When Supervisor Ao strode in, the atmosphere was tense enough to snap. Kuang Xi—nicknamed Crazy Rhino—instantly plastered on an oily grin. He bowed his massive head low, voice dripping with false respect.
"Haha, Supervisor Ao, please forgive us. We'll… pay more attention next time, yes, yes."
Then, with one final glance brimming with arrogance, he turned and herded his team out. Just before stepping across the threshold, he slid his thumb across his thick throat—a wordless promise.
A threat.
That was the style of the Crazy Battle Team. On the surface, they mocked and disdained their foes. In their hearts, however, they never stopped taking opponents seriously.
Their creed: underestimate no one, but intimidate everyone.
And tonight, they had intended to dismiss the Shrek newcomers with confident contempt. After all, though rumors said a mere boy—barely a teenager—had already reached the Soul Sect realm, who would believe such absurdity without proof? A child this young surely lacked real combat blood.
But the rumors had proven harsh reality.
They had seen him—Xuanyuan Human Emperor. The sword-wielding youth. With one stroke, he had easily revealed and destroyed the shadow Assassin every Soul Sect dreaded. What they thought might be chance victory… was no accident.
This boy wasn't normal. He was terrifying.
Even Kuang Xi, climbing back through the corridor, still felt the phantom chill of a black iron sword pressing against his throat.
In the lounge, Supervisor Ao turned back with an apologetic smile. His face regained neutrality, but his voice carried steel.
"The team that just barged in is indeed your first opponent tonight—the Crazy Battle Team. Every member is a Soul Master. Their captain, Crazy Rhino, has reached level 39."
Xiao Wu perked up immediately. "Then Brother can fight too, right?!"
Her eyes shone. After all, since Dai Mubai had been knocked out by her earlier fury, he wouldn't be participating tonight. That opened the slot for Xiao Tian.
Supervisor Ao nodded. "Yes. And to be frank, luck or misfortune, this is a unique chance. Every team registering tonight happens to be full of Soul Masters. And the Berserker Team—" his voice dropped knowingly, "—is by far the strongest among them. They are one match away from promotion to the Central Arena."
Ao paused, sighing. "Kuang Xi deliberately plays rough before every match. His words and harassment? Always the same test, meant to rattle opponents early. Don't let it shake you. This time, however…" His eyes flickered briefly toward Xiao Tian, "…he may realize testing can be fatal."
He bowed slightly and excused himself. "Well then, I will see you shortly on stage. I am… very much looking forward to this team fight."
When the door shut, a faint silence lingered behind.
Though he hadn't said it aloud, Ao's mind still buzzed. Can one Soul Sect, even a monstrous one like Xuanyuan Emperor, truly make up for a team otherwise lower in levels? We'll see tonight…
Not long after, the announcement thundered.
"All contestants, prepare for the team match!"
Xiao Tian stood first, his gaze cool but steady, lips curving faintly upward.
"Everyone," he said, "this will be our first fight together. A good chance to truly test our strength."
Xiao Wu immediately tugged his sleeve with a mischievous pout. "Brother! Don't rush in right away! If you fight seriously, you'll end it too fast. The rest of us won't even get a warm-up!"
Her soft voice was teasing, but half-serious. She knew better than anyone—Xiao Tian's blade now carried power closer to a Soul King than a mere Soul Sect. If he unsheathed it properly, the Crazy Battle Team would collapse in one stroke.
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing exchanged knowing glances. They hadn't seen through Xiao Tian's true cultivation, but after traveling with him for so long, they understood his fighting ability exceeded reasoning. If Xiao Wu begged him to hold back, she had reason.
Xiao Tian only smirked faintly. They underestimate me still. If I truly wanted, I wouldn't even need to draw this sword more than once.
Stepping into the arena, the thunder of the crowd hit like a tidal wave.
Tonight, the host himself was Supervisor Ao, his voice ringing with authority, setting the scene.
"Ladies and gentlemen, tonight's highlight: the Crazy Battle Team, victors of five straight matches, challenging newcomers—Team Shrek!"
Applause roared across the field.
