Huo Yuhao was just about to make a move when, to his surprise, the previously dazed Xie Huanyue suddenly regained clarity.
A ring of purple light spread out, and Xie Huanyue curled up his whole body, resembling a big rubber ball, and shot straight toward Huo Yuhao.
The speed of this move was astonishing. Faced with the rolling Xie Huanyue, Huo Yuhao instinctively took several steps back.
As it turned out, Huo Yuhao's instincts were spot on. The moment Xie Huanyue landed, an invisible ripple spread out from him.
This contained a dizzying shockwave that could cause vertigo. Had Huo Yuhao not stepped back, he would have been caught in Xie Huanyue's rhythm.
With phantom steps, Huo Yuhao gently waved his hand, and two soul tool cannons appeared on his arms.
Members of the Body Sect could generally only use flight-type soul tools and the Invincible Barrier.
But he was an exception.
He had no rejection toward any kind of soul tool.
As long as it could increase his strength, he considered it a good thing.
With a surge of soul power, Huo Yuhao fired a series of light bullets in a very short time.
Caught at close range, Xie Huanyue had no time to dodge. Another purple light flashed, and the surface of his round body trembled in a few spots.
The light bullets that struck him were bizarrely bounced away.
"What?"
Huo Yuhao was startled, his face showing surprise.
Although Xie Huanyue looked bloated, he gave the feeling of being slippery and hard to handle.
That layer of fat had a force-dissipating and even counterattacking effect.
It would be hard to succeed with this kind of attack.
Unless it was an extremely sharp attack or a powerful soul attack to make him lose his force-dissipating effect.
Huo Yuhao's assessment was correct.
Xie Huanyue's martial soul was the Rubber Elephant, a very special and troublesome martial soul.
This martial soul made him as slippery as a rubber ball, buffering and dissipating most impacts.
Ordinary attacks could hardly get through his defense to hurt him.
Even his special fat could, to a certain extent, weaken spiritual attacks.
This kind of martial soul was extremely annoying.
Once you got entangled with him, it was like sticky glue, impossible to shake off.
After dissipating Huo Yuhao's attack, Xie Huanyue jumped ten meters high and smashed straight at Huo Yuhao.
His abilities were most effective at close range.
But Huo Yuhao hadn't wasted these past years; naturally, he wouldn't give Xie Huanyue such an easy chance.
His Spirit Eyes flashed, and the soul rings he had concealed before were revealed.
Three purple and three black rings—six in total—shone with a ghostly light.
The third purple ring flashed, and a layer of obscure energy spread out.
Xie Huanyue, as if losing his mind, suddenly changed direction and charged straight at a shield on the side.
With a loud bang, Xie Huanyue crashed heavily into the barrier.
The barrier's rebound force bounced him back, making him roll all over the arena.
The third soul skill: Spiritual Interference.
This was a very practical control-type soul skill Huo Yuhao had obtained, and it was an area attack.
It could make opponents temporarily lose control as if they were malfunctioning machines.
Immediately after, Huo Yuhao's fourth soul ring lit up.
Xie Huanyue, who had just regained his senses, shuddered all over, spat out a mouthful of blood, and lost consciousness.
His round body stiffened and collapsed, unmoving.
The fourth soul skill: Spiritual Shock.
A powerful offensive spiritual soul skill.
Especially when stacked with the negative buff of Spiritual Interference, it could produce miraculous results.
"This... how is this possible?"
In the waiting area, the Shrek group was in an uproar. In the rest area, Wu Ming also exclaimed in shock.
This reversal happened so quickly. From the moment Huo Yuhao revealed his soul rings, it only took a second or two for him to complete a spectacular counterattack.
Xie Huanyue was subdued by Huo Yuhao almost without resistance.
Naturally, Wu Ming found this hard to accept.
Especially those six soul rings under Huo Yuhao—three purple, three black—were simply incredible.
"How could he be a Soul Emperor?"
Wu Ming's face was full of disbelief. Even Han Ruoruo beside her was shocked.
They all knew Huo Yuhao—a Shrek Academy dropout.
Frankly, more than three years ago, Huo Yuhao was just a Soul Grandmaster.
