At Star Luo Plaza, the crowd erupted with thunderous cheers, waves crashing again and again—the reason? Today marked the beginning of the third phase of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, and Shrek Academy—the number one academy on the continent—was about to compete.
In the previous phase, Shrek mostly fielded its reserve team. Among the three core members, only Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao had appeared once, while Zhu Ziyang hadn't taken the stage at all. As a result, other academies and spectators were more familiar with Bei Bei's group, but they all knew one thing: relying solely on the reserve team wouldn't be enough to defeat Dou Ling Royal Academy. Everyone was eager to see what lineup Shrek would field today.
In the Sun Moon Academy's rest area, Elder Ma, Ma Rulong, and Xiao Hongchen were discussing this very question.
"What lineup do you think Shrek Academy will use?" Elder Ma asked.
Ma Rulong thought for a moment and said, "Based on what we learned in the second phase, we know most of their team's martial souls and capabilities. The key members to watch are Ma Xiaotao and Jiang Nannan from the core team, and from the reserve: Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, He Caitou, and Wang Dong. Oh, and there's that one person who hasn't appeared yet—Zhu Ziyang, likely another main team member. I think they'll field a team along those lines."
"Heh, why bother guessing so much?" Xiao Hongchen disagreed. "If you ask me, they're probably going to forfeit the team battle and aim to make a comeback in the individual duels tomorrow. With a peak-level Soul Emperor like Ma Xiaotao, a one-vs-seven victory isn't impossible."
Elder Ma first looked pleased at his grandson's analysis, but then his expression grew thoughtful. Xiao Hongchen's point made sense—Shrek had always valued individual combat ability. "He may be right," Elder Ma said. "Dou Ling Royal Academy's strongest is their captain, Gu Zhujian, a 58th-rank Soul King. If Shrek's betting on personal strength, Ma Xiaotao really might be able to turn the tide alone."
Meanwhile, the referee had stepped onto the stage and announced in a booming voice, "First match of the top sixteen! Shrek Advanced Soul Master Academy vs. Dou Ling Royal Advanced Soul Master Academy. Competitors, prepare in the staging area!"
Upon hearing the call, Zhu Ziyang rose from his seat and headed toward the arena.
"Ziyang, do your best—but don't force yourself," Wang Yan advised, reaching out to stop him.
"Haha, don't worry, Teacher Wang," Zhu Ziyang said with a chuckle as he gently shook off the hand and walked toward the arena with casual confidence.
Shrek Academy's every move was under heavy scrutiny. When the crowd saw that they were only sending out one person, the first thought on everyone's mind was: They're really forfeiting the team battle!
"Why is Shrek only sending out one person?" In the spectator stands, most of the audience were fans of Shrek, and they voiced their confusion and concern. Only a young man and woman seated at the edge of the stands smiled calmly.
"Ha!" In the Sun Moon team's rest area, Xiao Hongchen smirked arrogantly. "Just as I expected. Shrek's clearly giving up the team round and betting on the individual tournament. Sending only one person... good! That gives us a chance to see what Ma Xiaotao is really capable of."
Elder Ma frowned. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Even if Shrek were planning to lose the team round, sending just one person seemed reckless. Unless... did they truly believe this unknown Zhu Ziyang could defeat a team with five Soul Kings and two Soul Ancestors?
Very suspicious.
"Both teams, enter the arena!" the referee called again—only to freeze when he saw what happened next.
From Shrek's side, only a single figure stepped forward: a tall, striking youth with a calm aura. No one followed him.
Before the referee could voice his confusion, the opposing captain spoke up.
"Isn't your academy being a bit too arrogant?" snapped Gu Zhujian, captain of the Dou Ling team. He looked about eighteen or nineteen, his face dark with anger. "You really think one person is enough to beat us? What if this bold move backfires?"
"Heh. True strength comes with absolute confidence," Zhu Ziyang replied with a calm smile.
Gu Zhujian stared at him and said coldly, "I hope you're just bluffing. Once the match begins, we'll go easy on you out of respect for Shrek's name."
