Chapter 181: Spicy Rabbit Head, Charcoal-Grilled Rabbit Meat, Spicy Rabbit Legs
I will be away for 3 days. Adios!
------***------
Ye Hao crossed his arms, bracing himself!
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
Sparks flew as blades clashed against blades, the relentless impact sending electric arcs across the battlefield. The suspense in this battle only intensified.
Feng Xiaotian muttered under his breath, maintaining his rhythm.
His Thirty-Six Consecutive Slashes grew faster and stronger with each strike, reaching a terrifying level of power.
"Thirty-one… Thirty-two… Thirty-three…"
Almost there!
Once again, he descended from the sky, this time with a strike several times more powerful than before. His wind-infused wings seemed sharp enough to slice through air itself.
Seeing this, Ye Hao's second soul ring lit up.
A pitch-black spider web shot out from his palm!
Feng Xiaotian's eyes flashed with determination.
With a swift flick of his blade, the powerful wind pressure shattered the web midair.
Direct hit denied!
Undeterred, he continued spinning midair, his entire aura reaching new heights.
As he finally completed all thirty-six slashes—
His wings expanded to twice their original size.
The raging air currents were so strong that even Ye Hao, a Soul King, couldn't help but feel a slight sense of awe.
"Gale Demon Wolf: Thirty-Six Consecutive Slashes… truly impressive!"
This final strike—it was without a doubt Feng Xiaotian's strongest move!
-----
At this moment, every single student stood up, their eyes fixed on the battle.
Even Huo Wu, for the first time, felt a glimmer of hope.
"Could he actually win?"
Truth be told, she wanted Feng Xiaotian to win.
If he defeated Ye Hao, not only would he avenge Blazing Academy, but he would also shatter Ye Hao's undefeated legend.
If Feng Xiaotian actually won… maybe… just maybe…
Her cheeks flushed slightly at the thought.
-----
Feng Xiaotian howled toward the sky, borrowing the strength of the wind as he dove straight toward Ye Hao!
Ye Hao looked up, watching his opponent's most powerful strike descend upon him.
Yet, he remained calm and composed.
Both his fourth and fifth soul rings lit up simultaneously!
"Fourth Soul Skill—Thorned Spider Carapacer!"
"Fifth Soul Skill—Death Slash Rift!"
A layer of sharp armor covered Ye Hao's entire body, forming an impenetrable defense above his head.
At the same time, he transformed his arms into massive scythes, embedding them in the ground while coating them in the Death Domain's aura.
"Feng Xiaotian!" Ye Hao suddenly called out.
A blinding white light illuminated the battlefield—
An earth-shattering explosion erupted!
A massive cloud of dust and debris engulfed the arena.
The sheer shockwave forced many spectators to shield their eyes, momentarily blinding them.
No one could see clearly—who had won?
As the smoke gradually dispersed, the crowd leaned forward in anticipation.
They squinted toward the battlefield, trying to make out the result.
And then—
Ye Hao stood tall, completely unharmed.
In contrast, Feng Xiaotian knelt on one knee, gasping for air.
Ye Hao's scythe was pressed against his throat, leaving him unable to move.
"Brother Feng, you lost."
Ye Hao smiled faintly.
Feng Xiaotian froze.
Then, he let out a bitter laugh.
"I… lost…"
After a long pause, he sighed. "Well, a loss is a loss. But at least I lost to you. If it's you… then I accept it wholeheartedly."
The referee immediately declared:
"Victory goes to Heaven Dou Imperial Academy Second Team!"
Thunderous applause erupted!
The audience was in awe of the spectacular fight.
"Damn it!"
Tang San gritted his teeth, his face contorted with fury.
He had hoped that Feng Xiaotian could at least push Ye Hao to his limit, maybe even defeat him.
But in the end, Feng Xiaotian's ultimate move was nothing special.
He had overestimated him.
Seeing Feng Xiaotian's defeat, Shrek Academy no longer had a reason to stay.
They had lingered only to witness Ye Hao's downfall—
And now, their hopes had been crushed.
"Damn it all! Feng Xiaotian was useless!"
Ma Hongjun cursed bitterly, angrily storming away.
With the match over, Ye Hao also left early.
He had some matters to take care of—
Or rather… he had a promise to keep.
Using his Death God's Heart, he sent out a message:
"Xiao Hong, Xie Hu, meet me at the Royal Hunting Grounds tonight."
