Mingdou Mountain Range.
The Shrek Investigation Team initiated a campaign to hunt down the Death God's Emissaries.
Then, the explosions of the Corpse Detonation Technique shattered all hope.
Inside the cave where the Death God's Emissaries had been hiding, everything was in ruins. The scene was brutal and bloody.
All members of the Death God's Emissary group, except for their leader, perished.
The main force from Shrek, which led the charge, suffered devastating losses.
Yao Haoxuan, due to his large size, died in the first wave of corpse explosions and became material for the second detonation.
Chen Zifeng and Xixi, severely wounded in the first blast, were crushed to death by falling rocks caused by Yao Haoxuan's body detonating a second time.
Gongyang Mo went missing, likely buried under rocks, with no remains found.
Ling Luocheng was seriously injured and fell unconscious in the first explosion.
Fortunately, Wang Yan was nearby and, through sheer effort, shielded Ling Luocheng from the second explosion. However, Wang Yan fell into a coma from his injuries.
Wang Yan and Zhou Yi, who had joined the main assault team to make up numbers, were both caught in the two rounds of explosions.
Zhou Yi was also wounded, suffering multiple layers of injury.
However, thanks to the defensive soul device given to her by Fan Yu, she survived the second explosion and remained conscious.
But she sat paralyzed on the ground, seemingly traumatized by the carnage around her.
The members of the reserve team, positioned further back, were spared from death, though some were seriously injured.
Xu Sanshi and Bei Bei stood at the front, protecting the others behind them.
Because of their efforts, Jiang Nannan only sustained minor injuries.
Both Xu Sanshi and Bei Bei, however, were gravely injured.
As the dust settled, Wei Na was the first to start treating Xu Sanshi.
Jiang Nannan stood nearby, emotionally overwhelmed, her feelings for Xu Sanshi growing increasingly complex.
Unfortunately, the wounded Bei Bei was spotted by the escaping Death God's Emissary and taken hostage.
The rest of the team lacked the strength to rescue him.
Wei Na, protected by multiple invincibility shields and being a healing-type princess with no fully trusted companions nearby, was unharmed—only frightened.
At the rear, Jin Qiu'er protected Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao during the blast.
Thanks to her strong physique, Jin Qiu'er was only lightly injured.
Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao emerged mostly unscathed.
A frightened Xiao Xiao clung between Wang Dong and Jin Qiu'er for comfort.
When Xuan Zi arrived and saw the devastation, he was filled with wrath and grief.
The "Strongest Soul King" Death God's Emissary had fled, taking Bei Bei.
Xuan Zi immediately launched a pursuit.
His explosive outburst triggered another major collapse in the already unstable cave.
Fortunately, Jin Qiu'er unleashed a burst of power, smashing through boulders and narrowly saving the others.
Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao now saw Jin Qiu'er as even more dependable.
However, Xuan Zi returned empty-handed.
The Death God's Emissary and Bei Bei had vanished without a trace.
Xuan Zi's roar of sorrow and fury echoed through the wilderness.
Back in the cave, Zhou Yi, still slumped on the ground, seemed to suddenly think of something. Her expression turned strange—almost like she was… smiling.
"This year's Soul Master Tournament has left the main team devastated. Could this be the end of Shrek Academy's millennia of glory?"
"No! Wait! There's still Jin Qiu'er, Huo Yuhao, and Ma Xiaotao! If it's the three of them…"
"Wang Yan has fallen. If I lead the team to win the championship again and preserve Shrek's honor, I'll become a hero of the Academy—earning unparalleled achievements!"
"Then, in Shrek Academy, I'll gain great prestige! I'll finally clear my name!"
In that moment, Zhou Yi understood the saying, "The bigger the waves, the pricier the fish."
Or perhaps, due to the string of traumas and recent terror, her mind had slipped—not to amnesia or madness, but into twisted ambition.
No one noticed that, deep underground in the Mingdou Mountains, four Centipede-Leg Clones were quietly retreating with their spoils.
They had returned fully loaded.
One could only say: Thanks to the gifts of nature.
Meanwhile, on the other side—
The sun was shining brightly.
"So this is Star Luo City?"
Huo Yuhao looked around curiously.
The original Huo Yuhao had never actually been to Star Luo City before, as the White Tiger Duke's mansion was fifty miles away.
Seeing Huo Yuhao's childlike wonder, Ma Xiaotao thought:
"Yuhao really is still a kid."
Then she smiled gently and affectionately took his arm, almost pressing her body into his.
Since Yan Shaozhe had returned to Shrek Academy, only Huo Yuhao and Ma Xiaotao had come to Star Luo City together—so Ma Xiaotao stopped pretending.
