What Kind of Nobody Was Dai Huabin?

Meanwhile, several of the academy's most important figures arrived in the Elders' viewing section.

Xuan Zi, Qian Duoduo, and Cai Mei'er were all there.

Xuan Zi ambled to his seat with a chicken leg in one hand and wine in the other. He reeked of alcohol, but a smile hung on his face.

He had come to watch the match. Mu En had given him that task.

Jiang Chen's performance had been so impressive that Xuan Zi wanted to take him as a disciple and train him well, raising a future Limit Douluo for the academy so Mu En would not be utterly disappointed.

Xuan Zi took a sip of wine and turned to Xian Lin'er. "Lin'er, I heard a formidable student has turned up for today's semifinal. Someone who could threaten Jiang Chen?"

Xian Lin'er was unimpressed. "He has some ability, but that's all. How could he compare to Jiang Chen?"

"The person you mean is Dai Huabin, the White Tiger Duke's second son."

"The boy has some strength, but his character is lacking. He's nowhere near his older brother, Dai Yueheng. He might not even be a match for Jiang Chen."

Xuan Zi's interest stirred.

If Dai Huabin could pose a threat to Jiang Chen, he looked forward to seeing what the boy could do.

Elsewhere, Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luochen were arguing again over a difference of opinion.

Ma Xiaotao raised her chin and declared haughtily, "Ling Luochen, I told you not to be so sure of yourself. Someone who can deal with Jiang Chen has finally arrived."

"He's White Tiger Duke Dai Hao's second son, and he possesses the Evil-Eyed White Tiger Martial Soul. Jiang Chen is bound to lose this time."

Ling Luochen gave a soft laugh, resolve appearing on her delicate face. "Dai Huabin? If it were his brother Dai Yueheng, perhaps. But a mere three-ring Evil-Eyed White Tiger dares challenge an Ice Phoenix with an Ultimate Attribute?"

"Why couldn't he?" Ma Xiaotao demanded.

"Because I say he can't," Ling Luochen replied calmly. "Jiang Chen will defeat that clown without a doubt. If you disagree, do you dare make a wager with me?"

At the word wager, Ma Xiaotao reacted as if some deep-seated line of code had been triggered. "What are we betting?"

Ling Luochen pointed toward Jiang Chen and the others in the assessment area. "We'll bet on who wins. If Jiang Chen wins, you're never to raise your voice at me again, and you'll owe me a three-thousand-year Soul Bone."

"If Jiang Chen loses, I'll pay you the same."

Ma Xiaotao considered the wager carefully. It sounded decent, but she was still dissatisfied and immediately bargained. "If you lose, have Jiang Chen suppress my Evil Fire for a month. Can you do that?"

Ling Luochen narrowed her eyes. Something flickered in their depths.

Ma Xiaotao still had designs on Jiang Chen.

That woman is clever!

After thinking it over, Ling Luochen refused outright. "If I lose, I can help suppress your Evil Fire myself. But if you want me to make Jiang Chen do it, that's impossible. I have no power to order him around, and I wouldn't ask him to do such a thing."

Ma Xiaotao clicked her tongue. "Your Ice Martial Soul isn't pure enough to help me. I want Jiang Chen to suppress it, even if I can't stand him. What are you going to do, hit me?"

"Ling Luochen, if you can't decide for him, bring over someone who can. I never expected that, despite your relationship, you couldn't get Jiang Chen to do a thing. What a disappointment."

Ling Luochen turned her head away, unwilling to entertain the shameless woman.

Why should she control Jiang Chen?

She was not the scheming sort, nor did she have any desire to control him.

All she wanted was for Jiang Chen to be safe.

As for the wager, so be it if Ma Xiaotao would not take it. Ling Luochen had no wish to deal with someone so unreasonable.

Just then, Jiang Chen turned around on the field. "I'll take the bet."

Both women froze.

Ling Luochen covered her mouth and whispered, "How did you hear us?"

