The Melee Begins
Seeing this scene, Jin Peng frowned and immediately released his martial spirit, preparing to assist Du BuShui against Long Xiaoyao.
But at that very moment, a terrifying soul-guided cannon beam tore through the air, forcing Jin Peng to raise his defenses and block it head-on.
"You'd better stay where you are."
It was Jing Hongchen who had made his move.
Although he did not know the true relationship between Long Xiaoyao and Shrek Academy, nor was he aware of the deeper entanglements between Mu En and the Holy Spirit Church, one thing was clear to him—Long Xiaoyao was currently suppressing Du BuShui.
That alone was enough.
For Jing Hongchen, there was only one objective tonight: kill Huo Yuhao.
As long as Yuhao died, everything else was secondary.
At the same time Jing Hongchen acted, the two ninth-level soul engineers beside him also launched their attacks simultaneously. Multiple soul-guided cannons and destructive beams locked onto Yuhao.
However, aside from Du BuShui and Jin Peng, there were five hooded figures among Yuhao's group.
Facing the bombardment from two ninth-level soul engineers, those five stepped forward without hesitation and shielded Yuhao.
One of them raised both hands.
An invisible spiritual fluctuation spread outward like ripples in water, forming a barrier that directly intercepted the incoming soul-guided attacks.
Only a Titled Douluo could so casually neutralize the full assault of a ninth-level soul engineer.
As the battle fully erupted, the five figures removed their hoods, revealing their faces.
One woman and four men.
They were the elders of the Noumenon Sect—each possessing cultivation at or above the Titled Douluo level.
Among them, the female Titled Douluo possessed Level 94 spiritual power. As a control-type soul master specializing in spiritual attributes, her actual combat strength was comparable to that of a Super Douluo.
This was precisely why Du BuShui had dared to walk out of Star Luo City so openly despite knowing Shrek Academy was targeting them.
"Attack!"
The female elder gave a soft command.
The other four elders immediately rushed toward the two ninth-level soul engineers of Mingde Hall.
As for her, she remained suspended in midair.
Not only because she was a control-type spiritual Douluo, but because her most important task was to protect Yuhao.
Before leaving the city, Du BuShui had issued a death order—no matter what happened, Yuhao's life must be protected, even at the cost of their own.
Once a soul master reached the Titled Douluo realm and possessed a Martial Soul Avatar, their individual combat strength generally surpassed that of soul engineers of the same tier in close combat.
Not to mention these were Noumenon Sect elders who cultivated body martial souls—naturally dominant in head-on confrontation.
With numerical superiority and overwhelming physical strength, the two ninth-level soul engineers from Mingde Hall immediately fell into a disadvantage as soon as the clash began.
Jing Hongchen noticed this instantly.
If both ninth-level soul engineers he brought were killed here, it would be an immeasurable loss to Mingde Hall.
He himself might even fall in this chaotic battlefield.
After a brief calculation, Jing Hongchen turned toward Yan Shaozhe and the others, who were still shaken by Long Xiaoyao's identity revelation.
"Damn it, Yan Shaozhe! What are you still hesitating for? Take action now! As long as the Noumenon Sect is wiped out, who will know about Shrek Academy's connection with the Holy Spirit Church?"
Because of his agitation, Jing Hongchen even cursed openly.
But his words struck home.
Yan Shaozhe's eyes suddenly lit up.
"That's right… as long as they all die."
He turned toward Cai Meier and Ji Xiao.
"Mei'er, Elder Ji Xiao, we act together. Kill the Noumenon Sect members."
Ji Xiao nodded without hesitation.
But Cai Meier still struggled internally. Cooperating—even indirectly—with an evil soul master was something she found difficult to accept.
Seeing her hesitation, Yan Shaozhe placed a hand gently on her shoulder.
"Mei'er, I'm just as confused as you are. I truly didn't know Long Xiaoyao's identity. But I promise you—when we return, I will confront Teacher Mu En face to face."
Looking into Yan Shaozhe's sincere eyes, Cai Meier's expression flickered with conflict before she finally nodded.
"Alright."
Seeing her agreement, Yan Shaozhe wasted no further time. His figure flashed as he charged toward Yuhao.
Cai Meier and Ji Xiao followed closely behind.
The moment the Shrek trio entered the battlefield, the female elder of the Noumenon Sect frowned slightly and immediately activated a spiritual soul skill.
In an instant, powerful mental waves enveloped the three of them, briefly restraining their movements.
However, Yan Shaozhe and Cai Meier were both Level 97 Super Douluo. Their spiritual resistance was formidable, and they broke free almost immediately.
But when they looked up, three Noumenon Sect elders were already blocking their path.
"Hmph. Do you think you can stop us?"
Yan Shaozhe snorted coldly and instantly released his martial spirit.
A dazzling phoenix cry echoed across the battlefield.
His Bright Phoenix Martial Soul erupted into the sky, its radiant wings spreading hundreds of meters wide, blazing with intense light.
The terrifying light attribute pressure bore down on the three Noumenon Sect elders.
Two Super Douluo fighting three Titled Douluo—yet Yan Shaozhe and Cai Meier did not fall behind at all.
Especially after Yan Shaozhe transformed into his Martial Soul Avatar, the Bright Phoenix, his oppressive aura clearly suppressed the Noumenon Sect elders.
The three elders' expressions turned grim.
They had not forgotten that Ji Xiao was still unengaged.
"Third Elder, go stop him!"
But Yan Shaozhe was faster.
With another piercing phoenix cry, countless beams of light shot from the Bright Phoenix's wings, each ray containing terrifying destructive force.
The three elders were instantly pinned down, unable to disengage.
Seeing the opportunity, Yan Shaozhe shouted:
"Elder Ji Xiao, kill Huo Yuhao!"
Ji Xiao, who had just shaken off the mental restraint, nodded decisively.
After all, Yuhao was the true target of this mission.
Without hesitation, Ji Xiao shot toward Yuhao like a cannonball.
"Protect the Young Master!"
The Noumenon Sect elders roared anxiously.
They struggled desperately to break free and intercept Ji Xiao.
Yuhao's performance in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament had proven that his combat strength far exceeded his peers—and even many older soul masters.
But now he was facing a genuine Titled Douluo.
No matter how confident they were in Yuhao's talent, no one believed he could defeat a Titled Douluo head-on.
However, both Shrek Academy and Mingde Hall clearly understood the same logic.
They went all out to restrain the Noumenon Sect elders.
Thus, the battlefield fell into a fierce stalemate—exactly what Shrek and Mingde Hall wanted.
Ji Xiao quickly arrived before Yuhao.
Without a word, he released his martial spirit.
Brown dragon scales spread across his entire body. A pair of thick dragon horns grew from his head. His arms transformed into massive dragon claws, their sharp talons gleaming coldly.
A domineering and heavy aura erupted outward.
This was Ji Xiao's martial spirit—the Overlord Earth Dragon, a powerful earth-attribute dragon-type beast martial soul.
Though it did not possess wings like true dragons, its strength and defensive power far exceeded ordinary dragon-type soul beasts. Coupled with its dragon bloodline, it was undoubtedly a top-tier beast martial spirit—its frontal combat ability not inferior to that of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.
At the same time, nine soul rings rose around Ji Xiao's body.
Two yellow, two purple, and five black.
The terrifying pressure of a Titled Douluo descended fully upon Huo Yuhao.
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