At Star Luo Plaza, cheers erupted like a tsunami that refused to subside.
At this highly anticipated moment, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy Team and the Shrek Academy Team, each dressed in their respective uniforms, slowly entered the arena from the tunnels on both sides.
One team represented the continent's number one academy with a ten-thousand-year Legacy, while the other was the Peak representative of soul tool technology. At this moment, they were like two converging torrents, carrying their respective pride and glory into the preparation area.
On Shrek's side, the atmosphere was somewhat solemn.
Although they had accepted the bet yesterday under Xuan Zi's final say, now that the moment of truth had arrived, an invisible pressure weighed on Ma Xiaotao's heart like a mountain.
One match to decide victory or defeat.
If she won, it would be taken for granted;
If she lost, she would be a sinner for all eternity.
The feeling of carrying the entire academy's honor on her shoulders made even the usually fearless Ma Xiaotao clench her fists, her breathing becoming slightly hurried.
After all, she was still just a young woman not yet twenty years old.
"Phew..." Ma Xiaotao took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart, but the hint of nervousness deep in her eyes could not be hidden.
Just then, a large hand patted her shoulder.
"Girl, relax."
Xuan Zi had walked over at some point, still chewing on a chicken leg. His old face, which usually looked a bit slovenly, now rarely showed a bit of elder-like kindness and composure.
"Don't treat this as some life-or-death matter; it's just an ordinary match."
Although Xuan Zi had done plenty of foolish things in the past, at this critical moment, this Rank 98 Super Douluo still displayed the composure befitting an Elder.
He looked at Ma Xiaotao and said in a certain tone:
"What do you have to fear? You are a seven-ring Spirit Saint, and he is a five-ring Spirit King. This is a gap as wide as a chasm!"
"In terms of spirit power, you crush him; in terms of Spirit, your Evil Fire Phoenix is also a top-tier beast Spirit, only a step away from Ultimate Fire."
"The advantage is yours, understand?"
"As long as you perform normally, that Liu Yuan won't be able to stir up any trouble."
Hearing Xuan Zi's words, Ma Xiaotao's tense nerves relaxed slightly. That's right, she was a Spirit Saint; why should she fear a Spirit King?
"Sister Xiaotao, good luck! You can do it!" Bei Bei said with a gentle smile.
"Exactly! Beat that Liu Yuan to a pulp! Let him know the power of our Shrek!" Xu Sanshi shouted, waving his fist.
"Captain, we believe in you!" Dai Yueheng and the others also cast encouraging glances.
Feeling the support from everyone behind her, the nervousness in Ma Xiaotao's eyes gradually faded, replaced by that familiar, blazing Battle Intent.
She nodded heavily: "Mhm! I will definitely win!"
In contrast, the atmosphere on the Sun Moon Team's side was much more relaxed.
There were no excessive words or deliberate mobilizations.
Because on the way here, everything that needed to be said had already been said.
The group of boys and girls were currently expressing their support for their captain in the simplest and most direct way.
Lin Xi stepped forward and gave Liu Yuan a big hug, patting him on the back: "Captain, good luck."
Meng Hongchen also came over to hug Liu Yuan, saying with a giggle: "Captain, finish up early so we can go eat something delicious tonight!"
Although Xiao Hongchen arrogantly refrained from hugging, he still walked over and bumped fists with Liu Yuan, his eyes full of trust.
Every hug and every simple "good luck" was like a warm current flowing into Liu Yuan's heart.
Liu Yuan responded to each with a smile, then turned around and walked toward the competition stage with steady steps.
At the same time, Ma Xiaotao also adjusted her state and strode onto the stage.
The two stood in the center of the arena, a hundred meters apart, looking at each other from a distance.
The air seemed to freeze at this moment.
Ma Xiaotao looked at the calm young man before her with a complex gaze.
She knew some of the inside story from back then.
At that time, if it hadn't been for Elder Xuan's momentary lapse in judgment, the young man before her might be standing by her side right now, as Shrek's most dazzling rising star.
"Liu Yuan."
Ma Xiaotao was the first to break the silence; her voice was cold, yet it carried a rare trace of sincerity.
"Actually... I admire you very much."
Liu Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at her with some surprise.
Ma Xiaotao continued: "I've heard a bit about what happened back then. Even though I am from Shrek, I must admit that... Elder Xuan was wrong in that matter."
"If only someone had stopped him then."
"And, I also admit that when I was your age, I was not as good as you."
"Your talent is indeed terrifying."
"But—"
Ma Xiaotao's tone shifted, and her Aura suddenly erupted as red spirit power surged up like flames.
"Now we serve different masters. I am the captain of the Shrek Team; I have glory I must protect, and even more reasons why I absolutely cannot lose!"
"Therefore, in the upcoming battle, I will not show you any mercy."
"I will use my strongest power to completely defeat you!"
After hearing this, the surprise in Liu Yuan's eyes deepened, then transformed into a look of appreciation.
This woman might have a fiery temper and an impulsive personality, but this straightforward nature that distinguished between love and hate was somewhat endearing.
Compared to those hypocrites who spoke of benevolence and morality while being sinister and crafty behind the scenes, Ma Xiaotao's true nature was much more agreeable.
"Good."
Liu Yuan nodded slightly, a curve forming at the corner of his mouth—it was respect for an opponent and anticipation for the coming battle.
"Ma Xiaotao, you can be considered a candid person."
"In that case, let's skip the nonsense."
Liu Yuan slowly raised his right hand and pointed at Ma Xiaotao, his voice calm yet powerful:
"Give it your all. Let me see just how strong a so-called Shrek Monster really is."
At this moment, the referee, who had long since grown impatient, saw that the exchange was over and immediately raised his right hand, swinging it down sharply:
"Match—start!"
Boom—!
Almost the instant the referee's voice fell, two terrifying Auras erupted simultaneously from both ends of the stage!
"Martial Soul Possession!"
Ma Xiaotao gave a low shout, and the air behind her instantly distorted as a pair of brilliant fiery-red wings burst from her back, three meters wide and flowing with a golden-red glow.
Her long hair instantly turned fiery red, and her pupils narrowed into golden-red vertical slits. Her entire being radiated a scorching and violent Aura, like a goddess of war bathed in fire!
At the same time, Liu Yuan also completed his transformation.
"Roar—!"
A deep and majestic dragon roar suddenly rang out, as if an ancient primordial beast had awakened.
Liu Yuan's body was enveloped in a layer of dark green light. Following that, a layer of fine dark green dragon scales appeared on his skin, his hands transformed into sharp dragon claws, his legs became thick and powerful, and a long, strong dragon tail grew out behind him!
Most eye-catching were the two dragon horns winding upward from his head, as well as the two golden flowing light ribbons fluttering in the wind behind him!
Mega Rayquaza Possession!
Though in a half-human, half-dragon form, the dragon pressure he radiated—which suppressed everything on a biological level—was not in the least inferior to Ma Xiaotao's Phoenix pressure!
"First Spirit Skill—Extreme Speed!"
The moment the Martial Soul Possession was complete, Liu Yuan did not hesitate; the first spirit ring beneath his feet instantly brightened.
Whoosh—!
His figure instantly vanished from the spot, turning into a bolt of dark green lightning. With a piercing sound of breaking air, he charged straight at Ma Xiaotao at a speed difficult for the naked eye to capture!
Fast!
Too fast!
So fast that not even an afterimage could be seen clearly!
However, Ma Xiaotao was also incredibly strong. She didn't just have a high Rank; her combat experience was also extensive.
So now, before Liu Yuan's body could even reach her, a large mass of Evil Fire was summoned directly by her!
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