Xu Jiujiu subconsciously looked at Huo Yuhao, the golden protective shield behind her trembling slightly. "Is Student Huo planning to get serious?"
"The princess's protective shield is indeed as solid as an impenetrable wall." Huo Yuhao caught a falling ice crystal, letting it melt into tiny fluorescent specks in his palm. "A crown that's just pretty isn't useful—do you know what the true meaning of a crown is?"
These words left Xu Jiujiu standing there, stunned, a look of confusion in his eyes. "What... does the crown mean?"
A gentle breeze brushed against Huo Yuhao's brow, carrying a few withered yellow leaves that drifted past his fingertips. He slowly closed his eyes, his long eyelashes casting dappled shadows beneath them, as if he had become one with the air of the arena.
His nose caught the clamor of voices carried on the wind, his ears sensed the subtle trajectory of the airflow, and even his pores greedily absorbed the wind elements drifting between heaven and earth. This time, he did not intend to display extreme destructive power, but rather to use the wind as a brush to sketch a breathtaking picture between heaven and earth.
With a slight tremor of Huo Yuhao's fingertips, a visible wisp of cyan-gold energy overflowed from his palm, meandering up his arm like a living thing, weaving intricate wind patterns on the panel. The energy gradually coalesced into the nascent form of a storm, creating a rapidly spinning vortex around him.
When the vortex reached its maximum speed, the phantom of a golden dragon finally broke through the airflow constraint, raising its head and roaring as it leaped out from behind him.
The dragon's body was initially just a faint shadow of light, but after absorbing a large amount of wind element, it quickly solidified, and the patterns on its scales became clearly visible. Its wings swayed gently with the storm, and each scale reflected the golden light of the sun, just like a mythical beast that had descended to earth.
In the Shrek Academy audience seats, Jiang Nannan gripped the railing tightly, her fingertips turning white from the force, her eyes filled with amazement. "I could watch this forever! Yuhao is about to unleash his incredibly powerful Soul Skill again; it's even more breathtaking than the legends!"
Beside her, Ma Xiaotao bit her lower lip, her hair plastered to her face by the hurricane, seemingly oblivious. "Yes, that terrifying power simply transcends the realm of 'human'."
Professor Wang Yan adjusted his glasses, which had slipped down his nose, and the image of the golden dragon was reflected in his pupils behind the lenses. His voice was filled with unprecedented excitement. " Yuhao, this is the stage that belongs to you. Ride the wind and reach for higher skies, soaring upwards... Your legend has only just begun."
Unlike before, today's golden dragon Entanglement a materialized hurricane, like a shackle woven from the storm. Every flap of its wings tears through the air with a deafening sonic boom; every swing of its tail generates a shockwave powerful enough to lift rooftops.
The audience erupted in cheers and gasps. Someone pointed to the sky, trembling as they shouted, "What... what is that?!" Immediately, someone else responded, choked with emotion, "It's a dragon... it really is a dragon! A dragon is flapping its wings!"
Xiao Hongchen gripped the armrests of the chair tightly, his knuckles turning blue from the force, a disbelieving whisper rising in his throat, "This is impossible, how could he possess such strength?"
The Star Luo Emperor abruptly stood up, his eyes wide as he stared at the golden figure. "What... what's going on with this child? What is that?"
Huo Yuhao slowly opened his eyes in the eye of the storm, his pupils shimmering with golden light, as if reflecting the entire starry sky. He raised his hand and waved it lightly, and the thorny crown formed from wind elements quietly landed on his head.
The crown's spikes gleamed with a cold light, yet soft wind patterns Entanglement around its edges—just as he defined the "crown": "A crown makes the wearer stand out, a symbol of status, but the true meaning of a crown is that when disaster strikes, I will shield you from everything, and forever let you see only golden hope."
"Go, Golden Dragon Wind Dance," he said slowly.
As if understanding its master's declaration, the golden dragon raised its head and let out a deafening roar. This roar pierced through the clouds, and even people ten miles away looked up towards the arena.
The moment the dragon's wings unfolded, all the air in the arena was sucked away, creating a huge vacuum. The Star's Protection shield, which had stood for Xu Jiujiu, was as thin as paper in front of the dragon. The golden dragon swept away the shield with a hurricane, tearing it to shreds in an instant.
The next second, a storm carrying an aura of Destruction suddenly erupted, and the golden dragon swooped down with immense power. Wherever it passed, the seven Soul King were blown away like puppets with broken strings, and even the protective shield of the arena showed spiderweb-like cracks.
As the dust settled, only Huo Yuhao remained standing in the center of the arena, hands clasped behind his back. The crown of wind atop his head slowly dissipated, and the golden dragon transformed into specks of golden light, merging into his body. From afar came the referee's trembling voice. "Huo... Huo Yuhao, wins!"
Meanwhile, the audience erupted in thunderous cheers—everyone knew they were witnessing the birth of a legend.
