The Dark Night Assassin's first soul ring flashed with a chilling gleam. His dagger, thin and dark as a venom fang, slashed forward at an explosive speed. The concealment around him created ripples of shadow, making most of the audience feel as though nothing but empty air rushed at Xiao Tian.
It was his signature: a killing blow launched unseen.
Yet—
Xiao Tian's body shifted lazily, turning his shoulder at the last moment. The dagger carved past harmless air.
"…What!?"
Gasps burst from the stands.
"Did Emperor Xuanyuan just dodge that? Impossible… Did he see the concealed assassin?"
In one of the high rows, a sharp-eyed Spirit Master with unusually high mental power leaned forward in shock. From his perspective, he could faintly perceive a distorted, translucent outline where Xiao Tian's blade pointed.
That outline was supposed to be invisible. The boy below wasn't supposed to detect it at all.
This realization carved panic into his mind.
He's barely in his teens… How is his mental strength surpassing even a battle-hardened Soul Sect assassin?
This concealment was the technique that had earned the Night Assassin five consecutive wins in this arena. He had never been countered. Until now.
…
On the stage, the Dark Night Assassin froze, his dagger missing its target by mere inches. His hands trembled faintly.
'That brat… Did he really see me?'
Refusing to believe, he quickly circled around Xiao Tian, walking back and forth with his concealment still active. He even swung his arms, passing them directly in front of Xiao Tian's eyes like taunts.
Still, Xiao Tian didn't flinch. Calm as a sculpture, his sword remained steady.
This sight—of an adult assassin trotting back and forth in full concealment, waving his arms like a phantom clown—struck many as absurd.
Some spectators actually laughed aloud. "Hahaha, what's he doing? This is a fight, not a parade!"
Yet for the majority who couldn't see through the concealment, the scene was baffling: Xiao Tian just standing there, and… nothing visible moving. To them, it was indeed like watching someone duel thin air.
Voices grumbled and heckled from the stands.
"Oi, fight properly! What's this joke?!"
"Do you plan to walk laps all night?"
…
On the Shrek bench, Ning Rongrong leaned closer to her grandfather figure.
"Grandpa Jian, can you see what's happening up there?"
Chen Xin's lips tugged into a proud smile.
"Hahaha. Don't worry, little one. This concealment is useless against Xiao Tian. Have you all forgotten his sword intent? Sword intent isn't just physical strength—it's built on mental power. Every time his comprehension sharpens, his spirit evolves with it. What breaks assassins isn't luck—it's mental perception honed beyond mortal limits."
Zhu Zhuqing's cold, soft voice interjected quietly, "Then… that means his spiritual power now must already be at least equal to a Soul King's?"
Her eyes widened slightly as the realization settled in. For the first time, she understood the terrifying blend that composed sword intent—not just will or technique, but the synergy of comprehension, soul power, and spiritual force.
A weapon sharper than any blade.
…
On the ring, Xiao Tian tilted his head, a faint sigh of boredom leaving his lips.
"Oi. Are you done? Isn't this dull? Pacing circles in front of me endlessly…"
The assassin's concealed heart clenched cold, his body jerking as though stabbed.
"You… You can see me?!"
Xiao Tian rolled his eyes with casual cruelty. "Please. You're a tall, sweaty middle-aged man running laps in front of me. It's hard not to notice you."
Snickers erupted in the stands. Even those blind to the assassin's figure began imagining the ridiculousness.
The assassin's chest burned. In a fit of desperation, he lunged—
But Xiao Tian's sword hummed once and flickered through the air.
"Slow Sword Intent."
Shing—
The wind shrieked as three layers of blue-black sword energy exploded outward.
The assassin's instincts roared. "Not good—!"
Panicked, his fourth soul ring glowed.
"Shadow Escape!"
In an instant, his figure blurred and vanished, dimensions slipping—his body moved through the shadows themselves!
It was his trump card. In perfect darkness, it made him nearly omnipotent—sliding into any shadow to escape or ambush.
But under the blinding brilliance of a lit arena, shadows were scarce. The only patch left was beneath the speaker sphere floating in the center air. Like a man fleeing into a rabbit hole, he dove there, gasping.
