"Individual Elimination Round, Match One—Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect wins!"
Zheng Zhan announced the result. Onstage, only Dugu Xin remained. As for Ji Li?
Perhaps the puddle of black sludge on the ground proved he'd existed.
Thus, the Holy Spirit Church's Ji Li—perished.
"Heh. That's all you've got?" Dugu Xin flicked his spear and strode offstage. "Referee, let my teammates have their turn next. Every one of us needs to kill an evil soul master to vent our fury."
This brat's martial soul is poison—and his mouth even more so, Zheng Zhan thought, glancing at the Holy Spirit Church's ready zone. Their faces were thunderous with suppressed rage.
"Next competitors, take the stage."
At Yan Feng's signal, the Holy Spirit Church sent Wang Xiaolei—a replacement starter. His stiff, reed-thin frame looked less corpse than man.
"Xiao Xiao, this one's yours," Ning Tian said, beaming. "Show everyone your progress these years."
"Leave it to me, Sister Xiao Tian!" Xiao Xiao clenched her fist, fearless.
"Go, Xiao Xiao!"
"Xiao Xiao…"
"…"
Amid cheers, Xiao Xiao turned to Chen Junting.
He nodded, pride warming his eyes. "Don't hold back. Show them this unprecedented technique—leave those who underestimated you utterly dumbfounded."
"I will!"
In that moment, Xiao Xiao's petite frame seemed to swell with confidence. She leapt onto the stage, landing gracefully at its center.
The crowd gasped.
Did the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect send the wrong person?
"Why did Brother Junting put Xiao Xiao up?!" Wang Dong'er yanked her own arm in the rest zone. The pain confirmed this wasn't a dream. "Is this a mistake?"
"Not sure," Bei Bei frowned. In the quarterfinals, Wang Xiaolei had shown formidable strength—a Soul Emperor even he wouldn't defeat unscathed. And Xiao Xiao was merely a Soul King! Her performance against the Snow Demon Sect was brilliant, but raw cultivation mattered. Against a notoriously sinister evil soul master? This match…
"He wouldn't lose his mind," Di Yao muttered coldly—then fell silent when all eyes turned to her.
Team leader Zhang Lexuan stepped in: "Stop guessing. Since she's facing a Soul Emperor-level evil soul master so confidently, Xiao Xiao definitely has an ace. It's a pity she isn't on our team."
Silence fell. That's someone's fault.
Meanwhile, Zheng Zhan and the Holy Spirit Church shared Zhang Lexuan's assessment: Xiao Xiao's Soul King rank was deceptive—she was no pushover.
So despite audience murmurs, Wang Xiaolei stayed razor-alert.
Yet caution didn't stop Yan Feng's taunt: "This match'll end in under a minute." He made sure they heard.
No reply came—his mockery vanished like a stone in water.
"State your names."
"Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, Xiao Xiao."
"Holy Spirit Church, Wang Xiaolei."
The second individual match began.
Wang Xiaolei raised his right arm. Six optimal-ratio soul rings rose beneath him. A skeletal claw burst from his sleeve as his first ring flared.
Crack! Bone claws erupted from the steel floor, snatching at Xiao Xiao's ankles to immobilize her.
As the crowd gasped, Wang Xiaolei made a pressing motion. Ice-blue ripples shimmered on his claws—
Whoosh! A ghastly white halo encircled Xiao Xiao's feet.
Bone-chilling aura flooded—
Flash! The arena froze white.
Second Skill: Wicked Frostbind.
A combo to end her life.
But golden light flared—an Invincible Barrier blocked the attack.
As Wang Xiaolei charged violet-black energy into his right hand, Xiao Xiao moved.
For the first time, she activated both martial souls: Nine Phoenixes Flute in hand, Three Lives Soul-Sealing Cauldron orbiting. Wang Xiaolei's blood ran cold.
Xiao Xiao's lips parted—
Screech—!
A phoenix cry!
Then—
Chirp!
Caww!
…
Nine avian cries echoed!
From her flute, nine-colored notes coalesced into spectral birds: Peacock, Crimson Crane, Azure Duck, Snowy Owl, Violet Swallow, Roc, Zhao Feng, Ben Zhi, Bai Ming—the Nine Phoenix Progeny.
Their cries harmonized with the cauldron.
Xiao Xiao chanted like celestial music:
"Phoenix births nine young,
Ever bound to nine cauldrons.
Cauldrons seal three lives,
Phoenix purges evil."
The cauldron trembled—splitting one to three, three to nine.
Black energy swirled, then merged seamlessly with the flute's nine-hued radiance.
Clang—!
Nine cauldrons collided. The sound of nine phoenixes shrieking unleashed a crushing, purifying force—shattering Wang Xiaolei's death whip.
Aaah—!
Screams filled the air. Under phoenix beaks, spectral mists erupted—each dissipating face a tortured soul, violet-black wisps their final wails.
"You… deserve… death!" Xiao Xiao hissed, gentle fury blazing.
The nine hues vanished. Flute and cauldron disappeared—only a single nine-colored cauldron, engraved with phoenix progeny, loomed like a mountain in the sky.
What is this?!
The arena fell dead silent.
Even Wang Xiaolei froze, mind blank. Martial skill? Secret art?
Before he could react—
CRUSH!
The cauldron descended. No evasion. He vanished from existence.
Match over in under a minute.
Chen Junting's lips curled. Through soul power, he "casually" remarked, "Indeed—one minute."
Yan Feng jolted from shock—face livid, fists clenched.
Damn it! My taunt just boomeranged!
All eyes were fixed on the majestic cauldron, awe-struck.
"Could this be… a Self-Martial Soul Fusion Skill?"
Beyond their comprehension—yet dual martial soul fusion left only one explanation!
"We Shrek Academy lost big time!" Elder Xuan materialized, pounding his chest. "I remember now—that was Fan Yu's dead ex-wife's creation! Damn her! If she were alive, I'd strangle her myself!"
For once, Elder Xuan's memory was crystal clear—even recalling trivial figures. Yet his usual smile…
Heh.
Beside him, white-haired Elder Zhi Yong chuckled softly.
Ah—the smile hadn't vanished. It had simply migrated to Zhi Yong's face.
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