Xuan Zi's expression was utterly overwhelmed by astonishment. After years apart, Huo Yuhao's strength had far exceeded anything he had expected.
The pressure emanating from Huo Yuhao was not only domineering and powerful, but also carried the effortless composure of someone lifting a great weight as though it were light, easily dissolving Xuan Zi's imposing aura.
Rationally, Xuan Zi did not want to make an enemy of Huo Yuhao either. But to defend Shrek's reputation and standing, he could not allow himself to show weakness by backing down like a defeated man.
Huo Yuhao suddenly spoke with tremendous force. "Of all people, you at Shrek have the least right to condemn me."
His voice was piercing, reaching the ears of everyone present. Transmitted through Spiritual Sharing, it struck far harder than an ordinary shout, ringing loud enough to rouse the deaf. Even amid the noisiest crowd, every word was clear.
Powerful spiritual power spread around the plaza, its vast fluctuations making Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe shudder at the same time.
That unfathomable spiritual power was not directly offensive, but the influence it could exert frightened them even more.
Then, without warning, the image of a woman enveloped in purplish-red flames appeared in everyone's mind.
She wore Shrek Academy's uniform, and fierce flames blazed over her body. Behind her, searing fire gathered into the form of a phoenix, accompanied by the faint sound of its ringing cry.
Ye Guyi froze in midair, anguish appearing on her face, for that woman was Ma Xiaotao.
Huo Yuhao had not excluded Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe from his sharing, and both men instantly paled. Yan Shaozhe blurted out, "Huo Yuhao, stop!"
The scene in their minds did not stop. Instead, it rapidly changed. Flames surged, and Ma Xiaotao's uniform vanished, replaced by gray