When the four pitch-black Spirit Rings beneath Huo Yuhao's feet slowly rose and circled around him, the entire area around the Competition Arena fell silent.
The students of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy watching the scene widened their eyes, their mouths slightly agape, their expressions looking as if they had seen a ghost.
"Black... black black black black?!"
One student stammered, his voice trembling.
"Four... all four are ten-thousand-year Spirit Rings?!"
"How is this possible?!"
"How old does he look? Thirteen? Fourteen?"
"Even for the top Geniuses of our Sun Moon Empire, having four Spirit Rings at this age would already be Heaven-Defying, right?!"
"Four black ones... what kind of monster is this?!"
At this moment, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, the siblings standing at the edge of the Competition Arena, were directly stunned in place.
Xiao Hongchen's heterochromatic eyes—one blue and one green—stared fixedly at the four black Spirit Rings rotating around Huo Yuhao, his pupils shrinking rapidly.
His mind was a complete blank.
"Brother..."
Meng Hongchen's voice sounded beside Xiao Hongchen.
"Did you... know he was this strong before?"
Xiao Hongchen opened his mouth, but couldn't say a single word.
Of course he didn't know.
He thought Huo Yuhao was a Genius, a Genius in Spirit Tools, a Genius with an astonishing Cultivation speed.
But Xiao Hongchen never imagined that Huo Yuhao's Spirit Ring configuration would actually be four ten-thousand-year Spirit Rings!
In Xiao Hongchen's understanding, having four Spirit Rings at this age with a conventional configuration of two yellow and two purple would already be quite good. But Huo Yuhao actually had four black ten-thousand-year Spirit Rings?
This truly overturned his World view. However, Xiao Hongchen quickly remembered that Huo Yuhao's Spirit was the Spirit Eyes Martial Soul and his Mental Force was very strong, so perhaps it was a disguise?
But if it wasn't a disguise, then how did Huo Yuhao Cultivate?
Just how did Shrek Academy Cultivate such a monster like Huo Yuhao?
At the entrance of the stands opposite the Competition Arena, a figure stopped in her tracks.
It was a woman, tall and slender, with long black hair falling behind her like a waterfall, swaying gently in the wind.
Her features weren't beautiful, but they were delicate; her Aura was cold and noble. She wore a luxurious purple gown with golden patterns embroidered on the hem, shimmering in the sunlight.
She was Jing Ziyan, someone who often exchanged pointers with Ji Juechen. She had come here today for her daily practice with Ji Juechen.
However, the moment she stepped into the stands' entrance, her gaze fell upon the youth in the center of the Competition Arena.
To be precise, it fell on the four black Spirit Rings circling around that youth.
"Four... ten-thousand-year Spirit Rings?"
Jing Ziyan's voice was very soft, carrying a hint of disbelief.
"Who... is this person?"
Jing Ziyan's gaze fell on Huo Yuhao, her brows furrowing slightly.
She had never seen this face in the academy.
An outsider?
A strong sense of curiosity welled up in Jing Ziyan's heart.
She didn't continue walking forward but instead leaned against a pillar at the entrance of the stands, arms crossed, her gaze tightly locked onto the Competition Arena.
She intended to watch the battle between this youth and Ji Juechen.
...
On the Competition Arena.
Ji Juechen's gaze fell upon the four black Spirit Rings circling around Huo Yuhao.
A flash of seriousness crossed his eyes.
"Acceptable."
Ji Juechen's voice was still cold, but his tone carried a bit more gravity. He raised the black longsword in his hand, the tip pointing diagonally toward the ground.
"I will give it my all."
"Please guide me."
Huo Yuhao looked at him and nodded.
"Good."
And at that moment, the Aura on Ji Juechen began to climb frantically!
Boom—!!!
An incredibly sharp Sword Intent erupted from Ji Juechen's body!
That Sword Intent was like an invisible blade, tearing through the air and spreading out in all directions!
"Is Ji Juechen... going to get serious?!"
"His Aura is so terrifying!"
"Nonsense! The opponent has four ten-thousand-year Spirit Rings! If Ji Juechen still holds back, wouldn't he be looking for death?"
Along with the eruption of the sharp Sword Intent, five Spirit Rings slowly rose from beneath Ji Juechen's feet!
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black!
Ji Juechen's Spirit was that sword. It was very ordinary, but in Ji Juechen's hands, this sword was the most terrifying weapon.
His Cultivation method was vastly different from ordinary Spirit Masters. Ji Juechen had almost abandoned all Spirit Ability; his Spirit Ability were basically all of the enhancement type.
His method of attack was very pure and also very singular. He didn't know any long-range attack methods; combat meant taking his sword and going into battle.
Gathering power! Bursting forth!
And now, facing Huo Yuhao, Ji Juechen clearly didn't plan to hold anything back.
His right hand tightly gripped the black longsword, while his left hand pressed against the blade. His entire Aura was climbing at a terrifying speed!
Charging!
Ji Juechen's Sword Intent was condensing frantically!
Huo Yuhao took a deep breath, deciding to give Ji Juechen enough respect.
He would not hold back.
Buzz—!!!
Huo Yuhao's eyes suddenly erupted with a dazzling golden light!
That golden light was like two invisible blades, shooting directly out from his eyes!
Soul Shock!
Boom—!!!
An invisible mental shockwave erupted from between Huo Yuhao's brows, carrying a terrifying and destructive power as it slammed violently toward Ji Juechen!
Ji Juechen's pupils shrank suddenly! So fast! So strong!
He had no time to dodge at all!
