Mixed-team battle, Huo Yuhao's opinion

Huo Yuhao paid no mind to their appraising gazes. They would discover his worth when the time came.

Next came the Inner Court disciples' introductions.

"Ma Xiaotao, Inner Court. Level sixty-seven Power Attack System Soul Emperor."

Hearing that Ma Xiaotao was level sixty-seven gave everyone from the Outer Court a fright.

Ma Xiaotao was only five or six years older than them, yet she was three major ranks above them. Before long, she would be a Soul Saint.

After Ma Xiaotao finished, Dai Yueheng spoke. "Dai Yueheng. Level sixty-four Power Attack System Soul Emperor."

The others introduced themselves one after another. They were all Soul Kings.

Five Soul Kings and two Soul Emperors—a lineup like this was all but unheard of in the tournament.

This was the strength of the number one academy.

"All right, now you know each other's names. But if you want to work well together in the tournament, you'll need to understand each other's Soul Skills better."

"Next, we'll have a team battle. Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, each of you will lead a team and choose your members."

"Dai Yueheng, you pick first."

Dai Yueheng was slightly weaker, so Xuan Zi let him choose first, allowing him to take one more Inner Court disciple.

"I choose Chen Zifeng."

"Then I'll choose Gongyang Mo."

Next, Dai Yueheng chose Ling Luochеn and Yao Haoxuan.

Ma Xiaotao only managed to get Xixi. She still had to choose another teammate, but only Outer Court Soul Masters remained.

"I choose Huo Yuhao."

Unexpectedly, Ma Xiaotao chose neither Bei Bei, the strongest, nor Xu Sanshi, a Defense System Soul Master. Instead, she picked Huo Yuhao, who had the weakest Soul Power.

Ma Xiaotao chose Huo Yuhao because she wanted to get closer to him and see whether she could find the Ultimate Ice Soul Master behind him.

The news that Huo Yuhao possessed an Ultimate Ice Martial Soul had not leaked. Although Yan Shaozhe knew, Wang Dong'er had forbidden him from telling Ma Xiaotao about it yet.

Their earlier wager was still in effect. If the wager's deadline arrived and Ma Xiaotao had not become an Evil Soul Master, Huo Yuhao would help treat her.

Thus, Ma Xiaotao still did not know that Huo Yuhao was that Ultimate Ice Soul Master.

Wang Dong'er had also warned Huo Yuhao not to reveal his Ultimate Ice Martial Soul lightly. Barring any unexpected developments, this tournament would be the spark that turned Ma Xiaotao into an Evil Soul Master.

Dai Yueheng did not know why Ma Xiaotao had made that choice either. Still, it suited him perfectly. He did not want to be on the same team as Huo Yuhao.

"Then I choose Xu Sanshi."

"I choose Bei Bei."

By the end of the selection, only Xiao Xiao and Wang Dong'er remained.

Dai Yueheng glanced at them and chose Xiao Xiao without hesitation.

Even more than Huo Yuhao, he wanted nothing to do with Wang Dong'er.

Ma Xiaotao frowned slightly. She did not want to choose Wang Dong'er either, but she had no other option now. "Wang Dong."

Huo Yuhao was delighted to see Wang Dong'er on his team.

"All right, you now have ten minutes to plan your tactics. The losing team only has to shout, 'I'm a Pig.'"

Hearing Xuan Zi's words, Wang Dong'er could not help laughing. What kind of punishment was that?

"Don't worry. I won't let you become a Pig. Though you'd be adorable as a little piglet too," Huo Yuhao said with a smile.

Wang Dong'er gave him a light pinch. "You're the Pig."

Naturally, Xuan Zi saw their little exchange, but he said nothing.

He had recognized at first glance that Wang Dong'er was a girl.

Ma Xiaotao discussed their tactics. She and Xixi would naturally be the main fighting force, while Wang Dong'er and the others would provide support.

"Time's up. Get ready to begin."

Both sides released their Martial Souls. The array of Martial Souls and Soul Rings was dazzling.

Huo Yuhao immediately activated Spiritual Detection and shared vision. When Gongyang Mo and Xixi sensed the change in their vision, they were astonished. This support ability was far too powerful. No wonder Ma Xiaotao had picked him at the first opportunity.

The battle began, and both sides plunged into a melee.

Ma Xiaotao faced Dai Yueheng. Only she could keep him suppressed.

Xixi also struck at once, attacking Ling Luochеn and Yao Haoxuan on the opposing team. Both were Control System Soul Masters, so they had to be dealt with quickly.

Gongyang Mo's hair turned multicolored. His Martial Soul was every bit as beautiful as Wang Dong'er's.

After he released his Soul Skills, both Ma Xiaotao and Bei Bei received boosts to their strength and speed.

Once the fighting began, Dai Yueheng was deeply shocked. Despite having one fewer Inner Court Soul Master, the opposing team firmly held the upper hand.

Huo Yuhao naturally deserved much of the credit. His Spiritual Detection was simply too useful; every attack their opponents made left a trail they could follow.

Wang Dong'er and Huo Yuhao unleashed their Martial Soul Fusion Skill, giving Ma Xiaotao an opening to attack.

Ma Xiaotao took out several opponents with a single Phoenix Meteor Shower, leaving Dai Yueheng alone, a lone tree unable to hold up the sky.

The battle ended in victory for Wang Dong'er's team.

After watching the match, Xuan Zi was very satisfied. Both sides had more or less shown their full strength.

He looked at Huo Yuhao. Only he had yet to reveal his ultimate Martial Soul.

"All right, the losers must accept their punishment."

Dai Yueheng helplessly shouted, "I'm a pig!"

The others followed suit.

Naturally, the defeated team felt somewhat unconvinced. If they had been prepared for the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, they would not all have been rooted in place.

"All right, that's enough training for today. We'll gather at the academy gates early tomorrow morning and set off for Star Luo City."

This year's tournament would be held in Star Luo City.

At the mention of Star Luo City, Huo Yuhao's expression grew solemn. He truly did not want to return to that place.

Wang Dong'er knew what Huo Yuhao was thinking and gently took his hand.

Huo Yuhao tightened his grip on Wang Dong'er's hand. With Wang Dong'er by his side, he felt as though he feared nothing.

After they were dismissed, Wang Dong'er and Huo Yuhao returned to their dorm room.

"Dong'er, what's wrong? You look like something's weighing on your mind."

Wang Dong'er knew that their destination tomorrow was not Star Luo City, but the Sun Moon Mountains.

She was still hesitating over whether to warn them. After all, a life was at stake.

Wang Dong'er looked at Huo Yuhao and decided to ask his opinion.

"Yuhao, if you knew the Inner Court disciples would face danger tomorrow, and someone might even die, do you think you should warn them?"

"Danger? How could that happen? The Inner Court disciples are all so strong, and Xuan Zi will be there too. How could anyone possibly die?"

"I'm saying if."

"Of course you should warn them." Huo Yuhao did not hesitate in the slightest.

"But if we don't warn them, they might get injured and be unable to compete. Then we could enter the tournament as the main team members."

"That's still not acceptable." Huo Yuhao rejected the idea firmly.

"We're all students at the same academy. How could I let them get hurt or even die just so I could compete?"

Wang Dong'er nodded. "All right, you're right."

In truth, Wang Dong'er had long since guessed that Huo Yuhao would make this choice. She was also inclined to tell them, which was why she had asked Huo Yuhao to help her make the decision.