Clinging to Huo Yuhao's arm, the two began strolling through the city.
As the capital of the Star Luo Empire, Star Luo City was the empire's largest city—its political, cultural, and economic hub.
It was known as the Imperial Capital That Never Falls.
This city had stood for over ten thousand years—constructed when the White Tiger Clan was still the ruling royal family.
Its walls towered at a hundred meters high and equally thick, built entirely from hard stone. The city spanned over 1,000 square kilometers, stretching over 100 li in both directions. The main avenue could accommodate sixteen carriages side-by-side in both directions—and that was just the outer city.
But Huo Yuhao only cared about two things:
Fortune (qi luck)
Population
Star Luo City's accumulated fortune far surpassed that of Heaven Dou City, indicating a clear difference in national power between the two empires.
According to the original novel, Star Luo City had over 8 million permanent residents, with a maximum capacity of up to 20 million.
"If I sacrificed this entire city… it's not impossible I could break through to Super Douluo. Especially right now, a mass sacrifice would yield even more!"
Why?
Because the Soul Master Tournament was underway, and Star Luo City had been flooded with people—beyond its maximum capacity. The government had to requisition private homes and mansions to house the guests.
This massive influx brought huge economic benefits to Star Luo City.
Compared to the Olympics in his previous life, the Soul Master Tournament was even more famous.
As long as the hosting empire didn't shoot itself in the foot, the tournament was always a financial win.
Star Luo Plaza was the tournament venue, already fully constructed.
Not far to the east stood a seven-story hotel named Star Emperor Grand Hotel, owned by the royal family. It had been set aside to host elite teams from top Soul Master and Soul Engineering Academies.
Shrek Academy's team was given the top floor with luxurious rooms—one bedroom per person, plus a dedicated meeting room.
At the moment, only Huo Yuhao and Ma Xiaotao had arrived, so they got to enjoy it first.
They presented their credentials and checked in. The staff treated them with the utmost respect.
The name Shrek demanded this level of service.
Upon arriving on the seventh floor, Huo Yuhao immediately sensed that another team was already present.
Without a doubt, it was the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, the only team worthy of sharing a floor with Shrek.
They had arrived early.
Still, Huo Yuhao didn't pay them any mind.
Entering Shrek's meeting room, Huo Yuhao was about to pick a room for himself.
But Ma Xiaotao suddenly pushed him onto the meeting room table and straddled him, seductively licking her pinky.
"Little uncle, letting you get hurt earlier was my fault. Let me apologize properly now."
"Here?" Huo Yuhao glanced around the lavish room.
Ma Xiaotao smiled charmingly.
"If we're chasing thrills, we go all the way…"
Huo Yuhao smiled too.
"You're so fiery~"
This apology?
Very sincere.
Great fire hardened the pillar of heaven. Great waves soaked the Phoenix's nest.
Evening.
Huo Yuhao, cloaked in a black robe to conceal his figure, appeared in a forest outside Star Luo City.
A rustling sound suddenly emerged from underground.
Sensing Huo Yuhao's arrival, the centipede-legged clones crawled out of the ground one after another and began to regurgitate their earlier spoils from their abdomens.
A flag. Three people.
Seeing such a fruitful harvest, Huo Yuhao couldn't help but remark, "As expected, something did go wrong."
After learning all the details from the centipede clones, Huo Yuhao couldn't help but admire, "Xuanzai, you really live up to your name."
In fact, the operation by the Death God Envoy wasn't much different from what happened in the original storyline.
Two corpse explosions, then fleeing with hostages.
But the responders were different this time.
There was no Ma Xiaotao or Dai Yaoheng—those two heavy hitters—and without Huo Yuhao's powerful support, the result wasn't surprising at all.
The lack of deaths in the reserve team was purely due to their rear positioning. Without Huo Yuhao's assistance, they couldn't have advanced as quickly as they did in the original story.
Now, only Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luocheng, and himself were left in the main team.
And Ling Luocheng was gravely injured and unconscious—it was uncertain whether she could even participate in the tournament.
But it wasn't a big issue.
As long as he and Ma Xiaotao were around, there wouldn't be any problems with the upcoming Soul Master Tournament. Besides, if he could turn this dire situation around, Shrek Academy would regard him even more highly.
Plotting for Shrek Academy's destiny would become even easier.
One had to admit—this was a huge opportunity.
"But I still have to ask—where are the remains of Chen Zifeng, Xixi, and Yao Haoxuan?"
The centipede-legged clones explained: We tried our best, but we couldn't recover them. A big rock fell and crushed them into pulp—they basically turned into Chen Zifeng jam, Xixi jam, and Yao Haoxuan jam.
