...
Several days later, the preliminary rounds continued.
Because of the high popularity of the Royal Fighting Team II these days, the tournament organizers unsurprisingly scheduled all of their matches to be held on the central main fighting arena.
As the entrance announcement sounded, the metal doors of the passage slowly opened.
Xuan Hao, with his hands in his pockets, still looked sleepy and lazy as he slowly walked onto the stage.
As soon as he appeared, the stands, which were so noisy they could have blown the roof off, came to a brief halt.
The eyes of tens of thousands of spectators instantly focused on him.
There was no way around it; the oppressive feeling of that Blood Dragon in the opening match was too strong.
The image of the entire Tianshui Academy team being carried off with blood flowing from all seven orifices still sends chills down many people's spines.
And today, someone actually dares to challenge him head-on.
One of the five elemental academies, the Blazing Fire Academy.
"Did you hear? The Blazing Fire Team didn't forfeit!"
"Not only did they not forfeit, but I heard they're planning a one-on-one fight?
Do they really think they're tough?"
"I think he's just desperate for fame, trying to ride on Xuan Hao's coattails.
If he wins, he'll be famous; if he loses, he'll still be honored. He's got a very clever plan!"
In the audience, many nobles and Soul Masters whispered among themselves, their tone full of disdain.
In their view, this kind of battle with no chance of winning is not bravery at all, but brainless.
Xuan Hao ignored the surrounding discussions.
He walked to the center of the field and stood there casually.
Immediately afterwards, a fiery red figure emerged from the direction of the rest area of the Blazing Fire Academy.
The audience craned their necks and waited for a long time, only to find that the back was empty.
The Blazing Fire team really only fielded one person.
Vice-captain, Fire Dance.
Today, Huo Wu wore a dark red fitted team uniform that perfectly accentuated her hot figure.
Her striking red hair swayed slightly in the wind, and with her long legs, her nearly 1.8-meter height already gave her a commanding presence among girls.
However, when she walked to the center of the arena and stopped in front of Xuan Hao, that aura vanished instantly.
Xuan Hao's height has now exceeded two meters.
Even if he just stood there casually, his broad and sturdy physique and innate ferocity made him seem like an insurmountable wall.
Huo Wu stood in front of him, making her appear even smaller and more pitiful, with Xuan Hao blocking most of the light from the overhead lamps.
On the stands, Feng Xiaotian, the captain of the Kamikaze Academy team, was jumping up and down in a panic, gripping the railing tightly with both hands: "Fire Dance, are you stupid?! This isn't a competition, it's practically suicide!"
In the VIP section, Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, helplessly pinched the bridge of her nose.
She just hoped that Xuan Hao, that bastard, would tone it down a bit and not actually punch the girl so hard she'd be paralyzed.
The atmosphere in the center of the arena was heavy.
Huo Wu tilted her head slightly, staring intently at Xuan Hao in front of her.
To outsiders, she appeared to be bravely confronting the situation.
But only Huo Wu herself knew that she was panicking terribly inside.
Although Xuan Hao hadn't even activated his martial soul, nor had he deliberately released any soul power pressure, the aura of a top predator still made her feel a pang of fear.
Her legs were trembling slightly and uncontrollably, and her palms were covered in cold sweat.
She was watching from the audience when Tianshui College was attacked that day.
When the golden dragon roared, she even felt like she was about to stop breathing.
But she bit her lip, forcing herself not to back down.
If she doesn't even have the courage to face this man today, and surrenders without even daring to fight... then Huo Wu's path as a Soul Master will come to an end.
She will live forever in the shadow of today, never able to lift her head again.
Xuan Hao looked down at her.
Even though he was terrified inside, his legs were trembling, but he insisted on putting on a defiant and unruly demeanor.
Xuan Hao suddenly found it somewhat amusing, "Is it really necessary?"
Huo Wu was stunned for a moment.
"Knowing full well that coming up here is just one-sided beating, they still grit their teeth and come up to deliver themselves."
Xuan Hao crossed his arms, his tone slightly mocking, "Is this so-called 'face' that important to you?"
"It's not about saving face!"
Huo Wu reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, instantly bristling with anger.
She stiffened her neck and retorted loudly, "This is my pride as a Soul Master!"
"Self-respect?" Xuan Hao chuckled lightly.
He leaned down slightly, his deep eyes meeting Huo Wu's, his tone calm yet piercing: "Then let me ask you, which is more important, your self-respect or your life?"
Huo Wu felt very uncomfortable under his gaze and subconsciously tried to avoid his eyes.
"Competitions are risky."
Xuan Hao straightened up and said slowly, "Although His Highness the Crown Prince pleaded with me before the competition to go easy on you today, I will not deliberately try to kill you."
"but."
Xuan Hao paused, and a violent wave of heat emanated from his body, instantly enveloping Huo Wu.
"No one can guarantee that when I strike, I won't lose control and accidentally cripple you."
"You saw clearly what happened to Tianshui College from the audience, didn't you?"
Huo Wu's face paled slightly, but she still gritted her teeth and endured it without saying a word.
"Don't blame me for not reminding you, I don't have any taboos about not hitting women."
Xuan Hao looked at her, his voice turning cold, "In my world, as long as you step onto the stage and dare to stand opposite me, then you are my opponent, my enemy."
"I will have no mercy for the enemy."
Xuan Hao shrugged. "Put yourself in my shoes.
If our strengths were reversed today, you would be a high and mighty Soul Saint, while I am just an insignificant Soul Sect Master.
When I spout nonsense in front of you, would you show me even the slightest bit of pity?"
"Will you go easy on me just because I'm weak?"
Huo Wu opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.
The world of Soul Masters is inherently a dog-eat-dog world.
If the Blazing Fire Academy had the strength to crush the Royal Fighting Team, they would absolutely trample on Xuan Hao to make a name for themselves without any mercy. Why would they care about any pity?
"I think it's unlikely."
Xuan Hao answered the question for her.
Then, he took half a step back, extended his right hand, and made a casual gesture of asking for a fight.
"So, put away your ridiculous fantasies. Activate your Martial Soul and let me see how many punches your pride can withstand."
Huo Wu took a deep breath, and her body, which had been trembling with fear, gradually calmed down.
Since there is no way to retreat, then there is no choice but to fight.
"The match begins!"
In the sky, the moment the host DouDou's voice fell, HuoWu transformed into a ball of flame, her four soul rings shimmering and a powerful surge of soul energy erupting.
"Third Soul Skill: Resist Fire Rings!"
A dazzling burst of fire erupted from Huo Wu's center, sending a wide-ranging shockwave of flames hurtling towards Xuan Hao.
This was originally a defensive soul skill meant to create distance, but at this moment she used it as a probe to seize the initiative.
Facing the oncoming raging flames, Xuan Hao didn't move at all, still standing in place with his hands in his pockets, not even lifting his eyelids.
Boom!
The Ring of Resistance slammed into Xuan Hao, but the fiery impact, powerful enough to overturn an ordinary Soul Master, was completely extinguished just inches from Xuan Hao's body.
The golden-red blood energy shield steadily kept all the flames out, and even the hem of his pale gold dress didn't flutter in the slightest.
Huo Wu's expression darkened slightly. Without pausing, she moved swiftly, simultaneously swinging out both hands, sending a series of massive fireballs hurtling towards Xuan Hao.
Boom boom boom boom!
Violent explosions rang out continuously in the center of the arena, and flames completely engulfed Xuan Hao.
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