As Emperor Xu Jiawei finished speaking, Heavenfiend Douluo Huang Jinxu instantly appeared on the stage. His expression was as cold as ever, but his gaze instinctively drifted toward both teams.
Everything looked normal on the Sun Moon Imperial Team's side.
But when he turned to Shrek Academy, his pupils contracted sharply, and his eyes filled with shock.
What had he seen?
Very few noticed Huang Jinxu's sudden change in expression, but those who did were anything but ordinary—Emperor Xu Jiawei, Duke Dai Hao, Starlight Douluo Xu Luo, and the Sun Moon team's teacher, Old Ma.
All of them, as if by instinct, turned to look at Shrek's waiting area… and every single one revealed the same expression of disbelief.
They saw something—no, someone.
In Shrek Academy's rest area, four new figures had appeared. Two were elderly women with withered features, and the other two were graceful, mature middle-aged women. But these four were not ordinary people—each one of them was a top-level existence, appearing in the highest-priority intelligence records across the continent's major empires and factions.
Their identities were enough to demand the utmost respect, even from the Emperor of the Star Luo Empire himself.
Heavenriver Douluo Lin Huiqun
Divine Eagle Douluo Song Lan
Wushen Douluo Xian Lin'er
Evilbreaker Douluo Cai Mei'er
"Incredible…" Xu Jiawei muttered in disbelief. "Shrek Academy's two deans and two Sea God Pavilion elders have actually shown up for the finals in person? They're taking this tournament far more seriously than I expected…"
"I suppose it's to protect Zhu Ziyang," Xu Luo offered. "After all, he's a rare user of the Extreme Light Martial Soul. Still… isn't this a bit too much? Even with his talent, it's hard to justify sending four Super Douluo to guard him."
"What did you say, Elder Luo?" Princess Xu Jiujiu's voice trembled with disbelief. "Four Super Douluo?!"
Her gaze immediately returned to the rest area. Four Super Douluo... That was more than the entire Star Luo Empire had! Could this be the true foundation of the number one academy on the continent? It was terrifying!
In the Sun Moon team's rest area, Old Ma was visibly shaken. The presence of Lin Huiqun and the others had shaken his confidence. He couldn't guess Shrek's true intentions.
What if they won? What if the Sun Moon team actually defeated Shrek and took the championship? Would those four Super Douluo intervene?
Surely not… Shrek Academy wouldn't stoop so low, right?
Still, if they did act, then both Old Ma and his students would be in grave danger.
Old Ma sighed. All he could do was give it his all… and trust Shrek's reputation.
"Elder Lin, you're here!" Wang Yan greeted the four women as though he had been expecting them. This had clearly been planned in advance.
"All is proceeding according to plan," Elder Lin replied cryptically.
The preliminary team looked puzzled. Plan? What plan?
But Zhu Ziyang, Ma Xiaotao, and Jiang Nannan exchanged knowing glances—they understood.
"Elder Lin, are you sure Ziyang can handle this alone?" Ma Xiaotao asked with concern.
"Sister Xiaotao, you know my strength," Zhu Ziyang replied with a confident smile.
Listening to them, the rest of the team began to realize what the plan was—Zhu Ziyang was going to face the entire Sun Moon team alone.
Meanwhile, on the stage, Huang Jinxu had regained his composure and began the official announcement.
"The finals of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament will now begin. I, Huang Jinxu, will serve as the referee.
The finals will consist of three rounds: a team battle, an individual elimination battle, and a two-two-three cooperative battle. The format will follow a best-of-three system.
Each team may substitute members once, after the team battle. However, once the next two rounds begin, the seven chosen fighters must remain fixed, with no further changes allowed.
You may fight freely, but I am responsible for your safety. If I determine that a fatal blow is about to occur, I will intervene, and the benefiting team will forfeit that round. However, I cannot guarantee absolute safety, as the battlefield is unpredictable. I hope both sides will exercise restraint."
"You have one minute to prepare. Send your team members up for the team battle."
As soon as Huang Jinxu spoke, the noisy Star Luo Plaza fell completely silent.
Over hundreds of thousands of spectators held their breath in unison, all staring at the stage, waiting to see who would represent each side.
"Ziyang!" Wang Yan stood up and turned to Zhu Ziyang, his face serious.
"Go give it your all."
"Brother, please be careful!" Jiang Nannan grabbed his hand, eyes full of concern.
"Elder Lin, let me go with him!" Ma Xiaotao protested.
"No," Elder Lin shook her head.
"Only by having Ziyang fight alone can we achieve our goal—to shock the world and establish our dominance. Besides, I trust in Ziyang's power."
Now everyone understood the plan.
They were going to let Zhu Ziyang face the Sun Moon team's seven members by himself.
No matter the outcome, such a move would be seen as an enormous insult to the Sun Moon team.
And yet... those who knew Zhu Ziyang's second martial soul weren't too worried. They genuinely believed he might actually win.
"One minute is up! Team members, take the stage!" Huang Jinxu declared.
"Ziyang, go!" Elder Xian Lin'er and Elder Cai Mei'er walked over and patted Zhu Ziyang on the shoulder. Their eyes were full of trust and anticipation.
"Everyone, watch closely," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile. Then he stepped forward, full of confidence.
The moment he walked onto the stage alone, shock rippled through the plaza. Hundreds of thousands of spectators stared in disbelief.
This was the finals! What was Shrek doing?!
Were they forfeiting?
Sure, Zhu Ziyang was a Soul Emperor with a hundred-thousand-year soul ring… but no one truly believed he could defeat a team of seven, including a sixth-level soul engineer and six fifth-level ones!
"Where are the rest of Shrek's team members? The match is about to begin!" Huang Jinxu asked, struggling to contain his disbelief. This wasn't just disrespectful to him as a referee—it was insulting to the audience as well!
"There are no other team members. It's just me," Zhu Ziyang answered calmly.
"...What?!" Huang Jinxu couldn't believe his ears. Shrek was really doing this?
The audience erupted into an uproar.
The Sun Moon team's seven members looked furious.
This wasn't just an insult—it was a slap in the face.
Ma Rulong's eyes turned bloodshot, Xiao Hongchen's face turned pale with rage, and even the usually composed Meng Hongchen could only look at Zhu Ziyang with reluctant admiration.
"Elder Luo, Duke Dai, what is Shrek Academy doing?" Emperor Xu Jiawei's tone darkened.
"Your Majesty, forgive my ignorance—I cannot guess what they're planning," Duke Dai Hao replied, shaking his head.
"It's baffling," Xu Luo added, frowning. But deep inside, he had a creeping suspicion. Could this be a trap? A bait strategy? Could Zhu Ziyang be a sacrificial pawn?
That same suspicion plagued Old Ma. His face was dark. He had already become convinced that Shrek was provoking the empire itself.
Did they truly believe they were strong enough to fight an empire?
"Match rules have already been stated. No further explanation will be given. Both sides, retreat to your positions!" Huang Jinxu announced, forcing himself to stay calm.
Zhu Ziyang stood to Huang Jinxu's right, smiling. He looked at the seven furious Sun Moon students lined up on the other side.
Aside from Meng Hongchen, the others looked like they wanted to kill him with their eyes.
Zhu Ziyang ignored them and strolled casually toward the edge of the stage, completely unbothered.
Once both sides had taken their positions, Huang Jinxu finally shouted the command that ignited the battlefield:
"Begin!"
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