"So strong!" Ma Rulong said, his expression unusually solemn, in the Sun Moon Academy's resting area. "I thought I already paid enough attention to Ma Xiaotao, but I didn't expect her strength to have reached such a level. Her spirit power must be at least rank 68!"
"Not only that, her Fire Phoenix Spirit should be an ultimate fire!" Elder Ma added, his old face filled with unwillingness and grief. "Heavens, why are you so partial to Shrek Academy!"
"Ultimate Spirit!" Ma Rulong's expression changed, and Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen's faces were also filled with solemnity and gloom.
"That's right!" Elder Ma nodded and said, "We know Ye Wuqing from Zhengtian Academy very well. His Golden Leaf Spirit has fire element resistance close to fire immunity, yet he still couldn't withstand Ma Xiaotao's phoenix flames. Besides ultimate fire, I can't think of any other possibility."
For the first time, Xiao Hongchen's proud heart was filled with doubt. An ultimate Spirit? Was he really more of a genius than an ultimate Spirit owner? This thought was quickly dismissed by Xiao Hongchen. What if it was an ultimate Spirit? His Three-legged Golden Toad Spirit also possessed gold element control comparable to ultimate gold, and it was a divine Beast Spirit, not inferior to the Fire Phoenix Spirit.
"So, after more than ten days since the competition started, we've only figured out one person's Spirit in the Shrek Academy team? And it's an ultimate Spirit?" Meng Hongchen felt it was absurd.
"Although I'm unwilling to admit it, this is indeed our current situation." Elder Ma's expression was also displeased. He sighed, "They've made too few moves, and each battle has been too short. Our people haven't had enough time to gather their intelligence.
The information we currently have is that Jiang Nannan is an agility-attack system Spirit King, her Spirit is unknown, suspected to be a Moon-bloodline type Spirit; Huo Yuhao has Spirit Grandmaster cultivation, his Spirit is unknown, suspected to be a mental-type Spirit; Bei Bei, the captain of the Shrek preliminary team, has Spirit Ancestor cultivation, his Spirit is suspected to be a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.
Now, adding Ma Xiaotao, she has a Fire Phoenix Spirit, peak Spirit Emperor cultivation, and ultimate fire."
"..." The Sun Moon Academy group fell silent.
In the Shrek Academy resting area, Ma Xiaotao returned full of vigor and said, "How was it? I said I'd finish the battle in fifteen minutes, and I only took fifteen minutes!"
"Sister Xiaotao is invincible!" Wang Dong shouted happily, then looked at Wang Yan with immense anticipation.
"Since the competition is over, let's go back to the hotel," Wang Yan said helplessly, finding it hard to refuse Wang Dong's gaze. "Let's go!"
"Yay!" Wang Dong cheered excitedly.
Everyone returned to the hotel and went back to their rooms to rest.
In the afternoon, while Zhu Ziyang was cultivating in his room, Ma Xiaotao and Jiang Nannan, uncharacteristically, walked into his room together and pulled him out of the hotel.
"So, did you ask Teacher Wang Yan for leave?" Zhu Ziyang asked, looking helplessly at Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao, who were holding his shoulders one on each side.
"Hmph! Do I need to report to him where I go? He's not worthy!" Ma Xiaotao, as always, dismissed Wang Yan with disdain.
"I told him we'd be back before dinner," Compared to Ma Xiaotao's rebelliousness, Jiang Nannan was very well-behaved, showing due respect to Teacher Wang Yan, even though his combat power was inferior to hers.
"Then where are we going now?" Zhu Ziyang asked again.
"We haven't decided yet!" Jiang Nannan said. "I want to go to Star Luo Terrace, Sister Xiaotao wants to go to the Nether Pavilion. Brother, where do you think we should go?"
The young girl looked at Zhu Ziyang with a smile, and Ma Xiaotao's gaze also fell on Zhu Ziyang, anticipating his answer.
Zhu Ziyang felt a chill down his spine. This was a trick question; agreeing to either would cause trouble! So, he said, "I'm not interested in either of those. How about I take you two somewhere instead!"
He decisively abandoned the choices and created another one. Then, without waiting for Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao's reactions, he directly pulled the two girls in one direction.
Soon, the three arrived in front of the largest building in the southeast corner of Star Luo City. Looking at the building, Ma Xiaotao and Jiang Nannan were both a bit confused, not understanding why Zhu Ziyang had come here.
"Star Luo Great Spirit Arena?!" Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao exclaimed the building's name in unison, looking at Zhu Ziyang in confusion and saying, "Ziyang, what are you doing here? Are you planning to participate in a Spirit Arena match here?"
