At the start of the new semester, beneath the calm surface of Shrek Academy, a wave of preparation for the upcoming tournament surged. However, Gu La's daily routine remained completely unaffected.
He carefully stored the Netherworld Flower seeds, mutated Bodhi seeds, and Time Flower seeds within the Forest Sea Space.
The life-stopping domain, newly expanded and stabilized by Life Gold, had begun to take shape.
The Golden Ancient Tree spirit soul spread its branches within it, exuding a dense, almost palpable life force.
Gu La gazed at these seeds with a clear blueprint in mind: In the future, he not only intended to cultivate rare plants here but also planned to "move" the entire Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well into this space.
In this timeline, there was no Tang Sect occupying that precious spot. The ultimate yin-yang attribute spring would become the strongest "time accelerator" within the Forest Sea Space, combining with the time acceleration effect of the space itself, allowing time flow to reach an astonishing ratio.
"Time Flowers..." Gu La's gaze fell on the bag of silver dust-like particles.
Their lifespan was extremely short, and under the accelerated time within the space, they might soon reveal their blooming and fruiting forms.
As for the Netherworld Flower and mutated Bodhi seeds, they required much longer cultivation and evolutionary guidance.
However, for someone who could traverse time and space like Gu La, what he lacked the least was time.
In the new semester, Gu La's focus remained on the forge room.
The difficulty of soul-forging the Polar Ice Crystal far exceeded expectations; each hammer strike was a collision between his physical body and extreme cold, yet he found joy in it.
Within the academy, he continued to keep mostly to himself, with few friends. The only person who occasionally made him pause was Xiao Xiao.
After gathering the courage to make her "move," the little girl had been shy for quite some time.
But after waiting left and right without Gu La approaching her, her reserve quickly crumbled under the weight of longing, prompting her to seek him out again. She couldn't hide the fact that her martial soul had evolved into the Azure Phoenix and eventually informed her family and the academy.
Xiao Xiao hailed from a noble family in the Tian Hun Empire, seemingly having a distant relationship with her family. Seeing her reluctance to talk about it, Gu La didn't press further.
However, within Shrek Academy, this news stirred up significant waves. Twin martial souls were rare, but in this era, the potential of twin weapon-type martial souls was generally considered inferior to twin beast-type martial souls.
The reason lay in the bottleneck of a soul master's physical constitution—lacking effective training methods and blood essence cultivation techniques, soul masters overly relied on the nourishment provided by their martial souls.
The biggest hidden danger of twin martial souls was that the body might not withstand the eighteen soul rings that could potentially be added in the future—not everyone could have the extraordinary opportunities like Tang San.
However, Xiao Xiao's situation was entirely different. Her twin martial souls consisted of one weapon-type and one beast-type martial soul. Especially the latter, which fused with the Nine-Headed Phoenix soul, was of extremely high quality, possessing attributes close to the Ultimate Wood.
This meant her future potential was already comparable to Huo Yuhao, who had exposed his Ultimate Ice.
Moreover, how could Gu La possibly neglect a girl who had given her heart to him? When he synchronized his forging prowess in the Dragon King Legend universe, he had already obtained a drop of essence blood from Mu Yi, the Ultimate Wood practitioner. Combined with some rare immortal herbs, he was confident in helping Xiao Xiao fully evolve her Azure Phoenix martial soul into true Ultimate Wood.
Of course, that was all for the future.
Xiao Xiao's current physique simply couldn't withstand the overwhelming tempering of Mu Yi's essence blood.
Besides, prematurely possessing an ultimate attribute would lead to spontaneous high compression of soul power, slowing down the increase in her soul power level—after all, she didn't have those "big shots" inside Huo Yuhao cheating for her.
The academy's senior leadership held a special meeting regarding this matter.
In the end, it was decided that Xuan Zi, the Gluttonous Douluo, would personally take Xiao Xiao as his disciple.
After all, Dragon God Douluo Mu En had already expressed intent to take Gu La and Huo Yuhao as his final disciples, though they didn't know that Gu La had no interest in this.
In Gu La's view, Mu En's method of strictly requiring disciples to follow his path was far less appealing than Leng Yaozhu's hands-off approach.
Moreover, after refining the Ten Thousand Year Mystic Ice Marrow, his soul power had quietly broken through to Level 67!
Once his Three-Word Battle Armor was complete, with his foundation rivaling that of a Super Douluo and his Ultimate attribute, even Mu En, the Limit Douluo, might not easily defeat him.
The most important event of the new semester was the upcoming Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Combat Soul Tournament.
Shrek Academy's tradition was for Inner Court disciples to form the official team, while the Outer Court selected seven members to form a reserve team, serving as substitutes and cultivating talent for the next tournament.
The selection was personally overseen by Xuan Zi.
Upon his entrance, this unkempt Gluttonous Douluo unleashed the terrifying pressure of a Title Douluo, smashing down on the hearts of all candidate students like a tangible hammer, instantly silencing the bustling combat soul area. Many students turned pale, almost unable to breathe. It was a merciless show of force.
