The first round of the preliminary duo tournament began.
Under the guidance of staff, Xu Xiaoyan and Wu Siduo walked toward their assigned arena. The massive Star Luo Grand Stadium stretched beyond sight, and the cheers of tens of thousands of spectators roared like crashing waves, stirring the blood of both girls.
On the stage, their opponents—a pair of siblings—already stood waiting.
The brother and sister shared similar, ordinary features, their auras steady and composed. Around twenty years old, they appeared mature and reliable. As they sized up Xu Xiaoyan and Wu Siduo, a flash of admiration flickered simultaneously in their eyes.
After all, the two were stunningly beautiful young women—anyone would feel a ripple of awe at the sight.
"Now announcing the duo tournament rules!" The arena referee declared solemnly. "No deliberate killing! No use of mechas! Attacks must cease once an opponent surrenders! If I determine the match outcome, I will directly terminate the bout."
Compared to solo matches, the duo tournament was slightly more civilized—but only slightly. The rules remained far more lenient than those of Douluo Continent's standard competitions.
"Maomao, they seem to be siblings," Xu Xiaoyan murmured, her petite frame standing beside the tall and slender Wu Siduo, giving off a delicate, almost dainty impression.
"Mm." Wu Siduo nodded. "No matter. We proceed as usual."
"Begin!" the referee shouted.
The young man among their opponents stepped forward. Light flashed around him as four soul rings—two yellow, two purple, the standard configuration for a Soul Grandmaster—rose from his feet. His body rapidly expanded, transforming from an average build into a towering three-meter-tall giant. His muscles bulged violently, covered in thick brownish-yellow fur, and a ferocious aura radiated from him.
Ironback Bear Martial Soul. Xu Xiaoyan and Wu Siduo recognized it instantly.
Behind him, the slightly younger woman also released her Martial Soul—similarly with four soul rings (two yellow, two purple). Pale yellow fur sprouted across her body, though her Martial Soul wasn't an Ironback Bear. Instead, her eyes enlarged slightly, and a long tail grew from her waist, her four soul rings neatly encircling it.
Raccoon Tail Martial Soul. Xu Xiaoyan identified it immediately and relayed it to Wu Siduo.
Wu Siduo nodded and strode forward, her delicate frame erupting with an overwhelming, domineering presence. Four black soul rings slowly emerged behind her, her stature growing slightly taller as her entire aura shifted from that of a gentle girl to a tyrannical warrior goddess.
She hadn't chosen to use her five-ringed Netherworld Cat Martial Soul but instead opted for her four-ringed White Tiger Spirit—just as she had in her solo tournament preliminaries. Yet even so, the sight of four black soul rings drew gasps of shock from the audience.
The Ironback Bear Soul Master's expression turned grave, but he didn't retreat. Tipping his head back, he let out a thunderous roar. His soul rings flashed consecutively as metallic sheen coated his fur, his back arching powerfully before he charged toward Wu Siduo and Xu Xiaoyan with earth-shaking steps.
Expressionless, Wu Siduo advanced to meet him—her pace unhurried, deliberate.
At the same time, the female Soul Master with the long-tailed raccoon Martial Soul let out a delicate laugh. A Soul Ring flickered behind her, causing Wu Siduo's figure to pause slightly, seemingly affected by the opponent's Soul Skill.
Seizing this opportunity, the iron-backed bear Soul Master flashed forward, accelerating abruptly with a speed completely mismatched to his massive frame, charging headlong toward Wu Siduo directly in front of him.
Given the iron-backed bear Soul Master's size and displayed speed, the scene would have been gruesome had he collided with Wu Siduo—but only if he could actually hit her.
A shower of golden starlight scattered from above, dazzling and unrestrained as it fell upon both the iron-backed bear and long-tailed raccoon Soul Masters. To onlookers, the iron-backed bear Soul Master's charge came to an abrupt halt, like an emergency-braked train, screeching to a dead stop.
At the edge of the arena, Xu Xiaoyan stood with her Star Staff raised, beaming brightly.
Wu Siduo gave a slight nod before her body erupted with white light. A milky-white Soul Power barrier enveloped her, amplifying her aura. The referee at the arena's edge watched her with dazed uncertainty, his expression momentarily lost.
First Soul Skill, White Tiger Protection Barrier!
Ignoring the referee's bewilderment, she dashed forward in a flash, delivering a punch that sent the iron-backed bear Soul Master flying. He crashed heavily against the arena's edge. Then, in another blink, Wu Siduo appeared before the long-tailed raccoon Soul Master, striking her with an equally straightforward punch that sent her tumbling beside her companion.
Being women themselves, Wu Siduo showed no mercy.
The match ended—what seemed like a drawn-out sequence had, in reality, taken no more than ten breaths from the referee's starting call. The gap between the two sides was simply too vast.
Though both were four-ringed Soul Masters, one side had four yellow and four purple rings, while the other boasted eight black ones. The sheer quality difference was overwhelming. Spectators in the stands could only marvel at the disparity, and many began gathering information on Xu Xiaoyan and Wu Siduo.