"Well then." Huo Yuhao sounded a bit regretful. "But their bloodlines weren't particularly strong anyway, so it doesn't really matter."
Temporarily setting that aside, Huo Yuhao began inspecting his gains.
The banner was called the Lesser Spirit Flag, a soul tool capable of attracting and collecting recently deceased souls.
It was something Huo Yuhao had acquired from the evil soul masters of the Holy Spirit Sect, and he had personally modified it.
Now, the banner stored quite a number of souls—
Including those of other members of the Death God Envoy's gang and the deceased Shrek Academy students.
However, these souls were dazed and weak. Even if transformed into ghosts, they wouldn't regain their consciousness or memories.
Nothing much to say—he sent them straight into the Ghost Banner family.
The three people were the real prize.
Namely: Gongyang Mo, the Death God Envoy, and Beibei.
The missing Gongyang Mo had been captured by the centipede clones during the chaos—through tunnel digging, of course.
As for the Death God Envoy and Beibei, they were ganked by the centipede-legged clones lying in ambush outside the cave.
Xuanzai might not have been able to catch the Death God Envoy, but the centipede clones were perfect for the job.
Each clone carried Huo Yuhao's Pseudo-Buddha Light, Necromantic Magic from Electrolux, and the power of Ultimate Ice.
They opened with a devastating combo of elemental counters. The Death God Envoy's head was practically ringing from the assault.
Now, both the Death God Envoy and Beibei were sealed in Ultimate Ice.
Fortunately, this freezing technique had preserved their vital signs. Beibei, though gravely injured and nearly dead, was still clinging to life. If Huo Yuhao had arrived any later, he wouldn't have survived.
At this point, Beibei's breathing was faint and weak.
Huo Yuhao had no choice but to begin treating him.
This little sheep could still be sheared—his identity still useful.
"Beibei, you just cheated death again. It's only thanks to these centipede clones being able to move in a straight line underground at high speed. If you hadn't made it here today, you'd be long dead."
"Now that I think about it—Beibei, you owe me your life. What are you going to repay me with? Your life alone probably isn't enough… guess I'll have to collect from your friends and family next…"
He didn't wake Beibei.
Instead, Huo Yuhao turned his attention to handling Gongyang Mo and the Death God Envoy.
Gongyang Mo's bloodline was extracted, and his soul was absorbed into the Ghost Banner martial soul.
However, the Rainbow Dragon bloodline wasn't absorbed into Huo Yuhao's body. Instead, it was condensed into a Snow Lotus Seed for later use.
Though the dragon bloodline was strong, Rainbow Dragon leaned more toward support and had a ceiling in terms of growth.
So Huo Yuhao planned to use it elsewhere.
More importantly, he didn't want to become effeminate or lose interest in women after fusing the Rainbow Dragon bloodline.
Bloodlines didn't just bring power—they could alter one's personality and preferences.
Currently, Huo Yuhao had five main bloodlines:
White Tiger: Made him aggressive and battle-savvy.
Tortoise (from Tortoiseshell): Transforming into Black Tortoise, making him more stable and cautious.
Frost Centipede Variant: Made him sly and survival-focused.
Ice Jade Dragon and newly acquired Golden Dragon King: Though minor in proportion, they amplified his desire and destructive tendencies.
Earlier that day, Huo Yuhao had tested them on Ma Xiaotao—his desires and abilities had both grown stronger.
Interestingly, all these different bloodlines coexisted in him without conflict, harmonizing within his body and influencing him simultaneously.
Next up: the Death God Envoy.
Huo Yuhao didn't choose to kill him.
Instead, he enveloped the man in Pseudo-Buddha Light.
"Awaken!" Huo Yuhao commanded.
The Death God Envoy slowly opened his eyes—but they were void of spirit.
"Elder Yi, lend a hand," Huo Yuhao suddenly said.
Electrolux appeared and asked curiously, "Yuhao, what do you need me for?"
"I plan to remodel this guy's soul, and I need your help."
"Can't you do it yourself?"
"It's faster and easier with two people."
"Alright then…"
Electrolux had no choice—he worked for Huo Yuhao now.
Since Huo Yuhao couldn't yet leave Shrek Academy, he planned to turn the Death God Envoy into a sleeper agent, planted within the Holy Spirit Sect and the Sun-Moon Empire.
He was also quite interested in the man's Corpse Explosion Technique.
The original story even featured Ice Explosion.
So could there also be Poison Explosion, Blood Explosion, or similar soul skills?
Understanding the principles behind them could lead to developing new variants.
Huo Yuhao even activated his Eye of All Laws.
