Shrek's Struggle
The next morning, the rain continued, and the low pressure over Star Luo Plaza made it hard to breathe.
Unsurprisingly, Shrek did not choose to surrender. They continued to struggle, still wanting to fight back.
To be honest, Bao Liang was surprised by Shrek's choice.
Not only Bao Liang, but also the other members of the Sun Moon Team, and even the audience, were surprised.
Because there's simply no point in fighting anymore, what's the point of struggling?
What does Shrek Academy have left? Three Soul Grandmaster, one Soul Ancestor, one Soul King, and two Soul Emperor, and all of them are half-crippled.
Ma Xiaotao is consumed by Evil Fire, Dai Yueheng is covered in sword wounds, Ling Luochеn's Soul Power is exhausted, Bei Bei is mentally weakened, Huo Yuhao's mental power is depleted, Wang Dong is eager to protect his master, and Xiao Xiao is trembling with fear—this lineup isn't even good enough to give the Sun Moon Team experience.
On the other hand, the Sun Moon Team Bao Liang and Meng Hongchen, who can easily kill Level 95 Titled Douluo when they are at their peak; Xiao Hongchen, who can barely kill Titled Douluo below Level 95 when he is at full power; Ji Juechen and Ma Rulong, both Soul Emperor, who are at full strength; and five Soul King who are also at full strength.
With the Sun Moon Team's lineup, what do you, the Shrek, full of remnants, have to fight? Fight with your lives? Are you kidding me!
Do you think this will make the audience buy into it and forget all the embarrassing and pathetic things Shrek did yesterday?
Is your purpose in Shrek this to show us, the audience, your indomitable spirit?
Wrong! That's not being unwilling to admit defeat, that's a death throes, it's being unable to accept defeat!
Shrek's current desperate struggle will only deplete the audience's last bit of support.
What the audience wants to see is undoubtedly Shrek Academy descending to earth like a god, winning the championship of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament with absolute dominance, just as it has always been.
Instead of letting a group of kids risk their lives for some damn championship when there are already casualties.
That's not perseverance or willpower, that's disgusting.
Bao Liang at the disdainful and puzzled looks from the audience, and listening to the endless discussions and doubts, Bao Liang couldn't help but sneer inwardly.
Shrek Shrek, you've made a mistake today.
They could have simply played on the sentimentality of fighting against the Evil Soul Master that led to the loss of personnel, made up a few random lines, and admitted defeat today. They might have even managed to win back a lot of goodwill and positive reviews from the audience.
But you chose the stupidest decision yet, deciding to continue standing on this stage, to continue showcasing the wretchedness and corruption of Shrek, and your image in the eyes of the people.
Sigh... What a terrible move.
Bao Liang smiled with relief; there was no mockery in his smile, only a serene acceptance of everything.
On the stage, Huang Jinxu, who had been dragged over to be the referee again, looked at Shrek with a reluctant expression, as if he were looking at an idiot.
But he didn't say anything, only hoping that nothing unexpected would happen today so that he could complete his job as a referee safely and peacefully.
After all, money is hard to earn, and life is tough.
The few days he spent as a referee were like eating all the shit he owed from his past life.
Okay, let's get started and finished quickly.
He never wanted to see anyone related to Shrek or the Sun Moon again in his life.
Shorten your lifespan!
"Shrek Team, are you sure you still want to participate in today's individual matches and 2v2v3 matches?"
As the referee and an adult, he still asked for the opinions of the Shrek students, his voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible admonition.
"Confirmed!" The Shrek team confirmed in unison, with Ma Xiaotao's voice being the loudest, piercing through the rain and soaring into the sky, carrying an almost fanatical obsession.
"Alright! Next up— Shrek vs. Sun Moon Team, the individual competition officially begins!" Huang Jinxu waved his hand, "Both team captains, please submit your lists of participating players and prepare for the match!"
Ma Rulong and Ma Xiaotao stepped forward and submitted the member list and the order of appearance.
Upon returning, Ma Rulong, unsurprisingly, recounted what he had witnessed to everyone, his expression grave.
"Bao Liang was right, something is very wrong with Ma Xiaotao."
"Although the woman appeared perfectly normal on the surface, her aura was both too violent and too oppressive."
"Moreover, her eyes had turned completely purplish-red due to the oppression of the Evil Fire, and the smell of that Evil Fire could be smelled no matter how hard you tried to suppress it."
"At the same time, she looks to be in better condition than everyone else in their team, which means that the Medicine Immortal Douluo has put the most effort into her."
"And as expected, she will be the first to play in the first match of the individual competition."
"As for whether she should suppress the Evil Fire or heal it... I lean towards suppressing the Evil Fire, what do you think?"
After Ma Rulong finished speaking, Bao Liang chimed in with certainty, "It's definitely to suppress the Evil Fire."
"Ma Xiaotao is an arrogant woman with lofty ambitions. Her efforts to achieve this today are evident from the barely suppressed Evil Fire she displayed at the start of the competition."
"This woman has long been steeped in that so-called Shrek glory; she's capable of anything crazy for that purpose."
Bao Liang looked at Meng Hongchen, his gaze softening. "Sister Meng, you must be extremely careful when you go on stage later. Just proceed according to plan."
