Zhu Ziyang arrived at the dining hall. The others were already there.
Seeing him come in, Tang Ya smiled and said, "How rare! Zhu Ziyang, you actually had a day where you slept in?"
"It wasn't really sleeping in. I had a breakthrough." Zhu Ziyang smiled lightly, sat beside Jiang Nannan, took the rice porridge and steamed bun she handed him, and spoke casually.
"A breakthrough?" Unexpectedly, that triggered Tang Ya. She cried out in frustration, "That's just too perverse! You broke through again so quickly? How are those of us with average talent supposed to live?"
Beibei and Xu Sanshi nodded in agreement, both feeling helpless deep inside.
"Hehe, if even you two are considered average, then there are no true geniuses left in this world." Wang Yan laughed as well. He was genuinely happy for Zhu Ziyang, but still felt a bit uneasy. He looked at him and said, "Ziyang, even though you've made a breakthrough, there's no need for you to act yet. Wait a few more days, alright?"
"I understand." Zhu Ziyang nodded.
Wang Yan's reasoning was simple. Until Elder Lin arrived, it was best if Zhu Ziyang didn't go on stage. That hundred-thousand-year soul ring of his was far too eye-catching. No one could guarantee that some desperate individual or faction wouldn't make a move. Only with a Super Douluo nearby could Wang Yan feel secure letting Zhu Ziyang participate.
Zhu Ziyang wanted to say that he actually had five Title Douluo-level powerhouses with him and feared no ambush. But he was also very clear — the Hell Knight and Lich King were beings that couldn't see the light of day. As the purest undead creatures, if they appeared in the public eye, Zhu Ziyang would undoubtedly be labeled an evil soul master and face joint condemnation from both the soul master world and the secular world.
At that point, no one would care whether he truly was an evil soul master or not. People only believe what they see. Those with ulterior motives would exploit that and use it to eliminate him.
And Shrek Academy would also fall into an unprecedented crisis because of it. How had Shrek's reputation been built over ten thousand years? Aside from turning the tide four thousand years ago to repel the Sun Moon Empire's armies, it was also due to their persistent campaigns over the millennia against evil soul masters, which earned them respect from both the soul master world and the common people.
If Zhu Ziyang were identified as an evil soul master, then Shrek Academy's enemies — like the Sun Moon Empire — would immediately pounce. They would spread the word that Shrek was sheltering evil soul masters, stoke public resentment, and use that as an opportunity to destroy the academy. This wasn't alarmism — it was a real possibility.
The people of the continent who once trusted and revered Shrek Academy would quickly turn that into anger and hatred. They would unite to wipe it out.
Ten thousand years ago, that was exactly how Spirit Hall had been destroyed.
Therefore, unless it was a life-or-death situation, Zhu Ziyang would never summon his undead creatures.
So why weren't they afraid of someone attacking Huo Yuhao?
First, because it was too fake. Anyone with a bit of soul master knowledge would quickly realize that the five hundred-thousand-year soul rings Huo Yuhao displayed might look shocking at first, but upon closer inspection, the whole setup was full of holes.
Second, because Huo Yuhao didn't actually possess any hundred-thousand-year soul rings. So neither Wang Yan nor Zhu Ziyang were worried that anyone would target him. It wasn't worth it. No faction would be stupid enough to risk offending Shrek Academy over just a Soul Grandmaster.
In short, hundred-thousand-year soul rings — what's scary isn't not having them. What's scary is truly having them.
Whether it was Zhu Ziyang or Huo Yuhao, at their current age, if they genuinely possessed a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, it meant they could acquire a second, a third, or even more. That was the truly terrifying part.
Shrek's group soon finished their breakfast and left the hotel, heading toward Star Luo Plaza.
At the hotel entrance, they happened to run into the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy team coming from the other corridor. These two teams were old rivals. If they hadn't met, there would've been no conflict. But since they did, a confrontation was inevitable.
"Who would've thought? The mighty Shrek Academy actually sent a bunch of charlatans to participate in the Soul Master Tournament. Truly eye-opening!" One of the Sun Moon team students said mockingly, his tone laced with sarcasm.
His words caused the rest of his team to laugh knowingly. Meanwhile, members of Shrek's reserve team all showed expressions of anger.
Ma Xiaotao, who was at the front, didn't look pleased either. Her beautiful eyes glared coldly as she snapped, "A good dog doesn't block the road. Get lost!"
