26: Chapter 26 Brother? Hello...

"Dai Huabin... That name, I feel like I've heard it somewhere?"

"Are you stupid! The second son of the Duke of the White Tiger, Dai Hao, is named Dai Huabin! Look at his golden hair and evil eyes, you definitely can't be wrong!"

"My god! The son of the Duke of the White Tiger also came to Shrek Academy? With Wang Dong from Class 1, Huo Yuhao from Class 5, and now Dai Huabin, what kind of god-tier battle is this year's freshman class!"

"Is there even a need to compare? Dai Huabin is a level 37 attack system battle Spirit Elder! His spirit rings are two yellow and one purple!"

"And his teammate, Zhu Lu, has the Hell Civet Spirit and is also a level 35 agility-attack system Spirit Elder! It's said that when they join forces, they can use the legendary Spirit Fusion Ability!"

"Level 37?! And with a purple spirit ring? This... how can they fight this? Even though Class 5 won against Class 1 yesterday, it was a close call, right? That Huo Yuhao doesn't even have a spirit ring; the gap is just too big!"

When the referee announced the matchups for the semifinals, the entire arena instantly erupted into heated discussion.

If yesterday's match between Class 5 and Class 1 was a dialogue between geniuses, then today's match, in the eyes of the vast majority, will be a one-sided crush without any suspense.

The son of the Duke of the White Tiger, Dai Huabin.

This name itself represents power and strength.

Under the gaze of the crowd, Dai Huabin walked leisurely into the arena, his arm around the curvaceous Zhu Lu, accompanied by another teammate.

His handsome face bore an innate arrogance, and a wicked light flickered in his golden eyes as he scanned the formation of Class 5 opposite him.

When his gaze fell upon that slender figure, the arrogance on his face instantly froze.

It was replaced by a twisted expression mixed with shock, gloom, and deep-seated hatred.

"It's you?!"

Dai Huabin's voice was not loud, but it was filled with suppressed rage, as if squeezed out from between his teeth.

Huo Yuhao.

This bastard, whom he thought had long since died in some corner of the Dukes Mansion or starved to death in the wilderness, had actually appeared here alive!

He had even become a student at Shrek Academy and become his opponent!

At this moment, countless memories of humiliation and anger flooded his mind.

He remembered that night, when this bastard left with that lowly woman, fleeing the Dukes Mansion, the provocative look he left behind, and the nightmare he had caused.

He remembered the cold treatment and ridicule he had received at the Dukes Mansion over the past year because of this matter.

Everything was thanks to this bastard!

"Huo Yuhao..."

Dai Huabin enunciated the name word by word, the killing intent in his eyes almost becoming tangible. "You bastard, you really have a tenacious life. But it doesn't matter; today, right here, I will crush you into pieces with my own hands!"

Zhu Lu, beside him, also recognized Huo Yuhao.

Looking at the silver-haired girl beside Huo Yuhao, who was so beautiful she didn't seem mortal, a flash of jealousy crossed her eyes. She then said in a condescending tone, "Yo, isn't this the little trash from the Dukes Mansion who couldn't even awaken his Spirit? What's the matter? Did you cling to a rich woman and sneak into Shrek?"

Their voices were not loud, but they were enough for the people around them to hear.

For a moment, countless gazes—some curious, some disdainful, some gloating—focused on Huo Yuhao.

"The trash from the Dukes Mansion? So there's that connection?"

"I knew it. How could a control system user with a ten-year first spirit ring be so strong? So he came in through the back door."

Facing this oncoming malice and slander, Huo Yuhao's expression did not change in the slightest.

He just looked at Dai Huabin quietly. Those deep eyes were as calm as a pool of ten-thousand-year-old ice, without a single ripple.

But beneath this extreme calmness lay a monstrous chill.

In the preparation area, Teacher Mujin watched him worriedly.

Wang Xiaoli gripped the Zanpakuto in his hand, staring at Dai Huabin with hostile eyes.