As Ye Hao left, Feng Xiaotian smiled bitterly and shook his head.
Standing up, he turned to leave as well.
As he exited, he ran into Huo Wu.
"Huo Wu?"
She hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Feng Xiaotian… you did well."
Feng Xiaotian chuckled. "Thanks… But watch closely.
Now it's your turn to show me what a real fight looks like."
Huo Wu smirked.
"I will. Watch and learn—this is how you really fight."
Feng Xiaotian instantly perked up.
"I'll be cheering for you from the stands, Huo Wu!"
His inner bootlicker had fully awakened.
Huo Wu's expression turned complicated.
She had considered giving him a chance before.
But now?
Forget it.
-----
Darkness covered the land, the night sky stretching endlessly.
The Royal Hunting Grounds were silent, the air thick with tranquility.
Scattered patrolling soldiers carried torches, their dim flames flickering against the night breeze.
Outside the tents, fire pits burned softly, while most students had already retired to their beds, resting for tomorrow's battles.
But in a secluded corner of the hunting grounds…
Ye Hao stood alone.
Reaching up, he removed the Death God's Heart from his hair.
"Death God's Heart—Skill Activation: Dark Shroud."
In an instant, Ye Hao's figure vanished into thin air.
It was as if he had never been there at all.
-----
Ye Hao stepped into the inner chamber of the Death God's Heart. The entire space was shrouded in a deep purple mist, exuding an eerie, otherworldly aura.
Just then, Xiao Hong and Xie Hu entered.
"Master."
"Haozi."
Ye Hao smiled, motioning for them to sit down.
"Xie Hu, do you remember the promise I made to you?"
Xie Hu nodded firmly.
He would never forget.
Back when Ye Hao had defeated the Evil Demon Orca King and was about to leave—
Xie Hu had made a request.
At first, Ye Hao didn't understand.
But once Xie Hu explained, Ye Hao immediately agreed without hesitation.
The request was to take the entire Evil Demon Orca Clan away from the ocean.
The Evil Demon Orca Clan had ruled the seas for years under the leadership of their king, dominating through brute strength and territorial aggression.
They had been in constant battle with the Devil Soul Great White Sharks, where a single adult Evil Demon Orca could fight two Devil Soul Great White Sharks and still remain unmatched.
But once Ye Hao took Xie Hu away, the balance of power shifted.
Without Xie Hu, the Devil Soul Great White Sharks would surely seize the opportunity to annihilate the entire Evil Demon Orca Clan.
That was just the brutal reality of the soul beast world—a law of survival of the fittest.
Thus, using the Death God's Heart, Ye Hao relocated the entire Evil Demon Orca Clan.
Currently, they were housed within the Death God's Sanctuary.
But keeping them there forever wasn't a viable long-term solution.
There were over 200 Evil Demon Orcas:
• 50% were over 50,000 years old
• 30% had reached 10,000 years
• 15% were between 1,000–10,000 years
• 5% were still young, under 1,000 years
As one of the strongest marine soul beast species, the Evil Demon Orcas had spent their time absorbing the Death God's divine power inside the sanctuary.
This had ensured their survival and even accelerated their growth.
Xiao Hong suddenly realized something.
"Haozi, you've found a place where the Evil Demon Orcas can live, haven't you?"
Hearing this, Xie Hu's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
Ye Hao nodded.
"Xie Hu, your clan is too large. Keeping them in the Death God's Sanctuary forever isn't a long-term solution."
"I've thought it through. Once the tournament ends, I'll be heading to Spirit Hall with my team."
"At that time, my true identity will be revealed to the world."
Ye Hao paused, then continued.
"Years ago, I visited Spirit Hall and noticed that behind the main palace, there's a vast empty land—far larger than Heaven Dou City."
"I plan to create an artificial ocean there and relocate your clan."
Xie Hu's eyes widened in shock.
"As for food, don't worry about it."
"Aside from Spirit Hall's usual soul beast hunts, I will also infuse the area with Death God's divine power."
"With that, your clan won't just survive—they'll thrive and grow even stronger."
"What do you think?"
Hearing this, Xie Hu didn't hesitate for a second.
"Master, I accept your plan with gratitude!"
Ye Hao waved his hand dismissively, smiling.
"No need for formalities between us."
