Chapter 191: Dou Ling Team

As the competition drew closer to its end, the atmosphere also became more and more intense.

Today, 4 matches would be held, which would be a team composition. Tomorrow, another 4 matches will be held. After that, there would be 2 more days of individual competition against the same opponents.

When all 4 days of competition had ended, the round of 16 would conclude, and the 8 finalists would be decided. After each stage of the tournament, there would be 1 rest day. Following that, the tournament would continue to the finals.

The announcer fixed his glasses and proclaimed, "The round of 16 to qualify for the quarterfinals will now begin. The first match will be between Shrek Academy and the Dou Ling Imperial Soul Academy. Competing members, please enter the waiting area to prepare for the match."

"Well, we're up," Ma Xiaotao said as she and the others picked to participate in the team fight started moving. "Be sure to cheer us on!"

She grinned teasingly, "Especially you, Yuhao~ You better cheer me on specifically, or I'm going to punish you~"

Huo Yuhao chuckled. "Don't worry, I'll be sure to cheer you on as loud as can!"

Ma Xiaotao winked at him before she for the waiting area.

"Will they be fine?" Xiao Xiao asked. Right now, she took the left seat side by Huo Yuhao while Wang Dong'er took to the right.

Huo Yuhao nodded, "Don't worry, they're just dealing with the Dou Ling Team. Could they be compared to those Evil Soul Masters?"

Wang Dong'er chimed in, "Plus, I'm pretty sure Sister Xiaotao is comparable to a Soul Sage, and with the Class 8 close-combat soul tool in her storage tool...Yeah, Dou Ling Team has a snow ball chance in hell to win this match."

Huo Yuhao chuckled as he chewed on a tomato. "Ha! That's true. Plus, I don't think Dou Ling Team is going to participate in the individual match."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"They're going to be either severely injured or lacking in members to participate." Huo Yuhao coldly smiled.

Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao shared a glance, understanding the implications of Huo Yuhao's words.

Xiao Xiao sighed and remarked, "Yeah, you guys are right. But I just couldn't help but worry, y'know?" she then glances at Wu Feng, sitting by her side. "Huh. Wu Feng, you aren't worried for Ning Tian?"

Wu Feng shook her head and replied, "I am, but I also trust in the abilities of sister Ning Tian and the others."

Her eyes looked around briefly and she leaned over Xiao Xiao's ear, "truthfully speaking, Sister Ning Tian's outfitted with a bunch of high class defense type soul tools that it isn't an exaggeration to say that she's more durable than senior Sanshi."

Xiao Xiao stared at her in disbelief. "...Ning Tian's a soul elder, right? So how...?"

"They're imported from Sun Moon Empire; they used up less soul power and can be used by soul masters a realm or two below the usual requirements needed to use the soul tool. The defense-type soul tools sister Ning Tian right now are at least Class 5."

'So rich!' Xiao Xiao inwardly sighed. She was from a high class family herself, but compared to Ning Tian and some of the others...it feels like she was a commer.

Even Huo Yuhao, who was an orphan, had more money than her!

At this moment, Huo Yuhao silently observed the waiting area of their team.

Their team that was going to fight the Dou Ling Team is composed of: Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luochen, Xi Xi, Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, He Caitou, and Ning Tian. A lineup made up of 1 near peak Soul Emperor, 2 Soul Kings, 3 Soul Ancestors and 1 Soul Elder. On the other hand, the Dou Ling Team had a lineup of 5 Soul Kings and 2 Soul Ancestors.

In terms of quality, the Dou Ling Team seemingly had the upper hand. Moreover, in the eyes of civilians and low level soul masters, just one Soul Emperor couldn't possibly be enough to turn the tides in a team battle.

However! They were from Shrek Academy, and most of the audience has seen the prowess of Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luochen, which made them feel that Shrek Academy would emerge victorious in this battle once more.

'On the other hand...' Huo Yuhao glanced at the waiting area of Dou Ling and almost let out cackle.

They were completely dispirited, their morale low and their body language showed clear signs of tension. Huo Yuhao could sense the unease radiating from the Dou Ling team, their faces drawn and their conversations hushed.

"Looks like they're already defeated before the match even starts," Huo Yuhao murmured, a smirk tugging at his lips.

Wang Dong'er glanced at him, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. "What are you seeing?"