As she spoke, the pressure of a top-tier Soul Emperor exploded forth. The two people at the front of the Sun Moon team were directly sent flying, retreating seven or eight steps before they barely managed to steady themselves. Ma Xiaotao didn't spare them a glance. Once the path was clear, she raised her chin and said, "The blocking dogs are gone. Let's move!"
She took the lead, striding ahead with Zhu Ziyang and the others of Shrek right behind her. They walked straight toward Star Luo Plaza, ignoring the furious glares from the Sun Moon Academy team.
Once Shrek's group had fully exited the hotel, the Sun Moon team also departed.
On the way to Star Luo Plaza, their teacher, Elder Ma, asked, "Rulong, what do you think?"
"As we suspected, Ma Xiaotao is strong." Ma Rulong's expression was grave. "In one-on-one combat, none of us could beat her."
"Hmph! Give me five years, and I'll trample that Ma Xiaotao underfoot!" Xiao Hongchen's face was dark. He was the one who had been forced back by her aura. That was a huge humiliation for someone as proud as him. His resentment toward Ma Xiaotao instantly soared to the top.
"So our odds in the individual matches aren't high," Elder Ma mused, ignoring Xiao Hongchen's outburst.
"Exactly," Ma Rulong nodded. Then his tone shifted.
"But if they keep using this same lineup, we have a strong chance in the paired and team battles. If we win two to one, our odds of taking the championship rise above two-thirds."
Ma Rulong's face showed growing excitement.
"Heh!" Xiao Hongchen sneered.
"Elder Ma, Brother Rulong, aren't you two getting ahead of yourselves? With Shrek Academy in this kind of state, it's not even certain they'll make it to the finals."
"Xiao Hongchen, I warn you — don't let your pride blind you to your enemies!" For the first time, Elder Ma scolded him. "Shrek Academy has been the empire's number one enemy for years. If they were really this weak, how could they have stopped our empire's elite forces for nearly a thousand years?"
"Then it just means the empire used fools and trash before." Xiao Hongchen said lazily, not taking it seriously.
"You—!"
Elder Ma was so furious he nearly lost his breath. He wanted to lecture Xiao Hongchen further, but after thinking for a moment, all his anger faded into a sigh.
"Forget it. Let's go to the arena."
Star Luo Plaza was as lively as ever, packed with crowds and deafening cheers. The spectator stands were filled with eagerly waiting audience members. On the imperial tower, Emperor Xu Jiawei appeared once again with his empress and the ministers.
Today marked the first day of the third round of the round-robin stage — Shrek Academy's fourth match.
Even though Shrek had clearly fooled everyone in their last match, no one truly cared. People always had the greatest tolerance for the strong.
As Shrek's team entered Star Luo Plaza, they were greeted with the most enthusiastic cheers. The Shrek members enjoyed the applause with clear consciences. The glory earned by their predecessors was now inherited by them, and they bore it naturally.
They arrived at the resting area. Their opponent today was Righteous Heaven Academy — the strongest team in Group One aside from Shrek Academy.
During the drawing of lots, Shrek still sent Beibei, the captain of the reserve team. Righteous Heaven Academy's representative was their captain, Ye Wuqing — a cold and indifferent youth, just like his name.
The draw results appeared — Shrek Academy versus Righteous Heaven Academy, Individual Battle!
As soon as the result came out, Ma Xiaotao stood up excitedly in the rest area, her eyes burning as she stared at Wang Yan.
Wang Yan, pressured by her gaze, could only nod helplessly and say, "Since it's come to this, you go, Xiaotao."
"Haha! Finally, it's my turn!" Ma Xiaotao laughed in delight and patted Zhu Ziyang beside her. "Watch me. At most, we'll be back at the hotel resting in fifteen minutes!"
"Really?" Wang Dong yawned and said expectantly, "Sister Xiaotao, then you better go all out! I'm all ready to go back to the hotel and sleep!"
"Don't worry!" Ma Xiaotao said confidently.
"Wang Dong, what were you doing last night? You've been yawning since breakfast!" Tang Ya asked curiously.
"It's Yuhao's fault. He kept messing with me until it was almost dawn before letting me sleep!" Wang Dong replied, completely unaware how odd that sounded.
Xu Sanshi gave a weird look and chuckled, "Yuhao, Wang Dong, don't tell me you two..."
"What are you talking about!" Huo Yuhao panicked. "Wang Dong, can't you speak properly? We were just cultivating. Who was messing around!"
When Beibei returned, the rest area had already burst into laughter, and Ma Xiaotao had already entered the waiting area, ready to step onto the stage at any moment.
(End of Chapter)
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