After finishing his report, Jing Hongchen did not linger. He got up and left right away.
He hadn't come with Kong Deming and knew the elder had business with the Third Prince—business he wasn't supposed to hear.
Watching Jing Hongchen depart, Kong Deming suddenly chuckled. "Your Highness, you've yet to choose a crown princess, haven't you? The granddaughter of the Hongchen family—Meng Hongchen—isn't a bad candidate. She's not only exceptionally gifted as both a soul master and a soul engineer, but also very beautiful. I believe she won't disappoint you. What do you think?"
"Not interested," the Third Prince sneered. "What makes her worthy of becoming my crown princess?"
Kong Deming was left speechless.
Fine, fine… If you say so, no one can argue with you.
Fortunately, Kong Deming wasn't here to push for a marriage, nor did he particularly care about whom the Third Prince chose to wed.
After all, while the prince hadn't named a crown princess, it wasn't for lack of interest in women. Those in the Worship Hall knew very well—over the years, the Third Prince had kept many women. Some were former beauties from his residence, others were noble daughters gifted to him, and there were also numerous beauties confiscated from the Ordinary Alliance. Rumor even had it that he'd defiled nearly every concubine in the imperial harem.
One could call him a lecherous glutton with no scruples whatsoever—unbelievably debauched.
Even the outside world, though unaware of his actions within the palace, knew he was wildly obsessed with women.
His claim that Meng Hongchen wasn't fit to be his consort didn't mean he wouldn't try to get her into his bed.
There was no need to rush. The prince had his own pace.
In truth, Kong Deming was suggesting a crown princess for the sake of the future empress, and eventually, the heir to the throne—matters vital to the empire's stability.
But to the Third Prince, all women were the same—just tools for satisfying his desires. Asking him to name an empress would be nearly impossible.
With the prince now a Limit Douluo, who dared to question the stability of his reign? Who could claim the empire was at risk?
As for naming a crown prince—once he had children, he could appoint anyone he liked. Who would dare object?
Even if he never named an heir, let future generations sweat it out. He probably wouldn't live to see that day anyway.
Trust in the wisdom of future generations.
Kong Deming finally voiced the true reason for his visit. "Your Highness, I've come on behalf of the Worship Hall, for two matters."
"First, when Mingde Hall was destroyed, I privately arranged a deal with the Supreme Elder of the Holy Spirit Sect to stabilize the situation. We allowed their people to enter Mingdu. Now that you've achieved Limit Douluo status, should we expel them for the sake of the empire's image?"
The Third Prince answered without hesitation, "No need. Too much time has passed. Expelling them now would be too late. Whether they're evil soul masters or regular ones, as long as they serve my purposes, they are the soul masters the empire needs."
"Have Elder Kong contact the Holy Spirit Sect. Tell them I intend to offer them the position of Right Chancellor. Let them make their case. Since the sect leader's line and the Saintess's line are now split, let them know—whoever offers more gets the position."
Kong Deming blinked, taken aback. He hadn't expected the prince to be this bold, or to plan something this large-scale.
But with the Third Prince having spoken so clearly, Kong Deming understood the decision was made—no turning back.
He could only nod in agreement.
It wasn't that Kong Deming lacked courage to argue—it was just useless. The last person who tried had been "convinced" by the Third Prince's… logic.
"Ahem." Kong Deming cleared his throat, lowered his voice, and his expression turned grave. "Your Highness, my second reason for coming is this: I heard from Shrek Academy that your current power might be… related to that. Can you give a definitive answer?"
As he spoke, he pointed upward.
Clearly, he had heard rumors of the god-level trial and wanted confirmation directly from the prince.
This matter could directly impact the future of the Sun Moon Empire.
After asking, Kong Deming looked on with nervous anticipation.
The Third Prince understood what he meant. He responded with just one sentence:
"Ten years, at most."
Kong Deming shot to his feet, his face flushing with excitement, his aura nearly bursting out of control.
"Before the finals of the Soul Master Tournament, I will hold the enthronement ceremony. Elder Kong, please make the arrangements. That's all. I need to rest now. Take care."
"Please take good care of your health, Your Highness!"
With that, the Third Prince and the soul beast egg he was refining disappeared.
