Free Web NovelChapter 476: Chapter 476: Huo Yuhao Returns! Finals Against the Sun Moon Team
What weighed on Zhang Lexuan’s mind was not the final match against the Sun Moon Academy.
In the future Huo Yuhao had once shown her, Shrek Academy would seize the championship without real danger.
What truly troubled her was Huo Yuhao’s safety.
"At the time, I wanted to accompany Junior Brother to the Star Dou Forest to hunt his Spirit Ring, but he politely refused."
"Thinking that his strength was enough to rival ten-thousand-year Spirit Beasts, I did not insist."
"I should have gone with him."
A rare trace of regret appeared on Zhang Lexuan’s cool, composed face.
It was the day of the finals.
The number of spectators had reached its peak since the start of the tournament.
Even the plaza, capable of holding hundreds of thousands, felt overcrowded, the noise surging straight into the clouds.
The audience looked toward Shrek’s preparation area.
Whispers tinged with disappointment quietly spread.
"Ever since the second round-robin match, Huo Yuhao hasn’t shown up again!"
"Shrek sent out their main team—they’re stronger, so the championship is a given!"
"Stronger? Do they have a Spirit Douluo with eight hundred-thousand-year Spirit Rings? Huo Yuhao is the strongest genius of this tournament!"
"The championship is still uncertain. The Sun Moon Academy is no easy opponent! As for Huo Yuhao fleeing out of fear—that much is true!"
Although eliminated,
the other academies still had designated rest areas.
Listening to the rising discussions,
their faces showed either mockery or schadenfreude.
"So high-profile before the match—eight hundred-thousand-year Spirit Rings? What a smoke-and-mirrors trick!"
"From being the center of attention to becoming the target of criticism—running at the sight of a strong opponent. Huo Yuhao brought this on himself!"
...
In the Sun Moon Academy’s preparation area,
Xiao Hongchen stood with arms folded, narrowing his eyes toward Shrek’s direction.
"Huo Yuhao... still hasn’t returned?"
The earlier dejection was gone.
His youthful arrogance had returned.
Consecutive victories had restored his sharpness and confidence.
Hearing this, Elder Ma sneered.
"That boy who plays at mysticism must be afraid of embarrassing himself in public—so he dares not compete!"
His tiger-like eyes swept across the seven team members.
"Xiao Hongchen, you are the undisputed number one genius!" fгeewebnovёl.com
"Ma Rulong, Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, Mijia, Xiao Xiafeng, Chen Fei, Lin Xi... prepare to take the stage!"
"Remember—no matter what tricks Shrek plays, we respond to all changes by holding to our course!"
"This year, the name of Sun Moon will resound across the continent!"
The seven answered in unison:
"Yes!"
On the arena,
the referee loudly announced the rules of the finals.
After the final rule was declared, he called out:
"Both teams, please take the stage!"
"Sigh..." Zhang Lexuan sighed inwardly, though her expression remained calm.
As team leader, no matter how tangled her thoughts, she could not afford to lose composure.
"Proceed according to the established plan. Main team, step forward."
"Focus on guarding against the opponent’s soul tool combinations."
"Understood!"
Amid cheers,
the two teams lined up on either side, preparing to step onto the arena.
At that very moment—
the referee, Heavenfiend Douluo, suddenly felt a jolt in his heart and sharply turned toward the plaza entrance.
Zhang Lexuan’s expression shifted slightly. The astonishment in her eyes melted into a faint smile as she looked in the same direction.
Gradually...
the powerful Spirit Masters present also sensed something. One by one, their gazes converged toward the entrance.
There—
a blue-robed youth strolled in as if walking through a garden.
In the blink of an eye, he crossed more than a dozen meters, afterimages trailing behind him.
Sunlight reflected off his body with a cold, metallic sheen.
An awe-inspiring pressure spread silently outward, causing everyone’s hearts to tremble.
In that instant, Star Luo Plaza erupted completely.
"That’s Huo Yuhao!"
"Huo Yuhao actually made it back for the finals!"