Xu Jiujiu, he looked up at the tall figure on the stage, his eyelashes under the gilded crown trembling slightly. Huo Yuhao suddenly turned around, the wind lifting the ends of his blue hair, revealing a faint but warm smile on his lips.
He looked at her, his voice carrying a brotherly gentleness and expectation. "So, you must be a good princess." These words were like a spring breeze, gently brushing against Xu Jiujiu heart, causing a strange ripple to appear in her mood, which had been low due to the defeat.
As Huo Yuhao finished speaking, the arena fell into a brief silence, as if everyone was pondering the weight of his words. The next second, a thunderous roar of cheers suddenly erupted, sweeping across the entire arena like a surging tide.
The cheers were no longer tinged with the initial doubts and ridicule; instead, they were filled with fervent emotion and almost devout worship.
People gazed at the boy standing in the center of the arena, their eyes reflecting the golden light that had not yet completely dissipated around him—a symbol of power, and even more so, the radiance of his conviction.
Star Luo Emperor sat motionless in his chair, gazing at the young man surrounded by cheers on the field. Two words slowly escaped his throat. "Truly astonishing, a grand and magnificent competition, Huo Yuhao..."
These simple words contain so many complex emotions—shock, admiration, and even a barely perceptible sense of relief. Relief that the match went ahead as scheduled, and relief that I witnessed the birth of a legend.
"Well said, Huo Yuhao! Huo Yuhao!" Someone started chanting the slogan, and in an instant, the entire arena echoed with the name. The sound waves piled up one after another, and even the clouds above the arena trembled slightly.
The men blushed and waved their arms vigorously; the women's eyes were filled with tears, and their voices were trembling with sobs. Even the nobles in their finery disregarded their decorum and stood up, clapping loudly towards the arena.
The Star Luo Emperor suddenly stood up, letting his imperial robes flutter in the wind. He looked at the young man enveloped in golden light, and a surge of pride welled up in his heart—this was not only a legend of the Shrek Academy, but a legend of the entire Douluo Continent.
The light emanating from this young man will eventually illuminate the entire era and become an inextinguishable hope in the hearts of countless people.
The wind blew again, carrying a hint of the post-match smoke and fire, yet also a renewed hope. Gazing at Huo Yuhao's figure for Xu Jiujiu, she suddenly gently stroked the Star Crown on her head, a relieved smile playing on her lips.
She finally understood that the true meaning of the crown was never about lofty glory, but rather, as Huo Yuhao said, the responsibility of protecting. And today, she not only witnessed the birth of a legend, but also learned the true mission of a princess.
This day will be recorded in the annals of the Star Luo Empire; this day will become an unforgettable memory for all those present.
The commotion from the end of the competition hadn't completely subsided when Xuan Zi hurriedly weaved through the crowded throng, his footsteps whipping up a few fallen leaves as he rushed towards Wang Yan. His usually stern face was now filled with urgency, and before he even stood still, he launched into a tirade. " Wang Yan, what are you up to? Why didn't you notify me about Yuhao's competition?" His broad hand slammed heavily on Wang Yan's shoulder, startling the nearby students who turned to look.
Wang Yan pushed up his glasses, which had slipped down to the tip of his nose, and a helpless, bitter smile appeared on his lips. He had anticipated Xuan Zi's reaction, and calmly pulled out a crumpled tournament flyer from his pocket. "Look at this schedule. It's not even the finals yet. I was thinking that it would be even more interesting to have you personally oversee the match after Yuhao shines in the finals, wouldn't that be even more exciting?"
Before the words were even finished, a chorus of voices erupted from the sidelines—"Have you heard? Huo Yuhao used a Soul Skill that can summon a golden dragon!" "Defeating seven Soul King with the body of Soul Ancestor, this is simply a miracle for Shrek!"
Xuan Zi's ears perked up instantly, and a glint of light flashed in his cloudy eyes. "What? A golden dragon? Yuhao has used his ultimate technique again?"
He grabbed Wang Yan's wrist with such force that the latter gasped. "Tell me quickly, what kind of Soul Skill did Yuhao use this time? It's all over the place, people are saying he taught the Star Luo Empire Princess the 'true meaning of the crown' on the field, even the Star Luo Emperor was dumbfounded!"
Taking advantage of the moment, Wang Yan pulled his arm, which had been gripped until it went numb, and cleared his throat, saying, "Simply put, it's a brand-new domain skill that combines wind element and spiritual power. That golden dragon isn't a physical entity, but rather a materialized Martial Soul Avatar condensed from Soul Power and its own elemental power. As for the name of the Soul Skill, he said it's something like Golden Dragon Wind Dance."
He paused, his gaze shifting to Huo Yuhao, who was being interviewed in the distance, a hint of pride in his eyes. "What's even more remarkable is that Yuhao comprehended the deeper meaning of his Martial Soul during the battle, and was even able to convey his beliefs through his Soul Skill. He truly possesses extraordinary talent."