As Kong Deming stepped out of the study, he felt like he was walking on air—like he was stepping on clouds.
The last time he'd felt like this was when he became a Rank 9 Soul Engineer.
When he returned swiftly to his own palace and activated a soundproofing formation, he finally let out a hearty laugh.
"Shrek, the Douluo Three Kingdoms—my Sun Moon Empire is about to birth a god! Hahahaha! Prepare to bow before our dominion!!"
After the qualifying rounds of the Soul Engineer Tournament, the finals were postponed, with only the final examination questions being distributed.
The finals of the Soul Engineer and Soul Master tournaments would be held simultaneously.
If all went smoothly, the final matches of both competitions would occur on the same day, producing two champions!
After several days of rest, the Soul Master Tournament finals officially began.
They were held in the same grand venue as the opening ceremony.
Once again, the event drew massive crowds and attention.
As before, the tournament was officiated by the three Title Douluo—Jing Hongchen, Douluo Mo Ying, and Douluo Qing Ci.
They skipped long speeches and simply gave a few words of encouragement to the competitors before Jing Hongchen announced the start of the matches.
"Finals Round One: 32 teams to 16. First Match: Sun Moon Xu Family Team versus Star Luo Royal Academy Team! First battle: Team Battle. Both teams, enter the preparation area!"
The finals were determined by random drawing. Teams fought according to their numbers. The format was best-of-three—team battle, individual battle, and, if tied, a 2v2v3 format.
The Sun Moon Xu Family and the Star Luo Royal Academy had drawn the first match.
Given the current standoff between the Sun Moon and Star Luo Empires, some suspected foul play behind the match-up.
Regardless, it was clear to any observer that the Star Luo team didn't stand a chance. But they had to fight—conceding without a match would be even more disgraceful.
In the prep zone, Xu Jiujie noticed the unease and tension among her teammates. With a stern expression, she said:
"You represent the image of our Star Luo Empire. Even if we lose, we must not lose our honor or integrity. Rest assured, the Empire will not forget your sacrifice."
"And don't worry about safety—Title Douluo are serving as referees this year. Not a single death has occurred."
"If you truly fall for the sake of the Empire, you'll be honored as national heroes. Your families will be cared for."
Xu Jiujie's words rekindled the spirits of the seven team members from the Star Luo Royal Academy. Their fear vanished.
At that moment, Douluo Mo Ying announced the entrance of both teams.
No one had much hope for the Star Luo Royal Academy Team. Even though the Star Luo Empire had invested more resources and effort into training this year's team, they were still only able to form a team of Soul Kings.
By contrast, the captain of the Sun-Moon Xu Clan Battle Team, Xu Tianzhen, clearly displayed the strength of a Soul Sage.
In the first team match, the Star Luo team didn't default or forfeit. Since they had no real chance of winning, they decided to go all in and give it everything they had.
That's right—the Star Luo team approached this first match as if it were the final battle.
Win or lose, they had to show that the Star Luo Empire had the resolve to fight to the death, and would defend its honor and dignity.
Because if they showed even a hint of weakness, the already tense border between the two nations could very well erupt into full-blown war.
If the Sun-Moon Empire's people got the impression that the Star Luo Empire was weak and easy to bully, then public sentiment might pressure the imperial court into launching a war. Especially now, with the Third Prince gaining favor after showcasing his strength, the hawkish faction dominated the Sun-Moon Empire. The Third Prince—expected to be the next emperor—was known for his ruthless rise to power.
No one believed war was off the table.
On the arena stage:
Both teams sent out their full seven members.
The difference was that the Sun-Moon Xu Clan team still had six members clad in black robes and masks, concealing their identities.
Their mysterious appearance stirred up murmurs in the crowd:
"Are they really not planning to show their faces?"
"Maybe they have some special identity to hide?"
"No need for the others—just Princess Tianzhen alone can easily crush the enemy!"
"Exactly. The Star Luo team just got unlucky this time."
"Princess Tianzhen, we love you! Go! Go! Go!!!"
A Soul Sage against Soul Kings? Even one-on-seven, there was almost no chance of losing.
Unless the other side cheated.
As soon as Douluo Mo Ying announced the start of the match, all seven members of the Star Luo team instantly activated their martial souls and soul rings, fully arming themselves with soul tools.
