Chapter 243: Crushing Defeat and Hope (Part 5)

"Captain, isn't that Jing Peng from the Sun Moon Battle Team? Why haven't they sent out Xiao Hongchen or Meng Hongchen yet, even though we've already sent out our Dahua Coin?" Cao Jinxuan asked cautiously.

"They are exhausting our strength. In truth, their goal was never the individual elimination tournament, but the team competition that follows," Ning Tian said, looking at the two on the arena.

Wu Feng looked at Wang Qiu Er and asked, "Why not send me out? If Dai Huabin gets injured or exhausted, wouldn't that mean we won't be able to rely on the powerful combat strength of the Nether White Tiger during the team battle?"

"Do you think you are stronger than Dai Huabin?" Wang Qiu Er looked at Wu Feng and said indifferently.

Wu Feng was stunned and silently swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue.

"Do you think you can fight nine people alone like Su Yu? Or are you capable of what Su Yu did back in the Inner Court, commanding the Shrek Seven Devils to suppress the seven of us, to the point where Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu couldn't even use the Nether White Tiger?"

Wang Qiu Er had no intention of giving Wu Feng a pleasant look; ever since defeating the Tang Sect, the team members had become a bit too arrogant.

She knew very well just how strong the captain of the Sun Moon Battle Team was. She had sparred with Huo Yu Hao; Huo Yu Hao could fight her to a draw when going all out, but he could not sustain a battle with her for long.

However, people from the Tang Sect Battle Team had once told her that Luo Yu had defeated Huo Yu Hao head-on!

It was precisely because she knew this piece of information that she decided to have Dai Huabin go out as early as possible during the individual elimination tournament, striving to win four out of the seven matches.

As for the team battle that followed, they would have to leave it to fate. The best outcome would be for her to fully suppress Luo Yu and another starting team member under Ning Tian's support; only then could their Nether White Tiger and the martial soul combination skill of Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo achieve the greatest advantage.

"Both sides, state your names," the referee said slowly.

The soul power fluctuations of both sides were extremely close. As a citizen of the Sun Moon Empire, the referee was also looking forward to this duel, but he would not favor anyone.

"Shrek Academy, Dai Huabin!" Dai Huabin slowly spoke these words, emphasizing the five words "Shrek Academy" as if to tell the opponent that if they could defeat them five years ago, they could defeat them today as well!

Jing Peng looked at Dai Huabin with an indifferent expression, a flash of killing intent in his eyes, and said, "Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, Jing Peng."

Under the referee's guidance, both sides began to walk toward the two sides of the competition stage.

Watching the two on the competition stage, Xiao Hongchen felt a sense of strange familiarity.

Jing Peng, clad in heavy armor today, and Mijia, clad in heavy armor five years ago. Dai Huabin, the arrogant blond youth on the arena today, and Dai Yaoheng five years ago...

"Truly a duel of destiny; the match between these two will be very interesting. If Senior Mijia were here, I think he would be happy to see this scene. Them five years ago, and Jing Peng and Dai Huabin five years later—what a coincidence," Xiao Hongchen smiled slightly.

Meng Hongchen looked at Xiao Hongchen and asked, "Brother, do you think Jing Peng can win?"

"I don't know. You'll have to ask Luo Yu about that. He knows more about Jing Peng's strength than we do. Watch the match properly..."

On the competition stage, Dai Huabin did not hesitate and immediately activated his martial soul. With the martial soul possession, Dai Huabin's body underwent a visible beast-like transformation.

At Jing Peng's feet, circles of Soul Rings finally lit up.

Two yellow, two purple, one black.

Dai Huabin's Soul Rings also lit up accordingly: two yellow, two purple, one black.

A Five-ring Soul King; if it weren't for the fact that Dai Huabin's cultivation priority wasn't as high as the Shrek Seven Devils, the current Dai Huabin would also be a Six-Ring Soul Emperor!

Dai Huabin's strength was beyond doubt. Among his peers in the new generation, excluding that freak Su Yu and Huo Gua, his strength was the greatest. Even now, Xiao Xiao and Jiang Nannan were still no match for Dai Huabin in a one-on-one situation.

As the son of the White Tiger Duke, Dai Huabin's talent was unquestionable; Dai Yaoheng, being cultivated as the previous generation of Shrek Seven Devils, naturally had resources that surpassed Dai Huabin's.

As soon as the two met, they did not hesitate in the slightest. Jing Peng quickly took out his Soul Guidance Heavy Sword, the Soul Guidance Propulsion Device on his back started instantly, and he dashed toward Dai Huabin like lightning.

Following Jing Peng's movement, Dai Huabin's First Spirit Ring lit up rapidly: First Spirit Skill, White Tiger Body Barrier!

