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"Roar~!"
Blood splattered across the ground. Dai Huabin felt as if he was back in that nightmarish cave, treating his opponents as the bandit group from before. The Netherworld White Tiger roared furiously, its tiger paw slamming down on the terrified Soul Ancestor.
He hadn't intended to kill anyone deliberately, but the Netherworld White Tiger's power was simply too immense. Two Soul Elders were torn apart without even the chance to resist. One of those Soul Elders didn't even have the optimal Soul Ring configuration and simply couldn't withstand the Netherworld White Tiger's Soul King-level power.
Since he had already killed, he might as well fight to the end, showcasing Shrek's formidable strength with the most dominating stance!
Dai Huabin felt that the blood and ferocity of the White Tiger Family within him had awakened. His tiger eyes glowed red, and with each swipe of his paw,
he even had the illusion that his Soul Power was increasing!
"No, don't kill me, we surrender!"
The Soul Ancestoryelled surrender. The referee rushed to intervene but was still a step too late. A Netherworld Tiger paw landed heavily on the Soul Ancestor's head. The powerful Soul King-level force directly created a scene of a bursting watermelon, splattering red and white matter all over the referee.
"Stop!"
The referee arrived, his body enveloped by seven Soul Rings—one white, two yellow, three purple, and one black. He moved to block the Netherworld White Tiger.
His Martial Soul attached, he used his Soul Power to clash with the Netherworld White Tiger's paw, barely managing to rescue the last Soul Elder caught in the Heavenly Net from its claws.
"In this match, Shrek Academy wins. Please, contestants, stop immediately."
The referee announced the result with a livid expression, separating the combatants.
In just a blink of an eye, three people from Tianyun Advanced Soul Master Academy were dead, and the remaining four were all severely injured. Shrek's dominance was fully displayed.
Cheers erupted from the stands. Xu Tianxi watched the scene, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, and instructed everyone, "Everyone, prepare your Invincible Shields. Don't be stingy."
"Understood." Everyone responded. Even Xiao Hongchen had abandoned his playful demeanor and wore a serious expression.
The competition rules didn't prohibit deaths, and the organizers' referees weren't fully responsible; a compensation payment for the deceased would settle the matter.
Strictly speaking, the Netherworld White Tiger violated the competition rules by attacking after the opponent surrendered. But any fool knew that the Star Luo Empire would never criticize Shrek Academy over such a matter. Those who died died in vain.
The Tianyun Academy members limped off the stage, one by one. It was clear they would be scarred for life. Soul Masters specializing in earth and construction work stepped in and began restoring the arena.
All the Soul Master academies, including the Sun Moon Battle Team, began discussing the Shrek Battle Team's performance. Many felt a chill down their spines.
Ma Rulong wore an expression of "I've learned something today" and gave Xu Tianxi a thumbs up:
"As expected of the Millennial First Genius of our Sun Moon Empire. Your intelligence work is truly on point. Shrek really doesn't bat an eye when killing people."
Lin Xi chimed in, "Exactly. Shrek is so ruthless when killing people from the Dou Ling Empire. They'd have even fewer psychological burdens killing us. I even think they intentionally kill people and don't care about human lives at all."
Lin Jiayi nodded with a grave expression: "You're right. Although in every tournament's elimination rounds, it's inevitable for some academies to fight to the death for qualification, resulting in student deaths, those are almost always the result of Soul Skills or Soul Guided Devices that are hard to control.
"Shrek, on the other hand—it's clear they completely disregard human lives and strike with extreme viciousness. Everyone, prepare the good stuff the Dean gave you. Don't try to save the academy's budget."
Among the students present, even the four special team members were considered geniuses. The other ten were top-tier geniuses, each capable of becoming a Level 8 Soul Engineer without incident. Ma Rulong and the Hongchen siblings were definite Grade 9 reserve members, and Xu Tianxi's future was simply limitless.
Even injuring a casual Soul King would be enough to pain Hongchen Dean. If the latter four were injured, the old man would go crazy.
Everyone solemnly agreed, promising to prioritize their safety.
On the other side, the Shrek representative team won the match and converged in the resting area first.
