"Dugu Yan, Martial Soul: Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor, Level 67 Control-Type Battle Soul Emperor!"
The soft yet clear voice spread outward, echoing beyond the competition stage.
Two yellow, two purple, and two black—six soul rings appeared before everyone's eyes, and the arena fell so silent that a pin drop could be heard.
"6… Level 67 Soul Emperor?!"
In the exclusive lounge of the Thunderclap Academy, the master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Yu Yuanzhen, abruptly stood up from his chair, his face filled with utter shock.
"This is simply monstrous!"
Even after witnessing so many matches, Yu Yuanzhen had thought his heart was strong enough to accept the appearance of Soul Kings under the age of 25 on the stage.
But a Soul Emperor at 25?
No—Dugu Yan was only 21.
Due to Yu Tianheng's relationship, Yu Yuanzhen had conducted thorough investigations on Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan. Dugu Yan's exact age was only 21. A Level 67 Soul Emperor—what kind of concept was that?
At 25, she still had four years left.
With her skyrocketing speed of advancement, she would undoubtedly reach Soul Sage within those four years.
He remembered that two and a half years ago, when Dugu Yan had fought against Yu Tianheng, she had just reached Level 50.
Seventeen levels in two and a half years? What the hell—even with pills, it shouldn't be this fast!
What about bottlenecks?
Didn't she need to stabilize her foundation?
Wasn't she afraid that advancing too quickly would make her foundation unstable, preventing her from reaching Title Douluo in the future?
"This year's Soul Master Grand Tournament is just too terrifying!"
Yu Tianxin, watching the broadcast screen, also let out a bitter laugh.
"First Soul Kings, and now Soul Emperors… What are we Soul Ancestors even supposed to do?"
Yu Tianxin also knew Dugu Yan's age, which was why he found it so unbelievable.
Would there even be Soul Sages in this year's finals?
Was this really a tournament for Soul Masters under 25, and not under 50?
Compared to the shock of Yu Yuanzhen and Yu Tianxin, Yu Xiaogang of the Shrek Academy team, standing among the audience near the competition stage, was even more at a loss.
"Soul Emperor… a real Soul Emperor… Level 67… How is this possible?!"
Yu Xiaogang's lips turned pale as he muttered to himself. "This shouldn't be happening! Even if her strength improved, barely reaching Soul Emperor should be the limit. How could she be Level 67?"
"Xiaogang, face reality." Flender patted Yu Xiaogang's shoulder. "Think about Xiao San—he's already Level 51. Dugu Yan is 21 this year, right? Do you dare say Xiao San won't be close to Soul Sage by that age?"
"Monsters aren't exclusive to our Shrek Academy… Sigh…"
"But, the training Xiao San went through—how could a mere Seven Treasure—"
"Quiet!" Flender was startled and immediately covered Yu Xiaogang's mouth, whispering urgently, "Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"
Damn it, this Yu Xiaogang had no filter—daring to shout such things out loud.
After being stopped, Yu Xiaogang finally regained his senses.
"Ah… I was too naive."
"Our chances aren't great. Even if Xiao San has that…" Flender sighed. "At any rate, advancing to the finals is guaranteed. No need to be too hard on ourselves!"
Hearing Flender's words, Yu Xiaogang looked like a defeated rooster and nodded.
"That's all we can do."
But his hands clenched into fists unwillingly.
He had to make a trip to the Spirit Hall soon—he needed to obtain the cultivation method for Twin Martial Souls.
The championship this time, the 100,000-year soul bone—it had to belong to Xiao San.
Bibi Dong…
I hope you won't be too heartless!
You even came to Heaven Dou to give me the Heartbroken Acacia, and I accepted it.
Now, for just a cultivation method—if I go in person, surely you won't refuse me, right?
...
"S-Soul Emperor…"
Ma Hongjun's body trembled uncontrollably. He had never been a person of strong willpower to begin with, which was why he had indulged in promiscuity due to his Evil Fire problem. After entering Slaughter City, he had become even more unrestrained.
Now, feeling the undisguised killing intent emanating from Dugu Yan, his entire body shook incessantly, and even the fiery wings on his back flickered in and out, becoming unstable.
"N-No way… Are you even human?" Ma Hongjun staggered back a few steps before collapsing to the ground.
"As expected, your willpower is the weakest among Shrek's team."
Dugu Yan murmured softly, paying no further attention to the fallen Ma Hongjun as she walked past him.
However, the moment she passed by—
Ma Hongjun's already fear-twisted face visibly turned green.
"AHHHHH—!"
Ma Hongjun rolled on the ground, letting out piercing screams.
"Y-You… What do you think you're doing?!"
Ma Hongjun's miserable state made even Xiao Wu feel a pang of fear.
"Relax, I don't have the habit of killing people in matches—at least, my grandfather didn't teach me that."
"Damn it, I won't just sit here and take it! So what if you're a Soul Emperor?!"
Xiao Wu roared, activating her third soul skill, Blink, and instantly appearing behind Dugu Yan.
After all, she was once a 100,000-year soul beast—her resistance to a Soul Emperor's pressure was far stronger than that of an ordinary Soul Ancestor, and her poison resistance was also much higher.
"Too slow."
Dugu Yan raised her hand and caught the fist swinging toward her. However, Xiao Wu had no intention of stopping. She stretched out her other hand, trying to grab Dugu Yan and use her Waist Bow and Eight-Stage Suplex.
But in the next second—
BAM!
Before she could even activate her soul skill, Xiao Wu was flung out of the arena, her entire body battered and disoriented.
At the same time, Dugu Yan kicked Ma Hongjun away as well. Disgusted by his gaze, she sent him tumbling over a dozen times like a ball before he rolled off the edge of the stage.
In the blink of an eye, two Soul Ancestors had been thrown off the stage—most of the audience hadn't even had time to react.
Xiao Wu climbed back up after being thrown off, seemingly unharmed.
Tang San let out a sigh of relief.
He barely managed to swallow back the words "You are courting death."
He hesitated over whether to use his full strength—after all, the Master had instructed him to conserve as much power as possible for the finals.
As someone who revered his teacher and respected the Master's words, Tang San would naturally follow their instructions.
While Tang San hesitated, the agonized screams of his teammates rose one after another.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Several loud thuds later—
Including Tang Long, everyone staggered and collapsed, their bodies stiff and immobile.
Tang San jolted in shock, realizing that aside from himself, everyone else had fallen.
"Y-You… What did you do?" Tang San's expression turned grave.
"Nothing much—just knocked them out with poison. It seems you're not as well-versed in toxin principles as you claim."
Dugu Yan spoke indifferently, the six soul rings of her Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor quietly arranged around her.
"Last time was the same, and now it's the same again." Her tone was calm.
"I just wasn't paying attention, that's all!" Tang San was furious. How dare Dugu Yan claim that his Tang Sect wasn't proficient in poison? She was truly courting death.
"Oh, is that so…" Dugu Yan didn't argue. "I heard you once defeated a Soul Emperor—surely you're not just at this level?"
"What are you afraid of? Did that fraud of a 'Master' tell you not to use it?"
A fierce gale swept across the arena.
Tang San crossed his arms to block the raging wind. By the time he regained his bearings, every member of the Shrek team except himself had been blown off the stage by the sudden tempest.