Xiao Zi had not been idle during his escape. While provoking Xu Sanshi, he had also contacted Dai Huabin through his spiritual power, telling him to get ready.
The Soul Imprint was even more convenient than a smart Communication Watch, sparing him the trouble of checking the terrain and making communication more discreet.
Although the maze kept changing, it was also shrinking. More than half the contestants had already been eliminated, and the Final Round was about to begin.
After rounding a few more corners, he finally sensed the familiar aura of the White Tiger Martial Soul. Just as Xu Sanshi called him a turtle hiding in its shell, Xiao Zi slammed on the brakes.
Pretending to be exhausted, he panted, "Xu Sanshi, I've only kept giving ground out of respect for you as my senior. There's nothing improper between Senior Nannan and me. Don't use this competition to settle a personal grudge!"
Of course, Xu Sanshi refused to let it go. Provoked yet again by the words "Senior Nannan," he continued his relentless pursuit.
Meanwhile, Dai Huabin was already prepared. Had his master not ordered him to hold his position, he would have sprung out and ambushed Xu Sanshi long ago.
Zhu Lu stood beside him. Hearing this, she urged, "Huabin, Li Lezi is in danger. Should we go save him?"
His master had ordered him never to reveal their true relationship in front of anyone. Dai Huabin feigned consideration, then nodded. "Of course we should save him. But Xu Sanshi is a four-ring Soul Ancestor, reputed to have the best defense in the Outer Court. His strength is unfathomable. If we act rashly, our clever plan might only backfire."
Watching Xiao Zi struggle to fend off attacks from every side, Zhu Lu could hardly bear it. "The Grand Melee is meant to select seven people, and the competition is nearly over. If we eliminate Xu Sanshi and save Li Lezi, won't we have one less enemy and one more teammate?"
Dai Huabin was "persuaded." "Then let's sneak over without anyone noticing and wait for the right moment to ambush him."
The two crept along, keeping their presence as faint as possible. No matter how fiercely the others fought, they never showed themselves, focusing only on the direction where Xiao Zi and Xu Sanshi were battling.
The battlefield.
Having caught his breath, Xu Sanshi unleashed a relentless barrage of savage attacks, hoping to finish his opponent in a single blow, eliminating him and leaving him badly injured.
The instant Xiao Zi stopped, Xu Sanshi, convinced victory was in his grasp, exerted his full strength. The Mysterious Underworld Shield Formation crashed down, sealing off every avenue of retreat.
The Golden Horned Beast roared, its adamantine claws resisting the turtle shells. Each time, it slipped free at precisely the right moment, narrowly escaping disaster.
In the stands, Xuan Zi held a wine flask in one hand and a chicken drumstick in the other, occasionally entering the field to rescue a few contestants. Congratulating himself on not having missed a single rescue, the Grand Elder regained his confidence, shaking off the shadow of having gotten students killed a few years earlier and perking up again.
Watching the fierce battle below, he found Xu Sanshi's bloodshot eyes and ox-like panting hard to comment on, yet inexplicably felt a certain affinity with him.
"This young master of the Xuanming Sect is quite capable, but he can't keep his composure. How many times has he stood up for Jiang Nannan? And now he's picking a fight with a newly arrived Transfer Student... Not good enough."
Even the Grand Elder was speechless, which showed just how low Xu Sanshi's reputation had sunk. Yan Shaozhe wanted to put in a few good words for him, but dared not contradict his elder and could only remain silent.
Although Li Lezi fought well, he was only a Quasi Soul Elder, without even a third Soul Ring. Having touched Xu Sanshi's reverse scale, he probably faced more ill fortune than good this time.
Both of them were strong. Whichever one distinguished himself would qualify to become a reserve member of the Shrek Seven Devils and represent the academy in the Soul Master Tournament.
When asked for his opinion, Qian Duoduo offered his view. "I favor Li Lezi. The Golden Horned Beast's ultimate metal attribute was practically born for the Soul Tool Department. He belongs in our department!"