Zhang Lexuan's expression was very displeased. She glared at Dai Huabin, her tone unfriendly:
"Dai Huabin, why did you strike so heavily? Don't you know those three people were vibrant lives,
future geniuses who could become Soul Emperors, Soul Sages, or even challenge Soul Douluo?"
Becoming a Soul Ancestorbefore twenty meant a promising future, and even a slight hope of becoming a Titled Douluo. A Soul Elder was also quite good, considered a minor genius.
While these minor geniuses were far inferior to Dai Huabin and the others, they formed the backbone of the Douluo Continent. Defeating them was enough; why kill them? Before Mu Lao passed away, he specifically instructed Shrek to start learning to be low-key.
Zhang Lexuan didn't even need to think; someone would surely resent Dai Huabin and Shrek, they just didn't dare to act on it.
Dai Huabin was inwardly dismissive, but he didn't dare defy the authority of this senior sister. He lowered his head and said,
"I apologize, Senior Sister. The Netherworld White Tiger's power is too strong. I also didn't expect them to be so fragile, unable to withstand a single blow."
Zhu Lu also added,
"Yes, Senior Sister, Huabin didn't do it on purpose. We also didn't know the gap between us and them was so wide.
I think even the Great Soul Masters in our academy wouldn't be worse than them."
Zhang Lexuan's expression grew even uglier. She clenched her silver teeth, questioning word by word:
"Even if you couldn't control your strength for the first two, how do you explain the latter two?! You killed a Soul Ancestorright in front of the referee. If you hadn't been stopped, that Soul Elder probably would have died too, right?"
"Is having great power meant for you to kill like this?"
Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu both lowered their heads, momentarily speechless.
They couldn't exactly say they got carried away from killing too much; that wouldn't sound good.
Zhang Lexuan was about to scold them further when she heard Cai Meier, the vice dean of the Martial Soul Department, say:
"Alright, Lexuan, Huabin and the others didn't do it on purpose. They were just three ordinary geniuses; there's no need to make a big deal out of it."
Zhang Lexuan's eyes widened: "But Dean, if they do this, many academies will—"
"It's done. There's no point in saying more."
Cai Meier waved her hand and casually said, "Once they step onto the Soul Duel Stage, they should be prepared for injuries or even accidents. Our academy has had many instances of accidental injuries and deaths in the past, and it has never affected our standing."
"You can tell from the cheers of the audience that seeing such a scene will only make them marvel at our power even more. There's no need to fuss over minor matters; if the opponent is from the Sun Moon Empire, we should actually encourage it. Effectively crippling the opponent's active combat strength is an excellent tactic in itself."
With that, Cai Meier's gaze landed on Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu, her voice growing sterner as she admonished them:
"Don't think that what you did was right. It's better to save that energy for when you face the Sun Moon Battle Team. What's the big deal about killing a few geniuses from ordinary academies? You just pointlessly angered your senior sister. Be careful in the future; don't let it happen again."
"Yes, Dean," Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu replied in unison, knowing the matter was now closed.
Zhang Lexuan looked displeased but didn't say anything more.
If she hadn't intervened, Dean Cai probably wouldn't have even given them that admonishment. Hopefully, they'll learn their lesson this time.
Just then, the host's booming voice rang out, announcing the next round of matches.
"For the second match, please welcome the perennial runner-up, Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, against Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy from the Dou Ling Empire."
According to tournament tradition, Shrek plays the first elimination match, the Sun Moon Battle Team plays the second, and the third match depends on which empire is hosting.
In the waiting area, Xu Tianxi looked back at their opponents. Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy was significantly stronger than Tianyun Advanced Soul Master Academy, boasting five Soul Ancestors, which would have been a very good showing a few years ago.
If he remembered correctly, this academy was Shrek Academy's opponent in the elimination rounds in the original story, but unexpectedly, they were matched with the Sun Moon Battle Team this time.
One could only say they were destined for a single-round exit.
Xiao Hongchen asked, "Old Xu, are we going up?"
"Of course, we are! The first match is for our reserve team; how could we not go up?"
