The referee announced loudly, "State your names!"
Furina yawned nonchalantly, as if she didn't take Dai Huabin seriously at all, and lazily spat out her name, "Furina."
Seeing her attitude, Dai Huabin was instantly incensed.
Although he was not the eldest legitimate son of the White Tiger Duke, he had received the strictest training since childhood—not only studying the Dao of Martial Soul Cultivation, but also mastering military strategy and combat, far surpassing his peers in every aspect.
Yet now, he was being outdone by a girl only two or three years older than him, and one who happened to be a Food-type Support Soul Master at that.
What made it even more unbearable was that her current demeanor clearly exuded a sense of disdain, as if she didn't consider him worthy of notice at all.
How could Dai Huabin swallow this insult?
It wasn't just him; the other two girls in the team, Zhu Lu and Cui Yajie, also showed clear hostility.
In their minds, their team was the undisputed choice for champion; how could they lose to a mere Food-type Spirit King?
"Dai Huabin."
"Zhu Lu."
"Cui Yajie."
The three of them stated their names in turn, their voices cold and hard.
The referee extended his arms to the sides and said solemnly, "Retreat to the edges of the arena. You may launch your attacks only after I announce the start."
Both sides retreated as instructed.
Furina remained carefree and lazy, not even bothering to pay attention to Dai Huabin's eyes, which were practically spitting fire and fixed firmly on her.
This scene only made Dai Huabin even more furious.
He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, thinking bitterly, "She's just a Spirit King; how can a mere Food-type Support Soul Master hope to win the championship? Even if your Soul Bone Skill is strong, so what? Can you really withstand our Martial Soul Fusion Skill?"
Although he thought this, Dai Huabin did not intend to use this trump card right from the start; it was, after all, his final resort.
Besides, if he used it at the very beginning, wouldn't it make him look insecure and cowardly?
On the high platform, the observing teachers had already quieted down.
Yan Shaozhe also focused his gaze on the arena.
Huo Yuhao stared at Dai Huabin's face, which was full of malice, and a surge of anger in his chest threatened to burst forth.
He wished he could rush onto the field immediately and teach this arrogant, overbearing rich kid, his sworn enemy, a lesson on behalf of Furina.
Who was Furina? She was the savior of him, Huo Yuhao, and his mother, Huo Yuner, the person who had completely changed their family's destiny.
Not only did she arrange a path for him and unlock his potential, but it could even be said that without Furina, there would be no Huo Yuhao today.
Now, this "big cat" who only knew how to bare its fangs and brandish its claws dared to look at Furina with such eyes? It truly didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth.
However, Huo Yuhao quickly composed himself.
He believed that Furina would never lose; unless she intentionally created an Opportunity for him to confront Dai Huabin and take revenge with his own hands, there was absolutely no way she could be defeated.
In the blink of an eye, both sides had retreated to the edges of the arena.
The entire assessment area was extremely vast, and at this moment, in each other's eyes, the figures of the opponents seemed very small.
The referee raised his right arm high and then swung it down sharply— "Start!"
The clear command was heard distinctly by every participating student.
Almost the moment the word "Start" fell, the three of them, led by Dai Huabin, shot forward like arrows released from a bow, rushing toward Furina's position.
However, because the distance was so great, even if they ran at full speed, it would take quite some time to get close.
Furina did not counterattack immediately.
She unhurriedly took out a table and a chair from her spirit tool storage, then activated her fifth Spirit Ability. As light flickered in her hand, a Nut Cake emitting an enticing aroma quietly appeared.
She sat down leisurely and began to taste it slowly and methodically.
"I wanted to buy osmanthus flowers to go with wine... the cake is truly delicious!" Furina recited with a smile while taking small bites of the cake. Her relaxed appearance made it seem as if this wasn't a tense and fierce Spirit Master assessment, but rather an enjoyable afternoon tea time.
As for the three of them, led by Dai Huabin, who were charging at full speed, she seemed completely unconcerned.
On the viewing platform, Wang Dong couldn't help but show a look of envy: "Wow, this Furina really knows how to have fun, doesn't she? I also want to be like her one day."
Huo Yuhao smiled slightly upon hearing this: "When you reach level 50 and go 'fish-blasting', maybe you can too."
Wang Dong curled his lip: "I don't want that. Dummy, if you're going to fight, you have to fight the strong! Being able to remain as composed as her in that situation, that's what's interesting, get it?"
