After only a brief moment of thought, Huo Wu made her choice.
If she surrendered so easily, then they might as well have forfeited the match before it even began. Since she was already standing on the Soul Arena stage, she would not admit defeat lightly, even if her opponent's strength had far exceeded her expectations.
The long motionless Huo Wu finally moved. She made no attempt to dodge, as though allowing Xiao Wu to get close, allowing Tang San's Blue Silver Blade to approach.
When the Blue Silver Blades were within ten meters of Huo Wu and the two auxiliary-type Soul Elders, Huo Wu's third purple soul ring lit up.
As her third soul ring shone, a ring-shaped crimson fire halo silently appeared. It showed no offensive power but repelled all of the dozens of Blue Silver Blades, sending them flying back in Tang San's direction.
This was Huo Wu's third soul skill, Resistance Fire Ring. This skill had no attack power.
Its greatest feature was that it could push back all enemies and attacks within its range.
How far the enemies were repelled, and how to avoid hitting one's own teammates, depended on the soul master's control.
It looked like a skill meant for self-preservation, but when used by an excellent control-type soul master, it was far more than that.
Just now, Huo Wu had precisely reflected Tang San's Blue Silver Blades back along their original path, proving that her mastery of this soul skill had reached the highest level.
However, she seemed to have overlooked one thing, Xiao Wu had not been repelled.
At the very moment Huo Wu released her third soul skill, Xiao Wu finally used her own hidden third soul skill.
Resistance Fire Ring could repel enemies and attacks within a certain range, but Xiao Wu used her teleportation skill to slip through the tiny gap before the Fire Ring fully formed.
Teleporting twice in quick succession, Xiao Wu instantly appeared right in front of Huo Wu. In the latter's shocked gaze, Xiao Wu unleashed her deadly strike.
Her scorpion braid wrapped directly around Huo Wu's neck. Before Huo Wu could react, she was lifted into the air. Xiao Wu grabbed her arms, activated her first soul skill Waist Bow, bent her body, and violently kicked both legs against Huo Wu's waist.
The next moment, Huo Wu let out a miserable cry, flying backward until she crashed into the two auxiliary-type Soul Elders behind her. Only then did she stop. Caught by her teammates, Huo Wu spat out a mouthful of blood, clearly suffering severe injuries.
When Xiao Wu activated Waist Bow, her strength and explosive power were doubled by one hundred percent. And with every additional level of soul power, the boost increased by another one percent.
Now that Xiao Wu was at level forty-three, starting from level ten when she had gained her first soul ring, her first soul skill had reached a terrifying one hundred thirty percent boost.
In addition, Xiao Wu had previously watched Blazing Academy's matches with Tang San and the others, clearly understanding Huo Wu's strength and importance to her team. Thus, Xiao Wu held nothing back in this strike.
Huo Wu's defense was not high to begin with, and the two auxiliary-type Soul Elders could never have expected Xiao Wu to possess such a terrifying teleportation skill. Xiao Wu's full-powered blow was enough to instantly deprive Huo Wu of her combat ability.
Xiao Wu was able to seize the brief opening of Resistance Fire Ring and teleport past Huo Wu precisely because she had previously witnessed Huo Wu use this skill in the match against Elephant Armored Academy.
This skill was undoubtedly powerful in Huo Wu's hands, but it was not invincible. Because it required a brief moment to fully form, that moment was enough for Xiao Wu to teleport through.
Moreover, Xiao Wu had never revealed her third or fourth soul skills before. Not even the powerful Sword Douluo, Ning Fengzhi, or Salas in the VIP seats could have guessed what skills she had been keeping hidden.
"Xiao Wu!" Huo Wushuang, who was locked in a fierce clash with Dai Mubai, roared in fury as he saw Huo Wu severely injured.
It was not just Huo Wushuang, the entire Blazing Academy team was enraged. Huo Wu was their team's key member, and without her, their strength would be cut by more than half.
The tens of thousands of spectators erupted in thunderous cheers at Xiao Wu's sudden burst of power. Most of them had bet on Shrek Academy.
This was understandable. After all, Shrek Academy had Dai Mubai, a powerful level fifty-five Soul King, who alone could decide the outcome of most matches.
In the VIP seats, Emperor Xue Ye, Chen Xin, Ning Fengzhi, and Salas were all astonished by Xiao Wu's teleportation ability.
