" Ma Xiaotao, what can I say about you? You're just a few Soul Ancestor, and you still want to use Martial Soul?"
"You've exposed yourself! Someone will definitely develop tactics against you then," Zhou Yi said, exasperated.
Ma Xiaotao looked at Zhou Yi and said nonchalantly, " Teacher Zhou, so what if we're targeting her?"
She raised her head haughtily and continued, "All tactics are useless in the face of true strength."
For a moment, Zhou Yi didn't know what to say, so she reluctantly lowered her raised hands and let Ma Xiaotao have her way.
However, what Ma Xiaotao said is indeed true. When a person is powerful enough, so-called schemes and targeting are really not worth mentioning.
Huo Yuhao walked to Zhou Yi's side, gently patted her shoulder, and gave her a warm smile. Only then did Zhou Yi completely relax.
Looking at Huo Yuhao's smile, she realized that she might have been worrying too much.
After all, Ma Xiaotao only revealed her Soul Saint cultivation level, but did not reveal her Soul Skill, which instead put an invisible pressure on all the academy students present.
Even if they target them, they're probably powerless to do anything about it.
Thinking of all this, Zhou Yi finally relaxed completely, let out a long sigh, and said, " Yuhao, I think I was a bit too tense. When you run into Xiaotao, please apologize to her for me. I think you two have a good relationship."
"Haha... Teacher Zhou, you should get some rest. Don't worry, with Senior Ma and the others here, and we're here too," Huo Yuhao comforted him.
After exchanging a few brief words, the Shrek Academy team left the competition venue without looking back.
Only astonished spectators and contestants remained, all thinking the same thing.
Arrogant! Utterly arrogant!
An arrogant disregard for the opponent, even to the point of disdain for things like observing the opponent and gathering information!
In an instant, the eerie silence lasted for a full half minute. Shrek's figure had long since disappeared when the referee on the stage finally reacted.
"Please welcome... the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy to the battle..."
Elder Ma, puffing on his pipe, looked in the direction Shrek had left and nodded to Ma Rulong.
Ma Rulong immediately stood up, waved to his teammates, and said, "Everyone, listen to me, our Soul Tool are just as good. Even a Seven-Ring Soul Sage is no match for us. Let's win the elimination rounds first."
"Yes, Captain!"
"The captain is right."
Although the team members were shocked, they quickly recovered. After all, while Shrek was a formidable opponent, that was only because they had advanced through the knockout stage.
If you're scared out of your wits by Shrek at this moment and don't even make it through the elimination rounds, you won't even qualify as an opponent.
After encouraging each other, the group high-fived and slowly walked towards the competition venue.
In the contestant area, Xiao Hongchen, the captain of the reserve team, had his hands behind his head, looking completely relaxed.
In reality, the veins on his right hand were bulging, and he was gripping his hair tightly, his mind filled with the terrifying blow from Ma Xiaotao.
After much thought, he still couldn't see an opportunity for himself. Even the power emanating from the flames made his Martial Soul feel like it was about to submit.
Meng Hongchen, standing beside him, didn't think so much. Looking at Huo Yuhao, who resembled the black-clad man she had encountered at the Spirit Dou Ling Festival, she involuntarily stood up, even though she was certain that he wasn't the one in her heart.
But she still wanted to know Huo Yuhao's name.
Meng Hongchen cautiously looked around, and after confirming that no one was paying attention to her, she slowly began to move.
Xiao Hongchen grew increasingly frustrated and agitated. Looking at Ma Rulong and the others on the stage, who were about to defeat their opponents, he said, "Meng, you said that in five years, I should be able to break through to the Soul Saint..."
After talking for a while, Xiao Hongchen realized that something was amiss. He turned around and looked, but Meng Hongchen was nowhere to be seen!
On his other side, besides the reserve team members, there was only Elder Ma smoking a pipe.
Xiao Hongchen asked Elder Ma directly, " Elder Ma, where's Meng? Where did she go?"
Old Elder Ma looked around with a puzzled expression, then glanced at Xiao Hongchen, whose eyes were filled with annoyance, and exhaled a puff of smoke.
White smoke slowly dissipated in the air, blurring the distance between the two. He said, "She went back to the hotel, just without saying goodbye. Judging by her speed, she should be able to catch up with the Shrek crew."
Xiao Hongchen frowned and said, " Shrek? What's she going to Shrek for?"
Elder Ma shrugged and said, "Don't overthink it. Maybe she's just going back to the hotel. Perhaps she hasn't recovered from what happened in the Dou Ling Empire yet."
Then, he put down the pipe in his mouth, stretched out his large hand, which was covered in the smell of smoke, and patted Xiao Hongchen on the shoulder. " Xiao Hongchen, relax a little. But as you saw, I also hope you remember not to underestimate your opponent."
Xiao Hongchen impatiently slapped his hand away, glanced at him with some disgust, and said, "I'm not talking to you about this. Observe here on your own. I'm going back to cultivate."
With that, Xiao Hongchen left the contestants' area without looking back.
Elder Ma looked in the direction he left, shook his head helplessly, and picked up a cigarette from the side.
On the high platform.
Having watched the match for Xu Jiujiu with no interest, his thoughts had long since drifted away in the direction Huo Yuhao had left.
Xu Jiawei noticed her state and chuckled, "What's wrong? Want to see him?"
Xu Jiujiu, like a kitten whose secrets had been exposed, blushed and said haughtily, "Who said that? I didn't... I wasn't thinking about Yuhao."
"Hahaha, you, you! I never said it was Huo Yuhao."
It took Xu Jiujiu to realize what was happening, and she said angrily, "Oh! Royal brother, you tricked me!"
As she spoke, she raised her fist, but Xu Jiawei immediately surrendered, saying, "Alright, after watching the battles between these academies, I'll allow you to leave first."
Xu Jiujiu's expression immediately changed, and she smiled sweetly, saying ingratiatingly, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I knew you were the best!"
He could only dote on his younger sister, who was much younger than him.
At the entrance of the Star Emperor Hotel.
The rest of the Shrek members had already gone inside; even Wang Dong'er had been tricked into going in by Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao finally had time to linger there alone, surveying the towering building, and inwardly marveled, "I must say, 'Jing' is truly a genius in this regard; he grasps things instantly..."
Hey~!
A sweet voice came from behind.
Huo Yuhao glanced around and saw that there was no one else. After realizing that he was being called, he turned around and pointed to himself in confusion.
Meng Hongchen's chest heaved, her cheeks flushed, and she raised her hand to wipe away the sweat that dripped down her face, her gaze fixed intently on him.
Meng Hongchen nodded and said, "Yes, that's you."
Huo Yuhao looked at Meng Hongchen's school uniform with a puzzled expression, and felt that her face seemed somewhat familiar. "Is there something wrong? Where have we met before?"
"We just met on the field, you've forgotten?"
"I don't remember, and it doesn't matter."
Meng Hongchen, hands on her hips, angrily pointed at Huo Yuhao's indifferent face and said, "You have no manners at all!"
"I'm not called 'Hey' either."
Meng Hongchen's face flushed red from his retort, and she was speechless for a moment.
Huo Yuhao frowned slightly, somewhat puzzled, and decided to leave.
Sensing Huo Yuhao's intention, Meng Hongchen reached out to grab Huo Yuhao, "Wait a minute..."
"Ah!"
A sweet shout suddenly rang in Huo Yuhao's ears.