At Star Luo Plaza, cheers erupted like a relentless tsunami, showing no sign of subsiding.
At this long-awaited moment, the teams of Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy and Shrek Academy, clad in their respective uniforms, slowly emerged from the tunnels on opposite sides of the arena.
One represented the continent's number one academy, carrying a ten-thousand-year legacy. The other stood at the pinnacle of soul tool technology. Like two converging torrents, they brought their pride and glory into the preparation area.
On Shrek's side, the atmosphere was noticeably solemn.
Although they had accepted the wager the previous day under Xuan Zi's final decision, now that the decisive moment had arrived, an invisible pressure weighed heavily on Ma Xiaotao's heart.
One match to decide everything.
If she won, it would be only natural.
If she lost… she would become a sinner in the academy's history.
Bearing the honor of the entire academy alone made even the usually fearless Ma Xiaotao clench her fists, her breathing growing faintly uneven.
After all, she was still a young woman not yet twenty years old.
"Phew…"
Ma Xiaotao took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, but the nervousness in her eyes could not be completely concealed.
Just then, a large hand landed on her shoulder.
"Girl, relax."
Xuan Zi had appeared beside her at some point, still gnawing on a chicken leg. His usually slovenly face now carried a rare trace of gentleness and calm.
"Don't treat this like a life-or-death situation. It's just a normal match."
Though he had made plenty of questionable decisions in the past, at this critical moment, the Rank 98 Super Douluo finally displayed the composure befitting an elder.
Looking at Ma Xiaotao, he said firmly, "What are you afraid of? You're a seven-ring Spirit Saint, and he's only a five-ring Spirit King. That's a gap as wide as a chasm."
"In terms of spirit power, you completely overwhelm him. As for Martial Souls, your Evil Fire Phoenix is a top-tier beast Spirit, only one step away from Ultimate Fire."
"The advantage is entirely yours, understand?"
"As long as you perform normally, that Liu Yuan won't be able to stir up any trouble."
Hearing this, the tension in Ma Xiaotao's heart eased slightly.
That's right. She was a Spirit Saint. Why should she fear a Spirit King?
"Sister Xiaotao, good luck. You can do it," Bei Bei said with a gentle smile.
"That's right! Beat Liu Yuan to a pulp! Let him see how powerful Shrek really is!" Xu Sanshi shouted, pumping his fist.
"Captain, we believe in you!" Dai Yueheng and the others added, their gazes filled with encouragement.
Feeling the support behind her, the last traces of nervousness in Ma Xiaotao's eyes faded, replaced by the familiar, blazing battle intent.
She nodded firmly. "Mm. I'll definitely win!"
In contrast, the Sun Moon team's side was far more relaxed.
There were no impassioned speeches or deliberate mobilization.
Everything that needed to be said had already been said on the way here.
Now, the boys and girls expressed their support for their captain in the simplest, most direct ways.
Lin Xi stepped forward and gave Liu Yuan a big hug, patting him on the back. "Captain, good luck."
Meng Hongchen followed, hugging him with a giggle. "Captain, finish it quickly so we can go eat something good tonight!"
Xiao Hongchen, though too proud to hug him, still stepped forward and bumped fists with Liu Yuan, his eyes filled with trust.
Each hug and every simple "good luck" flowed into Liu Yuan's heart like a warm current.
He smiled in response to each of them, then turned and walked steadily toward the competition stage.
At the same time, Ma Xiaotao adjusted her state and strode forward as well.
The two stopped at the center of the arena, a hundred meters apart, gazing at each other across the distance.
The air seemed to freeze.
Ma Xiaotao looked at the calm young man before her, her expression complicated.
She knew part of what had happened back then.
If it hadn't been for Elder Xuan's momentary lapse in judgment, the man standing before her might have been fighting on her side now—as Shrek's most dazzling rising star.
"Liu Yuan."
She was the first to break the silence. Her voice was cold, yet carried an unusual trace of sincerity.
"Actually… I admire you."
Liu Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
Ma Xiaotao continued, "I've heard about what happened back then. Even as someone from Shrek, I have to admit that… Elder Xuan was wrong in that matter."
"If only someone had stopped him at the time."
"And I'll admit this too—when I was your age, I wasn't as good as you."
"Your talent is truly terrifying."
"But—"
Her tone shifted abruptly as a violent aura burst forth. Crimson spirit power surged around her like roaring flames.
"Now, we stand on different sides. I am the captain of the Shrek team. I have glory I must protect—and reasons I absolutely cannot lose."
"So in this battle, I won't show you any mercy."
"I'll use my strongest power to defeat you completely!"
The surprise in Liu Yuan's eyes deepened, then transformed into genuine appreciation.
She might be hot-tempered and impulsive, but this straightforward nature—clear in love and hate—was oddly endearing.
Compared to hypocrites who preached morality while scheming in the shadows, Ma Xiaotao's blunt honesty was far more agreeable.
"Good."
Liu Yuan nodded, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his lips—respect for a worthy opponent, and anticipation for the coming clash.
"Ma Xiaotao, you're a candid person."
"In that case, let's skip the nonsense."
He slowly raised his right hand, pointing straight at her. His voice was calm, yet carried unquestionable authority.
"Go all out."
"Let me see just how strong a so-called Shrek Monster really is."
At that moment, the referee—who had long since lost patience—saw that the exchange was over and immediately raised his arm, chopping it down sharply.
"Match—start!"
Boom!
Almost the instant the words fell, two terrifying auras erupted simultaneously from opposite ends of the stage.
"Martial Soul Possession!"
Ma Xiaotao shouted lowly. The air behind her twisted violently as a pair of blazing, fiery-red wings burst forth, stretching three meters wide and glowing with golden-red light.
Her long hair turned a vivid crimson, her pupils narrowing into golden-red vertical slits. A scorching, violent aura radiated from her entire body, as though a goddess of war wreathed in flames had descended upon the arena.
At the same time, Liu Yuan completed his transformation.
"Roar—!"
A deep, majestic dragon's roar resounded across the arena, as if an ancient primordial beast had awakened.
Dark green light enveloped Liu Yuan's body. Fine, dark green dragon scales emerged across his skin. His hands became sharp dragon claws, his legs thickened with explosive power, and a long, powerful dragon tail extended behind him.
Most striking of all were the two dragon horns spiraling upward from his head—and the two golden, flowing light ribbons streaming behind him in the wind.
Mega Rayquaza Possession!
Though only a half-human, half-dragon form, the dragon pressure he emitted—an instinctive suppression at the level of life itself—was in no way inferior to Ma Xiaotao's phoenix might.
"First Spirit Skill—Extreme Speed!"
The instant his Martial Soul Possession was complete, Liu Yuan did not hesitate. The first spirit ring beneath his feet flared brightly.
Whoosh!
His figure vanished from where he stood, turning into a bolt of dark green lightning that tore through the air. With a piercing sonic boom, he charged straight toward Ma Xiaotao at a speed beyond the naked eye.
Fast!
Too fast!
So fast that not even an afterimage could be clearly seen!
Yet Ma Xiaotao was no ordinary opponent. Her strength did not lie solely in her Rank—her combat experience was equally formidable.
Before Liu Yuan could even reach her, a massive surge of Evil Fire erupted at her command, flooding the space ahead of her in an instant!