Compared to the elimination matches—where every round meant either advancement or elimination—the round-robin format wasn't as intense, but it demanded more tactical maneuvering and often led to unexpected upsets.
It was more dramatic and entertaining.
Of course, if you were strong enough, tactics weren't necessary at all.
Just like Shrek Academy now.
If he could speed up time, Huo Yuhao would've clicked the [Skip] button in a heartbeat.
Skip the beginning, skip the middle, just tell him who the boss is at the end so he can punch them twice and be done with it.
With that kind of confidence, when Jin Qiu'er suddenly declared she wanted to go first, no one objected.
Jin Qiu'er was fired up.
"It's finally my time to shine!"
She'd been envious seeing Huo Yuhao bask in the spotlight.
A noble lady born of heaven and earth—how could she remain in obscurity for long?
Seeing Huo Yuhao get famous hurt more than death.
"Xiao Xiao, let's go!"
"Huh?"
Xiao Xiao was dumbfounded. Was this really a match she was supposed to fight in? Wasn't she just here to fill numbers? Why was she suddenly starting?
But even though she wanted to chill, Jin Qiu'er and Wang Dong didn't.
Wang Dong nudged the still-stunned Xiao Xiao and said a little enviously,
"What a pity. I'm also an assault type, so I can't make up for Qiu'er's lack of control. Xiao Xiao, this match is up to you. Show them your strength. Prove that aside from Huo Yuhao, we're no slouches either!"
Jin Qiu'er smacked her chest—causing a noticeable jiggle—and declared,
"Xiao Xiao, just cover me with control from behind. I'll handle the rest! We're gonna gagaga wreck them!"
"Uhh… okay."
Seeing that Huo Yuhao, Ma Xiaotao, and Zhou Yi had no objections, Xiao Xiao could only agree.
Being first up made her a little nervous, but also a bit excited.
What young person wouldn't want to stand in the spotlight?
"Huo Yuhao! Huo Yuhao! Huo Yuhao!"
The crowd roared for Huo Yuhao, eager to see him appear.
But to everyone's disappointment, the ones walking out for Shrek Academy were two little girls.
Nova Team fielded one male and one female.
Seeing Jin Qiu'er and Xiao Xiao walk out, the expressions of the Nova Team members subtly changed.
Their captain even muttered gravely,
"Damn it! They predicted our prediction!"
Nova Team had assumed Huo Yuhao would respond to the crowd's enthusiasm and go up first. So they sent out two of their weaker members, hoping to trade their "pawns" for Shrek's "queen."
But not only did Huo Yuhao not show up, they were now facing two girls who still looked like kids.
"Doesn't that guy have any youthful pride?" the Nova captain muttered resentfully.
Seeing Huo Yuhao absent and the audience disappointed, the commentator's eyes lit up and he shouted,
"Shocking! Shrek Academy has once again sent out two teammates about the same age as Huo Yuhao—do they possess strength comparable to his?!"
Clearly, the commentator knew how to stir up hype.
The crowd's excitement surged once more, now eager to see Jin Qiu'er and Xiao Xiao in action.
The two Nova students on the field grew tense.
Then—
The one-minute prep time ended.
The referee announced the start of the match.
Both sides released their martial souls and soul rings.
When everyone saw that Jin Qiu'er had three rings and Xiao Xiao only two—
The commentator nearly broke character.
They'd hyped it up this much—give them something flashy!
Even pulling out a soul tool lighter would be better than this!
Was this the legendary Shrek? What a letdown!
The crowd booed loudly, utterly disappointed.
Xiao Xiao felt a little disheartened.
Jin Qiu'er just scoffed with disdain and muttered inwardly,
"Foolish humans!"
On Nova's side, both of their fighters were four-ring Soul Ancestors, and they couldn't suppress their smug grins.
The rest of Nova Team also relaxed visibly.
"Whatever happens in the next two matches, we've at least won this one!" their captain said with a foxy smile.
"If Shrek doesn't want to lose overall, they'll have to send out their main force next round. So we can tactically abandon the second match and put everything into the third!"
The battle began.
Jin Qiu'er didn't strike first—instead, she proudly declared:
"Shrek Academy, outer court, Jin Qiu'er!"
She was copying Huo Yuhao. After all, how could she become famous without an intro?
"Shrek Academy, outer court, Xiao Xiao!" Xiao Xiao followed up quickly.
Nova's two fighters also introduced themselves. They fancied this a sign of "elite confidence."
"Nova Advanced Soul Master Academy, Martial Soul Department, Ward!"
"Nova Advanced Soul Master Academy, Soul Tool Department, Xu Ke!"
Xu Ke was a Soul Engineer.
