Flames burst forth as a golden-red ring of fire instantly swept across the entire competition stage.
As the ring of fire passed through Mu Yang and the other six, it did not exert any repelling force on them, seemingly nothing more than an illusory visual effect.
However, things were entirely different for Feng Xiaotian and the rest of the Divine Wind Team. The moment the ring of fire reached them, a powerful repelling force struck them off guard. Without exception, every single one of them was sent flying by this overwhelming force.
The competition stage itself was not large, and while the members of the Divine Wind Team were not standing at the very edge, they were not at the center either. Under the influence of the repelling force, all seven of them were hurled toward the boundary of the competition stage.
According to the rules of the Soul Master Tournament, if a competitor is knocked out of the stage and touches the ground outside the boundary, they are considered eliminated.
Seeing himself about to be flung out of the stage and crash to the ground, Feng Xiaotian activated his third soul ring at the critical moment. His third soul skill, Gale Twin Wings, was released, causing a pair of massive cyan energy wings to unfurl from his back. With a few powerful flaps, he counteracted his momentum, adjusted his posture, and flew back into the air above the stage.
However, while Feng Xiaotian was able to use his flight-based soul skill to escape elimination, the rest of the Divine Wind Team did not possess such abilities.
Aside from a single four-ringed Soul Ancestor with the Blue Feathered Eagle Martial Soul, five members of the Divine Wind Team crashed onto the ground outside the competition stage, eliminated by Huo Wu's opening move—Repelling Fire Ring.
Compared to her counterpart in the original timeline, this version of Huo Wu possessed a Phoenix Fire Shadow Martial Soul that surpassed the Fire Shadow Martial Soul in quality. With her soul skills enhanced by an additional 5,000 years of cultivation and a soul power level more than one rank higher, Repelling Fire Ring had become an unparalleled ability in tournament matches.
Anyone who failed to evade it or lacked the ability to fly was essentially doomed to elimination upon being hit.
After all, the competition stage was simply too small.
Even if Huo Wu activated Repelling Fire Ring while standing at the very edge of the stage, opponents at the opposite boundary would still be within its area of effect.
Seeing five of his teammates eliminated in an instant, Feng Xiaotian, who had been brimming with confidence after striking a deal with Mu Yang, was utterly dumbfounded.
At that moment, he finally understood why Huo Wu, despite possessing powerful offensive soul skills, was classified as a Control System Soul Master.
The answer lay in this single skill—Repelling Fire Ring.
In a true battle to the death or a fight without spatial restrictions, Repelling Fire Ring would not have been nearly as overwhelming. At best, it would have been considered a strong control-type ability.
However, within the confines of a limited space—and an exceptionally small one at that—its effectiveness was multiplied several times over.
Huo Wu curled a finger at Feng Xiaotian, gesturing for him to come forward.
The Divine Wind Academy was ranked either first or second among the Elemental Academies?
Huo Wu refused to believe in such rankings.
Moreover, she had never forgotten that during a past gathering at Blazing Fire Academy regarding the secret of Whale Glue, Feng Xiaotian had once mocked her academy with a broad, dismissive statement. The grudge-holding Huo Wu had remembered that ever since. Now, in accordance with their plan, she was prepared to take down the entire Divine Wind Team by herself.
Of course, this was not about humiliating Divine Wind Academy—it was about proving the strength of Blazing Fire Academy's younger generation.
By showcasing the academy's power, they aimed to make Divine Wind Academy's leadership realize that not only did Blazing Fire Academy currently boast two Title Douluos, but its younger generation also had immense potential. This display of strength would serve as the foundation for their ultimate goal: merging Blazing Fire Academy Sky Water Academy, and Divine Wind Academy into a newly unified Elemental Academy.
Likewise, Mu Yang's earlier scheme to entrap Feng Xiaotian was meant to facilitate this plan.
After all, Feng Xiaotian was not only the captain of this year's Divine Wind Team but also the personal disciple of Divine Wind Academy's headmaster, Feng Zhen. More importantly, he was regarded as a top-tier genius, groomed by the academy's leadership as the next headmaster.
If Feng Xiaotian lent his support to the merger, the resistance from Divine Wind Academy's upper ranks would be significantly weakened.
It was akin to the situation where even the crown prince had defected—what motivation would the officials have to continue resisting?
At this moment, Feng Xiaotian's expression was graver than ever.
Originally, he had entered this match brimming with confidence, believing he had an overwhelming advantage in a seven-on-one fight. Yet, with just a single move, Huo Wu had nearly erased that advantage. His self-assurance in defeating her was now shattered.
Though it was still technically a two-on-one fight, with himself and a single four-ringed teammate remaining, Feng Xiaotian knew that the odds were completely against him. In fact, he had virtually no chance of winning.
He was well aware of Huo Wu's strength. They had fought before, and he had lost—badly.
With her powerful Martial Soul, absurdly high-level soul rings, ingenious self-created soul techniques, and a soul power rank significantly higher than his own, Huo Wu had every possible advantage except for flight. She utterly outclassed him in every aspect.
Under these circumstances, how could he possibly claim victory?
"First Soul Skill—Wind Blade Formation!"
Despite his doubts, Feng Xiaotian did not intend to surrender. His first soul ring glowed as he swung his clawed hands, launching ten semi-circular cyan wind blades toward Huo Wu on the stage below.
No matter how powerful Huo Wu was, he had to fight. He needed to recognize the gap between them so he could train even harder in the future.
This was the way of the Soul Master!
If he surrendered outright, wouldn't that just make his goddess look down on him?
"Phoenix Fire Mirror!"
Seeing the wind blades approach, Huo Wu's golden-red aura shone brightly. Six crimson-gold, foot-long circular mirrors manifested around her before swiftly intercepting the incoming wind blades.
Just like how Mu Yang mastered the Ice Flame Secret Art, Huo Wu had also learned a variant—Phoenix Fire Secret Art, a fire-based adaptation. While she wasn't as skilled in it as Mu Yang, she was more than capable.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Under Huo Wu's precise mental control, the ten wind blades clashed against the Phoenix Fire Mirrors. Of the six mirrors, only one was shattered, meaning Feng Xiaotian's first soul skill had barely managed to destroy a single defensive layer.
In the next moment, Huo Wu's soul power surged, instantly reforming a new golden-red mirror to restore the Phoenix Fire Mirror formation to its optimal state of six.
Meanwhile, Feng Xiaotian's remaining teammate had not been idle. His fourth soul ring glowed as his wings flapped rapidly, unleashing a storm of densely packed cyan energy feathers that rained down upon Huo Wu.
Seeing this, Huo Wu's expression sharpened. She retracted the Phoenix Fire Mirrors that had blocked the wind blades, causing them to rapidly expand. The six foot-long mirrors merged in pairs, forming three three-foot-long mirrors that arranged themselves into a triangular shield to protect her from the barrage of soul power-infused feathers.
For additional chapters
Versatile mage {40 chapters}
Douluo Dalu:This Soul Master is to Weird {30 Chapters}
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