Chapter 37: Quarterfinals

As Ma Xiaotao walked off the stage with a calm expression, the members of Qianling Academy looked on with eyes full of hatred and helplessness.

Though her face was expressionless, inside, the evil fire she'd barely suppressed during the fight had begun to burn again. Malice crept into her mind, and she could only grit her teeth and fight to resist it.

"Damn it."

Ma Xiaotao was incredibly frustrated. She had worked so hard to cultivate, only to risk becoming a puppet to her own evil fire.

At that thought, her mind flashed to that annoying brat who had suppressed her flames during the earlier confrontation.

Her expression grew complicated as she looked toward the Sun Moon team.

Hidden in the corner of the arena, gnawing on a chicken leg, a worried elder from the Holy Spirit Church named Xuanzi had been silently watching her every move.

—

After Shrek Academy's match ended, it was time for the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy to face Dou Ling Academy.

At this moment, all of Shrek's team members were seated in the audience, fully focused. Facing off against a top-tier team like Dou Ling meant they finally had a golden opportunity to gather intel on their greatest threat—Team Sun Moon.

"Top Eight Match, Round Two: Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy versus Dou Ling Royal Advanced Soul Master Academy. Both teams, prepare for battle."

Compared to the knockout rounds, the audience for the quarterfinals had increased by more than tenfold. As the referee's voice echoed out, an overwhelming wave of boos erupted from the stands—directed, of course, at the Sun Moon team.

In the waiting area, the Sun Moon students all frowned. Xiao Hongchen, always proud and competitive, clenched his fists tightly, his expression dark.

But Huo Yuhao remained calm. He was thinking deeper.

He understood clearly why the crowd targeted the Sun Moon Empire so fiercely. Was the empire really that hated across Star Luo, Dou Ling, and Tian Hun?

No.

Just consider the sky-high ticket prices for the tournament and the outrageous hotel rates in the Star Luo capital. How many poor or working-class citizens could afford to attend?

In feudal societies like these, the group most driven by nationalistic sentiment was always the small wealthy elite—the upper-middle class and gentry. But that group barely made up ten percent of the population.

Add to that their blind worship of Shrek Academy, and the fact that many people were jeering simply because Sun Moon was Shrek's main rival—not necessarily out of hatred for the empire itself.

Overall, Huo Yuhao felt more assured about the future—when the Sun Moon Empire eventually unified the three nations, he believed the common people would accept it.

After all, for most ordinary folk without power or soul strength, a change in rulers was just another shift in authority. Life would go on.

'Getting distracted…'

"Competing teams, enter the arena."

The referee's voice pulled Huo Yuhao from his thoughts.

On the Sun Moon side, six main team members entered the field, along with Huo Yuhao, the only reserve member. A strange formation.

"Everyone, remember the plan?"

As they walked toward the center, Huo Yuhao spoke quietly.

Ma Rulong nodded, visibly excited. "Of course. If this strategy succeeds, it won't just demoralize Shrek—it'll shake everything."

He looked up toward the emperor of the Star Luo Empire seated on the throne and smirked. Huo Yuhao followed his gaze and let out a cold chuckle as he looked at Duke White Tiger—Dai Hao.

Once all competitors were in place, team captains Ma Rulong and Guzhu Jian of Dou Ling Academy stepped forward and shook hands briefly.

"Both sides, retreat. Prepare for battle."

The teams fell into formation. Dou Ling used a standard soul master team formation: strength, control, and agility-types in their proper roles.

But Sun Moon's formation shocked everyone—even those knowledgeable in the stands.

Their six main team members formed an arcing wall, pushing outward, completely surrounding Huo Yuhao in the center.

Only a fool wouldn't realize what this meant: the only reserve member… was the core of their formation?

Wang Yan, one of Shrek's coaches, frowned. Just what were they planning?

They would find out soon.

As both teams finished preparations, the referee shouted,

"Ready—begin!"

Immediately, the Dou Ling team burst into action, unleashing their martial souls and charging forward.

As expected, soul masters always sought to close the distance quickly when fighting soul engineers.

On the Sun Moon side, all six main team members remained still—and began assembling soul cannon platforms on the spot!

Not only the charging Dou Ling members, but even He Caitou from Shrek gawked in shock.

"Fortress formation? Sure, it's powerful… but sacrificing six people's mobility to use it? Do they even want to win?"

This formation involved creating a powerful array of offensive and defensive soul tools—massive cannons, shields, barriers—but it came at the cost of flexibility and longevity. Plus, hitting moving targets with precision was always a challenge.

Even if all six cannons fired at full power and landed some damage, was that enough to wipe out the enemy team?

If even one person survived the first barrage, the lack of mobility would spell doom for the Sun Moon squad.

So… could they wipe them all out in one strike?

The answer—

"All units, activate Soul Tool Defense Matrix!"

At Ma Rulong's command, a massive defensive soul barrier enveloped the entire Sun Moon squad, blocking Dou Ling's initial long-range soul skill volley.

Dou Ling's team didn't panic—they knew soul tool barriers drained energy rapidly and couldn't be kept up for long.

Meanwhile, Sun Moon's six main members had finished setting up their cannon platforms. Their defense matrix began to drop.

At that moment—Huo Yuhao activated Spiritual Detection Sharing.

Seeing the terrifying cannons about to unleash hell, the Dou Ling team immediately switched to evasive, high-speed defensive positions. Their control-type soul master attempted to use a disruption skill to block some of the operators from firing, but—

Huo Yuhao's Soul Shock struck him down before he could act.

(End of Chapter)

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