To boost their chances, Xu Jiujiu had spent a great deal of money outfitting the team.
Next, to everyone's surprise, the Star Luo team charged directly at the Sun-Moon Xu Clan team.
Based on their prior intel, a defensive stance would be useless against the Sun-Moon team. Even with combination soul tools and defensive formations, they couldn't withstand the enemy's new-generation soul tools.
Those tools, resembling the Tang Sect's hidden weapons, and possibly employing Tang Sect techniques, were highly effective at piercing both defensive tools and soul skills.
Besides, to show the Star Luo Empire's courage and resolve, they had to take the offensive and fight like they had nothing to lose.
Xu Tianzhen gave a slight smile.
"Quite brave, aren't they? But small fish are still small fish. You dare to challenge the sun?"
She activated her martial soul—Sun Martial Soul—which rose above her head, radiating intense heat and unleashing waves of scorching energy across the arena. Her powerful Soul Sage aura surged, intimidating her opponents. Seven soul rings of the optimal configuration appeared.
The rest of her team made no moves, letting Xu Tianzhen have the spotlight.
She didn't even use any soul skills. With a step forward, she burst into motion, leaving behind blazing afterimages on the stage as her soul power enhanced her speed.
The afterimages formed layered ghostly trails, blanketing the arena—
—a technique straight out of the Demonic Heaven Codex: Phantom Shadow Steps.
From the spectator area, Tang Ya suddenly shot to her feet, eyes wide in shock.
She exclaimed inwardly:
"Phantom Shadow Steps?! How is her movement technique so similar to the Tang Sect's Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track?"
Beside her, Bei Bei frowned slightly. He also found it strangely familiar, though not as strongly as Tang Ya did.
Because the two of them had been in hiding from Xuan Zi and rarely left their residence, Tang Ya had delegated the task of gathering intel on other teams. She and Bei Bei had never personally seen the Sun-Moon Xu Clan team in action.
Tang Ya only knew they practiced unique combat techniques, were adept with hidden weapons, and had newly developed soul tools.
But she never expected those techniques to resemble the Tang Sect's Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track so closely.
And then, she was completely stunned.
Because Xu Tianzhen's next moves erased all doubt—her battle style confirmed that the Xu Clan had inherited the Tang Sect's legacy!
Xu Tianzhen raised both hands and launched a flurry of hidden weapons, raining down a storm of Bone-Piercing Soul Nails onto the Star Luo team.
If what came before was merely similar, then this—this was identical.
Tang Ya stood dazed.
"Is that really... our Tang Sect's hidden weapon technique?!"
Then she remembered the Third Prince's Eighth-Level Soul Tool assessment, during which he created the Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannon.
At the time, she hadn't had the ability to investigate it. Plus, since it was a soul tool and not a hidden weapon, she'd assumed the Third Prince just borrowed the Zhuge name for prestige. After Bei Bei's incident, she stopped thinking about it altogether.
But now everything clicked.
"It must be the Third Prince! He has the Tang Sect's inheritance! Did someone leak our secrets?! Who?! He has signed his own death warrant!"
Tang Ya nearly rushed off to confront the Third Prince and slay all who dared covet the Tang Sect's techniques. But reason kept her seated, though her body radiated a chilling murderous aura.
The other members of the Holy Spirit team were so terrified they didn't even dare to breathe.
Only Bei Bei remained calm, his attention fixed on the match.
Xu Tianzhen's techniques struck a deep chord of familiarity with him too.
Meanwhile, the match continued—oblivious to Tang Ya's seething fury.
"Dodge—NOW!"
Seeing the storm of hidden weapons, the Star Luo team captain shouted urgently.
They'd studied Xu Tianzhen's methods carefully. She had fought the most often, and some of her attacks had been documented.
This particular move was practically her trademark opener—
Wide area coverage, excellent accuracy, and most importantly, high armor-penetration. Her hidden weapons weren't just randomly thrown—they were skillfully aimed and devastating.
The best strategy: evade, not defend.
Fail to dodge, and weaker teams would be instantly wiped out.
Fortunately, the Star Luo seven were all elite fighters. They narrowly avoided most of the barrage—but several still got hit. Bone-Piercing Soul Nails embedded into flesh and bone, causing real damage.
