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"Everyone, this is your residence."
On Sea God Island, Han Ruoruo led the eight Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy exchange students alone to a row of apartment buildings.
During the recent Inner Court examinations, after Xiao Hongchen and the first student suffered crushing defeats due to their stubborn choices, the remaining eight deliberately avoided Di Yao and Chen Junting. This allowed the Sun Moon students to demonstrate their true capabilities, with five of them passing the examination.
Especially Meng Hongchen—facing Ling Luochen who had already become a Soul Emperor, she leveraged the terrifying venom of her Vermillion Clear Icetoad martial soul and close-combat soul guide advantages to secure victory despite Ling Luochen's cautious defense.
This earned them greater respect from the Shrek Inner Court members.
"Brother, out of our six students here, only you failed the Inner Court examination. You only got in because of Grandfather's face. Don't you feel a bit ashamed?"
Faced with Meng Hongchen's mockery, Xiao Hongchen's bruised face turned ashen, dark lines appearing across his forehead. "What do you know? I chose Chen Junting! You know how strong that guy is—he's definitely top five in the Inner Court. Do you understand the significance of fighting him?"
Praising your opponent is praising yourself.
If you make your opponent seem formidable, losing won't be embarrassing!
"Mhm, mhm..." Meng Hongchen pursed her lips, not wanting to bother with him. Her brother's mouth was harder than an Invincible Barrier.
"Oh, Meng."
Xiao Hongchen glanced at Han Ruoruo, who was conversing with Elder Ma and Elder Zhong. Lowering his voice carefully, he asked, "When I was fighting Chen Junting, did you see that crystal ball he took out that looked like an eyeball?"
"I saw it."
Meng Hongchen scowled. "That's exactly what tricked you and made me lose face in front of everyone."
"Cough cough—that's all in the past." Xiao Hongchen shifted uncomfortably, quickly changing the subject while putting on a serious face. "I think that crystal ball is the same thing as those banner poles from the last tournament."
"Really?"
Hearing this, Meng Hongchen became serious. One purpose of their visit to Shrek Academy was precisely to investigate this unorthodox "soul guide device"—to see how this technology compared to their Sun Moon Empire's.
But now it seemed... indeed extraordinary.
Just then—"Cawww—"
A crow's cry suddenly echoed across Sea God Island. A streak of fire shot into the sky, transforming into a golden crow soaring through the heavens.
Faintly, even a hearty laugh could be heard.
"Hahaha—I've finally broken through!"
"Young lady Han, that was..." Elder Ma pointed at the fleeting golden crow, but before he could finish his question, Han Ruoruo smiled in response.
"That's one of our Inner Court students, Wu Ming. She just broke through to Level 80 and is now going to contract a soul spirit to become a Soul Douluo."
"Soul spirit?" Elder Zhong frowned slightly. "What's that? From what Young Lady Han says, does Shrek no longer need to hunt soul beasts for soul rings?"
"Soul rings are still needed—just obtained differently."
Han Ruoruo made a "please" gesture. "If you're not in a hurry to settle in, I can take you to witness the soul spirit contract process. See for yourselves what a soul spirit truly is."
Hearing this, Elder Ma and Elder Zhong exchanged frowns. They shared one thought: What game was Shrek playing? Was this the third fire?
Yan Shaozhe's initial display of strength was the first fire.
Entering the academy and facing the Inner Court examination was the second fire.
Now this soul spirit...
The two looked at each other, then said firmly: "We'll go—"
Whether it was the third fire or not, they had no reason to refuse. After all, one of their missions was to probe Shrek Academy's true strength. Even knife mountains and fire seas had to be crossed!
"Good."
Han Ruoruo chuckled lightly. "Everyone, follow me."
...
"Faster, faster! I can't wait anymore!"
Wu Ming paced excitedly around the martial arts field.
After one year, she was finally getting a soul spirit!
"Sister Wu Ming, if you're bored, talk to the soul beast you're about to contract. After the ritual, you two will be life-and-death partners."
As Chen Junting spoke, his Seven Kill Sword drew array patterns in midair that sank into the martial arts platform below.
Since the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy was observing, this soul spirit contract couldn't take place in the research institute.
Meanwhile, Wu Ming stood before a seventy-thousand-year-old Blazing Fire Falcon, gently stroking its aged body. This made the watching Inner Court students marvel—they'd never seen a live volcano so gentle.
Just then, the martial arts platform radiated brilliant light.
Clearly, Chen Junting had completed the Spirit Contract Array. The entire platform had now become a giant array disc.
After estimating the time, Chen Junting deemed it ready and said to Wu Ming and the Blazing Fire Falcon:
"Almost done. Step inside."
Wu Ming patted the Blazing Fire Falcon's body sincerely. "Fly—use your physical body for this last flight."
"Chirp—"
Flames suddenly ignited across the Blazing Fire Falcon's body. Spreading its wings, its aged form seemed to have a final burst of vitality. With a sharp cry, it shot into the sky like lightning!
Circling overhead, it repeatedly called out, as if inviting.
Wu Ming seemed to understand its heart. After activating her martial soul, her seventh soul ring instantly shone! In the next moment, Wu Ming vanished, replaced by a vibrant golden crow.
An old and young flying creature circled high above.
"With soul spirits like this, humans and soul beasts should be able to coexist peacefully." Di Yao gazed up at the sky, unconsciously voicing her true hope at this scene.
