The finals really were lively. The entire arena was packed, with Xu Jiawei, emperor of the Star Luo Empire, seated at the very top. Below him to his left sat another man: White Tiger Duke Dai Hao, who had just rushed back.
On Shrek Academy's side, Huo Yuhao naturally saw Dai Hao as well. His gaze toward Dai Hao was clearly filled with anger and hatred.
"Hey, Yuhao, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Wang Dong hurriedly asked when she noticed something was off.
"N-no, I'm fine! Let's get ready to cheer Sister Xiaotao and the others on."
By now, the players and Shrek Academy's Ma Xiaotao and the others had all stepped onto the stage.
The host introduced both teams with a microphone, using his exuberant voice to stoke the atmosphere.
Star Luo Emperor Xu Jiawei asked Dai Hao, "Which of these two teams do you think will claim the final victory?"
"Your Majesty, both teams must be strong to have made it all the way to the finals. It is truly difficult to judge on the spot which of them will ultimately win.
"Still, since my child is on Shrek Academy's team, I do hope Shrek Academy wins."
"Heh, that's only human nature. Ninth Sister, what do you think?"
"We lost to Shrek Academy in the previous round. I have to say, their raw strength truly is formidable, and I accepted that defeat wholeheartedly.
"As for this New Tang Sect Academy Team, their victory over the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy team last round was largely due to clever tricks and luck.
"Today's final will have three rounds: a team battle, individual battles, and a two-two-three group battle.
"This format greatly reduces the role of luck, so I don't believe the New Tang Sect Academy Team can pull off another miracle."
Most people shared Xu Jiujiu's view. The members of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy were also watching the match, still nursing their injuries.
"Our loss was so unfair. If we'd known they had that damned thing, we never would have given them a chance to fire."
Hearing a teammate complain, their captain, Ma Rulong, snorted. "Hmph, what's the use of saying that now? A loss is a loss. Getting their hands on a weapon that deadly was a feat in itself."
Meng Hongchen asked Xiao Hongchen, "Brother, who do you think will take the crown?"
"In theory, Shrek Academy naturally has a better chance of winning.
"But I'd rather see that New Tang Sect Academy Team win."
"Isn't that rather unlikely? That cannon has already been exposed, so they won't be able to use it again. I really can't see what else they have that could threaten Shrek Academy."
"Who knows? Before the last match, nobody knew they had a cannon like that either."
After whipping up the crowd and explaining the finals' format, the host finally officially announced the start of the match.
The first round was naturally the team battle. Ma Xiaotao's expression was solemn, without the slightest trace of contempt.
"Attack with everything you have. End this quickly, and don't let them drag it out."
"Understood!"
After giving her instructions, Ma Xiaotao took the initiative and attacked alongside Dai Yueheng.
On the players' side, I Am an Angel took to the air to hold off Ma Xiaotao, while Ten-Year Veteran rode the Flame-Treading Black Steed to meet Dai Yueheng head-on.
Chen Zifeng and Ling Luocheng joined forces against Qian Xixi.
Qian Xixi said, "Sending two people after me? You really think highly of me!"
"Ice Prison!"
Holding her ice staff, Ling Luocheng cast Ice Prison to trap Qian Xixi, with Chen Zifeng's attack following close behind.
"Soul-Chasing Sword! Break!"
As the sharp sword thrust toward him, Qian Xixi neither dodged nor evaded, raising his defenses instead. With a clang, the Soul-Chasing Sword, enhanced by a soul skill, failed to pierce his defenses.
"What a turtle shell!"
Qian Xixi said, "So I'm a turtle shell. What can you do about it? Your firepower is miles behind the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy's."
"Hmph! You won't be laughing for long!"
A red light flashed over Chen Zifeng's body, and a wave of baleful presence spread out. An ordinary soul master might have been dragged into a vast illusion of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
But all Qian Xixi saw was another line in his status bar: "Under mental pressure. Soul power recovery slowed."
It had an effect, but that merely meant Qian Xixi would have to spend a few more mana potions.
Meanwhile, Xixi, the agility-type Soul King on Shrek Academy's team, had already used her speed to circle around behind them.
Most of the characters-Wang Zhongwang, Primordial One, Agile Dog in the Mountains, and Spirit Hall Eternal-were just there to make up the numbers.
It should have been child's play for Xixi to circle behind them and take them out, but that was not how things went.
They certainly weren't as strong as Ten-Year Veteran, Qian Xixi, and I Am an Angel, but ordinary players had their own ways of playing.
Xixi's flanking maneuver was naturally spotted, and Spirit Hall Eternal advanced instead of retreating.
Spirit Hall Eternal said, "Watch my Golden Assault!"
Spirit Hall Eternal's martial soul was the Golden Crocodile. His Golden Assault was quite fast, but it fell far short of Xixi's speed.
"Hee-hee! Then I'll start with you!"
His figure flashed, his attack stabbing straight at Spirit Hall Eternal, only for Spirit Hall Eternal to make no attempt to defend himself.
Xixi's attack instantly pierced his body, leaving only a sliver of Spirit Hall Eternal's health bar.
Spirit Hall Eternal said, "Whew, thank goodness my martial soul's defense is decent. I didn't get one-shotted."
As he spoke, Spirit Hall Eternal seized Xixi in a tight embrace.
Xixi was a little dumbfounded. The fellow before her could still smile after being wounded this badly by her. Was this really a human being? Or were they a bunch of complete lunatics?
Immediately afterward, he felt someone clamp tightly onto him, with both arms and legs.
Spirit Hall Eternal had locked all four limbs around Xixi's body. It was a thoroughly unseemly sight.
Then... a Net Grenade was tossed straight over, binding the two of them even more tightly together.
As one final tiger's roar rang out, Wang Zhongwang summoned his Black-Striped Tiger martial soul and charged, knocking both Spirit Hall Eternal and Xixi off the stage.
Immediately afterward, he even teased him over the team voice chat.
Wang Zhongwang said, "Brother, rest in peace. Felt pretty good holding a girl that tightly, huh?"
Spirit Hall Eternal said, "Screw you! If you guys don't win, my sacrifice will have been for nothing."
Agile Dog in the Mountains said, "Don't worry, brother. We've got this in the bag!"
The spectators were also left dumbstruck by the scene.
"Senior Xixi was eliminated just like that? That was way too unexpected!"
"That guy actually used his own body to lock Senior Xixi down. Is he insane? Is he really not afraid of dying?"
Xiao Xiao and Jiang Nannan truly found it difficult to understand.
Meanwhile, on the stage, Ma Xiaotao was also having a very frustrating fight. Her raw strength was indeed far greater than I Am an Angel's.
But no amount of raw strength was useful if she couldn't land a hit. I Am an Angel seemed to know her extremely well, always managing to dodge her attacks.
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