The competition continued.
The Mingdu Royal Soul Engineer Academy, the Body Sect, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Star Luo Zhu Clan, the Earth Dragon Gate, the Holy Spirit Cult, the Douling Hai Clan, and the Douling Xie Clan (which had been hiding a Soul Sage) all took to the stage in succession.
Naturally, conflicts occurred between them.
Eventually, following the Tianhun Bai Clan's elimination, both the Douling Hai Clan and Douling Xie Clan were also defeated and eliminated one after another.
The rest of the teams were just along for the ride.
The Douling Hai Clan's defeat was unsurprising—sea-type soul masters were inherently weaker than land-based soul masters on the continent.
It was worth noting that even until the end, the Douling Xie Clan never revealed their hidden Soul Sage. Perhaps they didn't consider the benefits sufficient to warrant exposing their secret.
Ultimately, the eight teams advancing to the quarterfinals were:
Shrek Academy Team
Mingdu Royal Soul Engineer Academy Team
Body Sect Team
Sun-Moon Xu Clan Team
Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect Team
Holy Spirit Cult Team
Earth Dragon Gate Team
Star Luo Zhu Clan Team
Two academy teams, two clan teams, and four sect teams—clearly representing the eight forces now ranked among the top ten powers.
This starkly highlighted how academies paled in comparison to clans and sects.
And even the remaining two academy teams only made it under special circumstances. No regular academy managed to enter the top eight.
The two remaining slots in the top ten were likely to go to the Tianhun Bai Clan and Douling Hai Clan—both had Soul Sage-level members.
Of course, a final contest for those two positions would still be held.
But only teams eliminated in the top sixteen would be eligible for that round.
The Night Before the Semifinals
Huo Yuhao swirled a cup of blood gently, took a small sip, and smacked his lips with satisfaction.
"Strong flavor—no need to say more."
The White Tiger bloodline from Dai Hao Yao was becoming more potent and flavorful by the day, and its effects were significantly increasing.
It wasn't in vain that Huo Yuhao kept investing resources into feeding him.
After defeating Dai Huabin today, he naturally wanted a cup of Dai Hao Yao's blood to double the joy.
And later that night, Zhu Di, Zhu Lu, and Zhu Min came to Huo Yuhao's room under the cover of darkness to assist with his cultivation.
Joy? Multiplied exponentially.
He wasn't the only one busy that night.
With the top ten rankings at stake, and the brewing tension between Shrek Academy and the White Tiger Duke's Estate, many factions held emergency meetings to discuss strategies.
Some people began to put their plans into motion.
Tang Ya and Zhongli Wu both received a directive from the Third Prince, demanding that they act. While Zhongli Wu was confused, Tang Ya understood: the prince wanted her to strike against the other teams.
This made Tang Ya feel like she was shooting herself in the foot.
But both Tang Ya and Zhongli Wu knew the prince's true aim: make them compete and tame the Holy Spirit Cult to serve him.
Neither of them was willing.
But given the prince's power, they couldn't disobey.
Tang Ya, whose influence and strength were far inferior, had no choice but to turn to Long Xiaoyao for help and explain the situation.
Long Xiaoyao, however, refused to get involved.
Left with no other option, Tang Ya returned to her quarters—only to be met by a silent, bloody figure in the shadows.
It was Ye Xishui's Blood Soul Avatar.
Tang Ya immediately stood and bowed. "Greetings, Senior!"
That's right—Tang Ya knew this blood avatar, or at least had been guided in her cultivation by it. She didn't know the true identity behind the avatar, only that it was a powerful figure from the Holy Spirit Cult.
She doubted the "guidance in exchange for her status as a Saintess" explanation but didn't refuse it either—she lacked the strength to reject such aid.
With this guidance, Tang Ya's cultivation had recently improved dramatically.
Ye Xishui mentored her because she saw a resemblance—both manipulating Huo Yuhao and Beibei in the palm of her hand. Tang Ya piqued her interest.
It was like raising a pet to pass the time.
But Ye Xishui made Tang Ya keep this contact secret, lest Long Xiaoyao find out and ruin her fun.
Tang Ya wisely never told a soul.
So when she went to Long Xiaoyao earlier, Ye Xishui already knew what had happened. While Long Xiaoyao was uninterested, Ye Xishui found the situation quite amusing.
"Saintess, no need to stand on ceremony. I already know what's going on. I have a suggestion—would you care to hear it?"
Ye Xishui smiled as her blood avatar spoke in a neutral tone, masking her identity.
Tang Ya was stunned. Only a few people knew what had happened—herself, Long Xiaoyao, and Beibei (who was present). Even Kong Deming and Zhongli Wu only knew general outlines.