Chen Junting heard her clearly.
"You're too naive."
"What?"
Di Yao frowned slightly, immediately countering with her own thoughts: "With soul spirits like this, humans and soul beasts can understand each other. How can that not lead to peace?"
"Of course not."
Without hesitation, Chen Junting shook his head.
"Do you think you understand why humans and soul beasts can't have peace?"
"Obviously because of race and soul rings."
Di Yao pointed at the human and beast soaring in the sky, continuing: "But now with soul spirits, race is no longer a barrier, and even soul rings can be obtained peacefully. Can't this allow harmony between humans and soul beasts?"
"Of course not."
This time, it was Ning Tian who rebutted her. "Soul spirits can only alleviate human-beast conflicts—they don't address the root cause. What humans need from soul beasts isn't just soul rings, but also soul bones. And even with soul spirits—can you guarantee there are enough elderly soul beasts to supply every soul master in the world?"
"This..."
Di Yao was left speechless.
Only now did she realize—she had been naive.
No wonder when she decided to transform into human form and infiltrate human society to investigate soul spirits, Di Tian and the others weren't enthusiastic. They had known this all along.
The soul spirit method and the Auspicious Beast's safety were not proportional.
Yet she had been so convinced it would work. Perhaps because "it's better to guide than block," and since the soul spirit method also greatly benefited the soul beast race, Di Tian and the others had agreed to her actions.
Thinking of this, Di Yao unconsciously touched a black pendant hidden around her neck—a reverse-scale from a black dragon.
"So humans and soul beasts truly cannot coexist peacefully."
"Actually, there is a way."
While beckoning Wu Ming and the Blazing Fire Falcon to descend, Chen Junting casually dropped words that sounded like fantasy to Di Yao. "If artificial soul spirits, artificial soul rings, and artificial soul bones appeared, humans and soul beasts could still coexist peacefully."
"How impossible."
Di Yao snorted derisively, thinking this was pure exaggeration.
How could artificial things possibly...
Before she could continue her thoughts, Di Yao's expression changed! She felt the aura of the Star Dou Forest within her suddenly stir.
As if...excited by the idea of artificial creation!
Di Yao's original form was the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, the carrier of the Star Dou Forest's aura and a darling of destiny. She rarely misjudged the reasons for such anomalies.
In other words—what this guy said might actually come true?!
Ignoring Di Yao's internal turmoil, Chen Junting watched as Wu Ming and the Blazing Fire Falcon stood on the martial arts platform.
Just then, the Sun Moon group arrived at the martial arts field.
Seeing the scene before them, they were utterly shocked! Elder Ma and Elder Zhong even activated their soul guide devices, shielding Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, and the other six behind them.
"Is your Shrek Inner Court mad? Releasing a seventy-thousand-year Blazing Fire Falcon so casually?"
"Both of you, don't be tense."
Han Ruoruo pressed down on Elder Ma's soul guide device, which was aimed at the Blazing Fire Falcon and nearly triggered its stress response. "This is the soul spirit contract ritual about to begin. Please watch quietly."
At this moment, Wu Ming had already calmed the Blazing Fire Falcon.
Once its emotions stabilized, Chen Junting gazed at the platform without turning his head. "Ready?"
Seeing the human and beast nod, he said: "Then begin."
As Chen Junting channeled his soul power, the platform-transformed array disc activated instantly. Array patterns on the platform radiated brilliant light, enveloping the human and beast.
Every moment that followed left the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy members dumbfounded. When the ritual concluded, the Blazing Fire Falcon's corpse collapsed to the ground.
Immediately after—"Cawww—"
A crisp, powerful cry erupted from Wu Ming. The slightly illusory Blazing Fire Falcon shot out from her eighth soul ring, soaring into the sky! Then it unleashed a torrent of flames, incinerating its own body.
The moment its remains turned completely to ashes, a fiery red torso bone emerged from the ashes. The Blazing Fire Falcon grasped it in its beak and presented it to Wu Ming.
"This is a soul spirit!?"
Xiao Hongchen stared at the Blazing Fire Falcon, his mind involuntarily picturing a battle against Chen Junting—with both possessing soul spirits. He blurted out unconsciously: "If we fight, wouldn't that be a jumping?"
These words resonated deeply with the Sun Moon group.
Initially, Shrek students were tough opponents, but they weren't afraid relying on soul guide advantages—even confident of victory. Then Shrek reformed, everyone started using soul guides, narrowing their advantage.
Now Shrek members had soul spirits too—essentially equalizing their soul guide advantage. If they fought, wouldn't they be at a disadvantage?
But compared to these still immature students, the two ninth-grade soul guides—Elder Ma and Elder Zhong—thought deeper.
If everyone... no! If just the geniuses from the original three Douluo nations obtained soul spirits, when these geniuses matured, the Sun Moon Empire's current soul guide advantage could be erased by doubled top-tier combat power.
After all, an eighty to ninety-thousand-year soul beast could rival a Titled Douluo—even the weakest kind, but still a Titled Douluo!
Soul spirits were a major deal!
This must be reported to the Empire immediately!
What Elder Ma and Elder Zhong didn't notice was that their meaningful glances were all caught by Han Ruoruo, who had been watching them closely in the shadows. A faint smile curved at the corners of her lips.
Not long after, news spread from Shrek Academy. And soon after, this news replicated itself, spreading toward the territories of all major powers.
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