Chapter 206.
At the forefront, standing in the center of the triangular formation, was a man of average stature but exuded a commanding presence. Wang Feng surmised that he was likely the captain of the Blazing Academy, Huo Wushuang. A level forty-three power attack system soul master, his martial soul, the One-Horned Fire Dragon, boasted formidable attack capabilities, rivaling even Liu Erlong's Fire Dragon in frontal assaults.
Following closely behind was another power attack system soul master, possessing a level thirty-nine Flame Leopard as his martial soul.
Trailing them were a pair of twin brothers, both wielding Fire Crane martial souls. These agility attack system soul masters, capable of flight, boasted considerable power, with soul power levels also reaching the thirty-ninth rank.
Among the Blazing Academy's lineup, the last trio comprised of two tall men who, at first glance, appeared to be defensive type soul masters but were actually auxiliary system soul masters. Their martial soul was Fire Spark. Wang Feng surmised that their role was likely to enhance the power of fire attribute attacks for the team.
The final member was the sole female among the seven, and also the one who he was looking for. Possessing a well-proportioned figure, her beauty was also undeniable, making her the center of attention in the arena. She was none other than Huo Wu, the control system soul master of the Blazing Academy. Her martial soul, Fire Shadow, manifested as her own shadow, which was quite peculiar. Despite being at level forty-four, she exuded considerable power and charisma, reminiscent of Zhu Zhuqing but nowhere near around her level.
Upon closer inspection, Wang Feng was relieved to find that the Blazing Academy seemed devoid of any mutant martial souls. Their lineup was not significantly different from the original, albeit with slightly higher soul power levels.
The two teams stepped onto the ring, facing each other in anticipation of the upcoming clash.
"Line up, both sides!" the referee commanded, casting a curious glance at the teams, eager to witness the outcome of their confrontation.
As the tension mounted, Huo Wushuang, the captain of the Blazing Academy, observed Wang Feng with a smirk, his tone dripping with arrogance and pride.
"You're quite the interesting one, starting off strong on the first day. But today marks your end if you think you can carry the team alone."
His words carried an air of superiority, befitting of a member of one of the Five Elemental Academy.
The other six individuals, aside from Huo Wu, glanced towards Wang Feng. While they showed some regard for Wang Feng, their eyes also brimmed with contempt. However, the six behind Wang Feng seemed indifferent. They merely smiled, appearing unconcerned.
"Unleash your martial souls!" The referee announced as he stepped back from the ring.
Instantly, the seven members of Blazing Academy ignited their martial souls and soul rings, casting a radiant glow akin to flames. The intense heat seemed to stir the blood of –the entire audience, igniting the arena with excitement.
In contrast, the Purple Star Academy remained notably tranquil. The six individuals stepped back in unison, retreating to the edge of the ring, leaving only one person on the stage Jiu Yikai.
Once again, the audience erupted with fervor. It became evident that Purple Star Academy indeed had a simple strategy in mind. Were they truly aiming for this individual to dominate the entire competition on his own?
If there were doubts before, the second round of qualifiers confirmed Purple Star Academy's intentions.
Huo Wushuang's voice, brimming with irritation, cut through the air. "Where's your martial soul? I heard it's an Axe." he taunted Jiu Yikai as he opened.
This information wasn't a secret, it had already circulated after the initial encounter, with inquiries made about the Purple Star Academy's member. Their academy boasted not only elemental prowess but also a cadre of astute instructors who meticulously analyzed each competing teams, providing insights to their team members for strategic advantage.
Yet, despite this, Jiu Yikai had only revealed himself in one match so far. The skirmish against Blue Sunshine Academy had unveiled little, as he relied mainly on raw physical strength to secure victory. But against Blazing Academy, could they realistically expect to prevail with mere physical strength?
Facing a 1v7 scenario was no easy feat.
Wang Feng remained stoic, unfazed by the challenge and taunts.
"Attack!" Huo Wushuang commanded with a cold edge to his voice.
With him at the helm, the Flame Leopard Soul Master and the rest of their cohort surged forward, directly targeting Wang Feng. As a soul master of the forty-third level, Huo Wushuang possessed superior speed and strength compared to those from Blue Sunhsine Academy. His Fire Dragon martial soul enveloped him, causing his form to swell, his hair to stand on end, and his body to intermittently erupt into flames, particularly his arms, which were now adorned with a crimson layer of scales resembling a dragon claw.
