The entire Heaven Dou preliminary zone had over 30 teams, but only five qualifying slots.
Heaven Dou's "Team One" was essentially pre-qualified, their spot not counted among the five—that they met Shrek was pure royal arrangement.
After all, Team One had always auto-qualified to save face for the royal family. Win or lose, it didn't matter—the two Empires, Heaven Dou and Star Luo, each sent two teams to the finals.
Now, Meng Shenji & Co. were confident of stealing the throne, and since Su Lin took over, the Heaven Dou main team was unrecognizable, even with a real shot at the championship.
So the Emperor agreed to let Team One show off. Since they had their spot, win or lose didn't affect the other teams' chances; only royal pride was at stake.
But no one expected—
Heaven Dou's main team's transformation was so terrifying.
In just a few days, they smashed the Elephant Armored Clan's Martial Soul Fusion technique, crushing all resistance, their decisive yet stylish victories captivating the crowds.
Huyan Zhen was mortified, especially when Su Lin looked his way—he quickly put on a smile. He couldn't afford to offend this star. Even though he was sponsored by Spirit Hall, he still dared not cross such a dangerous man.
If Su Lin got annoyed, he'd wipe the floor with Spirit Hall itself!
And one by one, they handily defeated both the Fire and Plant elemental academies.
Crushing them.
Heaven Dou Royal's fearsome reputation had spread throughout the zone.
"Damn, those guys don't hold back at all!"
On the field, the air was stifling, like after an oven's blast.
A red-haired girl, pale and supported off by Huo Wushuang, muttered unhappily about how ruthless the other team was.
"Winners write history."
Huo Wushuang sighed, glancing at the "monsters" across the field who were still chatting and laughing.
"As long as they don't count for qualification, we still have hope for the finals."
He gave a glance at the VIP section.
The absolute powerhouse sitting at the center seemed to have left—perhaps, in his eyes, this was all just child's play.
He noticed, too, that as soon as this man left, others—Salas, Huyan Zhen, and more—relaxed. When could he reach their level? Probably only in his dreams.
Even as dean of the Fire Academy someday, he'd get nowhere near that circle—only able to look from far, far away.
"You okay, Xiao Wu?"
Feng Xiaotian ran over, worried, wanting to take her pain.
"Get lost! Quit pestering me! What's it got to do with you?"
Huo Wu blushed, embarrassed by people's knowing looks.
And just as she was about to kick Feng Xiaotian, Huo Wushuang stopped her, squinting his eyes.
"Xiao Wu, watch…"
"Huh?"
Huo Wu paused, quickly catching on and following his gaze.
"Incredible! You guys are in great shape! At this rate, we have a real shot at qualifying!"
The Grandmaster clapped his hands, holding a mini-meeting for the Shrek team.
They had gotten lucky—after this, they mostly faced weak teams, some not even at Soul Elder level, some with only Soul Masters…
Everyone grumbled internally—what's this got to do with you? Still, they forced themselves to nod along, not wanting to argue.
Then suddenly—
A path opened through the crowd. Three middle-aged men strode over wearing dark blue combat uniforms, lightning-dragon emblems gleaming on their chests—powerful, imposing.
"Big Bro?"
Yu Xiaogang froze.
"Don't call me Big Bro!!"
The leading man flew into a rage, slapping Yu Xiaogang across the face.
"PA!"
The sound was clear and crisp.
Instant silence fell.
Everyone stared in shock.
Yu Xiaogang was sent flying in a circle, landing hard, dazed and with his face already swollen and terrified.
It's always the closest who beat you the hardest.
"B-Big Uncle…"
Yu Tianheng was shaking.
"And you! After everything your family did to smooth your path, you left Heaven Dou Royal, skipped your chance at a life-changing opportunity!"
The middle-aged man's gaze was thunderous.
"I—it was me who dragged him along…"
Yu Xiaogang tried to defend his nephew.
"PA!"
A slap on the other cheek, swelling it up high.
"You dare speak?!"
"You're a failure. But Father never criticized you, even tried to keep your pitiful pride. But you wouldn't accept your fate! You just had to prove yourself—he let you make your own choices."
"But proving yourself is one thing—you had to drag the whole family into this mess!"
His anger rose.
"We have always stayed low-key to avoid trouble. But you, even running off with Liu Erlong, fine—but you also gave away the clan's Blue Tyrant Academy to Flender…"
"And that's not all!"
Yu Ling gritted his teeth, voice full of hate.
"You've even offended Su Lin!"
"Big Brother, he called me trash! In public! Why can't I prove him wrong?"
"Ha, haha…"
Yu Ling burst out laughing.
"Was he wrong?"
Yu Xiaogang froze.
"What are you proving? Proving you're trash? The talented team you led, under your careful guidance, half have failed. You even dragged your own nephew into this—he could've built a connection with Su Lin, but you forced him into Shrek, missing the chance of a lifetime…"
"Yu Xiaogang, you've succeeded."
Yu Ling took a deep breath.
"You've proved you're a disgrace—a failed teacher misleading the young."
"You—you…"
Truth was like a razor.
Yu Xiaogang had always convinced himself others were wrong, but his brother's ruthless words stripped his final layers of self-deception.
"Pfft—"
Yu Xiaogang spat a mouthful of blood and collapsed backward.