Xiao Xiao couldn't help but interject from the side: "That will probably only happen in your dreams—or when you become a Limit Douluo and are invincible among all Titled Douluo. After all, a Limit Douluo is still a 'Douluo'."
"You're not wrong about that," Wang Dong raised his chin, "But, what's a Limit Douluo? This Lord is going to become a god!"
Xiao Xiao sighed helplessly: "Your ambitions are truly grand."
"Of course!" Wang Dong said triumphantly, then nudged Huo Yuhao with his arm, "Hey, Huo Yuhao, what about you? Your talent is so good, surely you can become a god in the future too, right?"
Huo Yuhao gazed at the field and answered softly: "I don't know... but I should strive to head in that direction."
"What kind of answer is that..." Wang Dong muttered.
On the other side, Yan Shaozhe and Du Weilun were also talking in low voices.
Du Weilun looked at Furina's leisurely manner and couldn't help but frown: "This little girl, isn't she taking the assessment a bit too lightly?"
Yan Shaozhe shook his head with a wry smile: "Do you think she really takes an assessment of this level seriously? If I had known, I should have set the venue smaller. Making the semi-final venue this large only created an Opportunity for her to'show off'."
Du Weilun spread his hands: "I didn't expect it to turn out like this either. Fish-blasting is one thing, but to pull a stunt like this... I wonder what other trump cards she has hidden besides that Soul Bone Skill?"
He paused, his tone revealing some doubt: "After all, dealing with a Martial Soul Fusion Skill—especially a genuine power-attack type Fusion skill like the one Dai Huabin and his team have—is not easy. Her shield probably won't last long, right?"
"Then let us wait and see." Yan Shaozhe didn't say anything more; after all, even he couldn't guess what Furina was actually intending to do.
On the other side of the spectator area, Wang Yan was speaking in low voices with Elder Xuan.
Elder Xuan grabbed a chicken drumstick in one hand and held a wine gourd in the other. His gaze fell on Furina in the arena, and he said indistinctly: "Is this the little girl that Elder Mu has his eye on? She is indeed extraordinary. However, maintaining this kind of childish attitude during an assessment, even setting up a table and chairs... isn't that a bit too arrogant?"
Wang Yan answered respectfully: "She is indeed quite maverick. But this Furina's strength is truly extraordinary—whether it's her spirit ring age, Soul Power level, or Spirit Ability effects, they are far beyond the scope of ordinary people."
He further added: "The Soul Bone Skill she demonstrated can trigger explosive attacks at any position, directly harming her opponents. So far, no one has been able to touch a single hair on her head."
Elder Xuan nodded slightly: "She does have the capital to be arrogant. However, this Axis Cult poaching people everywhere on our Shrek territory is really not taking the academy seriously..."
Before he finished speaking, Soul Power faintly rose around his body, and his tone also carried some anger.
Wang Yan immediately felt an invisible pressure rushing toward him.
Facing the pressure inadvertently released by a Super Douluo at such close range was truly heart-palpitating. He almost wanted to step back a few paces immediately, but dared not move rashly.
However, just as Elder Xuan finished speaking, a calm yet unquestionable elderly voice sounded in his ears: "Xuanzi, do not do this."
Elder Xuan was startled: "Elder Mu!?"
The voice continued to sound slowly, with a touch of gentle reproach: "You really should change this temper of yours. I once said that the Axis Cult might be an Opportunity for our Shrek. Moreover, this little girl helped me out a few days ago, allowing this old bag of bones to hold on for a few more days."
"How can this favor be compared to 'poaching a few students'? Those students who are willing to join the Axis Cult, that is their own choice; for those who are not, Furina surely won't force them. Why worry about such trivial matters?"
The voice paused slightly, then added: "Furthermore, you have lived for so many years, do you not know that other forces have never secretly come to Shrek to poach people? They just act in the shadows, while Furina comes openly, which precisely shows that the Axis Cult acts with integrity and disdains playing tricks and schemes."
"You, do not make trouble out of nothing; focusing on Cultivation is the right path. When I pass away in the future, the position of Master of the Sea Gods Pavilion might just need you to temporarily act in my stead."
Elder Xuan's expression became solemn, and he replied respectfully: "Yes, Elder Mu! I understand."
------------------------
I've posted 70+ chapters in advance on Patreon.
Webnovel updates will still be daily, as usual.
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
[email protected]/DaoistRoeoNQ
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"