Suddenly, Xiao Hong spoke up.
"So this is why you called us here?"
Ye Hao raised an eyebrow. "What else did you think?"
Xiao Hong rolled his eyes. "So, I'm just a messenger now?"
Ye Hao smirked. "What? You use Zhu Zhu as your personal servant all the time—why can't I do the same to you once in a while?"
"You and Xie Hu will go to Spirit Hall first.
"Take the Death God's Heart with you. I will keep Zhu Zhu and Zhu Er by my side—right now, things are getting dangerous for me."
Ye Hao's expression darkened slightly.
"Tang Hao and Tang Xiao have joined forces. They won't be easy to deal with."
"And I suspect… that Dugu Bo may have already been forced into submission by them."
"I know Dugu Bo well—there's no way he would willingly side with Shrek Academy."
Xiao Hong snorted, rolling his eyes again.
"So in the end, you just want me to do your dirty work?"
Ye Hao laughed.
"You can think of it that way."
"Once you and Xie Hu arrive at Spirit Hall, there's no need to come back. I'll join you soon enough."
"Most importantly—
"Don't cause any trouble with Spirit Hall's people. We're all going to be on the same side in the future."
Xiao Hong waved dismissively. "Yeah, yeah, I got it."
After finalizing their plans, Ye Hao handed over the Death God's Heart to Xiao Hong and Xie Hu.
Without wasting any time, they departed under the cover of night.
With his affairs settled, Ye Hao made his way back to the camp.
As he walked, he called out to a nearby royal knight.
"Brother, come here for a moment."
The Royal Knight Captain hesitated for a second before approaching.
During the tournament, the knights were instructed to fulfill reasonable requests from the participants.
"I remember that there's some good game in the forests outside the city."
"I'd like to improve my meals a little."
"Could you get some wild game for me? Preferably rabbits—ten-year-old ones or younger, like Soft Bone Rabbits."
The knight immediately understood and nodded.
"Understood. Consider it done."
Truth be told, even soldiers needed a special treat once in a while.
And considering Ye Hao's close relationship with the Crown Prince, there was no way they'd refuse such a small request.
Taking his bow and a small group of soldiers, the knight set off into the forest.
On his way back to his tent, Ye Hao noticed someone standing alone beneath the night sky.
It was Xue Qinghe.
His posture was stiff, as if lost in thought.
"Brother Xue, why are you still awake?"
Xue Qinghe looked up, smiling at Ye Hao.
"You're still up too, aren't you? I just can't sleep."
Ye Hao chuckled.
"I sent Xie Hu and Xiao Hong to Spirit Hall ahead of me."
"They'll be expanding our operations—turning Spirit Hall into a full-time business hub."
Hearing this, Xue Qinghe glanced around to ensure they were alone.
His expression darkened.
"What are you up to this time?"
"I suggest you keep a low profile. Spirit Hall is in a period of rapid expansion—this is not the time for chaos."
Ye Hao grinned.
"Trust me, Brother Xue, this will be a win-win situation."
"Both Mother and Grandfather will love it—I guarantee it."
----
The morning sun shone brightly, marking the start of a new day.
The Royal Hunting Grounds were bustling with activity.
Soldiers sharpened their blades and set up cooking stations—
Something special was being prepared.
Before long, activity stirred within the tents.
One by one, students woke up, stretching and yawning as they emerged from their tents.
Seeing the soldiers bustling about, most of them paid no attention.
Their priority? Breakfast.
After all, once they finished eating and rested for a bit, they would have to prepare for the next round of matches.
-----
"Good morning, Xiao Wu."
"Good morning, Brother."
Xiao Wu and Tang San exchanged greetings before heading toward the dining area.
Along the way, they met Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and the rest of the team.
Together, they made their way to breakfast.
Ma Hongjun's eyes darted around, taking in the unusual scene of soldiers moving busily.
He frowned in confusion.
"Boss Dai, what are these soldiers so busy with this morning?"
Dai Mubai stepped forward, observing for a moment before returning to the group.
A grin spread across his face.
"We're in for a treat tonight!"
"I just asked around—those soldiers went into the forest last night and brought back a ton of wild game."
"Pheasants, wild ducks… and rabbits."
"Rabbits?!"
Ma Hongjun's eyes lit up.
His mouth began to water uncontrollably.
Xiao Wu wrinkled her nose in disgust, taking a step away from the drooling fatty.
