The next day after the encounter with Ma Xiaotao, Huo Yuhao and Wang met up with as they proceeded to the Examination Area.
"Huo Yuhao did what–?!"
"Shh!" Wang Dong hurriedly shut Xiao Xiao's mouth, the latter was still shocked about Huo Yuhao's achievement to realize a pair of hands covered her mouth. "Hmhmp?!"
"Xiao Xiao, if you don't want me to slap you right now, you better shut your trap." Wang Dong threateningly said.
Xiao Xiao quickly snapped back and glared at Wang Dong, before the latter could react, Xiao Xiao slapped his hands away and then back handed his face.
"Ah! What the hell–?!"
"You don't threaten a girl with a slap, Wang Dong." Xiao Xiao growled, stepping up closer to him. "Because trust me, when it comes to slapping people, we do it far better than any guy out there. That even includes a sissy like you."
Wang Dong rubbed his reddened cheek in disbelief.
'W-Was Xiao Xiao always this scary?!'
Huo Yuhao chuckled and started walking forward.
"C'mon you two. Save your flirting for later, we've got a competition to win."
"Ah. Wait for me, Huo Yuhao! I have questions!"
Both Xiao Xiao and Wang Dong followed after him.
Since they were the team that had achieved the best results during the previous five-round tournament, they were able to remain in the 33rd arena. After lots were redrawn, they were paired with another five teams in order to continue their assessment.
Just like the previous matches, Wang Yan was their proctor and said. "Alright, everyone's present. Since Class 1's 'Team Huo Yuhao' was able to obtain the best results in this arena during their previous five matches, they're the seeded team of this arena. As for the order of the matches, the first match of the 33rd arena's sixth round will be: Class 1's Team Huo Yuhao versus Class 7's Team Huang Chutian. Begin the assessment."
As Huo Yuhao stepped up into the stage, he quickly took noticed of the other enemy team members.
'Twins?' He inwardly thought, this was the first time he'd ever saw pair of teams. Especially ones that are cute sisters by the looks of it.
A tall and sturdy male stepped forward, Huang Chutian, the leader of their team.
He cupped his fist and said, "I'm Huang Chutian. The girl on my left is Lan Susu, while the girl on my right is Lan Luoluo. Please advise us."
"Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao. Please advise us as well." Huo Yuhao curtly replied.
"What do you think?" Wang Dong asked as they went into position.
Huo Yuhao furrowed his brows, "This Huang Chutian seemed to be the most powerful of their team, judging by his soul power and physical fitness..." He turned towards the Lan sisters. "but something about the twins is giving me a uneasy feeling."
The faces on Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao turned serious. If Huo Yuhao was the one who said that, they would take his words seriously.
Not just because he was their friend, but because he was their leader. His judgement skills, strength and control abilities made him comparable to a experienced control system soul master.
"Should we first go after the sisters?" Xiao Xiao asked.
Wang Dong slapped his fist, grinning. "If so, leave them to me. With my flight ability and speed, I can easily take them out of the stage before they can realize what's happening."
"No. We still have no idea what their true strength is," Huo Yuhao shook his head and walked passed them. "but as usual, I'll hang back as support and let you both handle the fight first. I'll step in when it looks like it's too much for you two to handle."
"Pfft. Just sit your ass down there and behave, I got this." Wang Dong arrogantly said, puffing his chest forward. Only to flinched as Xiao Xiao punched his arm. "Ah, I mean, We got this."
As the other team went into their own formation; Huang Chutian in front with both the Lan sisters standing behind him, Wang Yan raised his hand and loudly declared, "Let the assessment begin!"
Both sides quickly released their martial souls.
Huo Yuhao's eyes briefly flashed with purple light and his white soul ring arose around his body.
Immediately, he noticed the contempt and disdain on Huang Chutian and the Lan sisters when they saw his soul ring.
'Good. Underestimate me. A shinobi never reveals their true strength in front of the enemy unless necessary.' He inwardly thought as he analyzed their martial souls.
Huang Chutian's physical changes closely resembled an ape's appearance, with big powerful hands, and considering this was Shrek Academy, it would be a top class beast soul. With his Sharingan vision that can magnify to the cellular level, he could see no elemental changes around him so that makes him a physical type as well.
As for the twins, their martial soul were...
Their hair?
'Is that also a type of Body Soul?' He raised an eyebrow, curious of their martial soul. He'd seen a lot of martial souls in their class but he'd never seen anyone with a body soul similar to his.
Their enemy team was entirely composed of Soul Grandmasters, all six soul rings were yellow, their confidence were high since team Huo Yuhao only had two and one Soul Master with a ten year soul ring. It only wavered slightly when they saw the purple ring around Wang Dong.
Wang Dong had been the first to charge out, taking flight with his Radiant Butterfly Goddess's wings he flew straight towards the twins; who looked at him with lovestruck eyes.
With his beautiful face and magnificent wings, which teenage girl would not be captivated by Wang Dong?
