Dense golden-yellow specks of light instantly surged into the crimson-gold radiance surrounding Xiao Wu. To the mutual astonishment of both sides, the moment those yellow specks entered her protective glow, they vanished without a trace — like moths plunging into a flame, never to return.
Not only did they fail to produce the slightest effect, but they actually caused the crimson-gold light surrounding Xiao Wu to blaze even brighter, swelling from its original three inches of thickness to over a foot.
In an instant, every trace of the attacking light was obliterated.
At the same time, an exceedingly unique aura erupted from Xiao Wu's body. The crimson-gold radiance surged outward in a violent burst, and although it faded somewhat as it expanded in distance, it nonetheless enveloped her opponent with effortless ease.
The referee inside the competition grounds was also caught within that layer of light, yet he felt nothing unusual. But Xiao Wu's opponent was a different story entirely. Beneath that crimson-gold glow, he felt as though he were facing a Titled Douluo.
His entire body's Soul Power instantly ceased to function, and the solar orb in his hands withered silently within the radiance, wilting away.
Xiao Wu herself was stunned. In the face of this situation, she didn't need to do anything further. As the sun in her opponent's hands withered away, the surge of heat within her body gradually receded, and after a brief moment, it dissipated entirely. The dazzling crimson-gold halo vanished along with it.
The match had begun normally and ended bizarrely. Compared to the explosive intensity of the first bout, this one left an even more unbelievable impression. Xiao Wu was merely a Soul Venerable, yet she had defeated two Soul Ancestors in succession, stunning the entire arena.
Just as Xiao Wu stood there in a daze, Tang San's faint voice reached her ear: "No matter who asks, don't say a word about why that crimson-gold light appeared. Keep silent and maintain an air of mystery. Leave everything else to me."
Meanwhile, the VIP section was buzzing with discussion. Emperor Xue Ye looked toward Ning Fengzhi in surprise, but Ning Fengzhi shook his head at him, indicating that he, too, had no idea what the crimson-gold light was.
Platinum Bishop Salas, however, spoke up. "I didn't expect that Shrek Academy would actually have someone who possesses a Soul Bone. This must be their hidden strength."
Soul Bone?
Both Emperor Xue Ye and Ning Fengzhi showed expressions of agreement. For them, this was clearly the best explanation. Xiao Wu hadn't produced any Soul Guide to use, and that crimson-gold light was obviously not something a Soul Guide could possess. Explaining it as a Soul Bone skill was undoubtedly the most logical interpretation.
Emperor Xue Ye took a deep breath. "Still, this Soul Bone skill seems a bit too powerful. It was able to wither the opponent's Martial Soul in an instant. It appears that in terms of Soul Power damage, this Balak Academy student suffered even more severely than the last one."
Ning Fengzhi smiled faintly and said, "Your Majesty may not be aware, but if my guess is correct, Xiao Wu's Soul Skill is likely targeted in nature — it isn't effective against just any Martial Soul. Perhaps only plant-type Martial Souls are countered by this ability of her Soul Bone. The range may be even narrower than that."
As the Clan Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and the world's foremost auxiliary Soul Master, Ning Fengzhi's knowledge was extraordinarily vast. If the crimson-gold light released by Xiao Wu were effective against every Martial Soul, wouldn't that make her virtually invincible?
Salas, in a rare display, did not argue with Ning Fengzhi. He nodded and said, "I share Clan Master Ning's view. This should be a rather ordinary Soul Bone that simply happened to be effective in this particular situation. It doesn't signify anything beyond that."
The referee in the competition grounds was naturally filled with doubt over Xiao Wu's crimson-gold light and stepped forward to inquire, but Xiao Wu refused to say anything. Left with no choice, the referee had no option but to refer the ruling to the judges' panel.
By this time, Emperor Xue Ye and the other two had already reached their judgment. In their view, it was perfectly normal for Xiao Wu to remain silent — after all, who would willingly admit to possessing a Soul Bone? The victory was awarded without question to Shrek Academy. Xiao Wu had achieved two consecutive wins.
The matches continued. What left Shrek Academy feeling caught between laughter and tears was that the subsequent Balak Academy contestants were clearly no match for the first two. Xiao Wu defeated three more opponents in succession before finally exhausting her Soul Power and stepping down from the stage.
Among the Balak Academy team members who took the field after that, not a single one above level forty appeared.
Xiao Wu's flawless performance undeniably overshadowed the participants from all the other academies in the two preceding major matches. Her five consecutive victories temporarily placed her individual record at the very top.
When Xiao Wu left the arena, Tang San immediately stepped into the competition grounds. And the relief that Balak Academy had just begun to feel after Xiao Wu's departure was plunged into freezing depths the moment Tang San released his Martial Soul.