"In your dreams!" Yan Shaozhe rolled his eyes, having no intention of handing the boy over. "You already have Huo Yuhao, a core disciple studying in both departments. The Soul Tool Department should be satisfied."
As the two remained at loggerheads, the battle below also reached a fever pitch.
Xiao Zi used two Soul Skills in succession. "Devour! Enhancement!"
Empowered by the boost, the Golden Horned Beast swelled several meters larger. Its four limbs stood proudly planted as furious roars erupted from its blood-filled maw. The sound waves alone blasted Xu Sanshi dozens of meters away, briefly stunning him.
Xuan Zi had been drinking wine and eating meat, but he nearly choked to death at the sight. His eyes bulged like bronze bells. "Why is my Godly Taotie Bull trembling? It seems terrified of this Golden Horned Beast!"
His Martial Soul also possessed the power to devour. He had heard about the Golden Horned Beast's appetite: it turned up its nose even at chicken drumsticks and wine, eating only expensive metal products. It had driven the academy's expenses beyond its income, forcing them to restrict its metal supply.
Closest to the Golden Horned Beast, Xu Sanshi bore the brunt of its oppressive presence. Within moments, sweat drenched his back. His Xuanming Turtle Martial Soul trembled even more violently than the Godly Taotie Bull!
"Turtle hiding in your shell, take my claw!"
The Golden Horned Beast gave Xiao Zi the courage to fear no opponent. Its enhanced claw, now several times larger, came crashing down like a charging torrent of steel, shattering the Xuanming Shield formation in a single rush.
Bang, bang, bang...
Several times smaller, the Xuanming Turtle could not move beneath the suppression of a superior being. Its helpless beating affected its host, sending Xu Sanshi flying as well. He slammed heavily into the wall.
The Devour skill took effect at that moment. A hurricane swept Xu Sanshi out of the wall, sending him tumbling toward the beast's mouth. He was about to become a meal on its plate.
He had heard the extraordinary stories from the Upgrade Assessment, about the Golden Horned Beast swallowing a thousand-year soul beast in one gulp. As a mere Soul Ancestor, wouldn't he be devoured without even a bone left?
Fear and anger assaulted his reason, making him automatically forget the Grand Melee's rule against taking lives. He believed his life was in danger.
"Fourth Soul Skill, Xuanming Displacement!"
Xiao Zi was even more anxious than Xu Sanshi, afraid he might actually swallow his opponent. Wouldn't that ruin his plan to lose the competition?
Xuanming Displacement alone lacked the power to move the Golden Horned Beast. Only through his deliberate control did the two successfully exchange positions.
The moment he drew close to his target, Xu Sanshi grew cocky again. After using his Soul Skills repeatedly, he was panting like an ox-not from anger this time, but because he really was nearing his limit.
Seeing that his servant was already in position, Xiao Zi stopped playing along. He faced the lovesick lapdog head-on, trading blows that thudded into flesh.
Even after passing the Martial Artist Combat Assessment, he still did not know exactly how strong his body was now. Xu Sanshi would make a perfect test. He was a thick-skinned turtle anyway, and Ma Xiaotao often used him to vent her frustrations by beating him senseless. Why couldn't Xiao Zi hit him too?
"If the opportunity arises, I really would like to compare appetites with the Golden Horned Beast," Xuan Zi murmured, taking a bite of his chicken drumstick.
For a moment, he truly wanted to watch Xu Sanshi get swallowed, so he could gauge the Golden Horned Beast's capabilities.
All one could say was that he truly lived up to being the Holy Spirit Cult's Grand Elder. His mind worked differently from everyone else's. No wonder disaster struck every time he led a team. Those in the know understood that he had failed to protect them; anyone else might have thought he had used all the students as experimental subjects!
Yan Shaozhe, Qian Duoduo, and the others exchanged looks. They knew full well how unreliable the Grand Elder was, but his strength kept them from daring to say another word. They all nodded in agreement, wisely keeping themselves out of harm's way.