The corner of Jiang Chen's mouth twitched.

You two were talking so loudly. Of course I heard you.

"My spiritual power is fairly strong," he replied.

"Don't bet with her," Ling Luochen said. "I don't want to anymore."

But Jiang Chen was resolute. "It's only a wager. How could I let you lose to Ma Xiaotao? I'm taking the bet. The question is whether Ma Xiaotao dares to play."

With that, he looked at the haughty Ma Xiaotao.

Her eyes instantly reddened, and tears slid down her cheeks. She pointed at Jiang Chen. "Jiang Chen, you and Ling Luochen are ganging up on me. You've gone too far..."

Jiang Chen clasped his hands behind his back. "You provoked us first. If I don't accept, won't it look like I'm afraid of that little kitty across from me? Besides, how could I stand by while you bully someone I care about?"

"Enough talk. I have a match to fight. Are you betting or not?"

Ma Xiaotao bit her lip and clenched her fists. "I am! I hope Dai Huabin beats you! I hope you're never a match for him as long as you live. I can't wait to see you lose."

Jiang Chen ignored her after that.

To him, she was still no more than a passerby. Her attacks on him now clearly sprang from jealousy.

That only made him more determined not to let her have her way.

He turned to face his opponent. "Stupid tiger, are you ready yet? You've been dragging this out forever. Are we fighting or not? The sooner I beat you, the sooner I can leave."

Dai Huabin's brooding face twisted with rage. "Jiang Chen, you're arrogant!"

"Do you think victory is guaranteed? Clearly, you've never experienced the power of the Evil-Eyed White Tiger. Today, I'll show you what I can do. I'll shatter your confidence, use you as a stepping stone, and trample everything you have underfoot."

"You insulted the War God Clan, the White Tiger Duke's Mansion, and my father. You've invited your own death."

Jiang Chen was speechless.

There had to be something wrong with Dai Huabin. Jiang Chen was tired of listening to his endless drivel.

Not much strength, but plenty of hot air.

Just then, the new referee entered the field. It was Du Weilun, the teaching director of Shrek Academy.

He looked over both teams before speaking. "The Elders have instructed me to let you fight without holding back, but you may not kill your opponents. Show us everything you've got."

Dai Huabin's expression grew darker still.

That's what I've been waiting for!

Today, he would crush Jiang Chen beneath his feet and use him as a stepping stone into the Inner Court.

The smile vanished from Jiang Chen's face.

Looks like I can give this mouthy, spoiled brat a proper thrashing today.

Du Weilun glanced at the members of both teams. Seeing no objections, he shouted, "The semifinal match—begin!"

At once, Dai Huabin activated his Evil-Eyed White Tiger Martial Soul Possession. Muscles bulged across his body, his eyes turned blood-red, and three Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet.

His teammates, Zhu Lu and Cui Yajie, activated their Martial Soul Possessions just as quickly, ready to strike.

Jiang Chen rose into the air on a pair of ice-blue phoenix wings. A current of intense cold gathered around him.

"Now!" Dai Huabin roared. He embraced Zhu Lu, and their Soul Rings instantly overlapped. A terrifying wave of Soul Power spread outward.

A deafening tiger's roar shook the entire arena. The Hell White Tiger appeared, lines streaking its body and wings rising from its back.

The atmosphere in the arena tightened to a breaking point.

A Martial Soul Fusion Skill the moment they met. Dai Huabin had no intention of holding anything in reserve.

He plainly knew that bird-type Martial Souls countered the Evil-Eyed White Tiger and Hell Spirit Cat, so he had unleashed the Martial Soul Fusion Skill without hesitation.

Yan Shaozhe and the others in the viewing section grew interested and watched the match intently.

A Martial Soul Fusion Skill was a technique used by the original Shrek Seven Devils.

The outcome of this match suddenly seemed far less certain.

Jiang Chen might really lose!