Chapter 609: Yuanen Yehui and Xie Xie

The stages for the two-on-two matches were much larger than those for the one-on-one matches. The stadium managed to fit about fifteen of these larger arenas. As a result, fifteen pairs of numbers were called at a time, and the matchups were displayed on a large soul screen. 

The moment each time arrived, they would go over to the screens and figure out when their match was and who their opponents were. Tang Wulin and Gu Yue were team number 116 while the rest of their friends were numbered 117 to 119 consecutively since they had registered at the same time. Due to this, it was highly unlikely they would be matched against each other. The Star Luo Empire had pulled some strings precisely for this. 

Tang Wulin and Gu Yue’s opponents were Team 69, but they weren’t the first of the Shrek Academy group to fight. Surprisingly, Yuanen Yehui and Xie Xie’s team had the very first match of the competition. 

“Just wait and see our triumphant return!” Xie Xie said, clenching his fists tight. 

Yuanen Yehui rolled her eyes and pushed him forward. “Hurry up. You can brag after we win.” 

They couldn’t help but smile at how whipped and helpless Xie Xie was when he faced Yuanen Yehui. They all knew he liked her, but she didn’t hold back any of her punches when it came to him. They had a hot and cold relationship, almost as if walking on a tigh-rope filled with subtleties. It was a wonder if Wu Zhangkong had deliberately paired the two of them up. An assault-type and agility-type pairing were one of the classic duos. 

Yuanen Yehui strode forward, dressed in men’s clothing as usual. Xie Xie eagerly followed behind her. 

Yuanen, what’s the battle plan?” Xie Xie asked, bursting with excitement that he was fighting side-by-side with her. 

Yuanen Yehui shot a look at him. “Just don’t drag me down.”

Xie Xie stared at her in shock. “Am I really that weak?”

“Yes.”

While they bantered, walked into the stadium. In this gigantic stadium, they could instantly feel countless gazes focus on them. A tsunami of cheering erupted, nearly frightening Xie Xie out of his shoes. 

Under the guidance of the staff members, they walked over to their stage. 

Their opponents were already on the stage waiting for them. Similar to them, the opponent team was one girl and one boy. Both looked to be nearly twenty years old and clearly had a more mature air around them than Yuanen Yehui and Xie Xie. 

“You must not deliberately use fatal attacks during the match. Mechas are not permitted. Once one side surrenders, the other side must stop attacking. When I have determined the outcome of the battle, the match must stop immediately,” the referee declared. Based on these rules alone, it was clear that tournament’s had far laxer rules in Star Luo than in Douluo. This was because they wanted to see the combatants unleash their full strength even if the danger was higher as a result. 

Yuanen Yehui and Xie Xie walked forward shoulder to shoulder to face their opponents. 

Their opponents looked like they could be a pair of brother and sister with their high degree of resemblance. Both had a grave air to them. 

While Yuanen Yehui ignored him, Xie Xie whispered into her ear, “They probably have good coordination. I’ll do my best to back you up.” 

This time, Yuanen Yehui didn’t refute him and answered with a slight nod. 

“Let the battle begin!” the referee declared. Thus began the first duo battle for the group from Shrek Academy. 

Of their two opponents, the young man stepped forward and summoned his martial soul. Four soul rings appeared, two yellow and two purple, a fairly standard configuration. In the same instant, he rapidly grew from average in height to a three-meter-tall giant with bulging muscles. Brownish-yellow fur grew on his body as an aura of power burst from his body. 

A bear-type martial soul? That’s probably the Ironback Bear! Xie Xie and Yuanen Yehui both identified the man’s martial soul in an instant. As top students of Shrek Academy, it was only natural for them to be able to identify virtually any martial soul they encountered. 

The girl behind the Ironback Bear soul master summoned her martial soul as well. Two yellow and two purple soul rings rose up. Her blonde hair grew longer, but her body didn’t transform as the man’s did. Instead, her eyes enlarged and a tail grew out behind her. Surprisingly, her four soul rings coiled around her tail.

What kind of martial soul is that? Xie Xie and Yuanen Yehui were taken aback. It was rare for them to not be able to identify a martial soul. 

The Ironback Bear soul master roared at the sky, his first soul ring shining as his fur gained a metallic gloss to it. His back swelled with power as he charged at Yuanen Yehui and Xie Xie. 

Xie Xie dodged to the side. Although his movements weren’t particularly quick, he evaded like a ghost, naturally winding around the bear soul master. 

At that moment, the female soul master with a tail giggled. Xie Xie’s mind went numb and he stumbled mid-step. 

The bear soul master and the tailed soul master clearly possessed superb teamwork. The moment Xie Xie stumbled, the bear soul master charged at him with shocking agility. There was no doubt the tailed soul master a control-type to have created such an opening. 

At the same time, Yuanen Yehui rushed forward. But she was too far to save Xie Xie.

However, she didn’t seem to have any intent of saving him anyway. She didn’t prepare her Air Cannons either. 

As Xie Xie stumbled, the bear soul master was upon him in an instant. Bracing his shoulder, the bear soul master slamming into Xie Xie, his shoulder swelling into a boulder the instant it struck! 

But strangely, Xie Xie took the hit like a boneless ragdoll. It was almost as if he was welcoming the strike. 

At that instant, four soul rings rose around him and he gripped his Light Dragon Dagger in reverse. Gone was his smile, an ice-cold mask in its place. 

An ill premonition struck the bear soul master when he saw Xie Xie’s face. 

In a blur of movement, Xie Xie moved to the bear soul master’s side, as if he were a ghost. Then he slashed up from the bear soul master’s armpit. 

Although his movements had been simple, he had executed them with insane speed and fluidity! He was like the floating clouds and flowing water! The instant the Light Dragon Dagger made contact, its shine retracted and it took on a dark-gold hue. There was neither the sound of air being sliced nor any soul power leaking out, or even any signs of a soul skill being used. 

But this simple attack was enough to fluster the bear soul master. In a panic, he leaned to the side and smashed down at the dagger with his right elbow. 

The defining trait of the Ironback Bear was its body which was tough as iron! Its entire body was practically a weapon. 

Just as the elbow was about to smash into the dagger, the dagger disappeared. In another flicker of motion, Xie Xie appeared behind the bear soul master. 

Joy flashed in the bear soul master’s eyes. His martial soul wasn’t called the Ironback Bear for no reason. His defense was the strongest on his back. He exploded into an arch with his back. As long as Xie Xie was behind him, he would hit with his ironback, which had the property of sending tremors its whatever it struck! An agility-type soul master afflicted with tremors was basically as good as finished. 

But he didn’t hit anything. Then he felt a stinging between his ribs right where his elbow had been and he shouted in alarm.