"Tch," With a popped vein on his forehead, Huang Chutian let out a jealous roar and took a large stride, meeting Wang Dong head-on with his iron fists.
Wang Dong snorted, folding his wings together, forcefully receiving the blow.
*Bang!*
Huang Chutian was sent back to the ground, as he quickly steadied himself, he tried jumping towards Wang Dong but a large, pitch-black cauldron soundlessly appeared right in front of him.
"Eh?"
Huang Chutian was stunned. He totally forgot about the girl with the large cauldron! Actually, it can fly as well?! Helpless, he had no choice but to smash the large cauldron away instead.
Strangely, as if the cauldron had a mind of its own, it slightly moved backwards as Huang Chutian punched out, successfully evading his fist, the large cauldron then charged forward!
"Oh, you bitch–!" However, Huang Chutian didn't reach this far without being slightly strong. By angling his body forwards, he unexpectedly managed to shake the Threelives Soulcrush Cauldron.
Unfortunately though, he also forgot about someone hiding behind the cauldron.
"Hmph, are you tough enough to handle my Guillotine Wings?" Extending his wings, his first soul ring shone, Wang Dong charged towards his opponent and slashed out his right wing at Huang Chutian.
True to its name, Wang Dong's first soul ring, hundred year old Guillotine Wings. It basically allows him to use his wings as blades. It turns his front wings completely blue as the golden patterns spread out forming extremely sharp, blade like edges of light along the edges of his wings.
"Shit–!" At point blank and helpless, Huang Chutian could do nothing but crossed his arms and strengthen himself with soul power and used his first soul rings, Iron Arms, to turn his arms similar iron to better defend himself.
*Swish* *DING!*
"Ahh!"
The Guillotine Wing struck Huang Chutian's arms, creating a loud clang sound as sparks flew. The impact was strong enough to send Huang Chutian flying back several meters, crashing into the ground. Fresh blood dripped off his arms, which had been cut open with a long golden blue scar over his cut.
Meanwhile, Xiao Xiao had also made her move. Her second soul ring shone as she set her gaze on the dazed girls.
As the Lan twins finally snapped out of their daze from hearing Huang, a large black cauldron with immense soul power undulations was heading in their way with incredible speed.
With serious expression, the lair looked at each other and clasped their hands. An even stronger soul power undulation immediately erupted from them. Their ten or so metres of blue hair instantly flew into the air, forming a large net forward that flew towards the large cauldron.
Hairnet — this was a soul skill that both of the twins possessed as their first soul skill. When the two identical soul skills were used together, they form a large blue net that enshrouded large cauldron that caused even Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection unable to find any gaps in it.
Huang Chutian slowly stood up from the ground and quickly retreated into the net of hair, which seemed to possess a pair of eyes, as it let him pass through without even touching him.
'Oh, impressive.' Huo Yuhao thought with a smirk, watching the battle unfold from the sidelines. He was impressed by the Lan twins' teamwork and coordination despite their prior... distraction.
Jeez, what's with teenage girls?
"Unfortunately however, it won't be enough."
At this moment, the overbearing might of both Wang Dong's Guillotine Wing and Xiao Xiao's martial soul showed themselves.
With a cold snort, Xiao Xiao raised her right hand, her first soul ring followed and shone, and clenched her hand.
"Quake, my soul."
The Three Lives Soul Sealing Cauldron that was trapped in a dome of blue flowing hair let out a scary roar and unleashed a powerful shockwave. The shockwave traveled through the net of hair, causing it to violently tremble and shatter into thousands of pieces. The Lan twins' eyes widened in shock as they didn't expect the large cauldron to release such a powerful shockwave.
"You can't hide from me!" Wang Dong yelled as he used both his wings to slashed at where Huang Chutian was hiding with the help of Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection Sharing.
"What?!" Huang Chutian and the girls were astonished. How did Wang Dong find out where Huang Chutian was hiding!
"Grr. Fine! Come at me!" Huang Chutian let out a loud roar as he seemingly jumped to meet Wang Dong's charge, only for a wall of hair to appear before them.
"Tch, little tricks." Wang Dong clicked his tongue and turned to a spot of the hair wall.
He flapped his rear wings, allowing him to adjust his posture, then proceeded to rapidly whirl his wings, causing his Guillotine Wing to resemble a spinning top as it tore apart the Hairnet that was approaching him from behind and the one separating him from his target.
"What? How could he know a second time?!"
"This is bad. Huang Chutian, run as fast as you can!!"
That was as far as they could give Huang Chutian support as Xiao Xiao's Three Lives Soul Sealing Cauldron started heading towards them with even more might than before.
'Looks like the situation is in our favor.' Huo Yuhao thought as he closely observed the situation whilst silently supporting his friends.
And yet their victory drawing clear, why was he still feeling uneasy?
Following his gut feeling, he used his Spiritual Sharing to relay a message towards both Xiao Xiao and Wang Dong.
