The cycle for the semi-finals and finals is longer because both sides must fight three matches: a team battle, an individual elimination, and a 2-2-3 tactical match, in a best-of-three format. If the first two are won, one can skip the final 2-2-3 match and directly secure the championship.
However, the importance of the first team battle involves the subsequent two matches and is also the most exciting one.
"Match, begin!"
With Tiansha Douluo Huang Jinxu's order, both sides moved instantly.
Colorful soul rings rose from their feet, all with the best soul ring ratio, and among them was a strange scarlet hundred-thousand-year spirit ring, which came from Ma Xiaotao at the very front of Shrek Academy.
Seeing the hundred-thousand-year spirit ring, Captain Ma Rulong's face darkened, but he quickly reorganized the formation. Mi Jia, Lin Xi, Chen Fei, and others quickly built a real steel fortress.
The many disciples of the Sun Moon Empire were equipped with invincible barriers. With the Sun Moon Empire's spirit tool level, a level-5 invincible barrier could withstand a full-strength blow from a Soul Douluo for three seconds, and those above level 5, such as level 6 or even level 7, could even withstand a full-strength blow from a Titled Douluo-level powerhouse.
However, the price is only three seconds.
This is also their final trump card.
Captain Ma Rulong shouted, and a big-headed monkey jumped out from his body; this was his external martial soul. At the same time, without the slightest hesitation, he shouldered a spirit tool ray cannon and shot directly at Ma Xiaotao in the front, accompanied by a roar of explosions.
The latter walked out of the dust leisurely, stepping on high heels, her pair of slender beautiful legs quite proud, especially her cold expression, which carried a phoenix aura.
"Too weak…"
Captain Ma Rulong's eyes jumped. "Fire!!!"
The next moment, the entire Sun Moon Empire lineup instantly revealed countless dark gun barrels. The other six displayed their divine abilities, and countless spirit tool cannons and rays bombarded Shrek Academy. The airwaves blew even the spirit tools maintaining the defensive formation at the edge of the arena thin.
This was enough to show its power.
Just these seven people were enough to rival the firepower of a small army of the Sun Moon Empire. If it were a Soul Saint-level powerhouse, they could be sniped if they were careless.
However, Lu Cheng's side naturally could not resist with their physical bodies.
Gongyang Mo raised his palm, and a colorful light fell on Lu Cheng, with Ning Tian following closely behind.
Lu Cheng raised his hand, and an ice wall that covered the sky and sun condensed in front of the Shrek team, intercepting all the firepower from the other side.
"Damn it…"
Captain Ma Rulong frowned.
"Ah Xiao, do it, solve that guy first…" He said softly.
His gaze fell on Lu Cheng, the core of the enemy.
His eyes became ruthless.
"Okay!" Xiao Hongchen nodded solemnly.
That guy is the team leader, the main control system. If they could really solve that guy, the opponent's only Soul Emperor could also be tried.
"Others, don't stop the firepower; continue to cover us!"
"Received!" Lin Xi and others spoke one after another while holding milk bottles and frantically venting firepower.
"Do it!"
Captain Ma Rulong waved his hand fiercely.
His eyes were sharp as he threw out the thin, big-headed monkey at his side, and his body also rushed towards Lu Cheng.
Xiao Hongchen flashed, and the flying spirit tool settled on his back.
At the same time, four soul rings flashed at his feet.
He sprinkled a handful of gold powder, and one hundred twenty-eight level-5 spirit tool cannons condensed slowly around him, with the dark muzzles pointing directly at Lu Cheng's direction.
The next moment, fire shot into the sky.
"Roar!"
And Captain Ma Rulong's big-headed monkey also expanded rapidly, becoming a nearly four-meter-tall, strong red giant ape, and a pair of iron hammers smashed directly toward Lu Cheng.
At the same time, the ice wall completely collapsed under the powerful firepower of the Sun Moon Empire; cracks appeared faintly, and then it shattered with a bang.
"…" Ma Xiaotao frowned, flames surging in her palms, ready to act.
But was stopped by Lu Cheng waving his hand.
From the beginning of the match until now, even if Yan Shaozhe had racked his brains and sent a full team, only Lu Cheng and two assistants had actually made a move.
"For the last battle, we should let them lose convincingly."
Lu Cheng's face showed a smile.
Just as the firepower from all sides of the Sun Moon Empire was about to land on him.
A flame surged from his body and then spread across the arena like a sea of fire. His pupils reflected a three-legged bird, and his aura slowly rose.
