Free Web NovelChapter 470: Chapter 470: Huo Yuhao Does Not Take the Stage, Sparking Speculation About His Strength (Extra)
"Huo Yuhao! Huo Yuhao!"
"One against seven! One against seven!"
At Star Luo Plaza,
hundreds of thousands of spectators shouted in unison, their cries shaking the heavens.
Even the towering walls of Star Luo City trembled faintly under the surging waves of sound.
Beyond the audience,
the genius contestants from the various academies also cast solemn, probing gazes toward Shrek’s side.
Even the Star Luo Emperor, seated high upon the imperial platform, revealed unmistakable interest in his eyes.
Through the empire’s intelligence network,
he had already learned:
Huo Yuhao was not an official Shrek student—only representing the academy for this tournament.
Just as Electrolux had once said...
Though Shrek claimed detachment from worldly conflicts and neutrality in continental strife, the Spirit Master power it commanded was simply too formidable.
On the surface,
aside from the Sun Moon Empire, the other three great empires treated Shrek with utmost respect.
But how much wariness they harbored in their hearts—
only the three emperors themselves truly knew.
The Star Luo Emperor wore a gentle smile.
Yet beneath his dragon robe,
his hand slowly clenched into a fist.
"Such an unparalleled prodigy... if he could be used by Star Luo..."
"It would be no less than commanding a million troops."
The reason one-on-one elimination matches stirred more passion than team battles was precisely because of the possibility—
that a single person might sweep an entire team.
The Spirit Master Tournament was, after all, a stage for geniuses to shine.
If someone could truly stand alone against many—
even achieve a one-versus-seven victory—
it would undoubtedly be the legendary spectacle every spectator longed to witness.
...
In Shrek’s rest area,
Bei Bei and the others instinctively turned to Zhang Lexuan, awaiting her decision.
As the team leader,
the choice of who would fight rested with her.
After a moment of thought, Zhang Lexuan spoke calmly:
"This battle won’t be difficult."
"Among the four great empires, aside from the Sun Moon Empire, the other three are relatively similar in soul tool development."
"Although Shrek is not the strongest in soul tools, among the three empires, we are still at the top tier."
"Cloud Luo Academy originates from the Star Luo Emperial Soul Engineer Academy. Their overall strength should not be high."
"I estimate they have no Spirit Kings—perhaps only a handful of Spirit Ancestors at most."
Her gaze swept across the seven reserve members as she continued:
"Since the opponent isn’t formidable,"
"this battle will be handled by the six of you—excluding Yuhao."
"The ideal outcome is that the six of you defeat all seven of Cloud Luo’s members."
"If Yuhao doesn’t take the stage this round, the other teams will remain uncertain of his true strength and retain their fear."
"That will greatly benefit our tactical planning in the later stages."
After hearing Zhang Lexuan’s analysis,
a trace of admiration appeared on everyone’s faces.
To grasp the key points of the situation in such a short time—
this Senior Sister, hailed as the youngest Spirit Douluo in three thousand years, truly lived up to her reputation.
"Understood!"
Bei Bei and the other five responded in unison, their voices steady.
"We will give it our all!"
Their faces reflected a mix of tension and excitement.
To display themselves on such a grand stage, under the gaze of countless spectators, was a dream opportunity for every young Spirit Master.
"Against soul engineers, defense-type Spirit Masters have the greatest advantage."
Zhang Lexuan gave her command calmly:
"Xu Sanshi, you’re first."
"Yes!"
...
As the crowd’s cheers gradually lowered in pitch,
Xu Sanshi strode confidently onto the arena.
Cloud Luo Academy’s first contestant was not tall, broad-shouldered and thickset, appearing somewhat bulky at first glance.
He first cast a nervous glance toward the blue-robed youth in Shrek’s rest area.
When he saw that Huo Yuhao was not taking the field,
he visibly let out a sigh of relief.
Only then did he turn his attention seriously to the opponent before him.
Though he had avoided facing that suspected Spirit Douluo prodigy—
who among Shrek’s students could be considered easy to deal with?