Ji Juechen gritted his teeth, holding the black longsword horizontally before his chest. At the same time, the Sword Intent within his body circulated frantically, attempting to block this terrifying Mental Shock!
The invisible Mental Force and the invisible Sword Intent collided violently in mid-air!
Ji Juechen's face instantly turned ashen.
His body trembled violently, and his footsteps involuntarily retreated two steps!
"So strong..."
Ji Juechen gritted his teeth, veins popping on his forehead.
He could feel that mental shockwave attempting to tear apart his Sea of Consciousness!
If it weren't for his Sword Intent being pure and resilient enough, he might have lost consciousness at that very instant!
However... Ji Juechen took a deep breath, and the Sword Intent within his body erupted again, finally managing to barely block that mental shockwave!
But before Ji Juechen could catch his breath.
Huo Yuhao's second Soul Shock had already arrived with a roar!
Boom—!!!
This time, Ji Juechen could no longer block it.
An explosion roared in his mind, shattering his consciousness!
Ji Juechen's legs went weak, and he fell directly onto one knee on the ground!
The black longsword slipped from his hand, falling to the ground with a "clank", letting out a crisp ring.
"Hehe, this brother's Soul Shock is still useful after all!"
After seeing Huo Yuhao use Soul Shock to defeat Ji Juechen, Skydream Ice Worm couldn't help but sigh with emotion, comforting itself. It also knew that everyone from Shrek Academy in the sky possessed the Mental Shock move, but well, only Yuhao was here, and he was using Soul Shock, not Mental Shock!
The entire arena was deathly silent!
Everyone stared blankly at the scene before them, unable to say a single word.
From the moment Huo Yuhao made his move to the moment Ji Juechen knelt.
The entire process hadn't even exceeded ten seconds!
The one hailed as the "Sword Fanatic", Ji Juechen, one of the most difficult opponents in the entire Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy, actually... lost just like that?!
Lost so cleanly and decisively, without any power to fight back!
"This..."
Xiao Hongchen had previously felt that although Huo Yuhao's Spirit Ring configuration was terrifying, if he wanted to win against Ji Juechen, it would likely take some effort.
After all, there was still a gap in their Spirit Power Ranks, and plus, Ji Juechen didn't take drugs, so his Spirit Power wasn't superficial.
But now?
Ji Juechen had been defeated so quickly.
At this moment, Xiao Hongchen couldn't help but feel a deep sense of frustration. Previously, he felt that he was the greatest Genius in the history of the Sun Moon Empire; even if Huo Yuhao was strong, it wouldn't be enough to make him feel ashamed of his own inferiority.
But now...
Xiao Hongchen finally understood that the gap between him and Huo Yuhao was simply too large.
...
On the Competition Arena.
Huo Yuhao withdrew his Spirit Rings, walked up to Ji Juechen, and extended his hand.
Ji Juechen looked up at Huo Yuhao.
Although his face was somewhat pale, there was not a trace of dejection or discouragement in those cold eyes.
On the contrary, they were filled with a burning fighting Spirit!
"Your Mental Force is very strong."
Huo Yuhao spoke.
"It's the strongest I've encountered since coming to the Sun Moon Empire."
This was the truth.
Huo Yuhao indeed hadn't encountered anyone with such strong Mental Force.
Ji Juechen's Sword Intent perfectly fused Mental Force and Spirit Power, forming a unique method of attack.
This kind of talent was indeed quite terrifying.
If it weren't for Huo Yuhao's Mental Force being greatly enhanced, dealing with Ji Juechen would probably not have been so simple.
"I lost."
Ji Juechen reached out, grasped Huo Yuhao's hand, and stood up.
"However..."
A burning light flashed in his eyes.
"I can still spar with you, right?"
"Of course."
Huo Yuhao nodded, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"You're welcome anytime."
A rare curve appeared at the corner of Ji Juechen's mouth.
Then, he turned his head, his gaze falling upon the purple figure at the entrance of the stands.
"Sorry, it looks like today's practice won't be possible."
Jing Ziyan leaned against the pillar, arms crossed. She glanced at Ji Juechen, then at Huo Yuhao, and then nodded.
"Mhm."
Her voice was very flat.
"Get some rest."
After saying that, Jing Ziyan's gaze fell upon Huo Yuhao once again.
Just what is this youth's background?
And the students of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy around them also finally snapped out of their shock.
"This is just too strong..."
Although Huo Yuhao used Soul Shock, everyone could also feel the wide-range Mental Shock released just now.
Moreover, they didn't think Ji Juechen was throwing the match, especially after seeing Huo Yuhao's four ten-thousand-year Spirit Rings; everyone felt that Huo Yuhao should win.
It's just... he shouldn't have won so easily.
However, everyone present remembered Huo Yuhao's appearance; this person who defeated the Sword Fanatic was terrifyingly formidable.
...
Meanwhile, in the Deans Office.
[Detected: Key character Xiao Hongchen's recognition of 'Shrek Academy is a Monster Academy' has increased!]
[Congratulations to the Host for receiving the reward: Life-Sustaining Fruit * 3]
[Detected: Key character Meng Hongchen's recognition of 'Shrek Academy is a Monster Academy' has increased!]
[Congratulations to the Host for receiving the reward: Jade Phosphorus Seven-Absolute Flower * 3]
[Detected: Key character Ji Juechen's recognition of 'Shrek Academy is a Monster Academy' has increased!]
[Congratulations to the Host for receiving the reward: Golden Pearl * 10]
...
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A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
1 Review = 1 Bonus 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.