The next morning.
Jiang Jue had just finished breakfast with Meng Hongchen when Elder Lin summoned him to the conference room for a meeting.
This was the final match—the last battle after all of Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy's hard work. It was the final stretch before the dawn of victory. No amount of preparation would be too much.
If they won, they would shatter the millennium-long label of "second place," return home to glory, and be remembered by the Sun Moon Empire as the ones who ended Shrek Academy's nightmare reign.
If they lost, all their efforts would turn to ashes. Their academy would still be the millennium-old runner-up, no different from their predecessors.
When Jiang Jue and Meng Hongchen arrived, most were already present. Only Mika and Liyan were absent, still resting from injuries. Before long, Elder Lin entered the room as well.
"Cough, cough. Everyone, listen carefully. In this coming match—the advantage lies with us!"
Right from the start, Elder Lin injected morale into the room, proclaiming his mantra of victory: "The advantage is ours."
"I don't know why, but everywhere outside people are saying Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy is doomed to lose, as if the championship of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament is something we can never win."
"But! I believe Shrek Academy is already showing signs of fatigue, while we still have trump cards unrevealed. Outsiders claim Shrek will win only because of their history, not because of facts before them."
"If they can create miracles, then so can we! Our blade is just as sharp!"
"Am I right, everyone?"
He finished his rousing speech and asked the group.
Though Sun Moon Royal had shown great momentum, the audience still mostly hailed from the original three empires. Naturally, they placed their faith in Shrek, the long-standing champion. That belief was branded deep into their hearts.
"I agree with Elder Lin."
Ma Rulong stood up in support.
"Though Shrek Academy has two Soul Emperors, one of them—Ma Xiaotao—clearly has a problem with her condition. And I have a trump card that can counter her. That leaves only Dai Yueheng as the one we need to pay serious attention to."
"Besides, we still have Xue Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, who have never even taken the stage. Xue Hongchen's strength is by no means weak. Overall, we are indeed superior to Shrek."
Ma Rulong spoke clearly and logically. But when his gaze shifted toward Jiang Jue, his words faltered.
"Furthermore, Jiang Jue hasn't even revealed his first martial soul yet. His first martial soul is actually his main one."
These words he only thought silently, not daring to voice them aloud.
Hearing his name praised, Xue Hongchen puffed his chest and raised his chin proudly, thoroughly pleased.
"Bah, no need to worry too much. In my opinion, Shrek is just a bunch of fools waiting for the axe. Let's finish them in the first two rounds, then we can still make it home in time for the festival."
Xue Hongchen grinned. The "festival" he referred to was the famous Reunion Festival of the Sun Moon Empire, when families gathered together to eat chicken.
Ma Rulong covered his face with his hand, smiling bitterly. He had meant to flatter Xue Hongchen a little before the fight, to encourage him to perform well on stage. Instead, the boy had gotten carried away. That was his mistake—he still didn't fully understand Xue Hongchen.
"Jiang Jue, I'll be taking the stage too, so we'll be able to fight side by side."
Meng Hongchen whispered softly as she sidled closer.
"Then I'll look forward to your performance."
Jiang Jue's lips curved slightly as he answered.
"Don't underestimate me. With the soul bone you gave me, I feel much stronger now."
Meng Hongchen raised her fair arm and shook it playfully.
She had been watching Jiang Jue and the others fight on stage, and deep down she longed to join as well. Unlike her brother, she was more meticulous and thoughtful.
"Alright. I believe in you."
Jiang Jue reached out and ruffled her silky hair gently. His voice was soft, but his expression remained calm, his eyes deep and still like a dark pond, betraying no hint of concern for the finals.
"To defeat Shrek Academy with my first martial soul… that should be interesting."
For evil soul masters who had hunted him relentlessly, being defeated by an "evil martial soul" would surely be bitter indeed.
"After this tournament, Shrek's influence over the three original empires should diminish greatly."
As the saying goes, prosperity is always followed by decline. The higher the expectations, the heavier the disappointment afterward.
This tournament was no longer just an ordinary academy competition. In this unsettled era, it already carried political weight.
"All of this is only the beginning. I trust Xu Tianran will seize this chance as well."
"And after the tournament… it's time I meet the Snow Empress."
Jiang Jue thought silently, his gaze growing ever deeper.
"Though I believe we'll win, I must still arrange strategies to face Shrek. After all, true masters always keep the heart of an apprentice."
With that, Elder Lin began laying out tactics.
At the same time, a similar meeting was being held in Shrek Academy's conference room.
Wang Yan stood at the front, papers in hand, silent for a long while.
The atmosphere was heavy and oppressive.
Though Shrek had defeated Dio Academy yesterday to advance to the finals, they had also witnessed Sun Moon's match against Star Luo Academy. Sun Moon's performance had left them deeply unsettled.
What was worse, Sun Moon still had members who had not yet played. Shrek, on the other hand, had already shown all their cards.
"Teacher Wang, don't look so grim. You need to have some confidence."
Xu Sanshi broke the silence after Beibei nudged him with an elbow.
"That's right, Teacher Wang. We've made it this far. Let's be bolder and aim straight for the championship!"
Beibei followed up. Over this time, he had come to respect Wang Yan. Though Wang Yan's cultivation wasn't high—Beibei suspected he could defeat him in a fight—the teacher's contributions could not be denied.
What Wang Yan had done as a Soul King had in some ways surpassed even what they themselves could do.
"Children, I believe in you. But…"
Wang Yan forced a smile, but his tone betrayed his worry.
"Don't worry! As captain, I'll lead us to take that championship!"
Ma Xiaotao declared fiercely from the front. Compared to yesterday, she looked much better. Elder Mu had temporarily suppressed her evil fire with his power of light. But this was only a temporary fix.
Still, she welcomed it. Stubborn as she was, she would never allow Shrek's millennia of glory to be lost in her hands.
The backlash of the evil fire later would surely be worse—but that was a problem for afterward.
Everyone knew her fiery temper. But the pain she endured silently—who could possibly know that?
"Yes, we'll take back the championship that belongs to us."
"After all, Shrek's students are all monsters!"
Dai Yueheng added firmly, and the others echoed him.
"I won't say much. Cigars are on me afterward."
He Caitou grinned foolishly.
Huo Yuhao looked around at his teammates, their confidence returning, and thought to himself:
"Senior Beibei, Senior Sanshi both have trump cards. And I have one too. Right, Brother Tianmeng?"
"Of course, of course. With me here, no problem at all."
Tianmeng, newly awakened from a nap, yawned lazily.
"And besides, I still have Wang Dong. We have our Haodong Power and martial fusion skill!"
"Wang Dong, let's train a little more now. I feel like I'm about to break through to rank twenty-eight."
At this, Wang Dong's face betrayed a faint trace of resistance.
"Yuhao… I haven't been feeling well these days. Let's not."
He declined tactfully.
"Oh? Alright then."
Huo Yuhao didn't think too much of it. Wang Dong always had a few days like this each month. He was already used to it.
"But Wang Dong… always smells so nice…"
A silly grin spread across Yuhao's face.
Seeing it, Wang Dong quietly shifted a little farther away from him.
(End of Chapter)