glow surrounding Huo Yuhao.

The next second, everything in the arena changed.

Huo Yuhao stepped forward, and the Soul Power within him surged at full force.

A layer of hexagonal, diamond-like ice crystals rapidly covered his body. A faint emerald light blossomed within him and spread outward.

Behind him, the enormous spectral form of an Ice Empress Scorpion slowly took shape.