Su Yu smiled lightly and said, "Of course, I have my sources. But as for the details, it's not convenient to reveal them."
"You only need to know that the Sun Moon Royal Family is not simple."
"Although they are famous for their powerful soul tools, it's not like they don't have strong soul masters."
"You'll suffer if you underestimate them."
Everyone from Shrek nodded in agreement. They had never underestimated the Sun Moon Empire.
At this moment, Wu Ming noticed a loophole. "Hey, Su Yu, you said the Moon Martial Soul is the inherited martial soul of the Sun Moon Royal Family, but our senior sister also has the Moon Martial Soul."
Wu Ming's expression turned a bit odd. Could it be that their senior sister is somehow related to the Sun Moon Royal Family?
"Ming'er, what nonsense are you speaking?" Han Ruoruo lightly scolded.
Su Yu casually explained, "Although the Moon Martial Soul is the Sun Moon Empire's inherited martial soul, it doesn't mean only the royal family possesses it."
"Besides, direct members of the Sunmoon Empire all have dark brown skin. Take a look at your senior sister—does she look anything like them?"
Wu Ming suddenly realized, "Oh right, hehe, I was overthinking. How could our senior sister possibly be related to the Sun Moon Empire?"
Zhang Lexuan's skin was as fair as jade, like snow, with no resemblance to the Sun Moon Royal Family at all.
She just happened to have the Moon Martial Soul, nothing more.
"You and your wild imagination."
Han Ruoruo shot Wu Ming a glare.
Wu Ming stuck out her tongue and made a funny face.
Zhang Lexuan didn't say a word the whole time. This baseless speculation wasn't enough to shake her mood.
However, a glint of sharpness flashed in Su Yu's eyes.
To be honest, even Su Yu didn't know if Zhang Lexuan was connected to the Sun Moon Royal Family.
Zhang Lexuan was originally born into a noble family of the Heavenly Soul Empire. After her family was destroyed when she was young, she was saved by Di Tian.
Since then, she has always looked after Su Yu.
From her background, at least on the surface, there were no issues.
But if you look further up her lineage, whether Zhang Lexuan's ancestors had any ties to the Sun Moon Royal Family remained unknown.
Sun Moon inheritance—both the Sun Martial Soul and the Moon Martial Soul—were the inherited martial souls of the Sunmoon Empire.
Such inherited martial souls were generally very rare among outsiders.
Su Yu's explanation earlier made some sense, but couldn't stand up to scrutiny.
As for appearance, if the inheritance went back far enough, traits could change over generations.
So whether Zhang Lexuan had royal blood from the Sun Moon Empire remained a mystery.
But as the current Pavilion Master of Sea God's Pavilion, she officially had no such connection.
That was how Su Yu explained it.
In short, whether she does or doesn't have that bloodline depends on practical needs.
Su Yu let the topic drop, and everyone turned to watch the arena. Wu Ming spoke again, "The Sun Martial Soul is so powerful… Looks like your Holy Slayer members are meeting a tough opponent."
Su Yu's earlier evaluation of the Sun Martial Soul was quite high. This Xu Tianzhen was no pushover.
Su Yu smiled, "The Sun Martial Soul is strong, but Mingli is not simple either. Keep watching—there will be surprises."
"Oh?"
The girls became even more curious, eyes wide as they watched the arena.
At this moment, on the stage, facing the imposing Di Mingli, Xu Tianzhen did not dare to be careless.
Her fifth soul ring lit up, and the orange-red orb in her hand suddenly emitted ten thousand beams of light, turning the whole arena into a world of gold and red.
Di Mingli's vision was blurred by the dazzling light, and Xu Tianzhen's figure vanished before her eyes.
"Radiant brilliance."
In the Shrek team, He Caitou muttered softly.
"Caitou, what are you saying?" Xu Sanshi, sitting next to him, asked.
The question drew everyone's eyes.
