Chapter 151: Putting on a Show
The referee's voice boomed: "Both sides, announce your names!"
Furina yawned nonchalantly, as if she had not a shred of concern for Dai Huabin, and lazily drawled her name: "Furina."
Seeing her attitude, a burst of fury ignited in Dai Huabin's heart. Though he was not the eldest son and primary heir of the White Tiger Duke, he had been subjected to the strictest cultivation since childhood—not only had he delved deeply into the path of martial soul cultivation, he had also been thoroughly schooled in military strategy, tactics, and the art of defeating and slaying the enemy. In every regard, he far surpassed his peers.
Yet now, he was being overshadowed by a girl just two or three years his senior—and a food-type support soul master at that! What he found even more intolerable was the casual, dismissive indifference radiating from her every word and gesture.
How could Dai Huabin swallow such humiliation?
It wasn't just him. The other two girls on the team—Zhu Lu and Cui Yajie—also bore expressions of unmistakable hostility. In their hearts, their team was the undisputed, rightful champion. How could they possibly lose to a mere food-type Soul King?
"Dai Huabin."
"Zhu Lu."
"Cui Yajie."
The three announced their names in succession, their voices cold and hard.
The referee extended both arms horizontally and declared with solemn gravity: "Each side, withdraw to the edge of the field. You may only initiate attacks after I declare the match begun."
Both sides retreated as instructed. Furina remained as leisurely and lackadaisical as ever, not even bothering to notice Dai Huabin's eyes, which were practically spitting fire as they bore into her. This very sight only made Dai Huabin even more enraged.
His fists clenched tightly, his nails nearly digging into his palms. He raged inwardly: Nothing but a Soul King! A mere food-type support soul master, yet she dares dream of taking the championship? So what if her soul bone skills are powerful? Can they possibly withstand our martial soul fusion technique?!
Though these thoughts churned in his mind, Dai Huabin had no intention of deploying that trump card right at the start. It was, after all, his final ace. Moreover, wouldn't using it right at the very opening make him look as though his heart was weak and his courage timid?
On the elevated platform, the observing teachers had already fallen silent. Yan Shaozhe, too, turned his focused attention toward the arena.
Staring at the face filled with vicious, seething malice, Huo Yuhao felt a fury rising in his chest that nearly burst through his ribs.
He wanted nothing more than to charge onto the field right then and there and thoroughly teach this tyrannical, overbearing noble scion—this mortal enemy he despised to the very marrow of his bones—a lesson in Furina's stead.
Who was Furina? She was the savior of Huo Yuhao and his mother, Huo Yun'er. She was the one who had completely altered the destiny of their entire family.
After that, she had not only charted a path forward for him and unearthed his latent potential—one could even say that without Furina, there would be no Huo Yuhao of today. And now this "big cat," who could do nothing but bare its claws and brandish its fangs, actually dared to look at Furina with such eyes? Truly, he had no concept of the height of the heavens or the breadth of the earth.
But he quickly reined in his emotions. He had faith that Furina would never lose—unless she deliberately chose to create an opening, to give him the chance to face Dai Huabin directly and exact his revenge with his own hands. Barring that, her defeat was simply impossible.
In the blink of an eye, both sides had retreated to the very edges of the arena. The full assessment area was exceedingly vast. At this moment, in each other's eyes, the opposing figures appeared very small indeed.
The referee raised his right arm high, then abruptly slashed it downward—
"Begin!"
The crisp command rang clearly in the ears of every participating student.
Almost the very instant the word "Begin" fell, Dai Huabin's trio shot forward like arrows loosed from a bow, charging madly toward the spot where Furina stood. However, because the distance was simply too great, even sprinting at top speed, they would require no small amount of time to close the gap.
Furina did not move to meet them in the first moment. Completely unhurried, she drew a table and a chair from her storage-type soul tool. Then, activating her fifth soul skill, a Nut Cake radiating an enticing fragrance materialized in her hand amidst a shimmer of light. She settled leisurely into the chair and began to savor it in a slow, unhurried fashion.
"Could I but buy osmanthus blooms and share a cup of wine... Ah, this cake is truly delicious!" Furina recited with a beaming smile as she ate her cake in small, dainty bites. Her relaxed, carefree manner made it seem as though this wasn't a fiercely intense soul master assessment at all, but rather a leisurely afternoon tea she was enjoying.
As for the trio of Dai Huabin charging at her with all their might, she seemed to pay them absolutely no mind whatsoever.
In the spectator stands, Wang Dong couldn't help but reveal an expression of pure envy: "Wow, Furina really knows how to have fun. I wish I could be like that someday too."
Hearing this, Huo Yuhao smiled faintly: "When you reach rank fifty and go bomb the fish pond yourself, maybe you can."