The Douling Empire was fairly receptive to soul tools. Even traditional soul master academies had Soul Tool departments.
Soul masters also used soul tools.
Ward's martial soul was Battle Wolf. Upon spirit possession, his body bulked up massively, and he wore soul armor for added defense. His hands were equipped with soul tool gauntlets, enhancing his close-range combat power.
Xu Ke's martial soul was Youbei—a spirit-type soul. Petite in size, she was a legal loli. With her soul possessed, her hair turned purple.
Youbei wasn't particularly strong in mental attacks, and its physical enhancement was minimal.
But paired with soul tools, Youbei-type soul masters found new brilliance.
Two massive soul cannons rested on Xu Ke's tiny shoulders, creating an oddly charming contrast.
They were known as Nova's infamous "Partners in Crime" duo.
Though not individually powerful, their synergy made them capable of fighting even Soul Kings.
And most importantly, they were a couple—with excellent teamwork.
After the intros, the Nova pair attacked.
Ward howled to the sky, triggering his first and second soul rings. Blood-red energy wrapped around him, and his bulky frame swelled even more.
Both of his first two rings were enhancement-type abilities.
First Soul Skill: Bloodthirst Howl – Increases speed by 10%.
Second Soul Skill: Battle Wolf's Physique – Increases strength by 10%.
He launched forward, dashing toward Jin Qiu'er and Xiao Xiao, leaving afterimages behind.
His third and fourth rings lit up next.
Third Soul Skill: Battle Wolf Rush – Sprint with high speed, then leap at the target, applying suppression that makes dodging difficult.
Fourth Soul Skill: Bloodthirst Bite – Next attack ignores defense and deals 120% damage.
"Third Soul Skill: Mental Guidance!"
"Fourth Soul Skill: Mental Lock!"
Xu Ke stayed at the back, locking onto Jin Qiu'er and launching two high-powered soul cannon shots to suppress her.
She was at the front—naturally the target.
The cannon shots were perfectly timed, arriving just after Ward's leap suppressed her, leaving no room to dodge.
Boom! Boom!
The explosions engulfed Jin Qiu'er completely.
Ward dove into the blast to follow up.
A lion goes all out even when hunting a rabbit.
If things got dangerous, the referee would intervene.
And the ref was indeed about to step in—
But Jin Qiu'er struck back even faster!
The next moment, before Ward could land, he felt a heavy blow to his gut. His eyes almost popped out of their sockets.
Then—
He flew backward even faster than he'd come, crashing toward Xu Ke.
"Ward!" Xu Ke gasped, reaching to catch him.
But Ward's force was too great—he smashed into her, and the two rolled into a tangled heap on the ground.
Swish!
The golden dragon spear slashed through the smoke, revealing an unscathed, proud Jin Qiu'er.
Xiao Xiao stood behind her.
Jin Qiu'er glowed with a golden light, looking every bit the valkyrie.
Then, with a casual flick, she tossed the golden dragon spear.
The spear drew a graceful arc through the air, narrowly missing Ward and Xu Ke before slamming three inches deep into the solid stage.
Ward and Xu Ke broke into cold sweat.
If it could pierce the stage—it could pierce them.
She hadn't missed. She'd held back.
"We surrender! We surrender!" Ward shouted frantically.
Jin Qiu'er crossed her arms and sneered,
"Pathetic."
Xiao Xiao slowly raised a hand with a confused expression.
Weren't you going to let me control?
I already summoned my Suppressing Soul Cauldron, and now you're telling me the fight's over?
After a pause, she opened her mouth and muttered:
"Gagaga~"
The entire arena was stunned.
The referee came to his senses and announced the result, "First match, victory to the Shrek Academy team!"
"So strong!"
"That's a three-ring Soul Elder? You're telling me that's a three-ring Soul Elder?!"
"What are you still dazed for? Cheer already!"
"Jin Qiu'er! Jin Qiu'er! Jin Qiu'er!"
"…"
The audience erupted in cheers, shouting Jin Qiu'er's name.
Jin Qiu'er curled her lips into a smirk.
Fame, just like that, had arrived~
"Heh, foolish humans, manipulated in the palm of my hand—shout my name, so that when I reign over the world, I might let you struggle on in misery for a bit longer!"
Basking in her own delight and enjoying the cheers for a while longer, Jin Qiu'er finally called out to Xiao Xiao under the referee's impatient gaze and stepped down from the stage.
"Let's go, Xiao Xiao."
Even though Jin Qiu'er still wanted to take on ten more, the rules wouldn't allow it.
"Oh, okay~" Xiao Xiao's specialty was following directions, never dragging down the team's main carry.
The other teams in Shrek Academy's group weren't feeling nearly as cheerful.