"No need to complicate things, let's keep it simple." Xuan Zi took a swig of alcohol, his lazy yet clear voice spreading across the field, "Let's have a big free-for-all. The last seven standing will be the reserve team members. Begin!"
After a brief silence following his words, the combat soul platform erupted with intense soul power fluctuations as students rushed towards familiar friends.
Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi, recognized as the "twin stars" of the Outer Court, despite their powerful bloodlines not being fully awakened yet, far surpassed their peers in strength and were already pre-selected.
They reacted swiftly, immediately beginning to recruit teammates.
Bei Bei called out, and Huo Yuhao unhesitatingly joined him.
Xu Sanshi, on the other hand, charged towards Jiang Nannan first, attempting to pull her into his protective circle. Jiang Nannan remained as cold as ice towards him, evading without any gratitude.
But Xu Sanshi's thick skin played to his advantage as a defensive-type soul master, stubbornly sticking around Jiang Nannan, blocking attacks from all directions.
Though unwilling, Jiang Nannan found herself temporarily helpless against Xu Sanshi's almost shameless close protection amidst the chaotic battlefield and could only tacitly allow him to act as her "shield."
On Huo Yuhao's side, he recruited Wang Dong.
After exposing his Ultimate Ice, he had become a core disciple in both martial soul and soul-guidance systems, his status skyrocketing. He quickly pulled He Caitou, another core disciple from the soul-guidance system, into the team.
In the blink of an eye, their small group had gathered Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, He Caitou, and Jiang Nannan, six people strong, becoming one of the most formidable forces on the field.
One more person needed!
Huo Yuhao scanned the chaotic battlefield, quickly locking onto Xiao Xiao.
Since Gu La was busy with his own affairs and didn't serve as class monitor, Huo Yuhao had replaced Wang Dong as the class leader in the new semester, giving him a thorough understanding of the students' strengths.
After her martial soul evolution, Xiao Xiao possessed the powerful recovery of the Azure Phoenix and attributes close to the Ultimate Wood. Even with just one soul ring, her comprehensive combat ability far surpassed ordinary Soul Emperors. Moreover, her phoenix martial soul allowed her to fly, making her an excellent choice for interference and control.
However, just as he prepared to call Xiao Xiao over, his peripheral vision caught sight of that solitary figure nearby—Gu La.
Huo Yuhao's heart sank heavily. As another possessor of an Ultimate martial soul, he deeply understood Gu La's terrifying power.
Although he had the hundred-thousand-year soul ring from Ice Emperor's sacrifice, the vast difference in soul power levels was a hard truth.
He had no doubt that if Gu La wanted to act, their small group might not necessarily win, and could even be defeated one by one.
"If Gu La joins us, he will undoubtedly occupy the core position, but with his personality... it might cause conflicts. If he doesn't join and acts alone, he poses a huge threat to all of us..."
Huo Yuhao instantly felt an unbearable headache. Giving the final spot to Xiao Xiao was the best choice, but Gu La's presence made this selection full of uncertainties.
Among their seven, someone would inevitably be eliminated, but Huo Yuhao couldn't worry about that now—he had to ensure the formation of core combat power first.
"Xiao Xiao, over here!" Huo Yuhao shouted, keeping a wary eye on Gu La's reaction.
Faced with Huo Yuhao's invitation, Xiao Xiao instinctively looked towards Gu La, her eyes filled with inquiry. She preferred to be with Gu La.
Gu La subtly shook his head, gesturing with his eyes for her to go over.
He couldn't stay in this timeline forever. Having Xiao Xiao alongside Huo Yuhao, the "chosen one," and his companions was undoubtedly the safest way to ensure her security.
As for the tournament slot? A barely perceptible smile curved Gu La's lips—he didn't need teammates.
Seeing Gu La signal her to go, although somewhat disappointed, Xiao Xiao obediently ran towards the combat circle where Huo Yuhao and Bei Bei were.
A yellow soul ring rose beneath her feet, and the black tripod's phantom alternated with the Azure Phoenix's phantom behind her, exuding powerful life and defense energy.
Xuan Zi's gaze also landed on Gu La, who stood alone, seemingly aloof from the chaos. He recalled the evaluation of Gu La during the Sea God Pavilion meeting: His talent and strength were rarely seen in a millennium, his character aloof and proud, and his relationships with classmates distant.
Looking at Gu La's detached demeanor, showing no interest in the melee before him, Xuan Zi felt quite helpless. He couldn't force others to team up with Gu La—that would only backfire.
"Sigh, once he joins the reserve team, we'll find ways to handle it. Youngsters, after all, can develop camaraderie through interaction and fighting side by side a few times."
Xuan Zi could only console himself, silently planning how to "train" this thorny genius later.
