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Xiao Hongchen saw his team's morale plummeting toward rock bottom. He abruptly stood, his voice resolute as he scanned his members:
"Look up, all of you! His Highness the Regent Prince watches us from the high platform! Countless citizens of the empire witness us now! This match carries our nation's honor—we can die fighting, but we cannot surrender!"
His gaze settled on his sister. "Meng, you're next. Bring ample Invincible Shields. Our objective remains unchanged. If… if Gu La steps onto the stage, you must force him to unleash at least one soul skill—to drain his power!"
Meng Hongchen discarded her lingering admiration for Gu La's appearance. Her delicate face tightened as she nodded firmly: "Understood, brother."
She knew personal victory—or survival—mattered far less than strategic goals now.
Meng Hongchen's Vermillion Clear Icetoad martial soul unleashed a vast toxic fog. Her cultivation level surpassed Zhou Sichen's by one ring. Against his summoned beasts and soul device harassment, she barely moved—merely releasing frigid poison mist that effortlessly dismantled his assault, securing her victory.
After referee Zheng Zhan announced the result, Meng Hongchen hastily pulled out a milk bottle to replenish her soul power. Her heart pounded as she stared anxiously toward Shrek Academy's rest area, awaiting their next fighter.
Gu La's fingers tapped rhythmically on his chair's armrest, a playful smile on his lips.
He hadn't planned to crush Sun Moon's team in individual matches—it would be too dull.
What could better provoke Sun Moon's sensitive national pride than annihilating their premier official team in the highly publicized team battle? What could better fuel the torrent of belief energy born from despair and fury?
"Ning Tian. Cao Jinxuan." Gu La's voice was casual.
"Here, Captain."
"You two will take the stage in turn… and surrender immediately."
"Huh? Captain, why? Doesn't that just give them points?" Cao Jinxuan blinked in confusion.
Ning Tian's brow furrowed thoughtfully but she hadn't yet grasped his scheme.
Gu La chuckled, explaining: "Do as I say. By 'losing' these three matches, we 'give' them a face-saving reason to forfeit the individual segment. We'll force them to admit publicly that in individual combat, they aren't even worthy of making me step onto the stage."
Ning Tian instantly understood—and felt speechless at Gu La's ruthlessly cruel amusement.
This was soul-crushing humiliation. He was forcing Sun Moon's team to swallow defeat twice in individual matches.
Still, she cautioned: "Captain, Sun Moon still has martial soul fusion skills. Isn't the team battle too risky?"
Gu La shook his head, absolute confidence in his tone: "No risk."
Thus, under the stunned gazes of spectators and Sun Moon's team, Shrek Academy's Ning Tian and Cao Jinxuan ascended the arena. Facing the tense Meng Hongchen, they directly surrendered to the referee.
Ning Tian even "inadvertently" released her resplendent Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul while stepping up—a purely auxiliary radiance that served as silent mockery: 'We're sending auxiliary fighters just to fill seats. We plainly refuse to engage you in individual matches.'
Meng Hongchen "won" two matches in bewildered silence. No joy filled her—only humiliation from being despised and deeper unease.
Xiao Hongchen's face darkened until it seemed water might drip from it.
He saw through Gu La's scheme completely!
Gu La was forcing a choice through overt tactics: Refuse to surrender? Gu La would step up next—and judging by his past ruthlessness and the Tang Sect's earlier victory over Sun Moon, the fighter would likely die or be crippled!
Surrender? That meant admitting before millions of citizens that Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy was inferior to Shrek—inferior to Gu La—in individual combat!
This colossal black pot of shame would be his to bear!
On the high platform, Xu Tianran also recognized this tactical humiliation. Fury churned within him.
Gu La's ploy was arrogance incarnate!
He treated Sun Moon's team—and the Sun Moon Empire itself—as insignificant insects. This was a brazen threat built on absolute strength, staged on Xu Tianran's own soil before his very eyes!
Beside him, Ju Zi sensed the icy rage radiating from Xu Tianran. She murmured soothingly:
"Your Highness, don't anger yourself over a madman's arrogance. To destroy him, first we must let him descend into madness. Gu La's overbearing nature will be his downfall."
