Ghost Douluo Gui Mei's deep, eerie voice rang out at the opportune moment. "These three Soul Bone are the Spirit Condensation Wisdom Skull; the Explosive Burning Flame Right Arm; and the Rapid Advance Wind Chasing Left Leg. The Wisdom Skull, in particular, came from a Soul Beast over 50,000 years old, personally slain by the previous Pope."
Bibi Dong lightly waved her scepter, and the three Soul Bone shone even brighter. "There can only be one victor. These three Soul Bone will all belong to the final champion team."
These words were like adding fuel to the fire, and the fighting spirit of the twenty-one participating Soul Master surged instantly. Even Tang San, who was usually calm, had a burning flame in his eyes.
"How passionate..." Huo Yuhao chuckled, his voice standing out starkly against the solemn atmosphere. He surveyed the spirited Soul Master around him with interest, as if watching a pack of wild dogs fighting over a bone.
Bibi Dong's gaze lingered on Huo Yuhao for a moment before she announced, "The individual elimination rounds will be held this morning, with seven players from each of the three teams. The final winner will directly advance to tomorrow's finals."
This format made the atmosphere even more tense. Being able to advance first meant being able to rest and prepare, while the losers not only had to immediately participate in the losers' bracket matches in the afternoon, but also had to endure the enormous exhaustion from continuous battles.
"Now, each team, please send out your first player to the field."
As the Pope finished speaking, all three teams began tense tactical discussions. Huo Yuhao, however, remained standing in place, his gaze piercing through the crowd, thoughtfully looking into the distance. To him, this so-called "peak showdown" was nothing more than a boring game.
Of course, Huo Yuhao wasn't chosen to play in this draw, and he didn't care. Today was another peaceful day. In any case, he still won. As for how he won, Huo Yuhao didn't know, because his new skill was almost finished.
The third day marked the start of the finals.
When the Spirit Hall Team sent only one person onto the stage, the entire audience erupted in uproar.
Huo Yuhao slowly walked onto the arena, his black clothes fluttering in the wind, his golden pupils gleaming coldly in the sunlight. He surveyed his surroundings, a slight smile playing on his lips, his voice not loud, yet clearly reaching everyone's ears—
Hello everyone, it's been a long time.
His gaze swept across the entire room, lingering briefly on Bibi Dong, then passing over Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe, finally settling on the Shrek Seven Devils. His tone was playful. "Long time no see? I wonder if you... are all well?"
At this moment, countless gazes focused on him.
Bibi Dong sat enthroned on the Pope throne, her eyes beneath the purple-gold crown unfathomable;
Xue Qinghe sat upright in the VIP section, his slender fingers lightly tapping the armrest, his gaze fixed on the black-clad youth on the arena with great interest. He turned his head slightly and whispered to Ning Fengzhi beside him, " Sect Master Ning, this is truly interesting. A Four-Ring Soul Ancestor dares to challenge the Shrek Seven Devils alone?"
His voice, though soft, carried a hint of amusement, as if he were watching a meticulously orchestrated drama. A probing glint flashed in Xue Qinghe's gentle, jade-like eyes as he continued, "When did the Spirit Hall produce such an arrogant fool? A mere Soul Ancestor Master dares to be so presumptuous?"
Upon hearing this, Ning Fengzhi paused slightly, still holding the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda he was playing with, and smiled gently, "Your Highness, you may not know this, but this young friend Huo Lai... cannot be viewed through the lens of an ordinary Soul Ancestor."
Xue Qinghe raised an eyebrow, his gaze returning to the arena. "Oh? For Sect Master Ning to give such a high evaluation, this person must indeed be extraordinary. However..." A meaningful smile played on his lips, "To fight seven against one is ultimately too arrogant. Those Shrek academy students are no pushovers."
At this moment, murmurs rose and fell among the audience:
"Has this kid gone mad?"
Is the Spirit Hall forfeiting the competition?
Who is he? I've never seen him before.
"A substitute from the Spirit Hall? Are you crazy!"
" Four-Ring Soul Ancestor dares to be so arrogant?" "Challenging the Shrek Seven Devils alone? Is he courting death?"
Xue Qinghe listened to the surrounding discussions, a glint of insight flashing in his eyes. He gently stroked his chin and murmured thoughtfully, "Interesting... very interesting. It seems today's final will be much more exciting than I imagined."
Dugu Bo stood in the corner, his face solemn. He knew better than anyone how terrifying Huo Yuhao was, and he also knew how terrifying that master hiding in the shadows was. He dared not get involved in anything about him anymore. After all, his master was watching from somewhere, and if he appeared, everyone present, including Tang San's father, Haotian Douluo Tang Hao, would only be defeated. His strength was simply not of this world.
Huo Yuhao stood with his hands behind his back, facing the doubts of the crowd, he simply chuckled, "You heard me right, I am the Spirit Hall's substitute." He pointed at the Shrek Seven Devils, his tone calm yet extremely arrogant.
"In this match, I will represent the Spirit Hall Team alone to challenge all the members of the Shrek Academy."
Ning Fengzhi's eyes flickered, and he murmured, "I didn't expect him to actually make a move. Is he finally going to get serious...? Fine, let me see just how much you've been hiding."