Gu Yuena's brows furrowed slightly.

She could clearly feel the flash of killing intent on Huo Yuhao, which was more intense than at any time before.

This killing intent made her feel familiar, and also... made her feel a pang of heartache.

"This match," Huo Yuhao suddenly spoke, his voice not loud but exceptionally clear, "let me handle it."

Wang Xiaoli was stunned for a moment.

Gu Yuena looked at him deeply, seeing the unmelting frost in the depths of his eyes.

She didn't ask why, just nodded gently.

"As you wish."

...

"Both teams, take the field!"

Following the referee's voice, both teams walked onto the competition stage.

On Dai Huabin's side, spirit rings rose from all three of them simultaneously.

Two yellow, one purple!

Two yellow, one purple!

Two yellow!

The astonishing spirit ring configuration of Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu instantly ignited the entire audience!

Two thousand-year spirit rings—this was unprecedented in the freshman assessment!

The terrifying pressure of Soul Power swept towards Class 5 like a tidal wave.

However, Huo Yuhao just stood there quietly, letting the Soul Power pressure brush over his body, as if it weren't a raging sea, but a gentle breeze.

He didn't even let Gu Yuena and Wang Xiaoli release their Spirits.

"What do you mean by this?!"

Dai Huabin roared, "Are you looking down on me?! You bastard!"

"Match start!"

The referee's voice drowned out Dai Huabin's roar.

"Roar!"

A deafening tiger roar erupted from Dai Huabin's mouth!

White Tiger Spirit, possess!

His body expanded instantly, muscles knotted, and black tiger stripes appeared on his skin.

A pair of sharp claws popped out from his fingertips, and his golden eyes were filled with the desire for brutality and slaughter!

The third spirit ring, the purple ring representing a thousand years, shone brightly!

"White Tiger Demon God Transformation!"

He had actually used his strongest amplification Spirit Ability right at the start!

His momentum climbed to its peak at this moment!

"Go to hell! Huo Yuhao!"

Dai Huabin's figure turned into a white lightning bolt, rushing straight towards Huo Yuhao with incomparable power!

He didn't even use any Spirit Ability, because he was confident that in the state of White Tiger Demon God Transformation, he could tear this trash to pieces with mere physical strength!

What he wanted to enjoy was the pleasure of crushing his opponent with his own hands!

Facing this thunderous strike, Huo Yuhao did not move.

Wang Xiaoli did not move.

Gu Yuena did not move either.

Just when Dai Huabin's sharp claws were less than half a meter away from Huo Yuhao's throat.

Huo Yuhao slowly raised his eyes.

In those originally calm, waveless eyes, golden light flowed.

Spirit Eye, open!

No spirit rings, no light from a Spirit Ability, not even any fluctuation of Soul Power.

It was just such a simple gaze.

Dai Huabin's charging figure suddenly stiffened!

He only felt that his brain had been heavily smashed by an invisible iron hammer!

"Hum"

Intense pain! Heart-wrenching, lung-tearing pain!

His vision became blurred and distorted in an instant, and the whole World was spinning.

His momentum, which had gathered to its peak, leaked out completely in an instant, like a punctured balloon.

First Spirit Ability, Spirit Shock!

"Bang!"

Due to the huge inertia, Dai Huabin's body fell miserably to the ground less than a foot in front of Huo Yuhao, rolling several times before stopping.

The entire arena instantly fell into a dead silence.

Everyone stared at this scene, dumbfounded.

What happened?

How did the son of the Duke of the White Tiger, who was just aggressive and arrogant,... fall down by himself?

"Huabin!" Zhu Lu exclaimed, about to step forward.

"Don't move."

A cold voice rang out.

Zhu Lu felt a chill rise from the soles of her feet; she subconsciously stopped her footsteps and looked at the source of the voice.

The one who spoke was that silver-haired girl.

Although she was clearly just standing there quietly, she gave Zhu Lu a fatal sense of oppression, as if facing a fierce beast.