Xu Tianran forcibly contained his fury, expression blank as he stated flatly: "You're right. Merely a reckless fool who knows not the heavens or earth."
---
On the Tang Sect side, Huo Yuhao quietly explained Shrek's consecutive forfeits to his teammates.
Xu Sanshi whistled in admiration: "Gu La's ruthless! He's stabbing them in the heart! Xiao Hongchen surrendered to us once before—if he surrenders to Shrek again…"
"Heh, the spit of Sun Moon's spectators will drown him! Fantastic!" Xu Sanshi relished the drama without restraint.
Huo Yuhao added calmly: "When enemies are confirmed, such psychological warfare is actually merciful."
Xiao Hongchen wrestled internally. He saw Gu La rise from Shrek's rest area, seemingly preparing to take the stage.
Unable to bear the weight of possibly sending teammates to their deaths—and the endless pressure to follow—he rasped with all his might: "Referee! Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy… forfeits the individual matches!"
Referee Zheng Zhan sighed inwardly. Though fair-minded, as a Sun Moon citizen, he felt bitter watching his nation's top team be forced into surrender through manipulation.
Gu La could have won effortlessly, yet chose to toy with his opponents like a cat with mice—within the rules' boundaries.
Spectators who initially didn't grasp the tactics soon understood after explanations. Intense anger, hatred, and rejection toward Gu La and Shrek Academy surged through the crowd.
Gu La accepted it all without resistance. He disdained this impure negative belief energy, but his psychological warfare had achieved its effect.
Zheng Zhan took a deep breath and announced loudly: "Individual matches concluded! Shrek Academy wins three matches; Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy wins four. Shrek gains four points; Sun Moon gains three. Proceeding to the team battle—both teams, take the stage!"
Sun Moon's lineup: Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, Lan Xiu, Qiu Yi, Ye Nongfeng, Ding Xiaobu, and… Ye Canshang, who had narrowly avoided facing Gu La in individual matches. Seven fighters total.
Shrek's team: Zhou Sichen absent. Gu La led the remaining six main fighters onto the arena.
"Begin!"
Both sides instantly released their martial souls. Gu La wore that heart-chilling faint smile as four black and three blood-red soul rings rose beneath his feet—a configuration so monstrous it resembled a demon king descended to earth, radiating unparalleled pressure.
Xiao Hongchen was also a seven-ring Soul Saint—but his cultivation had been forcibly accelerated through drugs. The cost: his strength would stagnate for the next five years.
He roared. All seven Sun Moon fighters activated specialized linked defensive soul devices.
Mingde Hall had developed these specifically to counter Gu La's devastating flame abilities. Fire resistance was maximized.
Though not full immunity, sixth-grade shields could filter most energy impact from seventh-grade fire attacks. Only pure soul power shockwaves remained, blocked by inner defensive soul devices.
Soul power would drain rapidly, but Sun Moon's soul device masters excelled at temporary cultivation boosts and recovery via drugs. Their soul skills leaned heavily on this—barely sustainable for a short duration.
Gu La's Appraisal Eye instantly penetrated the soul devices' principles and weak points. He smiled dismissively. Before absolute power, all cunning tricks were merely laughable theater.
"Fifth Soul Skill: Holy Radiance Domain!"
When that hundred-thousand-year soul ring blazed with brilliant light, the entire stadium held its breath, unwilling to miss a detail.
Xiao Hongchen reacted like a startled bird, shouting instinctively: "Meng, fall back!"
He and Meng Hongchen drew close together. Soul power surged as they unleashed their ultimate trump card—Martial Soul Fusion Skill: Hongchen's Yearning!
A colossal golden toad phantom materialized, enveloping the siblings.
Yet Gu La merely tilted his head, amused as he observed their panic: "Relax. It's just a domain. Scared already?"
Within the golden toad, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen's faces turned ashen—but they had no breath to reply.
For in the next instant, boundless holy light-flames appeared throughout the arena. Sacred yet scorching, they equally seared every target within the domain.
Even Referee Zheng Zhan was caught in the backlash. He raised a soul power shield, face darkening, but dared not retreat—too many Sun Moon fighters might die, making him grossly negligent.
