Chapter 276: Unshakable Resolve and Hidden Trump Cards
Beibei remained silent. Feeling the unmistakable aura of the Beast King, Gong Changlong, he finally understood the source of Huo Yuhao's unwavering confidence.
As long as they made it to the team battle phase, Huo Yuhao could use his simulated soul skills to discreetly bring this long-renowned Titled Douluo onto the battlefield.
This was no ordinary Titled Douluo. Gong Changlong had survived the beast tide and a near-death experience. His soul power had soared to level 94, brushing the threshold of level 95. With him secretly pulling the strings, Shrek truly had a fighting chance. Victory, once impossible, now gleamed faintly on the horizon.
But…
It would be eight against seven—and they still had to rely on a Titled Douluo's secret intervention. Beibei felt an ache in his chest. Was this still the glory of Shrek? Was this still a fair fight?
Sensing Beibei's unease, Huo Yuhao—keenly attuned to his brother's emotions—was already prepared with a rebuttal.
"Big Brother, they brought ten-thousand-year soul beasts into the competition through souls. Why can't we bring in a Titled Douluo? They were the ones who bent the rules first. Besides, just look at the soul tools they use—custom made by top engineers, probably with Soul Palace resources behind them. The rulebook was already thrown out the window. And we're doing this for Shrek's honor!"
Beibei stayed silent for a long time. He knew this wasn't right. He should have objected. But when Huo Yuhao mentioned "Shrek's honor," the words of protest caught in his throat.
He could tell right from wrong—but when it came to the legacy of Shrek, right and wrong no longer seemed so black and white.
"I'll take on Meng Hongchen. What happens after that… is up to you."
His voice was weary. Beibei had long known that Meng Hongchen was likely armed with a 100,000-year soul ring. Though he'd put on a confident face earlier, he had accepted the grim reality—this was a fight he was destined to lose. The best he could do was give Shrek a fighting chance for the rounds to come.
"Don't worry, Big Brother. For the glory of Shrek… we will never lose! Never!"
A bloodthirsty glint flashed in Huo Yuhao's eyes. Compared to the so-called "Shura's Eye" in the original timeline, the look in his eyes now—cold, ruthless, and ready to devour everything—was far more deserving of the title.
With that, Beibei stepped onto the stage.
As expected, his opponent was Meng Hongchen.
Her spirit ring configuration—five black and two red—was terrifying by the standards of Douluo Dalu 2. Still, after witnessing Nana's four black and four red spirit rings earlier, the audience wasn't as shocked as they might have been. Nevertheless, the moment her rings appeared, the crowd supporting the Sun Moon Empire erupted in cheer, while Shrek's supporters looked like they had just swallowed a bitter pill.
All except for one person.
That same poor guy who had nearly wept in the stands when the Sun Moon Royal Soul Instructor Academy had demolished the Dragon Slayer Sect was now watching with unnerving anticipation.
"Both sides, state your names!"
"Captain of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Instructor Academy, Meng Hongchen."
"Captain of Shrek Academy, Beibei."
"Match… begin!" boomed Unbreakable Douluo Zheng Zhan.
At his command, Beibei's last black soul ring lit up. Light burst from his body as he transformed into a radiant Light Holy Dragon.
At the same time, Meng Hongchen's seventh ring glowed—but rather than transforming, a massive red ice toad materialized beneath her feet.
Not all martial souls required full transformation. For her, summoning a powerful red ice toad—akin in species to her martial soul—was the ideal form of manifestation.
"Nian Ya Claw! Never Forget!"
Beibei roared, diving toward Meng Hongchen. His golden dragon claw surged with divine light as he executed the devastating Nian Ya Claw, a technique refined from the legendary Beiya's martial path.
"You think you can counter my poison with your martial soul's resistance? You really underestimate me."
Sneering, Meng Hongchen activated the first soul skill from her 100,000-year ring: Ice Toad Poison Domain. The entire battlefield was immediately engulfed in a toxic, frozen fog laced with deadly venom from the Zhu Qing Ice Toad.
Then came the second soul skill: Ice Spirit Cold Fire. A blazing ring of frozen fire ignited around her, creating a deadly zone that would freeze Beibei's exterior and char his insides should he make contact.
These two soul skills—one for debilitation, the other for lethal protection—formed a near-perfect defense. Regardless of whether Beibei attacked directly or endured from afar, the result would be the same.
Fortunately, Beibei had a trump card of his own: a 100,000-year soul bone granted under Du Bushi's directive. It gave him just enough resistance to Meng Hongchen's oppressive onslaught. He could endure—for a time.
But endurance was not victory.
In every other aspect—soul power, ring configuration, even soul bones—Meng Hongchen had the advantage. Beibei's only remaining edge was the purity of his Light Holy Dragon martial soul. Yet even this edge had dulled. His seventh ring—just a 10,000-year soul beast ring lacking true dragon blood—dragged down the potential of his martial soul.
In contrast, Meng Hongchen had fused her martial soul with a perfectly compatible 100,000-year Zhu Qing Ice Toad soul. Its adaptability, age, and amplification were all superior. Beibei's only saving grace was his superior combat experience—but even that advantage was waning.
As expected, despite his earlier bravado, Beibei held out for a while before ultimately succumbing to the overwhelming power of his opponent.
In the spectator stands, Xiao Hongchen frowned.
"If I'd known this would happen, I would've fought on behalf of the Soul Instructor Academy myself. Imagine the humiliation—Shrek losing before even making the quarterfinals. That would have been the ultimate revenge!"
He turned to his companion.
"Hey, Xiao Qiang, what are you staring at? Is there really anything worth watching about Shrek?"
Xiao Qiang's eyes were narrowed, staring intently at the battlefield.
"Nothing special… just that I noticed something strange. Something unexpected is coming. And when it does… things might get very interesting."
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