Xie Xie's first target was locked onto the food system Spirit Master, Little Fatty Xu Lizhi.
His figure was as fast as a ghost, appearing precisely behind Xu Lizhi, less than a meter away!
A cold light flashed from the Light Dragon Dagger in his hand, the blade silently cutting through the air as it slashed toward Xu Lizhi's defenseless nape!
He was determined to land this blow!
The opponent was a support system; being ambushed at such close range by an agility-attack system Spirit Master, there was no chance of survival!
However, the expected scene of the referee intervening and announcing Xu Lizhi's elimination did not occur.
At the very moment the Light Dragon Dagger was about to touch Xu Lizhi... Xie Xie felt a blur before his eyes!
That round figure, who had been standing still, twisted at an extremely bizarre angle and with incredible agility. Narrowly evading the dagger's edge, he instantly shifted several feet away, appearing in another position completely unscathed!
"What?!"
The smug smile on Xie Xie's face froze instantly, then vanished as a look of shock and suspicion flashed in his eyes.
Three words flashed through his mind like lightning.
Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track?!
He was now a Tang Sect Disciple as well, so he naturally had an understanding of the Tang Sect's ultimate techniques.
The exquisite movement Xu Lizhi had just used to dodge was clearly the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track.
This naive-looking Little Fatty was actually also a member of the Tang Sect?
Xie Xie's heart tightened, and he cast aside his contempt.
Sweeping his gaze around, he discovered that not only Xu Lizhi, but even the support system Spirit Master on the other side, Ning Xin, was now holding a cold, glinting soul tool rapier in her left hand!
Clearly, the support system Spirit Masters trained by Shrek Academy were by no means "soft persimmons" who could only hide behind teammates and wait for death once approached.
Defeating these two easily would likely not be as simple as he had anticipated.
Just as Xie Xie adjusted his mindset to look for another opportunity... "Stars in the sky, bright and clear, shine forever, peaceful and dear!"
A crisp and pleasant chant rang out from the rear of Class Zero's formation.
Standing beside Huo Yuhao, Xu Xiaoyan held high the now fully evolved Star Wheel Ice Staff. The hexagram pattern at the staff's head flickered with a mysterious starlight under the night sky.
As her first yellow spirit ring lit up, the hexagram at the tip of the Star Wheel Ice Staff suddenly detached. It instantly crossed half the distance of the arena and appeared silently beneath Qian Hongdu's feet!
The hexagram pattern glowed brilliantly, followed by chains of star-wheel ice condensed from pure Star Power and ice elements. They surged rapidly from the edges of the star array, intertwining and instantly Binding Qian Hongdu firmly!
Qian Hongdu's expression changed drastically as he struggled violently, only to find that these ice chains were not only exceptionally tough but also carried strong slowing and freezing effects. It made his Spirit Power circulation sluggish, leaving him unable to break free for a moment!
The rule-based effect of Xu Xiaoyan's first Spirit Ability, Absolute Establishment, would bind even a powerhouse at the Titled Douluo level for at least one second, let alone a three-ring Spirit Elder like Qian Hongdu.
Gu Yue's expression was indifferent, as if she had long expected this result.
She didn't even spare a second glance at the trussed-up Qian Hongdu. With a light wave of her jade-like hand, a deep red fireball emitting terrifying heat trailed a scorching air current and whistled toward the immobile Qian Hongdu!
The timing was impeccable!
The fatal attack arrived exactly at the moment Qian Hongdu was completely bound by the star wheel chains and lost all ability to dodge!
The referee reacted extremely quickly. Just as the fireball was about to hit Qian Hongdu, he raised his hand and opened a soft Spirit Power barrier, intercepting the powerful fireball.
Simultaneously, the referee's voice rang through the venue: "Shrek Academy's Qian Hongdu... eliminated!"
It wasn't over yet!
Almost at the same moment the referee announced Qian Hongdu's elimination, a sharp glint suddenly flashed in the eyes of Huo Yuhao, who had been standing at the very back of Class Zero's formation!
The first deep black Ten Thousand Years Ago spirit ring beneath his feet flickered slightly.
Three invisible Soul Lashes pierced with absolute precision into the Spiritual Seas of Ning Xin, Xu Lizhi, and Ye Xinglan, who was currently in a fierce battle with Tang Wulin!