The audience roared with excitement.
"Shadow Transfer! I knew it—he can escape anything!"
"No attack can land if he hides in shadow!"
But on the ground below, Xiao Tian smiled lightly and shook his head.
"A clever move. Outdoors at midnight, you'd be untouchable. Sadly, this isn't darkness…"
His blade lifted, sword aura swelling.
"…And your shadow den is nothing but a coffin."
BOOM!
His Slow Sword Intent surged outward, weaving pressure into gravity. Three saber-strikes of sword energy arced up like meteors.
The assassin swerved desperately, dodging one slash, but the second seared across his chest, the third raking his shoulder and hurling him free of the shadow.
"URKHH!!"
His body shot out, spinning like ragged cloth, before crashing brutally onto the ground outside the ring.
The arena went silent.
Blood soaked from two angry wounds slashed across his torso. Staff scrambled hysterically, rushing him on stretchers to the infirmary.
The host's voice trembled in disbelief before he regained the rhythm.
"B-Battle concluded! With a single strike chain—the victor is… Emperor Xuanyuan!!"
…
For a heartbeat, only silence.
Then, like thunder ripping through a dam, the crowd exploded.
"Xuanyuan Human Emperor!!"
"Xuanyuan Human Emperor!!"
Chants echoed the entire arena, rolling waves of awe. What had just seemed impossible—the undefeated Shadow Assassin—was brought down in one move.
And the boy barely older than twelve stood calmly in the center, his black iron sword thrumming faintly—like the curtain following his stage.
In the lounge afterward, the Shrek group gathered together, each radiating varying emotions.
Tang San's eyes burned dark with jealousy, fists tight. Ning Rongrong seemed practically glowing with joy. Zhu Zhuqing remained ice-faced, but her deep gaze lingered on Xiao Tian a few moments longer than usual.
Across, Dai Mubai sat slumped, wounds slowly mending from Oscar's sausages. Bitter shame twisted his face.
When everyone else refocused on meditation and recovering soul power, Dai Mubai sneered, his tone cutting.
"So what now? If our next opponents aren't Soul Masters… doesn't that make it six against seven?"
Disdain trickled beneath his words.
Pathetic coward's mask.
Before anyone could retort, the lounge doors banged wide.
Seven figures strode in, their footsteps heavy. At their forefront stood a mountainous man—muscles like ridged armor, head shaved smooth.
It was Kuang Xi, the raging captain of the Berserker Team.
He had heard whispers already: tonight, Shrek team's lineup hid a Soul Sect-level monster among them. Arrogance gleamed faint curiosity in his eyes as he eyed them down.
But when his gaze landed on Zhu Zhuqing, bold delight flared instantly.
"Well, well. What a delicate little prize. That figure… hahahah, delicious."
His words slithered, poisonous with vulgar intent. He stepped closer, grinning at her.
Zhu Zhuqing's frosted voice cut coldly across him. "Get lost."
Her frigid rejection pulled a dark chuckle from him. "Ice kitten, eh? That's fine. I like 'em cold. Makes it all the sweeter to break you—"
Schhff!
A blade pressed against his throat so fast he hadn't seen it unsheathed.
Xiao Tian's Sword Fifteen rested coolly at his neck.
A smile curved Xiao Tian's lips, but his eyes burned scarlet frost. "Move again, and you'll have no head to move with."
Kuang Xi's blood froze. Cold sweat drenched his spine. In that frozen instant, he realized—he hadn't even seen when Xiao Tian drew.
This… This is that Xuanyuan Emperor…? Terrifying!
Before more could unfold, another from the Berserkers—the Spider-Woman—tensed forward.
At that very moment, the door clicked again and Manager Ao strode in, his face rigid.
"Crazy Battle Team," his voice scolded coldly, "How many times must I say it? Before official combat, harassment of opponents is forbidden! Do it again, and I'll slash your points myself."
…
In the stifling air, Kuang Xi stepped back slowly, the sword edge never leaving his skin until Xiao Tian finally sheathed it.
One thing had burned solid into memory:
This Shrek Academy was no ordinary team. And Xuanyuan Emperor… was an opponent no sane man wanted to provoke.
--
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