"I didn't expect our opponent today to be him..." In the arena, the man facing Xiao Tianyang couldn't help but frown.
"Brother, he's just one person. What's there to fear?"
Beside him, a girl scoffed, displeased. "Besides, he didn't even participate in the previous matches. Who knows how strong he really is?"
This girl was extraordinary in appearance—her beauty rivaled even Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong.
Dark red, wavy hair cascaded down to her waist, complementing her fair skin and delicate features. Her pale silver eyes held an almost hypnotic allure, while her tall figure and confident smile only accentuated her striking presence.
There was no doubt—she was a stunning beauty.
"Huo Wu, even so, think about the strength of the soul masters the Whitebeard team sent before."
The man paused before continuing, "The Knight's valor, the Monster of Baixue, and the Dashan's ferocity—all three crushed their opponents single-handedly. As their captain, he must be even stronger. Do you still doubt his strength?"
Huo Wu, name was familiar to Xiao Tianyang.
Though she hadn't appeared often in the original story, her looks and personality left a lasting impression.
Xiao Tianyang was no exception.
Of course, given how few notable female characters there were in the original plot—only two or three truly stood out—it was hard not to remember her.
And if this girl's identity was confirmed, then so was the team's—the Blazing Academy.
The man speaking was none other than Huo Wu's elder brother, Huo Wushuang.
Indeed, Xiao Tianyang's opponents today were them.
Huo Wu frowned at her brother's words but stayed silent.
Though she disliked him dampening their morale by praising their opponent, she couldn't deny the truth.
Every match fought by the Whitebeard team members under Xiao Tianyang's leadership had left an indelible mark on the audience—including the Blazing team.
But Huo Wu, ever proud, wasn't one to surrender without a fight.
Even if defeat seemed inevitable, she would still try.
That was part of what made her so compelling.
Arrogance, when not excessive, could be understood—even admired.
After all, geniuses often carried a hint of pride. Ning Rongrong had been the same when she first arrived at Shrek Academy.
To Xiao Tianyang, these youths were still sharp-edged, their personalities unpolished.
But time and experience would smooth those edges.
"Clang!"
As the host's introduction concluded, Xiao Tianyang stepped onto the stage, his weapon—Cong Yunqie—scraping against the ground with a metallic ring.
His gaze swept over the Blazing team with interest.
Huo Wu, standing at the center, was the most eye-catching—not just for her beauty, but because she was the team's core.
Xiao Tianyang vaguely recalled details about the Blazing team:
Huo Wushuang was the captian with Martial Soul: One-Horned Tyrant Dragon spirit (a top-tier existence, comparable to Liu Erlong's). His level was only 42.
As for Huo Wu, she was the vice captain with Martial Soul: Fire Shadow (a rare, special-type Martial Soul—essentially her own shadow). Her level 43 was highest in the team.
The remaining five members consisted of one assault-type soul master, two agility-Type (Twins) with martial soul Fire Crane. There were also two support-type though their exact abilities were unclear—Xiao Tianyang couldn't recall every detail from the original plot.
"Both sides, prepare!" The referee stood at the edge of the ring, his expression stern but his eyes betraying curiosity.
In truth, everyone present shared that curiosity.
The previous matches featuring Saber and the others had been nothing short of shocking.
So what kind of leader could command such monsters?
'How strong is he?'
That question lingered in everyone's mind—both on and off the stage.
Even Huyan Zhen, who had left disappointed the day before, couldn't resist watching.
This alone spoke volumes about Xiao Tianyang's—or rather, Edward's—reputation.
"Referee, wait!"
A captivating voice suddenly rang out from the Blazing team.
Huo Wushuang was surprised but didn't stop his sister as she spoke.
"What is it?" The referee frowned.
"That weapon in his hand violates the competition rules," Huo Wu declared. "The rules explicitly forbid any abilities outside Martial Souls and Soul Skills. That weapon falls under that restriction."
The referee nodded, though inwardly, he dismissed her concern.
On the douluo continent , Martial Souls reigned supreme—everything else was considered heretical.
To him, Huo Wu's objection was just pre-battle nerves.
But since it was technically valid—and given her influential background—he couldn't refuse.
Turning to Xiao Tianyang, he asked, "Any objections?"
"None."
With a casual flick of his wrist, Xiao Tianyang flung Cong Yunqie out of the ring.
"BOOM!"
The impact was like a meteor strike—the entire arena trembled.
Even the composed referee was stunned.
"Was that weapon impossibly heavy, or is this kid just showing off?"
The audience, however, had already drawn their conclusions.
"No Soul Power… no hidden energy…" Behind Ning Fengzhi, Gu Rong narrowed his eyes, his mind racing.
Ning Fengzhi finished the thought: "Meaning that weapon truly weighs thousands of pounds—yet he wielded it effortlessly."
"This boy is extraordinary. His strength isn't his only asset."
Ning Fengzhi nodded but then frowned. "Still, I don't understand Miao Zhenshan's decision to let him compete under another identity. If this secret gets out, how will the Spirit Hall react?"
Gu Rong snorted. "If he were 'normal,' would he have ever been in the Spirit Hall to begin with? Besides, with his concealment abilities, no one can see through him—not even us."
Ning Fengzhi sighed. "True enough."
After all, they hadn't uncovered Xiao Tianyang's identity through observation—they'd deduced it.
…
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