On the competition platform, scorching heat waves rolled across the arena.
The vanguard of the Chiyan Academy team—a Rank 48 Power Attack–type Battle Soul Ancestor—was red-faced with fury, his eyes blazing.
"Again?!"
"Yesterday, that Liu Yuan treated us like we weren't even human—and today you, Ma Xiaotao, want to use us as a stepping stone too?!"
"Do you really think Chiyan Academy is made of mud, something you can knead however you like?!"
Even a clay figurine has a temper—let alone a group of hot-blooded young Spirit Masters.
Being used as cannon fodder for a one-versus-seven sweep two days in a row was an unbearable humiliation for any team.
"Die!"
As the referee's shout of "Match begin!" rang out, the Chiyan member roared. The four spirit rings beneath his feet flared simultaneously as a massive crimson fireball condensed in his palm. Carrying a blazing wave of heat, it slammed straight toward Ma Xiaotao.
He held nothing back—this strike was unleashed at full power.
Yet facing this ferocious attack, Ma Xiaotao merely smiled coldly, not even bothering to lift her eyelids.
"A firefly daring to compete with the bright moon?"
She didn't even activate a Spirit Ability. She simply raised her jade-like hand, and a cluster of deep crimson flames bloomed in her palm.
Phoenix Evil Fire.
Though it had not yet evolved into true Ultimate Fire, its quality already surpassed ordinary flames by countless levels.
Boom!
The two masses of fire collided in midair.
There was no stalemate, no violent explosion.
Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire behaved like a ravenous beast, instantly devouring the opponent's fireball whole!
Its momentum didn't falter in the slightest. The crimson flames shot forward like a bolt of lightning, striking the Chiyan member square in the chest.
Pfft!
He didn't even have time to scream before being blasted away like a kite with its string cut, crashing heavily off the stage and losing consciousness on the spot.
Silence.
Dead silence.
The entire audience stared in shock, forgetting even how to breathe.
One move.
Just one.
No flashy techniques. No elaborate tactics. Pure, overwhelming power.
"Next."
Ma Xiaotao casually withdrew her hand, as if she had merely brushed away a speck of dust. Her cold gaze locked onto Chiyan Academy's rest area. Her voice wasn't loud, yet it echoed throughout the venue.
What followed was nothing short of a massacre.
One by one, the Chiyan Academy members stepped onto the stage.
One by one, they were blasted straight off it.
Even Xiao Huo—whose Fire Cloud Staff Martial Soul had given Liu Yuan some trouble the previous day—was utterly helpless before Ma Xiaotao.
Before he could even release a Spirit Ability, Ma Xiaotao's Phoenix Fire Thread shattered his defenses. Flames engulfed him, and he rolled off the platform screaming.
As for Chiyan Academy's captain, Chi Xiao—a Spirit King in the low fifties—he had hoped to rely on his cultivation advantage to last a while.
But in the face of Ma Xiaotao's terrifying Spirit Saint pressure and her Phoenix Evil Fire that could incinerate all things, his so-called advantage was nothing more than a joke.
"Phoenix Meteor Shower."
Ma Xiaotao murmured softly.
Instantly, a rain of flames descended from the sky.
The defensive Spirit Ability Chi Xiao unleashed with all his strength collapsed in an instant. He was swallowed whole by the sea of fire—had the referee not intervened in time, he might have died on the spot.
"Victory to Shrek Academy! Ma Xiaotao—One-versus-Seven Sweep!"
When the referee announced the result in a trembling voice, Star Luo Plaza erupted completely.
"My god! A real one-versus-seven sweep!"
"That's terrifying! Is this the true strength of Shrek's captain?!"
"Compared to Liu Yuan yesterday, Ma Xiaotao is downright brutal—she crushed them without giving them a single chance to breathe!"
"As expected of Shrek! Once they get serious, no one can stop them!"
Cheers and screams surged like crashing waves, one after another.
All those who had questioned Shrek due to Xuan Zi's incident the previous night now fell silent, replaced by deep awe.
Before absolute strength, all rumors seemed pale and powerless.
Soon, comparisons between Ma Xiaotao and Liu Yuan began circulating through the crowd.
"Even though Liu Yuan also did a one-versus-seven yesterday, Ma Xiaotao won much more easily."
"Yeah, Liu Yuan still had to work a bit against Xiao Huo, but Ma Xiaotao just obliterated everyone!"
"That's the difference between a seven-ring Spirit Saint and a five-ring Spirit King. I think the Sun Moon team is in real trouble tomorrow."
"I'm betting on Shrek—Ma Xiaotao is practically invincible!"
Of course, a small group of Liu Yuan's die-hard supporters still argued back.
"Hmph! What's so impressive about having a higher cultivation level? Our Captain Liu Yuan is a Soul Engineer—who knows what top-tier spirit tools he hasn't shown yet!"
"Exactly! Captain Liu Yuan hasn't even gone all out!"
But their voices were quickly drowned beneath the overwhelming tide of support for Shrek.
Inside the rest area.
Watching Ma Xiaotao bathe in the thunderous cheers of the entire stadium, Xuan Zi grinned so widely that the wrinkles on his face bloomed like flowers. The gloom from the previous night was completely swept away.
"Good! Well done, Xiao Tao!"
He praised her indistinctly while gnawing on a chicken leg.
"This is the bearing of Shrek! This is what a Shrek student should look like!"
"After this match, all those doubters will have to shut their mouths!"
Dai Yueheng and the others stepped forward to congratulate her, their eyes filled with admiration.
Ma Xiaotao didn't let the praise go to her head. She took a deep breath, suppressing the restless Evil Fire within her, then turned and walked off the stage.
But instead of returning to Shrek's rest area, she headed straight toward the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy's section.
At that moment, the Sun Moon team was preparing to leave.
Seeing Ma Xiaotao approaching with clear intent, Xiao Hongchen and the others instinctively stepped forward, positioning themselves protectively in front of Liu Yuan.
Liu Yuan merely raised his hand, signaling them to step back, and calmly met the gaze of the woman in red.
Their eyes locked.
It was as if sparks crackled through the air.
One was Shrek's favored daughter, fresh off a one-versus-seven sweep, standing at the peak of her glory.
The other was the enigmatic and unfathomable genius captain of the Sun Moon team, who had also achieved a one-versus-seven sweep.
At that moment, the entire venue fell silent, all eyes focused on the two of them.
Ma Xiaotao lifted her chin slightly. Her phoenix eyes burned with fierce battle intent as she stared straight at Liu Yuan. Her red lips parted, her voice cold and proud.
"Captain Liu Yuan."
"In tomorrow's match…"
"Do you dare to be the first to step onto the stage and clash with me head-on?"