"The Berserker Team, as you all know, has dominated recent matches with raw, overwhelming force. Win tonight, and they advance directly to the Central Arena!"
"And their opponents? Team Shrek, first registration tonight. Do they carry more than novelty? Or will their arrogance be punished?"
Then his eyes glinted, a smile tugging his lips as he drew closer to the true highlight.
"Of sharpest interest—yes, even among keen eyes in the crowd—you must have noticed: why is a sword-wielding Soul Sect standing in a team battle restricted to Soul Masters? That is because Soto Arena currently contains no Soul Master-level team capable of such fights. Thus, tonight's odds may be… foregone. But reality belongs to the battle itself!"
The crowd erupted.
Supervisor Ao raised his hand, and the digital screen rolled introductions.
"Team Shrek!"
"Captain: Xuanyuan Human Emperor. Martial Spirit: Sword. Level 43, strong attack system Soul Sect."
"Member: Soft Bone Charming Rabbit. Level 34, strong attack type."
"Member: Seven Treasures Glazed Tile. Level 27, auxiliary support."
"Member: Nether Spirit Cat. Level 28, agility attacker."
"Member: Qianshou Shura. Level 31, control type."
"Member: Evil Fire Phoenix. Level 28, attack type."
"Member: Sausage Specialist. Level 31, food type."
Cheers and chuckles intermingled. Jeers at their lower levels mixed with awe at Xiao Tian's presence.
"Team Berserker—enter!"
Their introduction followed, led by Kuang Xi's level 39 bellow.
The host roared the final words. "…Battle—begin!"
Instantly, energy cascaded.
"The Seven Treasures have names!"
Ning Rongrong's luminous voice carried strong. Her Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda spawned into her palm, twin beams wrapping her teammates.
"One for Strength, Two for Speed!"
She cast amplifications across her allies—all the front-line attackers but Xiao Tian, whom she didn't dare bolster recklessly.
Across the stage, the Berserkers' auxiliary stood tall. Ruyi Pan Martial Spirit glowed, answering in kind. Strength and speed bonuses surged across all his brawling comrades.
Power flooded both sides.
Shrek lined into a neat three-one-one-two formation.
Frontline: Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ma Hongjun.
Center: Tang San, weaving his Blue Silver Grass.
Back row: Ning Rongrong and Oscar, guarded by Xiao Tian's solitary stance.
Xiao Tian's blade never wavered—he would not even step forward yet. His role was clear: protect the supports. Watch. Wait.
Tang San's eyes sharpened.
"Zhu Zhuqing! Fatty! Split their flanks and disrupt the backline! Xiao Wu—come with me! Together, suppress the Rhino!"
Orders cracked through the team.
Zhu Zhuqing blurred instantly, darting like a lightning shadow around the edges, slipping toward the rear. Ma Hongjun flared his first soul ring, releasing fire—the Phoenix Fire Line whistled from his mouth, scorching heat across the flank.
Xiao Wu frowned faintly. Something about Tang San's calls unsettled her. But restraining the Rhino was indeed essential, so she clenched her fists and leapt.
Her ruby eyes flashed. "Second Soul Skill—Charm!"
A pink glow shot into Kuang Xi's roaring face. His bull-like body stiffened, eyes glazing.
Tang San's hand rose, his Blue Silver Grass bursting from the ring's ground. He spun and lashed, Blue Silver Entanglement binding toward their foes.
On the opposite side, a calm female voice sliced through.
"Two Monkeys! Two Sheep! Pin their wings!"
The Spider-Woman, the Berserkers' hidden commander, moved coldly. Her two-yellow, single-purple rings glowed as her eight arachnid limbs cracked and pulsed.
She didn't even flinch at the Rhino staggering dazed. Her arachnid leg lashed—
SLAP!
A harsh strike smacked across Kuang Xi's face. His eyes flared wide again, flushed red with fury—the charm shattered instantly. Spirals of yellow light rose as his defensive soul ring activated. With a roaring crash, the bull charged straight again—toward Xiao Wu this time.
Her cold command sliced the Shrek's hopeful rhythm apart.
The counterplay had begun.
--
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