The arena was buzzing with energy, filled with the roars of spectators. But amidst the noise, a focused and solemn calm rested over the Azure Dragon Squad, seated in the top-tier viewing stands. Jiang Yun sat quietly at the center, arms folded, his sharp eyes scanning the field below. Beside him, Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan maintained stoic silence, eyes locked onto the arena.
Today's match: Tianshui Academy versus Shrek Academy.
Although Shrek had built some reputation in the tournament so far, everyone present knew the real titans had already shown themselves. Azure Dragon stood at the top undefeated, and Tianshui Academy — ranked third — had only lost to them. In contrast, Shrek was sixth and had already tasted defeat at the hands of Blazing Fire Academy.
On the battlefield, Shrek's formation was simple. Dai Mubai, their captain, stood at the front. Behind him were Tang San, Xiao Wu, Yu Xuan, Oscar, Jiang Zhu, and Tai Long.
On Tianshui's side stood a graceful yet deadly arrangement of seven young women.
Shui Bing'er, the captain, calm and composed.
Xue Wu, the ethereal ice spirit master.
Shui Yue'er, agile and vigilant, eyes darting between Shrek's formation.
Four other spirit masters forming a semi-circle behind their lead pair, quietly circulating their soul power.
The judge signaled. "Begin!"
Before anyone could react, Shui Bing'er's first soul ring lit up with a cold blue hue.
> "First Soul Skill – Ice Seal."
Caught completely off guard, the Shrek team staggered.
Tang San's Purple Demon Eyes flared instinctively, trying to analyze the energy fluctuation, but it was too late. His body, not yet resistant to such extreme elemental force, stiffened under the sudden freeze. Xiao Wu, Oscar, Yu Xuan, Mei Ling, and Tai Long were all instantly immobilized, frozen in place by the power of Shui Bing'er's first soul skill.
Only Dai Mubai, whose powerful White Tiger martial soul gave him extraordinary physical resilience, managed to shatter the ice cocoon around him with brute force and a roar.
> "White Tiger Shield Body Barrier!"
The frost shattered around him, and he prepared to charge , he stepped forward, trying to free his team—until a blur of silver and aqua intercepted him.
From the edge of Tianshui's ranks, Shui Yue'er shot forward like a shadow.
> "You're not getting past me."
A swift clash erupted between Dai Mubai and Shui Yue'er, her lithe movements and sharp strikes preventing him from interrupting what came next.
Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu stood opposite each other. A gentle mist began to swirl around them, snowflakes forming from the energy crackling between their bodies. Their second, third and fourth soul rings flared one after another.
The air thickened with frost. Even spectators sitting far away began to feel a numbing cold seep into their skin.
The audience watched in awe—and dread.
"Is this...?"
""Martial Soul Fusion Skill !"
From the Azure Dragon viewing room, Dugu Yan's eyes narrowed. "They're really going to use it now?"
Down on the field, the remaining four members of Tianshui Academy—stretched their hands outward, channeling their spiritual energy into the fusion node between Bing'er and Xue Wu.
Gasps erupted through the audience.
In the arena, the snow gathered in mid-air, forming into a spiraling cloud of ice crystals. As it spun faster, the cold pressure surged until it manifested — a massive seven-meter-long Ice Phoenix, wings spread, glittering with countless fragments of snow and spirit light.
> "Drifting Snow!"
The Ice Phoenix floated down from above, graceful and slow, yet bringing with it a chilling, irresistible force. It did not distinguish between friend or foe — it was absolute. The remaining Tianshui team immediately withdrew from the battlefield perimeter, knowing the danger of being caught in its radius.
Jiang Yun narrowed his eyes.
"That's power equivalent to a Soul Emperor, when they fought with us only Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu were involved in the martial soul fusion skill but now except Shui Yue'er everyone else are also involved." he murmured.
Dugu Yan nodded. "Shrek can't defend against that. Not even close."
Finally Tang San , Xiao Wu, Tai Long and Yu Xuan manage to break free from the Ice Freeze but they were too late.
In the arena, Dai Mubai had managed to knock Shui Yue'er aside and was rushing to shield his teammates — but it was far too late.
As the Ice Phoenix descended, the frozen arena erupted in razor-sharp hails of ice crystals. The temperature dropped below freezing. The storm of ice blades tore through the battlefield with devastating force. The impact enveloped every member of Shrek, shattering their defenses.
Inside the blizzard, Tang San could feel his lungs burn from the cold. Every nerve screamed in protest. His body wouldn't move, locked in spiritual resistance against a force far beyond his realm.
He tried to activate his Blue Silver Grass, but the vines cracked under the frost the moment they extended. Xiao Wu was unconscious, barely visible beneath a thin sheet of snow. Oscar's sausages had frozen solid in his storage belt.
Even Dai Mubai's toughened body couldn't withstand the onslaught — he collapsed under the pressure, covered in frost and cuts.
And then—
Everything went white.
A thick layer of shimmering ice blanketed the arena. Shrek's team lay scattered, defeated and unconscious, their breath faint in the air.
> "Match over! Tianshui Academy wins!" the judge declared.
–––
From the stands, murmurs turned into stunned silence.
From Azure Dragon's corner, Zhu Zhuqing quietly said, "They were defeated."
Jiang Yun nodded. "Badly. They weren't ready for that level of combination skill."
Jiang Yun remained silent, but his gaze lingered on the aftermath. He wasn't concerned about Shrek.
Though many thought Shrek had simply underestimated their opponent, those with sharp eyes knew better. Their strength was simply overwhelmed. Tianshui's coordination, preparation, and sheer power were far superior.
Elsewhere, Bishop Salas, who had been silently observing the match, tapped his fingers against his seat arm.
Back in the waiting area, Yu Xiaogang quietly adjusted his robes, but his expression barely concealed with disappointment and fury.
Behind him, Tang San, just barely regaining consciousness, winced as frost fell from his brows.
Their road to the finals — if there still was one — had just gotten steeper.