"As expected, Shrek's members are freakishly strong!"
"Is the problem with us? Or is it Shrek Academy?"
"I think it's those few specific team members. If Shrek was this capable all along, they'd have shown it off already."
The other teams whispered among themselves, but no one felt schadenfreude at Nova Team's loss.
Because this was a round-robin tournament—they'd all have to face Shrek sooner or later. Laughing at Nova now would just mean a boomerang of karma coming back to smack them.
Instead of gloating, some even felt bad for Nova Team. More than that, they were grateful.
Without Nova testing the waters, how would they have known just how strong Shrek was?
Now they could prepare to forfeit in advance.
No, rather—prepare a strategic preservation of strength.
The Nova Team captain stood up with an ugly expression.
"For the next match, I'm going up personally!"
"Taylor, you're with me!"
"Understood, Captain." A woman beside her rose. Surprisingly tall at two meters, she looked neither clumsy nor bulky—on the contrary, she was lithe and athletic, with striking curves and a vibrant presence.
Standing next to her, the 1.7-meter-tall Nova captain looked almost delicate and dainty.
Taylor had short hair, elegant brows, and star-like eyes. Her expression was cold and aloof, giving her the aura of an icy beauty. In truth, she was just not very talkative.
Now that the first round was lost, all pressure shifted to Nova Academy. If they lost the second round too, there'd be no need for a third—the humiliation would be complete.
Thus, the Nova captain decided to fight herself.
Moreover, her pairing with Taylor was Nova Academy's strongest combo.
They might not win, but they couldn't lose too badly—especially not in the first match.
On Shrek's side, two new members stepped forward.
It was none other than Huo Yuhao and Wei Na.
Ma Xiaotao, the other shocking powerhouse, wouldn't be easily sent out.
That surprise was being saved for the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy.
Nova Team's captain visibly tensed when she saw Huo Yuhao step forward.
But she steadied herself and introduced herself first.
"Nova Team Captain, control-type Battle Soul King, Tu Xijun. Martial Soul: Three-Eyed Enchanting Fox."
"Nova Team member, Level 5 power-attack type Soul Engineer, Taylor. Martial Soul: Golden Saber-Toothed Tiger." Taylor followed her captain in self-introduction.
At this point in the Soul Master tournaments, things weren't as rigid as they were during Douluo One's era. Self-introductions were optional, and what you shared was up to you.
But if your opponent introduced themselves, it was basic courtesy to return the favor.
As such, self-introductions had also become a tactical tool.
Tu Xijun was hoping to use it to gather intel on Huo Yuhao and Wei Na.
Her main concern was that Wei Na might also be outrageously strong.
Naturally, Huo Yuhao and Wei Na knew exactly how to respond.
"Shrek Team Vice-Captain, control-type Battle Soul King, Huo Yuhao. Martial Soul: Frost Centipede."
"Shrek Team member, healing-type Battle Soul Sect, Wei Na. Martial Soul: Snow Lotus."
"…"
Wei Na's introduction didn't surprise Tu Xijun—but Huo Yuhao's absolutely did.
"Frost Centipede? A beast-type Martial Soul? Isn't your Martial Soul armor? And you're saying you're a control-type, not agility-attack type?" Tu Xijun blurted out, her eyes full of doubt.
Her meaning was clear: I trusted you like a sister and you're pulling this kind of mind game on me?!
Wasn't this just a bold-faced lie?
All sixty-plus teams in the round-robin had Huo Yuhao pegged as an agility-attack type with an armor-type tool soul!
Just then, the referee interrupted. "One-minute preparation time is up. Begin the match!"
"Armor is just one form of my Martial Soul," Huo Yuhao explained politely, then smiled at Tu Xijun. "Would you like to see the other form?"
"Frost Centipede—reveal yourself!"
As Huo Yuhao's words fell—
Two purple and three black soul rings rose at his feet.
A nine-meter-long mutated Frost Centipede emerged from behind him, hovering above his head.
The massive centipede was ice-white, its surface gleaming like jade under the sun. It had four pairs of dragonfly-like wings that radiated spiritual waves and light-element energy.
At that moment, the Frost Centipede looked more like a finely crafted jade artwork than a terrifying soul beast.
"It's really a beast-type Martial Soul?!"
"Could it be dual Martial Souls?!"
"But look at those soul rings… no way he cultivated both at the same time? That'd be such a waste of talent!"
"Shows how little you know—some extremely rare Martial Souls can switch between weapon and beast forms!"
"Oh, look at you, Mr. Know-It-All! Why don't you name a few Martial Souls like that then?"
"You—! You—you—you're not even worthy to hear it!"
"See? Got mad~"
The audience erupted in debate.
