On the stage for the Top 16, Zhu Ziyang faced off alone against the seven members of Dou Ling Academy. Yet, the ones who felt fear… were his opponents.
When Zhu Ziyang revealed his 100,000-year spirit ring, the outcome of the battle no longer mattered. Regardless of the result, Shrek Academy would be the true victor.
Even if Dou Ling Academy managed to win, unless they severely injured Zhu Ziyang and rendered him unable to continue in the tournament, they'd still be easily defeated in the individual battles the next day—especially with both Zhu Ziyang and Ma Xiaotao competing.
They wanted to try. But attempting to seriously wound a Soul Emperor with a 100,000-year spirit ring? That wasn't something a team of Soul Kings could accomplish easily. They'd need to sacrifice at least three or four members, likely leaving them just as injured.
"Captain, what should we do?" asked the team's control-type Soul King, Xiao Feng, face tense.
"We have no choice. Let's go!" replied Gu Zhu Jian, clenching his teeth. "We may lose the match—but we can't lose our pride!"
Their spirits ignited. Dou Ling Academy surged forward with renewed fighting will. But for Zhu Ziyang… it made no difference.
Before they could even move, Zhu Ziyang acted.
With a single leap, he soared into the air, his silver eyes shining with divine light. In the blink of an eye, the entire opposing team was frozen in place, bound by his overwhelming presence. Then, a radiant aura of pure light filled the arena—so intense it even spilled over into the spectator stands.
The front-row audience felt a spring-like warmth wash over them. Their expressions melted into dazed intoxication.
Zhu Ziyang didn't spare them a glance. Both hands gripped the Requiem Scythe, drawing a wide arc before him. Instantly, all the light energy in the sky rushed toward the scythe's path like bees drawn to a flower.
Before tens of thousands of stunned eyes, the energy condensed into a brilliant golden crescent moon, exuding a majestic and sacred pressure.
The moment the crescent appeared, the warmth in the arena vanished—replaced by a divine, crushing might. It radiated both boundless compassion and tyrannical dominance. Those in the front rows turned pale, a wave of submission rising from deep within. It felt as though they were in the presence of a supreme god.
Zhu Ziyang swung his hands downward. The golden crescent fell like a heavenly body—a moon descending from the heavens.
The members of Dou Ling Academy, having just broken free from their bindings, stood paralyzed by despair. They couldn't move. They could only watch, stunned, as the glowing moon crashed down in front of them and engulfed them in a sea of gold.
A figure immediately leapt onto the stage. It was the match referee, face ashen with panic. His mind was filled with chaotic thoughts—he prayed desperately that no one would die. If anyone died… he was finished.
Regret flooded his heart. When he was first assigned to referee a match for Shrek Academy, he'd been thrilled. Now? His joy had turned to dread.
The golden light slowly faded, revealing the battered forms of Dou Ling Academy's team. The referee breathed a deep sigh of relief—no deaths. As long as no one died, he wouldn't be held responsible.
Zhu Ziyang eyed his opponents, a glint of surprise in his eyes. He had, in fact, held back. Had he used his full power, he would've unleashed the "Moon of the Departed", not this lesser version—"Imperial Moon".
The Imperial Moon, a half-form of the Death Moon, was a technique forged from Zhu Ziyang's Ultimate Light and his overwhelming kingly aura.
Yet, even after taking a full hit from this move, some of the opponents could still stand. That shocked him. Though the Imperial Moon was weaker than the Moon of the Departed, it should've been strong enough to knock out everyone completely.
Five were severely injured. But two were still standing.
Zhu Ziyang narrowed his eyes, focusing on the survivors—one was a defense-type Soul King, Heng Yu, with the Titanium Shield martial soul. The other was an assault-type Soul King, Qian Yuan, with the Terrorclaw Bear martial soul.
No wonder they withstood it. Their toughness made sense.
Still, Heng Yu and Qian Yuan were deathly pale. They glanced at their fallen teammates, then at their own miserable condition, and gave a bitter smile.
"We admit defeat!" they called out in unison.
