Chapter 42: Too Lazy to Explain, Unworthy to Hear — The Sovereign of Ice
On the opposite side, Xiao Hongchen gave a cold snort. As one of the people who had experienced Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection Sharing the most, he clearly had the greatest say on this ability, which was no different from cheating.
"Don't just stand there stunned. Do you see Huo Yuhao, the last one in their formation? If we don't eliminate him immediately, we've already lost this match."
Proud as he was, even he had to admit how terrifying Yuhao's role in a team battle was. Once his Spiritual Detection Sharing activated, the whole team was practically playing with a map hack—utterly unfair.
"Is it really that exaggerated, Xiao Hongchen? Aren't you making too big of a deal?"
"Exactly. We've got four official team members, while they only have three. Even if you count that so-called captain of theirs, they shouldn't be our match."
The two reserve team members were still clueless and couldn't help but question him.
Xiao Hongchen didn't bother replying. This was precisely why he never wanted to befriend fools like them—too lazy to explain, and they weren't worthy of hearing it!
Unlike the reserves, the four official members—Chen An, Mika, and the others—exchanged serious looks. They already knew Xiao Hongchen's temper. If even someone as arrogant as him was this wary, then this "Huo Yuhao," the boy dubbed the greatest genius in the empire's history, was definitely a troublesome opponent.
Yes. At this very moment, Huo Yuhao was without doubt the number one genius in the history of the Sun Moon Empire.
The battle erupted.
Ma Rulong was the first to act. His Level 7 soul cannon instantly deployed, skipping the aiming process entirely.
"Your beloved captain is going to give you some real firepower today!"
Chen Fei, a sensitive-attack soul master and close-combat soul engineer, immediately charged forward.
With his Lightning Bird martial soul granting him extreme mobility, combined with an invincible shield, and with Ma Rulong's pinpoint bombardment under Yuhao's support, he tore open a gap before the enemy could even react.
Meanwhile, Lin Xi unfolded several layers of soul guidance device barriers to protect Huo Yuhao.
A core like this—absolutely nothing could be allowed to happen to him!
Meng Hongchen glanced at Yuhao, smiling softly, before releasing her first soul skill, Ice Toad Venom, linked with her second skill, Ring of Ice Poison. The result was a poisonous frost domain that drastically weakened the opponent's reactions.
Very soon, the battlefield turned into a world of cannon fire and white mist—within which an almost invisible but lethal poison spread.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions thundered as massive artillery shells rained down, blanketing the entire battlefield. Even someone as agile as Chen An, also a sensitive-attack type, was barely holding on.
Xiao Hongchen's pressure instantly multiplied. Not just him—Mika, Chen Fei, and the others were left staring in shock.
"What's going on? Since when was the captain's soul cannon this accurate?"
"They must be cheating! The captain's team has to be using hacks!"
Only Xiao Xiafeng kept his cool. Studying the enemy's formation and recognizing Lin Xi's position—his brother, whom he knew so well—he suddenly realized the truth.
"No, the real core on the other side… is Huo Yuhao!"
"Xiao Hongchen was right. Huo Yuhao is the one controlling the rhythm of this entire battle. Unless we take him out first, there's no suspense left in this fight!"
The others finally understood. But saying it was easy—breaking through that godlike fire net under Yuhao's command was practically impossible unless they could outright crush them in strength.
"Chen An, prepare to release the micro soul bombs. Li Yan, charge the soul cannons—cover Chen An's breakthrough!"
Though arrogant, Xiao Hongchen's battlefield awareness was still exceptional.
No matter what, they had to break through the bombardment. And to do that, the first target was the "cheat" himself—Huo Yuhao.
From the very start, Xiao Hongchen had scattered numerous metal spheres—his Level 5 core formations, crafted after becoming a Level 5 Soul Engineer.
By combining his martial soul's control over metal with his four soul skills, he could summon over a hundred soul cannons at once, ready to carpet-bomb the battlefield.
But the strategy that had always worked before was utterly useless now. Every shell fell just a fraction off, never hitting anyone.
Even Lin Xi, who was solely focused on protecting Yuhao, was dodging like he had the vision of a god, effortlessly avoiding Xiao Hongchen's bombardment.
"Damn it, Yuhao, you bastard! We're supposed to be the number one in the world, you fool!"
Meanwhile, Ma Rulong and Chen Fei reveled in battle, while Yuhao quietly let out a breath.
He turned toward Meng Hongchen, who was continuously releasing ice mist, and smiled.
"Meng, would you like to experience what it feels like to become the Sovereign of Ice?"
Meng Hongchen froze at his gaze, her voice crisp and earnest.
"Yuhao, just tell me. Whatever you want me to do, I'll cooperate!"
Hearing this, Yuhao gently placed his hand on her fair back. Instantly, the majesty of Extreme Ice surged forth. The effect of attribute resonance temporarily elevated Meng Hongchen's ice to the realm of Extreme Ice.
Her face flushed crimson. It felt like countless currents were flowing through her body—partly from Yuhao's touch, partly from the exaltation of her attribute.
For the first time, she felt as though she truly was the Queen of Ice and Snow. The poison innate to her martial soul was completely suppressed, leaving only pure, overwhelming ice.
"Thank you, Yuhao."
She had never felt so wonderful before. And she didn't mind Yuhao's palm resting on her back—in fact, she secretly wished he would keep it there, even if not for the attribute enhancement.
As for the reason behind all this? She couldn't care less.
Yuhao nodded seriously.
"Then… end this battle, Meng."
"Mm! Watch me!"
Meng Hongchen grew solemn. Her fourth soul ring lit up, activating her fourth skill, Ice Reversal, converting all surrounding energy into ice energy.
The poisonous fog thickened again—but this time, infused with the domineering essence of Ultimate Ice. The enemy instantly felt the crushing weight of absolute power.
"What's happening?!"
"Damn, my attribute's been suppressed—my soul power feels sluggish! What the hell is going on?"
"Not good! The captain's soul bombs—we can't dodge them anymore!"
With Chen Fei's lightning-fast assassination finishing the job, the battle ended swiftly.
Xiao Hongchen stomped his foot angrily, walking straight up to Yuhao and glaring at him.
"Meh?" Yuhao just shoved his hands into his pockets, pretending not to notice.
"Yuhao, you helped Meng just now, didn't you? You must have! I saw you touch her back—otherwise, this battle wouldn't have ended so quickly!"
The little traitor, Meng Hongchen—her brother's nemesis—instantaneously leapt to Yuhao's defense.
"Stupid big brother! Don't you dare talk to Yuhao like that!"
Xiao Hongchen wanted to cry, but had no tears. It was over. His little sister had completely fallen into Yuhao's trap.
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End of Chapter