In truth, Huo Yuhao didn't lack powerful AOE abilities. But one can never have too many tricks.
He had thoroughly embraced the characteristics of an evil cultivator.
After a while, the Death God Envoy's soul and consciousness were completely rewritten by Huo Yuhao.
He would now head to the Sun-Moon Empire, join the Holy Spirit Sect, and become one of its members.
To help him rise quickly within the sect and boost his strength, Huo Yuhao even taught him several dark cultivation techniques.
Moreover, he made sure the Death God Envoy wouldn't remember him—but everything the man did from now on would ultimately serve Huo Yuhao.
"And now, let me give you one more little boost…"
In Huo Yuhao's hands appeared a pair of strange eyes, each with a blue and a red pupil.
This was a magical artifact.
Forged by combining Dai Yaoheng's eyes and Zhu Qing's Ice Toad eyes—enhancing physical constitution, improving vision, and enabling fire-based attacks.
It also functioned as a surveillance device!
Huo Yuhao could monitor or even control the Death God Envoy using this artifact.
Without hesitation, Huo Yuhao gouged out the lifeless eyes of the Death God Envoy and inserted the artifact eyes into the empty sockets.
He then refined the artifact into the man's body.
When the Death God Envoy opened his eyes again, a pair of heterochromatic pupils shone with an eerie light—
They looked eerily similar to Compassionate Demon!'s eyes!
Finally, there was Beibei's issue.
Huo Yuhao looked at Beibei, deciding to point him toward a clear path.
"Beibei, don't stay at Shrek Academy. It's holding you back! Elder Xuan really isn't treating you like a person!"
"Listen to your little brother's advice. This time, go with the Death God Envoy to the Sun Moon Empire. In the Holy Spirit Cult, you might even meet the one you've been longing for~"
Huo Yuhao had no intention of letting Beibei return to Shrek Academy.
In the upcoming Soul Master Tournament, Huo Yuhao planned to turn the tide, earning immense honor and prestige to secure his position as the future successor of the Sea God Pavilion.
Eliminating competitors in advance was a necessary tactic.
After Mu En's death, Elder Xuan and Yan Shaozhe could, at best, temporarily hold the position of Pavilion Master. One lacked the intellect, the other the strength. They would wait for the younger generation to mature before passing on the role.
Zhang Lexuan had the ability and potential but lacked ambition. At most, she'd be a temporary stand-in. If she didn't know her place, Huo Yuhao would make her acquainted with his "big stick."
Huo Yuhao, Beibei, and Ma Xiaotao were the most likely successors.
Beibei was the top candidate, being Mu En's descendant, with impeccable lineage.
Next was Ma Xiaotao, a descendant of Ma Hongjun, who had been at Shrek Academy longer.
Huo Yuhao was the last in line. Mu En preferred to groom him as Shrek Academy's enforcer.
But Huo Yuhao's ambitions were grand.
Now, Ma Xiaotao was already his.
If he could send Beibei away, no one would be more suitable than Huo Yuhao to become the successor.
Once he secured the Sea God Pavilion's heir position, becoming its true leader wouldn't be far off.
If Yan Shaozhe and Elder Xuan didn't retire, Huo Yuhao would *help* them retire.
By then, Shrek Academy's ten-thousand-year fortune and the Golden Ancient Tree would be his for the taking!
Beibei didn't utter a single word of refusal to Huo Yuhao's suggestion.
Then, Huo Yuhao had the Death God Envoy carry the unconscious Beibei off for a "trip."
*Travel · Death God Envoy · Frog, equipped with a souvenir—Beibei—sets off!*
As night fell, due to the Soul Master Tournament, Star Luo's imperial city no longer closed its gates at night.
Huo Yuhao smoothly returned to the city.
The nightlife was just beginning.
The larger the city, the more vibrant and decadent its nightlife.
Star Luo's imperial city had a unique splendor, distinct from Shrek City.
So, Brother Hao decided to try a different "cauldron."
In a hotel room in Star Luo City, Nan Qiuqiu lay on the bed, clutching a blanket, holding a rose used as a hotel decoration.
She had come to Star Luo City with her mother, partly to watch the Soul Master Tournament and partly to expand the sect's business.
Under Nan Shuishui's guidance, the Earth Dragon Sect was recently exploring new ventures in Shrek City and the imperial cities of the three major empires.
Staring at the rose, Nan Qiuqiu's thoughts wandered. "Huo Yuhao should be at the Soul Master Tournament, right? He's so outstanding, a top student at Shrek Academy…"
Her mind drifted to the Far North, where Huo Yuhao, like a god descending, clad in icy armor, held her in his arms.