Yet this avatar knew it all.
Tang Ya began to suspect the blood avatar might be connected to Long Xiaoyao.
But her face betrayed nothing. She simply bowed and said, "I humbly await your guidance, Senior."
"Saintess, you truly are clever. And clever people don't fight alone or bear costs alone. Do you understand?"
Tang Ya's eyes lit up. "You mean I should cooperate with the Cult Master?"
"Exactly." Ye Xishui nodded approvingly.
Tang Ya frowned. "But how can I compete with the Cult Master for rewards? Will you help me?"
"Heh… you're overthinking it. I won't intervene. Just know this—Zhongli Wu cannot move the Holy Spirit Cult to Mingdu. As for the rest? That's your problem."
With that, the blood avatar vanished.
Tang Ya stood in thought again.
"I see. Zhongli Wu won't dare operate under the noses of extreme Douluos. That means the Left Prime Minister position must be mine! But how do I get him to cooperate? What can I offer?"
She had no resources to bargain with. Where could she find the leverage?
Then she remembered Huo Yuhao's shocking performance earlier that day.
His face had changed, but her instincts told her—he was the one who had taken her virginity!
But she didn't dare confront him or try to confirm it. Even less did she dare make a move against him.
A blood-red glint flickered in her eyes.
"The news of the Third Prince gaining a Divine Inheritance is already spreading across Mingdu's factions. But… what if news broke that someone in Shrek Academy also received a Divine Inheritance?"
"Zhongli Wu would be very interested. And he'd need someone on the inside to help."
"If I play this well, I might not lose anything—and I could even gain from Zhongli Wu!"
Tang Ya formed a new plan.
Not long after…
Zhongli Wu received a message from Tang Ya:
Tang Ya: "Cult Master, do you want a Divine Inheritance holder? Give me some resources, and I'll help you hunt one down!"
Zhongli Wu: "???"
Meanwhile, as Tang Ya schemed…
Juzi met the reinforcements sent by Huo Yuhao—none other than members of the White Lotus Cult.
Her own plans were also about to begin.
A new day had arrived.
With Douluo of Shadow Ink announcing the entry of the contestants in a loud voice, a new round of matches officially began—and the coming battles promised to be even fiercer!
The audience watched with great anticipation.
Only eight teams remained, and all of them included Soul Sages. Their overall strengths seemed quite evenly matched.
This round wouldn't be like the previous one, where most matches were resolved in a single team battle. The later individual duels and two-on-two, three-on-three formats were barely used, which allowed eight matches to be completed in one day.
Now, the third round of finals—the quarterfinals—begins!
First Match: Sun-Moon Xu Clan Team vs. Star Luo Zhu Clan Team!
The Xu Clan had now faced two consecutive teams from the Star Luo Empire. This led some to suspect that the Sun-Moon Empire might be intentionally targeting Star Luo's prestige.
Xu Jiujiu, accompanied by Man Yi, came to watch the match. She was now closely allied with Zhu Lu—they were sisters-in-arms—so of course, she had to show support.
To outsiders, it seemed that the Star Luo royal family was trying to win over the Zhu Clan and distance itself from the Dai Clan, further dividing the two great houses.
Anyone with insight could tell that the Zhu Clan was actively distancing itself from the Dai Clan. Some thought the Zhu Clan was foolish for giving up their Martial Soul Fusion Technique. Others believed it was a sign of the Zhu Clan's rise—after all, the Fusion Technique bound them to the Dai Clan's dominance. Some speculated that the Zhu Clan dared to make this move because they had the Star Luo royal family backing them.
Even top figures in powerful factions couldn't help but gossip about it.
Some curious onlookers even went looking for members of the Dai Clan, only to find they weren't present at the match—either they had left or purposely stayed away.
As the match was about to begin, both teams entered the stage.
Xu Tianzhen once again led her team, but she wouldn't be fighting this time. She had used her Martial Soul Avatar and secret techniques in the last round and was still in a weakened state. Her regular combat ability had dropped.
To ensure a flashy victory, Luan Fei—who had fought in the previous round—stepped forward to represent the team.
Luan Fei stood at the front of the formation, no longer hiding her appearance behind a black cloak and mask. Her breathtaking beauty and flawless figure drew countless eyes from the crowd.
Yet Zhu Lu was no less impressive. Her full chest even outmatched Luan Fei's, making many wonder if such... assets might hinder her fighting ability.
Spectators looked left and right, uncertain who was more pleasing to the eye.
Of course, all they could do was look. Both women were far beyond the reach of ordinary admirers.
