Xiao Xiao wore a mocking expression as she faced the three who had stepped forward.
"Ha, are you three grown men only good at running your mouths?"
"If you're afraid you can't beat me, I can relax the conditions a little. All three of you can come at once."
"Why are you standing there, afraid to move? Scared? If you're scared, you can crawl right back, small fry~"
Ahhh, Master Lu, what are you doing? How could I possibly beat three people!
On the surface, Xiao Xiao still looked like a bratty little imp, but in reality, she was already crying for help in the communication channel the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had set up.
How about doing more than just giving verbal instructions? Could you ask Yutong to turn on Spiritual Detection? Please, I'm begging you.
No!
Below the platform, Lu Yu rejected her outright.
Our goal is to prove that there's absolutely nothing wrong with your own setup. The problem is that you can't fully unleash your own strength.
If we let Yutong use her Soul Skill, you'll think it's Yutong's Spirit Eyes that are powerful, not the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron.
Waaah, but didn't you promise it would be one-on-one? How am I supposed to win one against three?
Don't worry. Believe in yourself.
Waaah, please, you three, have some shame and come one at a time. Don't bully a weak, helpless, pitiful little girl like me.
On the platform.
"What did you say?!" Zhao Haochen could not take it anymore. Who among those applying to Shrek was not a favored child of heaven? Who could stomach this humiliation?
He whispered to the other two, "I reckon she's probably a Soul Elder. Let's all go together and show her what we're made of!"
Ouyang Junyi and Chen Junfeng nodded beside him.
Although it was a little dishonorable, anyone who dared set up a challenge platform had to be a Soul Elder, one of the strongest among the new students.
Going up one at a time would probably get the shit beaten out of them.
"Fine, you asked for this. Ouyang Junyi, rank 18 Agility Attack System Battle Spirit Master."
"Chen Junfeng, rank 17 Agility Attack System Battle Spirit Master."
"Zhao Haochen, rank 16 Food System Battle Soul Master."
The three stepped onto the platform, introduced themselves in turn, and revealed their Martial Souls.
A spike appeared on Ouyang Junyi's right arm, Chen Junfeng produced a slender sword in his hand, and a braised chicken drumstick appeared in Zhao Haochen's hand.
"Yes, yes, yes, they're fighting!"
"One against three! Now that's exciting. Even getting arrested by the Shrek City patrol afterward would be worth the price of admission."
Xiao Xiao stepped forward as well. With a thunderous boom, a large golden cauldron slammed into the platform, and a lone yellow Soul Ring appeared behind her.
"Xiao Xiao, rank 20 Power Attack System Battle Soul Master!"
Power Attack System-Xiao Xiao had originally planned to follow the Control System, but Lu Yu had stopped her. A super-sized Dayun truck like this was meant for the Power Attack System. All she needed to do was stack her stats and crush everything in one go.
Xiao Xiao's rank left the crowd below dumbfounded.
"Why does a One-Ring Soul Master dare act so arrogant?"
"She's rank 20. Why hasn't she added a second Soul Ring?"
"She's here to make a fool of herself. Break it up, break it up. What a damn waste of my time."
Ouyang Junyi and his two companions immediately sighed in relief when they saw the Soul Ring behind Xiao Xiao.
Here I thought she was some peerless genius. Turns out she's just a little punk~
Now they were going to teach this bratty little imp a harsh lesson.
"Looks like some spoiled young miss has run away from home. We'll teach you a proper lesson on your daddy's behalf."
With Zhao Haochen's cry of "Come forth, my big chicken drumstick!" Ouyang Junyi and Chen Junfeng charged toward Xiao Xiao, one on either side.
As he charged, Ouyang Junyi even called out to Xiao Xiao, "Don't worry. We'll go easy on you."
Just as the two were about to pass the Soul-Suppressing Cauldron.
Now! Split, first Soul Skill, merge! An order rang out in Xiao Xiao's mind, and as though a switch had been pressed, she immediately began controlling her Martial Soul.
The Soul-Suppressing Cauldron instantly split into three, forming a triangle.
The next moment, Ouyang Junyi and Chen Junfeng stepped inside that triangle.
First Soul Skill: Cauldron's Tremor!
The three cauldrons began vibrating as they rapidly closed in on the center.
Ouyang Junyi and Chen Junfeng had just tried to rely on their speed to dodge when the sudden vibrations pinned them in place. Then a Dayun truck smashed straight into them.
Clang! With a tremendous reverberation, the two caught between the three cauldrons lost consciousness.
Seeing the pair taken out instantly, Xiao Xiao was startled.
So I'm this strong.
Nice reaction speed. It feels like I'm back to playing games.