Fire wings grew on his back, flapping slightly, and a huge shadow of the three-legged golden crow slowly rose from behind him.
"This is…"
Captain Ma Rulong's pupils shook. Looking at the scene in front of him, it was the first time he felt the coercion and shock from the depths of his soul. The consciousness transmitted back to the main body by the external martial soul constantly emitted wails and intentions to retreat. It was afraid of the shadow in front of it, even if it was just a shadow…
And at this moment, the Three-Legged Golden Crow slowly lowered its body, its wings circling, covering the bodies of Lu Cheng and others.
No matter how many artillery attacks hit it, there was no movement.
"Is this…martial soul true body?!" Xiao Hongchen was stunned. The one hundred and twenty-eight level-5 spirit tool cannons around him roared together, making a deafening sound, but there was no injury. Is this not a martial soul true body?
"No, this is probably just the most ordinary martial soul possession." Meng Hongchen's face was shocked; she shook her head with difficulty and swallowed.
A soul king cannot perform a martial soul true body; this is a truth that even the most basic soul master knows.
"Is that a Phoenix? No…what kind of Divine Beast is this?" Many powerhouses under the stage looked solemn.
Even many holders of Dragon-attribute martial souls felt palpitations in their hearts.
This is…fear from the depths of the Bloodline.
This was the first time he had completely revealed the three-legged strange bird in the Fire Bow, and what was even more terrifying was that such a powerful divine beast was actually just the martial soul essence hidden in that Fire Bow.
It seems that this three-legged bird was shot and killed by that bow and arrow, so its soul was absorbed?
What is the origin of this martial soul?
No one knows the answer. They only know that all the boy's previous battles were just child's play, and now, he is going to be serious…
Yan Shaozhe nodded slightly, a sneer flashing in his eyes.
It seems he knows that after the finals, when he returns to Shrek Academy, he won't let him off easily, so he intends to make up for his mistakes in the finals?
Hmph, too late!
Yan Shaozhe is notoriously petty. It's strange if someone he targets doesn't lose a layer of skin. At that time, he will deliberately increase the difficulty of the inner court assessment and the difficulty of the Shrek Supervisory Group tasks, making this little beast die in the hands of an evil soul master; only then will Bei Bei's status as the next successor of the Sea God Pavilion be secure.
Otherwise, if he is really allowed to continue developing, it will definitely be a great threat!!
Yan Shaozhe's face showed a smile.
Quite complacent.
Teacher Wang Yan also punched his palm excitedly. It's stable! This is stable!
He was not afraid that Lu Cheng would not be able to beat the opponent; he was only afraid that Lu Cheng would not use all his strength to mess around, and then the championship would be in jeopardy.
"Fourth Soul Skill, Feather Transformation into Arrow."
Light golden patterns gradually appeared on Lu Cheng's face, his long hair fluttering, and a heart-stirring light flashed in his pupils, like two great suns standing on the dome, looking down indifferently at the two attacking.
His lips moved, and he gently spat out a few words.
And along with it, the strange scarlet soul ring at his feet also slowly rose, with dazzling golden patterns flashing around the soul ring, and the momentum went without saying.
Until this moment, except for using the Emperor Sword by borrowing the power of the Snow Empress's origin, Lu Cheng's biggest killer move, his most powerful trump card, was always the Sun-Shooting Bow. The combat power of the Soul King level allowed him to kill a Soul Saint. This is the most overpowered and perverted martial soul, and there is no one comparable on the continent in the same period.
And with just one encounter, Captain Ma Rulong and Xiao Hongchen turned pale and took out their life-saving items without hesitation.
"Invincible barrier!"
The two figures rushing towards Lu Cheng paused, then took out a level-5 invincible barrier without hesitation.
And the next moment, Lu Cheng's offensive also arrived instantly.
The three-legged golden crow shadow that had just covered the sky hovered in the sky, its wings trembling, and countless scarlet feathers turned into sharp arrows, smashing towards the ground like raindrops.
Fire shot into the sky.
It was like a sea of fire reflected in the pupils of all the audience.
"Invincible barrier!"
And the other Sun Moon Empire team disciples also took out invincible barriers without hesitation.
The sea of fire spread across the entire arena.
Even the one hundred twenty-eight long pillars that made up the arena's defensive formation spirit tool dimmed in an instant, and cracks and gaps spread on the light screen.
This is a level-8 spirit tool, but I didn't expect it to be cracked by a boy at the Soul King level.
And the many Sun Moon Empire team members who were in the invincible barriers all had their faces changed drastically.
Outside the invincible barrier was the sky full of divine fire.
