"Individual Elimination Round, Match Two—Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect wins!"
Amid roaring cheers, Zheng Zhan eyed the Holy Spirit Church's team zone—a pocket of gloom amid the festive atmosphere. Their scowling faces and murderous glares matched the stormy weather perfectly.
Xiao Xiao took a deep breath, struggling to control the nine-colored cauldron. With resounding phoenix cries, it shattered back into her two martial souls. The soul power expenditure left her pale.
She shot a defiant throat-slitting gesture toward the Holy Spirit Church, then turned away. Pulling out a soul recovery bottle, she walked offstage, expression cold.
Yan Feng's eyes narrowed as he glanced at the rest zone.
If we keep retreating, we'll be seen as cowards!
Bloodbear Douluo remained impassive, lips barely moving: "Don't forget our mission. This match isn't about pride—it's about exterminating the Three Great Empires' geniuses. Send another as a sacrificial pawn."
"If I'm right," he added, "once the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect wins this round, they'll force a team battle—and slaughter your remaining six there."
"And remember—this is the Sect Master's order!"
That final line extinguished Yan Feng's fury.
He'd already planned to defy Zhongli Wu twice. A third failure would be fatal. Either abandon his scheme… or—
His gaze fell on the weakest member. "Liu Yuan. You're up."
Cold dismissal—he treated teammates like livestock.
"For you, Xiao Feng," Chen Junting said, recalling the opponent's file in his mind. "Martial Soul: Bloodthirsty Thorn—a plant-type Soul Emperor. He's utterly countered by you."
"Then one move!" Wu Feng's killing intent blazed as she leapt onto the stage. "I'm going all out, Swordy!"
"As you wish."
Before Zheng Zhan finished announcing "Begin!", Wu Feng's dragon roar drowned him out. Her body swelled—crimson scales erupting across her skin, wings and tail unfurling. Only twin horns crowned her head: one step from full dragonification.
Her soul rings flared alongside searing flames, showcasing her dominance.
Liu Yuan summoned bloodthirsty thorn vines—putrid stench flooding the arena. Crimson tendrils lashed toward Wu Feng.
ROAR—!
Dragonfire exploded. With her Crimson Flame Mad Dragon soul spirit, Wu Feng mirrored a Martial Soul True Form. Twin wings of flame spread, encircling her in a ring of fire.
She soared skyward as Liu Yuan's thorns grasped empty air. His sixth ring ignited—a sea of blood flooded the arena. Toxic crimson mist oozed from thorns now covering a third of the stage, forming a cage. The vines coiled into a colossal blood spear, piercing toward Wu Feng's abdomen.
But—WHOOSH—!
Fire wreathed Wu Feng. Her blood boiled, igniting into blood-flame that merged with external inferno. The dragonfire awakened.
Temperature soared—BOOM! Thunder cracked. Rain poured like a breached heavenly river, drenching the land.
Soul-engineered barriers shielded spectators—but on the arena, raindrops vaporized midair from the heat.
In the rest zone, Wang Dong'er gaped. "T-This… Ultimate Fire?!"
"How the hell did Wu Feng awaken Ultimate Fire?!"
Shock rippled through the stands. On the main platform, Xu Tianran and Zhongli Wu gripped their armrests, killing intent surging. The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect now eclipsed Shrek as their greatest threat:
- Nine-Treasures Pagoda (years ago)
- Ultimate Ice
- Area-of-effect powerhouse
- Ultimate Metal Soul Saint
- Space-controlling Bone Dragon user
- Unprecedented self-martial-soul fusion skill
- And now… Ultimate Fire female Soul Emperor
"She hasn't fully awakened Ultimate Fire," Zhongli Wu noted, eyes gleaming. "Just a temporary surge from pushing her martial soul to its limit. But when she becomes a Soul Saint… true Ultimate Attribute awaits."
Wu Feng descended like a true flame dragon. Half the arena glowed crimson as she loomed over Liu Yuan's burning thorn spear. "Took me a while to prep this," she smirked. "Sorry—time to send you to hell!"
ROAR—!
Fifth Skill: Crimson Flame Dragon Head!
Her soul spirit unleashed a draconic maw of fire—engulfing Liu Yuan whole.
When the flames died ten breaths later, only ash remained.
Wu Feng strode off victorious. No one in the Holy Spirit Church mourned Liu Yuan.
Yan Feng's group sat stone-faced, waiting. When Zheng Zhan called for Match Four, Ning Tian stood abruptly: "Referee, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect forfeits the remaining individual matches. We request immediate team battle."
Zheng Zhan nodded. "Individual rounds forfeited. Holy Spirit Church: 4 points. Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect: 0. Proceeding to team battle."
He paused before adding: "Three minutes to prepare before team battle. Use them wisely."
Zheng Zhan reinforced the arena barrier again.
Ning Tian frowned. "Only three minutes?"
"Someone's afraid," Chen Junting said, having seen Xu Tianran whisper to Zhongli Wu just before Zheng Zhan's pause. They've lost confidence in a 7v7—resorting to time pressure for victory.
"Xiao Xiao, your fusion skill drained you. Rest," Ning Tian ordered, cutting off protests.
"But Sister Xiao Tian—"
"That's final, Xiao Xiao."
Chen Junting echoed her tone, adding: "Dugu Xin and Wu Feng won't fight either."
"What?!" Wu Feng protested. "Why can't I go?!"
"Because your legs are still shaking. No." Chen Junting shut her down, turning to Dugu Xin.
"I'll sit out," Dugu Xin nodded. "You alone can crush them."
Chen Junting shrugged. "Maybe."
Zheng Zhan's voice boomed:
"Team battle begins! Competitors, take the stage!"
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