Meanwhile, Wei Na had summoned her Snow Lotus behind Huo Yuhao, but few paid attention to her—even though she was a rare beauty.
Because with a giant centipede around, who cares about a pretty face?
Tu Xijun and Taylor had no time to be shocked further. They hurried to activate Martial Soul Possession.
Taylor in front, Tu Xijun in back.
Both of them displayed the ideal configuration: two yellow, two purple, one black—five soul rings in total.
After possession, Taylor's body shimmered with golden light. Her short hair rapidly grew into sharp, long locks. Her eyes became vertical pupils like a feline's, and her body more streamlined and agile.
The Golden Saber-Toothed Tiger was a high-tier power-attack Martial Soul, completely unlike weaker varieties like the Demon Civet. Wild golden saber-toothed tigers even carried golden bloodlines.
For Taylor, a fifth-level Soul Engineer to possess this Martial Soul, was extremely rare in the Douluo universe.
She quickly equipped her soul tools.
Metal plating covered her chest, abdomen, and back for defense. Her arms bore retractable blades, her legs fitted with speed-enhancing soul tool boots.
And of course, her back was mounted with a large soul cannon.
It almost looked like a prototype soul armor setup.
But really, it was just an assembled mix of soul tools.
Taylor retracted the blades on her arms and crouched like a true saber-toothed tiger. Her soul cannon locked onto Huo Yuhao and Wei Na.
Golden soul power began charging inside.
"You're charging right in front of me?" Huo Yuhao muttered to himself, then called out, "Frost Centipede, interrupt her!"
The mutated soul beast dived from above—
"Not a chance!" Tu Xijun shouted, spiritual waves flickering in her eyes.
Tu Xijun's spirit, the Three-Eyed Enchanting Fox, is a mutated version of her clan's high-tier spirit—the Three-Eyed Demon Fox.
Though still a spiritual-type spirit, it carries an additional charm effect.
Once the Three-Eyed Enchanting Fox possesses her, Tu Xijun's figure becomes even more alluring. A pair of adorable large ears sprout from her head, and a fluffy pink fox tail extends behind her. A pink mark appears on her brow, resembling an eye, giving her an exotic and otherworldly allure.
Naturally, she exudes an irresistible charm. Her very presence emits a captivating aura; just looking at her is enough to make one's heart race and blood boil.
Those with weak willpower would immediately raise a metaphorical white flag.
This effect stems from the spirit's innate ability.
That's right—Three-Eyed Enchanting Fox is a top-tier spiritual-type spirit with its own innate talent!
Its innate ability, Alluring Body, spreads her spiritual power across her body when possessed, releasing waves of spiritual energy imbued with enchantment, which confuses and captivates her enemies.
At the very least, it lowers the enemy's alertness, causing them to relax and reveal openings.
Against those with insufficient willpower, Alluring Body can even reach the level of full mental control—turning the target into Tu Xijun's slave.
However, Tu Xijun is from a top noble house and is its heiress. She would never act like a shameless noble floozy, casually seducing strangers.
All her soul skills are purely spiritual in nature.
That's why she despises being called a seductress.
She's even gone to great lengths to maintain her chastity.
She ensures that no rumors tarnish the reputation of her family.
Her clan also intends for her to marry into the imperial family, to become the most exalted woman in the empire, so she must protect her reputation at all costs.
This is also Tu Xijun's ambition.
She's seen far too many nobles lusting after her beauty, so she believes love and freedom are illusions—only power and status are real!
Only then can she protect herself, strengthen her family, and gain control over others.
Tu Xijun's third soul ring flared.
"Third Soul Skill—Fox's Disruption!"
Pink spiritual energy transformed into a fox-shaped projection and shot toward… Huo Yuhao.
That's right—her target was Huo Yuhao.
In her eyes, it was Huo Yuhao who was controlling the Mutant Ice Centipede Spirit. As long as she disrupted him, she could stop the centipede's dive attack.
However, when her soul skill landed on Huo Yuhao, it vanished like a pebble into the sea. The Mutant Ice Centipede's dive did not falter.
Taylor had to leap away to avoid the attack, but the centipede's many legs still managed to smash the soul cannon behind her.
Their teamwork—Tu Xijun and Taylor—had failed.
Though they appeared to have a perfect synergy, their tactic was simple: Tu Xijun would immobilize the target with spiritual control, and Taylor would follow up with a powerful strike.
Unfortunately for them, Tu Xijun's spiritual control was completely ineffective against Huo Yuhao.
In fact, had Huo Yuhao not held back, Tu Xijun would have suffered a severe backlash from the failed mental clash.
Battles between spiritual-type soul masters are extremely dangerous—there's no such thing as a "minor injury." Losing often means suffering a direct mental backlash.