The scorching heat seemed to spread to the martial soul, burning the soul.
What is terrifying is that the term of the invincible barrier is only three seconds, but what is even more terrifying is that even three seconds seem to be unable to support it, because the moment it touched the flame, cracks had already appeared on it…
And they, even as rich as the Sun Moon Empire team, only have one level-5 invincible barrier each.
When the barrier breaks, it will probably be the moment they lose their lives.
Until this moment, no one had any illusions about this match.
The result of the match was already clear. Lu Cheng alone was enough to wipe them all out. This terrifying flame could burn everything. If they continued to resist, they would only have a dead end.
Captain Ma Rulong's eyes were red; he bit his teeth angrily and raised his hand with difficulty.
"We…"
But the voice was suddenly interrupted.
"We concede."
Lu Cheng's voice spoke first.
The latter slowly took back the flame momentum into his body, and the power of the Three-Legged Golden Crow, which had just shocked the four directions, slowly vanished between heaven and earth. He looked at Huang Jinxu, who was stunned aside, with a smile on his face, and said slowly.
The scene was terrifyingly quiet.
The whole world was silent.
Tens of thousands of spectators looked at Lu Cheng, who raised his hand and conceded, in a daze, unable to figure it out.
And the opposite Sun Moon Empire royal team was even more dumbfounded. As the invincible barriers shattered one by one, they were completely exposed to the dry and scorching airwaves around them, but there was no fatal blow as they imagined. Instead, the opposite side…surrendered?!!
No one could figure out Lu Cheng's logic.
Clearly, with his own strength, he had suppressed the entire Sun Moon Empire to the point of being unable to breathe. Clearly, the moment he made a move, the match was already over.
But why…did he concede?
Only many powerhouses thought of what happened a few days ago; a strange look flashed in their eyes, and they crossed their arms in front of their chests, full of gossip.
Today's match is interesting.
"Are you saying…you concede?" Huang Jinxu, even though his heart was turbulent, shouting that it was coming, still confirmed expressionlessly.
"That's right." Lu Cheng tapped the ground with his toes, the fire wings behind him dissipated, and he landed on the ground with a smile on his face.
"Shrek Academy, concede…"
"Why humiliate us like this?" Captain Ma Rulong's face was ashen, and he shook his head.
The match is best of three.
Even if they lost this game, if they won the next two, Shrek would still be the champion. This was the only explanation he could think of.
Xiao Hongchen's face, which was originally full of joy, also stiffened.
Many Sun Moon Empire team members looked at Lu Cheng with eyes full of anger. They could have won directly, but they insisted on humiliating the Sun Moon Empire like this. It was too much.
Meng Hongchen bit her red lips, feeling a little uncomfortable.
But Lu Cheng's face was gentle, and he smiled and shook his head.
"Wrong, Shrek Academy surrenders."
"And…not just this team battle, but the normal competition, Shrek Academy…in the finals, completely surrenders."
Lu Cheng said with a smile.
However, the next moment, he was interrupted by a sharp and harsh voice.
"You are talking nonsense!!!"
Yan Shaozhe rushed out at this moment, his eyes bloodshot, glaring at Lu Cheng, waving his hands: "Shrek Academy has not surrendered!"
"Referee, what he said doesn't count; he is just a madman. Shrek Academy has not surrendered, never!"
This guy is really crazy…
Yan Shaozhe's face was hideous and angry, staring at Lu Cheng. If it weren't for Huang Jinxu and Zhang Lexuan watching from the side, he would have slapped this little beast to death.
Good, very good.
After waiting for so long, it turns out he was holding back a big move for himself.
"Shrek Academy has not surrendered; this little beast is just talking nonsense. Even without him, our team can easily win!!" Yan Shaozhe roared.
"But…" Huang Jinxu frowned slightly.
The concession was said by Lu Cheng himself.
And the other participating members did not object. You don't care if he can fight or not; as long as he says "surrender," he accepts it.
But the opposite, Yan Shaozhe, is also the Dean of the Martial Soul Department, high-ranking and powerful, with high prestige, and it is not easy to offend.
Teacher Wang Yan's eyes were also red. This is his hard work. It was hard to support until the finals. How could he concede, "Yes! We request a rematch! Even if Lu Cheng does not play, we can crush the opposite side!"
"This is unfair to other participating members."
"All matches are walked step by step by all Shrek participating members; it is not his credit alone! Why can he deny our efforts with one sentence?!"
Ling Luochen was stunned, and Gongyang Mo's expression when looking at Lu Cheng was a bit complex and puzzled.