Screams of pain rang out, but no one was down. All seven could still fight.
Xu Tianzhen clicked her tongue in annoyance.
These Soul Nails weren't ordinary—crafted from specialized refined Bone-Piercing Nails, they could pierce not just physical defenses but soul power barriers as well.
Devastating weapons.
Unfortunately, Xu Tianzhen's proficiency in hidden weapons was limited, far from the Tang Sect's pinnacle mastery. Her repeated use of familiar tactics had made her predictable.
But she had more than just one trick.
She next hurled a batch of round, spherical hidden weapons.
A second later—
BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!
A chain of explosions rocked the arena, engulfing the Star Luo team in blazing fire and thick red smoke.
BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!
A series of explosions ravaged the arena. Each blast carried the destructive force equivalent to that of a Soul Ancestor. As the blasts echoed outwards, a red poisonous dust dispersed, rapidly engulfing all seven members of the Star Luo team.
Xu Jiujing's expression drastically changed. She rushed to the edge of the stage alongside Man Yi, but they were stopped by the soul tool barrier that protected the arena. Helpless, she yelled furiously at Douluo Mo Ying and Douluo Qing Ci, who stood unmoved on stage.
"This is murder! They're using fixed-mounted soul tools!"
Even if Xu Tianzhen was overpowering, the Star Luo team consisted of some of the empire's most talented individuals. How could they be allowed to fall here?
Yet the red mist lingered stubbornly, obscuring the scene within. No sound came from the Star Luo team. None of them emerged from the poisonous fog.
The shock wasn't limited to Xu Jiujing—audience members and the officials from the other three nations were in an uproar.
Some frowned deeply; others looked on with schadenfreude.
But everyone waited for an explanation from Douluo Mo Ying, Douluo Qing Ci, and the Sun-Moon Empire's Xu Family team.
Even though the rules of this year's tournament had changed somewhat, the use of fixed-mounted soul tools remained strictly forbidden. And now, the Xu Family team had blatantly broken this rule—how would the Sun-Moon Empire justify this?
But Mo Ying Douluo and Qing Ci Douluo ignored Xu Jiujing completely.
As Man Yi angrily summoned her martial spirit and prepared to act, a lazy yet charming voice drifted from behind the two women.
"Princess Tianzhen used a fixed-mounted soul tool? Oh dear, where exactly? Be careful not to slander a princess of the Sun-Moon Empire, or the consequences might be quite serious~"
Xu Jiujing and Man Yi turned and saw a woman dressed in crimson robes, swaying her snake-like waist and walking seductively toward them—it was Shangguan Weier.
Her appearance instantly drew countless gazes, especially from the men, who nearly glued their eyes to her.
Already dazzling and flirtatious, Shangguan Weier had become even more irresistible after training in charm techniques—her allure now rivaled that of a succubus from legends.
But Xu Jiujing and Man Yi, being women themselves, were immune to such seduction. Instead, they raised their guard.
"You're the leader of the Xu Family team? What do you mean by that? Is the Sun-Moon Empire only capable of favoritism and lying with open eyes?" Man Yi snapped.
In the next instant, she felt as though a python had wrapped around her—someone was locking onto her with immense pressure. That aura far surpassed her own.
A Super Douluo!
Man Yi was horrified. The one emitting this pressure was none other than Shangguan Weier!
"The leader of the Xu Family is a Super Douluo?! Wasn't it said that the Sun-Moon Empire had no Super Douluos? Could it be that the Third Prince isn't the exception, and the empire is hiding even more secrets? Just how many powerful individuals are they concealing?!"
After intimidating Man Yi into silence, Shangguan Weier finally spoke.
"You claim Princess Tianzhen used a fixed-mounted soul tool, but tell me—was there any soul power fluctuation from her weapon?"
Xu Jiujing and Man Yi were stunned. They quickly turned to scrutinize the lingering red mist—and were shocked to realize there were no traces of soul power left behind.
As everyone knew: no soul power fluctuation meant it wasn't a soul tool—let alone a fixed-mounted one.
Their expressions turned to sheer disbelief.
Not just because of the strange weapon, but because it meant a weapon didn't need soul power to achieve such destructive force. If such weapons could be mass-produced and deployed by ordinary armies…
What kind of terrifying battlefield would that create?