Upon hearing this, Xuan Zi's aged face flushed with excitement. He reached out and patted Wang Yan heavily on the back, making the latter almost bite his tongue. "Such an important breakthrough and you didn't tell me! Fine... I'll watch your finals for the next few days?"
Wang Yan rubbed his aching shoulder and said with a wry smile, " Xuan Zi, don't worry. Now that Yuhao has started, he'll definitely continue to make moves. Maybe..." He deliberately dragged out his words, "Maybe Yuhao might unleash a new technique."
"A new move?!" Xuan Zi's pupils contracted sharply, his white beard trembling slightly with excitement. "This kid was hiding something so well! No, from today onwards I'll keep an eye on him myself! If something goes wrong before the finals..."
He whirled around, his wide white robe fluttering behind him. " Wang Yan, go and fetch Yuhao right now! I want to personally instruct him. Never mind, I'll go myself!"
On the day of the finals of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament, the entire city was in an uproar.
The opposing teams from both sides have already appeared: the Shrek Representative Team and the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Master team.
When the Shrek Academy team and the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy team appeared one after the other at the entrance to the players' tunnel, the roar from the audience almost lifted the ceiling.
Huo Yuhao wore Shrek's iconic dark green team uniform, the gold pattern on his chest swaying gently with his steps, like a lurking dragon.
With each step he took, the audience erupted in a deafening roar, " Shrek Huo Yuhao! Shrek Huo Yuhao!" The waves of sound overlapped, even causing the distant city walls to tremble slightly.
"With Huo the Great God, the championship is definitely ours at Shrek!" A freckled boy in the front row waved the Shrek Academy flag, his voice hoarse from shouting, "Didn't you guys watch the group stage? He single-handedly took on seven Soul King! That golden dragon was practically capable of destroying the heavens and the earth!"
"I don't think so..." The bespectacled girl next to me pushed up her glasses. "The Xiao Hongchen siblings from the Sun Moon Royal Family are a renowned genius duo..."
Before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted by the burly man behind her, "What do you know, girl! Huo Yuhao was still Soul Elder back then, and he dared to go head-to-head with a Soul King."
Now that his Soul Power has improved, what is there to fear from the mortal siblings? The two argued heatedly, their faces flushed, but the surrounding audience all showed knowing smiles—regardless of the outcome, this duel was destined to become an eternal topic of conversation.
In the VIP section of the audience, Xiao Hongchen gripped the armrest of his seat tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.
He gazed at the golden markings pulsating on Huo Yuhao's shoulder, his mind replaying the breathtaking scenes from that day's competition. " Twin Martial Souls, Ultimate Ice, control over wind elements... This guy is simply a born combat genius."
A bitter taste suddenly rose in his throat, but it was quickly replaced by fighting spirit. "Just you wait, Huo Yuhao, I, Xiao Hongchen, am no pushover either."
Meng Hongchen, standing to the side, was completely oblivious to her brother's unusual behavior. She rested her chin on her hand, gazing intently at Wang Dong, who was standing among the Shrek academy students, a faint blush rising on her cheeks.
The young man's handsome profile was gilded by the sunlight, his hair fluttering gently in the breeze, making him even more captivating than the legendary golden dragon. "Brother," she suddenly tugged at Xiao Hongchen's sleeve, "You always say that Huo Yuhao is amazing, but I find the boy next to him more pleasing to the eye."
Meng Hongchen, of course, kept her eyes on Wang Dong. In her eyes, no matter how legendary he was, Wang Dong was much better looking than her.
Is this how a young girl experiencing her first love reacts when she meets a handsome guy? Her mind is completely focused on Wang Dong, ignoring Huo Yuhao's match entirely. "Hmph, is that guy really as terrifying as you say, brother? Everyone's talking about his exploits."
Xiao Hongchen said, "Of course, he not only possesses Twin Martial Souls, but he is also incredibly powerful, making him my lifelong rival."
Meng Hongchen looked in Huo Yuhao's direction, " Huo Yuhao?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Hongchen turned his head sharply. When he saw the infatuation in his sister's eyes, veins bulged on his forehead. " Meng Hongchen! Listen to me carefully, Huo Yuhao is my sworn enemy, and today's battle concerns the honor of the academy!"
He suddenly remembered something, and his tone turned serious, "You must be careful if you encounter Huo Yuhao; that guy is extremely strong."
"I know, I know!" Meng Hongchen waved her hand impatiently, but her fingertips secretly clenched the hair at her temples. In the distance, Wang Dong seemed to sense something and turned his head. The moment their eyes met, the girl hurriedly lowered her head, but the blush on her ears spread to her neck.
Besides, Xu Jiujiu, standing beside the Star Luo Emperor, also gazed at Huo Yuhao on the field, her eyes beneath the gilded crown carrying a complex expression. The girl's fingertips gently gripped the embroidered gold hem of her skirt, and the starlight on her earrings trembled slightly with her breath.
P. S.: Thank you to Chentang Pass Shuang Hua Hong Gun Third Prince Nezha and 2025013197613 for the monthly ticket donations.