Two terrifyingly talented yet relatively unknown young Soul Masters—their origins were undoubtedly intriguing.
In the VIP seating, the higher-ups of the Star Luo Empire paid close attention to Shrek Academy's match.
"Your Majesty?" An elderly man called softly, observing the pensive Emperor Dai Tianling.
"Hmm?" Dai Tianling snapped out of his thoughts, instinctively turning to the old man before offering an apologetic smile. "We were distracted. Forgive us, dear minister."
"Your Majesty is interested in that girl from Shrek Academy?" the old man remarked keenly, chuckling. "Her Martial Soul does bear some resemblance to our imperial family's."
"No," Dai Tianling shook his head, his expression unreadable. "That girl's Martial Soul is the imperial family's White Tiger Spirit."
"This…" The old man was visibly startled but wisely refrained from further comment, shifting topics instead. "Your Majesty, these youths from Shrek Academy are truly extraordinary."
Dai Tianling nodded. "How do they compare to our Monster Academy's students?"
The old man frowned, carefully choosing his words. "In terms of cultivation level, ours are stronger. But in talent… the other side holds the advantage. If matched by age, the outcome would be hard to predict."
Dai Tianling glanced at him, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, but offered no further remark.
The elder said, "But this tournament has an age limit of twenty, so defeating these Shrek Academy students shouldn't be a problem. We just need to continue observing them and their situation. From the previous match, it seems they didn't even use their full strength—they displayed less than thirty percent of their capabilities."
"The power of the White Tiger Spirit is undeniable. That girl defeated two opponents using only her first Soul Skill, which clearly demonstrates the might of the White Tiger Spirit. As for the girl with the scepter Martial Soul, she's likely a control-type Soul Master. The Soul Skills she used leaned toward group control, showing remarkable battlefield dominance."
Dai Tianling smiled faintly. "We specifically invited Shrek Academy to participate in this tournament to enhance its prestige. If our students are confident in defeating them, we can arrange the publicity in advance. But if we're not absolutely certain of victory, we should control the publicity to avoid damaging the younger generation's confidence and to prevent any loss of dignity."
"Understood."
Xu Xiaoyan and Wu Siduo stepped down from the stage. Xu Xiaoyan bounced around without a care, looking more like an elementary school student on a field trip than a competitor—cheerful and full of joy. Wu Siduo, walking behind her, appeared much more composed, her steps dignified and graceful, exuding an air of nobility.
When the two girls returned to the waiting area, the other matches hadn't yet concluded. The competitors in the waiting area watched them with a mix of awe and curiosity.
It couldn't be helped—their performance had been dazzling. Out of fifteen matches, theirs had ended while the others were still in the passionate Martial Soul introduction phase. Wu Siduo's two fierce and domineering punches had truly left a deep impression.
"Well done," Jing Shaoyu said with a smile as he looked at the two girls. "Clean and efficient, without any mishaps."
"Hehe, with me—the number one control-type Soul Master in the world—how could there be any mishaps?" Xu Xiaoyan grinned, a little smug.
"Xiaoyan, be a bit more humble. You're not a Titled Douluo yet," Ye Xinglan teased, pinching Xu Xiaoyan's cheek.
"Hmph! Isn't it just a matter of time?" Xu Xiaoyan pouted playfully. Noticing that Gu Yue and Na'er were absent, she immediately clung to Jing Shaoyu's arm. "Right, Shaoyu-gege?"
"Yes, yes, our Xiaoyan is absolutely the top control-type master in the Douluo world!" Jing Shaoyu replied, patting her head with affection.
"Shaoyu, you're spoiling her too much!" Ye Xinglan rolled her eyes.
"Xinglan, you're just jealous!" Xu Xiaoyan's eyes curved into crescents as she looked at Ye Xinglan.
"Nonsense! Who's jealous?" Ye Xinglan retorted stubbornly.
Wu Siduo glanced around and noticed only Jing Shaoyu, Ye Xinglan, and Mo Hentian were present. Curious, she asked, "Huh? Where are Gu Yue and Na'er?"
"Their match is in the second round—they've already gone to the stage," Mo Hentian explained.
"Oh."
Meanwhile, at another stage, Gu Yue and Na'er stood side by side, watching the ongoing match with expressionless faces.
Na'er asked, "Will you make a move later, or should I?"
Gu Yue replied, "What's the difference?"
Na'er said, "Of course there is. If I act, it'll be over faster. If you do it, it'll take a bit longer."
Gu Yue's lips twitched slightly, showing no interest in arguing with Na'er over this matter. She simply said, "Then you go ahead and make your move."
Na'er smiled. "Alright."
Silence fell between them once more until the match began.
Stepping onto the arena, their opponents were a couple who looked at Gu Yue and Na'er with evident disdain.
"What's this? Just two little girls? How boring!" the woman sneered, her eyes flashing with jealousy as she took in Na'er's stunning beauty and Gu Yue's ethereal grace.