Wang Dong pouted. "I don't want to do that. Silly—if you're going to fight, you should fight the strong! Being able to remain as composed as she is under those circumstances—that's what's truly impressive. Do you get it or not?"
Xiao Xiao couldn't resist chiming in from the side: "I'm afraid you'll only see that in dreams—or after you become a Limit Douluo and can sweep through all Titled Douluos undefeated. After all, no matter how you put it, a Limit Douluo is still just a 'Douluo.'"
"You're not wrong about that," Wang Dong lifted his chin proudly. "But what's a Limit Douluo, anyway? This lord is going to become a god!"
Xiao Xiao sighed in exasperation: "Your aspirations really are far-reaching, aren't they?"
"Of course!" Wang Dong declared smugly, then nudged Huo Yuhao with an elbow. "Hey, Huo Yuhao, what about you? With talent as good as yours, you'll definitely become a god in the future too, right?"
Huo Yuhao's gaze remained fixed on the arena as he answered softly: "I don't know... But I'll probably work hard in that direction."
"What kind of answer is that..." Wang Dong muttered.
Elsewhere, Yan Shaozhe and Du Weilun were also conversing in low tones.
Watching Furina's leisurely display, Du Weilun couldn't help but furrow his brow. "That little girl—isn't she taking this assessment a bit too lightly?"
Yan Shaozhe shook his head with a rueful smile. "Do you honestly think she would take an assessment of this level seriously? Had I known, I would have made the arena even smaller. A semifinal arena this large has only given her the chance to 'put on a show.'"
Du Weilun spread his hands helplessly. "Mostly, I just didn't anticipate it would turn out like this. Bombing the fish pond is one thing, but she actually has to play it up like this... I wonder what other hidden cards she's holding, aside from that soul bone skill?"
He paused, his tone tinged with skepticism: "After all, dealing with a martial soul fusion technique—especially a genuine assault-type fusion technique like Dai Huabin's—is no simple matter. That barrier of hers probably wouldn't last long, would it?"
"Then let us watch and see," Yan Shaozhe said, offering no further comment. After all, even he couldn't guess exactly what Furina intended to do.
On the other side of the spectator area, Wang Yan was speaking in hushed tones with Elder Xuan.
Elder Xuan clutched a chicken leg in one hand and a wine flask in the other. His gaze settled on Furina down on the field as he mumbled indistinctly: "So this is the little girl Elder Mu has taken a liking to? She is indeed out of the ordinary. But to maintain such a playful, frivolous attitude during the assessment—even going so far as to set out a table and chair... isn't this a bit too arrogant?"
Wang Yan answered respectfully: "It is indeed rather unconventional. But this Furina's strength is truly beyond the ordinary—whether in terms of soul ring years, soul power level, or soul skill effects, everything far exceeds the norm."
He elaborated further: "The soul bone skill she has displayed can trigger explosive attacks at any chosen point, directly injuring opponents. To date, no one has managed to even touch a single hair on her head."
Elder Xuan nodded slightly: "Then she does indeed have the capital for such arrogance. Still, this Church of the Water God running around poaching people right on our Shrek's turf—isn't that taking the academy a bit too lightly..."
Before his words had even fully faded, a faint surge of soul power stirred around him, and a trace of fury had crept into his voice.
Wang Yan instantly felt an invisible wave of pressure bearing down on him.
To face the unintentionally emitted might of a Hyper Douluo at such close range was truly heart-stopping. He wanted nothing more than to retreat several steps immediately, yet dared not move recklessly.
But no sooner had Elder Xuan finished speaking than a calm, steady, aged voice—gentle yet brooking no dissent—sounded by his ear:
"Xuanzi, you must not behave like that."
Elder Xuan jolted in alarm: "Elder Mu?!"
That voice continued slowly, carrying a touch of gentle reproach: "That temper of yours—it is high time you reined it in. I have said before that this Church of the Water God may prove to be a beneficial opportunity for our Shrek. Besides, that young lady even lent me a helping hand a few days ago, allowing this old bag of bones to hold on for a while longer."
"This kindness—is it something 'poaching a few people' could possibly compare to? Those students willing to join the Church of the Water God are making their own choices. As for those unwilling, Furina surely would not force them. Why let such trifling matters weigh on your mind?"
The voice paused briefly, then continued: "Moreover, having lived so many years—do you truly not know whether other powers have ever secretly come to Shrek to poach talent? They merely operate in the shadows. That Furina does so openly and directly is precisely evidence that the Church of the Water God conducts itself with integrity, disdaining to stoop to underhanded schemes and dark trickery."
"You—do not stir up trouble where there is none. Focus on your cultivation—that is the proper path. When I one day pass from this world, the position of Master of the Sea God's Pavilion may yet need you to temporarily assume."
Elder Xuan's expression turned solemn, and he answered with deep respect: "Yes, Elder Mu! I understand."