Blushing at some unspoken thought, her cheeks grew hotter until they burned.
Finally, the lovestruck girl buried her face in the fluffy blanket, letting out shy whimpers.
Unbeknownst to her, in the room next door—her mother's—the boy she was thinking of stood before Nan Shuishui.
"Greetings, Bright King!"
Nan Shuishui knelt fervently, presenting Huo Yuhao with what he needed.
Several Ice Extreme Divine Crystals, one of which contained an ice spirit.
Huo Yuhao had been sending centipede clones to the Earth Dragon Sect, tasking Nan Shuishui with collecting these crystals.
This time, she personally delivered all the excavated crystals to him, eager for a reward.
"But now isn't the time to refine the Ice Extreme Divine Crystals," Huo Yuhao said, gazing down at the kneeling beauty, a slight smirk on his lips. "Would Madame care to share my bed tonight?"
"It is my heart's desire, though I dare not ask."
A touch of culture.
Nan Shuishui raised her mature, alluring face, biting off Huo Yuhao's belt…
Soon, her room echoed with soft whimpers.
That night, nothing else happened—just annihilation-fueled cultivation.
*Ding! Huo Yuhao unlocked a new cultivation path! Keep it up!*
The next day, as dawn broke, Huo Yuhao returned to the Star Emperor Hotel, the scent on him long washed away with Nan Shuishui's help.
Of course, not without some morning exercise.
Upon entering Shrek Academy's meeting room, he saw Ma Xiaotao, who had clearly been waiting for him.
Her face was full of worry, but it eased when she saw him, and she let out a sigh of relief.
She was only concerned for his safety, not suspecting anything else.
After all, the Fire Phoenix had been tamed.
Still, she asked with care, "Little Master-Uncle, what did you do last night? No danger, right?"
"Don't worry, Little Peach. I ran into the Earth Dragon Sect's leader. Since I saved her daughter, their young miss, she was very enthusiastic, insisting I accept her guidance all night. My strength has improved again," Huo Yuhao replied with a smile.
The taste of a mature woman was indeed different from a young girl's.
Ma Xiaotao was still growing.
Nan Shuishui was already ripe.
The feel of semi-automatic versus fully automatic was distinct.
And Huo Yuhao's strength had indeed advanced.
Though Nan Shuishui no longer had her primordial yin, their first joint cultivation still brought him benefits. Regardless of primordial yin, the first session always yielded the best results.
That night's cultivation pushed Huo Yuhao to Level 69.
"I see," Ma Xiaotao said, completely unsuspicious, even cautioning him. "Little Master-Uncle, be careful out there. The Earth Dragon Sect's leader may be kind, but others might not be. Star Luo City is full of mixed company right now—there could be those with ulterior motives."
"Got it, Little Peach. Thanks for the reminder," Huo Yuhao said, smiling. "Have you eaten? Want to grab a meal and stroll around Star Luo City?"
Ma Xiaotao's eyes lit up, nodding eagerly. "Sure, Little Master-Uncle, let's go."
Huo Yuhao felt no fatigue, only refreshed—he *had* been cultivating last night, after all.
Today, he planned to explore Star Luo City, especially the auction house, to see if he could snag any overlooked treasures from the original story, particularly that Soul-Devouring Carving Knife!
But a day passed, and he didn't find it at the auction.
In the following days, Huo Yuhao shuttled between Nan Shuishui and Ma Xiaotao. In his free time, he stayed at the hotel, observing the fortunes and martial souls of students from various academies.
He indeed saw many impressive bloodlines and martial souls.
For example, Yu Mengdi from Zhengtian Academy, with angelic bloodline and a Two-Winged Angel martial soul!
"Could she be related to the Qian family from ten thousand years ago?" Huo Yuhao wondered, but not too deeply.
It wasn't important. All he needed to know was that she was a resource he'd set his sights on.
Finally, the day before registration closed, Shrek Academy's team arrived, fashionably late.
The Shrek Academy team had clearly undergone significant downsizing.
Team Leader: Zhou Yi
Main Team Member: Ling Luocheng
Reserve Members: Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, Wei Na, Jin Qiu'er, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao
Add in Ma Xiaotao and Huo Yuhao, and there were ten in total.
Wang Yan had been taken back to the academy for treatment by Xuan Zi.
Everyone who could make it came; those who couldn't were beyond salvaging.
That both the heavily injured Ling Luocheng and Xu Sanshi were able to appear was thanks to them still being somewhat mobile, and to the healing efforts of Wei Na, a support-type Soul Master.
When Shrek Academy arrived, most of the other academies in the hotel began secretly observing their lineup—and their expressions soon turned strange.
