Feng Xiaotian's strength at that moment was as immense as a final, desperate burst of light. He broke through Huo Wushuang's hasty interception and lunged towards Huo Wu like a madman.
Just as he was about to embrace her—
Puff!!!!
A thudding sound, even more muffled and heavier than anything on the stage before, erupted from behind Feng Xiaotian. It was as if he had accumulated all his strength and humiliation into one final, explosive release. This time, it wasn't just a sound. A thick, almost solid, yellowish-green gas column, intensely pungent, shot out like a compressed cannonball, aimed directly at Huo Wu at point-blank range.
"Ah!!!"
Huo Wu was scared out of her wits. The terrifying assault on her senses made her mind go completely blank, leaving only extreme fear and disgust. The instinct for survival overwhelmed everything else; she even forgot that she was a powerful Spirit Master. In her extreme panic, she unconsciously screamed and swung her hands with all her might at the incoming gas column.
"Get away from me!!!"
Boom!!!
The moment she swung her hands, the blazing fire spirit power within her body was ignited by her intense emotions. Her third spirit ring glowed brightly as she activated her Resist Fire Ring ability. A large, blazing orange-red halo of fire suddenly expanded with Huo Wu at its center. Normally, this was a defensive skill used to push away close-range enemies.
However, at this moment, the blazing fire halo collided directly with the dense, high-concentration, combustible gas that Feng Xiaotian had just unleashed.
Physical collision+flame+high−concentration organic gas=?
Rumble!!!
A deafening, terrifying explosion, far exceeding all the previous farts, suddenly erupted in the open space outside the medical area. A small, orange-red fireball, nearly five meters in diameter, shot into the sky. The powerful shockwave instantly sent the surrounding committee staff, medical Spirit Masters, and the other Blazing Fire Academy team members flying. A strong wind, carrying scorching heatwaves and an indescribable, super stench—like burnt dung beetles mixed with sulfur—swept across half of the rest area.
Feng Xiaotian, being the closest, bore the brunt of it. He let out a scream as the explosion's shockwave blew him over a dozen meters away. The disinfected gauze that had been wrapped around him was burned black and tattered. Emitting wisps of smoke and a smell of charring flesh, he fell heavily to the ground, completely unconscious.
As for Huo Wu, although her Resist Fire Ring had blocked most of the explosion's power, the close-range shockwave still shook her violently, making her retreat several steps. Her once smooth hair was now singed and curled, and her delicate face was covered in black ash, leaving her utterly disheveled. She stared blankly at her smoking hands, then at the charred and unconscious Feng Xiaotian in the distance, and then smelled the suffocating, upgraded stench in the air.
"Feng Xiaotian!!!!" a shriek filled with extreme shame, rage, and disgust echoed through the sky. "I'm going to kill you ah ah ah ah ah!!!"
Huo Wu had completely lost control. At that moment, she wanted nothing more than to rush over and burn the bastard who caused all this to ashes. Her hatred for Shrek also soared to its absolute peak.
...
Ma Hongjun rubbed his ears, which were ringing from the explosion. He looked at the chaos and the towering flames in the medical area and muttered, "Good heavens… That power… Is it even fiercer than my Phoenix Fire Wire? It seems the ultimate attack of the wind attribute, when combined with fire, is truly deadly!"
In the VIP seating area, Emperor Xue Ye's face was ashen, his chest heaving violently. He was clearly infuriated by this unprecedented "competition" that had so thoroughly damaged the Empire's reputation. Ning Fengzhi rubbed his temples and sighed helplessly. Although Shrek had won, the victory was… not very dignified. He looked at Ye Yin, who appeared as calm as ever, and a hint of worry mixed with his relief. This child's methods are too sinister, he thought. They're too damn hellish.
Bishop Salas's face was so gloomy that water could almost drip from it. He stared intently at Ye Yin, who was calmly walking down from the stage. His cloudy eyes flashed with cold killing intent and a trace of apprehension. Such a bizarre ability, which disgraced the dignity of a Spirit Master, had to be stifled. He whispered a few words to a Spirit Hall deacon beside him, his eyes sinister.
Back in the Shrek rest area, Oscar exaggeratedly jumped far away, covering his nose. "Damn it! Fatty, Little San, you guys didn't get that smell on you, did you? Stay away from me!"
Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu silently moved a few steps away from Ma Hongjun, their eyes wary.
Ma Hongjun looked wronged. "Hey! What does that have to do with me! I breathe fire, I don't… uh!" He realized his mistake and quickly shut up.
Ye Yin still wore his gentle, harmless smile and brushed off his clothes. "Tactical necessity, excellent effect."
Everyone was speechless. This effect was more than excellent; it was nuclear-weapon-level mental pollution.
Flender and the Grandmaster rushed over, Flender's face showing unsuppressed pride. Although the method was unique, a win was a win. Shrek's name would now be known throughout the land.
In the following days, all of Heaven Dou City was in a frenzy discussing the epic first match. The names "Shrek Academy" and "Shenfeng Academy" echoed through the streets in a way no one could have imagined.
"Did you hear? Shenfeng Academy… they did that on stage!"
"Ugh! Don't even mention it! I was there! That smell…"
"That Spirit King from Shrek named Ye Yin is terrifying! He must be a master of poison!"
"It's not poison, it's a curse! An evil curse! I heard even Bishop Salas's face turned black with anger!"
"But Shrek is really strong! Their Spirit Ancestors all have top-tier spirit ring configurations, and that support is a Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!"
Public opinion was in an uproar, and Shrek was instantly pushed into the spotlight. The other academies, while shocked by Shrek's terrifying strength, also felt immense pressure. They repeatedly studied the battle, trying to find a way to counter that seemingly harmless but extremely dangerous Ye Yin.
In the Blazing Fire Academy rest area, Huo Wu slammed her palm down, shattering the table in front of her. Her pretty face was filled with murderous intent, her eyes burning with rage. "Useless! That useless Feng Xiaotian! To lose in such a way… It's a great humiliation!" Although she had no feelings for Feng Xiaotian, he was still a prominent figure among her peers. For his team to suffer such a great humiliation, and to have it implicate her directly, was unforgivable.
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