Under their gaze, He Caitou hesitated, then quietly said, "This is the Sun Martial Soul, possessed only by direct members of the Sun Moon Royal Family."
"She previously used her third soul skill, Sun Divine Light, then dodged with her first skill, Sun Mirror."
"Now she's using her fifth soul skill, Radiant Brilliance."
"The Sun Martial Soul is extremely powerful and can draw strength from the sun itself. Mingli has encountered a formidable foe."
The surrounding Shrek Academy members stared at He Caitou in shock.
It was one thing for Su Yu to know about the royal inherited martial souls—he had a powerful background and mysterious means.
But how did He Caitou know so much detail?
He even knew the Sun Martial Soul's soul skills—perhaps even better than Su Yu.
At the front, Han Ruoruo was thoughtful, while Wu Ming's eyes were full of questions.
She wanted to ask, but Han Ruoruo grabbed her hand.
Su Yu glanced at He Caitou with a half-smile. Though He Caitou spoke softly, Su Yu heard him.
He Caitou seemed to sense something and met Su Yu's eyes, feeling a chill as if he'd been seen through.
Su Yu just glanced at him and looked away.
He had little interest in He Caitou now, especially since Fan Yu was dead. He Caitou couldn't stir up trouble alone.
On the arena.
Di Mingli was surrounded by dazzling gold and red light, her vision severely impaired.
All she could see was gold. She couldn't see any figures. Xu Tianzhen's presence had vanished completely.
The golden-red light caused the temperature of the metal arena to soar rapidly.
Soon, the metal stage began to glow red-hot, roasting Di Mingli's body.
Di Mingli recalled her Golden Dragon Spear and then, astonishingly, closed her eyes.
The golden mist began to rise from her body, and layers of golden scales covered her skin.
She simply stood calmly in the radiance.
A few minutes passed.
The arena's temperature kept rising, making even the powerful Douluo Zheng Zhan uncomfortable.
Xu Tianzhen's fifth soul skill enveloped the whole arena—this was the hardest part.
With his strength, he wasn't afraid of the light, but he couldn't intervene fully without affecting Xu Tianzhen.
He could only set up a soul power shield around him, trying not to interfere.
"How come she's still not moving after so long—did something happen?"
In the waiting zone, Wang Dong'er grew restless.
She could sense how harsh things were on the stage.
The metal arena was starting to melt.
Endless solar energy was drawn down, forming a pillar of light over the stage.
That was the Sun Martial Soul's power—using the sun's energy to enhance itself, with terrifying might.
In such an environment, with Di Mingli showing no reaction, how could Wang Dong'er not be anxious?
She didn't get along with Di Mingli, but that didn't mean she wanted something to happen to her.
If Di Mingli was hurt, Su Yu would go crazy.
"Don't worry, Dong'er, trust her. Also, look at Xiao Yu," Jiang Nannan said, pulling Wang Dong'er and pointing at Su Yu.
Wang Dong'er looked and saw Su Yu sitting calmly, his expression unchanged.
Her tense heart instantly relaxed.
If Su Yu had been so calm, nothing would have happened to Di Mingli.
Otherwise, he'd have reacted by now.
Wang Dong'er knew how much Su Yu cared about Di Mingli.
That kind of pampering sometimes surpassed even her own.
If Su Yu wasn't anxious, things were still under control.
"Phew, this woman always does things that make people worry. I want to see what she'll do next."
Wang Dong'er exhaled, then put on a stern face, pretending to be fierce.
Jiang Nannan laughed, covering her mouth—sharp-tongued but soft-hearted, that was Wang Dong'er.
Just now, she was the most anxious.
On the main stage.
Xu Tiannan and two others were also watching the battle.
Looking at the radiant arena, Xu Tiannan's sinister eyes showed a hint of satisfaction.
"The Sun Martial Soul lives up to its name. Princess Tianzhen has completely suppressed Di Mingli."
"The royal family has produced an impressive genius," Zhongli Wu commented.
