"Who are you calling a chicken?!" The veins on Ma Hongjun's forehead bulged as his anger surged.
He might not have argued if someone called him fat, but to insult his proud martial soul by calling it a chicken was unforgivable.
"The fatso is getting angry—Xue Ao's got this match in the bag," Tian Guocheng, the vice-captain of the opposing team, chuckled from below the stage.
On paper, the two teams were actually quite evenly matched.
In battles between soul masters of the same level, victory often came down to a fine line. To gain an edge, some small tactics were indispensable.
Among them, taunting was the simplest and most effective method.
Once provoked, an opponent would unleash attacks without restraint, indirectly exhausting their own condition.
Of course, if one's own strength wasn't sufficient, they'd be in for a brutal retaliation.
"Hongjun just can't control himself—he's still acting like this even at his age. It's utterly disappointing!" Yu Xiaogang said with clear irritation.
If Ma Hongjun lost the match, his teammates would have to cover for him, which would put their tactics at a disadvantage.
After all, the opponents could adjust their strategy based on who would step onto the stage next.
Flender quickly tried to smooth things over. "Xiaogang, when we return, I'll make sure to discipline Hongjun strictly. Calm down for now—this match has Xiaosan and Mubai; we won't lose."
Seeing Flender back down, Yu Xiaogang nodded in satisfaction.
Among the eight core members of Shrek Academy, the four strongest included two of his nephews, one of his disciples, and Dai Mubai, whom he had personally trained, making him something of a half-disciple.
With this backing, Yu Xiaogang had the confidence to speak his mind.
---
Ignoring his soul power consumption, Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Fire Line finally scorched Xue Ao.
However, to everyone's surprise, it didn't cause much damage.
"A mere chicken fire—it's nothing special," Xue Ao sneered, a hint of a smile curling his lips.
"Don't get cocky—it's not over yet!" Ma Hongjun roared. A pair of fiery wings sprouted from his back.
"Third soul skill—Phoenix Wings Soaring to the Heavens!"
Ma Hongjun soared into the air.
But with his obese body, the sight looked rather comical.
Due to his weight, his flying altitude was limited, and he didn't escape Xue Ao's attack range.
"Those wings of yours seem to struggle just carrying your body. If that's the case, let me give your wings a rest," Xue Ao said, licking his lips as the second soul ring beneath his feet lit up.
The hind legs of the Snow Mountain Dog scraped against the stage floor with a grinding sound. In the next moment, his figure leaped into the air.
Ma Hongjun flapped his wings, raining countless fiery feathers down to block the incoming attack.
"Your flames won't do anything."
The front limbs of the Snow Mountain Dog extended sharp claws, slamming heavily toward Ma Hongjun's body.
As a power-type soul master, the force of this strike was no joke.
Ma Hongjun's flying ability was abysmal—he couldn't maneuver flexibly at all.
Just before the claws descended, he flapped his wings desperately to dodge, but he barely moved far enough.
In the end, the claws struck his body, carving deep wounds across his chest. Blood flowed continuously, dripping onto the ground.
Ma Hongjun flailed in the air a few times before helplessly crashing to the ground.
His head slammed down onto the stage with great force.
At this moment, all the competitors stood up.
From such a height, combined with Ma Hongjun's own weight, if his skull shattered or his neck snapped, it would be fatal. Yet, according to the rules of the Soul Master Tournament, killing an opponent was prohibited.
Such a severe accident naturally drew everyone's utmost attention.
"Hongjun!" Flender's eyes widened in horror as he rushed forward.
All members of the Beast Academy team raced to the edge of the stage, their gazes warily fixed on Flender.
For them, the competition could be forfeited, but their people must not be touched.
Ke Jie sighed softly. "He's still breathing, but if a powerful healing-type soul master doesn't provide treatment within ten minutes, he won't last long."
"What should we do?" Chen Huayu asked. "He wasn't directly killed, but rather died due to delayed treatment. Does that mean the Beast Academy hasn't violated the rules?"
Ning Tianchen shook his head. "That argument might work in a dispute, but if someone dies, the organizers will undoubtedly expel the Beast Academy from this tournament under pressure."
Previously, when the Seven Treasures Team crushed the Shrek Team, Tang San and the others hadn't sustained life-threatening injuries. Even without immediate treatment, their physical resilience allowed them to endure.
Ma Hongjun was different.
His head hitting the brick surface wasn't a minor issue. Even if healed, there was a high chance of severe aftereffects.
"Referee, they're killing people!" Flender angrily protested.
"This…" The referee was intimidated by his ferocity.
Uncertain what to do, the referee turned his gaze toward the high platform.
Gu Rong spoke softly, "He's still alive, but he won't last much longer."
Xue Qinghe understood the situation, but there were no healing-type soul masters nearby. How could they save him?
The members of Shrek Academy gathered around Flender, glaring menacingly at the opposing side.
The instructor of the Beast Academy team was no ordinary person but an Elder Soul Douluo from the Snow Mountain Sect.
He snorted, and the overwhelming presence of an eighty-seven-level Soul Douluo became unmistakable.
"How strong," Ning Fengzhi couldn't help but feel astonished.
Gu Rong whispered into his ear, informing him of the opponent's strength.
Ning Fengzhi analyzed, "Even their team leader possesses such strength. The Snow Mountain Sect's power likely surpasses our imagination."
Gu Rong agreed. "Fengzhi, if you intervene, what are the chances of saving that fatso?"
Ning Fengzhi shook his head with a bitter smile. "I'm not a healing-type soul master. My Seven Treasures Divine Light can only keep him alive temporarily. If a healing-type soul master doesn't arrive in time, once my soul power runs out or his condition worsens, there's nothing more I can do."
Xue Qinghe saw through his thoughts.
To be honest, he didn't want the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect to form ties with the Snow Mountain Sect. But publicly, Ning Fengzhi was his teacher—there was no way a disciple could betray their master.
"Teacher, since we can't save him, shouldn't we follow the tournament rules and expel the Beast Academy from this competition?"
Ning Fengzhi waved his hand dismissively. "No need. Bone Uncles, send a message to President Ke—have him immediately return to the sect and bring back a healing-type soul master."
---
Facing such formidable opponents, Flender, seeing no hope of revenge, hastily grabbed Yu Xiaogang's hand. "Xiaogang, you must have a way—please save Hongjun!"
"Principal, it's too late. Earlier, Zhu Jiangzhu used a healing-type soul skill, but it could only treat external injuries. Internal injuries are beyond our reach."
Yu Tianheng shook his head bitterly. "Even if you rush back to the sect at your speed and bring back a healing-type soul master, Hongjun likely won't survive until then."
Yu Xiaogang sighed. "Ask Patriarch Ning. He's the continent's top auxiliary-type soul master—perhaps he has a solution."
With a thud, Flender knelt before Ning Fengzhi on the high platform. "Patriarch Ning, please save Hongjun!"
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