CHAPTER 9: INTO THE SEMIFINALS
----------------------------------------
The Semifinal Lineup
The tournament had reached its semifinals, and the excitement in Star Luo City was palpable. The remaining four competitors were some of the strongest in the competition, each representing a different faction or academy. The Tang Sect’s resurgence was now the talk of the city, with Huo Yuhao at the center of attention.
Tang Ya and Beibei stood beside Huo Yuhao as the matchups were announced. A large screen in the arena displayed the semifinal brackets:
1. Huo Yuhao of the Tang Sect vs. Wu Feng of the Crimson Dragon Clan.
2. Xu Sanshi of the Black Tortoise Academy vs. Meng Hongchen of the Sun-Moon Empire Academy.
Wu Feng’s reputation preceded her. Known for her fiery temper and devastating martial soul, the Crimson Dragon, she was a force to be reckoned with. Her overwhelming offense had crushed every opponent so far.
“You’ll need to be careful,” Beibei warned. “The Crimson Dragon martial soul is not only powerful but also incredibly aggressive. She won’t give you any breathing room.”
Huo Yuhao nodded, determination burning in his Spirit Eyes. “I’ll give it everything I’ve got.”
----------------------------------------
Facing the Crimson Dragon
The arena was packed as Huo Yuhao and Wu Feng stepped onto the battlefield. The atmosphere was electric, with spectators cheering wildly for their favorites. Wu Feng’s fiery red hair and commanding presence added to her intimidating aura.
“You’ve done well to make it this far,” Wu Feng said, her tone laced with disdain. “But this is where your journey ends. The Tang Sect’s glory is nothing but a relic of the past.”
Huo Yuhao stood firm, his Spirit Eyes glowing faintly. “We’ll see.”
The referee raised his hand. “Begin!”
----------------------------------------
A Battle of Extremes
Wu Feng wasted no time, her Crimson Dragon martial soul manifesting behind her in a burst of fire and smoke. Her first attack was a massive fireball, hurtling toward Huo Yuhao with blistering speed.
Huo Yuhao activated his Spirit Eyes, using his spiritual detection to analyze the attack. With precise timing, he dodged to the side, the fireball exploding behind him in a shower of sparks.
“Not bad,” Wu Feng said, her voice tinged with amusement. “But can you handle this?”
She launched herself at Huo Yuhao, her fists wreathed in flames. Each strike was powerful enough to shatter stone, forcing Huo Yuhao to stay on the defensive. He used his agility and perception to evade her attacks, looking for an opening.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Skydream’s voice echoed in his mind. “Kid, her strength is her greatest asset, but it’s also her weakness. She’s relying too much on brute force. Use your speed to wear her down.”
Huo Yuhao nodded internally, shifting his strategy. Instead of engaging Wu Feng head-on, he focused on dodging and counterattacking with his hidden weapons. Needles and darts flew from his Ghost Shadow Needle Launcher, aiming for the joints in Wu Feng’s armor-like scales.
Wu Feng growled as a few needles found their mark, but her fiery energy burned them away before they could cause significant damage. “Clever, but not clever enough!” she roared, her flames intensifying.
----------------------------------------
The Turning Point
As the battle continued, Wu Feng’s relentless attacks began to take a toll on her stamina. Huo Yuhao, meanwhile, remained calm and focused, his Spirit Eyes allowing him to anticipate her every move.
Finally, he saw his chance. Wu Feng lunged at him with a powerful flaming punch, but her movements were slower than before. Huo Yuhao sidestepped, using her momentum against her. He activated his White Tiger Dagger, its blade shimmering with concentrated spiritual energy, and struck at the base of her dragon tail.
The impact disrupted Wu Feng’s balance, sending her crashing to the ground. Huo Yuhao didn’t hesitate—he aimed his Ghost Shadow Needle Launcher at her exposed back, forcing her to surrender.
The referee raised his hand. “Winner: Huo Yuhao of the Tang Sect!”
----------------------------------------
A Growing Reputation
The crowd erupted in cheers as Huo Yuhao helped Wu Feng to her feet. She glared at him for a moment before nodding grudgingly. “You’re better than I expected,” she admitted. “Don’t let it go to your head.”
Huo Yuhao smiled faintly. “Thanks.”
As he left the arena, Tang Ya and Beibei greeted him with proud smiles. “That was incredible, Yuhao!” Tang Ya exclaimed. “You’ve shown everyone that the Tang Sect is still a force to be reckoned with.”
Beibei nodded. “But the next match will be your toughest yet. Xu Sanshi or Meng Hongchen—either one will be a formidable opponent.”
----------------------------------------
The Other Semifinal
Meanwhile, the second semifinal match between Xu Sanshi and Meng Hongchen was underway. Xu Sanshi’s Black Tortoise martial soul granted him incredible defense, while Meng Hongchen’s martial soul, the Ice Jade Scorpion, combined ice and poison for devastating offense.
The battle was fierce, with Meng Hongchen’s agility and precision countering Xu Sanshi’s impenetrable defense. In the end, Xu Sanshi’s resilience won out, and he advanced to the finals.
----------------------------------------
Preparing for the Final Battle
As the final day of the tournament approached, Huo Yuhao meditated in his quarters, his Spirit Eyes glowing softly. Skydream’s voice interrupted his thoughts.
“You’ve done well, kid, but the final battle won’t be easy. Xu Sanshi’s defense is legendary, and you’ll need more than brute force to break through it.”
Huo Yuhao clenched his fists. “I’ll find a way. I’ve come too far to stop now.”
The morning of the finals, Tang Ya and Beibei offered him words of encouragement. “No matter what happens, Yuhao, you’ve already made the Tang Sect proud,” Tang Ya said.
Beibei added, “Remember, a true soul master doesn’t just fight for themselves—they fight for what they believe in.”
Huo Yuhao nodded, his resolve unshakable. “I’ll give it everything I have.”
As he stepped onto the battlefield for the final match, the cheers of the crowd and the weight of the Tang Sect’s legacy filled his heart. This was his moment to prove himself—not just as a soul master, but as a representative of a revived Tang Sect.