Blazing Fire
Xiao Wu glared at Wang Xingyu again before turning around and sitting down on the edge of the bed again.
Tang San held the Soul Bone in his palm. It was a dark blue Head Soul Bone, shaped like a mask covering one eye, with fine scale patterns on its surface. The longest bone spur at the top was golden at the end.
"A ten-thousand-year- Head Soul Bone. Who should receive this Soul Bone?"
Wang Xingyu leaned closer to take a look. "Gemstones are suitable for Support System and mental classes. Unfortunately, they're not suitable for the two of you."
Tang San and Xiao Wu both shook their heads, indicating that it was alright.
"Then it's suitable for you, Little Ao, and Rongrong," Tang San said.
Wang Xingyu nodded. Xiao Wu turned her head and asked, "Then who should it be given to?"
"It's more suitable for Rongrong. Her attributes match her best."
Wang Xingyu quickly reviewed Ning Rongrong's later Soul Skill configuration in the original novel. "If Rongrong absorbs it, she should gain a supportive boost to her Spiritual Power, plus the ability to create illusions. If Little Ao absorbs it, it'll probably be like a sausage to replenish his Spiritual Power. If I absorb it, it'll be similar to Little Ao's —except instead of eating sausages, it'll be like transferring Blue Silver Grass."
"Why don't you absorb it?" Tang San handed over the Soul Bone.
Xiao Wu nodded in agreement.
The two were of one mind—they preferred Wang Xingyu to absorb the knowledge rather than Ning Rongrong and Oscar.
Although none of the three were particularly good at protecting themselves, Wang Xingyu was the one who most often went into danger.
Wang Xingyu took the Soul Bone, but he didn't really want to absorb it. He felt that doing so would be like stealing Ning Rongrong's opportunity, since the Soul Bone originally belonged to her in the original story.
But glancing at Tang San and Xiao Wu, he knew that they would face many dangers from the Spirit Hall in the future, and the two of them were always the first to be hurt. He would spend a lot of time with them and could face them together. Moreover, the Spiritual Power aspect of their abilities was also suitable for him.
Wang Xingyu nodded. "Then I'll absorb it." He silently added in his mind: I'm sorry, Rongrong.
He flipped the Soul Bone over and suddenly remembered, "Right—which show is it today?"
"The tenth match," Tang San answered without hesitation.
Wang Xingyu recalled that Blazing Fire Academy should be in the eleventh match, which he would definitely participate in. He also needed to find Uncle Hao to get the Spirit Hall token from the Canghui Academy.
This Soul Bone is more of a mental illusion type, and its compatibility with the Life System Blue Silver Grass isn't very high. It would probably take a day or two to absorb it.
There isn't enough time.
He put the Soul Bone back into his Storage Soul Tool. "I'll leave it for now and absorb it in a few days."
"Good."
The next day, the Shrek team was in the lounge. Grandmaster stood at the front with the documents in his hand. Flender was not there—the Dean was busy with his soap business, and it was said that he had received another batch of orders that day.
"Our opponent in this battle is the Blazing Fire Academy." The Grandmaster spread out the documents.
Oscar leaned closer for a look. "Blazing Fire Academy? The one from the Five Elemental Academies? I wonder whose fire is stronger, Fatty's or theirs."
"Of course it's mine." Ma Hongjun touched his hair.
The Grandmaster nodded. "Yes. However, Blazing Fire Academy isn't purely a power-based team; they possess strong offense, agile offense, control, and support—a very complete setup. Their strength is probably above Elephant Armor Academy. This battle won't be easy. Fire element is a perfect counter to Little San and Xingyu's Blue Silver Grass."
He looked up at the group, "If we're not going to use some of our trump cards, my advice is to just concede."
Wang Xingyu's lips curled slightly, and he shook his head. "No, Grandmaster, fire attribute doesn't counter us."
Tang San added from the side, "Yes, Grandmaster. Xingyu and I consumed the Immortal Herb in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, making us immune to ice and fire."
The Grandmaster paused for a moment, then his eyes lit up. "Oh?"
Ma Hongjun's mouth dropped open. "Even cheating wouldn't be this over the top! What's the other team supposed to do then?"
The Grandmaster closed the documents and said decisively, "Alright. You two will go for this match. As for the rest—except for Dai Mubai, you can decide for yourselves who will go."