"You still think one person can defeat us all?" Zhu Lu narrowed her eyes upon seeing Luan Fei alone at the front. Her gaze turned sharp and dangerous, instantly understanding the Xu Clan's intent.
The Zhu Clan only had one Soul Sage—Zhu Lu—but the rest of their team wasn't weak either.
The team included three women and four men. Aside from Zhu Lu, the other two female members had also trained with Huo Yuhao. Their Martial Souls had undergone transformations.
As for the remaining four male members—they were anything but simple.
Because Zhu Lu often ended matches quickly, the true strength of the Zhu Clan team had gone largely unnoticed until now.
"Begin!"
With the shout from Shadow Ink Douluo, the soul barrier completely sealed off the stage.
Both sides simultaneously activated their Martial Souls and soul rings.
Luan Fei's Flying Luan Martial Soul possessed her, transforming her into an even more dazzling form. She didn't use soul skills, instead relying on raw speed to strike.
She was an agility-type Soul Master, but her offense was no joke. Beyond the techniques granted by the Demonic Heaven Manual, her Martial Soul carried phoenix bloodline, giving it enhanced capabilities overall.
But speed remained her forte.
To her surprise, however, her proudest attribute—speed—was utterly shut down in front of Zhu Lu.
Zhu Lu was also an agility-type Soul Master, equally skilled in speed and deadly offense.
Thus, the stage exploded with motion: one green and one black streak of light clashed again and again. Each impact rang like clashing metal. The audience couldn't follow the exchange—it was too fast.
Only those with at least Soul Douluo-level cultivation could follow their movements, and they were shocked.
Because both women had reached Soul Douluo-level speed despite being Soul Sages. Even some Soul Douluo couldn't guarantee they'd react fast enough in a real fight against these two.
Those strong enough to see the fight clearly noted with amazement: neither woman used weapons or Soul Tools. Their bare hands were stronger than most such tools.
Luan Fei used the Demonic Jade Hands technique.
Zhu Lu relied on enhancements from her Martial Soul possession.
After dozens of exchanges, Luan Fei suddenly pulled back, widening the distance between them.
Zhu Lu didn't pursue. Instead, she observed Luan Fei with amused interest and remarked with a smile:
"Among Soul Sages, you're the first who can match me in speed."
Luan Fei responded cautiously, not speaking. She glanced at her hands—her nearly perfected Demonic Jade Hands were covered in tiny cuts.
"Tianzhen, are you okay?" Xu Tianzhen asked from behind, clearly concerned.
"I'm fine," Luan Fei replied, shaking her head. Then, somewhat helplessly, she admitted: "Sorry, but I can't match her in speed."
"She's that strong?" Xu Tianzhen was stunned.
They had relied on cheat-like techniques and rare resources—how could Zhu Lu be even stronger?
But that was the reality.
Zhu Lu was stronger. After all, she had followed Huo Yuhao longer and trained in her cultivation method longer than Luan Fei.
These questions only arose because neither side fully understood the other's relationship with Huo Yuhao.
Zhu Lu also assumed the Xu Clan's strength came from inheriting techniques from the Tang Sect. The Zhu Clan had noticed traces of Tang Sect legacy among them.
After all, the Tang Sect was founded by Tang san. Though now in decline, who could say whether secret teachings survived? Its fall was more likely due to unworthy successors than to flaws in its methods.
At least, probably.
Seeing that Luan Fei couldn't defeat Zhu Lu alone, Xu Tianzhen decided not to sit by.
"I'll help!" she shouted, joining the fight.
She opened with Rain of Flowers, unleashing countless bone-piercing soul needles.
But the Zhu Clan team had anticipated this move—unlike the Star Luo Royal Soul Academy team before.
And Zhu Lu didn't need to act.
Instead, the four male Zhu Clan members stepped forward.
Worth noting: all four were low-level Soul Emperors and notably handsome—a result of their cultivation method.
Though male cultivators experienced reduced efficiency when training in Nethergold Essence Art, the Zhu Clan had enough resources to make up for it.
Even with reduced returns, the art's effects far exceeded regular meditation techniques. Within the Zhu Clan, this wasn't seen as inefficiency—it was considered normal.
They attributed it to the art being incompatible with men. That their male cultivators could even use it was seen as a blessing.
As for the "feminizing" side effects—those were irrelevant in the face of power.
So what if they looked feminine? It didn't stop them from fathering children.
As long as Martial Souls could be passed down, nothing else mattered.
In fact, male cultivators never faced bottlenecks. Their inherent yang energy smoothed breakthroughs. This was also why their appearance grew more feminine—their own yang energy gradually transformed their bodies.