The Dragon series martial souls were renowned for their unparalleled power, excelling in every aspect without any discernible weaknesses. It was futile to expect to exploit any shortcomings against the forty-third level One Horned Fire Dragon martial soul.
Simultaneously, the two Fire Crane soul masters of the agility attack system sprouted flame wings from their backs, and poised for a dive. The two Fire Sparks auxiliary system soul masters trailing behind Huo Wu also activated their soul abilities in unison. As their three soul rings illuminated, seven sparks converged directly on the two soul masters at the forefront, one to the strong power attack system and the other to the agility attack system.
Meanwhile, Wang Feng remained steadfast, seemingly anticipating Huo Wushuang's impending assault. Undeterred, Huo Wushuang's dragon-clawed palms gleamed with ominous light. His second soul skill, Fire Dragon Fist, augmented fire attribute attacks by 100% and bore a searing, shock-inducing effect. It was a potent single-strike technique.
On the other side, the Flame Leopard's claws blazed with fiery intensity as they lunged toward Wang Feng. Simultaneously, the sparks from the two auxiliary system soul masters merged into Huo Wushuang's body, akin to igniting a pile of tinder. His aura intensified significantly, and the dragon-clawed fist crackled with even more potent flames.
His speed also surged, propelling him forward with swiftness, closing the gap between himself and Wang Feng in a flash.
A powerful punch struck Wang Feng's chest head-on, unleashing a fierce torrent of flame-infused aura that whipped into a hurricane upon impact, causing Wang Feng's black robe to billow backward.
The spectators watched in astonishment, not expecting Jiu Yikai to withstand Huo Wushuang's attack without even evading. It seemed logical that with his speed, demonstrated in the previous match, he could have easily dodged with his raw speed alone.
Eyes widened as Huo Wushuang's punch barely caused Wang Feng to tremble, much to everyone's disbelief. Huo Wushuang's own expression twisted with incredulity, baffling the onlookers. How could the main assailant, supported by the auxiliary system soul masters buffs, land a punch and still react with such bewilderment?
Their confusion dissipated as they witnessed Wang Feng's body subtly shake, followed by a surge of energy erupting from his chest.
Boom!
Huo Wushuang was propelled and sent flying backward through the air like a cannonball, assuming a more terrifying posture as he soared. As he flew, the dark red scales covering his dragon-clawed arm began to shed, revealing a trembling, blackened limb. It was evident he had been rendered mildly incapacitated.
Internally, Wang Feng acknowledged the combined augmentation of soul abilities and the two Fire Sparks soul masters enhancements. Huo Wushuang's punch had been truly formidable. Moreover, the 150% rebound effect from Black Thorns Armor, coupled with weakened defense, amplified the force of the blow beyond what Wang Feng's current first tier strength could have achieved.
While Wang Feng's first-tier punch might have propelled Huo Wushuang over ten meters away, it wouldn't have compromised his defense. Despite Huo Wushuang's resilience, Black Thorns Armor defense reduction proved formidable.
Wang Feng recognized the futility of his own diminished strength against Huo Wushuang's resilience, nearly resulting in serious injury for the latter. Observing the slightly singed black robe, Wang Feng calmly extinguished the flames with a palm.
Meanwhile, the Flame Leopard Soul Master poised to attack Wang Feng hesitated upon witnessing the scene.
"Don't aim for his chest! Surround him!"
At that moment, the clear and melodious voice of Huo Wu echoed from a distance. She nodded toward the two agility attack-type soul masters, indicating her recognition of the situation.
Clearly, Huo Wu, acting as the control system soul master, had discerned the anomaly within Jiu Yikai's chest. The absence of a martial soul's appearance, coupled with the impact it had on her brother Huo Wushuang, suggested the presence of a possible chest soul bone.
Upon receiving the command, the two Fire Crane soul masters soaring in midair, had their purple soul rings, suddenly illuminated. With a synchronized motion, flames erupted from their mouths, aimed not directly at Wang Feng, but around him. The fiery assault scorched the ground, swiftly engulfing the ring's terrain.
Within moments, a ring of infernal flames formed around Wang Feng, transforming the arena into a fiery inferno.
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