Douluo Continent: Starting with the Burning Blade, he was then entangled with Ma Xiaotao.

Chapter 86 The Emperor of Flames

On the day of the finals, atop the imperial city walls.

"Jiujiu, what do you think of Lin Feng from Shrek Academy?" Emperor Xingluo asked suddenly, gazing at the arena below.

Princess Jiu Jiu, who was standing to the side, pondered for a moment upon hearing this, and replied seriously: "Invincible posture, and moreover—he did not show his full strength. His true strength is probably no less than that of the Soul Saint Ma Xiaotao."

The Star Luo Emperor's gaze was deep as he slowly said, "Hmm, I had someone investigate his background. He's of commoner origin, completely innocent, and there's nothing seriously wrong with him. As for Shrek Academy, he's Yan Shaozhe's personal disciple, but he hasn't become an inner court disciple yet, so there's still room to win him over. The Xu family is small in number; if you can get him—"

"Stop!" Princess Xu Jiujiu's pretty face flushed slightly as she quickly interrupted, her tone carrying a hint of reproach and determination, "Brother! I'm still young, I don't want to talk about any arranged marriage! The finals have already started, I want to concentrate on watching the game, please don't disturb me."

Indeed, while they were talking, the final competition in the center of Xingluo Square below had already begun.

Similar to the semifinals, this year's finals consist of three parts: team matches, individual elimination matches, and a 2-2-3 format. The first team to win two matches out of the three will be crowned champion.

In the team competition, each side sends seven players. After this match, each side has one opportunity to change its team members, and only this one opportunity. The subsequent individual elimination matches and the 2-2-3 formation must be completed with the fixed seven-player lineup, and no further adjustments are allowed.

"Team members from both sides, now take the stage." The icy voice of Huang Jinxu, the Heavenly Fiend Douluo, echoed throughout the arena.

However, from the direction of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, Captain Ma Rulong took a deep breath, stepped forward, and raised his hand to signal. His voice was clear, yet carried a hint of barely perceptible hardship: "Referee, our team requests to concede defeat in the team competition and proceed directly to the individual elimination rounds."

These words caused an uproar in the room.

Ma Rulong's expression was grim, undoubtedly a sign of weakness. But as captain, he had to remain rational. The opposing team boasted a Soul Saint and three Soul Emperors; in a team battle, their side had virtually no chance of winning. Rather than wasting their resources and causing more casualties in a team battle, it was better to conserve their strength and save face in the individual elimination rounds.

Another reason is to conceal the strength of the Hongchen siblings as much as possible, especially their Martial Soul Fusion Skill. Five years later, they will undoubtedly be the core of the team, and the more trump cards they reveal now, the easier it will be for their opponents to figure them out.

After a brief confirmation, Tian Sha Douluo announced loudly: "Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy forfeits the team competition. Shrek Academy wins, the score is now 1-0. Both sides, prepare to determine the players to compete in the individual elimination rounds."

"You admit defeat? You just admit defeat like that?!"

"They haven't even fought yet! Are the people of the Sun Moon Empire this cowardly?"

The audience immediately started discussing, many of them not expecting the Sun and Moon team to give up so decisively.

In the waiting area of ​​the Sun and Moon Team, Xiao Hongchen's face flushed red instantly, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked, and he was about to stand up when Meng Hongchen pressed him down firmly beside him. His eyes were filled with resentment and anger. As a chosen one of heaven, when had he ever suffered such humiliation? But he also understood that Ma Rulong's decision might be the best solution.

On Shrek Academy's side, everyone was slightly taken aback. Wang Yan adjusted his glasses, a knowing glint in his eyes. Hiding their strength and waiting for the next generation was indeed their most rational strategy at the moment.

"Teacher Wang, I'll go for the first individual match." Lin Feng stepped forward, looking calmly at Wang Yan. "I want to test my limits."

Wang Yan adjusted his glasses, showing no sign of nervousness, and nodded: "Okay, go ahead."