This year's team looked far too young, like a reserve squad sent out to play!
The only relatively older member, Ling Luocheng, appeared weak and frail.
What was going on?
Even Ma Xiaotao was puzzled. "What's happening, Luocheng? Why are you the only one here? Where is everyone else?"
In the meeting room, Ma Xiaotao asked in confusion.
This simple question made Ling Luocheng lose control. Her cold expression cracked, her eyes reddened, and she threw herself into Ma Xiaotao's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
Ma Xiaotao panicked at once. She quickly realized something was wrong—Luocheng was injured!
"Luocheng, what happened to you all? What did you encounter? Tell me!" Ma Xiaotao urged anxiously.
But Ling Luocheng continued crying and couldn't answer.
Helpless, Ma Xiaotao turned to the others—only to realize that Beibei was missing, and the others were all avoiding eye contact.
Huo Yuhao asked Wei Na, "Sister Wei Na, where's Brother Beibei?"
Wei Na bit her lip, hesitant and struggling to speak...
Just as the grief-filled atmosphere reached its peak, someone broke the silence.
"What are you all crying for? What does this look like?! Is this how members of the Shrek Academy battle team should act?!"
A sharp voice cut through the air, drawing everyone's attention—it was Zhou Yi. Instantly, faces darkened.
Zhou Yi's first words were harsh criticism, and everyone frowned slightly.
But Zhou Yi's expression remained cold and rigid. "Huo Yuhao, Ma Xiaotao—since you want to know, I'll tell you."
"Gongyang Mo, Xixi, Chen Zifeng, Yao Haoxuan—four were killed during a mission with the Supervisory Corps.
Beibei was captured by evil soul masters; his fate is unknown.
Teacher Wang Yan is severely injured and was escorted back to the Academy by Elder Xuan."
The brutal truth came from her mouth without any emotion.
"What?!"
Huo Yuhao and Ma Xiaotao exclaimed in disbelief, clearly unwilling to accept what they had just heard.
Zhou Yi continued coldly:
"If you're scared, then return to the Academy. Abandon Shrek's honor.
As long as you don't step onto the stage, no one will ever know you were the ones who let Shrek's legacy fall."
"What do you mean by that?!" Ma Xiaotao exploded with anger. "Is it wrong for me to care about my teammates?!"
Zhou Yi sneered, "Then what is this display? Does it look like you're ready to win?"
"Who says we're giving up the tournament?! As long as Yuhao and I are here, we're taking the championship. I said it!"
Boom!
Ma Xiaotao's fury erupted. She activated her martial soul—Bathing Fire Phoenix—a powerful flame shadow rose behind her.
Her soul rings: two yellow, two purple, three black—she had reached the Soul Sage level!
Everyone was stunned by the pressure of her Soul Sage aura.
Zhou Yi was under immense pressure, but when she saw Ma Xiaotao's rings, her eyes filled with glee and wild ambition.
"Soul Sage! A Soul Sage!
With Ma Xiaotao here, if I play it right, the championship is in the bag!
This could be my comeback!"
Others gasped—a Soul Sage under 20 years old?
A rarity in the world!
Under the pressure, Zhou Yi forced the words out between her teeth,
"Then win the championship for me!"
Ma Xiaotao stared at Zhou Yi for a long moment before she withdrew her martial soul and aura. Her gaze turned contemplative.
Ma Xiaotao, no longer the hothead she once was, now realized Zhou Yi was using reverse psychology to motivate them—but using the deaths of their teammates felt out of line.
"I will!" she said coldly, and led Ling Luocheng to her room—they needed to talk privately.
Zhou Yi smirked faintly. She didn't care about the method, only the result.
Then she swept her gaze across Huo Yuhao and the other reserves.
"All you need to do is win. Leave the rest to me."
"Don't disappoint the dead. Win the championship—let their souls rest in peace.
It's all for the honor of Shrek Academy."
Zhou Yi didn't value the reserve members. Her focus was solely on Ma Xiaotao and Huo Yuhao. She believed if Ma Xiaotao committed, Yuhao would follow.
So she said no more and went to pick a room.
Leaving Huo Yuhao and the others exchanging glances.
Xu Sanshi suddenly slammed the table:
"She's right. We must win! For those who will never return—for Shrek's honor!"
"Yes." Jiang Nannan nodded solemnly.
The buffs of fallen comrades and school pride hit Xu Sanshi and Jiang Nannan especially hard—it fired them up.
The others were less affected.
They knew their own limitations—even if they did win, it wouldn't be thanks to them.
Still, they chimed in:
Wei Na: "Yes!"