Such a skill was incredibly powerful, whether used for offense or defense.
Unfortunately, Xiao Wu wore a delicate sachet at her waist. The herb inside concealed her aura as a soul beast, so even someone like Chen Xin, who had reached the level of a level ninety-six Super Douluo, could not detect her true identity.
As soon as Huo Wu was struck down, Xiao Wu immediately charged at the two auxiliary-type Soul Elders.
Huo Wu had her Resistance Fire Ring, but what did those two have to protect them?
At that critical moment, Huo Wushuang shouted loudly, "We surrender!"
Then he shouted toward the healers at the sidelines, "Healing! Quickly, heal Huo Wu!"
After taking Xiao Wu's full Waist Bow strike, Huo Wu, who had almost no defensive power, was already unconscious, her face deathly pale and blood still at the corner of her mouth.
They say a younger sister is a brother's treasure, so Huo Wushuang was naturally panicked beyond words.
After Blazing Academy surrendered, Tang San, Dai Mubai, Tai Long, and the others stopped their attacks. For them, this was still an almost crushing victory.
However, this battle had revealed Tang San's fourth soul skill and Xiao Wu's third soul skill, leaving them with two fewer trump cards.
But this was unavoidable. Having watched Blazing Academy's matches, they knew just how terrifying the team's strength could be under Huo Wu's command.
If Xiao Wu had not taken Huo Wu out instantly, with Dai Mubai not using his full power and Tang San's control skills nearly ineffective, their victory would not have been so easy.
Therefore, revealing Tang San's fourth soul skill and Xiao Wu's third soul skill was actually the optimal solution.
The only downside was that future opponents would now be prepared for those skills, unlike Blazing Academy, who had been completely caught off guard and lost their core member in an instant.
Soon, under the full healing of a Soul Emperor-level healer, Huo Wu woke up. Her pale face regained some color, but she still looked unwell.
Under the referee's signal, the two teams lined up again.
Huo Wu's expression was complicated. She had always been the pride of her academy, ranked among the top five, even top three, in the Five Element Academies.
But to lose so easily to Shrek Academy was hard to accept.
Although she had mentally prepared for defeat, she had never expected to be taken out so quickly.
The blow was enormous for her, not because she was defeated by the strong Soul King Dai Mubai, but by Xiao Wu.
Both she and Xiao Wu were level forty-three, yet she was instantly eliminated by Xiao Wu's sudden burst, leaving her with no chance to fight back.
That powerless feeling of being unable to even use her strength struck her deeply.
"We will meet again. Next time, you will not be so lucky," Huo Wu said, glaring at Xiao Wu with blazing eyes.
Xiao Wu simply smiled lightly. "I'll be waiting."
She did not take Huo Wu's words to heart. Yes, Huo Wu was a genius with strong control and ability, but Xiao Wu still had her fourth soul skill unrevealed.
And this was a team match, not an individual duel, so even if Huo Wu was strong, what was there to fear?
The central Soul Arena match ended with thunderous cheers from most of the audience, while the few who had bet on Blazing Academy hung their heads in disappointment.
With this victory, Shrek Academy had eleven wins in eleven matches, while Blazing Academy now had ten wins and one loss.
Even with just one loss, they were no longer in the true first tier, since Thunderclap Academy, Godwind Academy, and Tianshui Academy all remained undefeated.
As the crowd cheered, the two teams saluted and left the stage. Oscar waited for them at the end of the tunnel, nodding in satisfaction.
"You all did well. Since you've decided to reveal more of your strength, then crush your opponents as quickly as possible," Oscar commented.
Then he looked at Tang San. "Xiao San, your tactics were excellent. It seems you have fully grasped the essence of a control-type soul master."
Tang San humbly nodded. He knew very well that everything he had achieved was thanks to Oscar.
Since entering Shrek Academy, he had cut ties with his former teacher Yu Xiaogang and opened his heart to Oscar, who had guided him selflessly, never putting one-sided pressure on him.
Oscar never needed Tang San to prove anything to him, he truly wanted to nurture this twin-spirited genius.
From spirit bones to the selection of his third and fourth soul rings, without Oscar, Tang San could not imagine what he would be like now.
Especially today, when he used his fourth soul skill to control the entire battlefield, Tang San truly realized Oscar's brilliance, as every one of his soul ring choices had been thanks to Oscar.