"Oh?" Zhu Ziyang tilted his head and smiled. "Don't worry. I'll go easy on you too."
Gu Zhujian didn't reply, but it was clear he didn't take Zhu Ziyang seriously. If one man really managed to defeat all seven of them, Gu Zhujian might as well resign his position as team captain.
"Both sides, retreat and prepare to begin!" the referee—a man in his sixties, experienced and unshaken by drama—gave the signal and stepped quickly out of the ring, activating a soul skill to avoid being caught in the fight.
Zhu Ziyang stepped back, then turned calmly to face his opponents. Alone, facing seven opponents, he looked like the underdog.
Dou Ling Royal Academy took formation. Up front were Qian Yuan, the Soul King with the Earthshaking Bear spirit, and Chi Hengyu, the defensive-type Soul King with the Diamond Shield spirit. Behind them was Han Linger, an agility-type Soul King. Further back stood captain Gu Zhujian, a power-type Soul King. On either side of him were two control-types: Soul King Xiao Feng and Soul Ancestor Qing Feng. And finally, at the rear, the support-type Soul Ancestor Tang Niuniu. A unique pentagram formation.
"Begin!" the referee shouted. As soon as the command was given, he fled the center like lightning, clearly wanting to avoid crossfire.
At once, the seven members of Dou Ling activated their martial souls—but no one paid attention to them. All eyes were fixed on Zhu Ziyang.
Who was this mysterious, previously hidden member of Shrek? Was he just a sacrificial pawn—or did he truly have the strength to stand alone against seven elite soul masters?
The answer was coming.
Zhu Ziyang smiled faintly and raised his right hand to shoulder level. With a flick of the wrist, a golden battle scythe appeared in his grip.
Weapon-type martial soul? One I've never seen before… but it looks impressive! murmured the crowd in real-time.
As the Scythe of Calamity materialized, five soul rings began rising from beneath Zhu Ziyang's feet: yellow, purple, purple, black, black.
Everyone froze.
They'd assumed he was a Soul King—but at his age? He couldn't be just a throwaway.
And then, the sixth soul ring rose.
The entire plaza erupted—just like during the tournament's opening match when Huo Yuhao had revealed five 100,000-year soul rings. But this time, the crowd was even larger. The chaos and excitement were overwhelming.
A red soul ring! A 100,000-year ring?! Was this real?!
It was now obvious: the student Shrek had kept hidden all this time—Zhu Ziyang—was their true ace.
Spectators didn't know his age, but the competing academies did. Zhu Ziyang was only fifteen. And so, despair and helplessness swept over the other teams.
"No… Impossible!" In the Sun Moon rest area, Xiao Hongchen was on the verge of exploding. His eyes were bloodshot, locked onto the arena as he roared with disbelief. "How?! I used so many heavenly treasures and still only reached Soul King. How does he have a sixth ring—and it's 100,000 years?!"
"Is this the next generation leader of Shrek Academy?" Emperor Xu Jiawei, watching from the royal viewing platform, narrowed his eyes as he observed Zhu Ziyang. "Go. Gather every bit of information we have on this Zhu Ziyang. I want Star Luo's Chamber of Commerce mobilized—I want everything."
"100,000-year soul ring… So this is the power of Shrek Academy?" In the Star Luo Academy's rest area, a stunning girl gazed dreamily at the red ring behind Zhu Ziyang. She murmured, "Brother… you were right. Shrek hides its strength well. With Zhu Ziyang here, is there anyone left who can challenge their dominance?"
"What now, brother?" Two strangely dressed men whispered to each other in the stands.
"This Shrek student is terrifyingly gifted. Should we act?"
"Idiot!" the other smacked his head. "The fact that they dared to field him alone means they're prepared for everything. Let's return to the sect and report to the patriarch."
The fight hadn't even started, and Zhu Ziyang's 100,000-year soul ring had already sent shockwaves across the entire continent.
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