If simple speed could be predicted, then he would push it to a level where even prediction couldn't keep up.
Liu Yuan knew very clearly that he was only a five-ring Spirit King, while Ma Xiaotao was a genuine seven-ring Spirit Saint. The nearly twenty-level gap between their spirit power was like a natural chasm.
Unless he directly summoned Mega Rayquaza's true body and let it fight in his stead…
Otherwise, while remaining in Martial Soul Possession, that gap would never disappear.
So if he wanted to cross it, there was only one choice—
Strengthen himself.
"Phew…"
Liu Yuan slowly exhaled. The sharp edge in his eyes faded, replaced by a deep, steady calm.
He didn't charge again. Instead, he slightly lowered his stance, shifting into a defensive counterattacking posture.
"Oh? Not attacking anymore?"
Ma Xiaotao raised an eyebrow as she watched Liu Yuan suddenly go "quiet," but the vigilance in her heart didn't lessen in the slightest.
"Since you won't come at me, then I won't hold back!"
Before her words even finished, she swept her hands forward. The Evil Fire covering the ground instantly boiled, transforming into several vicious fire serpents that lunged toward Liu Yuan from every direction.
At the same time, she kicked off the ground and shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, her right leg lifting high like a battle axe before chopping down toward Liu Yuan's head!
Bang!
Liu Yuan slid backward, narrowly evading the crushing strike.
But he didn't counterattack.
As he retreated, his body twisted in an extremely strange motion.
At first glance, it looked like he was simply dodging the pursuing fire serpents—but upon closer inspection, the movement carried a peculiar rhythm.
It was almost as if he was… dancing.
Buzz—
At the instant that motion completed, the third spirit ring beneath Liu Yuan's feet flickered ever so slightly.
A warm current surged through his body. He felt lighter, stronger.
First Dragon Dance—successfully stacked!
"Again!"
A sharp glint flashed through Liu Yuan's eyes. He still didn't take the initiative to attack, instead weaving through Ma Xiaotao's storm-like offense and the writhing fire serpents like a fish swimming through water.
Every dodge was followed by a movement that seemed unnecessary, yet subtly profound.
Each turn, leap, and slide—
When strung together, they resembled a mysterious, ancient ritual dance.
"Something's wrong…"
Less than half a minute in, Ma Xiaotao narrowed her eyes.
On the surface, Liu Yuan seemed to be under constant pressure, even getting singed by the fire serpents now and then, his clothes scorched and his appearance somewhat disheveled.
But…
His speed was increasing.
At the start, she could occasionally force him into awkward positions using her Evil Fire Domain's predictive ability. Now, however, although he was still dodging, his movements were becoming smoother and more composed—almost leisurely.
Even that "disheveled" state felt off.
This was a life-and-death duel. Why were his evasive movements always mixed with strange twists and stretches?
In a battle between experts, redundant motions were a fatal taboo—they slowed reaction speed and exposed openings.
Liu Yuan couldn't possibly be making such a basic mistake.
Unless…
Those movements were his real objective.
While maintaining her relentless assault, Ma Xiaotao observed Liu Yuan carefully.
Finally, when Liu Yuan twisted his body at an impossible angle to evade her whip-like kick—and his spirit ring flickered once more—realization struck her like lightning.
"So that's it!"
Ma Xiaotao abruptly halted her pursuit. She stood in place, fixing Liu Yuan with a cold, knowing smile.
"Liu Yuan, I'll admit it—you're truly devious."
The moment she said this, the entire audience held its breath.
Liu Yuan, who had been regulating his breathing to continue stacking Dragon Dance, froze slightly, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes.
"Was I found out?"
Seeing his reaction, Ma Xiaotao became completely certain.
"The reason you've only been dodging and never attacking," she said loudly, "even deliberately mixing in those strange 'dance' movements… is because you're secretly strengthening yourself, isn't it?"
The crowd exploded.
"What?! He's been buffing himself the whole time?"
"No wonder Chiyan Academy got crushed so badly!"
"That kind of Spirit Skill is absurd! If he keeps stacking it, wouldn't he become unstoppable?!"
Even the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy's waiting area stirred.
Xiao Hongchen's expression darkened. "That's bad. The captain's Dragon Dance needs time to stack. Now that she's seen through it, she won't give him any more chances."