Huo Yuhao chose to go easy and subtly neutralized her ability for two reasons:
To maintain his gentlemanly persona.
Because Tu Xijun was unique—she had Phoenix Fate.
And not just that—she possessed three fate patterns: Innate Alluring Body, Disaster to Nations, and Demonic Fox Fate!
If Tu Xijun were to marry into the royal family, she'd undoubtedly become a modern-day Daji (the infamous femme fatale).
Even if she didn't marry into royalty, her fate patterns marked her as someone destined for greatness.
But now, she had been seen—by Brother Hao.
"Tu Xijun hails from the Douling Empire. In the original story, the royal family of the Douling Empire was nearly annihilated by the Sun-Moon Empire's invasion. In the end, it was Xu Sanshi, a distant royal relative, who took the throne."
"So instead of letting that phoenix fate rot in a grave, why not offer it to me?"
The Phoenix Fate could be absorbed into the Snow Lotus, helping it grow. Naturally, this was an opportunity not to be missed.
Huo Yuhao was willing to spend time here with Tu Xijun and Taylor because… he had benefits to gain from them.
If you want something from Brother Hao, you must give something in return.
—
Though the plan failed, Tu Xijun didn't panic. Her eyes flickered as a new strategy formed.
"Taylor, distract Huo Yuhao's spirit. Leave the rest to me!"
At that moment, her thinking aligned with Yan Shaozhe's past idea—without his spirit, Huo Yuhao would be defenseless.
As for his teammate Wei Na?
Please, she's just a support-type healer—who would be afraid of her?
Taylor nodded and pulled out two small soul cannons, firing at the Mutant Ice Centipede hovering in the sky.
The goal wasn't to deal damage—just to keep it busy.
Tu Xijun, meanwhile, dashed toward Huo Yuhao and Wei Na, a slender melee-type soul tool appearing in her hand.
Soul tools had blurred the lines of a soul master's role—thanks to them, even a spiritual-type like Tu Xijun could engage in close combat.
She didn't choose a soul cannon because mastering one requires extensive training—something she didn't have time for as a soul master.
But melee soul tools were much easier to pick up.
Their usage is similar to normal weapons but with far greater power.
Soul master training and weapon practice could go hand in hand.
As Tu Xijun charged in with her weapon raised, Wei Na's expression grew oddly amused.
But she said nothing, simply backing away.
In just a few breaths, Tu Xijun closed in on Huo Yuhao. He didn't flee, and his Mutant Ice Centipede showed no signs of returning to aid him.
Huo Yuhao calmly stared at her.
Tu Xijun noticed something off in his expression, but it was too late to stop now.
The arrow had already been nocked—it had to be released.
"Little brother, better give up now, or I can't guarantee my sword won't slip!" she teased, then slashed with her slender blade.
"As expected of a sly fox—still using mind games even now," Huo Yuhao thought to himself.
He raised his fist.
His expression turned serious, as if preparing for a fierce battle. A layer of frost enveloped his fist, forming an icy gauntlet.
Then, he punched.
His blow landed squarely on the incoming blade with a crisp clang.
To Tu Xijun's shock, not only did her soul tool fail to pierce the icy armor, it was knocked aside.
In the moment of her surprise, Huo Yuhao's other fist shot up in an uppercut, slamming into her stomach and making her double over in pain.
He began channeling the spiritual projections of the White Tiger and Black Tortoise, attempting to absorb her fate energy and Phoenix Fate.
Any fruit farmer knows—beating the tree helps the fruit fall.
While striking Tu Xijun, Huo Yuhao sincerely declared:
"My teacher always told me: face every enemy with your full strength. That's the greatest form of respect!"
"Sister, don't hold back just because I'm young—it's fine, I can take it! I trust the referee to protect me!"
"Go ahead and hit me with everything you've got!"
The referee and audience all thought—how incredibly sincere Huo Yuhao was.
Tu Xijun had just opened her mouth to reply, but Huo Yuhao landed two quick punches to her chest, dispersing her gathered breath and silencing her.
Her seductive eyes now brimmed with rage.
Then… her anger turned to doubt in her own abilities—and a growing confusion about the world.
"Could it be… am I weak?"
Huo Yuhao: *Ora Ora Ora Ora—*
Huo Yuhao relentlessly struck, as if trying to force everything in.
Tu Xijun clenched her teeth, refusing to let out pained moans—her last act of defiance.
Taylor, however, couldn't help Tu Xijun bear the pressure, as she was "restrained" by the Frost Centipede martial soul.
According to the theory of relativity, if the enemy restrains me, I'm also restraining the enemy.
"Brother Hao, how much longer? I can't keep up the act!" the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm sent a private message.
