The whirl of ice and snow spun across the stage.
Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu's Martial Soul Fusion—Ice and Snow Phoenix.
Azure light crystallized into a giant phoenix seven meters long, wheeling down with arctic fury. The granite beneath the stage already cracked, breath frosting midair.
In the stands, the audience held its breath.
"This is it… their trump card."
"Last year, no one survived this. Not even entire teams!"
But in Lucien's eyes, glazed drunkenly behind his jug, the phoenix only gleamed like another jug of fine wine to smash.
He chuckled, pouring soul power into his left-arm bone. Black flames erupted, devouring ice within a meter of him.
"Pretty. But—" He staggered, slammed his foot down, then leapt straight into the plummeting phoenix.
"Two beauties, if you lose today—you drink with me!"
Sword · Will!
Broken Air Slash!
Nine fiendish streaks of Sword Qi flared black as night, clanging with his charge, cleaving the Phoenix in a storm of exploding shards.
Boom, boom, boom—!
The Ice-Snow Phoenix screamed once, then shattered, disintegrating back into snowflakes that fluttered helplessly down.
On stage, both Bing'er and Xue Wu collapsed, drained and pale, the backlash of their failed fusion crippling them.
Lucien swayed closer, sword on his back, jug still dripping.
"You two did better than those stinky boys Feng Xiaotian and Huo Wushuang." His grin stretched wolfishly. He stooped, scooping Shui Bing'er up into his arms without hesitation.
The arena gasped collectively.
"Lucien… actually picked her up?!"
"That's my goddess!"
"Where's security?!"
Shui Bing'er squirmed helplessly, cheeks bright red. "Put me down… in front of the whole arena!"
"Bing'er, don't move. You're weak, I'll send you home."
Ashamed beyond words, she gave up struggling, whispering instead, "Then… gently…"
By the time he turned for Xue Wu, the little beauty had already stumbled off the stage, fleeing in mortified embarrassment.
Lucien blinked, shrugged. "Oh. Ran away, that naughty girl."
Finals Judgement.
"The champion of this year's Tiandou Cup… Tiandou Royal Academy!"
The referee's voice was drained of energy, his face numb. This tournament had been shredded, detonated, and devoured all because of one person.
The crowd buzzed.
"Unbelievable… even the fusion skill was torn apart."
"He smashed the Ice and Snow Phoenix in seconds."
"What kind of twelve-year-old freak is this?!"
Noble heirs looked half-envious, half-terrified; commoners shouted drunken praise. And in the noble ladies' stands, nearly all eyes shimmered with reluctant fascination for the drunkard devil.
Lucien, meanwhile, ignored cheers and the award ceremony entirely.
"Where's the wine?" he muttered. "Old man Meng promised ten jars. Emperor old man promised a hundred. Where are they?!"
He staggered down the steps, muttering about traitorous old foxes.
Ning Fengzhi caught him with a smile, shaking his head. "Congratulations, Xiao Yuan."
"Uncle Ning, don't waste words! I want my promised jars!"
Gu Rong clapped Lucien's shoulder with laughter. "Smelly brat, well done this Cup. Old Chen Xin will grind his teeth when I tell him!"
The Dragon-Snake couple bowed politely, beaming—proud that their granddaughter Meng Yiran had attached herself to this monster.
But Lucien? Already stumbling away. "Go see old man Meng. That traitor owes me."
Gu Rong and Ning Fengzhi exchanged glances, then followed. "Just as well—we needed to speak with him too."
Inside Tiandou Royal Academy – Chief's Office.
Meng Shenji's office was bursting.
In addition to fellow board members Bai Baoshan and Zhilin, another entire staff filled the hall.
Teachers and students of Shrek Academy—arrived fully.
Flender, Yu Xiaogang, and Zhao Wuji sat sternly at the guest seats; students lined against the wall behind them.
The arrangement had been cleared days ago—the Imperial Senate had approved their migration.
After the Tiandou Cup, Tiandou Royal would absorb all of Shrek.
Flender spoke smoothly, "We have few resources, but our children's talent is solid. At age twelve, most are Soul Sovereigns already. We believe they can bring glory."
Meng Shenji lifted his brows, smiling politely as he had tea and sweets served. "Indeed. According to your files, your students are exceptional. Even one listed as a rare genius of the Control Department. Which one is he?"
His sharp gaze scanned the line of young faces, curious. He had heard whispers—but never seen them.
And outside, echoing up the stairwell, came the sound of bottles clinking and a familiar bellow—
"Old man Meng! Where's my wine!"
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