Staring at his opponent, Dai Mubai could feel the overwhelming pressure emanating from Yu Tianlong.
It was the first time in his life that he had ever experienced such an oppressive force—one coming not from soul power, but purely from a martial spirit's aura.
As a member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Dai Mubai was well aware of its fearsome might. But the mutated form—Flame Saint Dragon—had gone even further in intensity and coercion.
With the additional enhancement brought on by the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, Yu Tianlong's spirit had surpassed even the original Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.
In contrast, Dai Mubai's Evil-Eyed White Tiger, without the transformative power of the Fiery Apricot Mushroom Chrysanthemum, now paled by comparison.
The difference between the two was immediately obvious—even before a single blow was exchanged, their auras alone revealed the gap.
On the sidelines, Liu Erlong frowned deeply. These Shrek students had always been her pride—each hailed as an elite among elites. Yet never before had she seen one so thoroughly outmatched in sheer momentum.
Looking at her younger relative, she couldn't help but feel indignant on his behalf.
How could the clan possibly cast out such a talented youth?
Even compared to the once-renowned Yu Tianheng and Yu Tianxin, Yu Tianlong exuded a presence far more formidable.
Her thoughts were suddenly cut short by a deafening roar.
The two beasts—one tiger, one dragon—collided in the center of the field.
Yu Tianlong stepped forward with a powerful shout, releasing his first soul skill:
"Dragon Soul Possession!"
Behind him, the blazing silhouette of the flame dragon fused into his body. In an instant, both his strength and speed surged dramatically.
But Dai Mubai wasn't the type to shrink away. When it came to aggressive, frontal combat, the Flame Saint Dragon and the Evil-Eyed White Tiger were evenly matched in style and specialization.
For Dai Mubai, there was no such thing as retreat—only attack.
"Third Soul Skill: White Tiger Vajra Transformation!!"
His third ring lit up in violet brilliance—going all-in right from the start.
His muscles swelled, his already bulky frame growing even more monstrous. Like Dragon Soul Possession, this was a self-enhancing ability, granting a massive boost to his offense and defense.
Then came the crash—
Boom!!
The two clashed violently. In the blink of an eye, Dai Mubai's arms were scorched bare of fur, black smoke rising from his skin, and his tiger claws dripped with blood.
At the same time, Yu Tianlong grunted and was flung backward. His arms, strengthened by the dragon's power, bore long bloody gashes, and blood trickled from the corner of his lips.
After all, his was only the first soul skill, while Dai Mubai had used his most powerful move from the outset.
The result?
A tie.
The field fell silent. Everyone from Shrek froze, their expressions darkening.
Dai Mubai used his third soul skill, but only managed to match Yu Tianlong's first?
That meant only one thing—Dai Mubai wasn't a match.
"I'm not done yet!!"
Dai Mubai roared, releasing another surge of soul power as he lunged forward again.
"White Tiger Light Wave!!"
Yu Tianlong let out a low snort and countered with his second soul skill:
"Raging Flame Thunderstrike!!"
He'd once used this very skill to melt through iron chains as thick as a man's arm—back when he was only at level 34.
Now, with his strength at level 40 and enhanced by the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, the power of his flames had reached terrifying new levels.
The Flame Saint Dragon naturally carried an explosive attribute. When his second soul skill infused into his flame-charged fists, he didn't hesitate to charge straight into Dai Mubai's attack.
In his world, the only path for assault-types was forward.
Clang—!!
A brilliant clash of red and white erupted across the field—like a second sun blazing into existence.
The heatwave forced students to back away in waves. Only the teachers, with their greater strength, stood their ground—but even they looked visibly shaken.
Was this really a battle between two Soul Elders?
The aftershocks alone would force a Soul Ancestor to retreat.
The impact sent energy pulses and fireballs flying across the ground.
Neither side used any finesse—this was pure, raw power vs. power, a contest of brute force.
And the more straightforward the fight, the more dangerous it became. If either one gained the upper hand, the loser would be in for a serious injury.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The two fighters clashed again and again at the heart of the maelstrom, their bodies weaving and exchanging devastating blows—no one stepped back, every strike landed solidly.
In mere seconds, both their chests were soaked in blood, their breathing ragged.
Then—
BOOM!
Dai Mubai slammed his palms into Yu Tianlong's chest at the same time that Yu Tianlong's fists crashed into his shoulders.
Both were flung into the air.
But this time, Dai Mubai failed to stabilize himself and crashed into the ground, skidding back and leaving a deep groove in his wake.
In contrast, Yu Tianlong flipped midair, landing firmly on his feet without stumbling.
"Pffft—!"
Dai Mubai spat out a mouthful of blood.
As he looked up and saw his opponent standing tall, his aura instantly collapsed.
The Evil-Eyed White Tiger… had lost.
Everyone watching stood stunned.
That was it?
The mighty Dai Mubai lost… that quickly?
From start to finish, the two had only used two soul skills each, and fought for less than a hundred moves.
The difference in power was that stark.
Yu Tianlong stood there, tattered and bloodied—his shirt shredded, his chest crimson with blood—but he stood proud and straight.
He turned toward Liu Erlong, meeting her gaze directly.
Liu Erlong's expression turned grim. Her knuckles turned white from clenching her fists.
Through gritted teeth, she growled,
"Fine. Fine! This round goes to you. Next match!!"
"Next match?"
Yu Tianlong folded his arms, his voice emotionless:
"Even your strongest—Dai Mubai—lost to me. What's left for Shrek to fight with?"
"That's none of your concern. Stand down and rest," Liu Erlong snapped.
Yu Tianlong let out a hearty laugh and strode off the field.
On the sidelines, Ning Rongrong quickly stepped forward, sending a beam of healing light into his body. In an instant, Yu Tianlong's depleted soul power surged back.
"Ning Rongrong, you—?!"
The Shrek team nearly coughed up blood in frustration.
She really switched sides!
Ning Rongrong gave a slightly embarrassed smile.
"I've officially withdrawn from Shrek Academy and joined the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's direct team. I'm sorry, everyone."
"No need to explain."
Liu Erlong's tone turned icy.
"Next! Ma Hongjun, you're up!"
With Yu Tianlong no longer on the field, Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire Phoenix would no longer be suppressed. It was the perfect time for him to shine.
Just then, the calm voice of another young man broke the silence.
He tied back his long hair, and with a flash of light, summoned a black spear wrapped in golden dragon patterns.
Striding toward the arena, he declared:
Level 46 Power Attack System Soul Master — Yang Dianfeng. Martial Spirit: Dragon-Marked Soul-Piercing Spear!
Ma Hongjun froze, his body jiggling slightly.
Wait... how many levels did you say?!