The first match of the eleventh round was still held on the central arena, with Shrek Academy's team facing the Blazing Fire Academy's team. This would be the focus of today's matches.
For Shrek Academy, although this opponent seemed weaker than Elephant Armored Sect in terms of soul power, they had only two Soul Ancestors above level forty, the fact that they had managed to defeat Elephant Armored Sect meant their strength was undeniable.
As the team's tactician, Tang San quickly confirmed the lineup for this match: Tang San, Dai Mubai, Xiao Wu, Tai Long, Jing Ling, Huang Yuan, and Jiang Zhu.
They used the same lineup as they did against Elephant Armored Academy, but replaced Zhu Zhuqing with Xiao Wu.
Fourteen participants from both sides walked onto the stage. The referee stepped to the center of the arena. "Teams, line up and salute."
Both teams stood in two rows, bowing toward each other. Dai Mubai's eyes locked with Huo Wushuang's, and Tang San inevitably met Huo Wu's gaze.
The match had not yet started, but the air was already tense with fighting spirit.
Surprisingly, Huo Wushuang glared straight at Dai Mubai, not showing the slightest fear of the strongest level fifty-five Soul King in the tournament. Their eyes clashed sharply, and Huo Wushuang said in a deep voice, "Today will be the end of your winning streak."
Dai Mubai replied coolly, "Is that so? Today, one of our teams will indeed lose their streak. Since you are so confident, let me see your strength and whether you can force me to go all out."
"You are very strong, stronger than any opponent we have ever faced," Huo Wushuang said, shifting his gaze to Tang San. "But it's a pity. If your control-type soul master didn't use a plant-based martial soul, we might have had no chance at all. But now…"
"Other than you, who will they rely on? That agility-type girl? Or Tang San with his plant martial soul? As long as we deal with your teammates, I don't believe the seven of us cannot bring you down."
Dai Mubai naturally knew that plant-type soul masters were restrained by fire-type ones. Tang San was unquestionably the most critical member of the Shrek team. Once he was restricted, victory would depend solely on Dai Mubai himself.
But since Tang San was not worried, Dai Mubai didn't worry too much either.
Tang San's Blue Silver Emperor was indeed afraid of fire, but he still had a hidden trump card, his fourth soul skill. There was still a chance.
Even if Tang San's performance was limited in this match, could the other side really win with just two lower-level Soul Ancestors and five Soul Elders? At worst, they would simply stop hiding their full strength.
"You may release your martial souls," the referee called out again. At once, light filled the arena.
Brilliant soul ring light illuminated the stage, and both sides clearly had optimal soul ring configurations.
Shrek Academy's soul rings were more numerous overall. Dai Mubai had five, Tang San and Xiao Wu were Soul Ancestors, and the other four were three-ring Soul Elders.
Blazing Fire Academy's members all released blazing red martial souls that heated the entire arena, creating an intimidating visual effect. But they had only two Soul Ancestors; the other five were Soul Elders.
Still, even when facing Dai Mubai, who stood at the very front with five soul rings, Blazing Fire Academy did not show the slightest sign of backing down.
In their eyes, this match was not hopeless. Dai Mubai was strong, but team battles were about collective power.
If soul power level alone decided victory, Shrek could just report their levels and skip the matches.
Tang San's gaze stayed on Huo Wu, the tall girl whose name shared the same "Wu" character as Xiao Wu's.
Though she wore a smile, her aura was restrained and mysterious. Even Tang San, with his strength and Purple Demon Eye, could not easily read her.
When their martial souls rose, invisible pressure pushed against each other like two giant walls.
As the referee retreated, both teams immediately took their formations. Blazing Fire Academy stayed in their triangular formation, with Huo Wushuang at the front line, flanked by two Fire Crane Soul Elders and a Fire Leopard Soul Elder. Huo Wu stood in the center, and the two Fire Star Soul Elders stood in the rear.
On Shrek's side, Dai Mubai and Tai Long stood at the front, Jiang Zhu at the rear, with Tang San, Xiao Wu, Jing Ling, and Huang Yuan in the middle.
Blazing Fire Academy's formation looked far more aggressive, while Shrek's was more defensive.
"Begin!" the referee shouted.
Dai Mubai took a sudden step forward, shaking the whole arena. Tai Long followed closely, both pressing forward with unstoppable momentum.
Boom, instantly, flames erupted from Blazing Fire Academy's formation. A blazing red glow filled half the arena with scorching heat.
All seven of Blazing Fire Academy's members activated their first soul skills simultaneously, their flames bursting forth.
Their two support-type Soul Elders released countless sparks that gathered in the air, fusing into glowing red fireballs that hovered above their heads, then streamed into their teammates' bodies, making their flames burn even brighter.
Huo Wushuang and the Fire Leopard Soul Elder charged forward. Huo Wushuang let out a dragon-like roar as flames rose around him, faintly forming the shape of a dragon. His first soul skill covered his skin with dark red scales.
The two agility-type Soul Elders, Huo Yun and Huo Yu, spread fiery wings and glided in an arc, aiming straight for Tang San and Jiang Zhu.
One after another, the gathered sparks entered their bodies, boosting their strength even more.