Female cultivators, on the other hand, needed Huo Yuhao's help. No other man would do. Matching cultivation methods were also required.
Nethergold Essence Art offered completely different paths and effects based on gender.
For men, it was a feminizing cultivation art.
For women, it was a cauldron-based dual cultivation art.
All four male fighters were noticeably androgynous, even wearing light makeup. But with naturally handsome features, they didn't seem grotesque—instead, they gave off a unique charm.
One might not notice if only one person looked this way—but all four? Clearly, something was up.
Even if outsiders suspected something, they couldn't identify the root cause.
But their strength was undeniable.
Faced with a storm of soul needles, the four simultaneously activated their Martial Souls and unleashed flurries of claw strikes. A storm of attacks met the rain of needles—and blocked every single one.
Shocking the entire audience.
"Damn—those hands are fast!"
"Netherworld Golden Radiance Technique" may yield half the results with twice the effort when it comes to cultivation speed, but it certainly doesn't cut corners when it comes to transforming one's Martial Soul and soul master abilities.
This cultivation method significantly improves a soul master's physique, reaction speed, and bodily flexibility. Even the feminizing effects enhance the body's suppleness and resilience.
More importantly, it promotes the evolution and even mutation of Martial Souls.
Seeing her attack easily neutralized by four low-level Soul Emperors, Xu Tianzhen was shocked. But she quickly puffed up her cheeks in anger.
"I'm mad now! A bunch of nobodies dared to block my attack? Take this—Sunlight!"
Xu Tianzhen activated her Sun Martial Soul, and her fifth and sixth soul rings lit up in succession.
"Fifth Soul Skill: Radiant Glory!"
"Sixth Soul Skill: Solar Gaze!"
Radiant Glory is an area-of-effect soul skill. It emits sunlight, covering the entire arena, easily enveloping the seven members of the Xu Clan's team.
The four male members of the Zhu Clan's team at the forefront felt a wave of heat surging toward them, forcing them to retreat to distance themselves from Xu Tianzhen.
The intensity wasn't just due to a power difference, but also because the real sun in the sky enhanced her skill's effect and raised the temperature of her Sun Martial Soul.
That's a special trait of the Sun Martial Soul—it gains a significant boost in sunlight, even if it's not an ultimate-class Martial Soul. Under these conditions, its power is nearly on par with one.
Her sixth soul skill, Solar Gaze, is a powerful single-target skill with high damage output.
Xu Tianzhen targeted Zhu Lu.
With the support of the "Demonic Heaven Art", Xu Tianzhen had an abundance of soul power, easily supporting the consecutive release of high-level soul skills.
She had previously been a traditional Soul Engineer, relying mainly on soul devices for combat. But after acquiring the Demonic Heaven Codex, she discovered her own strength far exceeded what soul devices could offer.
Unless she's using a soul tool capable of defeating enemies above her level, Xu Tianzhen now prefers hands-on combat.
This change arose because Douluo Continent lacked powerful cultivation methods and combat techniques, which led to the dominance of soul tools and hidden weapons.
"If you're weak, of course you need tools."
As Xu Tianzhen made her move, Luan Fei also took action, trying to stall Zhu Lu so Xu Tianzhen could focus on her target.
However, the Zhu Clan's team had two female members as well, who also stepped in.
They were both mid-level Soul Emperors at Rank 65, with mutated Martial Souls.
Named Zhu Lei and Zhu Zi, their single-character names indicated they were of direct bloodline.
Zhu Lei's Martial Soul mutated into the Nether Phantom Cat, a dark-attribute soul similar to Zhu Min's. But Zhu Lei was more skilled in combat, hence her place on the team.
After Martial Soul Possession, Zhu Lei moved like a ghost, with eerie green cat eyes that seemed to pierce into one's soul.
Zhu Zi's Martial Soul mutated into the Dreadguard Spirit Cat, a hybrid resulting from Huo Yuhao infusing her with White Tiger bloodline, giving her both dark and spiritual attributes.
Upon Martial Soul Possession, Zhu Zi became taller and curvier, with a striking pair of black feathered wings sprouting from her back.
The two women joined the battlefield.
Zhu Lei, ghost-like, rushed at Luan Fei to help Zhu Lu. Though also an agility-type soul master, her movement was bizarre and ghostly.
Luan Fei struggled to land a hit on her, while Zhu Lei's every strike gave off a dangerously threatening aura that Luan Fei dared not block directly.
Zhu Zi, on the other hand, stood in front of her teammates, facing Xu Tianzhen's incoming Solar Gaze.
