Both teams' members had already entered the stage, splitting into two rows on either side of referee Tiansha Douluo, Huang Jinxu.
"Both sides retreat. Prepare to begin. The match ends when one side has no one left able to continue fighting."
Huang Jinxu's deep voice echoed.
Ma Xiaotao narrowed her eyes slightly, her fiery gaze sweeping over the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy's team, lingering briefly on Jiang Jue.
She clearly remembered Wang Yan's arrangement yesterday—the very first person they needed to take out was Jiang Jue.
On the Sun Moon side, due to Li Yan and Mijia's injuries, their replacements were Xiao Hongchen and Chen An. Meng Hongchen, however, had been reserved by Elder Lin for the singles matches as their trump card.
"Both sides retreat. Prepare to begin!"
Gradually, both teams approached the edge of the arena.
On Shrek Academy's side, Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng stood at the front, Ling Luochen behind them, followed by Xu Sanshi and Beibei, with Huo Yuhao and He Caitou guarding the rear.
The Sun Moon Academy's formation was wedge-shaped, Ma Rulong, having learned from the previous battle, braced himself at the very tip in the vanguard.
"Begin!"
With Huang Jinxu's command, both teams instantly activated Spirit Possession. The very first match to decide the ultimate winner of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament had finally begun!
"Execute Plan One—saturating firepower!"
Ma Rulong glanced at Jiang Jue and the others behind him and roared. In an instant, dozens of metallic soul tool barrels sprouted from his body, their core formations spinning wildly.
"My twin guns will give the answer!"
Xiao Hongchen wielded two golden soul-engineered rifles, unleashing soul power bullets in a mad storm of fire.
In a flash, countless light spheres, condensed from soul power and fired through soul tools, exploded forth like a peacock spreading its tail, radiating outward from the Sun Moon team.
The light spheres scattered to both sides and into the air before streaking back down with piercing shrieks, covering Shrek Academy's position in a rain of destruction.
This was the very definition of firepower saturation.
Meanwhile, Jiang Jue stood at the rear of the Sun Moon team, his immense spiritual power blanketing the entire arena, with Luo Bai already in his hand.
Amidst the roaring bombardment, Jiang Jue's group steadily advanced, compressing Shrek Academy's space to move.
"Xu Sanshi!"
Ma Xiaotao's voice rang out from Shrek's side.
Surprisingly, the defensive Xu Sanshi was the one being shielded in the very center of a protective circle.
"Got it!"
Xu Sanshi gave a heavy nod, his expression solemn. He gripped his Xuanming Turtle Shell Shield tightly, eyes locked on the Sun Moon Academy team as if waiting for an opening.
"Captain, let me go first!"
Dai Yueheng shot a look at Ma Xiaotao. When she nodded, his fourth spirit ring lit up. With a roar—
"White Tiger Meteor Shower!"
A dazzling white light surged skyward, splitting into countless streaks that collided midair with the incoming artillery shells, detonating in bursts of fire and light.
But even though Dai Yueheng was a Soul Emperor, against the overwhelming, tidal wave-like bombardment of the Sun Moon Academy, his White Tiger Meteor Shower quickly faltered.
Immediately, Ling Luochen summoned an ice wall to block, but cracks rapidly spread across its surface.
As the Sun Moon team drew closer, Ma Xiaotao's eyes lit up—the opportunity she had been waiting for!
"Cry out!"
With a piercing phoenix cry, a blazing fire phoenix soared into the sky. At the exact instant Ling Luochen's ice wall shattered, Ma Xiaotao unleashed her most powerful spirit skill—Phoenix Meteor Shower!
This wasn't just any ten-thousand-year skill. It was her sixth ring skill, her strongest strike. She had been preparing it since Spirit Possession, waiting for the enemy to step into her range.
The fiery heat caused the temperature within the arena's barrier to skyrocket. Flaming phoenix meteors, each at least five times larger than Dai Yueheng's, rained down densely, with terrifying force.
The very air above the stage twisted. All 108 formation soul masters had to channel their power at full strength to maintain the protective barrier.
Under Ma Xiaotao's fiery storm, soul tool shells and beams evaporated, dissolving back into raw soul power.
"Boost me up!"
Ma Xiaotao shouted to Dai Yueheng. Her fiery wings unfurled.
As she leapt, Dai Yueheng struck his fist against the soles of her feet, propelling her even faster—an artificial second-stage launch!
She rocketed forward like a cannonball, shattering the sound barrier, appearing before the Sun Moon team in a blink.
"Phoenix Skystrike!"
Even while flying, she unleashed her fourth skill, a searing beam of crimson flame lashing toward Jiang Jue.
But Jiang Jue had long since predicted her movement. His figure flickered, dodging, letting the beam carve a deep gouge into the ground.
"There's always someone who wants me dead."
At that moment, Lin Xi's eyes brightened—he had an idea.
"Shrek's strongest is Ma Xiaotao. If I can pin her down, won't that make things much easier for Ma Rulong and Jiang Jue?"
As Ma Xiaotao closed in, Lin Xi didn't hesitate. He leapt, three soul tools on his body glowing at once.
A white ring of light spread from his chest. Strangely, the same ring appeared around Ma Xiaotao, dragging her toward him.
Two barriers flared—one around Lin Xi, one larger one enveloping both him and Ma Xiaotao.
"This foolish kid… isn't that just a pressure cooker?"
Jiang Jue watched the stunt and instantly pictured Lin Xi "ascending to heaven."
Jiang Jue's gaze swept Shrek's side, locking eyes with Xu Sanshi—who grinned slyly.
"Looks like I'll have to show some weakness."
Jiang Jue's eyes grew cold as he lifted Luo Bai and advanced toward Lin Xi and Ma Xiaotao.
"Get lost!"
Ma Xiaotao roared, her flames erupting.
Lin Xi instantly realized something was wrong.
"Oh no! Why is this heat so insane?!"
The flames' searing heat overwhelmed him. The invincible barrier could block fire, but not the temperature itself!
Just as Lin Xi felt he was about to meet his ancestors, a sharp gunshot rang in his ears.
"Crack! Crack!"
The sound of the invincible shield shattering filled him, followed by a sudden coolness and the sensation of soaring.
Jiang Jue had kicked him clean off the stage.
Ma Xiaotao broke free as well. She smiled at Jiang Jue—her plan was working.
But then she noticed Jiang Jue was smiling back.
"You were waiting for me to show a flaw. Why wouldn't I do the same?"
His calm voice reached her ear as ripples appeared around his figure.
Xu Sanshi's Xuanming Swap had just activated.
"Finally showed your claws, eh?"
Xu Sanshi, grinning, vanished.
"No!"
Ma Xiaotao realized what was happening and shouted. When her vision cleared, Xu Sanshi stood before her.
"Extreme Ice—Domain of Eternal Freeze!"
In Shrek's defensive circle, Jiang Jue appeared in Xu Sanshi's place. Without any warning or buildup, an intense icy brilliance erupted.
Instantly, frost ravaged everything, ice crystals spread wildly, and razor-sharp shards shot outward!
"Not good!"
"His skill needs no charge-up?!"
Beibei's heart jolted in alarm. He dove aside, and the others scrambled too.
"This time Xu Sanshi swapped back a Big Daddy!"
In that instant, they weren't trapping a prey anymore—they had let a wolf straight into the fold!
(End of Chapter)