At the same time, her eyes drifted toward the soldiers as they prepared the game for cooking.
And then—
Suddenly, her face turned ghostly pale.
Her feet froze in place, and her entire body stiffened.
She could swear that this was the last thing she ever wanted to see in her life.
Right before her eyes—
A soldier picked up a lifeless Soft Bone Rabbit and placed it onto a wooden rack.
With a swift motion, he chopped off its head with a sharp blade.
Xiao Wu instinctively reached for her own neck.
Her scalp tingled.
The soldier continued skillfully, grabbing the rabbit's fur and—
"RIP!"
With a single motion, he peeled off its skin like removing a coat.
The soft pink flesh beneath glistened under the morning sun—a clear testament to its quality.
Next, the soldier efficiently slit open the rabbit's belly, his knife work precise and practiced.
As blood and organs spilled out, Xiao Wu's mind went blank.
Her body shook uncontrollably, teetering on the edge of a mental breakdown.
Tang San didn't know what to say.
He understood all too well how much this sight must be tormenting Xiao Wu.
Especially since…
Soft Bone Rabbit was her species.
Right now, it was as if her ancestors were being slaughtered before her eyes.
Oblivious to Xiao Wu's suffering, Ma Hongjun wiped his drool away and grinned.
"Tonight is going to be amazing!"
"Boss Dai, you don't even know—back in Soto City, there was this wild game restaurant I used to visit all the time."
"Their signature dish? Braised Rabbit Head!"
"They made it using the weakest soul beast—Soft Bone Rabbit."
Ma Hongjun's words stopped Xiao Wu in her tracks.
Her expression twisted into something between horror and disbelief.
A chilling murderous intent flickered in her red eyes.
But Ma Hongjun remained completely unaware.
He continued his excited rambling.
"They also had Spicy Rabbit Head, Charcoal-Grilled Rabbit Meat, Braised Rabbit Legs, and Stewed Rabbit—"
The more he talked about food, the more enthusiastic he became.
Like an unstoppable flood.
But at this point—Xiao Wu had lost all patience.
Her face darkened completely, her entire being radiating hostility.
Ma Hongjun, however, was still in his own world.
"I've decided! Tonight, I'm definitely having Soft Bone Rabbit!"
"Boss Dai, should I pick the dish for you too?"
Before he could finish his sentence—
"YOU FAT BASTARD! HAVE YOU SAID ENOUGH?!"
Xiao Wu's furious roar cut through the air.
The entire crowd turned their heads, surprised by her sudden outburst.
When they saw it was Shrek Academy again, they quickly lost interest.
After all…
Wasn't this group always causing trouble?
But Ma Hongjun wasn't about to back down.
He faced Xiao Wu head-on and snapped back—
"Said enough? What the hell is your problem, Xiao Wu?"
"I'm talking about eating rabbit! RABBIT! SOFT BONE RABBIT!"
"How the hell does that offend you?"
"I… I won't allow you to eat rabbit!"
Tears welled up in Xiao Wu's red eyes, her voice shaking.
Ma Hongjun scoffed coldly.
"Oh? This is new."
"So you're saying—just because your martial soul is a rabbit, no one's allowed to eat rabbit anymore?"
"Well, guess what? Third Brother's martial soul is a Blue Silver Grass."
"Does that mean rabbits should stop eating grass too?!"
His words stabbed right into Xiao Wu's logic.
"You're human, not a beast!"
"Why do you always think like an animal?"
"First the Titan Giant Ape, now the Soft Bone Rabbits—"
"Wake up, Xiao Wu! You're a human, not livestock!"
Having unleashed his frustration, Ma Hongjun ignored Tang San's murderous glare and walked away with Dai Mubai.
"You… you… you…!"
Xiao Wu's entire body trembled with rage, her rabbit ears standing straight up in anger.
Tang San quickly stepped forward, gently supporting her.
"Xiao Wu, don't worry."
"Next time, I'll make sure Fatty pays for this."
But Xiao Wu didn't respond.
Her eyes remained fixed on the hanging Soft Bone Rabbit meat, her heart twisting in pain.
It was as if she were watching herself being butchered alive.
Just then, the hunting team returned.
On their shoulders was a pile of freshly hunted Soft Bone Rabbits.
A whole family of them.
Because, as the saying goes—a family should always stay together.