OMO

Dead silence.

After Bao Liang finished speaking, the entire Star Luo Plaza fell into a deathly silence for three seconds. Even the pattering of raindrops on the Soul Tool Shield could be clearly heard. The hundreds of thousands of spectators were like ducks with their necks being choked, even their breathing became shallow.

Looking at the Shrek Devils, Bao Liang's expression returned to calm, but his eyes were frighteningly cold, like a block of ice that would never melt.

"Referee! That was an accident! Sanshi just lost control!"

Ma Xiaotao also realized what was happening and tried to rush onto the stage like a madwoman, but was held back tightly by Dai Yueheng and Ling Luochеn. Her Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul uncontrollably spewed out purplish-black Evil Fire, distorting the surrounding air. Her eyes were bloodshot, a sign that she was about to lose control due to extreme anger.

"Let me go! What right do you have to kill someone! Sanshi clearly didn't do it on purpose!"

Ma Xiaotao roared, and the oppressive aura of the Evil Fire Phoenix spread uncontrollably, frightening the audience in the stands into retreating involuntarily, and the VIP seats in the front row were in complete chaos.

Seeing Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire erupt, Huang Jinxu immediately used his Titled Douluo- level Soul Power to suppress Ma Xiaotao, rendering her unable to move.

In the sky, Huang Jinxu, the Heavenly Fiend Douluo, also looked extremely grim.

As Titled Douluo and referee, he should have been in control of the entire event.

But what just happened happened too fast, so fast that he didn't have time to stop it at all—from Xu Sanshi's Xuanwu awakening to Bao Liang's instantaneous counterattack, the whole process took no more than three seconds, and even he couldn't react in time.

More importantly, Bao Liang was right—the book "On the Hidden Bloodlines of Various Martial Soul and Their Awakening Possibilities" is indeed a required reading for the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.

Xu Sanshi did indeed use Black Tortoise Descent, which was a forbidden Soul Skill that Sacrifice life. Moreover, his target was Bao Liang, and he even wanted to affect the other members of the Sun Moon Team. The spread of the blood-red energy was enough to cover half of the arena.

I saw Xu Sanshi awaken his Xuanwu in the previous match against Zhengtian Academy. This is also the reason why Princess Jiujiu and her team didn't dare to push Shrek too hard when the Xingluo team played against Shrek.

To interrupt the Sacrifice of Black Tortoise Descent, the user either has to risk self-inflicted harm to dispel it, or they need to rely on a stronger external force to forcibly interrupt the Sacrifice process.

It's obvious that Shrek contestant Xu Sanshi lost his mind because of the injury to the Soul Master with the Soft Bone Rabbit Martial Soul. He would never risk the backlash to give up the Sacrifice; his goal was to kill Bao Liang.

As for judging Sun Moon Team to have violated regulations?

Huang Jinxu sneered inwardly.

In previous years, Shrek had killed the most people on the field, and they would always pretend it was an accident and not intentional to get away with it. Because the Sun Moon Empire was eyeing them covetously, other countries had no choice but to turn a blind eye.

Now that you've become the victim, you're trying to get attention?

Is there really such a good thing?

It's not like no one from the Star Luo Empire has ever died at the hands of Shrek. Not taking sides is already a testament to my professional ethics as a referee.

But...

Huang Jinxu looked at Bao Liang. This kid was indeed too dangerous. With him around, the upcoming matches would definitely not be peaceful.

Both sides are now seething with anger because of him.

Hiss--!

This is a difficult situation!

Where are you, Your Majesty?

Your Majesty! Your Majesty, are you there? Your Majesty, please say something! Your Majesty, why are you staring at me like this?

I can't handle this situation!

Xu Jiawei: OMO

Seeing Huang Jinxu's shifty gaze, Bao Liang, his voice carrying a hint of amusement, yet sending a chill down one's spine:

"Your Honor, according to the rules of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, my actions constitute legitimate self-defense."

Bao Liang released his grip, dusted himself off, and looked completely innocent, even raising an eyebrow. "As a knowledgeable Titled Douluo of the Star Luo Empire, you should know that Xu Sanshi was trying to use Black Tortoise Descent to Sacrifice me. I couldn't just stand there and wait to be killed, could I?"

