Chapter 47: The Young Master Appears
The crimson aura of dread finally faded away, and Huo Yuhao stood alone at the center of the arena — gleaming in shades of blue and gold, towering with unshakable pride over the ruins of the battlefield.
For a brief moment, silence reigned.
Then, like the crack of thunder, it shattered — replaced by an overwhelming roar of cheers and astonishment that shook the entire coliseum.
Behind him, the defeated students collapsed one after another, crushed beneath the weight of the mental pressure and the devastating power Huo Yuhao had unleashed.
Defeated student: "H-how can we even fight this?! I—I can't even stand anymore! S-someone help me!!
Defeated girl: "Impossible! What are we supposed to do now?!
Another student, screaming: "He's too strong… too terrifying!! I don't want to die this young!! Hurry! Let's get out of here!!"
Meanwhile, the crowd erupted, voices bursting with awe and electric excitement that made the air itself tremble:
"Incredible!!"
"Shrek Academy wins!!
"Shrek Academy is amazing!!"
On the judges' platform, the officials and observers exchanged stunned glances, their faces reflecting disbelief as they witnessed Huo Yuhao's overwhelming might — a strength far beyond all expectations.
"The Tang Sect!!"
"As expected of the best… from Shrek!!"
Huo Yuhao lifted his head, his sapphire eyes glowing with absolute confidence.
This victory was not merely a triumph in a competition — it was the declaration of a new power's rise.
As his teammates approached, one of them — the young man with chestnut-blue hair — caught the whispers spreading among the crowd. Smiling with pride, he said curiously:
"Tang Ya! If you're watching… that's the legendary Tang Sect! So many people are shouting our name!"
Huo Yuhao answered firmly, his tone clear and resolute.
Standing beside him was his calm, blue-haired companion with pink-tinted ends, and the bright-eyed girl with golden hair and rabbit ears.
"It's already over."
Then, he turned toward the roaring crowd, his voice echoing like a proclamation that would resound through history:
"Remember this well!
"I come from Shrek Academy!
"And I belong to the Tang Sect!!
As Huo Yuhao quietly stepped away from the arena, his team followed close behind — their strides steady and full of confidence — while the thunderous chants of the crowd shook the entire coliseum.
"Shrek!! Shrek!! Shrek Academy is the best!! Tang Sect!! Shrek!!"
The entire stadium trembled beneath the roars of admiration and awe that blended into one overwhelming wave of emotion.
Up in the observers' stands, however, the atmosphere was completely different.
The officials had gathered tightly around the operations table, their faces tense with shock and concern at the overwhelming display of Huo Yuhao's power.
One of the monitors suddenly slammed his hands on the desk and stood, shouting sharply:
"That aura… damn it! We only have data on the main team! Quickly! Bring me every record you have on the reserve members! Now!"
A refined man with orange hair — one of the senior overseers — strode swiftly toward a soldier nearby, his voice cutting through the noise like a command that brooked no delay:
"No matter what happens, move! Check the records from the back, right now!"
The soldier responded immediately, his tone respectful and urgent:
"Yes, sir!"
The noble paused for a brief moment, his eyes narrowing as he stared at Huo Yuhao, who was now leaving the arena, wrapped in a shroud of mystery and quiet majesty.
"Who is that boy?!" he muttered, disbelief clear in his voice.
"Why have I never heard of him before?! He's not ordinary — not in the slightest!
"To appear in the main stage of the tournament like that… there's no way he's just another participant!"
Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao and his teammates moved away from the roaring crowd, the echo of the cheers still reverberating through the grand hall.
Walking beside him, the young man with the deep blue hair spoke in a calm, cold tone:
"Huo Yuhao, do you plan to stay and watch the rest of the matches?"
Without looking back, Huo Yuhao answered — his voice calm but heavy with meaning:
"Hmph… there's nothing worth watching. Let's go."
But beneath that composed response, there was something deeper in his gaze — a quiet understanding, and the weight of responsibility that came with power.
He spoke softly to his companion, his tone low but clear:
"That was a bit harsh… I only sealed their soul essence.
Otherwise, they would've never admitted defeat.
I can't guarantee they'll walk off the stage unharmed."
His ice-eyed friend replied in a restrained murmur, his tone carrying a chill:
"Hmph, you were far too lenient with them."
At that moment, the students of Shrek Academy raised their voices proudly across the arena, their excitement spilling over:
"So strong! As expected of Shrek Academy!!"
The crowd's enthusiasm flared once more, their applause and cheers filling the entire stadium like a tidal wave:
"That was the best match of the tournament!
"Absolutely incredible!! Shrek… is terrifyingly powerful!!"
In a chamber far removed from the roaring crowds of the arena, tension hung heavy in the air like a drawn blade.
Angry voices clashed against the silence within the luxurious, dimly lit room.