"Who just said Huo Yuhao fled from battle? Let’s see who the real number one genius is!"
It wasn’t only the spectator stands that erupted in an uproar.
The geniuses from the various academies were equally shaken.
Huo Yuhao had actually returned in time for the finals?!
Joy spread across the faces of Bei Bei and the others, and even Ma Xiaotao and her teammates let out quiet sighs of relief.
Atop the imperial city wall,
the Star Luo Emperor gazed at the blue-robed youth, a smile appearing on his dignified face.
"Good. This makes the finals worth watching."
After speaking,
he turned to the White Tiger Duke behind him.
"What does my worthy brother think...?"
"For this year’s championship, will it belong to Shrek—or the Sun Moon Academy?"
The White Tiger Duke, who had hurried over from the western military camp, pondered briefly before shaking his head.
"Your servant-brother cannot say for certain."
The Star Luo Emperor raised his hand and pointed toward the blue-robed youth.
"That child is no ordinary prodigy."
"If Shrek claims the title today, it will surely be by relying on that young man’s strength."
Hearing this, the White Tiger Duke showed a hint of surprise. He fixed his gaze on the unfamiliar yet upright figure and nodded slightly.
"Since Your Majesty thinks so highly of this youth, then I must properly witness his abilities."
...
"Sorry, Senior Sister. I was delayed by something on the way." Huo Yuhao walked up to Zhang Lexuan and spoke apologetically.
"It’s fine. What matters is that you returned safely."
Zhang Lexuan examined him from head to toe. A flicker of astonishment flashed through her beautiful eyes.
When Huo Yuhao had stepped into the plaza earlier,
she had felt a faint but unsettling tremor in her heart.
Now, standing face-to-face with him,
that awe-inspiring pressure became even clearer.
That feeling...
was like standing before the senior elders within the Sea God Pavilion.
"Could it be that Junior Brother’s current strength..."
The thought had just arisen when Zhang Lexuan did not dare continue it further.
"Yao Haoxuan, take a rest. Huo Yuhao will replace you in this match."
Yao Haoxuan accepted with a bitter smile, harboring not the slightest resentment.
First, Huo Yuhao’s strength was indeed superior to his own.
Second, during the bandit suppression mission, had Huo Yuhao not saved him, he might have lost his life.
Huo Yuhao stepped onto the arena, passing by Yao Haoxuan. freewebnøvel.com
He nodded toward Ma Xiaotao and the others.
Amid thunderous, mountain-shaking cheers,
he turned to face the seven members of the Sun Moon team, his blue robes fluttering.
"Huo Yuhao..." Ma Rulong and the other six wore solemn expressions. Xiao Hongchen’s face was even paler, his fists clenched tightly within his sleeves.
With Huo Yuhao’s appearance,
the shadow in Xiao Hongchen’s heart surged uncontrollably once again.
"Xiao Hongchen, if you want to break your inner demon, defeat Huo Yuhao on the arena stage!" Captain Ma Rulong shouted,
"We’re not even afraid of Shrek’s main team—why should we fear a single Huo Yuhao?"
"Stick to the original strategy. Prepare yourselves!"
At that moment,
the referee, Heavenfiend Douluo, suddenly waved his hand.
"The finals—begin!"
The instant his words fell,
powerful waves of Spirit Power burst forth across the arena.
"Firepower suppression!" Ma Rulong roared.
The seven members of the Sun Moon team simultaneously revealed their soul tools. Cold metallic glints instantly linked together into a killing formation.
This was the ruthless edge of soul engineers when seizing the initiative!
There was no need to release their Martial Souls.
With a mere flicker of thought,
activating soul tools with Spirit Power could unleash terrifying destructive force.
Boom! Boom!
On the arena,
energy flared wildly.
Crimson high-explosive shells streaked forward trailing flames. Deep-blue freezing rays shot forth, arriving even faster. Countless metal fragments crackling with arcs of electricity poured down like a swarm of bees.
Dozens of soul tools detonated at once, weaving together into a net of destruction that surged toward Shrek’s seven members.