Now he's already a Soul Emperor?
Is that normal progress?
Never mind talent. If Huo Yuhao had real talent, he wouldn't have been expelled from Shrek.
A nobody who was just a Soul Grandmaster before suddenly becoming a Soul Emperor? He's become a monster.
"There's something strange going on; it's too weird. No one normally improves that fast."
"Even Su Yu couldn't improve this quickly."
"In three years, he jumped four ranks—no normal person could do that."
Han Ruoruo said seriously.
She'd sooner believe all men in the world were faithful than believe Huo Yuhao could improve this much.
It was absurd. It just wasn't possible for Huo Yuhao to do this.
"And his soul rings—how can they be three purple and three black? His first ring was white."
"Ten-year Wind Baboon, I remember it clearly."
Wu Ming said confidently.
Among the inner courtyard students, Huo Yuhao wasn't a stranger.
After the Du Busi incident, most inner courtyard students had some impression of Huo Yuhao.
A Body Martial Soul owner with terrible talent, carrying a ten-year soul ring—a total loser.
How could he be this youth with three purple and three black rings, far surpassing normal combinations?
It was too unbelievable.
"The soul ring issue is explainable. The Body Sect has special secret techniques. When a disciple undergoes a second awakening, their soul ring age can be increased."
Su Yu said calmly.
What he didn't say was that after long-term cultivation of the Devouring Life Scripture, pushing one's body beyond its limits, it was possible to increase the soul ring age.
But such cultivation was too cruel.
Similarly, the Holy Spirit Church could also increase the soul ring age.
But the Holy Spirit Church's method was bloody and evil.
The Devouring Life Scripture was similar, but instead of torturing others, it tortured the practitioner.
With how hard Huo Yuhao cultivated the Devouring Life Scripture, this outcome was quite normal.
Envy upgrading soul ring age? He paid with his life.
Three purple, three black—glorious on the outside, but he didn't have many years left to live.
"Second awakening of the body martial soul? You're saying Huo Yuhao increased his ring age through a second awakening?"
"But what about his soul power?"
"An increase of forty levels in three years—even you couldn't do that. How did he?"
Wu Ming's eyes were full of confusion.
Su Yu smiled, "That, I have no idea."
"He must have strayed down the wrong path. Otherwise, it's impossible."
"Unless his talent is even higher than yours—but how could that be?"
"He must've used some shady means. I'm going to expose his tricks."
Wu Ming stared at Huo Yuhao on the stage, word by word, seriously.
Su Yu couldn't help but laugh. He hadn't expected Wu Ming to have so much confidence in him.
Is it impossible for someone to be more talented than him? It did sound nice.
Su Yu looked at the stage with a smile.
In the arena, after Xie Huanyue's defeat, everyone on Shrek's side became serious.
"Huo Yuhao is that strong?"
Xiao Xiao's mouth was agape in disbelief.
She was only a Soul King, and Huo Yuhao was already a Soul Emperor.
And he had so easily taken down Xie Huanyue—his strength made even Xiao Xiao wary.
"A Soul Emperor—he improved so fast. How is it possible?"
Ning Tian was full of resentment.
As the young master of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, a so-called prodigy, she was only a Soul King.
And Huo Yuhao, whom she once looked down on as trash, was now a Soul Emperor?
Why him?
Ning Tian, always proud, couldn't accept being surpassed by a peer—especially this trash she used to scorn.
Being overtaken by trash was, in her mind, a humiliation.
"Xie Huanyue has lost. Next…"
Beibei's expression was solemn, eyes complicated.
Yuhao had become stronger.
He truly had.
But now, Huo Yuhao stood in their way—a hurdle they must overcome.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them, his gaze was sharp.
"Sanshi, you go. Be careful of his spiritual attacks."
Beibei reminded.
Xu Sanshi nodded, stepped out of the crowd, and leaped onto the stage.
Xu Sanshi's strength was leagues above Xie Huanyue's.
In terms of battle experience and cultivation, he far surpassed the latter.
Even with his Xuanwu bloodline crippled, at this stage, he was still extremely powerful.