"Our clear victory," Huo Yuhao smirked confidently.

"....Are you another clone?" Wang Dong'er asked, crossing her arms as she narrows her eyes.

Huo Yuhao blinked.

"What? No. What makes you say that way?"

"Oh, I don't know.... Probably because we saw you using a bunch of Shadow Clones to train? And each shadow clone is indistinguishable from the original," Wang Dong'er snorted, her expression shifting to a frown.

Huo Yuhao scratched his head, slightly embarrassed. "Okay, fair point. But here," clasped Wang Dong'er's hand and initiated their HaoDong Power. "See? I'm not gonna skip on my friends during one of the most important events in the continent!"

Wang Dong'er felt a warmth spread through her as their powers intertwined. "Hehe. I knew that! I just wanted to tease you, silly." she replied, softening her expression.

Huo Yuhao inwardly let out a sigh, thanking the Ice God or whatever that he he decided to watch the match today.

He wanted to see firsthand of what the Star Luo Emperor was going to do about that night, and to his expectations, the Emperor comforted the audience and participants while "subtly" stating a warning against the Sun Moon Empire.

While he waited for the match to start, Huo Yuhao contacted his "other" friends.

'Skydream, Ice Empress, Snow Empress. Are you all certain that there wouldn't be any complications when I try absorbing the left arm soul bone tonight?'

'Huh? Yeah, sure...'

'Answer properly, you lazybones!' Ice Empress kicked Skydream from his hammock before she chimed in, 'And yes, Yuhao. There will be no complications to the absorption process with the soul bone.'

Snow Empress added in her piece, 'From our observations and analysis of the soul bone and the Ice God Legacy, there wouldn't be any adverse effects. However, there will be some mutations.'

'There's going to be some mutations? But no adverse effects?'

'Yes. As the left arm soul bone belonged to a Ice Jade Scorpion, it possess a small amount of the Ice God's bloodline and wouldn't reject its Progenitor. However, the Ice God's Bone sealed in your left arm might do two things; evolution or absorption.' Snow Empress explained.

'Evolution means that the Ice God's Bone would stir up the soul bone's bloodline and cause it to evolve, raising its year by at least 1,000 years old. Absorption on the other hand, means that the Ice God's Bone absorbs it.'

'Well, what happens if it comes to the latter?' Huo Yuhao asked.

There were briefly silent.

'Guys?'

'We're not sure...' Ice Empress straightforwardly answered. 'It simply absorbs it as food or you keep the soul skill but without the usual increase of power that a soul master experiences when absorbing a soul bone.'

'So I either get a much stronger and evolved soul bone, a much stronger Ice God Bone, or an just extra ability or two? Well, that doesn't sound too bad...' He did get for free from the Emperor after all.

"Participants of both parties, please enter the stage."

The announcer's voice disrupted Huo Yuhao's thoughts. He glanced down at the stage.

Ma Xiaotao was the first to walk up, and she advanced with huge steps. Ling Luochen, Xi Xi, Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, He Caitou and Ning Tian followed behind her.

The 7 of them streamed onto the stage.

On the other side, the participants of the Dou Ling Imperial Soul Academy also walked towards the stage.

Both teams took a good look at each other, the air between was incredibly tense.

'Well, time to keep my promise.'

Huo Yuhao stood up from his seat and took a deep breath, then shouted as loud as he could, "Go, Ma Xiaotao! Shrek Academy, let's win this!"

His voice boomed across the arena, catching the attention of the crowd. Ma Xiaotao turned her head slightly, a smirk tugging at her lips as she acknowledged Huo Yuhao's enthusiastic cheer. The rest of the Shrek team smiled and raised their arms.

The audience cheers boomed almost doubled in volume, to the point of causing the arena to tremble.

"SHREK! SHREK! SHREK!"

"SHREK! SHREK! SHREK!"

Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, Wu Feng and the others joined in, their voices mixing with the cheers from the rest of the audience. "Shrek Academy! Let's go!"

The Dou Ling team, on the other hand, looked more tense and uncertain, clearly feeling the pressure from both the match and the overwhelming support for Shrek Academy.

As the two teams lined up on the stage, the announcer's voice boomed through the arena again. "Let the match between Shrek Academy and Dou Ling Imperial Soul Academy begin!"

...

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