Chapter 127: The Power of the Phantom Beast

Chapter 127: The Power of the Phantom Beast

Flender noticed Yu Xiaogang's embarrassment and quickly tried to console him, "Xiaogang, you can't blame yourself for this. The unique nature of the opponent's martial spirit has surpassed the realm of ordinary soul masters!"

That's right! It's all because that soul master's martial spirit was too special! Otherwise, how could the great master's strategy have failed?

In an instant, Yu Xiaogang regained his strange confidence. He turned to the third team member, Ma Hongjun, and instructed, "Hongjun, even though the opponent has the advantages of both a strong assault system and an agility system due to their special martial spirit, you have the ability to fly. That's an advantage they don't have. Once you're in the match, use your aerial superiority to launch ranged attacks and don't give them a chance to get close."

Yu Xiaogang, being only a mere level 29 Grandmaster, obviously didn't possess the skill of Sound Transmission. Although he thought he had lowered his voice, to the Soul Saints leading the other teams, it was as if he were shouting right in front of them.

Hearing Yu Xiaogang's advice to Ma Hongjun, several nearby team leaders couldn't help but roll their eyes.

Having witnessed Io's two transformations, these experienced teachers had already deduced that the soul master from Nine Stars Academy likely had the ability to morph into the soul beasts associated with the spirit rings he had absorbed.

Let's be real—he already has four spirit rings. Is it possible that one of them came from a flying soul beast? What makes you think the opponent has only absorbed ground-based soul beasts? Do you really think their teachers and elders are that foolish?

Of course, this was merely their internal rant. After all, Shrek Academy was one of their competitors, so why bother pointing it out?

Ma Hongjun, waddling up to the stage with his short and stocky legs, was unaware of all this. Plagued by his evil fire surges, his mind was usually preoccupied with lustful thoughts.

Thinking? What was that?

Trusting his close friend Tang San and his teacher Flender, Ma Hongjun, who already wasn't much of a thinker, naturally took Yu Xiaogang's words as absolute truth.

"Phoenix Possession!"

Even without the Phoenix Cockscomb, Ma Hongjun's martial spirit retained its usual form—complete with a red comb on his head and feathers sprouting from his arms, resembling nothing more than a fat rooster.

"What phoenix? That's just a big rooster!"

"This chubby guy has no shame, calling himself a phoenix when he's clearly just a chicken!"

Just like the first time Xiao Wu had seen Ma Hongjun's martial spirit, many students around the arena couldn't help but laugh. They ridiculed him, thinking it absurd that a mere chicken dared to claim the title of the king of all birds—the phoenix.

"Damn it! I am a phoenix!"

Ma Hongjun roared in anger and immediately activated his third soul skill, Phoenix Ascension. This increased the temperature of his flames and granted him the ability to fly.

As he ascended into the sky, Ma Hongjun glared hatefully at the students who had laughed the loudest. His vengeful nature, like that of Tang San and Dai Mubai, meant he had already committed their faces and academy names to memory. He secretly vowed that when it came time to face their academies in battle, he would repay them in full with his phoenix flames.

"First Soul Skill: Phoenix Fireline!"

Rising into the air, Ma Hongjun remembered Yu Xiaogang's instructions. His first spirit ring lit up, and a stream of purple-red flames shot from his mouth, raining down on the arena below.

Io, still in his giant bear form, crossed his arms in front of him and took the brunt of Ma Hongjun's fiery attack head-on.

"What incredible defense! Hongjun's flames are something even most Soul Elders wouldn't dare face, yet this guy blocked it without a scratch. He combines offense, defense, and speed—a martial spirit with such versatility is something I've never seen before!"

Flender adjusted his glasses and remarked enviously.

Such a genius… why didn't he come to Shrek Academy?

"Flender, don't worry. Hongjun has the aerial advantage. Even if the opponent can block one attack, so what? Without the ability to fight back against an airborne enemy, he's stuck on the defensive. No matter how strong his defense is, repeated attacks will eventually break through!"

Perhaps to make up for the earlier failures of Jing Ling and Huang Yuan, Yu Xiaogang's voice grew loud, as though afraid no one could hear him.

Idiot!

This was Io's only thought upon hearing Yu Xiaogang's words from the stage.

"Fourth Soul Skill: Blood Bat Bite!"

A red glow emanated from Io's body as his massive bear form morphed into a blood-red bat, over a meter long. With its wings spread wide and its sharp fangs bared, it soared into the sky as well.

Yu Xiaogang froze. This was the third time today that Io had made a mockery of his plans.

Flender was also left with his mouth wide open, shaking his head in disbelief. "How is this possible? He actually has flying abilities too?"

The teachers leading the other academies, positioned on both sides of Shrek's resting area, were speechless. They had initially viewed the overconfidence of a mere level 20-something Grandmaster like Yu Xiaogang as a joke. But Flender, whose spirit power clearly exceeded level 70, making such a foolish statement? It was hard to believe.

Did the people from Shrek really think they were the only smart ones in the world and that everyone else was a fool? Anyone with a bit of knowledge about soul masters knew how precious the ability to fly was. Io's fourth soul skill being linked to a flying soul beast was considered somewhat late, and yet Shrek's team seemed oblivious to this reality.

On the stage, Io flapped his wings and dove toward Ma Hongjun with astonishing speed.

"Second Soul Skill: Bathing Fire Phoenix!"

Faced with Io's overwhelming aura, Ma Hongjun let his imagination run wild. Without hesitation, he activated his second soul skill, the only one he hadn't used yet. Building on the boost from his third soul skill, this move increased the power of his flames by another 30%.

Now surrounded by raging flames, Ma Hongjun's fiery form did indeed carry a trace of a phoenix's spirit, though it still resembled more of a rooster.

With a loud roar, Ma Hongjun, engulfed in flames, charged head-on at Io.

In the resting area, Tang San immediately reassured Yu Xiaogang, "Teacher, while it was unexpected for Io to possess flying abilities, he made the most foolish choice in combat. Fatty's flames have an extremely high temperature and strong adhesive properties. With the amplification from both his second and third soul skills, even if Io is a Soul Elder, he's bound to lose!"

Yu Xiaogang nodded lightly, the glint of wisdom returning to his eyes. As long as Ma Hongjun emerged victorious, it would prove that his strategy had been sound.

Boom!

At that moment, the two clashed in midair, their soul power creating loud explosions that reverberated through the arena.

Yu Xiaogang and Tang San looked up, expecting to see their victory. Instead, Ma Hongjun, whom they had placed all their hopes on, was plummeting toward the ground at an alarming speed, crashing into the stage and leaving a large crater.

The referee rushed forward, checked Ma Hongjun's condition, and promptly announced the result: "Shrek Academy's contestant, Ma Hongjun, is unconscious. Nine Stars Academy's contestant, Io, wins. Shrek Academy, please send up your next contestant."

Smack! Smack!

The referee's announcement felt like two silent slaps across the face. As for whose faces were stinging, well, everyone could guess.

(End of the Chapter)

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