Why did the Tang Sect rise to power ten thousand years ago?
It was because of their hidden weapons—tools that required no cultivation, enabling commoners to fight Soul Masters. Even auxiliary-type Soul Masters could defend themselves.
But Tang Sect's weapons declined over time, as their power couldn't keep up with modern warfare. Soul tools from the Sun-Moon Empire made even low-level Soul Masters deadlier than commoners wielding outdated hidden weapons.
Nowadays, auxiliary-type Soul Masters could use soul tools to attack, not just defend.
And now, Xu Jiujing and Man Yi had just witnessed a new kind of weapon—one that could be used by ordinary people and still matched the might of fixed-mounted soul tools.
What's more, what Xu Tianzhen used likely wasn't even the strongest variant. Were there even more powerful versions? Ones that could rival Level 9 fixed-mounted soul cannon shells?
They had no idea.
Worse, these weapons were developed by the enemy, and currently in enemy hands!
At this moment, Douluo Mo Ying finally made a move. He raised a hand, unleashing a gust of wind that dispersed the persistent red mist—just in time to see the captain of the Star Luo team collapse with a flushed face.
The crowd could now see clearly: all seven members of the Star Luo team had suffered injuries from the explosions, but none were fatal. Xu Tianzhen had intentionally avoided direct hits. The blast marks were spread around the area.
What really disabled them wasn't the blast—it was the poison!
All seven had flushed faces, a clear sign of being afflicted with some kind of fire poison.
Douluo Qing Ci then stepped forward to declare the result:
"Round One, Match One, First Battle—Xu Family team of the Sun-Moon Empire wins!"
Douluo Mo Ying acted immediately, transporting the Star Luo team to receive treatment—without delay or malicious intent.
Xu Jiujing quickly composed herself and offered an apology:
"Leader of the Xu Family team, and honored Douluos—my earlier actions were impulsive. Thank you for your clarification, and for your care toward our team members."
"As the leader of the Star Luo Royal Soul Master Academy team, I hereby announce our withdrawal from the remaining two matches."
In the end, Xu Jiujing chose to surrender.
Thus, the Xu Family team advanced to the Top 16.
The Sun-Moon Empire's audience erupted in thunderous cheers. Countless fans chanted Xu Tianzhen's name, making her bask in the spotlight once again.
Offstage, Shangguan Weier chuckled.
"Then I must thank little sister and the Star Luo Empire for your generosity."
Xu Jiujing responded solemnly:
"Victory and defeat mean little, especially in a match between the younger generation."
"Hehe~ if that's how little sister sees it, then there's nothing more to say," Shangguan Weier replied, looking every bit the victorious fox, clearly dismissing Xu Jiujing's words as the whining of a sore loser.
With a deep breath, Xu Jiujing calmed herself and stopped Man Yi. The two women took their leave.
No one stopped them, and they were able to check on their team.
Fortunately, while the fire poison was potent, it wasn't fatal. Timely treatment ensured there were no lasting effects.
The entire audience and various factions were left in heated discussion over the match.
At the center of the debate was the new weapon used by Xu Tianzhen.
A tool with the destructive power of a fixed-mounted soul tool, but without requiring soul power—many were eager to know just what it was.
Besides the users, only Huo Yuhao truly understood it.
It was a modified version of the Thunderfire Bomb—filled with improved explosives and laced with poisonous sand.
As for how the recipe and crafting method came to be?
Well, every alchemy master has a few "technological tricks" hidden in their pill formulas.
And since the Sun-Moon Empire was rich in mineral resources, it wasn't hard to find the materials—or suitable substitutes.
Xu Jiujing and Man Yi weren't wrong to assume stronger variants existed. But those versions were too large to be used as hidden weapons.
At that moment, the second match began.
"Round One, Match Two, First Battle—Shrek Academy team vs. Zhengtian Academy team!"
"Both teams, please enter the prep zone and await the start of the match!"
Huo Yuhao couldn't help but sigh.
"Zhengtian Academy going up against Shrek again, huh~"
In the previous Soul Master Tournament, Shrek had also fought Zhengtian Academy. To see them drawn against each other again this year...