This was clearly a well-coordinated team. From the very beginning, they were building their advantage.
Only three people remained still: Tang San, Jiang Zhu, and Huo Wu.
Jiang Zhu didn't move because her ability was healing, and it was not yet time to heal.
Tang San and Huo Wu, however, simply stared at each other without acting.
Huang Yuan and Jing Ling broke off to intercept Huo Yun and Huo Yu, while Xiao Wu rushed straight toward Huo Wu.
At the same time, Dai Mubai activated his first and third soul skills, his aura surging as he clashed with Huo Wushuang head-on.
The two support Soul Elders kept channeling power into Huo Wushuang, raising his strength to its peak.
Even so, when Dai Mubai's White Tiger Palm struck and collided with Huo Wushuang's blazing dragon claw, Huo Wushuang was sent skidding back five steps before barely regaining his footing.
The difference between them was too great. Dai Mubai was level fifty-five, while Huo Wushuang was only level forty-two. Even with full support, he could only reach the level of an average Soul King.
But Huo Wushuang did not retreat. He roared, activated his second and fourth soul skills, and charged back at Dai Mubai with full force. His job was to hold Dai Mubai back at all costs.
Each time Dai Mubai tried to press his advantage, sparks from above would fall on Huo Wushuang, exploding into golden-red light and pushing Dai Mubai back, giving Huo Wushuang breathing space.
These two "support" Soul Elders were not ordinary supports, they could be considered control-types too, as they could selectively strengthen allies and disrupt enemies.
"No wonder you dare face me head-on," Dai Mubai said coldly. "But your support is only level thirty-seven. How long can you last?"
Huo Wushuang ignored his words and kept attacking fiercely, preventing Dai Mubai from helping his teammates.
Tai Long clashed with the Fire Leopard Soul Elder. Though Tai Long was stronger, with the support boosts, the Fire Leopard Soul Elder managed to fight evenly with him.
Meanwhile, Huo Yun and Huo Yu pressured Jing Ling and Huang Yuan. Their boosted strength was close to Soul Ancestor level, while Shrek only had two level thirty-five Soul Elders defending the backline.
Huo Wushuang was confident: once Huo Yun and Huo Yu broke through, they could swing the battle decisively in their favor.
But was it really that simple?
Just as Huo Yun and Huo Yu were overpowering Huang Yuan and Jing Ling, several cold lights appeared out of nowhere. The two were struck before they could react, blood splashing.
They turned their heads to see Tang San, whose fourth purple soul ring shone brightly. Countless crystal-green blades, shaped like Blue Silver Grass leaves, appeared in his hands.
This was Tang San's fourth soul skill, Flying Flower Plucking Leaves. His fourth soul ring came from a seven-thousand-year Vajra Vine, turning the originally fragile leaves of Blue Silver Grass into diamond-sharp throwing blades.
For most control-type soul masters, this skill would just harden their martial soul and improve its defense. But for Tang San, who was a master of hidden weapons, this was a terrifying power boost.
If not for the tournament rules forbidding external tools, he would have coated these blades with poison, and Huo Yun and Huo Yu might already be out of the fight.
Tang San now stood in front of Jiang Zhu, his Purple Demon Eye glowing, his white-jade hands rapidly producing blade after blade of Blue Silver Grass.
He moved like a butterfly among flowers, launching blade after blade with precision.
Huo Yun and Huo Yu were shocked. The wounds from earlier still bled, and now numbness spread through their bodies, the poison effect from Tang San's first soul skill.
The two immediately took flight to avoid the barrage.
But Tang San's fourth soul skill was not so simple. With the Vajra Vine's power and Tang San's hidden weapon techniques, his attack range extended to fifty meters, enough to cover almost the entire arena.
He was now practically a human artillery battery, constantly firing deadly blades.
And with Jiang Zhu's soul skill replenishing his soul power, he could keep going endlessly.
Huo Yun and Huo Yu had no choice but to fight with their full strength to dodge, which consumed their energy and prevented them from attacking.
At the same time, Tang San aimed more blades toward Huo Wu and the two support Soul Elders behind her.
"You won't move? Let's see if I can make you move," Tang San said with a calm smile.
From the moment he had obtained his fourth soul ring, he had waited for this chance to unleash it. Now that he could fight without holding back, he fully displayed its power.
Dozens more blades shot toward Huo Wu and her supports.
Huo Wu had been watching carefully for a chance to strike, but she never expected Tang San's hidden fourth skill to be an offensive one.
She was even more shocked that he could control so many blades so precisely, attacking both Huo Yun and Huo Yu while still targeting her.
And Xiao Wu had already closed to within ten meters.
Huo Wu now understood, Shrek had also been holding back, even more than her own team.
Dai Mubai hadn't even revealed his fourth and fifth skills yet, still suppressing Huo Wushuang with just two soul skills.
Her earlier plan, to stall Dai Mubai, defeat Tang San and the others, then turn to finish Dai Mubai, was no longer realistic.
Even the Tang San she had least worried about was now the greatest threat.
The blue-silver blades closed in, and Xiao Wu entered striking distance. Huo Wu's expression grew heavier.
There were now only two possible outcomes, either surrender, or fight with everything she had.
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