Chapter 125: Shrek Learns Zhu Zhuqing's Whereabouts
"Not good!"
Sensing Su Mo's actions, Feng Xiaotian, who was flying in the air, immediately realized something was wrong. His face changed as he quickly channeled a portion of his soul power to his ears, attempting to defend against Su Mo's Lion-Tiger Golden Shatter Roar.
Buzz—
However, when Su Mo unleashed his Lion-Tiger Golden Shatter Roar, Feng Xiaotian discovered his defense was largely ineffective.
His ears were protected, and while the sound was harsh, it wasn't unbearable. But the soul power within his body was violently shaken by Su Mo's attack, causing intense turbulence.
Pfft!
The soul power and soul skills Feng Xiaotian had carefully gathered with the help of his teammates collapsed in an instant, unable to maintain balance.
"Damn it!"
Feng Xiaotian's eyes turned blood-red.
The combination soul skill, painstakingly developed by their two teams, was completely disrupted by Su Mo's single move.
All the soul power spent on it was wasted—especially Huo Wu's contribution. She had poured nearly all her soul power into the fusion skill to boost Feng Xiaotian's combat strength. Now, it was all for nothing.
The realization filled Feng Xiaotian with rage.
"How could this happen…?"
"It was interrupted…"
The rest of the Blazing Team, including Huo Wu, were equally stunned and found the situation difficult to accept.
Enduring Su Mo's Lion-Tiger Golden Shatter Roar was already hard enough, but seeing their plan completely thwarted was even more agonizing.
"Ah—!"
"Storm Demon Wolf 36 Consecutive Slashes!"
In his fury, Feng Xiaotian unleashed his self-created soul skill, attacking Su Mo with a relentless barrage of strikes.
"Fourth Soul Skill: Golden Lion-Tiger Annihilation Slash!"
Boom—
Facing Feng Xiaotian's irrational, rage-fueled assault, Su Mo immediately countered with his strongest single-target attack soul skill.
Bang—
The intense clash sent Feng Xiaotian flying backward.
Thud—
Su Mo didn't come out unscathed either, retreating several steps from the impact.
Feng Xiaotian's self-created soul skill was powerful, but he had lost his composure. Similar to Tang San's Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique, it required gradual buildup to reach its peak power. Directly rushing in for an all-out attack was a major misstep.
"Heal!"
As Ye Lingling's healing ability landed on Su Mo, the injuries from the collision quickly disappeared.
"Second Soul Skill: Thunder Charge!"
Boom—
Seeing Feng Xiaotian injured, Su Mo seized the opportunity to counterattack, charging toward him.
With Feng Xiaotian wounded and Huo Wu depleted of energy, the Blazing Team was no longer a match for Su Mo and his team.
Seeing that their opponents were no longer a threat to their rear defenses, the Shi brothers, Shi Mo and Shi Mo, joined the attack as well.
In less than fifteen minutes, every member of the Blazing Team was defeated by Su Mo, Yu Tianheng, and their teammates.
"I hereby declare that the Heaven Dou Royal Team has won and advances to tomorrow's finals!"
The host's announcement confirmed the Heaven Dou Royal Team's victory.
"As expected, the Heaven Dou Royal Team won in the end!"
"The reorganized Blazing Team wasn't weak, but Su Mo disrupted their combination soul skill!"
"Right, I thought the Blazing Team had a good chance of winning!"
"Su Mo's soul skill is so practical. It can disrupt the enemy's skills even from a distance!"
"It's a shame. No matter how strong they are, they can't beat the Spirit Hall Team tomorrow…"
"Yeah, the Spirit Hall Team is ridiculously strong this year!"
"Three Soul Kings! I can't see how they could possibly lose…"
"Let's see tomorrow. Maybe there will be a surprising twist!"
The spectators were abuzz with discussions about the battle's outcome.
Many had anticipated a long and grueling battle between the two teams, with the victor narrowly edging out.
But to their surprise, while the battle wasn't particularly short, the Heaven Dou Royal Team had secured a relatively easy victory.
The match also brought Su Mo's strength into sharper focus. His performance was undoubtedly the most outstanding on the battlefield.