Below the platform, Lu Yu sighed in appreciation. After all, the point was to make Xiao Xiao believe she really was strong, so naturally, he could not take direct control right from the start.
During their days on the road, apart from teaching Xiao Xiao a few techniques for using her Martial Soul, he had mostly had the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm hypnotize her.
The hypnosis ensured that Xiao Xiao would react immediately as soon as his instructions arrived.
After a day of debugging, Xiao Xiao had successfully achieved zero reaction delay, and Lu Yu could finally pilot this one-ring Dayun truck named Xiao Xiao.
Could I really be strong?
After easily defeating three units of the same level, Xiao Xiao felt that setting up a challenge platform did not seem so frightening after all.
"Well, small fry~ Want a taste of getting smashed by a cauldron?"
After discovering her own "power level," Xiao Xiao immediately addressed the remaining Zhao Haochen.
To be clear, that line had not come from Lu Yu. As for whether Xiao Xiao had improvised it or revealed her true nature, that remained unknown.
"I... I surrender."
Seeing his two unconscious teammates, Zhao Haochen immediately raised both hands. What a joke. Both damage dealers had been instantly taken out. What could he do as a support?
"She actually won one against three!"
"What a powerful Soul Skill!"
"Fixed match! Fuck your mother, give me my money back!"
"Hahaha, I won! I won! Hurry up and pay!"
The commoners were happy to have watched a great show; the teachers were surprised and began analyzing the Soul Skill; the senior students had their wins and losses, keeping the economy moving. Everyone had a bright future!
"It was just a sneak attack. This time, we'll take you on!"
Three One-Ring Soul Masters stepped forward. In their view, Xiao Xiao had only defeated those two by using her Martial Soul's characteristics to launch a surprise attack. As long as they kept that in mind and dodged her ambush, Xiao Xiao, without her Martial Soul back to defend her, would be a turtle trapped in a jar.
"Huh? Another three one-rings? Don't waste my time."
"Hmph, don't worry. We won't take much of your time."
The three immediately released their Martial Souls and charged. The situation on the platform was now exactly the same as in the previous match.
Xiao Xiao's cauldron stood directly in the three challengers' path.
All three were extremely cautious as they passed the cauldron.
Suddenly, rather than splitting, the cauldron shot up into the air and then smashed down onto the platform.
Boom!
Powerful shock waves spread through the platform, successfully knocking all three to the ground!
Is my first Soul Skill really this powerful?
Xiao Xiao stared incredulously at her Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron. Although it was more powerful in its combined state, her three opponents had deliberately spread out. In theory, the vibrations should not have reached them.
Could it be? Had she become stronger?
Xiao Xiao instantly brimmed with confidence. Master Lu had been right all along. I really am a genius!
After successfully immobilizing the three, Xiao Xiao controlled her cauldron, splitting it to send all three off the platform.
"Does anyone else want to come up and challenge me?"
For a moment, none of the new students below dared step forward. What a joke. This time had not been a sneak attack, and some of the One-Ring Soul Masters could not think of a way to counter that move.
As for the two-ring Soul Masters, they were too ashamed to team up, and when it came to fighting alone, they were not confident they could defeat three One-Ring Soul Masters.
Below the stands, a yellow-haired girl looked at the center of the platform, where the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron had struck. The heavy impact had damaged the cloth laid over the arena, revealing some blackish-gray iron sand at the center of the tear.
"Soul-Shocking Scattered Sand, a special sand and gravel that can conduct Soul Power and vibrations. It's quite expensive. Laying out this platform probably cost ten thousand Gold Soul Coins."
"From the look of it, whoever set up the platform used a special structure to concentrate the power of the vibrations in the central area. As long as that girl releases her Soul Power, any Soul Master standing nearby is bound to be immobilized."
"Hmph, an incompetent fool relying on petty tricks."
Wu Feng, the red-haired girl beside the yellow-haired girl, spoke disdainfully. She could deal with a rookie like that with a casual move.
"No, whatever else may be said, he did enable that girl to accomplish the feat of winning one against three. Even for you, Wu Feng, winning one against three without taking a scratch would be very difficult."
Wu Feng snorted. "I just lack an area-of-effect Soul Skill."
The yellow-haired girl paid Wu Feng no further attention. Instead, she walked over to Lu Yu, Huo Yutong, and Tang Ya, who were watching the show nearby.
"Lu Yu, owner of Lu Yu's Soul Ring Guidance, whose work involves advising merchants and commoners on Soul Ring selection. Originally based in Heaven Dou City in the Heaven Dou Empire, you were forced to relocate to Star Dou City in the Star Luo Empire after seizing the Tang Sect's secret manuals. Is everything I've said correct, Master Lu?"
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