The air shattered, and the wind currents collapsed!
In an instant, the shockwave struck their faces, sending everyone in the arena stumbling backward.
As for the flying ice spikes? They were instantly torn apart, scattering into shimmering fragments that danced beautifully through the air.
Shui Bing'er, the strongest among them, dodged left and right midair, her movements slightly awkward.
Of course, she wasn't evading the impact—she was maintaining her balance.
From this alone, it was clear just how clever Shui Bing'er truly was.
She knew she couldn't withstand the force head-on, so she chose not to resist. Instead, she rode the current like a boat flowing with the tide.
After all, the sheer momentum behind Xiao Tianyang's attack was primarily concussive, not a true shockwave.
Thus, as long as one could discern the airflow's trajectory, it wasn't impossible to evade—just as Shui Bing'er had done.
However, Xiao Tianyang was certain of one thing: his opponent must have undergone specialized training. Her adaptability was extraordinary.
Without either of these factors, Shui Bing'er wouldn't have been able to pull this off.
'This is getting more and more interesting. I thought she was just a passerby from the Douluo Continent, but it seems she's a dazzling supernova instead!' The corners of Xiao Tianyang's lips curled slightly beneath his mask.
It looked like he had stumbled upon another treasure.
"First Soul Skill—Snow Barracuda Thrust!"
At that moment, Yu Hairou suddenly appeared before Xiao Tianyang!
With a single punch, water surged, and a ferocious shark's head lunged at him, jaws wide open!
'I heard that before Xue Wu took the stage, Yu Hairou was their main force. Seems that rumor was true.' Xiao Tianyang shifted his stance slightly and raised a palm in response.
"BOOM!"
A muffled explosion rang out as the shark's head burst apart, scattering water in all directions.
'She is using more brute strength rather than skill.' Xiao Tianyang assessed her almost instantly. With a flick of his left hand, Yu Hairou was sent flying!
But at that very moment—Behind him, Xue Wu's first soul ring lit up. She pointed a finger into the air.
CLICK!
Instantly, the moisture in the air condensed into ice, forming a solid foothold.
Yu Hairou, who had been sent flying, happened to land on it. She tapped her toes lightly, bent her knees, and in the next moment, leaped into the air like a soaring bird!
"Third Soul Skill—Raging Snow Barracuda!"
The air's moisture gathered rapidly, and in half a blink, a two-meter-long shark with razor-sharp fangs materialized!
"Go!"
With a forward thrust of her finger, Yu Hairou rode the waves, merging with the shark as she charged toward Xiao Tianyang—her hands already brewing an ultimate move!
"You know a direct attack like this won't work on me, yet you still try?" Xiao Tianyang frowned in confusion.
This move was nearly identical to Shui Bing'er's earlier tactic.
Had they already forgotten their lesson?
But in the next second—Xiao Tianyang sensed something amiss.
By the time he realized it, his opponent was already three meters behind him.
"Heh… Edward, you've fallen right into the trap!"
There was no need to guess—the only one bold enough to ambush him like this was that clever little fox!
Shui Yue'er!
"First Soul Skill—Ice Bind!"
A biting, howling wind slammed against Xiao Tianyang's back. It didn't injure him, but his body temperature plummeted instantly.
His movements slowed—just slightly, but enough to make him uncomfortable.
And right then—Yu Hairou's attack arrived!
Behind him, the freezing wind; above him, a deluge of water.
What kind of reaction would these two forces create when combined?
The answer was obvious.
Xiao Tianyang was instantly encased in ice—frozen solid into a statue!
But that wasn't all.
Shui Bing'er, who had been gathering power this entire time, finally made her move.
Her third soul ring flashed—and before the skill even fully activated, the entire arena turned frigid. Snowflakes began to fall.
"Third Soul Skill—Chopping Ice!"*
If before, he had merely been frozen—now, Xiao Tianyang was completely sealed within the ice.
No longer just a human-shaped sculpture, but an enormous block of ice—with him trapped inside.
"Don't let your guard down! Press the attack!" Shui Bing'er's voice rang out from above: "Xue Wu! Yue'er!"
Her shout instantly conveyed her intent.
The two of them understood—though they privately felt it was unnecessary.
After all, Xiao Tianyang was already immobilized. All that remained was to slowly wear him down.
But the captain's order was absolute.
As long as the opponent hadn't fallen, the battle wasn't over.
That was the law of the arena.
Otherwise—what was the point of having a captain?
Just for show?
Shui Yue'er and Xue Wu couldn't fly, but they stood directly beneath Shui Bing'er.
If observed carefully, the distance between each of them formed a perfect equilateral triangle—with the frozen Xiao Tianyang at its center.
"Martial Soul Fusion Skill—Ice Age!"
The three of them clasped hands, and a three-dimensional triangle slowly rose from their palms.
The blizzard intensified, the winds howling as the ice encasing Xiao Tianyang grew even harder—its temperature dropping rapidly.
And this wasn't limited to just the arena.
The cold seeped beyond the stage, affecting the surroundings!
…
Outside the Arena – Rest Area
The Shrek Seven Monsters watched in disbelief.
Tang San wore a bitter smile. "I knew Tianshui Academy was strong… but not this strong. Their previous Martial Soul Fusion Skill didn't even use 30% of their power..."
"Edward might really be in trouble this time." Ma Hongjun sighed. "Frozen like that? Forget a human—even a 50,000-year soul beast wouldn't last."
"I don't think so." Dai Mubai stood, his voice low. "Tianshui Academy may have the upper hand now, but remember—Edward has only made one real move since entering the arena."
"Besides, his strength is unfathomable. The stronger the opponent, the more he thrives. This might trouble him, but it won't defeat him."
The others fell silent.
Dai Mubai was right.
Tianshui Academy had played all their cards.
But Xiao Tianyang?
He was frozen, yes—but not unconscious, not defeated.
As for how he'd turn the tables?
None of them knew.
Even after fighting him before, the Shrek Seven Monsters still couldn't gauge his limits. His strength was like a bottomless abyss—impossible to measure.
So they waited, curious.
If he lost…
Honestly, from the moment they'd seen him join the tournament, they'd never even considered the possibility.
After all—this was the man who had crushed them effortlessly.
"By the way, Boss Dai." Ma Hongjun suddenly grinned. "Isn't Yu Hairou your little girlfriend? You don't seem too eager to cheer for her!"
"Oh please, if that worked, would we have lost to them?" Dai Mubai rolled his eyes. "Need I remind you just how strong Edward is?"
"Oho~ So you did date her! And it only lasted one night!" Ma Hongjun gasped dramatically, clutching his chest in exaggerated betrayal.
"We swore to stay single together! How could you abandon me?!"
"Damn it—this friendship is fake!"
Dai Mubai: "..."
'Since when did this fatty get so sharp?!'
…
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