After reiterating the rules of the one-on-one elimination match, the referee looked between the two sides.
Xu Sanshi was eager and ready.
"Understood!"
Meanwhile, the Cloud Luo student’s confidence was clearly lacking.
"Y-Yes... understood."
He looked at Xu Sanshi and stammered,
"S-Senior from Shrek, hello. My name is Ma Yingjun. P-Please... please guide me."
Just as Zhang Lexuan had predicted,
Cloud Luo Academy’s overall strength was mediocre. Their advancement past the elimination round had owed much to luck, and several of their main members were already carrying injuries.
When they drew Shrek as their opponent,
they had already decided to strategically concede this match. After all, losing one round in the round-robin stage would not eliminate them. It was better to preserve their strength for the next round.
"Match—begin!"
At the referee’s command,
the stands once again erupted in deafening cheers.
On the arena,
Ma Yingjun reacted with remarkable speed.
With a shake of his arms, three thumb-thick metal tubes sprang out from each forearm. Two cannon barrels as thick as his arms flipped out from his shoulders.
Mechanical wings snapped open behind his back.
A soul tool shield on his chest glowed faintly.
Within mere breaths,
he was fully armed—
like a mobile soul tool turret.
This combat style of Ma Yingjun’s
was precisely the kind of soul engineer warfare that had gradually eclipsed the Tang Sect’s hidden weapons.
The cold metallic barrels rotated silently, radiating a chilling sense of oppression.
Xu Sanshi’s response was far simpler.
A heavy Black Tortoise Shield materialized in his right hand.
At the same time, two yellow and two purple Spirit Rings rose beneath his feet, emitting steady fluctuations of Spirit Power.
In the past,
a four-ring cultivation at Xu Sanshi’s age would have drawn astonished gasps from the audience.
But after witnessing Huo Yuhao’s eight crimson Spirit Rings,
the brilliance of four rings now seemed far more subdued.
Below the arena,
Bei Bei and the others, along with Ma Xiaotao’s group of seven and the geniuses from various academies, watched the battle intently.
At this moment,
Zhang Lexuan suddenly turned her head
and asked Huo Yuhao beside her with a smile:
"Junior Brother, how do you judge this match?"
Without hesitation, Huo Yuhao replied,
"Their fighting spirit is low."
"And Sanshi and the others are holding back a drive to prove themselves. There’s no suspense in this battle." freēwebnovel.com
Zhang Lexuan nodded with a smile,
clearly agreeing with his assessment.
And the course of the battle unfolded exactly so.
Xu Sanshi defeated Ma Yingjun with relative ease.
He then went on to defeat Cloud Luo’s second contestant.
Only when facing the third opponent did a fierce clash finally erupt between both sides.
In the end, Xu Sanshi stepped down from the stage, exhausted.
Throughout the entire match,
Shrek had only sent out Xu Sanshi, Bei Bei, Wang Dong, and He Caitou—
and they had secured an easy victory over Cloud Luo Academy.
While the audience cheered for Shrek,
many also showed expressions of regret.
Huo Yuhao—the one who had displayed unparalleled dominance in the elimination round—
had ultimately not taken the stage.
Yet invisibly,
this only added another layer of mystery to him. freёwebnovel.com
The expressions of the various academy teams grew even more serious.
At the Sun Moon Emperial Academy’s side, their leading teacher, Elder Ma, analyzed in a low voice:
"Judging from the four Shrek members who fought today, their strength is solid—but not top-tier."
"Huo Yuhao not appearing clearly means he is being kept as a trump card."
His tone shifted, firm and decisive:
"But twelve years old, with eight hundred-thousand-year Spirit Rings? Absolutely impossible!"
"If you encounter him later, do not lose your nerve before the fight even begins. Fight him with everything you’ve got!"
The members of the Sun Moon Emperial team nodded one after another.
"Rest assured, Elder Ma!"
"That Huo Yuhao is just putting on airs. Not daring to take the stage only shows a guilty conscience!"