Well, that's just fate~
Shrek Academy Team VS Zhengtian Academy Team!
Let's reintroduce Zhengtian Academy—a well-established institution in the Heavenly Soul Empire. In some respects, it's not inferior to the empire's royal academy, Dio Academy. It has always been a strong contender for the top eight in past tournaments.
However, in this year's Soul Master Tournament, Zhengtian Academy's performance has been underwhelming. Compared to the truly monstrous teams, they don't even register as competitors.
In fact, they barely qualified for the knockout stage, only making it through as the second seed in their group, and they almost got eliminated entirely.
This is in stark contrast to their impressive showing in the previous tournament.
But truthfully, this year's Zhengtian team is actually stronger than before—they have four Soul Kings on their roster!
Unfortunately, when compared to teams filled with Soul Emperors or full Soul King lineups, their strength still falls short.
And just their luck—they drew Shrek Academy as their opponent in this round.
Anyone could see that this would be the end of the road for Zhengtian. This year, they'd go no further than the round of 32.
Forget about Huo Yuhao, the mysterious Shrek captain who has never even revealed his martial soul or soul rings—even just Xu Sanshi, the vice-captain, is an insurmountable mountain for Zhengtian Academy.
Coincidentally, Zhengtian Academy was also eliminated by Shrek in the previous tournament.
"If it's hopeless, let's just surrender! We've done our best. It's not that we're weak—the enemy is just too strong,"
Zhengtian's team captain said helplessly to his teammates.
What's the point of going up there to get beaten up and boost Shrek's win stats?
Why not just surrender directly? There's nothing wrong with that.
It's not like they hold a grudge against Shrek. There's no national pride or political obligation like with the Star Luo Empire team. No need to fight to the death.
They were never meant to be the main characters. Isn't it just as nice to sit back and watch the show from the sidelines?
The captain's suggestion was unanimously supported by his teammates.
However—their team leader had other ideas.
"Surrender? I dare any of you to try! Even if you can't win, you still need to get up there. The academy sent you here to gain experience and bring glory to our school—not to become a laughingstock!"
Did the team leader not know they'd lose?
Of course she did. But surrendering wasn't an option.
All the academies now understood that clans and sects wouldn't be pulling out of the Soul Master Tournaments any time soon—they'd keep competing in the future.
And if an academy kept performing poorly, their situation would only worsen. First comes the hit to their reputation and prestige, which leads to difficulties in recruiting new talent. No strong students, no good results, and the cycle continues until the academy declines into irrelevance.
So this match wasn't about winning—it was about putting on a good show.
Sensing her team's hesitation, the team leader reassured them:
"Don't worry. You're not going to get instantly KO'd. Just go out there and do your best.
I've got people on the inside at Shrek Academy. Everything is already arranged."
"Huh???"
The Zhengtian team members stared in disbelief.
This was the first they'd heard of someone having connections inside Shrek. And judging from her tone, the teacher's connections were good—good enough to make Shrek's team cooperate for a performance.
Was this a backdoor in, or a backstage pass?
Wait—teacher, are you this awesome? Does the principal know?!
Suddenly, their admiration for the teacher swelled like a tidal wave.
Still seeing her students frozen in place, the teacher scowled and barked,
"What are you standing around for? Get up there—now!"
"Y-Yes ma'am! We're going!"
Led by their captain, the Zhengtian team rushed onto the stage, smiles on their faces.
"Long live the teacher! Thank you, ma'am! Just watch us shine!"
"Teacher, you're amazing! When we get back, we'll make the principal hand over his job to you!"
"Don't worry, teacher. We won't embarrass the academy!"
Both teams took the stage.
The first match was a team battle.
The Zhengtian team instantly got serious. They knew this was their first and only battle. No matter how solid the teacher's connections were, they only had this one chance to perform.
Opposing them stood Shrek Academy's main team, led by Huo Yuhao himself.
Even from a distance, Zhengtian's captain could clearly see the gentle smile on Huo Yuhao's face—polite and refined. When their eyes met, Huo Yuhao even nodded slightly, as if to send him a message.
"He really does live up to the reputation—just looking at him makes you feel good. With someone like that helping us, there shouldn't be any problems."
With that thought, the Zhengtian captain encouraged his teammates:
"Heads up, everyone. We've got a lot of eyes on us!"