"Brother Dream, hang in there a bit longer. I need some time here," Huo Yuhao replied helplessly.
Taking too long wasn't ideal either.
Huo Yuhao wasn't easily satisfied.
Tu Xijun's fortune was manageable, but her phoenix aura was tough to siphon.
Attacking could indeed extract phoenix aura.
But too much force, and Tu Xijun wouldn't handle it; too little, and Huo Yuhao wouldn't be satisfied.
Back when he easily extracted phoenix aura from Wei Na, it was because their soul powers fused, reaching a deeper level of contact.
But now, with no soul power fusion between him and Tu Xijun, and unable to directly knock her out, Huo Yuhao couldn't afford to miss this chance. Otherwise, he'd have to resort to sneaking around like a thief.
How undignified would that be?
"Maybe it's time for a different approach." Huo Yuhao's eyes grew profound.
The goal of attacking was to shake Tu Xijun's will. Perhaps there was another way to achieve that!
Tu Xijun couldn't surrender, but she hadn't given up entirely, occasionally struggling and resisting. She had noticed something.
Huo Yuhao's attacks were frequent but seemed to lack real damage. Her beast martial soul physique could withstand them!
After all this time, he still hadn't brought her down.
So, Tu Xijun hadn't completely lost hope.
"Without that armor's enhancement, has Huo Yuhao's strength and speed weakened?" A spark of hope ignited in her heart.
As for soul skills?
Tu Xijun had already tried. Her five mental soul skills were useless against Huo Yuhao, as if he were immune to mental attacks.
Huo Yuhao suddenly stepped back, saying earnestly, "As expected of the Nuohua Team's captain. I'm at a loss here. Looks like I need to get serious!"
Tu Xijun: "…"
She wanted to scream at him—how could he say that with such a righteous face?
*At a loss?*
He'd practically had his hands all over her, front and back, you jerk!
Her "fruits" were nearly burst, her "peaches" almost softened from the impact!
Some spectators couldn't bear to watch.
"Why is Huo Yuhao tormenting Tu Xijun? How could he do this?"
"Torment? They're in a fight!"
"But…"
"Haven't you noticed? After all those punches, Tu Xijun's still standing. Huo Yuhao's doing his best, but without his martial soul, he's relying on physical strength. This exposes his weakness—without that armor, his strength is limited."
"That makes Tu Xijun seem pretty strong."
"But Huo Yuhao's a beast, isn't he? To lay hands on such a beautiful woman?"
"Young guys, you know how it is. He doesn't get romance yet. At thirteen, you laugh it off; at eighteen, you analyze it."
"Haha, Tu Xijun's charm is potent. Even I, in the stands, felt it. But she's met her match this time."
"This proves Huo Yuhao's immune to feminine wiles—a true gentleman!"
"…"
The crowd buzzed with discussion.
Huo Yuhao raised his hands again. The ice gauntlets vanished, replaced by two clouds of white mist.
That wasn't ice mist—it was *loaded*!
Tu Xijun's expression hardened, and she growled, "Huo Yuhao, I was careless before. I won't give you another chance. Take this!"
She thrust her sword forward.
But it missed.
It looked like Tu Xijun had slipped up, her wrist trembling, sending the strike off course.
Her pupils contracted sharply.
"Could Huo Yuhao's attacks have made me lose control of my body?"
Of course not.
It was the passive effect of the Heart-Protecting Mirror's external soul bone.
*Auspicious Protection!*
It allowed him to dodge enemy attacks, with stronger effects the greater his fortune.
When Huo Yuhao didn't want to dodge, the enemy's attacks would miss on their own.
What's scarier than luck? Controllable luck!
Seizing the moment when Tu Xijun was wide open, Huo Yuhao threw another punch.
It was a moderate strike, lacking lethality, yet strangely hard for Tu Xijun to dodge or escape, even preventing her from surrendering.
The difference was, without the ice gauntlets, there was no barrier between his fist and her body.
Yet Tu Xijun noticed Huo Yuhao's serious expression, devoid of any offense.
While she admired him, she also felt unwilling.
"Am I *that* unattractive to him?"
"Forget it, it doesn't matter. Just let it end~"
The barrage of attacks came again.
Huo Yuhao: *Ora Ora Ora Ora—*
The crowd, seeing Huo Yuhao and Tu Xijun resume their intense "clash," gasped and cheered.
But as Huo Yuhao's attacks continued, Tu Xijun felt increasingly energized, almost… mentally exhilarated?
As a mental-type soul master, she instantly realized, "This isn't an illusion!"
She was baffled but deeply shaken.
Huo Yuhao: *Because I laced my fists with Pink Lady's poison gas!*
With each punch, the poison gas seeped into Tu Xijun's body.