"Besides, I used my First Soul Skill. Using Soul Skill isn't against the rules, is it?"

Huang Jinxu's lips twitched.

That thing is your First Soul Skill?

Do you think everyone here is an idiot?

Whose First Soul Skill could blast someone to ashes? That was clearly the explosive power of a level Level 9 Soul Tool!

But he simply couldn't refute it.

It is a fact that Xu Sanshi used the Black Tortoise Descent; he genuinely intended to kill someone.

Bao Liang's counterattack, procedurally speaking, did indeed fall under the category of legitimate self-defense.

"This..." Huang Jinxu was speechless for a moment, sweat beading on his forehead. He couldn't possibly admit in front of hundreds of thousands of viewers that he was biased towards Shrek, could he?

"Moreover, according to the competition rules, it's a matter of life and death."

Bao Liang added casually, his gaze sweeping over the Shrek Academy members with undisguised sarcasm, "On the arena, life and death are determined by fate."

"Xu Sanshi tried to kill me first, but I killed him in return. What's the problem with that?"

In the audience, the people of the Star Luo Empire were discussing the matter. Some felt that Bao Liang made sense; life and death were the responsibility of the fighters on the stage, and Xu Sanshi deserved to be killed since he had tried to kill first.

But most people still sided with Shrek —after all, Shrek was the number one academy on the Douluo Continent, with its reputation and prestige standing by it, and Xu Sanshi had only lost control temporarily, his crime did not warrant death.

"Silence!" Huang Jinxu snorted coldly, his powerful Titled Douluo instantly enveloping the entire arena and silencing all murmurs. "The match continues! Neither team is allowed to mention this matter again!"

"Yes."

"As expected of the Heavenly Fiend Douluo, truly fair and impartial."

Unlike some people, tsk tsk tsk...

Bao Liang smiled, turned around and walked back to the Sun Moon Team's camp. As he passed Meng Hongchen, he reached out and ruffled her hair, signaling her not to be angry.

His nonchalant attitude made the Shrek members grit their teeth in frustration.

Especially those three "tsk" sounds, which weren't very threatening, but were extremely insulting.

Ma Xiaotao wanted to rush forward, but Dai Yueheng and Ling Luochеn held her back tightly.

Bei Bei gritted her teeth, but could only watch helplessly as Bao Liang's smiling face rose in her heart, filled with endless hatred.

Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection Sharing was interrupted due to the intense emotional fluctuations just now, and a metallic taste rose in his throat, which he forcibly swallowed.

Wang Dong looked at him worriedly and handed him a bottle of water, but he shook his head.

"Brother Sanshi..."

Huo Yuhao's voice was hoarse, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor, but more than anything, it was a suppressed madness. "I will definitely avenge you."

Back at the Sun Moon Team's camp, everyone gathered around, and the atmosphere became somewhat tense.

"Bao Liang, you were too impulsive just now."

Xiao Hongchen frowned, secretly pleased, but still had to say a few words on the surface, "Xu Sanshi is not only a core member of Shrek, but also the young sect master of the Mystic Nether Sect. Killing him is tantamount to making a blood feud with both Shrek and Mystic Nether Sect."

"So be it, a deadly feud."

Bao Liang shrugged indifferently, "They, from Shrek, want to kill me, so can't I fight back?"

"Besides... haha, he just tried to kill you, me, and Sister Meng all at once!"

Do you think I'd just stand by and watch you get into trouble?

Xiao Hongchen sighed. Any one of the three of them would have done the same in this situation, so he didn't say anything more.

However, the gazes directed at Shrek grew increasingly cold, especially towards Meng Hongchen, whose silver hair moved without wind, and whose fingertips were already covered in icy shards.

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore." Bao Liang waved his hand. "The competition isn't over yet."

"Ma Rulong, according to plan, continue to wear them down using the artillery tactical kiting method."

"Jiang Nannan is crippled, and Xu Sanshi is dead. Shrek now only has five members left, which is the perfect opportunity for us to crush them."

Ma Rulong nodded, his gaze returning to the arena, his expression grave.