A blazing beam shot toward Zhu Lu, but Zhu Zi blocked it head-on, her eyes glowing with silver spiritual light as her black wings folded into a massive feather cocoon.
The fire beam struck the dark wings.
Instead of piercing through, it rippled out like waves on a lake, dispersing in spiritual shockwaves and eventually vanishing.
"She blocked it?!"
The audience was stunned.
Even if Xu Tianzhen wasn't at peak form, she was a Soul Sage. That sixth soul skill should have landed. And yet, it was blocked by a Soul Emperor—and without her even using a skill.
The black wings unfolded, revealing a completely unscathed Zhu Zi.
Though Zhu Zi specialized in speed and potentially flight, her real strength lay in defense.
Her Dreadguard Spirit Cat's name held the key—"resisting evil." Its innate ability, Dreadguard, consumed spiritual and soul power to coat her wings in energy that blocked attacks.
Thanks to her strong spiritual cultivation, she could fully withstand a Soul Sage's full-strength assault.
At that moment, the four Zhu Clan male members struck again.
Perhaps due to the heat from the earlier Solar Gaze dissipating, the temperature dropped to a bearable level.
The four circled around Xu Tianzhen, not fighting her directly, but instead forming a combination soul skill.
Illusory shadows appeared behind each of them, eventually linking together into a phantasmic array that trapped Xu Tianzhen inside.
"What the hell is this?" Xu Tianzhen looked around warily. All she could see was black mist, within which vague, familiar figures moved.
And then... she saw Huo Yuhao, naked, walking out of the mist and inviting her to dual cultivate.
Her face instantly flushed as she stammered,
"No... I-I can't... Not without Mother... I can't handle it alone…"
The Zhu Clan's male members all practiced the same technique, and their Martial Souls had mutated in the same way. Though still Nether Spirit Cats, they had evolved into top-tier Martial Souls with spiritual attributes.
Combining their Nether and spiritual elements allowed them to use a skill similar to that of the Golden Radiance Cats—Charm—which drew out desires from a person's heart. To women, they appeared as handsome men; to men, as beautiful women. This ability was hard to resist.
Their Martial Souls could be considered Nether Golden Radiance Cats.
What Xu Tianzhen saw was naturally Huo Yuhao.
Because their techniques and Martial Souls were aligned, their abilities could stack, not as a fusion skill, but as a compound ability—multiplying its effect.
Caught off-guard by the illusion, Xu Tianzhen hesitated and was briefly entranced.
Inside the black mist, the four Zhu Clan men smiled knowingly and revealed their claws.
"Calling us nobodies?"
"We'll scratch your pretty face~"
With Xu Tianzhen trapped and Luan Fei double-teamed by Zhu Lu and Zhu Lei, this marked the first major setback for the Xu Clan team.
Naturally, the rest of the team couldn't just watch.
"Boneyi, go!" shouted Nana.
Ye Boneyi nodded.
In the next moment, holy light radiated across the arena, lifting her black robe and mask.
Her Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul manifested, unfurling six radiant wings. Under the divine aura, she slowly ascended like an angel descending to earth.
The dark energy from the Zhu Clan team was immediately suppressed, weakening all seven by more than 10%, thanks to their dark attributes.
Only Zhu Lu, with her potent darkness power, could resist somewhat, but even she was stunned and paused to look at Ye Boneyi.
Countless spectators gasped.
Among them, Shrek Academy's Xian Liner and Cai Meier exclaimed in shock:
"Six-Winged Angel?!"
Even Yu Mengdi in the stands was stunned.
This was because the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul typically evolved through two wings → four wings → six wings, and only Titled Douluo could achieve six wings.
But Ye Boneyi was only a Soul Sage, meaning her six wings were innate.
Her divine and holy energy was also incredibly pure.
This could only mean one thing:
She is the true heir of the Qian Clan!
Xian Liner and Cai Meier had read about this in the inner court's library and instantly understood the implications.
Yu Mengdi, meanwhile, was shocked by how Boneyi directly achieved six-wing status—something she also desired.
Meanwhile, the Holy Spirit Sect began to show open hostility.
The Holy Spirit Sect members all wore murderous expressions.
Ye Boneyi's holy aura was the natural nemesis of Evil Soul Masters. Once she matured, she would spell their doom.
"She walks the path of death already!"
Tang Ya, realizing Ye Boneyi came from the Xu Clan Royal Family, secretly nurtured by the Third Prince, felt a chill run down her spine.
"So, the Third Prince had long prepared to counter the Holy Spirit Sect!"
"What a terrifying man!"