"This match is their business," Gu Yuena said indifferently.

"Ugh... Aaaah!"

On the ground, Dai Huabin clutched his head and let out a painful roar.

That intense pain from the depths of his soul twisted his handsome face.

He struggled to get up, but that pervasive Spirit Shock was like countless steel needles, churning crazily in his mind, making him unable to even concentrate.

"What's going on... You... what did you do to me?!" Dai Huabin roared in terror.

Huo Yuhao did not answer him.

He simply began to walk, slowly, step by step, toward Dai Huabin.

His footsteps were light, landing on the hard competition platform without making a sound.

Fear, an unprecedented fear, instantly overwhelmed him.

"No... don't come over!"

He wanted to retreat, but his body would not obey.

Huo Yuhao walked up to him, looking down from above at this "older brother" who had once subjected him and his mother to endless humiliation.

"Stand up."

Huo Yuhao spoke, devoid of any emotion.

The moment he spoke, the excruciating pain in Dai Huabin's mind receded like a tide.

Dai Huabin gasped for air, his entire body already soaked in cold sweat.

He raised his head and stared fixedly at Huo Yuhao with a gaze mixed with fear and resentment.

"You bastard... what kind of sorcery did you use?!"

He suddenly leaped up from the ground, the purple spirit ring on his body lighting up once again.

"I'm going to kill you! Second Spirit Ability, White Tiger Light Wave!"

A scorching white beam of light erupted from his mouth, carrying a destructive aura as it blasted toward Huo Yuhao, who was within arm's reach!

At such a close distance, there was simply no way to dodge!

However, at the very instant the beam was about to touch Huo Yuhao's body.

"Hum..."

Another invisible mental interference occurred.

The violent White Tiger Light Wave suddenly became extremely unstable in energy the moment it was fired, and its direction shifted in a bizarre way.

It grazed the hem of Huo Yuhao's clothes and shot into empty space, causing ripples on the protective barrier in the distance.

"What?!"

Dai Huabin was completely stunned.

His Spirit Ability, which he prided himself on, had actually missed on its own?

How could this be possible!

"Too slow," Huo Yuhao's voice rang out again, "And your aim is terrible."

This dismissive tone, as if a teacher were critiquing a student, completely ignited Dai Huabin's rage.

"You're courting death!"

He abandoned his Spirit Ability, once again channeling the power of the White Tiger Demon God Transformation, and lunged forward, brandishing his sharp claws.

However, the bizarre occurrences happened again.

He had clearly aimed for Huo Yuhao's chest, but the trajectory of his claws inexplicably shifted downward by three inches, grazing Huo Yuhao's waist instead.

He tried to sweep with his right leg, but his body suddenly stumbled, and he nearly fell again.

He gathered his Soul Power to try the same trick again, but the Soul Power suddenly dissipated on its own halfway through his meridians.

He had strength but couldn't use it!

Every time he thought he had seized an opportunity and was about to hit his opponent.

An invisible force would always interfere with his judgment, affect his movements, and disrupt his Soul Power circulation.

He was like a marionette, and the one pulling the strings was the expressionless youth before him.

Fear crept into his heart once more, more intense than before.

This was no longer a battle.

This was mockery!

"Huabin! Use that!"

Zhu Lu, who was below the stage, finally snapped out of her shock and screamed a reminder.

Dai Huabin was jolted awake!

That's right! They still had their final trump card!

"Zhu Lu!" He roared.

Zhu Lu released her Hell Civet Spirit without hesitation, her body turning into a black phantom as she rushed rapidly toward Dai Huabin!

Spirit Fusion Ability, Hell White Tiger!

As long as they could successfully fuse, the power they would unleash would grow exponentially, potentially even rivaling a Spirit King-level powerhouse!

By then, no matter what sorcery you have, it would be crushed in the face of absolute power!

In the spectator stands, everyone held their breath.

Was the legendary Spirit Fusion Ability about to appear?