Even though Su Mo's martial soul wasn't top-tier, and his soul power level was lower than Yu Tianheng's, it was evident to all that Su Mo's combat power far exceeded Yu Tianheng's.
Considering Su Mo's optimal soul ring configuration, this wasn't entirely unexpected.
In any case, the audience was eagerly looking forward to tomorrow's finals.
"Nana, be cautious of his soul bone ability if you and your brother plan to use your martial soul fusion skill tomorrow," Bibi Dong reminded Hu Liena as she observed the Heaven Dou Royal Team's victory.
"Yes, Teacher, I understand!"
Hu Liena nodded respectfully, having also noted Su Mo's ability to disrupt enemy strategies.
Whether it was Shrek's failed ultimate move or the Blazing Team's combination soul skill, Su Mo had accurately identified the perfect moments to interrupt, hastening their defeats.
Especially for the Blazing Team, their combination soul skill had consumed a significant amount of their soul power. If it hadn't been disrupted, they wouldn't have lost so quickly.
However, Hu Liena didn't pay too much attention to this. The ultimate moves of the Shrek and Blazing Teams were interrupted because their execution was too obvious, giving Su Mo the perfect opportunity to disrupt them.
Her martial soul fusion skill with her brother, Xie Yue, was different. Their execution was much faster, and they had never demonstrated it in front of outsiders. Without prior knowledge, it was almost impossible for Su Mo to exploit the brief window during its activation.
"Dai Mubai, where is Zhu Zhuqing?"
As everyone left the arena, the Shrek Team, along with Yu Xiaogang, was intercepted by the Star Luo Team.
Dai Weisi approached Dai Mubai directly, his expression stern as he demanded Zhu Zhuqing's whereabouts.
"Dai Mubai, where is my sister?"
Zhu Zhuyun also spoke, questioning Dai Mubai.
"She chose to leave on her own. How would I know where she is now?"
"I want to know where she is too!"
Faced with Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun's questioning, Dai Mubai didn't bother hiding his displeasure and snorted angrily.
He assumed they had come to confront him after learning that Zhu Zhuqing had left.
"Leave? Are you sure she left and didn't join Spirit Hall instead?"
Hearing Dai Mubai's response, Dai Weisi sneered.
The way Dai Weisi looked at Dai Mubai now was as if he were staring at a failure. He couldn't believe Dai Mubai had lost track of Zhu Zhuqing, his own fiancée, and was unaware that she might have joined Spirit Hall.
The Star Luo Team initially didn't believe it either, but one of their members had spotted Zhu Zhuqing entering Spirit Hall alone.
At first, Dai Weisi dismissed the report.
However, after not seeing Zhu Zhuqing with the Shrek Team today, combined with Dai Mubai's response, he was convinced the sighting was accurate.
"What?"
"You're saying Zhu Zhuqing joined Spirit Hall?"
Dai Mubai froze at Dai Weisi's words.
"Impossible! Zhu Zhuqing would never join Spirit Hall!"
He quickly denied it, unwilling to believe Zhu Zhuqing would betray the Star Luo Empire like that.
To him, such a move was a blatant act of treason.
Yu Xiaogang and the others, hearing Dai Weisi's words, were equally stunned. None of them could believe that Zhu Zhuqing, after leaving Shrek, would choose to join Spirit Hall.
"How do you know Zhu Zhuqing joined Spirit Hall?"
"She only left us a letter saying she was leaving and didn't mention where she was going!"
Yu Xiaogang stepped forward to question Dai Weisi.
"Yesterday, one of our teammates saw her entering Spirit Hall alone!"
Dai Weisi glanced at Yu Xiaogang with disdain, clearly uninterested in explaining further, but he still responded, addressing Dai Mubai.
"Useless!"
"Can't even keep track of your own woman!"
After calling Dai Mubai a failure, Dai Weisi turned and left.
Since Dai Mubai clearly knew nothing, there was no point in wasting time with him. Dai Weisi now prioritized going to Spirit Hall to demand Zhu Zhuqing's return.
"Useless!"
Zhu Zhuyun also glared at Dai Mubai in anger before hurrying after Dai Weisi.
In her eyes, Dai Mubai's inability to keep track of Zhu Zhuqing made him a complete failure.
If Zhu Zhuqing had truly joined Spirit Hall, it would be a disgrace to their family.