Ye Guyi did not directly attack. After manifesting her soul weapon, she released her divine power and aura of light, which greatly weakened the strength of the Zhu family members.
Whether it was the Netherworld Spirit Cat's Netherworld attribute, or the mutated soul weapon's dark attribute, their essence was naturally countered by Ye Guyi's divine and light attributes—unless one possessed power of the same level and attributes.
Only Zhu Lu was unaffected.
In fact, the evil and darkness attributes of the Nine Nether Abyss Demon Cat soul weapon subtly seemed to oppose Ye Guyi head-on.
Fortunately, Zhu Lu suppressed the soul weapon's restlessness, otherwise, if the evil attribute were exposed, she might be branded as an Evil Soul Master.
Zhu Lu sighed, knowing the situation was lost.
Though Ye Guyi hadn't struck, what she had done was already enough.
The combination illusion array of four Zhu family male members was greatly weakened; a few strands of light and divine aura infused into it suddenly snapped Xu Tianzhen awake.
Realizing she had just been trapped in a hallucination, Xu Tianzhen's first reaction was to check her clothes—because in the illusion she had already…
Fortunately, except for a wet spot, her clothes were intact.
Attacks on the mind naturally attempt to numb the link between mind and body; otherwise, if the body is attacked but not finished off, the enemy might be awakened. Some powerful ones have instinctive crisis awareness that wakes their consciousness before an attack arrives.
But the influence of the mind on the body was not severed.
After such an embarrassing moment, Xu Tianzhen was furious and reckless, immediately unleashing a massive volley of Thunderfire attacks.
"I want you all dead!!!"
The four Zhu family males immediately turned pale, but had no time to escape.
Boom—
Explosions engulfed them, followed by a burst of poisonous fog.
Xu Tianzhen then took out a level-seven Zhuge crossbow cannon and sprayed wildly into the poisonous fog, as if trying to shred the four Zhu males into a sieve.
Luckily, at this moment, the Celadon Douluo intervened, saving the four Zhu family males—but this also marked their elimination from the competition.
The four Zhu males bore no resentment; they were simply shaken, with burn marks all over their bodies and some having inhaled toxic sand, needing treatment.
They didn't know what Xu Tianzhen had gone through in the illusion, but seeing her so ashamed and angry, there must be some big secret.
But they dared not ask.
Otherwise, they might never leave Mingdu.
When the toxic fog cleared, Xu Tianzhen reappeared, now wrapped tightly in a black robe, her eyes shifting constantly as she glanced toward the Shrek Academy rest area where Huo Yuhao was.
Meanwhile,
The battle between Luan Fei, Zhu Lu, and Zhu Lei neared its end.
Zhu Lei's ability to traverse the nether world involved souls; she had developed it into a method to attack the soul itself.
Previously, this had posed a huge threat to Luan Fei.
However, weakened by the divine and light attributes, Zhu Lei's strength declined and she showed flaws. Her ghostlike movements, like a soul returning to the body, became much slower.
Luan Fei seized the chance and struck a damaging blow.
If Zhu Zi hadn't arrived in time to support and block more attacks for Zhu Lei, Zhu Lei might have been eliminated outright.
Just as Luan Fei was about to press the advantage,
Zhu Lu, along with Zhu Lei and Zhu Zi who wanted to help, retreated together, shouting, "We surrender!"
Luan Fei had to stop chasing because the Celadon Douluo stood between them.
With Zhu Lu's surrender and the forfeit of the next two matches, the Xingluo Zhu family team was eliminated, and the Riyue Xu family team entered the semifinals.
Zhu Lu was not incapable of continuing the fight—she had many techniques and might have had chances to defeat Luan Fei, Xu Tianzhen, or even Ye Guyi.
But it was just a competition, and Star Luo Zhu family was already in the top ten power factions. There was no need to reveal too much.
As for the championship—Zhu Lu never considered it.
Luan Fei looked at Zhu Lu with complicated feelings. Though she won, she knew she wasn't Zhu Lu's match. Seeing a superior agile attacker soul master stirred emotions and comparison in Luan Fei.
Yet she was not discouraged. To Zhu Lu, who was about to leave the stage, she said, "You're strong, but I will catch up to you someday and become stronger! A better agile attacker than you!"
Zhu Lu casually replied, "Good luck~" and left the stage.
This immediately angered Luan Fei—such dismissive attitude was infuriating, like a cold cat.
But Zhu Lu was just stating facts—she had Huo Yuhao backing her; why should Luan Fei be able to catch her?
The Sun Moon Xu family team also left the stage. Xu Tianzhen did not show off this time because she needed to go change her pants.