Xu Sanshi slowly approached Huo Yuhao, his stride like a dragon or tiger, exuding a strong aura.
Huo Yuhao's expression was serious; this opponent was far more threatening than Xie Huanyue.
His gaze sharpened, and his aura rose to meet him.
"Huo Yuhao, right? Beibei's junior. I'm impressed."
"To have reached the Soul Emperor level already—such progress is unheard of, not even that detestable bastard."
"But today, you will lose. Shrek's honor cannot be challenged."
Xu Sanshi looked at Huo Yuhao and said.
Huo Yuhao didn't back down, responding, "Then please, Brother Xu… show me your skills."
Indeed, Huo Yuhao knew Xu Sanshi.
Back when he sold grilled fish, Xu Sanshi was a customer.
And since Xu Sanshi and Beibei got along, they'd met.
But knowing each other didn't mean Huo Yuhao would hold back.
Apart from Tang Ya and Beibei, he equally disliked everyone from Shrek Academy.
He remembered every slight from Shrek Academy.
Now was the time to settle the score.
"Tch…"
Xu Sanshi clicked his tongue, meaning unclear—was Huo Yuhao brave or just bold to speak like that to him?
"State your names."
"Shrek's Xu Sanshi."
"Snow Demon Sect's Huo Yuhao."
"Both sides step back; the match is about to begin."
Huo Yuhao backed away, opening up space between himself and Xu Sanshi.
Once both stood at opposite sides of the arena, the referee's voice boomed.
"Begin!"
Whoosh!
Huo Yuhao's Spirit Eyes shone, and his six soul rings—three purple, three black—sparkled brilliantly.
Xu Sanshi's body gleamed black, and a turtle-shell shield appeared in his hand. A heavy aura filled the air.
Xu Sanshi was arrogant on the surface, but he dared not be careless. He immediately used soul power to protect his head.
When facing a spiritual-type soul master, one couldn't let their guard down.
"A defense-type soul master."
Glancing at Xu Sanshi's shield, Huo Yuhao's eyes flickered.
Defense types restrained soul engineers the most. He probably couldn't rely on soul tools this round.
To win, he'd need to rely on his martial soul.
Of course, perhaps he could use martial skills from the Devouring Life Scripture to overcome his opponent.
With thoughts swirling, Huo Yuhao didn't move, just stared at the other side.
Similarly, Xu Sanshi stood still. The two faced off across more than a hundred meters, staring at each other.
After dozens of seconds, the audience was getting impatient.
Xu Sanshi squinted, "This kid really can keep his cool."
"But we can't keep this up. The longer we wait, the more he recovers his soul power."
Since Huo Yuhao wouldn't move, Xu Sanshi had to.
But Xu Sanshi was careful. Shield in hand, he advanced step by step toward the center.
He moved slowly, but gradually reached the middle.
Seeing Huo Yuhao still hadn't moved, Xu Sanshi raised an eyebrow and kept approaching.
His large shield blocked him from the front, and every step was steady.
Bit by bit, Xu Sanshi got closer to Huo Yuhao.
When the distance was less than five meters, Xu Sanshi suddenly erupted with speed.
His fifth soul ring flashed.
Huo Yuhao was startled and quickly moved aside, but Xu Sanshi's eyes glinted craftily—it was his fourth soul ring that activated.
Xu Sanshi had feinted perfectly.
As Huo Yuhao dodged, a great force drew him in, pulling him right up to Xu Sanshi.
Xu Sanshi grinned, and his first soul ring flickered—the massive shield slammed into Huo Yuhao.
"It's over!"
The Xuanming Shield radiated dark light, and a series of shockwaves exploded out.
The first soul skill, Xuanming Shock, evolved: Multiple Xuanming Shocks.
Caught at close range by this move, even a Soul Emperor couldn't escape.
In the nick of time, a light barrier suddenly erupted from Huo Yuhao.
The Invincible Barrier.
With its help, Huo Yuhao forcefully broke free from the attack range.
"What?"
Xu Sanshi was dumbfounded, his face full of disbelief.
What the hell?
A Body Sect member brought an Invincible Barrier?
You call yourself Body Sect?