"How could this happen…?"
"How could she join Spirit Hall…?"
Watching Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun leave, Dai Mubai still struggled to accept the possibility of Zhu Zhuqing defecting to Spirit Hall.
"If we disregard joining Spirit Hall as a betrayal of the Star Luo Empire, Zhu Zhuqing's decision was actually a smart one."
"With Spirit Hall's protection, she wouldn't have to fear punishment from the Star Luo Empire anymore."
"Betraying the Star Luo Empire…"
"I didn't expect Zhu Zhuqing to choose such an extreme way to break free from her fate."
As Dai Mubai stood in disbelief, Yu Xiaogang spoke up.
He initially commended Zhu Zhuqing's decision as logical, but his tone shifted, growing increasingly disapproving.
To him, joining Spirit Hall was a mistake.
Although he refrained from openly criticizing her character, his tone made it clear he believed Zhu Zhuqing's actions reflected poorly on her morals.
"How could she do this?"
"This isn't smart—it's a betrayal of her family!"
"…"
After hearing Yu Xiaogang's words, Tai Long and the others also expressed their disapproval of Zhu Zhuqing's actions.
"I think it's not that bad. Zhu Zhuqing's choice allowed her to escape her fate, which is better than being crippled or exiled in the future," muttered Ma Hongjun softly, seemingly the only one with a different perspective.
Dai Mubai, who had initially been unable to accept Zhu Zhuqing's decision, suddenly had a glimmer in his eyes after hearing Ma Hongjun's remark. He couldn't help but look toward Yu Xiaogang.
"It's pointless, Dai Mubai. Your situation is different from Zhu Zhuqing's. Spirit Hall might dare to accept Zhu Zhuqing, but they'd never risk taking in you, a prince of the Star Luo Empire!"
Noticing Dai Mubai's gaze, Yu Xiaogang immediately understood what was on his mind and scolded him.
"..."
Dai Mubai's expression dimmed instantly at Yu Xiaogang's words.
"…That's ridiculous. I wasn't even thinking that!"
He quickly denied it, trying to cover his tracks.
"Good, as long as you weren't."
Yu Xiaogang shook his head at Dai Mubai's response but didn't press further. Instead, he turned his attention to the direction where Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun had gone. "Let's go. We should follow them and see what happens. Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun are probably heading to Spirit Hall to demand Zhu Zhuqing's return."
"Yes, let's go see for ourselves!"
Flender and the others immediately agreed, hastening to follow.
Regardless of the circumstances, they wanted to confirm whether Zhu Zhuqing had truly left Shrek Academy to join Spirit Hall.
The movement of the Star Luo and Shrek Teams heading to Spirit Hall didn't attract much attention.
Those who noticed them didn't care enough to wonder what they were up to.
Only Su Mo and Ning Rongrong seemed to catch on to something. After exchanging a glance, they both seemed to understand the situation.
"Captain, you all go back first. Rongrong and I want to wander around a bit," Su Mo said to Yu Tianheng and the others.
Yu Tianheng didn't think much of it. Su Mo and Ning Rongrong's behavior was entirely normal.
After splitting from the team, Su Mo and Ning Rongrong turned and headed toward Spirit Hall.
"Do you think the Star Luo and Shrek Teams are really heading to Spirit Hall because of Zhu Zhuqing?" Ning Rongrong asked hesitantly as they walked.
"It doesn't matter. We'll find out when we get there!" Su Mo chuckled. Even if it wasn't about Zhu Zhuqing, it wouldn't hurt to take a look.
But in Su Mo's view, there wasn't likely to be any other reason that could drive both the Star Luo and Shrek Teams to Spirit Hall together, aside from Zhu Zhuqing.
"Hehe, that's true!" Ning Rongrong giggled, but worry flickered in her eyes. "If they're really going to Spirit Hall to demand Zhu Zhuqing's return, do you think she'll be okay?"
"Don't worry. We don't even know if Zhu Zhuqing has really joined Spirit Hall yet."
"And if she has, Spirit Hall wouldn't dare harm her after accepting her."
Su Mo gently rubbed Ning Rongrong's head and smiled to comfort her.
"Mm!"
Reassured by his words, Ning Rongrong felt at ease and quickened her pace to keep up.
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