Many people were more focused on Ye Guyi, who had only manifested her soul weapon but not actually fought.
The appearance of the Six-Winged Angel soul weapon shocked people, but it wasn't enough to obsess over—it was more of a rare spectacle.
Besides, she was the Third Prince's person; who dared move against her?
But in the shadows, a figure with murderous intent was not hiding at all. He was Zhongli Wu, who had infiltrated Mingdu.
He came for cooperation with Tang Ya and under the Third Prince's orders.
"The legendary Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul has appeared again. Legend says it's specialized to counter Evil Soul Masters. This woman must not be allowed to live!"
Ordinary evolved Six-Winged Angel soul weapons lack the divine attribute, so their counter to Evil Soul Masters is much weaker—not dangerous.
But the one with divine attribute is different—must be wary!
Absolutely cannot let her grow stronger!
"Next, when cleaning up other imperial geniuses, collateral damage to one or two people is reasonable. Third Prince, this is your own doing!"
"Hehehe—"
Zhongli Wu dared not defy the Third Prince, but the next plan would proceed under the name of the Blue Silver Sacred Maiden Tang Ya~
The second match began.
Shrek Academy team versus Mingdu Royal Soul Master Academy team!
The atmosphere instantly intensified.
As the successor of the Riyue Royal Soul Master Academy, the Mingdu Royal Soul Master Academy team was also a representative of the Riyue Empire.
By logic, they should meet Shrek Academy only in the finals.
But they met in the semifinals.
This did not dampen the crowd's enthusiasm at all, because this match represented the clash between Shrek Academy and the Riyue Empire.
It was a must-see event at every Soul Master competition.
Both sides' players took the stage.
Naturally, both were the main teams, but at Cai Meier's request, the reserve team's Bai Shanshan replaced Cao Jinxuan.
Both were control-type soul masters and could substitute for each other.
Because Cao Jinxuan only had five rings, facing an evenly matched opponent would become a team weakness.
Cao Jinxuan understood this and felt relieved rather than upset.
The responsibility was huge; he was just a small Soul King—how could he handle it? If not for Huo Yuhao's insistence, he would have quit the main team long ago.
At the same time,
In the palace,
The Third Prince did not come to watch the match because its outcome would be no surprise.
He was carefully selecting from a group of soul beast eggs.
Finally, his expression changed slightly as he carefully picked up a plain soul beast egg, saying with delight, "Found it!"
Jing Hongchen stared intently at the arena, his eyes burning with anticipation as he awaited the performance of his grandson and granddaughter, hoping for a victorious outcome.
This was an important battle between the Sun-Moon Empire and the Hongchen family—also a tribute to the Sun-Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy.
Failure was not an option—only victory!
"As far as I know, Shrek Academy only has Huo Yuhao as a Soul Sage. His soul rings must have been disguised by some special means, and he isn't even a twin martial soul user."
"But Xiao and Meng are both dual Soul Sages, equipped with Grade 7 soul tools, and supported by five Soul Emperor teammates. This time, victory belongs to the Sun-Moon Empire!"
Unfortunately, Jing Hongchen was unaware of the true strength of Ultimate attributes, nor did he know that an Ultimate Attribute Soul Sage could rival a Titled Douluo.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be so optimistic.
"Let the match begin!" announced Elder Mo Ying Douluo.
The first match was a team battle.
Both sides activated their martial souls simultaneously.
Shrek Academy's formation was: Xu Sanshi in the front, Huo Yuhao behind him, with Jiang Nannan and Wang Dong flanking Huo Yuhao, and Wei Na close by. Xiao Xiao and Bai Shanshan took the rear.
A 1-4-2 formation—fairly traditional and common.
Though everyone had equipped soul tools, they were mostly defensive or for close combat. Only Wei Na, Xiao Xiao, and Bai Shanshan carried soul cannons.
Due to the absence of the original influence of Huo Yuhao (as in the canon), Shrek Academy hadn't fully embraced soul tools. The team lacked a true soul engineer, so the team's armament remained limited.
Luckily, Shrek Academy was wealthy, and their soul tools were of high quality—several made from soul bones.
The only two without soul tools were Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong.
Huo Yuhao didn't need them. Wang Dong found them disgusting to use.
The Mingdu Royal Soul Engineering Academy team used a 2-2-2-1 formation.
Two soul engineers in front raised Grade 6 soul shields and had soul cannons equipped behind them. Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen stood in the second and third rows, fully outfitted with soul cannons. At the back was a support-type soul master, also carrying many functional soul tools.
The battle ignited instantly.
On Shrek's side, Xu Sanshi pushed forward with Huo Yuhao, Wei Na, Jiang Nannan, and Wang Dong, per their plan.