A protective barrier quickly swirled around his body. As Dai Huabin leaped toward Jing Peng, his pair of tiger claws also swiped toward Jing Peng's chest.

"Clang! Clang!"

The two tiger claws struck out fiercely, landing right on the Soul Guidance Heavy Sword. As they made contact, a massive force was transmitted. Jing Peng, wearing the Soul Guidance Heavy Armor, was forced back by Dai Huabin. In their first exchange, the difference in their strength was immediately apparent.

Dai Huabin was also skilled; he had forced Jing Peng back without using any offensive soul skills. Having succeeded in one strike, Dai Huabin clasped his palms together, and a blinding beam of light condensed in front of him. A loud tiger roar erupted from his mouth—White Tiger Intense Light Wave!

Jing Peng, having been forced back, watched as Dai Huabin's Second Spirit Ring lit up. At the same time, a faint blue light emerged on his Soul Guidance Heavy Sword. The heavy sword vibrated, and a blue radiance flowed across it—Sharp Break Slash!

Instantly, the blinding golden light converged into a golden beam, heading straight for Jing Peng's sword light.

"Boom—"

A violent roar echoed across the competition stage. In an instant, light burst forth. The Sharp Break Slash was instantly shattered, and the residual White Tiger Intense Light Wave exploded beside Jing Peng. The violent shock only forced Jing Peng back a few steps, but it did not cause him any harm.

Jing Peng raised his heavy sword again, meeting Dai Huabin's tiger claws with a heavy downward strike. The heavy sword vibrated, the sound of the collision echoed, and the metallic trembling sound reverberated as well.

After more than a dozen exchanges, both were forced back. A cold expression appeared on Dai Huabin's face. Behind him, his Third Spirit Ring lit up rapidly. Dai Huabin's eyes instantly turned blood-red, and the air around his body began to distort as he unleashed his soul skill.

Third Spirit Skill, White Tiger Vajra Transformation!

Dai Huabin's already swollen body, having undergone martial soul possession, became even more burly, and his skin turned into black and white patterns. If not for the lack of fur, he would look exactly like a half-orc right now.

That pair of sharp tiger claws grew larger again, and the claws themselves turned silver, like sharp blades. At this moment, Dai Huabin was bathed in golden light, and the humanity in his eyes was gradually replaced by bloodthirsty bestiality.

Looking at the beast-like Dai Huabin, Jing Peng was full of seriousness. He gripped the Soul Guidance Heavy Sword in his hand, circulated his soul power, and poured it continuously into the weapon. Within just a few breaths, a thick blue fluorescence appeared on the Soul Guidance Heavy Sword.

The moment this blue heavy sword appeared, three sword shadows slowly condensed. When Jing Peng swung his sword toward Dai Huabin's position, those three sword shadows merged into the heavy sword, and in an instant, the radiance grew intense.

At the same time, Dai Huabin's Fifth Soul Ring lit up again. His already burly body was further strengthened, and his aura climbed steadily.

At this moment, Dai Huabin was an Evil Eye White Tiger in human form!

Fifth Soul Skill, White Tiger Demon God Transformation!

"Brilliant Flowing Cloud Break!"

The two figures collided again in a display of extreme violent aesthetics. Tiger claws clashed with the heavy sword, the sound of metal striking metal was deafening.

Clang!

Dai Huabin stomped heavily on the ground, and an invisible shockwave spread out, shaking Jing Peng, who was already struggling to hold his ground.

Stumble, stumble, stumble...

A pair of tiger claws swept out heavily. Jing Peng raised his heavy sword to barely block, but the massive recoil force made him retreat more than ten steps.

On the hard arena floor, marks were left behind as Jing Peng retreated.

Every step left a footprint!

"Roar!"

A tiger roar rang out. Dai Huabin did not give Jing Peng a chance; his tiger claws smashed down again, the sharp claws grazing the Soul Guidance Heavy Armor and leaving five shallow marks.

The two on the arena did not retreat; the heavy sword and tiger claws collided, every strike filled with explosive power!

In a battle at their level, once one starts defending, they will fall into an endless cycle of suppression.

At this very moment, the best defense is offense!

"Boom—!"

A blue light shadow was crushed by the tiger claws, Jing Peng was knocked back by a punch from Dai Huabin, his soul skill was broken, and Jing Peng also suffered some backlash.

Amidst their frenzied attacks, the Soul Guidance Heavy Armor on Jing Peng's body was constantly being damaged by Dai Huabin, and even his seventh-grade Soul Guidance Heavy Sword was full of scars.

If he kept fighting like this, he would undoubtedly lose, but the opponent was too strong...

Bang—

A crisp sound came from the competition stage; Jing Peng was seen kneeling on one knee, the Soul Guidance Heavy Sword in his hand flying high into the air, finally piercing into the competition stage and standing firmly in front of Dai Huabin.

