Princess Xu Jiujiu continued introducing the soul bones, her voice elegant and confident.
"The third soul bone: the 50,000-Year Sacred Illusion Demon Ape Skull. Once fused, it significantly enhances a soul master's spiritual power and perception.
Its fixed soul skill: Spiritual Shock, a spiritual-type attack that emits a soul-piercing shockwave.
This is an extremely rare mental-type soul bone, and more importantly—it has no fusion restrictions. I highly recommend you choose this one."
"The fourth soul bone: the 50,000-Year Explosive Burning Left Arm Bone, born from a 50,000-year-old Blazing Heavenly Demon Mink. It comes with the fixed soul skill: Flame Burst Strike.
Once fused, it boosts fire affinity and fire attack power.
Notably, the first-generation Phoenix Douluo Ma Hongjun once possessed a similar right arm bone, so this one would be a perfect match for someone like Ma Xiaotao."
"The fifth soul bone: the 90,000-Year Ice Tyrant Dragon Right Leg Bone.
The most precious among these ten, second only to the hundred-thousand-year soul bones in the imperial treasury.
A thousand years ago, one of our royal ancestors acquired it by chance in the Extreme North.
I believe, since you come from the Northern Province of the Heavenly Soul Empire, you must know of the Ice Tyrant Dragon soul beast.
This soul bone was brought specifically for you—even though you might not need it, we still brought it as a gesture.
It hasn't been fused by anyone yet, so its soul skill is unknown, but we guarantee it will be a powerful one. According to evaluations, it enhances both physique and ice-element attacks."
"The sixth soul bone: the 70,000-Year Spirit Moon Phantom Trunk Bone, from an extremely rare soul beast species.
This bone enhances vitality and all-element resistance. Its fixed soul skill: Spirit Moon Shield, a barrier that absorbs all spiritual attacks.
This one was specially selected for Jiang Nannan.
Although we don't know her exact martial soul, if it's related to the moon, this is the ideal choice."
"The seventh soul bone: the 40,000-Year Earth Armor Berserk Bear Trunk Bone.
Once fused, it greatly enhances physical constitution and earth-element affinity.
Fixed soul skill: Earth Armor, which summons a rock armor that boosts defense and regeneration.
Perfect for earth-element or defense-type soul masters."
"The eighth soul bone: the 30,000-Year Dark Crystal Ghost Panther Left Leg Bone, enhances speed and leg strength.
Fixed soul skill: Dark Crystal Technique, which forms dark crystal armor around the legs, boosting strength and defense."
"The ninth soul bone: the 50,000-Year Red Dawn Armored Beast Left Arm Bone.
Boosts light-element affinity and defense.
Fixed soul skill: Heaven's Light Slash, which forms a powerful blade of light with high cutting and piercing power—especially effective against high-defense opponents.
Ideal for light-element or blade-wielding soul masters."
"The tenth soul bone: the 60,000-Year Demonic Devil Whale Left Leg Bone.
Boosts both water and dark-element affinities, enhances natural talent, and has the fixed skill: Devil Whale Slash.
The left leg becomes a massive axe, slashing targets in a straight line. A rare treasure for water or dark-element soul masters."
While Xu Jiujiu was explaining these ten soul bones to Zhu Ziyang, a second banquet was taking place in another royal hall.
Every person there was of the highest standing—figures that commanded respect across the entire continent.
Elder Lin, Elder Song, Xian Lin'er, and Cai Mei'er were seated in that hall, along with Star Radiance Douluo Xu Luo, the chief enshrined protector of the Star Luo Empire, and the other royal protectors, such as Heavenfiend Douluo Huang Jinxu.
However, someone like Huang Jinxu—despite being a Titled Douluo—wasn't qualified to sit with the true apex powers.
Facing each other were Elder Lin and Xu Luo. Beside Xu Luo were two others—also Super Douluo.
To his left sat Wang Xian'er, martial soul: Healing Angel. Rank 96 Super Douluo, title: Medicine Immortal. Recognized as the greatest support-type soul master on the continent.