Dai Mubai leaned against the wall, his lips twitching. He didn't need to repeat that sentence every time.
The Grandmaster picked up the documents and prepared to leave. "I'm going to study the other teams' information. There are quite a few teams participating this time."
Watching the Grandmaster's retreating figure, Wang Xingyu suddenly had a thought flash through his mind. In the original story, Qin Ming seemed to Shrek Academy around this time, so why was there no movement at all this time?
He called out to the Grandmaster, "Grandmaster, why don't we invite Senior Qin Ming over? We're already strong enough; with Senior Qin Ming's help, we should be more confident in dealing with other teams."
Dai Mubai immediately chimed in, "That's a good suggestion."
The Grandmaster stopped in his tracks. "I already invited him. But Qin Ming said that Shrek is strong enough, and the Heaven Dou Royal Team needs him more. He might Shrek Academy after the tournament ends."
"Oh? That's such a pity about Qin Ming." Ma Hongjun slapped his thigh, his face full of regret, "He won't be able to become the team leader of the championship team."
Dai Mubai glanced at him. "That's called benevolence. Do you think everyone is as vain as you, Fatty?"
Everyone prepared themselves, and soon it was Shrek's turn to take the stage. On the arena, the referee's voice was amplified and carried throughout the entire arena via Amplifying Soul Tool.
"In this round of matches, Shrek Academy will face Blazing Fire Academy! Neither side has suffered a defeat so far!"
A deafening roar erupted from the stands. Two undefeated teams clashed, making this match incredibly exciting even before it began.
"Shrek Academy has dispatched seven Soul Ancestor to this match! It seems they are taking Blazing Fire Academy very seriously; this is sure to be a spectacular showdown—let's wait and see!"
As for why all seven of them participated, the reason is simple: all seven wanted to personally test their skills at the Blazing Fire Academy. Even Ning Rongrong rarely volunteered to participate, let alone the others.
The audience erupted in cheers, some shouting "Blazing Fire," some "Shrek," and others yelling Xiao Wu's name. It was just a little hard to tell—were they calling for Xiao Wu from Shrek Academy, or Huo Wu from the Blazing Fire Academy?
Huo Wushuang stood at the front of the group, his gaze fixed on Tang San and Wang Xingyu. "Your setup is indeed stronger. But two Blue Silver Grass Soul Master are completely countered by us; they're just nourishment waiting to be burned."
Tang San stood opposite him, his expression calm.
"Really? That's not necessarily true."
The referee raised his arm and shouted, "Start!"
Both sides attacked simultaneously. Within the Blazing Fire Academy's formation, Huo Jun and Huo Chui's First Soul Ring lit up at the same time. Sparks flew like silk, and countless fine fire lines intertwined in mid-air to form a net, suppressing the spread of Blue Silver Grass over a large area.
Ma Hongjun's Fourth Soul Ring lit up immediately afterward, Phoenix Roaring Sky Strike slammed directly towards the two of them.
Huo Wu reacted extremely quickly, instantly activating the Repelling Fire Ring. A ring of golden flames surged outwards from her center, causing Phoenix Roaring Sky Strike, which had only hit halfway, to be bounced back. Ma Hongjun was also swept by the ring's force, his body flying uncontrollably off the field.
Zhu Zhuqing's figure flickered, and she activated her Netherworld Shadow Clone, simultaneously separating her main body and two clones. Her main body took the Mushroom Sausage handed to her by Oscar, took a bite, and a pair of semi-transparent wings unfolded from her back.
Ning Rongrong's Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda spun once, Second: Speed, and a stream of light landed precisely on Zhu Zhuqing, quickly stopping Ma Hongjun.
Two other clones have already cut in from the flanks, heading straight for the back row of Blazing Fire.
At the same time, Oscar, Tang San, Ning Rongrong, and Wang Xingyu swallowed the Mushroom Sausage simultaneously, and the four of them ascended into the air together.
Within the Blazing Fire Academy formation, Huo Yun and Huo Yu exchanged a glance, their Soul Ring igniting simultaneously, and two pairs of fiery wings unfurled behind them. Martial Soul Possession Fire Crane martial spirits, the two leaped into the air, carrying two scorching streaks of fire as they hurtled straight towards the four people in mid-air.
Tang San's Fourth Soul Ring lit up. Blue Silver Thrust - six vines twisted together to form a sharp cone, shooting towards the two with a muffled Air Break sound.