Chapter Sixty-Seven: Semifinals, Victory!

"Alright, I understand," Muyang replied.

The match began, and Muyang followed the others onto the arena. Ma Xiaotao, Muyang, and Beibei stood at the very front, with Dai Yaoheng behind them, then Ling Luocheng, and finally Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao at the rear.

The six from Xingluo Academy formed a triangle, with Princess Jiujiao standing behind them.

At the command of the Dread Lord, both sides released their martial souls simultaneously.

Between Princess Jiujiao’s brows appeared a golden, diamond-shaped gemstone that slowly rose and transformed into a crown upon her head—an exquisite sight. This was one of Princess Jiujiao's martial souls, the Star Crown.

As the soul rings emerged, the opponents were all Soul Kings, while on Yun Bing’s side, the cultivation levels varied—ranging from Grand Soul Master to Soul Emperor.

As the match began, the light from Princess Jiujiao's Star Crown flared magnificently, and a beam of light shot into the sky. Her third soul skill, Star Brilliance, activated, and golden mist quickly enveloped the other six members of Xingluo National Academy.

The golden mist blocked Muyang’s vision, making it impossible for him to mark the members of Xingluo National Academy.

At that moment, the agile attack Soul King Chen Xiaojie swiftly charged at Yun Bing—indeed, Princess Jiujiao had commanded him to eliminate Muyang first!

Muyang’s soul skill was a threat to soul masters of any level—depriving them of their perception of their surroundings, and it needed only eye contact to activate. Furthermore, judging from Muyang’s expression, this soul skill didn’t consume much soul power.

Though it had significant drawbacks; if Muyang couldn’t see, or couldn’t get a clear view, the skill was useless. But under these circumstances, to prevent Muyang from seeing required either extreme speed, many soul skills to block his view, or a skill like Princess Jiujiao’s mist. However, such skills had their own flaw: soul power consumption. They couldn’t afford a prolonged battle of attrition with Muyang. Thus, Muyang was put at the top of the elimination list.

But did they think it would be so easy to force Muyang out just because he was a two-ring Grand Soul Master? Muyang was no ordinary Grand Soul Master; his soul power rivaled that of a Soul Emperor. The only limitation was his two rings, which restricted the output of his soul power.

Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Detection became unstable, affected by Princess Jiujiao’s martial soul.

Chen Xiaojie simultaneously unleashed his second and third soul skills, his speed increasing dramatically, while his Lightning Falcon martial soul emitted several silvery beams that encircled Muyang.

Upon seeing this, the Dread Lord almost intervened to rescue Muyang. But noticing Muyang's calm and composed gaze, he hesitated. If he interfered and Muyang was about to act, it would be a misjudgment, especially since Muyang had proven to be Shrek’s key to victory in previous matches. If Muyang was eliminated, Shrek would likely lose.

With this in mind, the Dread Lord gritted his teeth and decided against intervening.

Chen Xiaojie drew his hand back, and the silvery beams contracted instantly. Just as they were about to threaten Muyang, a red soul barrier sprang up—a simplified version of Scarlet Protection.

Upon seeing this simplified Scarlet Protection, Xiao Hongchen exclaimed in shock, "How does he have a simplified Scarlet Protection?!"

It was known that the simplified Scarlet Protection was a collaborative invention by Jing Hongchen, head of Mingde Hall, and several other ninth-level Soul Engineers. It was designed for lower-level Soul Engineers, using materials for ninth-level soul devices, but its barrier was only as strong as an eighth-level barrier, and many of the original Scarlet Protection's functions had been removed. Production was halted because of these limitations.

For this reason, apart from the squad sent deep into the Far North, there were only three of these simplified Scarlet Protections in the entire Ming Empire. Why did Muyang have one?!

On the arena, once Muyang activated the simplified Scarlet Protection, the silvery beams faded and vanished.

Muyang took out a bribe from his spatial ring—this was the first time Muyang used a weapon from another world in the Douluo universe.

On the other side, Beibei faced the power-attack Soul Master Dugu Shangshan, whose martial soul was the Nether Lion.

Huo Yuhao pressed his hands to Ling Luocheng’s back—an ultimate amplification!

In the next instant, Ling Luocheng’s fifth soul skill, Ring of Ice Glory, was unleashed—a ring of icy blue light rapidly expanded toward the enemy.

Princess Jiujiao’s expression shifted. If Ling Luocheng’s soul skill froze them, it would be tantamount to elimination.

The Star Crown’s fourth soul skill, Star Guardian, activated swiftly, enveloping all her teammates except Chen Xiaojie, as well as Ma Xiaotao and Beibei.

Eighteen golden stars landed on the barrier, blocking the Ring of Ice Glory. One star dimmed, and a second was slightly affected.

Dai Yaoheng’s face changed. He simultaneously unleashed his third and fifth soul skills—White Tiger Vajra Transformation and White Tiger Divine Demon Transformation—then struck at Star Guardian, attempting to break it.

Ling Luocheng was not to be outdone; her fourth soul ring lit up, and a mist of ice shrouded Star Guardian, weakening it.

Yet it was futile—even Dai Yaoheng’s sixth soul skill, White Tiger Annihilation, managed only to deplete nearly two stars’ worth of the Star Guardian.

Bang!

At this moment, Muyang fired the bribe, a hail of bullets peppering Star Guardian, dimming the second star completely.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Muyang fired four more shots, dimming three additional stars.

Now, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong embraced.

In the midst of brilliance, decay—the Golden Road!

The Golden Road struck Princess Jiujiao’s Star Guardian.

As the dazzling Golden Road dissolved, it disintegrated Star Guardian. Inside the barrier, Princess Jiujiao’s expression changed as she realized the Star Guardian was beginning to disintegrate.

The moment the Golden Road faded, two intense beams—one white, one dark gold—intertwined, and Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong vanished. Simultaneously, a tall figure appeared quietly behind the radiance.

As the man materialized, Ling Luocheng’s ice mist was rapidly absorbed.

Muyang knew this was Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong’s second martial soul fusion skill.

The man extended his right hand, which then vanished, only to reappear as a massive hammer that struck Star Guardian, shattering it completely.

Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong collapsed, unconscious.

At the same time, Princess Jiujiao coughed up several mouthfuls of blood.

With the disappearance of Star Guardian, Beibei was eliminated, and Ma Xiaotao was repeatedly forced back, blood at the corner of her mouth.

But Shrek had won this round!

With Princess Jiujiao’s skill no longer blocking their vision, Muyang’s second soul skill flashed—he marked all members of Xingluo National Academy, and their eyes instantly lost all focus.

At this moment, the flames enveloping Ma Xiaotao turned into wicked fire, and her emotions grew unstable, threatening to annihilate Princess Jiujiao and her companions.

Seeing this, Muyang’s second soul skill flashed again—this time, the mark targeted the barely restrained Ma Xiaotao.

If Ma Xiaotao lost control now, she would be forced to rest and unable to participate in subsequent matches, which would be a significant loss.

"Shrek, victory!" The Dread Lord’s declaration echoed—Shrek had won.

...

Two thousand words already—I truly didn’t want to write this chapter again, but for the readers’ experience, I rewrote it from scratch. I’m almost sick of writing. Please vote and add to your favorites!