Chapter 185: Xuanwu Awakening

Thus, the participants for Shrek Academy's first match were quickly decided: Dai Yaoheng and Xu San Shi.

After all, it's impossible to pair Xu San Shi's defense with Ling Luochen's control; they'd lack offense, so he had to take the first match.

The two walked up to the match stage together, and Dai Yaoheng whispered to Xu San Shi:

"San Shi, Teacher Wang's tactics don't mean to look down on you; don't take it to heart."

He had just noticed that, when Wang Yan was arranging the tactics, Xu San Shi's expression looked a bit unnatural.

Wang Yan's tactic sounded like he was declaring that Bei Bei and Xu San Shi couldn't beat their opponents, which would make anyone uncomfortable; if it were the opposing side's Xiao Hongchen hearing this arrangement, he would have exploded long ago.

Xu San Shi shook his head and laughed openly.

"How could it be, senior? I know Teacher Wang's arrangement is correct; this gives the academy the best chance to win the championship, but..."

Saying this, Xu San Shi's eyes flashed with sharp light.

"I'm afraid we'll disappoint Senior Sister Luochen; she won't get a chance to play this match, and we'll end the battle within the first two rounds."

"Well said!"

Dai Yaoheng replied in a low voice, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit.

"Let the scum of Sun Moon see how strong we two are!"

On the opposing side, Ma Rulong and Lin Xi walked up to the stage together; seeing Shrek field Dai Yaoheng and Xu San Shi, they both couldn't help but stare for a moment.

In their expectation, Shrek should have fielded Dai Yaoheng and Ling Luochen together.

But soon, Ma Rulong figured out the reason, his expression turning somewhat grim.

"It seems Shrek's team leader still has some skill."

He had originally planned to use the Judgment Sword in this match to directly eliminate Dai Yaoheng and Ling Luochen, these two top combatants, so that the third match would be a victory for the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.

He hadn't expected Wang Yan to swap Xu San Shi for Luochen, which instantly added many uncertainties to his plan.

But this doesn't change his original plan; by the time the match reached this final stage, tactics had become meaningless, and all he could do was give his all to bring victory to the empire.

The four on the stage had firm gazes, clenched their fists, locked onto each other, and were ready to fight at any moment.

None of the four noticed that, whether it was Shrek's two or Ma Rulong and Lin Xi, they all assumed the second match would be won by Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong.

"Match start!"

With Huang Jin Xu's loud shout, both sides moved at once.

Dai Yaoheng and Xu San Shi charged forward together, while Ma Rulong and Lin Xi began equipping their soul tools.

Most of the time, a battle between soul masters and soul engineers is a battle of distance; the distance between them directly affects the situation.

Ma Rulong's seven‑level soul cannon appeared again on his shoulder, but he didn't rush to fire; instead, he aimed it at Dai Yaoheng, then pulled out another huge cannon and shot at the two approaching.

Facing this strike, Dai Yaoheng didn't dare be careless; his second soul ring lit up, and the White Tiger's Radiant Light Wave shot toward that soul cannon projectile.

An explosion rang out; the soul cannon shell fired from the huge cannon hadn't yet had time to hit the enemy when it detonated in midair, turning into a golden net that trapped the surrounding space. Clearly, if Dai Yaoheng and Xu San Shi had let that shell land near them, they would have been caught in that net.

Regarding his attack being blocked, Ma Rulong wasn't the least bit anxious; the original purpose of this strike was merely to buy time for his teammate.

Only see, Lin Xi had dozens of soul cannons strapped onto him; though still far from Xiao Hongchen's level, it counted as making his equipment airtight.

At this moment he had finished charging, and after a brief lull, the artillery roared.

Facing Lin Xi's soul cannon turret tactic, Dai Yaoheng and Xu San Shi responded together.

Dai Yaoheng activated his three great amplification skills, while Xu San Shi, under the cover of the artillery fire, used Xuan Ming Displacement again.

The scene before them changed instantly, and Lin Xi found himself standing before Dai Yaoheng; this White Tiger Soul Emperor, bolstered by the three great amplification skills, had his hair turn dark gold, his eyes seeming ready to devour a person.

Lin Xi felt a shudder in his heart; although he had anticipated such a development, when he actually came face‑to‑face at close range with a powerful soul emperor, he still instinctively felt a strong fear.

Thus a golden light flared, and he deployed the Resilient Wall— the same skill Xiao Hongchen used— since his Invincible Shield had already been expended in previous team battles, he could only substitute it with the Resilient Wall.

A harsh scraping sound rang out as the White Tiger's claws struck the Resilient Wall's shield; Lin Xi gasped, discovering his soul power draining at a terrifying rate— if this continued, he would be devoured alive by an all‑out Dai Yaoheng within five seconds.

Meanwhile, facing the sudden swap of Lin Xi, Ma Rulong showed no panic; he turned his body, and his shoulder‑mounted seven‑level soul cannon began to charge rapidly.

With Xu San Shi present, he could use Xuan Ming Displacement at any time, so Ma Rulong had always been guarding against that.

At this moment, Xu San Shi had indeed sent Lin Xi to Dai Yaoheng's side, but he had also sent himself right in front of Ma Rulong.

Xu San Shi himself isn't particularly strong, but his Xuan Ming Displacement is hard to defend against; as a support, it often works wonders, so for Ma Rulong, swapping Lin Xi for Xu San Shi isn't unacceptable.

But there is one person who can't accept it— Xu San Shi himself.

He had just boasted to Dai Yaoheng that he would help win this victory together, not intending to merely use Xuan Ming Displacement once to swap out Lin Xi.

If he only did that, not only would Dai Yaoheng be dissatisfied, but he himself wouldn't be satisfied either.

Thus a black light rose from his body; on Xu San Shi's tortoise‑shell shield a dark‑green great snake suddenly appeared, and his aura began to surge at an astonishing speed.

Xuanwu Awakening, as Xu San Shi's trump card, is harder to master than Bei Bei's Bright Holy Dragon Awakening, but the power boost it grants him far exceeds that of Bei Bei's bloodline awakening.

Black ripples spread outward from him; the air, under his influence, seemed to turn viscous, making even Ma Rulong feel his movements heavily hindered.

And the next second, Ma Rulong horrifiedly discovered that his lock on Xu San Shi had failed.

The scene shifted instantly, and Xu San Shi dragged Ma Rulong forward with his fourth soul skill, Xuanwu Summon.

Under the effect of Xuanwu Summon, Ma Rulong's body uncontrollably fell into rigidity.

And greeting him was that black shield wrapped in a dark‑green giant snake.

Frankly speaking, just from the finals where Xu San Shi instantly killed two Soul Kings with his Xuanwu Awakening, I feel its display is no inferior to Dai Yaoheng's Soul Emperor prowess.

At least, if he were to face Miss Meng, I estimate she could be killed on first sight by him (Xuanwu Summon followed by Xuanwu Substitute).

(End of chapter)