An active mind is more prone to instability—those who go mad are often the most mentally vibrant.
As Huo Yuhao's punches landed, Tu Xijun began to feel her body heat up, growing hotter, her cheeks flushing, even feeling a bit… good.
"What's happening?" Her pupils quaked.
Normally, this would be called "blood boiling."
Because Huo Yuhao had also added secretions from the Flesh-Fragrance Nutmeg.
Tu Xijun hadn't yet grasped the severity of the situation.
After all, who would think someone would smear drugs on their fists?
She only felt… *pleasured*!
And increasingly, her mind and body grew restless.
She began to sink into Huo Yuhao's punches.
"I must be sick~"
"No, I can't—how can I fall into the enemy's fists?"
"…But I'm starting to lose control. Is this… addiction?"
"…I don't want to resist anymore. His attacks aren't that strong. Maybe it's fine to stop resisting for a bit?"
Finally—
"Ughhh!!!"
Tu Xijun let out a long, melodious moan, so enchanting that many in the stands shivered, feeling a sudden emptiness.
When the audience looked at the arena, Tu Xijun had collapsed, trembling, flushed, panting heavily, drenched in sweat, as if she'd just endured intense exercise.
Huo Yuhao withdrew his fist, praising with a righteous air, "What a thrilling battle!"
He'd gotten most of what he wanted!
The puddles on the ground were frozen by the chill emanating from him.
Tu Xijun lay powerless, staring blankly at the sky, feeling an unexpected calm.
The image of the boy swinging his fists was deeply etched in her heart.
"So, this is who I am…" Tu Xijun suddenly felt she was no different, to have such a fetish.
But the feeling was strange, something she wanted to savor.
Oh, and Huo Yuhao had added a touch of pseudo-Buddhist light.
Might as well use the rest and mark her for later.
On the other side, the Frost Centipede martial soul, seeing Huo Yuhao was done, eagerly dove in.
With a *smack*, it pinned Taylor to the ground.
Huo Yuhao looked at the referee.
The referee, slow to react, announced, "Shrek Academy wins!"
Honestly, even at such close range, the referee hadn't noticed anything odd. He just found the fight strange.
Because Huo Yuhao had subtly used mental simulation to distort the scene.
Two consecutive victories meant Shrek Academy had triumphed in the first round of the tournament.
The first match of the round-robin tournament had concluded.
Tu Xijun left the arena supported by Taylor.
Taylor was not only Tu Xijun's teammate but also her bodyguard. His family was a vassal to Tu Xijun's.
It wasn't that the Golden Saber-Toothed Tiger martial soul was inferior to the Three-Eyed Demon Fox—both were of similar quality. The difference lay in the fact that soul masters with the Three-Eyed Demon Fox tended to be more cunning and clever.
When absolute power is lacking, intelligence becomes a precious asset.
To put it simply, Tu Xijun's family acted as the brain, while Taylor's family served as the claws—claws that followed the brain's wisdom to strike down enemies and protect themselves.
Many such familial arrangements existed; the most representative was the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Clan.
The rest of the Nova Team stayed behind to continue watching the tournament and gather intelligence on the other teams.
After all, they still had upcoming matches.
Though they had just faced Shrek Academy, the silver lining was that no one aside from Tu Xijun, who was slightly drained, was injured.
What excited the other teams was that they believed they had found a "weakness" in Huo Yuhao, which they could exploit.
Meanwhile, the Shrek Academy team left immediately.
Jin Qiu'er had no interest in the upcoming matches. She dragged Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, and Jiang Nannan off to explore the city.
The three-day rest period had brought them closer.
Xu Sanshi trailed them quietly, grinning like a fool.
Huo Yuhao also left, taking Wei Na and Ma Xiaotao with him.
Zhou Yi silently departed as well, but she didn't return to the hotel.
Huo Yuhao didn't stay to watch the rest of the matches because he had already gathered enough information on most of the academies during the elimination rounds.
Among the teams that had made it to the round-robin stage, there were indeed many high-caliber individuals.
Among them were princes, princesses, and young elites carrying the dragon aura or qilin aura.
But the only one who carried the phoenix aura was Tu Xijun.
Though emperors came and went, and prodigies were plentiful…
True-born emperors and empresses were exceedingly rare.
Of course, not everyone born with the dragon, phoenix, or qilin aura would ascend to their destined thrones.
Those auras only represented potential.
As he watched Zhou Yi's silhouette disappear into the city, Huo Yuhao's lips curled into a faint smile.
"I wonder where this breeze will blow next?"
Then, Huo Yuhao returned to the hotel with Ma Xiaotao and Wei Na.
