38: Chapter 38 Star Luo Royal Academy, Princess Jiu Jiu

The host's voice rang out again, filled with passion.

"Now, I shall announce Shrek Academy's starting lineup for this match!"

The clamor of the entire stadium instantly subsided as countless ears perked up.

"Preparatory team member, Huo Yuhao!"

"Preparatory team member, Wang Dong!"

"Preparatory team member, Xiao Xiao!"

...

After seven names were read in a row, they were all members of the preparatory team.

Su Chen's name was nowhere to be found on the list.

The entire competition venue fell into an eerie silence once more.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds later.

Boom—

A sound wave ten times more terrifying than before erupted toward the sky.

If it was just doubt before, now it was naked fury.

"What? All preparatory team members?"

"Shrek must be crazy! Who do they think they're looking down on!"

"In Star Luo City, on our home turf, they actually dare to humiliate us like this!"

In the spectator stands, a burly man from the Star Luo Empire turned red with rage. He suddenly stood up and pointed at Su Chen in the resting area, roaring.

"You, the one sitting there! Who do you think you are! If you have the guts, get on the stage and fight!"

This roar was like lighting a powder keg.

Countless curses and boos surged like a tide toward the calm young man sitting in the chair.

On the competition stage.

The seven members of the Star Luo Royal Academy had already taken their positions.

The captain leading them was none other than Princess Jiu Jiu of the Star Luo Empire. Dressed in tight-fitting martial attire, she looked heroic and valiant. Her face was originally solemn, prepared for a bitter battle.

But when she finished hearing the starting lineup, she was stunned.

The team members behind her were also filled with disbelief.

What are they doing?

The preparatory team?

They were the strongest young generation of the Star Luo Empire, the glory of the empire.

Under the gaze of their Imperial Father and the expectations of the entire nation's people, the ones they were going to face were actually Shrek's second team?

This was no longer just overconfidence; it was contempt.

A deep-seated, undisguised contempt.

Princess Jiu Jiu's expression shifted from astonishment to coldness as she clenched her fists.

A surge of anger rushed from her heart straight to her head.

Fine.

Very well.

Shrek Academy.

You will pay the price for your arrogance.

The battle intent in her eyes burned fiercely, mixed with the fury of being slighted.

The referee, enduring the mountain-shaking boos, took a deep breath and raised his right hand high.

"Both sides, prepare!"

The atmosphere in the entire stadium seemed to freeze.

"Match start!"

As soon as the words fell, the seven members of the Star Luo Royal Academy let out a heaven-shaking roar in unison.

"Roar—!"

Brilliant light erupted instantly. Yellow, purple, black... spirit rings of various colors shone together. The intense Soul Power fluctuations made the entire competition stage hum.

Princess Jiu Jiu's voice was icy.

"All-out attack! Make them pay the price for their arrogance!"

"Defend the glory of the Star Luo Empire!"

Seven figures were like tigers descending a mountain. They actually abandoned all defensive formations and turned into seven streaks of light, pouncing directly toward the Shrek group.

This fighting style emphasized one thing: recklessness.

They wanted to use their strongest power to crush this group of contemptuous Shrek preparatory members in the shortest amount of time!

However, in the Shrek resting area.

Su Chen, the young man being cursed by ten thousand people, merely cast a faint glance at the stage before... closing his eyes again, as if everything had nothing to do with him.

On the competition stage.

At the moment the seven from Star Luo Academy charged, Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up.

It was a peculiar golden light that seemed capable of piercing through everything.

Spiritual Detection, Sharing!

In an instant, an incredibly clear three-dimensional image appeared in the minds of Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, Xu Sanshi, and the others.

The opponents' Soul Power circulation, their attack angles, and even the minute tremors of their muscles were all perfectly clear.

"Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao." Huo Yuhao's calm voice rang directly in their hearts.

The two understood and moved almost simultaneously.

The gorgeous butterfly wings unfolded behind Wang Dong, and the Nine Phoenix Coming Ritual Flute in Xiao Xiao's hand began to play.

Withering Amidst Brilliance, Golden Road!

A golden path appeared out of thin air, stretching straight toward the two Agility-Attack System Soul Masters charging at the very front.

The two of them stumbled, as if they had fallen into an invisible quagmire, their forward momentum instantly stalling.

They were dazed.

What kind of ghostly skill was this?

In the moment they were stunned, the other five attacks from the opposition had already arrived before them.

"Sanshi, hold them off!"

"Leave it to me!"

Xu Sanshi chuckled, the slight baby fat on his face trembling as he took a step forward.

Mystic Underworld Shield!

A massive black tortoise-shell shield appeared out of thin air in front of everyone.

Clang, clang, clang!

A series of dense attacks smashed into the Mystic Underworld Shield, sending sparks flying, but that shield only shook slightly, stubbornly withstanding the first wave of focused fire.

The Star Luo Academy team members' mental state began to crumble slightly.

What happened to the promised crushing victory? Why did it feel like they had kicked a steel plate?

"Xiao Xiao, thirty degrees to the left, Three Lives Soul-Crushing Cauldron, Quake!" Huo Yuhao's command came again.

Without hesitation, Xiao Xiao pointed her slender hand.

An ancient cauldron descended from the sky, crashing down on the connecting point of the opponent's formation, forcibly scattering them.

Princess Jiu Jiu's expression changed, and she was about to speak to re-command her team.

"Wang Dong, Spiritual Shock, target: the enemy captain!"

A golden light flashed in Huo Yuhao's eyes as an invisible force of spiritual energy pierced toward Princess Jiu Jiu.

Almost at the same time, Wang Dong's Radiant Butterfly Goddess wings flapped, and a light wave invisible to the naked eye quietly rippled out.

Princess Jiu Jiu only felt her brain buzz as her vision went dark, and her command was instantly stuck in her throat.

Now is the time!

"Caitou, Nannan, move!"

He Caitou, who had been standing in the back row like a lump of iron, saw the soul tool cannon barrel on his shoulder light up with a blinding glare.

Jiang Nannan's figure turned into a pink flash. With her Waist Bow activated, she cut into the chaotic enemy formation like a ghost.

Boom—!

Artillery fire and rabbit shadows intersected.

The two Power-Attack System Soul Masters who were first immobilized by the Golden Road hadn't even fully broken free from the control of the Spirit Fusion Skill before they were directly hit by the dense artillery fire and Jiang Nannan's close-quarters attack.

"Ah—! Ah—!"

Two miserable screams rang out.

Two figures were blown away by the immense force, falling straight off the competition stage.

The entire stadium fell into a deathly silence once more.

Less than three minutes into the opening.

Star Luo Royal Academy had lost two members.

Inside the Shrek resting area.

Phew~

Su Chen slowly picked up the teacup on the table, gently blew on the steam, and took a small sip.

That calm and composed appearance made it seem as if what was happening on stage wasn't an intense duel, but a boring play whose ending was already known.

Ma Xiaotao, who was next to him, was not nearly as calm.

She paced back and forth anxiously. Her explosive figure under the tight red dress swayed gently with her steps, but her face was full of worry.

"Little Martial Uncle!"

Ma Xiaotao finally couldn't help herself. She walked quickly to Su Chen's side and leaned down.

Her warm breath blew by Su Chen's ear:

"At least take a look! That's the Star Luo National Academy, not some random nobodies! Can Yuhao and the others really hold them off?"