Zheng Zhan was a Titled Douluo (albeit drug-boosted) and could endure. But Sun Moon's other fighters suffered terribly.
Ye Canshang's Skeleton martial soul—extremely yin and evil—was utterly countered by the holy, Ultimate Light-infused flames. The moment the domain expanded, he became like a torch doused in gasoline. Barely uttering a scream, he and his martial soul ignited, purified, finally reduced to a small pile of ashes.
Meng Hongchen's previously deployed Vermillion Clear Icetoad poison mist vanished the instant the Light-Flames appeared.
Every soul device on Sun Moon's fighters—offensive or defensive—glowed red from within, softened, deformed, and ultimately failed.
The other four members—Soul Kings and Soul Emperors whose foundations were drug-fueled and hollow—couldn't withstand three seconds under the domain's indiscriminate scorching. They lost combat ability instantly. Zheng Zhan swiftly grabbed each and threw them off the arena.
Had Meng Hongchen not been shielded by the martial soul fusion skill's immense soul power, her ice-attribute martial soul would have been gravely wounded—or even instantly killed—in this domain of Ultimate Light and Fire.
The entire audience froze in shock.
Their nation's proudest academy—fielding its seven strongest fighters with specialized countermeasures—was reduced to five casualties in an instant by a single domain skill. Only the martial soul fusion skill remained, struggling desperately.
This gap wasn't a chasm—it was an impassable abyss!
Gu La condensed a Holy Solar Angel Sword in hand, casually twirling it before his gaze settled on the golden toad. His tone was relaxed: "Shall we continue?"
Their response was action. The golden toad's massive mouth opened—Metal Torrent!
Countless molten metal streams surged like a breached dam, carrying world-shattering force toward Gu La.
Xiao Hongchen refused to believe Gu La's mortal flesh could ignore their attack as easily as his domain!
Gu La's eyes sharpened, playfulness vanishing. He raised his light-sword and simply slashed forward.
No flashy radiance—only condensed solar sword intent!
This will resembled a miniature sun—dazzling, blinding, carrying the will to incinerate all and rule the heavens.
Guided by sword intent, the essence of his dual Ultimate Light and Fire attributes fused perfectly. Striking last but arriving first, it collided head-on with the colossal metal torrent!
Sssshhk—!
Like red-hot iron cleaving snow, the overwhelming metal torrent split cleanly before that condensed solar sword intent. The scorching blade's force didn't waver—it precisely struck the golden toad's core.
BOOM!
The martial soul fusion skill shattered!
Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen flew backward from within, spewing blood mid-air before crashing heavily to the ground. They instantly fell into deep unconsciousness.
"Xiao, Meng!"
A furious roar echoed. Mingde Hall Master Jing Hongchen could no longer restrain himself. Like lightning, he shot onto the arena, scooping up his grandchildren. He glared back at Gu La with bloodshot, hate-filled eyes—but said nothing. Carrying them, he fled swiftly.
Referee Zheng Zhan was infuriated by Jing Hongchen's rule-breaking intrusion but knew this wasn't the time for contention. He immediately announced loudly: "Team battle: Shrek Academy wins! Total match victory to Shrek Academy! Nine points awarded!"
The stadium fell deathly silent.
Gu La's performance defied comprehension. Two moves—merely a domain and one sword slash—had annihilated a top-tier team boasting a Soul Saint and a martial soul fusion skill.
This exceeded all understanding of the Soul Master Tournament's boundaries.
Nearly every team silently conceded: this year's championship belonged unequivocally to Shrek Academy!
Countless teams stared at Gu La's figure, their eyes filled with helplessness and despair. Their fighting spirit was utterly shattered.
On the high platform, Xu Tianran's face turned iron-gray. His fingers gripped the armrest until they whitened. Through clenched teeth, he hissed: "Worthless!"
Just days ago, he had praised Mingde Hall for producing Xiao Hongchen's Soul Saint cultivation. Now, he wished he could dismember Jing Hongchen and his grandchildren to vent his rage.
Serving a ruler was truly like walking beside a tiger. And Gu La… he was the tiger that had violently invaded Xu Tianran's territory, trampling his dignity underfoot with impunity.
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