In the Hotel
Ling Luocheng, who had stayed behind, greeted the returning trio and asked about the match.
When she heard that Shrek Academy had won, she let out a sigh of relief and even smiled—a rare sight.
"You all go rest now. Thank you, Yuhao and Wei Na, for your hard work today," Ling Luocheng said sincerely and gave them a deep bow.
She didn't even want to imagine the dire straits Shrek Academy would be in without Huo Yuhao's presence. What would become of the Academy's legacy that spanned ten thousand years?
If that legacy were to be broken…
She would only be able to atone with her death.
Her gratitude toward Huo Yuhao was genuine.
After all, Ma Xiaotao alone wouldn't have been able to secure victory in such a 2v2v3 battle.
Huo Yuhao quickly waved her off. "You're too kind, senior."
Wei Na also didn't claim credit. "It was all thanks to Yuhao."
Both remained humble.
However, as Huo Yuhao glanced at Ling Luocheng—who was recovering from injuries and thus wore a light dress—the sight of her bowing caused two astonishing arcs to present themselves quite boldly in front of him.
Truly, wealthy and generous.
Ling Luocheng remained unaware.
Ma Xiaotao stepped forward and took Ling Luocheng's arm with a smile. "Luocheng, don't stress. Just focus on healing. Leave the rest to us. If you recover in time, you might even get to appear in the finals!"
"Mm, Xiaotao, I'll do my best," Ling Luocheng nodded earnestly.
If she could fight for Shrek's honor in the finals, she would die without regret.
After that, Huo Yuhao and Wei Na returned to their rooms.
But not long after Huo Yuhao entered his room, there was a knock at the door.
A flash of crimson burst in from outside.
It was Ma Xiaotao!
She stormed in, dragged him to the bed, and without preamble, pinned him down.
"Little niece, what's the matter with you?" Huo Yuhao was stunned—it wasn't even time yet!
Why had Ma Xiaotao's evil fire flared up early today?
But Ma Xiaotao panted and scolded, "It's all that vixen's fault! Her voice stirred up my evil fire! Little uncle, please, help me…"
There was nothing left to say.
He charged right in.
Meanwhile, in her own room, Wei Na tossed and turned.
Last night's experimentation had exhausted her, and she had fallen asleep quickly. But during the day, her mind kept replaying the scenes she had secretly witnessed.
Her cheeks turned crimson.
"How could they do that? And in that position? Is that even safe?…"
More than anything, Wei Na wanted to know what kind of relationship Huo Yuhao and Ma Xiaotao really had.
Did she still have a chance?
Finally, Wei Na sat up abruptly, clenched her fists, and gathered her courage. "If that's the case, then I'll go ask him myself! Yuhao wouldn't hide things from me!"
She dressed neatly, stepped out of her room, and walked to Huo Yuhao's door. She knocked.
"Who is it?" came Huo Yuhao's voice from inside.
"It's me, Yuhao. I... I have something I'd like to talk to you about…" Wei Na said, her eyes resolute.
"Oh—hiss—give me a second."
Soon, the door creaked open.
The next second, Wei Na's pupils shrank and her face flushed a deep red. Her earlier determination shattered—she only wanted to flee.
"S-Sorry! I came at the wrong time!"
"No," Huo Yuhao smiled softly, "you came at just the right time."
"Wei Na, don't you want to join us?" he added in a low voice.
"It really is… fun," Ma Xiaotao said between breaths.
A strange fragrance drifted into Wei Na's nose, making her body flush with warmth and her gaze begin to blur.
Excitement and anticipation welled up from deep inside her.
Eventually, she seemed to lose control over her own body… and took the step forward into adulthood.
The door gently swung shut behind her.
It turns out, soul bones really are useful.
Huo Yuhao had tasted a new kind of bun and learned a new way to make roujiamo.
After exhausting his primordial yang, he had become much more uninhibited.
Lesser-grade furnaces might not yield the best effects, but their growth couldn't keep up with his own.
It wasn't that he couldn't wait for their growth—it was just that directly using their primordial yin was more efficient.
Wei Na, who could merge soul power with Huo Yuhao, provided no small amount of help.
Ma Xiaotao alone was no longer enough—if he couldn't reduce costs, he'd have to expand income.
By noon...
Ling Luocheng emerged from her room. "Xiaotao and Yuhao probably haven't eaten yet. I'll go get some food for them—at least that's something I can still do."
But as she stepped out, strange noises reached her ears.
Following the sound, she unknowingly found herself outside Huo Yuhao's room.
Peeking through the slightly ajar door, her pupils shrank, and she covered her mouth tightly.
"They're in that kind of relationship?!"
"And it's three people...?!"
Thus, the second generation Gate Guardian was born.