Hearing their surrender, the referee quickly declared, "First match of the Top 16 team battle—Shrek Academy wins!"
But at this point, it wasn't just about the team match anymore. With five of Dou Ling Academy's main team injured, they had no hope for the next day's individual matches.
Everyone understood. Shrek Academy had officially advanced to the quarterfinals.
The crowd erupted into thunderous cheers.
"Shrek! Shrek! Shrek!"
In the Sun Moon Imperial Academy's rest area, the atmosphere was grim.
Ma Rulong growled, "I saw it. Fragments of an invincibility barrier appeared around Gu Zhu Jian and the others. You all know what that means!"
"An invincibility barrier... a Grade 5 soul tool," said Xiao Hongchen, face dark. "To break that in a single hit? What terrifying strength. Heh... Zhu Ziyang!"
Atop the royal palace tower, Xu Jiawei remained calm, but his tightly clenched fists betrayed his inner unrest.
"It seems Shrek will once again claim the championship this year," he muttered. "Zhu Ziyang… why isn't such a hero part of my Star Luo Empire?"
In the spectator stands, Gongyang Mo awkwardly whispered to Ling Luocheng, "Feels like we didn't even need to be here."
"Elder Lin never planned for us to fight anyway," Ling replied coldly, a strange glint flashing in her eyes.
Back in the rest area, the Shrek team swarmed around Zhu Ziyang.
"Ziyang, that was incredible!" Tang Ya cried out in excitement.
"Absolutely amazing!" Huo Yuhao nodded rapidly, eyes shining. "Big Brother Ziyang, that slash… it felt like you pulled the moon down from the sky!"
"Haha, now do you understand," said Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi in unison, "why Teacher Wang Yan kept him off the field? Because once he steps onstage—the outcome is already decided!"
"Really though, haven't you all seen him fight at the academy before?" scoffed Ma Xiaotao, still lounging on the sofa with Jiang Nannan. "Why are you acting so surprised?"
"Heh… we thought you guys were going easy on him back then," Tang Ya said innocently, a comment that made Ma Xiaotao's fists twitch with annoyance.
"Enough," said Wang Yan, grinning from ear to ear. "Thanks to Ziyang, we might not even need to fight tomorrow. A full day of rest—that's a gift!"
Cheering, the group left the Star Luo Square together. All eyes followed them in silence, watching until they vanished from view.
The next day, Dou Ling Academy, short on members, forfeited the individual matches.
Shrek Academy advanced to the quarterfinals.
With their next match in two days, the Shrek team stayed at the hotel to rest.
In Zhu Ziyang's room, Elder Lin and Elder Song arrived together.
"Elder Lin, Elder Song? Why are you here?" Zhu Ziyang asked, surprised.
"Haha! Ziyang, you put on a great show yesterday," Elder Lin praised. "You really upheld Shrek's honor. But we also came to bring something from the Star Luo royal family."
"Oh?" Ziyang's curiosity was piqued.
"A carving knife," said Elder Song, pulling out a black silk pouch from her soul tool. It was another storage device. From within, she produced a finely crafted wooden box and handed it to Ziyang.
"You may have heard of this blade."
Ziyang opened the box—and froze.
"A Soul-Devouring Carving Knife?!"
The Star Luo royal family had gifted Shrek one of the most infamous cursed items in history. Was this a gesture of goodwill… or provocation?
He looked to the elders, confused.
Lin and Song chuckled at his expression. "Yes, it has a fearsome reputation. But to you, Ziyang, it's just a knife. The malice and evil it carries are powerless against your Ultimate Light."
Realization dawned in Ziyang's mind. "So the royal family… knows I possess Ultimate Light?"
"There's no hiding it," Lin said, smiling. "Your light aura was already powerful. Plus, the Star Luo royal family's Chief Priest is a Light-element Titled Douluo. He could easily tell."
"That's why they sent the Soul-Devouring Knife," added Elder Song. "It's a powerful item—at least top-30 among all carving knives. This is clearly a gesture of goodwill toward you and the Academy. No one dares underestimate the bearer of Ultimate Light."
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