"Swish!"
The spearhead pierced into bone, scattering droplets of blood.
"Boom!"
The sound of metal grinding rang out. Huang Jinxu had already appeared beside Beibei. Even though he grabbed the shaft of the spear, the tip still sank deep into Beibei's right shoulder blade.
"He no longer has any combat ability. Take the spear back."
Huang Jinxu spoke indifferently, though a flash of shock passed through his eyes.
Just moments ago, when the spear shattered Beibei's protective scales, he had already seized the weapon. Who could have thought that Jiang Jue, only a Soul Sect, would have such terrifying strength?
Because of a brief slip in focus, the spearhead had already pierced through. If not for his quick adjustment of its direction, that strike would have gone straight into Beibei's heart.
"What a pity…"
Jiang Jue sighed with some regret, pulling the spear back.
Blood dripped from its tip, splashing onto the ground like falling plum blossoms.
But Luo Bai seemed to relish the blood, the spear vibrating slightly. From its core, the devouring Dragon Soul Bone released a faint black soul power, sucking all the blood away.
Jiang raised his brow. The weapon in his hand suddenly felt smoother to wield—the devouring attribute of Luo Bai was taking effect.
Huang Jinxu, seeing Jiang Jue's regretful expression, felt his face turn dark. If a student of Shrek Academy were to die right before his eyes, Elder Xuan would definitely come looking for him.
He had experienced it before, and he understood what Shrek Academy was like.
It's fine if we hit you. But if you dare hit us, that's unforgivable.
"Young man, don't be too arrogant."
Huang Jinxu gave Jiang Jue a deep look, left a word of advice, then carried Beibei off the stage.
Before leaving, Beibei clutched his wound, glaring fixedly at Huo Yuhao.
"Huo Yuhao! What are you doing? Hurry and boost with your Ultimate Ice!"
Ling Luochen's staff trembled in her hand. She had been pouring in soul power to sustain her skill, only waiting for Yuhao's attribute boost.
Yet at this moment, facing Jiang Jue, Yuhao actually felt like bowing down in worship. As if Jiang Jue were his ancestor.
It sounded ridiculous—but that was his most visceral feeling. What's more, he discovered he couldn't even control his second martial soul, the Ice Jade Scorpion. It felt out of control.
It was as though he had returned to the White Tiger Duke's mansion, helpless, at the mercy of others.
All of it, just because Jiang Jue had shouted one word—"Scram!"
Even Tianmeng Iceworm's calls inside his spiritual sea got no response from him.
Everything Beibei had arranged collapsed, because Yuhao stood frozen.
"Arrogant? On the battlefield, there is no such thing as holding back."
Jiang Jue shook his head, spear in hand, striding toward Yuhao and Luochen.
The arena was a battlefield; mercy was never spared.
"Beibei!"
Xu Sanshi, still retreating with his Xuanming Tortoiseshell Shield, saw Beibei's state and roared in fury. Ignoring Chen An's bombardments, his fourth soul ring flared.
"Xuanming Substitution!"
"Buzz—!"
Space rippled. His target this time—Huo Yuhao, still standing dazed.
"No!"
Ma Xiaotao, still battling fiercely against the Sun Moon team, turned pale and shouted to stop him. But too late. When she tried to break away, Ma Rulong and Xiao Hongchen hounded her relentlessly.
Xiao Hongchen had fully possessed his martial soul, sprouting an extra leg, his body bristling with soul tools like a giant hedgehog.
"You think I'll let you leave? How would I explain myself to my sister?"
He sneered, turned his cannons, and fired relentlessly.
"Damn it!"
Ma Xiaotao cursed, glancing at Dai Yueheng, who was still tied down by Chen Fei's trio. With their soul tool amplification, he too couldn't break free.
"How did it turn out like this? It was all fine just now…"
Chaos roiled in her mind, the evil fire surging back, her attacks becoming sharper, her flames edging into dark red.
The next moment, Xu Sanshi replaced Yuhao's position, appearing before Jiang Jue with his shield, charging straight at him.