The three of them stiffened simultaneously, their faces uniformly showing unbearable pain. It was as if their brains had been struck by a heavy hammer; their consciousnesses went blank and confused for a moment, causing their Spirit Power circulation and physical movements to stall!
Now's the time!
Tang Wulin and Xie Xie both seized this opportunity and launched their attacks simultaneously!
The referee's figure flashed again like Teleportation. His hands moved in a blur, blocking Tang Wulin's Golden Dragon Claw and Xie Xie's twin daggers with even greater speed, rescuing the Shrek trio from these sudden fatal attacks.
The referee then took a deep breath and announced emphatically: "Shrek Academy's Ye Xinglan, Xu Lizhi, Ning Xin... eliminated!"
As the names of these three were called, all five members of Shrek Academy's team on the stage had been eliminated.
This officially declared the conclusion of the Exhibition Match held at the closing ceremony of the Tianhai Alliance Grand Competition.
The ultimate winner was... East Sea Academy Class Zero!
The entire Tianhai Stadium fell into a dead silence, as if an invisible giant hand had gripped its throat.
Tens of thousands of gazes stared fixedly at the stage, frozen on the youths from East Sea Academy.
Lost?
Shrek Academy... actually lost?
How is this possible?!
That's Shrek Academy!
Their elite youth team had just recently swept last year's youth champions of the Tianhai Alliance with overwhelming dominance in the opening Exhibition Match!
How could they lose to this East Sea Academy Class Zero on the same stage just ten or so days later?!
The massive cognitive shock left everyone unable to react.
After a moment of suffocating silence, the entire venue erupted.
"BOOM!!!"
The entire stadium was instantly drowned out by deafening discussions!
Disbelief was written on everyone's faces. The outcome of this duel was destined to become the focus of heated debate throughout the Spirit Master's world for some time to order.
On the stage Ye Xinglan knelt weakly on the cold floor, her face as pale as paper and her lips trembling, devoid of all color.
Those eyes that usually flashed with pride and sharp light were now hollow and vacant, as if they had lost all focus, leaving only a sense of blankness and desolation.
Hot tears fell uncontrollably from the corners of her eyes like broken strings of pearls, leaving two clear tracks on her pale cheeks, yet she remained completely oblivious.
Her lips moved, letting out a murmur so faint it was almost inaudible.
"Lost... lost... Shrek... lost... I... I lost..."
Every word seemed to drain her of all her strength, carrying unutterable pain and despair.
The myth of Shrek's invincibility, the glory and pride Shrek had inherited for twenty thousand years... had been completely shattered right before her eyes!
And she... Ye Xinglan, was the "culprit" behind it all!
It could be said that as much as she had valued Shrek's glory before, her heart was now equally collapsed, helpless, and in pain!
Because she felt that she... had personally destroyed the most sacred faith in her heart!
"Hmm?!"
On the stage, the previously unconscious Shrek captain, Yu Tianlong, suddenly jolted and snapped his eyes open.
He struggled to prop up his upper body, the dizziness not yet fully dissipated, leaving his vision somewhat blurred.
But in the next second, memories surged back like a tide, reminding him of what he had just experienced.
He sat up abruptly, his gaze sweeping over his surroundings. How could he not distinguish the current situation?
Lost?
Shrek Academy... actually lost?!
This was an outcome he hadn't even considered before!
A surge of burning shame and indignation rushed to his head, and Yu Tianlong almost roared: "One more match! I haven't even used my full strength! I still have my Battle Armor!"
His hoarse roar echoed on the stage, clearly transmitted through the amplification System to the entire Tianhai Stadium.
Countless spectators watched Yu Tianlong's "performance" in dumbfounded silence; it was their first time seeing a Shrek student "throw a tantrum" like this!
The referee glanced over slightly, but his gaze bypassed Yu Tianlong and landed on the youth who was about to walk down the steps.
Huo Yuhao paused his steps but did not look back.
He only gave an extremely faint smile, then continued walking down, leaving the stage.
Behind him, the other four members of Class Zero also turned away indifferently, following Huo Yuhao's figure out.
Only Yu Tianlong's voice continued to explode in the center of the empty stage, one shout after another, crashing into the air and finally shattering into echoes that no one answered.
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A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.