"Got it, boss!" came the chorus of replies.
At that moment, Douluo Monying announced the start of the match.
"Brothers, activate your martial souls!" the Zhengtian captain shouted.
All seven lit up with soul rings: four Soul Kings, three Soul Ancestors, each with solid martial spirits.
Seeing this, Xu Sanshi stepped forward beside Huo Yuhao, a cocky grin on his face. As he activated his martial soul, he said,
"Yuhao, leave this to me. I'll end it quickly!"
With his martial soul active, Xu Sanshi's body grew taller, more imposing. Though not fully beast-like, his arms now bore the Darksteel Shield—which had grown larger with his progress.
The rest of the Shrek team looked ready to go as well.
But just then, Huo Yuhao's voice rang out, stopping them.
"Don't go all out—let's give them a chance to show off."
"Why?" Wang Dong asked immediately.
The others didn't question it—they trusted Huo Yuhao had his reasons.
Wang Dong, though, was always the one to challenge authority.
In a calm tone, Huo Yuhao explained:
"Academies stick together. In the face of pressure from clans and sects, we need to help each other.
'Those who uphold the Way attract many allies; those who don't, stand alone.'
As the continent's top academy, it's only right for us to build goodwill with other schools."
Everyone suddenly understood. None of them thought he was wrong—after all, he was the young master of the Sea God Pavilion, the future leader of Shrek.
Seeing him think from a leadership perspective only earned him more respect and loyalty.
Befriending the weak damages prestige? Not acceptable.
But doing it for Shrek's greater good? Totally fine.
And so the match began. Both teams fought fiercely. Zhengtian's seven members showcased their full strength, proving to the world that they weren't weak—just outmatched.
The game had evolved too quickly, and they hadn't kept up.
In the end, Zhengtian Academy lost.
But it was a glorious loss.
Before leaving the stage, both captains shook hands and exchanged names—walking off not just as opponents, but as friends.
Huo Yuhao: Friends +1
Post-match.
Huo Yuhao temporarily parted ways with his fellow academy members and arrived alone at a private room in a restaurant. When he pushed open the door and entered, a graceful female figure was already seated inside.
The woman wore a luxurious platinum-colored instructor's robe. Yet, the robe failed to hide her alluring figure—it was, in fact, tightly stretched by her curves.
Her appearance wasn't the kind to stop hearts at first glance, but she was still more attractive than most. What truly stood out was the holy aura that surrounded her, mixed with a gentle, intellectual softness—together forming the air of a seemingly ascetic saintess.
However, the complex look she gave Huo Yuhao hinted at another side—one that was not so pure or saintly as her appearance suggested.
Closing the door behind him, Huo Yuhao sat across from her at the dining table, which was already set with an extravagant meal.
Only then did he meet her gaze, smiling as he greeted, "It's been a while, Senior Yu—no, I suppose I should call you Instructor Yu now."
"No need for 'Instructor Yu,' just call me Mengdi," she replied with mock disappointment. "I'm surprised you even remember me—I thought you'd forgotten all about me."
Indeed, this woman was none other than Yu Mengdi, a former core member of the Zheng Tian Academy's team and the inheritor of the Six-Winged Angel martial soul. She was now the team's supervising teacher.
In the five years since they last met, Yu Mengdi had matured significantly, both in demeanor and strength. She was now on the verge of breaking through to Soul Sage.
In truth, given her innate talent, her progress should have been faster. Most likely, her responsibilities at the academy had slowed her cultivation.
"Yu—er, Senior Mengdi, what are you saying? Of course I remember you. You left quite the impression. And when you contacted me for help, didn't I come through for you? Were you satisfied with today's performance?" Huo Yuhao replied with a helpless smile.
That's right—Yu Mengdi had reached out to Huo Yuhao through personal connections. After the draw, she realized Zheng Tian Academy's team was likely to be completely outclassed, so she discreetly asked Huo Yuhao to go easy on them. He had not disappointed her.
This meal was part of her way of thanking him.
"I'm definitely satisfied! I truly appreciate your help this time!" Yu Mengdi spoke sincerely now, offering a genuine smile of gratitude.