Tang San tried to help, but a faster figure—Liu Erlong—ran out to catch him.
"This time, I won't let you get hurt again!"
Liu Erlong held Yu Xiaogang's swollen face, eyes full of love, but as she lifted her head, only fury remained.
"Yu Ling! He's your own brother! You—"
"Shut up!"
Yu Ling's voice was cold as ice.
All his usual kindness faded, replaced by chill.
Before, for the sake of his uncle, he'd spared this illegitimate niece. Now, with the clan's future at stake, there was no more compassion.
Besides, coming here, he'd already gotten the patriarch's tacit approval—a sigh and a nod for the elders to do as they pleased.
All the elders had agreed: withdraw all resources from Blue Tyrant/Lanba Academy. As for Liu Erlong, she'd be erased from the family register, never to enjoy clan resources again.
"Liu Erlong, how dare you address me by name?!"
Yu Ling glowered.
"You—!"
This fierce side stunned Liu Erlong, so used to acting out thanks to her father's favor and her brothers' indulgence.
"Blue Tyrant Academy is clan property. Who are you to give it away?!"
Yu Ling barked.
"I—I…"
Liu Erlong lost confidence.
"I came on patriarch's order—to reclaim all assets of Blue Tyrant Academy. Remember this: Shrek Academy tried to occupy Heaven Dou Royal and got driven out, and rightly so! But my Blue Tyrant Academy won't be insulted like this!"
"Also, Liu Erlong, Yu Xiaogang, we only stopped your romance for the clan's dignity. From now on, that's over."
Yu Ling's tone was icy.
"Because you are no longer part of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."
"Why!"
Liu Erlong's temper exploded, her Soul Sage aura surging.
"I'm Yu Luomian's daughter—I want to see my father!"
"Oh? Now you remember? Just a bastard child—count yourself lucky we ever treated you well. Before coming, I saw Uncle, and he just sighed. If you're not happy—go."
Yu Ling's own Soul Douluo power forced her aura back down.
"Take back Blue Tyrant Academy, change everything back to blue. That ugly green uniform is hideous…"
"..."
The Shrek team secretly nodded furiously—that part they could agree with.
"No…"
Yu Xiaogang lay despairing in Liu Erlong's arms, face like a steamed bun. What if the tournament comittee disqualified Shrek? All his efforts would go to waste!
"Flender!"
Liu Erlong glared behind her.
From the crowd, Flender emerged sheepishly.
"There's nothing I can do…"
He was losing his own academy—he felt bad too.
"If you came, all three of us might suppress him together!"
Liu Erlong spat.
"What's the point?"
Flender sighed.
"Xiaogang's father is a Titled Douluo. The Blue Lightning clan…that's not a fight we can win."
All their spirits fell.
Surrounding teams had gotten their dose of drama and ran back to gossip.
"There's no hiding it now…"
Yu Xiaogang looked up and sighed.
Now he'd be nailed to the pillar of shame—unless he could truly train a god.
"A letter?"
Su Wen (note: same as Su Lin) watched a messenger pigeon.
He took off the golden scroll from its leg and read the dark script—his eyes grew colder.
Bibi Dong…
So bold!
She dared imprison Qian Renxue even after his warning.
No wonder the Emperor mentioned the Crown Prince's poor health.
"Gui Mei, Yue Guan."
His eyes narrowed.
"They're dead men anyway… no, fine. If Qian Daoliu sent a message, he wants to avoid conflict. Bibi Dong will die by Tang San's hand anyway. Changing fate has a price. Let them bite each other for now."
A reminder, though, was still needed.
Suddenly, a distant call:
"The Demonic Evil God Tiger you wanted has appeared…"
"Di Tian?"
Su Wen blinked, then smiled.
So that guy finally did his job. It was nearly time to return to ten thousand years later anyway—he'd have to reward him after that.
The Demonic Evil God Tiger, with six attributes—evil, time, space, lightning, strength, wind—was far beyond even Da Ming or Er Ming.
They were extremely rare. After ten thousand years, he'd told the Silver Dragon King to search, but heard nothing—maybe the one Tang San killed in canon was the last.
So only by returning to ten thousand years ago, could he hunt it.
"If evolved, who knows how powerful it would become…"
Su Wen murmured.
"It's not me in time!"
Big Eye laughed in his spiritual sea.
"Its thunder is no match for me!"
Purple chimed in.
"Wind…"
The Gale spirit didn't even get a word out before Su Wen cut them off.
"Enough."
He replied, slightly exasperated.
"It's the space and evil I want! Space powers are nearly unique; with them, one can travel anywhere. Even create worlds—almost like a Creator God."
The soul beasts nodded.
"Take it alive—don't hurt it. I'll be back soon."
Su Wen decided.
He still needed to find Qian Renxue.
Causing her to turn on Bibi Dong—that girl must really care for him…
All the better. In the Doulou Continent, Qian Renxue was the ultimate loyal lover—and, as long as she became a god, she'd be his greatest help facing Tang San and the God Realm a thousand years later.
With the Demonic Evil God Tiger found, Su Wen mused,
He'd nearly collected all the continent's great spirit beasts.
To find more…
He might have to cross through time.
Twenty thousand years later?