The Body Martial Soul Versus the Taotie

The next moment, Du Busi's body swelled rapidly. Dark green light erupted from within him, and he shot upward, becoming a hundred-meter-tall giant in the blink of an eye.

"Damn you, old poisoner! Take this!"

Yellow light blazed around Xuan Zi. The enormous phantom of the Godly Taotie Bull spread out behind him, and his body swelled within the light until he had fully transformed into the bull.

Boom!

A deafening explosion erupted high above the arena.

Xuan Zi, a Level 98 Super Douluo, and Du Busi, another Level 98 Super Douluo, had gone straight into battle.

The sky over all of Star Luo City changed color in an instant. One half turned the deep yellow of fertile earth, the other the dark green of an abyss. Their opposing auras made for a staggering sight.

On the raised platform, Star Luo Empire's emperor, Xu Jiawei, looked livid.

Two Super Douluo were fighting openly in his capital, right at the tournament grounds. He was furious and anxious, but he dared not intervene.

High above, Xuan Zi and Du Busi each claimed half the sky. Their powers clashed and intertwined in two colors, whipping the clouds into a frenzy.

The terrifying shock waves from their colliding Soul Power swept outward. Fierce winds tore through the tournament square, sending dust flying.

Xuan Zi, transformed into the Godly Taotie Bull, charged through the air. Yellow light surged behind him like a towering wave as he bore down on Du Busi.

The dark green giant Du Busi had become stepped forward as though crushing the very air beneath his feet. Unafraid, he met the charge head-on.

With a thunderous crash, the two mighty figures collided high above.

Everyone below was instantly left with ringing ears, while the ground shook violently beneath their feet.

A terrifying shock wave burst outward overhead, shredding layer upon layer of cloud as it spread in every direction.

Just then, Star Luo Empire's three guardian Titled Douluo sprang into action. Heavenly Fiend Douluo, Giant Strength Douluo, and Xuanji Douluo gathered beside Emperor Xu Jiawei in an instant.

Xu Jiawei hurriedly ordered, "Quick! Stop them! We can't let them keep fighting inside the city!"

The three nodded and soared toward the battle overhead.

"Please restrain yourselves, seniors!" Heavenly Fiend Douluo Huang Jinxu called out. "The Continental Soul Master Tournament is underway. Please consider the bigger picture and don't fight here!"

Giant Strength Douluo Cheng Gang hastened to add, "Yes, seniors, let's settle this peacefully! If you keep fighting, you could easily hurt the contestants and ordinary people below!"

All three knew that, as ordinary Titled Douluo, they had no hope of stopping two Super Douluo by force. Persuasion was their only option.

At their words, Xuan Zi and Du Busi each reined in their hostility a little. They exchanged a glance and dismissed their Martial Soul Avatars at the same time.

The three secretly breathed sighs of relief.

Huang Jinxu continued, "If you two have a grievance to settle, you may leave Star Luo City and resolve it yourselves. We won't interfere."

"But the tournament is an event for the entire continent. Please follow the rules and consider the consequences."

"If this draws the powers of other nations into the matter, no one will benefit."

Xuan Zi and Du Busi exchanged another glance. Both understood the situation. Each gave a cold snort, then turned and flew away.

Only after the two had gone did the three Titled Douluo descend and report back to Xu Jiawei.

Xu Jiawei let out a breath and ordered in a grave voice, "Pass the word. The matches will continue as usual."

Heavenly Fiend Douluo nodded and returned to the arena to resume officiating.

Elsewhere, after the Referee announced Just Sky Academy's victory, its members filed down from the arena.

Song Que patted Huo Yuhao on the shoulder and asked with concern, "How are you? Did that old bastard hurt you when he grabbed you?"

Huo Yuhao shook his head and smiled. "Don't worry, Song Que. I'm fine."

Song Que nodded, his voice edged with displeasure. "That old man has no shame left at all."

"He actually tried to abduct someone by force in front of the whole arena."

Bei Bei looked conflicted. "Xuan Zi really went too far this time."

"Once word gets out, Shrek's reputation, built up over ten thousand years, will take a serious blow."

Xu Sanshi curled his lip and sighed. "No wonder Song Que and Yuhao insisted on leaving Shrek back then."

"Shrek changed a long time ago. Otherwise, I wouldn't have taken the chance to leave too."

Tang Ya looked at him curiously. "I thought you came along because of your friendship with Bei Bei and Song Que."

Xu Sanshi straightened at once and waved his hands. "What sort of deep feelings would I have for two grown men? All my affection is for Nannan!"

Then he turned to Tang Ya with an earnest look. "Xiao Ya, things at Shrek are getting worse and worse. You'd better talk your best friend into getting out soon. Coming over to our side is her best choice."

Tang Ya gave a delicate huff. "You think I don't know what you're after? I can practically hear you counting your winnings from here. Hmph."

Wang Dong spoke with a smile. "Luckily, Yuhao's teacher showed up in time to help. I just wonder how Senior Du is doing now."

Song Que said evenly, "They've probably moved their fight elsewhere."

"Don't worry. They'll be fine. With the tournament underway and powers from everywhere gathered here, Xuan Zi won't dare go too far."

"They'll vent their anger, but they won't fight to the death."

"After this, though, there's no saving Shrek's reputation."

With that, Song Que led the others away from the tournament square.

In the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy's spectator section, everyone wore a grave expression.

Xiao Hongchen had expected to dazzle everyone at this tournament. Now he sat silent, his gaze locked on Huo Yuhao as Huo Yuhao left. He could not look away.

Only when the Just Sky Academy group had disappeared into the distance did he mutter under his breath.

"How is this possible... Why did it turn out like this..."

"How could anyone in this world be more talented than me? It must be an illusion. It's fake. All of it is fake..."

Captain Ma Rulong spoke somberly. "I thought Ma Xiaotao was already unrivaled."

"I never imagined a monster like this was still waiting in the wings."

"Who exactly is this Huo Yuhao?"

Elder Ma, who was leading the team, stayed silent for a long while before speaking.

"Investigate him quietly first. Something doesn't feel right."

"Ma Xiaotao and Ma Rulong are around the same age, and their strength is still within reason."

"But Huo Yuhao looks twelve or thirteen, yet he has such terrifying strength."

"More absurd still, Wang Dong and Xu Sanshi are both Six-Ring Soul Emperors too... It's simply beyond belief."

At the same time, discussion rippled through the crowd without dying down.

"Doesn't Shrek call itself the continent's best academy? How can it be so petty?"

"Exactly! They didn't value Huo Yuhao back then and drove him out. Now that they've seen how extraordinary his talent is, they accuse him of being a Ferocious Beast in human form and try to drag him back by force!"

"It's ridiculous. They're just jealous of what they lost!"

"Keep your voice down! If someone from Shrek hears you, you'll be in trouble!"

"What are you afraid of? This is Star Luo Empire territory, not Shrek's home ground! They can't just do whatever they want in public, can they?!"