Xu Tianxi flicked his right hand, pulling out a microphone-shaped Soul Guided Device—it was his self-made amplification Soul Guided Device.
"If we, with our powerful strength, go directly on stage, won't we scare them to death?"
Xiao Hongchen rubbed his hands together, his legs nimbly following behind Xu Tianxi, earning a fierce eye-roll from Meng Hongchen beside them.
He'd been longing to go on stage all along, yet he pretended to be unwilling. What a hypocrite.
Strange, why does this guy Xiao have so many flaws, yet Little Xu's relationship with him is better? I was here first.
Xu Tianxi adjusted his glasses and calmly said,
"Don't worry, I'll activate the Illusion later, so six Soul Rings will look even more terrifying. Remember, those guys are all yours. Blast them all down at once, but don't take any lives."
Xiao Hongchen was surprised. "Is it really okay to impersonate a Soul Emperor?"
Xu Tianxi shot him a glance. "You, of all people, would worry about that?"
"Of course not! What I mean is, why don't you put in a little more effort and make me look like a Soul Sage?"
Xiao Hongchen deliberately smoothed his hair, trying to look profound.
Xu Tianxi rolled his eyes and ignored him, telling the others behind him, "You guys don't need to fight this time. Just follow Dean's plan."
"Alright!" The four cosplayers, from the Three Great Empires and Shrek City respectively, replied with smiles that held an ambiguous meaning.
As both academies ascended the stage, Xu Tianxi led the way, with Xiao Hongchen on his left and Meng Hongchen on his right, forming a conical formation with their seven-person team.
Their opponents, the seven members of Tianling Academy, showed no more composure than the previous Tianyun Academy. They too were filled with terror and despair in their eyes.
Being drawn against the Sun Moon Battle Team in the tournament was akin to utter defeat, but they couldn't surrender. If they surrendered to the Sun Moon Battle Team in this situation, they would never be able to hold their heads high again.
They'd fight one wave, then retreat!
The referee reiterated the rules of the match, especially emphasizing that "you cannot continue attacking after an opponent surrenders." The Sun Moon Battle Team scoffed at this; they hadn't seen any punishment for Shrek's foul earlier, so emphasizing it now was a joke.
The match began, and both sides lined up. Tianling Academy displayed a lineup of five Soul Ancestors and two Soul Elders, but several of them didn't even have optimal Soul Ring configurations.
However, at the Sun Moon Battle Team's side, a scene unfolded that made countless people's expressions change:
The seven members of the Sun Moon Battle Team did not reveal their Martial Souls, yet six Soul Rings astonishingly rose beneath each of their feet, all in the optimal configuration of two yellow, two purple, and two black.
Xu Tianxi simulated a fraction of the aura of a certain sword fanatic, his gaze sweeping across the entire arena, sharp as a blade. The two Soul Elders instantly turned pale, and five Soul Ancestors couldn't help but take a step back.
However, the audience members were not subjected to Xu Tianxi's gaze, and they instinctively refused to believe this bizarre sight.
For a moment, cries of "Impossible!" and "The Sun Moon Battle Team is playing tricks!" erupted from all directions in the stands, as if to drown out everyone.
On the high platform, Xu Jiawei frowned deeply. "This is absolutely impossible. What is the Sun Moon Battle Team trying to do?"
Shrek kills without batting an eye, and the Sun Moon Battle Team is playing tricks. Did these two agree to cause a big stir in today's competition?
At Shrek's side, Dai Huabin burst out laughing upon seeing the seven "Soul Emperors." "I can't believe the Sun Moon Battle Team would resort to such a theatrical trick. How ridiculous."
Ma Xiaotao crossed her arms, her face full of disdain. Among Shrek Academy's current batch, only she and Dai Yueheng were Soul Emperors under twenty years old. It seemed this group of "medicine addicts" from Sun Moon had gone crazy from taking too many drugs.
Cai Meier's lips curled into a faint, disdainful smile. Zhang Lexuan looked puzzled.
Although she didn't know the Sun Moon Battle Team's objective, she felt this wasn't a good sign. And that young man standing at the very front seemed to have an indescribable sense of familiarity, but how could that be possible?