'Focus all of your attacks on the twins, don't worry about Huang Chutian. I'll cast an illusion on him to make it seem as though Wang Dong is still hot on his ass. Go!'
Both Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao simultaneously nodded.
Wang Dong stopped in his assault and turned his attention towards the Lan twins. With a swift motion, he completely changed his trajectory and charged towards them. At the same time, Xiao Xiao poured more soul power into her skill, empowering her powerful attack towards the twins.
The Lan sisters were taken aback by this sudden change in strategy. They turned to call out at Huang Chutian but it was as though he turned deaf, he continued on running around as if a hungry ghost was chasing after him.
As both Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao's attacks were becoming increasingly powerful, the sisters glanced at each other, a determined look appearing in their eyes.
The soul rings on the two girl's bodies simultaneously disappeared, and they suddenly unclasped their hands. Next, they unexpectedly opened their arms and hugged each other.
Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao were stunned for a moment and simultaneously thought, 'What were they trying to do?'
Suddenly, the uneasy feeling in Huo Yuhao's heart spiked at the same time as the twins released an undulation of spul power that greatly exceeded that of the previous one.
The instant that they embraced each other, a blue halo of light was released from their bodies, which encapsulated them and made it impossible to see them clearly. At the same time, their long hair flew into the air and turned a shade of sparkling blue. Their Hairnets were still as thin as before, but the feeling that they gave Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao as they tried to cover him and her martial soul respectively this time was entirely different.
"Haa!" With a loud yell, Wang Dong tried cutting through it but it wasn't cut through instantly like it had been before.
With wide eyes, Wang Dong felt as if he'd smashed into an extremely flexible and durable net; no matter how much he struggled, the net got smaller and smaller around him. The instant that the large net completely covered him, Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection Sharing unexpectedly disappeared.
"Wang Dong! Damn it." Xiao Xiao yelled in concern but she was also preoccupied as she tried maneuvering her cauldron around to try and escape the Hairnet, even separating it into three smaller cauldrons but it looked as if her martial soul couldn't escape their grasp any longer. "Of all the things to encounter in this competition, it had to be people with a soul fusion skill!"
'A soul fusion skill?' Huo Yuhao raised an eyebrow, familiar with the word but he didn't delved deep into it. Right now, he was preoccupied on how to turn the situation around.
Could Huo Yuhao have stopped the skill? The answer to that was obviously a 'yes'. The only reason why he didn't was because he was curious about the twin's strange skill.
But as it seems like his team was going to lose, Huo Yuhao decided to finally step in.
The Lan sisters who were safe in their little cocoon, despite victory being so close, were frowning.
During their previous matches, they'd made sure to patiently restrain themselves. They went so far as to not use their soul fusion skill, even if it meant losing a match.
However, this was the first match of the fifth round; they couldn't afford to lose anymore.
Like Huo Yuhao's team being Class 1's seeded team, Huang Chutian and the Lan sisters were Class 7's seeded team as well. Because of this, the Lan sisters had decided to embrace each other and activate the Empyreal Net.
'Dammit! This is just a team of two Soul Grandmasters and one Soul Master with a pitiful white soul ring. How could we have been forced to use our soul skill!?'
'Well, we were a bit distracted by a certain butterfly...'
'...Yeah, he was really pretty. Think he digs twins?'
'Who is not? They're either really stupid or shoots for the other team.'
While sisters were having a mental talk, they suddenly felt a great disturbance around their Empyrean Net dome and their martial souls.
It was if there was some kind of indestructible ball coming straight at them. And no matter how much their hair tried to restrict it, it wouldn't be affected!
'What's going on?' They thought as they opened their eyes to watch the
Because they needed concentration to maintain their soul fusion skill, they had closed their eyes for the entire time they were using their soul fusion skill and just let instincts guide them to defeat their opponents.
The moment they did opened their eyes however, they were shocked to see a unbelievable sight.
It was Huo Yuhao, causally walking straight at them with a cold smirk on his handsome face, uncaring of the waves of blue hair threatening to engulf him, only for him to wave his hand and the flowing hair would be torn to pieces.
They just tried wrapping their hair around him but no matter how much they tried, their hair couldn't even get two inches near Huo Yuhao's body.
It was as if there was some invisible shield around him!
'W-What...'
'...the hell...'
'is this guy...?!' The twins came to a horrifying conclusion as they used all their power to try and stop the unstoppable monster coming at them.
It was then that they realize something important.
Why was their enemy's team called Huo Yuhao? Wasn't Wang Dong the strongest amongst the three with a purple soul ring? Didn't they named their team after their weakest looking member to make other teams underestimate them?
No. No they were wrong. As they watched Huo Yuhao, now standing right in front of them, with a scared look on their face, the twins realized the truth.
'This handsome boy, with a ten year soul ring, is the strongest member of their team!'
That was the last thing they thought of before darkness engulfed their vision.
"H-Huo Yuhao's team wins!"
....
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