Chapter 159: Battle Against Star Luo

For the match against the Star Luo Royal Academy, Xiao Yu dispatched a lineup consisting of five Spirit Ancestors—Mimi, Dugu Yan, Huo Wu, Xiewu, and Ao—along with two Spirit Kings, Soma and Yuna.

The Soul Fusion Technique deployed by Yuna and Soma was more than enough to handle Dai Weis and Zhu Zhuyun’s Nether White Tiger. With the two of them holding down the fort, Xiao Yu had zero concerns about any unexpected accidents occurring.

Upon seeing the starting lineup of the Nine Stars Academy, Dai Weis, who was leading the Star Luo team, first wore an expression of pleasant surprise, which immediately turned gloomy afterward.

Just like the Royal Team, the Star Luo Royal Academy represented the face of the Star Luo Empire. Even though Dai Weis was an imperial prince and the most favored crown prince designate, he did not possess the right to concede defeat in the finals.

Initially, Dai Weis’s plan was the same as Yu Tianheng of the Royal Team: to at least survive the first round of attacks from the Nine Stars Academy so that they could preserve a shred of dignity.

As for defeating the Nine Stars Academy?

Ever since Xiao Yu unleashed his Soul Fusion Technique against Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu in the opening round, Dai Weis had completely abandoned any such hopes.

The accompanying teacher for the Star Luo Royal Academy was a formidable Soul Douluo expert. He had explicitly told Dai Weis that Xiao Yu had held back his strength when attacking the Ice Phoenix. Based on the fluctuations of spiritual power during Xiao Yu's execution of that move, the teacher was one hundred percent certain that if Xiao Yu had not held back, even experts at the Soul Saint level would face the risk of perishing if they took that hit head-on.

Dai Weis had not forgotten that when Xiao Yu unleashed that sword strike, the spirit ring illuminating his body was his fifth one. If his fifth spirit skill already possessed such terrifying might capable of threatening the lives of Soul Saints, what about his sixth spirit skill? Would it not be comparable to an attack from a Titled Douluo?

Therefore, upon seeing that Xiao Yu was absent from the Nine Stars Academy’s starting lineup, a wave of elation washed over him. Perhaps the Star Luo Royal Academy still had a chance at victory.

Yet, that realization was immediately followed by a bitter taste in his mouth.

Xiao Yu wasn't even stepping onto the stage, acting as though the Nine Stars Academy could secure total victory without him. Was this sheer contempt for the Star Luo Empire?

"You will pay the price for your arrogance!"

Dai Weis’s gaze bypassed Soma and the others on the stage, fixing directly upon Xiao Yu seated in the rest area, his voice bone-chilling.

Anyone would feel awful upon being looked down upon by an opponent, and Dai Weis merely uttering a harsh threat already showed considerable restraint.

***

Equally unsightly was the expression worn by Dai Mubai of Shrek. Originally, he had assumed that Dai Weis and his team would undoubtedly suffer a crushing defeat against the Nine Stars Academy; he never expected that bastard Xiao Yu to be so arrogant as to not even participate personally.

Dai Mubai, who had personally experienced it, knew all too well just how powerful the Nether White Tiger was.

With his own level 43 spirit power combined with Zhu Zhuqing, who was not yet level 40, the Nether White Tiger they formed already possessed combat power approaching that of a Soul King. Dai Weis and Zhu Zhuyun were both high-level Spirit Ancestors; the Soul Fusion Technique unleashed by their joint effort would only be even stronger, likely capable of fighting against high-level Soul Kings.

Once the Nine Stars Academy suffered defeat, the Star Luo Royal Academy would advance to the grand finals and face off against their Shrek Academy. Having lost the immortal herbs, Dai Mubai certainly did not believe he possessed the strength to contend with Dai Weis.

"Damn that arrogant and overconfident Xiao Yu! You've ruined me!"

Dai Mubai cursed inwardly, his gaze sweeping toward Tang San and Ning Rongrong behind him. If they truly ended up facing Dai Weis in the finals, the only people he could rely on were these two heirs of the Upper Three Sects.

