Amidst the thunderous, wave-like cheers of the crowd, Zhang Lexuan couldn't help but feel her heart stir with excitement.
A moment later, she calmed herself, smiling lightly at her opponent, Li Li.
"Admit defeat. Don't waste effort resisting — it'll only leave you battered."
Li Li's brows furrowed. He felt insulted.
Yes, he admitted he wasn't Zhang Lexuan's equal. But defeating him wouldn't be so easy either; she would at least have to spend a good deal of soul power.
He was a proud elite of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. His strength wasn't something some random weak Soul King could compare to.
With his soul tool battle armor and a host of high-powered offensive soul tools, he could even stand toe-to-toe with a Soul Emperor.
And now Zhang Lexuan dared to think a single word would make him surrender? Ridiculous! So arrogant, as if she were a Title Douluo herself!
With a cold snort, Li Li wasted no words. His Martial Spirit Possession activated, and five soul rings rose around him — yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black — the perfect configuration.
His already burly frame swelled, muscle piling on as he grew even more massive. Thick black fur sprouted over his skin, turning him into a beast-like figure exuding raw strength. His soul power surged violently.
This was his Martial Spirit: the Mighty Bear. Among bear spirits, it was only upper-middle in strength.
That was why Li Li, like most Soul Engineers, relied on soul skills that boosted his soul power and explosive output — so that he could use his soul tools more fiercely, for longer.
Feeling his soul power surging like a torrential current, Li Li grinned savagely. His body expanded, and with metallic clanks, barrels of Rank 5 Soul Tool Cannons jutted out from his shoulders, chest, and arms.
One by one, their cold muzzles locked onto Zhang Lexuan.
"Boom!!!"
With deafening roars, blazing beams of light erupted forth, a storm of energy surging toward Zhang Lexuan.
So many Rank 5 cannons firing together — their combined power was enough to force even a Soul Emperor to retreat rather than clash head-on.
But Zhang Lexuan made no move to dodge.
Her flawless face showed only a faint curve of her lips.
"External tools are fine. But for a soul master, the most important thing is still one's own strength."
As her words fell, a silver-white crescent moon appeared behind her, shining with pure radiance. She stood beneath its glow like a goddess of the moon.
Her Martial Spirit Possession completed, six soul rings rose around her — yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black.
The terrifying aura of someone half a step into the Soul Sage realm erupted forth. The very air thickened, weighed down by her soul power and a surge of invisible spiritual power.
She raised her left hand. Soul power and spiritual power merged, forming an even greater force. Her fourth purple soul ring lit up.
In an instant, silver moonlight swept across the entire arena. Under its glow, Li Li's storm of cannon blasts vanished like illusions — like flowers in a mirror, the moon reflected in water.
The sight was dreamlike, breathtaking. Tens of thousands of spectators stared, unwilling to even blink.
Li Li's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Impossible! A single thousand-year soul skill… erased my entire attack?!"
He tried to muster his soul power for another strike — but a wave of excruciating pain ripped through his body. His vision spun. Darkness swallowed his consciousness…
Zhang Lexuan calmly lowered her raised hand. Her gaze passed over Li Li's collapsed figure and fell upon the rest of the Sun Moon team.
Her voice was flat, cold, unshakable:
"Next."
The crowd erupted.
"Zhang Lexuan! Invincible!"
"One versus seven!"
"One versus seven!!"
Tens of thousands chanted madly, their frenzy shaking Heaven Dou Plaza.
The faces of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy team darkened to the extreme.
They could accept losing to Shrek Academy. But being completely swept, one against seven? Unthinkable.
If that happened, the humiliation would be unbearable. Back in the empire, even the usually composed Dean Jing Hongchen would surely erupt in fury.
Elder Ma's expression turned grim as he barked orders:
"Sun Tianyu, as captain, you'll go last.
Everyone else, get on stage one after another and burn through her soul power! Use your Invincible Barriers, your defensive soul tools — everything you have! Whatever you lose, I'll reimburse you afterward.
But remember — under no circumstances can we let this turn into a one-versus-seven! If it happens, even if the Dean spares you, I won't!!"
"Yes, Elder Ma!"
The Sun Moon competitors' eyes flared with fighting spirit. They glared at Zhang Lexuan like a pack of cornered wolves.
They were elites of the Sun Moon Empire, children of pride. Each carried arrogance in their hearts. To be looked down upon like this — their pride burned.
They swore silently: they would make that woman pay!
Zhang Lexuan, however, remained serene, graceful as ever.
To her, these Sun Moon Soul Engineers at the Soul King level were like children. A slap each, nothing more.
She was Zhang Lexuan — Shrek Academy's most outstanding inner court student, chosen successor of Elder Mu, the master of the Sea God's Pavilion. Among her peers, she was absolutely invincible.
Not only Soul Kings — even Soul Sages would have to tread carefully. With the battle techniques and secret arts Elder Mu had taught her, she had full confidence to defeat them.
For her, this tournament was not a challenge, but a stage — a platform to showcase Shrek Academy's enduring might.
And she was its brightest star.
Through her, the world would be reminded: Shrek Academy still stands unrivaled.
All those who harbored dark ambitions would think twice — lest Shrek bring them to ruin.
Zhang Lexuan called out calmly:
"Go ahead, bring out all your soul tools. I'm curious to see these little toys of yours."
Elder Zhang and Elder Ma nearly spat blood.
How dare she look down on soul tools?!
The Sun Moon team seethed.
Damn it — she really thinks so little of us?!
A thin, wiry student could no longer bear it. He roared:
"Arrogant wench! Let me, Song Wu, deal with you!!"
In a flash, his figure blurred into a streak of blue lightning. In the blink of an eye, he was on the stage.
Five seconds later…
His Invincible Barrier was shattered. Zhang Lexuan's palm struck his chest.
Crack!! The sound of breaking bones sent chills down spines.
Song Wu's chest caved in. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he was blasted from the stage faster than he had ascended.
He hit the ground hard, twitching, half his life gone in an instant.