She then sighed. "Zheng Tian Academy is a key enterprise of my family—it's also the place where I grew up. If possible, I don't want to see it fall into decline. But the current situation is tough. This time we didn't even make it past the top thirty-two. Who knows what will happen in the next tournament."
"Don't worry, Senior Mengdi," Huo Yuhao reassured her. "We're all part of the same academic alliance. Helping one another is natural, and I hope we can collaborate more in the future."
"Really? Hearing you say that makes me feel much better!" Yu Mengdi beamed with delight.
It was obvious Huo Yuhao was intentionally building ties with the various academies—not for his own sake, but as the vice master of the Sea God Pavilion. His words, in effect, represented Shrek Academy's stance.
If Zheng Tian Academy could gain Shrek's support, it would never need to worry again—and Yu Mengdi could finally rest easy.
Moved, she poured herself a glass of wine and solemnly toasted Huo Yuhao.
He smiled and clinked his glass with hers.
After just one round of drinks, the mood between them had grown considerably warmer.
Perhaps emboldened by the alcohol, Yu Mengdi teasingly asked, "Yuhao, you said I left a strong impression during the last tournament. Then tell me, what impressed you the most about me?"
"Huh?" Huo Yuhao blinked, stumbling over his words. "I-I just felt you were really skilled, Senior Mengdi."
"Liar. I was defeated quickly by you back then! What was so 'skilled' about that?"
"Umm… I just thought you were very talented." At this point, Huo Yuhao resembled a flustered puppy—completely different from his previously calm demeanor.
Yu Mengdi's eyes sparkled as she silently noted: He really is just like the rumors say.
He had all the poise and wisdom of a future leader, gentle and refined—a true gentleman. Yet when it came to matters of the heart, he was innocent to the point of shyness, easily blushing, yet still pure and upright.
A boy's blush said more than a thousand words.
"That must be why so many girls are drawn to him," Yu Mengdi thought. "I've heard he has a massive fan club not just among the academy's battle team, but even within Shrek Academy—there's even a princess in the mix. He's truly popular… I wonder which lucky vixen will win out in the end."
Gradually, Yu Mengdi made a decision in her heart.
True intoxication makes one lose control and act impulsively.
But often, people don't need to be fully drunk—they just need alcohol as an excuse to express what they've long kept hidden.
She didn't expect something everlasting, but even a fleeting moment could be cherished forever.
Over the years, many had pursued Yu Mengdi, but none had caught her eye—because there was already someone engraved in her heart.
He possessed unparalleled beauty, monstrous talent, and strength unmatched by anyone she'd ever met.
Time hadn't faded his image—it had only made him more vivid and unforgettable.
Yu Mengdi now understood why people said you shouldn't meet someone too dazzling when you're young—it fills your heart so completely that no one else can ever fit inside.
As Yu Mengdi subtly led the evening along, Huo Yuhao started to show signs of inebriation. That's when she finally set down her glass.
She'd drunk quite a bit too—but she had taken a detox pill beforehand.
"Yuhao, sweetie, have you had a little too much?" she asked, testing the waters.
"Ah? S-Senior Mengdi, I—I didn't, hic~" Huo Yuhao burped.
Seeing how dazed and woozy he looked, Yu Mengdi smiled knowingly. The time was right.
As a female instructor, she had decided to give young Huo Yuhao a lesson—to show him that he shouldn't casually agree to meet other girls for drinks one-on-one.
"Come on, Yuhao, let's play something fun," Yu Mengdi said as she helped him up.
"Something fun?" he mumbled, confused and tipsy.
"Yes, something fun—something you won't learn in class."
"Really?"
"Of course. I'm a teacher, after all—would I lie to you? Tonight, I'll give you a private lesson, just for you," she whispered in his ear.
"Okay… Thank you, Sister Mengdi…" Huo Yuhao nodded eagerly.
Then Yu Mengdi helped him out of the restaurant—and across the street into a hotel.
She swiftly booked a room.
Although Mingdu was still bustling, it was past peak hours, so getting a room wasn't an issue.
Once inside, she locked the door behind her. Staring at the adorably confused Huo Yuhao, she licked her luscious lips and smiled triumphantly.
The intellectual saintess had now fallen—transformed into a seductive enchantress.
And now, it was time for the lesson!