Meng Hongchen frowned as well. "How is she this sharp? What a troublesome woman…"
On the stage, Liu Yuan straightened up and slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air.
Since it had been exposed, there was no need to hide anymore.
"Ma Xiaotao," he said calmly, genuine admiration in his tone, "you truly live up to your reputation."
"To see through my intentions that quickly… you're the first."
"However," he continued evenly, "even if you've seen through it—so what?"
"The current me is no longer someone you can predict so easily."
During that exchange, he had already stacked Dragon Dance three times.
His speed and attack power had undergone a qualitative leap. While it still wasn't enough to completely close the gap with a Spirit Saint, he was no longer trapped in a purely passive position.
"Hmph. Arrogant."
Ma Xiaotao snorted, the flames in her eyes burning even fiercer.
"Now that I know your trump card, do you think I'll let you keep doing as you please?"
"Want to keep stacking that ridiculous dance?"
"Dream on!"
Boom—!
The flames around Ma Xiaotao surged violently as she stopped holding back entirely.
"Since you like dodging so much, I'll let you dodge to your heart's content!"
"Let's see whether your dance is faster—or my Evil Fire!"
She threw her hands skyward.
The Evil Fire Domain responded instantly, boiling to its absolute limit.
Countless pillars of flame erupted into the sky, turning the entire arena into a blazing hellscape with nowhere safe to stand.
Then Ma Xiaotao herself transformed into a phoenix wreathed in fire, carrying overwhelming flames as she charged at Liu Yuan with savage ferocity.
This was a full-field saturation assault.
"Then come!"
Liu Yuan advanced instead of retreating. Even with his intentions exposed, he showed no panic.
If he couldn't stack Dragon Dance in secret—
Then he'd stack it openly, right in front of her.
As long as his speed was fast enough and his dodges precise enough, he could keep dancing.
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—
The dark green figure darted wildly through the sky-filling inferno.
Ma Xiaotao's offense was fiercer than ever, and the Evil Fire licked relentlessly at Liu Yuan's body.
Though he possessed the Fire Attraction ability and wasn't truly afraid of the flames, to conceal this trump card and mislead his opponent, he deliberately played the part.
His clothes were scorched, his face smeared with black ash, and he even let out a few "pained" groans now and then.
From the stands, Xuan Zi saw this and immediately burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! I knew it!"
Chewing on a chicken leg, he spoke indistinctly, "So what if that kid has some buffing Spirit Skill? In front of absolute strength, all those tricks are just flashy nonsense!"
"Xiaotao's Evil Fire is top-tier. No matter how tough his body is, there's no way he can endure this kind of high-temperature burning forever."
"As long as she keeps up the pressure, that kid will eventually be burned to the brink. Once his body collapses, no amount of buffs will save him!"
"Xiaotao has this in the bag!"
The other Shrek members relaxed as well, smiles appearing on their faces.
But Ma Xiaotao herself didn't feel reassured.
Despite Liu Yuan's miserable appearance and constant retreat…
Why was the sense of unease in her heart growing stronger instead?
Every time she thought she had him cornered, he slipped away at an impossible angle.
And as time passed, those evasive movements grew faster, smoother—harder and harder to lock onto.
"I can't drag this out any longer!"
Alarm bells rang in her mind.
Her instincts screamed that if she didn't end the battle now, things would spiral beyond her control.
"Liu Yuan," Ma Xiaotao said coldly as she leapt backward, floating in midair, "I'll admit—you are strong."
Her spirit power was heavily consumed, yet her aura had reached its peak.
Those golden-red vertical pupils stared down at Liu Yuan with absolute dominance.
"But this match ends here."
"Your speed, and that strange strengthening ability—before absolute power, they mean nothing."
"This next move…"
"Will be the funeral I prepare for you!"
With a piercing cry, Ma Xiaotao's sixth spirit ring lit up.
Roar—!
A resonant phoenix cry shook the heavens.
The Fire Phoenix phantom behind her solidified instantly, its enormous wings spreading wide enough to blot out the sun.
The once-clear sky turned a deep crimson, as if dyed in blood.
Within the clouds, countless black-flamed meteors began to form, radiating a terrifying aura of destruction.
"Sixth Soul Skill—Phoenix Meteor Shower!"
Ma Xiaotao raised her hands high, like a queen commanding fire itself, delivering final judgment upon Liu Yuan below.
"The farce is over!"