Oscar had tailored his fourth soul ring to perfectly complement his Tang Sect techniques, allowing him to merge them with his martial soul.
Tang San looked at Oscar sincerely. "Senior, everything I have today is thanks to your guidance. Though you're only two years older than me, in my heart, you are my teacher."
Oscar smiled. The current Tang San had not yet become a God King. Though he had been an assassin in his past life, with proper guidance, both his potential and character were moldable.
"Don't get sentimental. You earned your achievements through your own effort. I merely guided you," Oscar replied, not taking credit.
Then he looked at the others. "Good job today. When the matches are over, I'll take you all to Lingyu Restaurant for a proper treat."
"Yay!" Jiang Zhu and Xiao Wu exclaimed in delight.
When the Shrek Seven Devils entered the rest area, every other contestant, whether they had finished their matches or not, looked at them with newfound respect.
Once again, they had crushed one of the Five Element Academies, greatly boosting their confidence.
Blazing Academy's members also returned to the rest area. Though unwilling, they calmed down gradually.
Both Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu were unexpectedly calm, for only they knew how many trump cards they still had hidden.
Even if revealing everything might not have been enough to defeat Shrek Academy's level fifty-five Soul King, keeping their trump cards meant they would remain a threat against other teams and could continue their winning streak.
"Huo Wushuang, a few days from now, we will avenge you."
The voice came from a group of competitors in cyan uniforms approaching them.
Their cyan uniforms were embroidered with silver thread, shining brightly next to Blazing Academy's uniforms. They were none other than Godwind Academy, another of the Five Element Academies.
The one who spoke was their captain and spiritual leader, Feng Xiaotian.
Though he spoke to Huo Wushuang, his gaze was fixed on Huo Wu, unable to hide the burning passion in his eyes.
Huo Wushuang snorted. "If we couldn't do it, you think you can?"
Feng Xiaotian grinned. "You know that's not what I meant."
"Shrek Academy is strong, but not unbeatable. At least, I am confident I can deal with Dai Mubai."
Surprisingly, no one from Blazing Academy refuted his claim.
Feng Xiaotian was level forty-four, just one level higher than Huo Wu, making him the highest-ranked competitor in the Heaven Dou Division besides Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing.
But even so, there was still an eleven-level gap and one ten-thousand-year soul ring difference between him and Dai Mubai.
Huo Wushuang at level forty-two had only barely held out against a Dai Mubai who used just his first and third soul skills. And yet Feng Xiaotian dared to claim he could take Dai Mubai on?
Most importantly, no one from Blazing Academy argued.
The others stayed quiet because Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu stayed quiet. Why they said nothing, no one knew.
At that moment, Huo Wu suddenly spoke. "Feng Xiaotian, do you really want to date me?"
"Huh?" Feng Xiaotian widened his eyes. Though he had always wanted this, having her say it aloud in front of so many people still caught him off guard.
"Well, do you?" Huo Wu seemed oblivious to the many eyes now focused on her.
Feng Xiaotian hesitated, glancing at Huo Wushuang. But her brother was also stunned, not understanding why Huo Wu would bring this up now.
Huo Wushuang had always doted on his sister.
"Are you a man or not? Just say yes or no," Huo Wu said coldly, her tone at odds with her fiery martial soul.
"Yes, I've always liked you," Feng Xiaotian quickly replied. He couldn't let this chance slip, or he might never have another chance to pursue Huo Wu.
Huo Wu nodded. "Good. If you can defeat Shrek Academy, I'll agree to date you."
"Brother, let's go." With that, she walked out, leaving the Godwind Academy team stunned.
Huo Wu had grown up surrounded by adoration. Though she was a girl, she was always cherished at home and at the academy.
Coupled with her extraordinary talent, she had always been at the top among her peers. At just nineteen, she was already above level forty, a first in Blazing Academy's history.
Her pride was well-founded. Her looks, strength, and family background gave her every reason to be proud. But she was no fool.
Her words to Feng Xiaotian were not only a test of his sincerity but also a way to use Godwind Academy to exhaust Shrek Academy.
Maybe Feng Xiaotian could lead Godwind Academy to victory over Shrek Academy. If not, then at least their all-out effort would seriously weaken Shrek Academy.
When Blazing Academy faced them again, Huo Wu planned to lead her team with no more holding back, making their victory inevitable.
Only Huo Wu and Huo Wushuang knew how powerful their hidden trump cards really were.
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