Xiao Xiao: "Mm-hmm!"
Jin Qiu'er: "That's right!"
Wang Dong suddenly shouted, "For the honor of Shrek Academy!"
Heads turned.
Apparently, besides Xu Sanshi and Jiang Nannan, Wang Dong was also fired up.
No one knew why she, after only a year at the Academy, was so emotionally attached.
"Everyone's had a hard journey. Pick a room and get some rest," Jiang Nannan said, stepping up as the senior member.
The others had no objection.
Xu Sanshi, ever the loyal follower, quickly chose the room next to Jiang Nannan's.
At that point, Xiao Xiao whispered to Wang Dong,
"Don't you think this Zhou Yi feels a lot like the Zhou Yi we know?"
"Like how?" Wang Dong asked, puzzled.
"I don't know… her tone, how she handles things…" Xiao Xiao struggled to explain.
"Now that you mention it, maybe a little," Wang Dong said, thinking.
In truth, what felt familiar was Zhou Yi's intense, pressure-based leadership style—eerily similar to a certain "Master."
Xiao Xiao disliked it.
Faced with crisis, instead of comfort, she offered pressure as "motivation."
Even Elder Xuan knew how to say:
"The fault is mine, the glory is yours,"
to ease the team's grief.
Jin Qiu'er wasn't familiar with Zhou Yi—her mind was on two things:
"I'm exhausted. Gonna find a room to rest… then maybe explore the city…"
All she wanted was sleep, play, and maybe some food.
As for Shrek's honor and the fallen?
She didn't really care.
Wei Na, however, followed Huo Yuhao.
With Beibei gone, she planned to comfort Yuhao and raise her standing in his heart.
Other matters were irrelevant to her—she came to Shrek only for Huo Yuhao.
Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao was thinking something else.
"So that's what Zhou Yi's aiming for?"
"I will be the sole bearer of the glory of leading Shrek to victory.
That glory must not be shared or tarnished."
"Zhou Yi… you've chosen the path to your own death."
"…Wait, have I been saying that line too much lately?
Could I have been cursed by some god-king…?"
The arrival of Shrek Academy heralded the imminent start of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament—
It begins tomorrow!
Countless eyes were fixed on Shrek Academy, and naturally, everyone saw their remarkable and unexpected lineup.
Next door, the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy was, just like in the original novel, already pounding their desks. They believed that this was a sign of contempt from Shrek Academy.
"They actually dared to send a bunch of youngsters to compete. Do they think those kids alone can defeat us? I'm fuming!" Teacher Ma, who was leading the team, slammed his pen down on the table.
Everyone else thought the same.
They believed Shrek Academy was underestimating their opponents—especially them!
After all, who would have thought that Shrek Academy's main team could be beaten by a mere Soul King?
Who would dare imagine such a thing?
What a bold affront~
So, not just the Sun and Moon team, but outsiders as well thought Shrek Academy did this deliberately.
They didn't understand it, but they were deeply shocked.
The students of the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy were fired up, determined to teach Shrek Academy a huge lesson.
Teacher Ma reminded Xiao Hongchen:
"Xiao Hongchen, you'd better focus your attention on those Shrek students under fifteen years old. They'll be your true rivals in the next tournament."
Xiao Hongchen—martial soul: Three-legged Golden Toad, grandson of Mingdetang Hall Master Jing Hongchen, a Soul King with five soul rings, and a Level 5 Soul Engineer. Along with his sister, Meng Hongchen, they possessed a martial soul fusion skill—Red Dust Yearning.
He was hailed as the number one genius of the Sun and Moon Empire!
With such cultivation and strength at less than fifteen years of age, he absolutely deserved the title of "top genius."
He was also a pre-selection member of the Sun and Moon team and was destined to be the core of the next tournament.
Hence, Teacher Ma's advice.
However, Xiao Hongchen wasn't worried at all. He just smiled and said,
"Teacher Ma, my only opponent is myself."
He might as well have written "everyone here is trash—including those outside" on his face.
Meng Hongchen stood by, giggling as she watched her older brother swell with pride.
What could Teacher Ma say? He could only remain silent.
The captain of the official team, Ma Rulong, was clearly displeased with Xiao Hongchen's attitude. But with Teacher Ma backing Xiao Hongchen, Ma Rulong couldn't do anything about it.
Finally, Teacher Ma began organizing and planning for the first round of elimination matches.
Early morning, as the first ray of sunlight pierced through Star Luo City, the entire imperial city was filled with a solemn air.
Because the Soul Master Tournament had officially begun!
In that moment, Star Luo City fell silent.
Yet the tournament arena—Star Luo Plaza—remained empty.