The voice of Huang Jinxu, the Heavenly Fiend Douluo, quickly resounded throughout the arena: "The individual elimination rounds begin now. The first players from both sides will take the stage. Shrek Academy, Lin Feng. Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, Li Yan."

"The mouse ran into the cat. Let's finish this quickly and go back to sleep." Ma Xiaotao yawned in the waiting area, her tone lazy but full of absolute confidence.

Li Yan was originally one of the regular members of the Sun and Moon Team. His martial soul was fire element, but unfortunately it was mixed with many impurities, so its quality was only considered average. In Ma Xiaotao's opinion, a soul master with such mixed flames would be nothing more than a walking headbutt against Lin Feng, the Flame Emperor, whom even she, with her ultimate fire, had to treat with caution.

Lin Feng didn't take the steps. He stepped forward, and crimson flames appeared out of thin air beneath his feet, transforming into dazzling fire lotuses that supported his steps, creating lotus blossoms with each step, allowing him to directly ascend to the central arena.

It was fiery, sacred, and possessed an indescribable quality. It wasn't just simple majesty, but more like an imperial sense of dominance.

Is this bloodline suppression?!

Generally speaking, weapon spirits are rarely subject to so-called bloodline suppression.

But at this moment, Li Yan truly felt a palpitation from the level of his martial soul, as if the flames within his body were filled with fear and subdued.

"I miscalculated—" Li Yan's heart sank, and his face turned grim. The opponent's control over the flames was something he had never shown before.

"I heard your martial soul is the Blazing Fire?" Lin Feng asked, his voice sincere. "We're destined to meet. You might consider becoming my underling."

"If you want to fight, then fight! Why waste words!" Li Yan shouted through gritted teeth, his face flushed red.

He didn't see this as recruitment at all, but only as immense humiliation. As a genius of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, he had his own pride.

"The match begins!"

With a command from Huang Jinxu, the Heavenly Fiend Douluo, the first match of the individual finals officially began.

Almost the instant the words left his mouth, Li Yan moved. He swiftly reached his right hand behind his shoulder, and a large, heavy soul-guided cannon instantly appeared, firmly resting on his shoulder.

The light from the cannon rapidly condensed, and without the slightest hesitation or even aiming, he fired a shot in the direction of Lin Feng.

boom--!

A blazing fireball, as intense as a small sun, roared out, distorting the air with its intense heat.

Although his Fire of Departure wasn't particularly strong, its explosive power, amplified by the extreme compression of the Soul Guidance Device and the infusion of Soul Power, was not to be underestimated. This was precisely the advantage of a Soul Guidance Master: combining their own attributes with Soul Guidance technology. This Soul Guidance Cannon, clearly crafted by him personally and perfectly suited to his Martial Soul, was the source of his confidence.

However, faced with this swift and violent attack, Lin Feng made a move that left the entire audience speechless.

He didn't dodge, didn't block, and didn't even move his feet an inch. He simply calmly raised his right hand and grabbed at the blazing fireball, which was already hurtling towards him and contained terrifying energy.

call--!

A bizarre scene unfolded.

The unstoppable fireball was instantly grasped, compressed on the spot, and finally transformed into a gentle, leaping fireball, which he held easily in his palm, as if playing with a delicate toy.

A collective gasp rippled through the audience, countless viewers staring wide-eyed, almost unable to believe what they were seeing.

What kind of tactic is this?!

In everyone's mind, when faced with a powerful soul-guided cannon attack, the first thing to do is dodge or defend.

Who would dare to be so presumptuous as to catch it with their bare hands? Especially not so easily.

But the opponent used such absolute fire control to completely turn his strongest attack into a joke.

Emperor of Flames —

This thought exploded uncontrollably in Li Yan's mind, filled with a chilling despair.

He had previously felt humiliated when the other party offered to take him as a subordinate. Now, it seemed that it wasn't arrogance at all.

He took a deep breath, suppressing his surging blood and distracting thoughts. He wanted to admit defeat, but the academy wouldn't allow it—