"Alright, time's up." Xuan Zi observed the chaotic scene on the field, where several small groups had preliminarily formed, gauging that the timing was about right. Taking another swig of alcohol, he bellowed, "The free-for-all begins! The last seven standing will be the reserve team members."
"Boom—!"
With his command, the already tense combat soul platform erupted with soul skills' brilliance like fireworks.
Colored soul rings shimmered; roars of beast martial souls, whistling sounds of weapon-type martial souls, and binding lights of control-type soul masters instantly intertwined, pushing the battle into white-hot intensity.
Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, He Caitou, Jiang Nannan, and Xiao Xiao quickly formed a tight back-to-back formation. Their powerful offensive and defensive capabilities allowed them to stand firm in the central region of the battlefield like a rock, enduring impacts from all directions while seeking opportunities to counterattack outward.
Meanwhile, Gu La moved the moment Xuan Zi finished speaking.
He didn't charge toward any team or choose to hold his ground. He simply stepped forward calmly. With this step, an invisible, suffocating terror pressure erupted from him.
The golden-red Ultimate Fire did not burn fiercely but instead covered his body with a thin, highly condensed flame aura. His golden eyes swept across the field, and wherever his icy gaze landed, the air seemed to burn and warp.
It was a pressure emanating from deep within the soul, blending the dominance of ultimate attributes with the aloofness of sacred power.
Several junior students who attempted to ambush Gu La amidst the chaos had their soul skills barely released when they felt an overwhelming force slam into their chests. Their vision went dark, and without a sound, they were flung out of the combat platform's range.
Gu La strolled leisurely through the chaotic battlefield. He didn't actively attack anyone, but any attacks nearing within ten meters of him, whether soul skills or physical weapons, were silently annihilated and absorbed by that seemingly frail golden-red aura.
Any attempt to lock onto him with spiritual force crashed against a towering mountain of flames, instantly burning away and causing the caster excruciating headaches.
Wherever he passed, the melee crowds split apart as if cleaved by an invisible giant blade, automatically clearing a path.
Some stronger students tried to unite and block him, but whether it was the assault of offensive types or the bindings of control types, upon touching that golden-red aura, they melted like snow, failing to stir even a ripple.
Gu La didn't even spare them a glance, merely waving his hand casually, transforming the flames into an invisible giant palm, swatting away several attacking Soul Emperors like flies. Clean and efficient, he neutralized their combat abilities without harming them, showcasing absolute control.
His goal was clear—to weed out those attempting to fish in troubled waters, the "minnows" who lacked strength yet hoped to rely on luck to stay. Finally, he aimed for a righteous one-versus-seven showdown.
Every move he made precisely "sent" one or several students off the field, with astonishing efficiency.
Soon, the number of participants on the field drastically decreased.
Huo Yuhao's seven-member team was undoubtedly strong, attracting most of the firepower. But Gu La's presence was like a mobile "clearing machine," declaring an insurmountable gap in absolute strength with an unmatched posture.
Xuan Zi's originally somewhat hazy drunken eyes instantly became sharp as an eagle's the moment Gu La began moving.
He watched Gu La's effortless demeanor, treating a hundred-person melee as nothing, each move precise and efficient without any hesitation. Watching those students, not weak by any means, crumble like children before him… Xuan Zi unconsciously tightened his grip on the wine gourd.
"This kid…" Xuan Zi's mind churned, "This strength… this control… is he really a Soul Emperor? No, this foundation… this aura…"
He faintly sensed that Sea God Pavilion's assessment of Gu La's strength might still be conservative. This wasn't aloof pride—it was absolute confidence overshadowing everyone!
Within the protective circle of Huo Yuhao and others, Xiao Xiao released the defensive glow of the Three Lives Soul-Sealing Cauldron to assist while her eyes constantly followed Gu La's composed figure amidst the chaos.
Watching him move as if in an empty field, effortlessly clearing away interferences, her eyes held no surprise, only a near-blind trust and a hint of pride. She knew her Brother Gu La should naturally shine this brightly.
Huo Yuhao's shared spiritual detection clearly relayed Gu La's movements to his teammates. Deep shock and gravity appeared on the faces of Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and others.
They knew Gu La was strong, but never imagined that in a hundred-person melee, he could reach such heights. It was a kind of strength that made one reluctant to even think of resisting.
Feeling the faint envy in Huo Yuhao's eyes, Bei Bei comforted gently, "Yuhao, Xiao Xiao, as possessors of Ultimate martial souls, I believe you can achieve this in the future too."
"Mm!"
Huo Yuhao nodded firmly. Inside his mind, Tian Meng Ice Silkworm and Ice Emperor also encouraged him, turning the envy in his eyes into determination.
But now was not his time to shine; he was merely an observer.
The melee on the field, due to Gu La's presence, had its rhythm forcibly accelerated. More and more students were eliminated, leaving only the cream of the crop from the Outer Court.
The battle was heading towards a fiercer, crueler direction. And Gu La, still like an outsider yet like a controller, uniquely dominated the direction of this selection.
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