"We've already secured the victory; there's no need to risk our safety for a moment of bravado."
Seeing how much Bao Liang cared for her, Meng Hongchen's heart softened. Her silver hair swayed gently, and a tender smile curved her lips.
"Okay, we'll do whatever our Little Baozi says~"
"Now, please welcome both contestants to the stage!" Huang Jinxu's voice rang out at the opportune moment.
As expected, the first person to appear from Shrek Academy was Ma Xiaotao.
Her red dress fluttered in the wind, her purplish-red eyes were particularly dazzling in the rain, and Evil Fire flickered around her. With each step she took, the arena floor was scorched black.
Bao Liang looked at Meng Hongchen and said, "Sister Meng, be careful."
"I will." Meng Hongchen nodded, left the rest area, and stepped onto the arena.
She wore a snow-white dress, her silver hair cascading down her back, and the level eight Western sword in her hand gleamed with a cold, eerie blue light. Every step she took was on the "safe coordinates" that Bao Liang had marked through his Spiritual Detection Sharing.
On the other side, Ma Xiaotao was completely taken aback when she saw that Meng Hongchen was the first member of the Sun Moon Team to go on stage.
According to their deduction, Ji Juechen should be the first to appear from the Sun Moon Team, followed by Bao Liang as the last one.
The only unexpected thing was that Meng Hongchen would be the first to appear, catching Ma Xiaotao completely off guard.
But I don't have time to think about that now.
"The players are in position. Shrek vs. Sun Moon Team individual match, Ma Xiaotao vs. Meng Hongchen... The match begins!"
"Second Soul Skill: Bathing Fire Phoenix; Third Soul Skill: Phoenix Wings Soaring; Fifth Soul Skill: Phoenix Cloud-Piercing Strike!"
Ma Xiaotao struck first, showing no mercy as she aimed straight for Meng Hongchen's face. She combined her three Soul Skill, unleashing a phantom phoenix that blotted out the sky and the sun, rushing towards him with the force of scorching the heavens and boiling the seas.
But Meng Hongchen was not afraid at all. She parted her red lips slightly and said, "Self-Created Soul Skill: Repelling Ice Ring - Wide Area Spread."
A ring of ice, filled with repulsive and extreme cold, spread outward from Meng Hongchen's center. Wherever it passed, the air froze, raindrops stopped falling, and even Ma Xiaotao's Phoenix Flame were forcibly suppressed.
When Ma Xiaotao's three combined Soul Skill, Phoenix Cloud-Piercing Strike, crashed into the Repelling Ice Ring, it was no different from crashing into a city wall. It was instantly dispersed, turning into countless sparks that dissipated in the rain.
Ma Xiaotao was stunned for a moment, but in that instant, Meng Hongchen had already attacked Ma Xiaotao with her level eight melee soul-guided rapier, the tip of the sword pointing straight at her throat, so fast that only a blur remained.
Ma Xiaotao's eyes sharpened. While using her First Soul Skill, Phoenix Fire Line, to counter Meng Hongchen, she secretly used her Fourth Soul Skill, Phoenix Roaring Sky Strike, to disrupt Meng Hongchen's rhythm.
Meng Hongchen wasn't stupid. She raised her hand again, and instantly unleashed another Repelling Fire Ring, which not only pushed Ma Xiaotao forward but also cleared away the Phoenix Roaring Sky Strike that Ma Xiaotao had just planted.
Where the fiery ring passed, the phoenix vanished, and even the water on the ground evaporated instantly.
Seeing Meng Hongchen unleash a fire-attribute Soul Skill, Ma Xiaotao was completely dumbfounded, her pupils shrinking sharply. "How is this possible? How can an ice-attribute Soul Master use a fire-attribute Soul Skill?!"
Meng Hongchen remained silent, only focusing on unleashing her First Soul Skill, Ice Toad Poison, at Ma Xiaotao.
Take advantage of his illness to kill him.
Rings upon rings of dense, swirling Ice Toad Poison surged rapidly toward Ma Xiaotao's location, their green hue chilling and their poison terrifying.
Ma Xiaotao decisively chose to use Phoenix Cloud-Piercing Strike to counter it. The phantom of the phoenix pounced out again, attempting to evaporate the poisonous mist with high temperature.
Ma Xiaotao had already personally experienced the poison of Meng Hongchen yesterday, and she would never fall for it again today.
But Ma Xiaotao was still frustrated. The reason was simple: none of the Soul Skill Meng Hongchen was currently using surpassed the Third Soul Skill.
If you get close, Meng Hongchen will push you away with her Repelling Ice Ring and Repelling Fire Ring; if you attack from a distance, you will be poisoned; and if you use a high-damage, high-power Soul Skill, she will copy and counterattack with her Third Soul Skill, Ice Mirror Magic.
I can't fight at all; the more I fight, the more frustrated I get.
The more suppressed one feels, the more violent the inner Evil Fire becomes.
Ma Xiaotao was now covered in sweat. The restlessness of the Evil Fire within her made it increasingly difficult for her to concentrate. She wanted to burn everything and kill everything!
Veins bulged beneath her skin, and her purplish-black blood vessels snaked like dragons; each breath she took carried with it scorching steam.