A broad-shouldered man with a thick beard and a booming voice slammed his palm on the table, glaring across at a young nobleman dressed in elegant white and blue robes. Sparks of anger and unease danced in the space between them.
The bearded man spoke first, his tone hard and edged with warning:
"Our greatest obstacle in this tournament… is their team!
Today, they fielded only ten members — even their reserves were the ones who fought!
If you lose to those children, you'll be stripped of your title as Captain of the Illustrious Virtue Hall!"
The young man's composure cracked. He slammed his fist against the table, frustration flashing in his eyes.
"Yes! I know! This time, we will be the champions!"
But beneath his outward defiance, there was a shadow of deep unease — a memory he couldn't shake.
The image of that boy from Shrek Academy lingered in his mind — the one whose presence had shaken the entire arena.
Through clenched teeth, he muttered in restrained fury:
"That boy from Shrek today… he's not normal.
Six spirit rings — all at the hundred-thousand-year level!
Could he possibly be their leader?"
A heavy silence fell. The question hung unanswered for a moment — until a new voice, calm yet razor-sharp, cut through the tension.
It came from a boy no older than fifteen, seated quietly in the corner of the room.
He was striking — almost unnaturally so — with crystalline blue eyes that gleamed like shards of ice under the lamplight. His tall, slender frame carried an air of effortless grace and quiet confidence.
A faint, cold smile tugged at his lips as he spoke in a low, deliberate tone — each word slicing cleanly through the air:
"They're fake.
The angry young man shouted in a flustered voice:
"You!… Shao Hongxin! Don't think that you—
But before he could finish, the calm young woman cut him off sharply:
"Enough — the participants for the next match are about to be announced!"
Shao Hongxin looked at her with a faint, enigmatic smile, his eyes glimmering with a hidden curiosity as his thoughts drifted toward Huo Yuhao.
He spoke softly, his tone carrying a trace of challenge:
"That one… he's managed to catch my interest.
He may not be my rival yet… but I'd like to meet him."
Then he turned his gaze back to the scene before him, the corners of his mouth curling ever so slightly — as if calculations were being made in his mind.
Suddenly, another young man burst out angrily:
"Shao Hongxin! Show some seriousness!
He might just be a reserve now, but he could turn into a real opponent!"
Shao Hongxin smirked with arrogant confidence and replied mockingly:
"A rival? To me? I am Shao Hongxin!
And what kind of 'elder brother' do you think you are, to lecture me?"
At that moment, Ji Lin entered the room wearing a mask, followed by Ma Xiaotao, disguised as a man.
The atmosphere stirred instantly — murmurs and mocking whispers spread among those present.
Ji Lin spoke with teasing sarcasm:
"How sad… to see such a beautiful girl praising other men,when you already have a remarkable one like me.
A handsome man — even more so than them, in any case.
Wang Dong isn't truly a boy, after all. Tell me, Meng Hongchen,am I not enough for you?"
Meng Hongchen snapped back, her tone laced with anger and disbelief:
"I don't know whether you're handsome or not, Ji Lin —
why don't you take off that mask and let me see for myself?
And what do you mean by 'Wang Dong isn't really a boy'?"
Ji Lin replied smugly, his arrogance barely concealed:
"She's a girl in disguise.
And as for me — I'm something of an expert in… women's conditions.
I can tell when someone's afflicted.
And you, my dear, are suffering from a very serious illness.
If left untreated, it will kill you."
Meng Hongchen froze, stunned and furious at once.
"What do you mean I'm sick — and about to die?!"
Ji Lin took a calm breath and replied coolly:
"Well… it's not that severe, if treated properly and immediately.
To be cured, you'll need Supreme Yang energy and dense essence.
The treatment must continue for about a week, without interruption."
Before anyone could respond, Teacher Ma stepped in with a composed yet commanding tone that silenced the room:
"Meng Hongchen, this young man's identity is trustworthy.
There's no need for lies here.
If he says you're ill, then that must be the case.
You should be thankful for his kindness."
Ji Lin stepped forward with unshakable confidence, a glimmer of amusement — and dominance — flickering in his eyes.
Then, with a faint, knowing smile, he said:
"Teacher Ma… I didn't expect you to be this clever.
Very well — I've decided to reward you for that."
He paused for a moment, then continued in a more serious tone:
"Now then… I've decided to participate in this tournament with my friend.
We'll be taking two spots on the team.
I'll leave it to you to decide who you're going to remove.
Understood?"
Teacher Ma bowed slightly, his voice trembling with submission:
"Yes, sir."
Then, turning sharply toward the others, he bellowed with authority — his voice echoing through the hall:
"You there! Why are you still standing?!
Can't you see the young master before you?!
Why haven't you greeted him yet?!"
In an instant, the entire room moved as one.
Everyone bowed at a perfect ninety-degree angle, their unified voices booming in reverent harmony:
"Welcome, Young Master!"