"That's right!" Zhu Ziyang nodded seriously, took out three masks, put one on himself, and then handed the remaining two to Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao, saying, "Put on your masks first, then let's go in!"
Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao somewhat blankly put on their masks, then were pulled by Zhu Ziyang into the Star Luo Great Spirit Arena. The two girls were wondering what level of Spirit Arena match Zhu Ziyang was preparing to participate in, but they found that Zhu Ziyang didn't head towards the Spirit Arena reception desk but walked directly towards a somewhat inconspicuous small door on the side.
Ma Xiaotao was stunned. As an Inner Courtyard Disciple of Shrek, she had participated in many Spirit Arena matches and naturally knew what the small door next to the Spirit Arena reception desk meant. She asked in surprise, "Ziyang, are you going to participate in an unrestricted Spirit Arena match?"
"Mm!" Zhu Ziyang nodded, his steps not slowing down at all, and he led the two directly through the small door.
Ma Xiaotao still wanted to say something, and Jiang Nannan was still wondering what an unrestricted Spirit Arena match was, when the scene behind the door was already exposed to their view: a dimly lit long corridor, and a person cloaked in black. Upon seeing the three, the black-clad person showed no strange expression but directly said, "Unrestricted Spirit Arena match, how many?"
"One!" Zhu Ziyang had already made all preparations and said directly.
"Level?"
"Spirit Emperor level!" Zhu Ziyang replied faintly.
"Spirit Emperor level match, in one hour. This is your number plate. After the corridor, turn right for the second resting room, turn left for the first betting area." The black-clad person was momentarily stunned, then said, handing over a silver token with the number "Five" engraved on it.
After Zhu Ziyang took the number plate, he led Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao directly through the corridor and into an incredibly spacious hall. In the center of the hall was a giant arena several times larger than the Soul Master Competition stage. The arena was a perfect circle, surrounded by ten thick metal railings. The edge of the arena was covered in thick, dried bloodstains, looking extremely bloody. Outside the arena was a walkway, and above the walkway was a circle of independent spectator seats, each a separate small room, overlooking the arena from above.
Zhu Ziyang and the two girls arrived at his resting room. Ma Xiaotao finally couldn't hold back and asked, "Ziyang, why did you suddenly want to participate in an unrestricted Spirit Arena match?"
The so-called unrestricted Spirit Arena match was actually a very cruel type of Spirit Arena competition. Each unrestricted match required ten Spirit Masters of the same realm to participate together. During the competition, any means were allowed until only one person remained standing on the arena. It's worth mentioning that unrestricted Spirit Arena matches allowed killing!
"I read about it in a book, so I wanted to experience it," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile.
His words were, of course, false. The reason he came to participate in the unrestricted Spirit Arena match was naturally for the second trial of the God of Death. What could be more suitable than an unrestricted Spirit Arena match for killing five Spirit Masters of the same realm in the same battle?
"I see!" Ma Xiaotao nodded upon hearing this and said, "Then be careful. Most of the people who participate in unrestricted Spirit Arena matches are desperate individuals. Although their strength may not be comparable to us elite Spirit Masters, they are very cunning. You must be careful. If you can't hold on, just jump off the arena."
"Don't worry, Sister Xiaotao, don't you know my strength?" Zhu Ziyang smiled and said.
"Brother, I think Sister Xiaotao is right, you must be careful!" Jiang Nannan frowned, worried. "The opponents are nine people, and you are only one person. Better safe than sorry!"
"Mm-hmm! I will!" Zhu Ziyang nodded. To prevent Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao from worrying further, he promised, "I'll try to finish the battle in five minutes. If the battle isn't over after five minutes, I'll jump off the arena directly, okay!"
"Mm!" Jiang Nannan's brows relaxed a bit, and she nodded in response.
Zhu Ziyang closed his eyes and regulated his breathing, preparing to get into his best condition. Just like that, an hour quickly passed, and the Spirit Emperor level match was about to begin.
Under the concerned gazes of Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao, Zhu Ziyang calmly walked out of the resting room and onto the arena.
He wore a black tight-fitting suit and a fierce mask, with only his eyes exposed, which made the other nine people on the arena look at him in unison.
Although the Spirit Masters participating in unrestricted Spirit Arena matches were a mixed bag, it was truly uncommon for someone like Zhu Ziyang to come onto the stage wearing a mask. They scrutinized Zhu Ziyang, but Zhu Ziyang didn't look at them, instead adjusting his state. In Zhu Ziyang's heart, the nine people on the stage were already dead.