"I'll avenge Beibei!"
"Hah. Like the gourd-doll saving his grandpa?"
Jiang Jue planted Luo Bai upright, sunlight glinting off him like a gleaming statue.
Xu Sanshi's eyes burned red as he ran, his shield beginning to change. He wasn't mindless—he knew if Beibei couldn't beat Jiang Jue, he stood no chance. But he intended to trigger his bloodline—the divine beast Xuanwu within his martial soul—through his fury.
His shield had always carried potential to evolve, but in his childhood evolution, he strayed down the wrong "path." Thus his martial soul never fully matured. But not entirely for that reason alone…
"Ahhh!"
A near-mad roar burst from him. The shield smashed down on the ground, unleashing a huge black aura dome. It surged outward with thunderous rumbles, covering over ten square meters.
Jiang Jue simply shook Luo Bai, splitting the black aura apart, and stepped forward through it. The energy couldn't advance another inch.
But then—Xu Sanshi's shield erupted in blinding light. Strange lines twisted across it.
On the thick tortoise shell, a dark green serpent appeared, its eyes blood-red. At once, the black aura dome turned dark green.
"Divine beast Xuanwu bloodline? Interesting…"
"But it's only a temporary awakening. You're still missing something."
Jiang Jue's eyes chilled. He lunged.
"Arghhh!"
Xu Sanshi roared again. Like an explosion, black water-like liquid burst from the shield, sweeping toward Jiang Jue's spear.
A powerful suction pulled at Luo Bai, activating all the dark green aura around him.
"So hungry? Fine—take it all!"
With a shout, Jiang Jue thrust forward, driving Luo Bai into the shield.
No clang of metal rang out. Instead, the spear sank straight inside—as if into a bottomless pit.
"Jiang Jue—down you go!"
Xu Sanshi shouted, charging toward the arena's edge, intent on dragging him out. He had never hoped to win, only to take him down.
"Smart idea. But useless."
Jiang Jue's calm voice came. Soul power surged into Luo Bai, its hundred core arrays spinning wildly. Black devouring force erupted, locking in a tug-of-war with the shield.
Jiang Jue smiled faintly, speaking almost kindly:
"Tell me—if your Xuanwu bloodline is diminished, will your martial soul still evolve?"
His voice sounded like a spring breeze, but to Xu Sanshi it was a devil's whisper, plunging him into despair.
Before he could react, Luo Bai's devouring surged, sucking something vital from the shield. Xu Sanshi felt it slipping away, tried to pull back—
"Too late for regrets!"
With a snap, something red was sucked into Luo Bai. Xu Sanshi's shield regressed instantly, losing its spirit, becoming dull.
"Arghhh!"
He screamed, eyes rolling back, collapsing unconscious.
"Sanshi!"
Dai Yueheng roared, his three soul rings blazing as he tried to finish his opponents quickly.
But just then, a voice shocked him.
"Referee, we surrender!"
"What!? Captain, are you joking!?"
Dai Yueheng whipped his head toward the fiery figure in the sky, stunned.
"Remember Teacher Wang's strategy. And besides…"
"…we have no one left…"
Ma Xiaotao forced the words out, bitter and unwilling.
Dai Yueheng looked around: Luochen suppressed, Yuhao dazed…
"Haha… true enough. But we'll win next time!"
He gave a bitter laugh, grabbed Yuhao, and leapt from the stage.
"I declare—the finals team battle, Shrek Academy versus Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy: Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy wins!"
As Huang Jinxu's words fell, the stands exploded.
Jeers, cheers, shouts of excitement—chaos filled the air.
"Well, boy? Didn't I say our Sun Moon Academy would win?"
"Hah! Remember this—your grandpa will always be your grandpa!"
The bald old man from before taunted the young Shrek supporter with smug delight.
"…"
The young man stared in shock at Shrek's surrender, unable to believe it. But faced with the taunts, he clenched his teeth and shot back:
"Don't look down on us just because we're young and poor!"
The old man: "???"
(End of Chapter)