Her own looks were merely average, and her demeanor unremarkable, so her feelings upon seeing Gu Yue and Na'er were understandable.
"Don't underestimate them," the man cautioned. "Age isn't the main factor in determining strength."
"Pah!" the woman scoffed. "I bet you're only saying that because they're pretty. Don't think I don't know you!"
"Heh, not entirely, not entirely," the man admitted awkwardly, his ulterior motives exposed.
The couple's conversation was loud and unguarded, clearly audible to Gu Yue and Na'er, who both frowned at their excessive noise.
The referee stepped onto the stage, quickly went through the necessary formalities, and without delay announced, "Begin the match!"
At the command, the couple charged forward simultaneously, releasing their Martial Souls. The man moved swiftly, his steps light yet firm, as a pair of magnificent wings unfurled from his back, lifting him slightly off the ground. Two yellow and two purple Soul Rings followed beneath his feet as he flew low.
With his Martial Soul activated, a cluster of even more splendid and flowing tail feathers sprang from his waist, resembling an elegant screen.
Peacock Martial Soul—a powerful avian-type Martial Soul for offense.
The woman was equally fast, her own wings spreading wide, though far less splendid than the man's. Her Soul Rings were also two yellow and two purple. The moment her Martial Soul activated, her hair transformed into a riot of colors, appearing not chaotic but rather striking.
Her Martial Soul was the Golden Pheasant, a unique agility-type Martial Soul.
Seeing the couple's Martial Souls, Gu Yue and Na'er exchanged odd looks, barely suppressing their laughter. A peacock paired with a hen? What kind of absurd plot was this—a handsome noble falling for a common girl? Though the Golden Pheasant's feathers were beautiful, the class gap between it and the peacock was glaringly obvious.
Amusing.
Facing the oncoming couple, Na'er stepped forward while Gu Yue took a step back. Silver light shimmered in Na'er's hand as the Silver Dragon Lance materialized, accompanied by four pitch-black Soul Rings. The lance's sharp aura made Na'er's presence intensely formidable.
The couple slowed their advance upon seeing Na'er's Soul Rings, exchanging a glance that conveyed their seriousness. Without hesitation, they unleashed their Soul Skills.
The man's second and fourth Soul Rings lit up as his resplendent wings and tail feathers gleamed. The colorful feathers straightened like arrows, hovering in the air behind him before raining down toward Na'er in a dazzling, multicolored barrage that painted the sky with a rainbow hue.
The woman was not to be outdone. With a swift motion, two red feathers appeared in her hands. As a yellow Soul Ring lit up, she flung them forward. The two feathers transformed into fiery birds mid-air, their wings flapping as they streaked toward Na'er.
Faced with the barrage of arrows and the pair of firebirds, Na'er remained unfazed. A black Soul Ring shimmered behind her as she instantly teleported a short distance forward. With a casual sweep of her Silver Dragon Lance, a blazing silver dragon's phantom erupted from the weapon, soaring into the sky. Its tail lashed out, shattering the arrows and extinguishing the firebirds in one swift motion.
The dragon's momentum didn't falter as it surged toward the couple. Though they hastily raised their defenses, the phantom shattered explosively—only for the Silver Dragon Lance to shoot forth like a dragon's claw, tapping lightly on both their shoulders with lightning speed, leaving them utterly defenseless.
Fourth Soul Skill of the Silver Dragon Lance—Silver Dragon's Tail Sweep!
The couple landed simultaneously, their eyes wide with shock at their narrow escape. Had this been a life-or-death battle, they would have been doomed to become husband and wife in the afterlife.
On the opposite side, Na'er landed gracefully, retracting her lance with an air of effortless calm.
"Match concluded! Team One-One-Zero wins!"
This match had ended even faster than Xu Xiaoyan and Wu Siduo's bout. Before the cheers of the audience could fully subside, Na'er and Gu Yue had already turned to leave the stage.
A complete and undisputed domination.
Watching the scene on the screen in the waiting area, Jing Shaoyu couldn't help but glance at Ye Xinglan and Mo Hentian. "Well, the pressure's on you two now."
Ye Xinglan smirked confidently. "Relax, we'll finish even faster. Right, Xiao Mo?"
"Absolutely!" Mo Hentian nodded eagerly. "Just watch us, Captain!"
On the VIP platform, Emperor Dai Tianling sighed in admiration. "These students from Shrek Academy are truly exceptional! That girl, Jing Na'er—she's only fourteen, isn't she?"
"Indeed, Your Majesty," replied the elderly aide beside him, holding a dossier with basic information on Jing Shaoyu's team of seven.
"What a blessing it would be if such talents belonged to our empire!" Dai Tianling mused once more.
By the time Ye Xinglan and Mo Hentian's match began, it was nearly noon. True to their word, they concluded their battle with the same lightning speed—finishing in under ten breaths.
With the first round of the doubles preliminaries wrapped up effortlessly, the seven prepared to leave Star Luo Grand Stadium and return to Star Luo Grand Hotel.
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