"Jing Peng, that's enough..." Luo Yu looked at Jing Peng and spoke slowly.

Hearing Luo Yu's words, Jing Peng smiled with relief and said, "I lost."

As soon as these words were spoken, Dai Huabin also breathed a sigh of relief; if he kept fighting Jing Peng like this, his soul power would also be exhausted, and if Jing Peng really wanted to use that kind of life-risking tactic, even if Dai Huabin won, the consumption of soul power would be an astonishing figure.

When Jing Peng finished saying this sentence, that tall figure collapsed with a thud, and just as he was about to touch the ground, Luo Yu appeared silently behind Jing Peng.

Looking at Jing Peng's weak appearance, Luo Yu said, "Enough, you have already done well enough, now just have a good rest."

Supporting Jing Peng as they walked off the competition stage, when Jing Peng returned to the waiting area, Sheng Hongyun also woke up.

"Jing Peng, you kid didn't lose face for our Sun Moon Empire, I, Sheng Hongyun, admire you!" Sheng Hongyun helped Jing Peng sit down and spoke to comfort him.

"Captain, I lost..." Jing Peng looked at Luo Yu with some shame.

Luo Yu smiled and patted Jing Peng on the shoulder, saying, "Don't blame yourself. With Dai Huabin's strength, whether it was you or someone else, the result would be about the same. You have already done well enough; rest assured, leave the rest to us."

Having received Luo Yu's affirmation, Jing Peng nodded heavily and said no more.

"Third match, Fang Wei, you go up."

"Please have the team members from both sides take the stage!" the referee urged.

Under the referee's urging, Fang Wei leaped up and landed steadily on the ring.

"Both sides, state your names." The referee spoke slowly.

"Shrek Academy, Dai Huabin." Dai Huabin looked at the young man in front of him, sizing him up.

"Sun Moon Imperial Soul Guidance Academy, Fang Wei."

Dai Huabin's power, for them individually, had enough suppressive force just like Wang Qiu Er, but to challenge two people in a row, Dai Huabin's soul power could not hold up, and Dai Huabin's soul power could not support the end of this battle either; the greatest possibility was a draw, or Dai Huabin winning at the cost of being injured and unable to play in the team competition.

But Fang Wei knew that Dai Huabin was not a fool and would not give up the subsequent team competition for the sake of this one match's victory, because Shrek's lineup was a double-edged sword, not prominent enough like the Tang Sect's trident.

Once the Nether White Tiger could not be used, Shrek's combat power would be half-wasted; Dai Huabin would not disregard the overall situation for the sake of one victory.

Because Shrek could no longer afford to lose!

"Captain, do you think Dai Huabin can win?" Zhou Sichen asked, looking at the panting Dai Huabin.

Wang Qiu Er shook her head, "If Dai Huabin is injured, our team competition will also be affected; the best outcome is that I hope Dai Huabin draws. If he loses this round, I will have to take action myself."

"Dai Huabin shouldn't be that easy to injure, but his soul power might be exhausted by the opponent. The previous match with Jing Peng consumed too much of Dai Huabin's soul power; if Fang Wei is the same, then Dai Huabin won't last long." Ning Tian looked at Dai Huabin and analyzed.

"I hope so..." Wang Qiu Er said indifferently.

Fang Wei's fighting style was similar to Dai Huabin's, but his defense relied entirely on the Soul Guidance Protective Shield; Fang Wei's martial soul was a long spear named the Thousand-Jun Gale Spear.

"Our matches aren't easy to fight either..." Looking at the Sun Moon Battle Team and the Shrek Battle Team on the field, Bei Bei felt a deep headache.

Why did things keep changing, and why did they have nothing to do with his plan?

Ever since losing to the academy team back then, Bei Bei felt more and more that things were becoming complicated.

In the team competition, Huo Yu Hao was suppressed by Wang Qiu Er after being fully buffed by Ning Tian, while the Nether White Tiger completely suppressed Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi.

As for He Caitou, Jiang Nannan, Xiao Xiao, and Wang Dong'er, although they defeated Lan Susu, Lan Luoluo, and Cao Jinxuan, in the end, Huo Yu Hao was still eliminated by the joint efforts of Wang Qiu Er and the Nether White Tiger, and the subsequent people were also eliminated one after another by the joint efforts of Wang Qiu Er and the Nether White Tiger.

Originally, the Tang Sect Battle Team still had hope of winning, but that guy Cao Jinxuan made Huo Yu Hao's soul skill flow backward just as it was being cast at a critical moment, so after losing Huo Yu Hao, the Tang Sect Battle Team fell into a one-sided situation.

This kind of bizarre trick of time reversal was simply impossible to defend against...

That was why the Tang Sect suffered a crushing defeat to Shrek Academy.