"With just the likes of you, there’s no need for the Young Master to lift a finger. Dealing with you lot is more than enough for me!"

On the arena stage, upon hearing Dai Weis’s harsh words, Soma showed utter disdain.

Dai Weis glared viciously at Soma. Soma had appeared in previous matches, and Dai Weis was well aware of his strength: a level 53 assault-type battle Soul King. He was indeed formidable, but unfortunately, he was still far from enough in front of their Soul Fusion Technique.

"The match begins!"

Before it even started, the referee caught the scent of gunpowder thick in the air. He immediately announced the commencement of the match, his figure flashing as he rendered himself virtually invisible.

As the referee's voice fell, Dai Weis let out a furious roar, his White Tiger spirit possessing his body. Just like Dai Mubai, the instant his spirit possession activated, white light erupted across his entire body. His muscles bulged abruptly, and his mane of golden hair instantly transformed into alternating black and white, predominantly white. A "King" character pattern emerged on his forehead, and four spirit rings—two yellow and two purple—floated behind him.

A blazing black light erupted from Zhu Zhuyun, and four spirit rings—also two yellow and two purple—appeared around her. Under the effects of spirit possession, Zhu Zhuyun’s figure became even more mesmerizing, especially her voluptuous bosom, which was even better developed than her younger sister Zhu Zhuqing's. This caused Xiao Yu to click his tongue in silent praise, secretly marveling at the formidable genetic inheritance of the Zhu family lineage.

The five teammates behind Dai Weis and Zhu Zhuyun also released their spirits: four Spirit Ancestors and one Soul Grandmaster whose spiritual power had reached the peak of level 39. This lineup in terms of strength was second only to the Spirit Hall Academy team and the Nine Stars Academy team.

Although the Blazing Lion Academy possessed a Soul King in Feng Xiaotian, the entire team only had three Spirit Ancestors, falling far short of the Star Luo Royal Academy.

If these two teams were to collide, the Soul Fusion Technique jointly unleashed by Dai Weis and Zhu Zhuyun could stall Feng Xiaotian, while their other teammates swiftly eliminated Feng Xiaotian’s remaining companions. In that case, determining the victor would truly be unpredictable.

The lineup presented by the Nine Stars Academy resembled that of the Star Luo Royal Academy, with the two Soul Kings, Soma and Yuna, standing at the very front. Facing the oncoming pressure of spiritual power released by Dai Weis and Zhu Zhuyun, they sneered as their spirits possessed them. Five spirit rings—two yellow, one purple, and two black—rose into the air, instantly suppressing Dai Weis and Zhu Zhuyun in terms of sheer momentum.

"Another Soul King!"

The moment Yuna revealed her spirit, Ning Rongrong, Yue Guan, and the others watching from the sidelines all changed their expressions. Yuna had never appeared in any previous matches; the Nine Stars Palace had truly hidden its hand deep.

"Zhu Yun, fuse!"

Seeing two Soul Kings appear on the opposing side, Dai Weis’s expression shifted drastically, but he still followed the original plan to merge with Zhu Zhuyun at the very first moment. If the opposing side only had Soma as a single Soul King, the Nether White Tiger would undoubtedly secure absolute victory, but with two Soul Kings present, uncertainty began to plague Dai Weis's heart.

The spirits and spiritual powers of the two merged completely, and a massive white tiger with a transparent white body and black stripes materialized upon the arena stage. A single tiger roar pierced the firmament, causing the weaker spirit masters to hurriedly cover their ears.

The Star Luo Royal Academy possessed two support-system spirit masters who were twins. Their spirit was named Supreme Clarity Like Water. Although their auxiliary capabilities could not compare to the Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda, this pair of twins possessed an advantage that the Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda lacked: their amplification effects could stack.

The moment the Nether White Tiger manifested, the third spirit rings on the twins lit up simultaneously, and two deep blue beams of light landed upon the colossal body of the Nether White Tiger. The terrifying aura emanating from the Nether White Tiger became even more dreadful.

"Charge! Rout the Nine Stars Academy at full speed!"

Dai Weis’s voice echoed from within the Nether White Tiger, followed immediately by a single leap as it lunged straight toward Soma and Yuna.