To his right sat Xu Hongxing, martial soul: variant of the Star Crown known as Shattered Star Light. Rank 95 Super Douluo, title: Starbreaker.
Like Xu Luo, he hailed from the royal family.
These three were the pillars of the Star Luo Empire.
The ordinary-looking hall was anything but: this was the Royal Enshrinement Hall, the heart of the empire's soul master might.
"...Elder Lin, I accept your request." Xu Luo finally said, a strange look flashing across his face. "I will personally act."
"Good!" Elder Lin smiled in satisfaction.
"Shrek Academy will never let the Xu clan down! Hahaha!"
Both men laughed heartily, clearly having come to an agreement. Then Xu Luo's expression grew serious.
"But what about my proposal? Have you considered it?"
Elder Lin's smile faded.
"Unfortunately, I can't decide that. Zhu Ziyang is a disciple of that person. It must be approved by him."
Hearing "that person," the expressions of Xu Luo, Wang Xian'er, and Xu Hongxing all shifted slightly. They, having reached this level of strength and age, naturally understood what kind of being "that person" was.
Xu Luo's voice held unconscious reverence:
"How is… his condition?"
He knew about Mu En's injuries—in fact, he had once studied under him, even though Mu En never officially took him as a disciple.
In his heart, Mu En was a sacred figure.
Elder Lin sighed.
"Still the same."
"Then let's leave it for now," Xu Luo said with a sigh.
"If Elder Mu must approve, we'll wait."
"Actually…" Elder Lin suddenly added with a twinkle in his eye,
"You could let the princess study at our academy for a while. Let the young ones spend more time together. You never know what might happen…"
Xu Luo's eyes lit up.
"Yes! That's a brilliant idea!"
Back at the banquet hall, Xu Jiujiu finished her presentation of the soul bones and looked at Zhu Ziyang with bright eyes.
"So? Have you made your choice?"
Zhu Ziyang smiled, then turned to the thoughtful Wang Yan.
"Teacher Wang, I'll choose three. You may choose the remaining two."
Wang Yan was stunned for a moment, then looked at Zhu Ziyang with deep gratitude.
He understood exactly what Zhu Ziyang was doing—and was moved.
"Thank you, Ziyang."
Zhu Ziyang only smiled and turned to Xu Jiujiu.
"Your Highness, thank you for your generosity. I choose:
the Explosive Burning Left Arm Bone,
the Spirit Moon Phantom Trunk Bone, and
the Ice Tyrant Dragon Right Leg Bone."
Xu Jiujiu grinned radiantly.
"A perfect selection! That's exactly what we hoped for.
We went to great lengths just for you, you know?"
With Zhu Ziyang's choices made, Wang Yan followed up:
"Then I'll take the Sacred Illusion Demon Ape Skull and the Demonic Devil Whale Left Leg Bone."
"Oh?" Xu Jiujiu looked surprised.
"Why not the Earth Armor Bear's trunk bone? Why choose a leg bone?"
Wang Yan chuckled.
"True, the trunk is more valuable—but the Earth Armor Bear is merely a high-level beast, while the Demonic Devil Whale is a rare and powerful oceanic soul beast.
It has better years, greater potential, and more value for soul masters overall."
Xu Jiujiu clapped her hands in admiration.
"As expected from a Shrek teacher—you see the essence, not just the surface.
Many soul masters would blindly chase trunk bones just for their base value, ignoring the true strength of the soul beast behind it."
With the selection complete, the banquet neared its end.
The Shrek students were already mentally checked out—their thoughts consumed by the soul bones.
For Ma Xiaotao and Jiang Nannan, the situation was straightforward:
They were main team members, so they'd each receive a soul bone—most likely the ones Zhu Ziyang hadn't picked, clearly prepared for them.
The real drama would be with Wang Yan's two soul bones.
Zhu Ziyang had left those for the preliminary team—but there were seven of them, and only two soul bones…
A decision would have to be made.
Under escort by the palace guards, the group returned to the Star Emperor Grand Hotel, where a meeting was immediately convened.
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