"No wonder the Clear Sky Hammer is hailed as the top tool-type martial soul—even with just one soul ring, its destructive power is terrifying."
Meng Hongchen glanced back at Wang Dong, who was resting on the stage, and then turned to Xiao Hongchen. "I'll be fine—just need a few days to recover."
Xiao Hongchen asked, "Where's your Hongchen Blessing? Didn't bring it with you?"
Meng Hongchen shook her head. "This isn't a life-or-death situation. If I used it, we wouldn't be able to gauge his true strength."
A ninth-tier soul tool would be far too overpowering in a match like this.
"You didn't hurt any of their team, and he still dared to injure you—that's infuriating!"
Xiao Hongchen frowned at Wang Dong's actions. Helping Meng Hongchen to the rest area, he turned to Huo Yuhao and said, "Yuhao—go up there and teach him a lesson!"
"Yuhao must conceal his martial soul—he can't afford to lose," Jiang Shengyu cautioned him.
Huo Yuhao's Spirit Eye and his @Ice‑Emerald Emperor Scorpion@ martial soul definitely cannot be revealed to Shrek Academy at this point—especially since combined with the Evil Fire Phoenix martial soul, even Xuanzi would eventually realize what Jiang Qingtong's martial soul truly is. That would blow their entire cover.
With that risk, Huo Yuhao would realistically only be able to use Sprit Eye for spiritual detection and soul tools. Since Dai Huabin had already depleted some of his equipment, going up against twin martial soul user Wang Dong would be challenging indeed.
Huo Yuhao shook his head, facing Jiang Shengyu. "Even while hiding my martial soul, I can win! Don't forget I've got the Ice‑Wrist Bracer—I can channel Ice‑Emerald Emperor Scorpion's ice-element power. Trust me!"
Upon hearing that, Jiang Shengyu studied him in silence. Finally, he nodded. "Alright—go show him what you've got!"
For the sake of the Sun Moon Empire, Huo Yuhao would certainly give his all against Wang Dong.
This was too interesting.
While Gu Lingjun treated Meng Hongchen's injury, Huo Yuhao stepped onto the stage. He nodded toward Wang Dong and introduced himself:
"Huo Yuhao, reserve team member of Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy. Level 25 control-type Battle Soul Master."
Level 25?
Wang Dong had assumed he'd be near level 30 by now—but level 25? Even as a reserve member, was that enough? What were the academy's higher-ups thinking?
Still, Wang Dong didn't underestimate him—he noticed the badge pinned to Huo Yuhao's chest. That was the insignia of a level-three Soul Engineer!
Meaning this youth had reached a Soul Engineer level with only level-25 cultivation!
Clearly, the Sun Moon Empire isn't sending trash to compete.
Muttering under his breath, Wang Dong cautioned aloud, "Even so, soul tools are external—your cultivation is too low. You might not withstand me, even with them."
That disdain in his voice didn't sit well with many soul engineers watching below—some furrowed their brows at his dismissiveness.
Wang Yan noticed the tension and pinched the bridge of his nose, uncertain how to proceed.
Wang Dong's aversion to soul tools had been apparent even within the academy—Wang Yan decided it was likely rooted in his lineage from the Clear Sky Sect, which traditionally rejects soul tools.
Once the match began, Huo Yuhao immediately activated spiritual detection, mapping out the entire battlefield in his mind. Wang Dong's every movement became visible to him.
He equipped the Ice‑Wrist Bracer, infusing it with the Ice‑Emerald Emperor Scorpion's frigid aura—his entire bracer exuded white ice energy.
Seeing Huo Yuhao wield a soul tool so contrary to the usual control type, Wang Dong's expression turned serious. Though he still didn't know Huo Yuhao's martial soul, he suspected it might be ice-affinity—or possibly the tool itself carried inherent frost power.
As before, Wang Dong chose to strike first. He aimed to knock Yuhao down quickly—to avoid any surprises. Yet every move he made had already been anticipated.
Just as Wang Dong lunged forward, Huo Yuhao had already readied his defense. He swept the Ice‑Wrist Bracer forward, erecting a solid ice wall to limit Wang Dong's movement.
Though Wang Dong's vision was blocked, Huo Yuhao's spiritual detection allowed him to see through it. Once the wall shattered, he had already moved to the side and landed a solid punch.
Wang Dong braced himself, swinging the Clear Sky Hammer in wide arcs at the approaching Huo Yuhao.
What followed was a rare close-quarters clash between a power-type martial soul user and a control-type. Mixed with occasional blasts of frost from the Ice‑Wrist Bracer, the spectacle seemed surreal to those watching.
Though each strike from Wang Dong was powerful, Huo Yuhao—guided by spiritual detection—dodged them all and struck the hammer itself.
Wang Dong found himself gradually tiring as every blow was anticipated and countered.
Realizing this, he unleashed Butterfly Goddess Slash and Winged Side Blade, attempting to seal off Huo Yuhao's flanks—forcing him into a frontal confrontation: advance or retreat.
Wang Dong chose to charge with the hammer again. Huo Yuhao held his ground—fist against hammer. A shockwave of force erupted between them.
Both combatants were knocked backward. Though the Clear Sky Hammer was powerful, Wang Dong had only attached one soul ring. Huo Yuhao wielded a genuine Level-7 soul tool; when the impact struck, the Ice‑Wrist Bracer cracked—but Wang Dong withdrew his hammer back inside himself.
Observers could see Wang Dong's grip trembling slightly. The tremendous force rippled up his arm—and he couldn't shake it off.
"What level is that soul tool? It actually stood up to a Clear Sky Hammer?" Wang Yan stared in amazement at the cracked Ice‑Wrist Bracer.
Jiang Qingtong replied, "It's a Level-7 soul tool—the Ice‑Wrist Bracer."
Level 7!
Wang Yan swallowed and let out a slow breath—it all made sense now.
On stage, Wang Dong, gathering strength, stared at Huo Yuhao and snarled, "Your tool is cracked. Quality's poor. What other moves you got? Use them."
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