However, Huo Yuhao, who knew the inside story, understood that the reason for the current situation was that Shrek Academy's official team members were recovering from injuries. Otherwise, they wouldn't be showing such a low level of power.
If all of their official team members were present, Huo Yuhao felt that the Body team's chances of winning were really up in the air. The main reason was the difference in the quality of their Martial Souls. Shrek Academy's team captain, Ma Xiaotao's Fire Phoenix Martial Soul was infinitely close to the Ultimate Fire. This was something Lin Kong, also the Body team's captain, couldn't compare to.
Huo Yuhao, who possessed the Extreme Ice, Ice-Blue Emperor Scorpion, knew the gap between Ultimate Martial Souls and ordinary Martial Souls better than anyone.
In terms of talent, Ma Xiaotao was also stronger than Lin Kong. As for why their cultivation levels were similar, it was because Soul Masters with Ultimate Martial Souls usually cultivated slowly.
Moreover, Ma Xiaotao's Martial Soul had a flaw. To be precise, Ma Xiaotao's Martial Soul should be called the Evil Fire Phoenix, inherited from Ma Hongjun, who had become the Phoenix God ten thousand years ago.
Back then, Ma Hongjun was also troubled by the Evil Fire, and had to visit brothels to relieve himself every so often. This was also the origin of the nickname, "Brothel Phoenix".
Later, Ma Hongjun purified and refined his Martial Soul after receiving the Immortal Herb, Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, gifted by Tang San. Only then did he get rid of the troubles of the Evil Fire.
Ma Xiaotao, on the other hand, was in a miserable situation. As a girl, she couldn't exactly go looking for ducks, and the Immortal Herb was something that could only be found by chance. Therefore, even though she was now a Soul Emperor, she didn't dare to go all out. The deaths of a few new students in Shrek Academy at the hands of the inner court disciples were due to Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire getting out of control.
However, the situation was unknown after Huo Yuhao entered the competition. With the Golden-Grade Martial Soul's second awakening, his domain, spatial abilities, and self-created soul skills, his strength could no longer be measured by simple soul power. Not to mention, his cultivation of the Heavenly Demon Technique allowed his soul power to far surpass Soul Masters of the same rank.
And with the several big shots permanently residing in his Sea of Consciousness, plus Dugu Bo, if he still couldn't fight above his level, Huo Yuhao might as well go find a block of tofu to kill himself. What was the point of defying the heavens and changing his fate then?
The next day, the semi-finals were about to begin. On the competition stage, the four teams that had entered the top four, Shrek Academy, the Body Sect Advanced Soul Master Academy, the Sun Moon Royal Advanced Soul Engineering Academy, and the Star Luo Royal Advanced Soul Master Academy, would draw lots to determine their opponents and the way they would fight.
By this point in the competition, Huo Yuhao naturally wouldn't be sitting up there watching the show anymore. Today, he was also in the Body Sect team. Because the competition rules stated that a team could have a maximum of seven members, Huo Yuhao replaced Wang Yanfeng's spot, and no one had any objections.
Not to mention Huo Yuhao's strength, in the reserve team, only Vena and Wang Yanfeng were Soul Masters below the fortieth rank. The Body Sect didn't lack combat power, and Vena's healing ability might be helpful.
Up in the high stands, Emperor Xu Jiawei of Star Luo, who hadn't been seen for a long time, was sitting in the first seat, talking with Duke Dai Hao of the White Tiger. The two were chatting and laughing, as if they were brothers who hadn't seen each other in many years.
Not long after, the results of the draw were announced. The Sun Moon Royal Advanced Soul Engineering Academy would face the Star Luo Royal Advanced Soul Master Academy, and the Body Sect Advanced Soul Master Academy would face Shrek Academy.
Following tradition, Shrek Academy always went first. The captains of the Shrek team and the Body Sect team went on stage to draw lots and decide the match format.
The Body Sect team was still led by Lin Kong, while Shrek's captain wasn't Bei Bei but Ma Xiaotao, a formal team member. This was Ma Xiaotao's first appearance since the opening ceremony of the competition, attracting the attention of many.
"Brother, it seems Shrek is getting serious?" On the high platform, Emperor Xu Jiawei of Star Luo smiled at Duke Dai Hao. His gaze swept over Shrek's waiting area, stopping on Dai Yaheng. Naturally, he knew Dai Hao's eldest son.
After so much time, with the power of the Star Luo Empire, Xu Jiawei had already received the information about Shrek's ambush of the evil soul masters, and how they were actually ambushed. Therefore, he wasn't surprised by Shrek's current lineup.
"My unworthy son will probably make Your Majesty laugh," Duke Dai Hao replied with a forced smile. He had met his eldest son, Dai Yaheng, several times during this period and thus knew Shrek's situation.
Currently, only Dai Yaheng in Shrek had complete Soul Emperor combat strength. Ling Luochen was only a Soul King, and as the captain, Ma Xiaotao couldn't use her full strength due to the Evil Fire.
There were only four Soul Masters in the reserve team, meaning that Shrek's highest combat power available was two Soul Emperors, one Soul King, and four Soul Masters.
This lineup was actually not bad, but if they wanted to compete for first place in the competition like previous years, it would be a bit difficult – no, not difficult, it should be impossible.
Because their opponents this time were also unprecedentedly strong, the Body Sect team was composed of three Soul Emperors and five Soul Kings. Such a formidable team was only achieved by Shrek in the past.
"Shrek, win, win, win!"
The shouts echoed through the arena. The Body Sect team in the waiting area looked over, seeing the Shrek Academy team huddled in a circle, hands clasped together, looking full of confidence.
Huo Yuhao and the others chuckled at this, not understanding where their confidence came from. Really, it was inexplicable.
"Body Advanced Soul Master Academy versus Shrek Advanced Soul Master Academy. The match will be conducted in a one-on-one format. Please send one contestant from each team to the stage."
The referee's voice announced, clearly stating that the match between the Body Sect team and the Shrek Academy team would be a single-person battle.
In the Body Sect Academy's waiting area, Yang Xu glanced at the team leader, Lin Kong, and then at Huo Yuhao. He then strode confidently towards the stage.
Huo Yuhao had specifically requested that he fight. Yang Xu felt this was the young master showing his appreciation, and he thought he must perform well to impress his teammates.
In reality, he was overthinking it. Huo Yuhao had asked him to fight simply to see if this guy would turn into a hairy wild man.
Yang Xu's Martial Soul is Hair, and his soul power is currently at level fifty-five. He wasn't at the sect recently.
Huo Yuhao had been very interested in this guy with the Hair Martial Soul for a long time, wanting to see if he'd really turn into a wild man after activating it. Now, he had a perfectly legitimate reason to watch.
Thinking back, Huo Yuhao had encountered a pair of twin sisters with a body Martial Soul during the entrance examination at Shrek Academy. Their Martial Soul was hair, which was different from Yang Xu's full-body hair.
After Yang Xu took the stage, Shrek Academy's side also sent out their contestant.
A young girl wearing a black Shrek Academy uniform slowly walked up from below the stage. The girl had long, wavy orange-golden hair, and her eyes were also orange-golden, clear and bright. She had a small nose and a fair, delicate face. She was around fifteen or sixteen years old, with a delicate figure, a full, rounded chest, a slender waist, and long, straight legs wrapped in white stockings. This girl was none other than Jiang Nannan, one of Shrek Academy's most popular girls.
As the saying goes, everyone loves beauty. Jiang Nannan's appearance excited the male audience, and they roared with excitement, showing just how popular she was.
(End of this chapter)