Then, as the Prime Minister proclaimed the decree of the Star Luo Emperor, the gates to the arena were opened.
A tidal wave of people surged into Star Luo Plaza, making it buzz with excitement.
It took nearly half an hour just for spectators to enter the plaza.
To maintain order, over ten thousand soldiers were deployed.
At the same time, the contestants began entering the venue.
All roads surrounding Star Luo Plaza were sealed off by fully armored soldiers.
Thousands of soldiers stood guard around the Star Imperial Hotel.
The street connecting the hotel to Star Luo Plaza was completely locked down.
Only contestants and instructors were allowed to pass.
On both sides of the road stood two lines of upright soldiers in magnificent armor.
Rows of gleaming spears formed perfect, unbroken lines.
Finally, the participants and instructors from 133 academies emerged from the Star Imperial Hotel.
Leading the procession—was Shrek Academy!
And at the very front of the Shrek team was a boy not yet fifteen.
He had ice-blue hair, an extraordinarily handsome appearance, and an air of aloofness as if he were a snow lotus blooming atop a lonely mountain—unlike any ordinary person.
His Shrek Academy uniform seemed unworthy of his presence.
At such a young age, walking at the front—
He instantly became the focus of countless eyes.
Yet the boy remained expressionless, undisturbed, and walked forward with composure.
Everyone watching felt as if his every step landed directly on their hearts, as if with each stride, their chests might explode.
Many couldn't bear to look at him directly.
From atop the imperial palace, the Star Luo Emperor, Empress, Prime Minister, and various officials also saw the boy and were visibly shaken.
The emperor asked the prime minister beside him,
"Prime Minister, who is that boy?"
The prime minister had already reviewed every contestant, especially those from Shrek Academy. He responded without hesitation:
"From Shrek Academy—Huo Yuhao!"
"Huo Yuhao, is it? Just his bearing alone marks him as no ordinary person," the emperor couldn't help but remark in admiration.
Such a youth—radiant with heroic spirit—made others forget his age.
"Prime Minister, look into Huo Yuhao's background thoroughly and bring me a full report."
"Yes, Your Majesty," the prime minister bowed in response.
"Your Majesty, do you intend to recruit this young man?" the Star Luo Empress asked, a beautiful noblewoman clad in regal attire, with a hint of surprise in her voice. "Isn't it too soon for that?"
But the emperor shook his head, his gaze fixed on Huo Yuhao, and said softly:
"There are some people whose greatness you can see at a glance—he is worth recruiting for the Empire."
Hearing the emperor's assessment, the others nearby grew even more curious, turning their attention to the boy below.
Indeed, the one leading the group was Huo Yuhao.
Even Ma Xiaotao had to walk half a step behind him.
Because Huo Yuhao was Ma Xiaotao's martial uncle.
Ling Luochen and Xu Sanshi stayed at the hotel to rest.
Behind followed Jiang Nannan, Wei Na, Jin Qiu'er, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao.
Lastly came Zhou Yi.
Exactly seven students, and one instructor.
In fact, Zhou Yi had wanted to walk at the front, but Ma Xiaotao disagreed.
In both strength and status, Zhou Yi couldn't compare to Ma Xiaotao.
Even if Zhou Yi tried to use her status as instructor to overrule Ma Xiaotao, it wouldn't work—Zhou Yi was merely an assistant instructor with no formal rank in the academy.
So Zhou Yi had no choice but to walk at the end—
With a stern expression all the way.
In contrast, at the rear, the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy walked in standard formation—instructors ahead of students.
They too cast curious glances toward the Shrek Academy team ahead.
"Brother, that boy is so handsome!" Meng Hongchen whispered to Xiao Hongchen, trying to sneak a few more glances at Huo Yuhao.
Xiao Hongchen smiled slightly, mentally adding Huo Yuhao's name to his little blacklist.
He thought to himself:
"A wild pig from Shrek dares to charm my sister? Just wait till I meet you in the arena—you're in for a world of pain!"
Upon entering the arena, it became clear: the battle stage was not at the center of Star Luo Plaza, but directly in front of the imperial palace gates.
This way, the Star Luo Emperor and his officials could watch from atop the palace with a commanding view.
Not only was it the best vantage point, but also the safest.
The arena measured 100 meters in length and width, and stood 5 meters high.
Surrounding it were 108 metal pillars, forming a massive defensive soul tool array, controlled by 108 soul masters. Once activated, a protective shield would form to block all soul skills from escaping, ensuring no bystanders were harmed.
By the time everyone had entered, the sun was already high.
A solemn voice rang out from above the palace walls:
"Silence!"