Meanwhile, on Shrek's side, Tang San's eyes blazed with fighting spirit. He clenched his fist and coldly said, "Arrogant!"
Huo Yuhao merely smiled, a dangerous glint flashing in his Golden Pupils.
"Come on, let me see... how much of your strength you can make me use."
On stage, the atmosphere instantly became tense.
Tang Three Eyes burned with fury, his Blue Silver Grass flickering around him. "It's you! You're the one who hurt Xiao Wu, insulted my teacher, and almost killed me!" His voice trembled with rage, "Who are you? What is your purpose?"
Huo Yuhao crossed his arms, a hint of mockery flashing in his golden pupils. "Purpose?" He chuckled softly, his voice clear enough for everyone to hear, "Right now... I probably want to beat you to death, and send your useless teacher and idiot father on their way as well."
"You!" Tang San instantly flew into a rage, his Eight Spider Lances uncontrollably extending from his back, his Purple Demon Eye surging with killing intent.
The Shrek Seven Devils simultaneously assumed their battle formation, but an invisible pressure enveloped each of them. Dai Mubai, possessed by his white tiger form, declared in a deep voice, "We are no longer the same as before! The humiliation of last time will be repaid tenfold today!"
Oscar quickly made sausages, and sneered, "I really don't know what Rongrong still thinks of you now."
Xiao Wu's eyes flashed with pink light as she gritted her teeth and said, "I let you escape last time, but I won't give you another chance this time!"
On the Spirit Hall Team's side, Xie Yue stroked his chin. " Huo Lai can take on seven people at once... that should be fine, right?"
Hu Liena gazed at the black-clad youth on the field, a slight smile playing on her lips, "Of course, no problem. This is a perfect opportunity for the entire continent to witness the strength of our Spirit Hall."
Yan crossed his arms and snorted defiantly, "What's so great about it? I could do it too."
In the audience, Dugu Bo stared intently at Huo Yuhao with a serious expression, thinking to himself, "Just how much strength is this kid still holding back?"
Ning Fengzhi thoughtfully twirled the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in his hand, muttering to himself, "This competition... will probably surprise everyone."
Bibi Dong sat on the Pope throne, her eyes beneath the purple-gold crown deep and unfathomable, her fingers gripping the scepter unconsciously tightening slightly.
Huo Yuhao impatiently picked at his ear. "It's so noisy! Are you here to fight or to put on a show?" He casually cracked his knuckles. "Since you want to play, I'll play along."
As the cardinal announced the start of the match and quickly left the arena, the entire Spirit City held its breath. Everyone stared intently at the ring; this arrogant scene of one man fighting seven others was probably a spectacle they had never witnessed before.
"First Soul Skill: Waist Bow! Second Soul Skill: Charm!" Xiao Wu launched the first attack, her pink eyes gleaming with an eerie light, her long, beautiful legs sweeping across with a sharp gust of wind.
Huo Yuhao stared at her as if she were a fool. Just as the Charm was about to take effect, his Golden Pupils flashed slightly, easily breaking the mind control. He casually grabbed Xiao Wu's ankle, accurately pinning it down. "A boring trick." With that, he tossed Xiao Wu away like a rag doll.
" Zhu Zhuqing!" Dai Mubai shouted.
"Fourth Soul Skill: Netherworld Shadow Clone! Second Soul Skill: Netherworld Hundred Claws!" Zhu Zhuqing's figure instantly split into several afterimages, and her sharp cat claws drew countless cold lights in the air, attacking Huo Yuhao from all directions.
A gasp erupted from the audience; the dazzling display of skill was breathtaking. However, Huo Yuhao stood motionless, a mocking smile playing on his lips, "Playing with clones in front of Soul Master with an eye-shaped Martial Soul like me?" He shook his head slightly, then suddenly unleashed a punch. "Too ridiculous."
"Bang!"
A muffled thud echoed as Zhu Zhuqing was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string. Huo Yuhao hadn't even used any Soul Skill; he had broken through this seemingly unsolvable attack purely by relying on his terrifying dynamic vision.
"This... how is this possible?!" Oscar's eyes widened, and he forgot to continue making the sausages.
Huo Yuhao didn't even raise an eyelid when faced with the overwhelming onslaught of Blue Silver Grass vines. He lightly snapped his fingers, and a ring of icy blue light suddenly erupted around him, instantly freezing all the approaching vines into ice sculptures, which then shattered into ice shards.
" Phoenix Roaring Sky Strike?" Huo Yuhao scoffed at Ma Hongjun's fourth Soul Skill, which was poised to be unleashed. "I think it's more like a fool laughing at a frog." When the dizziness effect hit, he didn't even flinch. Instead, he watched the Phoenix Fire Line that followed with great interest. With a casual wave of his hand, an ice wall appeared out of thin air, and the blazing flames that collided with it instantly turned into countless ice crystals.
" Spider Web Restraint!" Tang San's Eight Spider Lances, gleaming with an eerie green light, hurtled towards them. Dugu Bo, watching from the stands, couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, " Little Poison Little Poison, you've really bitten off more than you can chew this time."