Although it was only a quarter-final match, almost everyone viewed it as the final.
In the early morning, on the road from the Star Emperor Hotel to the Star Luo Plaza arena, soldiers stood in rows on both sides, surrounded by loudly cheering crowds. The surging masses forced the soldiers at the front to use their spirit power to hold them back.
And these were just the people who couldn't get tickets.
Those who had purchased tickets had already entered the stands. When Wang Nan and his companions entered, the surrounding area was packed with people.
Above the imperial city, Emperor Xu Jiawei of the Star Luo Empire stood with his civil and military officials. Beside him stood a tall, blond man in golden armor, none other than Duke Baihu Dai Hao. Clearly, even they regarded this match as the final.
The moment Dai Hao was seen, Dai Yueheng in the team became uncontrollably excited. However, Huo Yuhao's reaction was much calmer than Wang Nan had anticipated.
Although everyone attached great importance to this match, it was, after all, only a quarter-final in the schedule. Therefore, they didn't have to wait too long before Wang Nan and his companions took their positions on the arena.
This was also the first time all seven main team members of Shrek Academy took the stage.
The Sun Moon Royal Academy, on the opposite side, no longer concealed their strength. Five main team members, including Captain Ma Rulong, and the Xiao Hongchen siblings, stood on the arena as well.
Perhaps others might think that having two substitute members on stage meant that the Sun Moon Royal Academy was still holding back, but everyone on the Shrek Academy side knew that these siblings were much stronger than the other two main team members.
An elder stepped down from the imperial city. Although he did not release his Spirit, anyone who could stand beside Xu Jiawei was at least a Titled Douluo in strength.
Those familiar with him might recognize him as Huang Jinxu, the Heavenly Fiend Douluo, who had been hunted by several great Sects many years ago.
"I will be the referee for this match."
Huang Jinxu looked left and right. "Both sides, retreat to the sides of the arena. Prepare, begin!"
As his voice fell, a gasp immediately rose from the audience.
Ma Xiaotao took the lead, with seven spirit rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black—circling around her, clearly displaying her cultivation as a Rank Seven Spirit Saint.
The first Spirit Saint to appear in the Soul Duel Tournament, and a Spirit Saint under twenty years old. Even if some audience members were not Spirit Masters, they couldn't help but cheer for the display of seven spirit rings.
On the contrary, the Sun Moon Royal Academy, their opponents, showed little surprise.
After all, Ma Xiaotao had fought in the previous Soul Duel Tournament and displayed her strength. Her unusual behavior of not fighting in this tournament probably led them to guess what secret she was hiding.
Wang Nan's three attack system Spirit Masters had already charged forward, accompanied by the control system Spirit Master Ling Luochen.
Ling Luochen's fourth spirit ring lit up, releasing an ice mist that enveloped the Shrek Academy side. Even a brilliant Spirit like Gongyang Mo's was obscured by the ice mist, making him untraceable.
"First plan."
Ma Rulong shouted. No one knew what Ma Rulong's 'first plan' meant, but they could see a silver cannon barrel appear in his hand, and a silver light sphere shot out rapidly.
Different spirit tool shells have different effects; sometimes, it's impossible to determine their specific effect before they explode.
However, Shrek Academy had also made great progress in recent years. The spirit tool courses offered to the Martial Soul Department Disciples were not in vain.
"Close your eyes!"
Wang Nan let out a low shout. He, Ma Xiaotao, and Dai Yueheng slightly turned their heads, not looking in the direction of that spirit tool cannon.
Indeed, the next moment, an intense silver light filled the entire arena. Tens of thousands of spectators below the stage involuntarily closed their eyes from the intense brightness, tears streaming down their faces.
Immediately after, countless light spheres condensed from spirit power were released through spirit tools, spreading out from the Sun Moon Royal Academy's members like a peacock fanning its tail.
If they had been affected by the previous flash cannon, they might not have been able to withstand this first wave of attacks.
"I'll go!"
Dai Yueheng's fourth spirit ring lit up. Spirit tool thrusters carried his body into the air, and then countless white lights similarly poured down toward the Sun Moon Royal Academy.
The attacks from both sides collided in the center of the arena, and the aftershocks of the Spirit Ability and spirit tool collision spread across the entire arena.
However, such aftershocks were not enough to stop the approaching Wang Nan and Ma Xiaotao.
The Sun Moon Royal Academy's second wave of attacks arrived again. Various lights, light spheres, and cannon shells came overwhelmingly. Among them were spirit tools Wang Nan recognized, and some he had never seen before.
Ma Xiaotao ignored everything, stomped her foot, and shot out.
Behind her, a Dragon's roar echoed throughout the arena. A golden giant Dragon soared into the sky, and as its Dragon head rose high, spatial fluctuations powerful enough to shatter space spread forward, blocking all attacks.
The Sun Moon Royal Academy only had time to launch two waves of attacks before Ma Xiaotao, covered in golden flames, appeared not far in front of them.
With a rainbow-like halo surrounding her, her fourth spirit ring lit up, and massive pillars of fire erupted from beneath their feet as if from a volcanic eruption.
Although they tried their best to dodge, the arena floor beneath their feet was already too hot to stand on.
Especially Meng Hongchen—when Ma Xiaotao's flames approached, she already felt an unbearable sense of suffocation. That was the restraint of the Ultimate Fire on her Spirit.
Then, Ma Xiaotao's fifth spirit ring lit up, and the flames around her gradually condensed into the shape of a Phoenix.
Scanning the crowd, this Phoenix bypassed Ma Rulong, who had the highest spirit power rank, and headed directly for Meng Hongchen.
Spirit Fusion Skill.
Ma Xiaotao, being from Shrek, naturally knew what this meant. Since she knew in advance that the Xiao Hongchen siblings might have a Spirit Fusion, she naturally prioritized eliminating one of them.
However, the Sun Moon Royal Academy couldn't just watch Ma Xiaotao's attack land. One of their players, named Lin Xi, quickly came in front of Meng Hongchen, emitting a golden light to block the attack.
An invincible shield was not cheap, but Meng Hongchen was the granddaughter of Jing Hongchen, the Hall Master of Mingde Hall. If she were injured, it would not be something an invincible shield could solve after returning.
However, "invincible" is always relative.
The surrounding temperature suddenly rose. The color of the flames on the arena gradually lightened from golden-red, and the arena beneath Ma Xiaotao's feet could no longer withstand the heat and began to slowly melt.
The invincible shield in front of Lin Xi also shattered under this high temperature.
Not only her, but the spirit tools on the other members of the Sun Moon Royal Academy were also affected to varying degrees; some of the metals used to make the spirit tools were gradually softening.
This was the Ultimate Fire. With Ma Xiaotao's power alone, she was enough to suppress all the players of the Sun Moon Royal Academy.