However, at the very moment Zhu Lu's figure was about to merge with Dai Huabin.

A wall of ice, thick enough to induce despair, rose from the ground without warning!

This ice wall appeared in the perfect spot, exactly blocking the space between Zhu Lu and Dai Huabin, separating the two perfectly!

Zhu Lu slammed headfirst into the ice wall, emitting a dull thud, and was left dizzy and disoriented.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Dai Huabin frantically attacked the ice wall with his claws, but could only leave white scratches on it.

"It's useless."

Gu Yuena's voice rang out calmly.

This ice wall contained her Soul Power; let alone a Spirit Elder, even a Spirit King wouldn't be able to break it in a short amount of time.

Spirit Fusion Ability failed!

Dai Huabin's last hope was shattered.

He gasped for air, leaning his back against the cold wall, watching the figure on the opposite side, who looked like a demon god, walking toward him step by step.

His mind completely collapsed.

"Huo Yuhao! What exactly do you want?!" He roared hysterically.

Huo Yuhao stopped walking and looked at him; there was no joy of victory in his eyes, only a cold indifference.

A voice rang out directly in his mind, a voice colder and more biting than the Siberian wind.

[What do I want?]

[I want you to remember.]

[I want you to remember how you kicked over my mother's medicine bowl back at the Dukes Mansion.]

[I want you to remember how you used "bastard" and "slut" to refer to my mother and me.]

[I want you to remember how you treated those who were weaker than you and unable to resist.]

[Now it's your turn.]

Every word of Huo Yuhao's slammed fiercely into the depths of Dai Huabin's soul.

Dai Huabin's pupils contracted violently, and all color drained from his face.

So he remembered everything! He had always remembered!

"Huo Yuhao! He is the Duke of the White Tiger's..."

Zhu Lu, behind the ice wall, still tried to use his status to threaten him.

"I know who he is."

Huo Yuhao interrupted her, his voice not loud, but it carried across the entire arena, "And that is exactly why I must make him suffer enough."

Having said that, he raised his eyes again.

Those eyes seemed to have turned into two bottomless vortexes.

"Ah!"

Dai Huabin let out a scream that didn't sound human, clutching his head, rolling and convulsing wildly on the ground.

This time, Huo Yuhao poured the purest mental agony directly into his mind.

It was the despair and pain he and his mother had once endured, amplified countless times over.

A few seconds later, Dai Huabin's screams stopped abruptly.

He lay limp on the ground, his body still twitching slightly, his golden eyes having completely lost their luster, becoming hollow.

His mind was completely destroyed.

The ice wall dissipated quietly.

The referee was stunned for a long time before finally raising his hand high and announcing in a complex tone:

"This match... the Class 5 team is the winner."

The entire arena was deathly silent.

Everyone was stunned by this bizarre and cruel scene.

Was this really a freshman assessment?

Why did they feel such a chilling hatred?

Huo Yuhao turned around and walked off the competition platform, never once looking at Dai Huabin on the ground from beginning to end.

In the spectator stands.

Wang Donger and Xiao Xiao were both too shocked to speak.

"He... the way he looked just now was so scary..." Xiao Xiao whispered.

Wang Donger did not speak; she just stared fixedly at Huo Yuhao's back, her beautiful pink-blue eyes filled with complex emotions.

For the first time, she discovered that this youth she was so interested in seemed to hide many things from his past that she knew nothing about.

In the highest corner, Wang Qiuer's face also shed its usual laziness.

She watched Huo Yuhao, a trace of heartache flashing in her golden eyes.

And in the teacher's seating area.

Teacher Mujin's brows were tightly knitted together.

She could tell that this was by no means a simple match.

Huo Yuhao's undisguised hatred, as well as his nearly torturous methods, all indicated that there was a profound, untold grudge between him and Dai Huabin.

"This child..."

She watched the youth who had returned to the preparation area, the cold aura on him slowly dissipating as he returned to calm, and whispered to herself.

"What exactly... has he been through?"