Xu Tiannan smiled, "My little sister is talented but too unruly."
"She insisted on studying at Shrek Academy."
"But Shrek is no ordinary place, and since Tianzhen is a princess, our father worried about her safety and refused."
"Later, he arranged for her to attend Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, but she rebelled and went to Radiant Soul Engineering Academy instead."
"That girl is wild and impossible to control."
Xu Tiannan's lips curled, as if full of affection for his sister.
Jing Hongchen said, "Princess Tianzhen's talent is exceptional. Her absence is a loss for Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy."
Xu Tiannan smiled, "Does Hall Master think so?"
Jing Hongchen replied earnestly, "Of course."
Xu Tiannan smiled, "Hall Master, who do you think will win this match?"
Jing Hongchen's eyes flashed and he said calmly, "Princess Tianzhen is very strong and has a great chance of winning."
"But the girl named Di Mingli shouldn't be underestimated either."
"Oh?"
"You still have such faith in the Holy Slayer Palace?"
Xu Tiannan asked.
Jing Hongchen just smiled.
He didn't know Di Mingli or her abilities.
But he knew Su Yu.
When had Su Yu ever failed?
The result of this match was already decided.
Even if Su Yu didn't intervene, the outcome would be the same.
Seeing Jing Hongchen's certainty, a shadow flashed in Xu Tiannan's eyes.
As the head of Illustrious Virtue Hall, to favor someone from the original Douluo Continent's three countries…
Xu Tiannan thought that perhaps he'd need to deal with Jing Hongchen someday.
But not now.
Back in the arena.
With the rising temperature, the metal stage began to melt.
Dark red molten iron slowly flowed along the edge of the shield, and the scorching heat made waves ripple across the barrier.
Even steel was melting—it was clear how terrifying the heat was.
In the waiting area, Wang Dong'er and the others were all solemn, barely daring to breathe.
At this stage, no one could afford to lose focus.
Suddenly, there was a dramatic change in the arena.
The intense gold-red light began to shrink rapidly.
As the light receded, the scorched, magma-like ground was revealed.
Xu Tianzhen still held her hands aloft, but the orange-red orb had turned into a dark red sphere.
Her sixth soul ring lit up, its deep light adding a touch of black to the dark red sphere.
Her sixth soul skill—Sun's Gaze.
It compressed all the accumulated solar energy into a single point, ready to explode.
The energy that had been building up for so long was about to be unleashed in a terrifying blast.
In the waiting area, Wang Dong'er's face changed.
Even Jiang Nannan, usually calm, looked panicked.
If that attack was unleashed, it would be even stronger than a Soul Sage's full-power blow in true body form.
Not good—Di Mingli was in danger.
At that moment, amid the golden-red light, a clear dragon's roar suddenly rang out.
Xu Tianzhen sneered—finally, she sensed danger?
Too late.
With both Radiant Brilliance and Sun's Gaze locking her down, Di Mingli couldn't possibly escape.
All that accumulated solar power—even a Soul Sage might not withstand it. Xu Tianzhen wanted to see how Di Mingli would handle it.
That damned Su Yu dared to look down on her, didn't even bother to enter the arena.
Since Su Yu was so arrogant, she'd make sure he never forgot this lesson.
Finally, as the light converged to a single point, Di Mingli's figure appeared.
"Die!"
Xu Tianzhen shouted coldly, unleashing the pure, blazing power of the sun.
"Die?"
"You wish!"
A chilly voice rang out. With golden hair flying, Di Mingli raised her Golden Dragon Spear high.
The intense solar radiance was absorbed by Di Mingli with ease, causing not a ripple.
"What?!"
Xu Tianzhen's face changed drastically, as the dazzling golden light erupted before her eyes.
Di Mingli was clad in magnificent golden armor, her golden hair flying, radiating a terrifying aura.
Her noble, icy beauty looked even more regal at this moment. The overwhelming, domineering energy swept across the arena, shocking even the indomitable Douluo Zheng Zhan.