The stronger the technique, the more focus it required. At this moment, Huo Yu'er had poured all her concentration into targeting Dai Huabin.
Even with her Spirit Detection soul skill active, by the time Huo Yu'er realized what was happening, she could no longer control her body and was about to be struck head-on by the incoming soul skill.
"Insolence!!!"
At this critical moment, a torrential surge of soul power erupted like a collapsing sky. Both Huo Yu'er, Dai Huabin, and the person who had attacked Huo Yu'er were all flung away.
Though Huo Yu'er hadn't been directly hit by the brunt of the soul power, the residual force alone made her feel as though her internal organs had shifted out of place.
"What just happened?"
Huo Yu'er's mind was hazy as she struggled to stand up. She then turned her gaze toward the Soul Arena stage.
There, a disheveled old man held a middle-aged man suspended in mid-air with one hand, his eyes cold and menacing.
"How dare you act so recklessly on Shrek Academy's grounds! White Tiger Dai Family—how bold of you." Xuan Zi spoke in an icy tone.
As time passed, Mu En's health had continued to deteriorate. Since that day, Xuan Zi had gradually solidified his resolve to protect Shrek Academy.
During this time, Xuan Zi had secretly investigated the Tian Xing Sect but, as expected, found nothing.
Today, he had intended to subtly probe Huo Yu'er and her companions for information. After all, even the faintest trace of intent within the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist Ye Wen had used was terrifying enough.
Who would have thought that Xuan Zi would stumble upon the scene of Dai Huabin challenging Huo Yu'er?
Witnessing this, Xuan Zi's "onlooker" instincts were triggered, and he hid in the shadows to watch the spectacle unfold.
Although Huo Yu'er hadn't displayed the full extent of her Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist from that day, her current combat prowess still left Xuan Zi astonished. He couldn't help but reflect that if Huo Yu'er didn't already belong to a sect, she would undoubtedly have been recruited into Shrek Academy's inner circle.
After all, Huo Yu'er wasn't even a Soul Honored yet, but she was already overpowering Dai Huabin, who was at the mid-Soul Honored level.
However, none of this was the main issue today.
Shrek City was a place that valued rules. Within its borders, no one was allowed to fight indiscriminately, let alone kill.
But as the saying goes, "When wielding a blade, murderous intent arises." If conflicts weren't resolved, they would inevitably escalate, especially among soul masters who wielded extraordinary powers.
Thus, special arenas like the Soul Arena were established to settle disputes—though the rule remained that opponents couldn't be killed.
But what had Xuan Zi witnessed today?
An outsider dared to trample on Shrek Academy's millennia-old honor! They dared to attack a student of Shrek Academy in broad daylight!
For Xuan Zi, who cherished Shrek's glory as his life, such brazen arrogance was unforgivable.
"Answer me, scum! How do you wish to die?" Xuan Zi's voice dripped with killing intent as he tightened his grip.
The middle-aged man's face turned purple, on the verge of being strangled to death.
Yet even this faint trace of killing intent sent chills down Huo Yu'er's spine, further fueling her yearning for the strength of a Titled Douluo.
At this moment, several streaks of light flashed across the sky, landing atop the high platform of the Soul Arena.
"Enough, Xuan Zi," an elderly woman with white hair said calmly.
Unfortunately, despite being a 98th-level Super Douluo, Xuan Zi's spirit itself bore a significant flaw, often causing him to lose control and enter a berserk state.
At this moment, Xuan Zi's mind was consumed by the desire to punish those who had defiled Shrek's honor.
"You—"
Before Xuan Zi could say more, the elderly woman cut him off with a calm tone.
"It is the Pavilion Master's will."
With these words, the elderly woman stood silently by, observing. Yet the mention of the Pavilion Master acted like a sedative, instantly calming Xuan Zi's previously bloodshot eyes and restoring his composure.
Xuan Zi loosened his grip, and the middle-aged man collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.
"Understood," Xuan Zi replied. With a wave of his hand, both the middle-aged man and Dai Huabin vanished from the Soul Arena.
Along with them disappeared the powerful figures who had arrived earlier. Those capable of flying within Shrek City were undoubtedly Titled Douluos.
Still gravely injured, Huo Yu'er surveyed the chaotic aftermath, her expression dark.
"Shrek…"
---
**The Next Day**
Unsurprisingly, the events of yesterday's Soul Arena duel became the talk of the entire Shrek City.
In the morning, students from various classes were discussing the incident fervently, but their teachers soon imposed a gag order, forbidding further discussion. However, the final verdict was announced:
Dai Huabin would be expelled, and for the next ten years, Shrek Academy would not accept any students from the Dai Family.
After spending the night meditating and barely managing to stabilize her internal injuries, Huo Yu'er's expression remained grim. She was far from satisfied with this outcome.
"To damage Shrek's reputation and receive only this punishment… Hmph. Is it because the Dai Family is responsible for the frontlines against the Sun Moon Empire?
To avoid disrupting the harmony among the three nations of Douluo, they chose to make me, a common soul master, swallow this insult. Though I suffered no real loss, their actions are truly revolting.
What is Shrek's honor? What is the lofty Duke Family?
Teacher was right—in this world, strength is everything.
If these people, obsessed only with profit, continue to dominate the Douluo Continent, how many ordinary people will endure endless injustices like I have?"
Huo Yuer clenched her fists tightly.
The ambition ignited by Ye Wen now burned fiercely within her, and in this moment, Huo Yu'er underwent a complete transformation.
After the first class, a teacher from the inner court approached Huo Yu'er and handed her two gold soul coins worth 100,000 each.
"This is the academy's compensation to you."
With that, the teacher turned and left, as if the 200,000 gold soul coins were a tremendous gift or charity to Huo Yu'er.
Silently, Huo Yu'er accepted the coins. After all, one couldn't reject money in the name of dignity.
But at this moment, Huo Yu'er firmly branded Shrek Academy with the label of arrogance. Had she not been saved yesterday, even if she survived, she would have been crippled for life.
Upon returning, Huo Yu'er threw herself into her cultivation with even greater intensity.
She never wanted to experience such helplessness again.
---
Dai Family Residence in Shrek City
Naturally, Shrek Academy's punishment of the White Tiger Duke Family wasn't limited to the two publicly announced measures. Behind the scenes, the White Tiger Dai Family had offered numerous concessions to Shrek Academy to quell their anger.
At this moment, Dai Huabin sat in a daze as servants packed his belongings.
To be honest, Dai Huabin now wished he had been crippled by Huo Yu'er rather than having his subordinates interfere and disrupt the duel.
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