Xiao Xiao and Bai Shanshan were in charge of rear control.
Wei Na moved forward as well to provide healing for Xu Sanshi and the others. If needed, she and Huo Yuhao could also perform a martial soul fusion technique.
In truth, Huo Yuhao could've won this battle alone—but there was no need.
He had to give his teammates a chance to shine.
The Mingdu team launched their attack—not by charging, but by opening fire when Huo Yuhao's team moved into range.
"Fire!" Xiao Hongchen commanded.
The soul cannon teams began bombarding Huo Yuhao's side—not as powerful as a focused fire strike, but overwhelming in sheer volume and continuity.
Xu Sanshi roared, activating his Xuanming Shield Array to block the barrage. He successfully defended against the attacks, but under the pressure of the sustained assault, he could no longer advance.
If not for Wei Na's continuous healing, the shockwaves from the blasts might have left him with internal injuries.
Jiang Nannan and Wang Dong didn't just stand by. They charged out on either side, trying to split enemy fire and break into the opposing team's formation.
Because soul engineers lacked martial soul and physical training, they were at a disadvantage in close combat compared to traditional soul masters.
Many traditional soul masters believed that once they got close, they could easily crush soul engineers.
This belief gave rise to a stereotype that ranged units were poor at close-quarters combat.
"You keep firing—I'll take care of them!" Meng Hongchen told her teammates.
She stopped firing, dropped her cannon, and dashed forward.
Meng Hongchen opened with area-wide poison attacks:
"First soul skill: Poison of the Ice Toad!"
"Second soul skill: Ring of Ice Poison!"
An icy ring of venom spread from her in every direction, saturating the arena with the deadly poison of the Scarlet-Eyed Ice Toad—a venom of alternating ice and fire that inflicted both powerful damage and intense suffering.
While her first two soul skills weren't extremely powerful, they were excellent for poison-based area denial. Their lethality would increase as her toxin control improved.
A poison-type soul master's uniqueness lay in the fact that although their soul ring age couldn't be enhanced, their toxins could. As their venom grew more potent, even weaker soul skills could become incredibly dangerous.
Thus, poison soul masters often prioritized utility-type poison-application skills, especially those that synergized well with enhanced toxicity.
The Scarlet-Eyed Ice Toad was already a highly venomous martial soul—its poison not far from Ultimate Poison. One could imagine the horror of Meng Hongchen's poison mist.
Moreover, she wore amplifying soul tools that boosted her soul skills' power—highly valuable items.
As Wang Dong and Jiang Nannan were about to enter the poisonous ring, a force pulled them back by their waists.
Looking closely, there was a red cord tied around their waists.
It was Bai Shanshan's red string. As the control-type soul master and a core team member, she wasn't just responsible for battlefield control—she also had to react quickly to save teammates from danger.
Bai Shanshan activated her sixth soul skill:
"Sixth Soul Skill – Tethered by One Thread, Trust Without Doubt!"
Red and blue threads extended from her hands, connecting to all her teammates and linking them as one.
Huo Yuhao smiled as he saw the red string attached to himself. He infused his soul power along the thread.
This power flowed into Wang Dong and Jiang Nannan, causing their bodies to radiate icy blue light—Huo Yuhao's soul power.
Then, both charged again—this time without hesitation—into the poison mist.
Meng Hongchen was shocked by their boldness and sneered:
"You underestimate my poison!"
But then, she noticed something odd.
Her poison and ice had no effect on them.
What was going on?
Unwilling to accept it, she released Poison of the Ice Toad again, but both women charged through the poison unscathed.
Meng Hongchen finally realized—they were immune to her poison!
Bai Shanshan's sixth soul skill linked the team members, allowing them to share soul power. After Huo Yuhao channeled his energy to shield Wang Dong and Jiang Nannan, Meng Hongchen's ice and poison lost their effectiveness.
Because of this failed attempt, both women reached Meng Hongchen.
Jiang Nannan was fastest. She drew a soul bone-crafted dagger—a Grade 6 soul tool with strong armor-piercing capabilities and an attack-enhancing soul skill, perfectly compensating for her low base attack power.
Wang Dong, slightly behind, switched to his Clear Sky Hammer martial soul, ready to deliver a finishing blow.
But Meng Hongchen wasn't afraid at all. Her body was clad in Grade 7 soul armor, and she wielded a Grade 7 close-combat soul saber. She'd also learned a special combat technique passed down by the third prince.
How could she fear close combat?
"Let me show you my combat technique!"
"Icefire Sacred Heart Slash!"