Zhou Sichen walked down from the stage with calm yet powerful steps, leading the Shrek Seven Devils. Each stride he took felt as though he was measuring the road of glory paved by their victory.
The moment their figures stepped into the rest area, the already intense atmosphere ignited into a roaring blaze of excitement.
Among them, Beibei trembled slightly — not from fear, but exhilaration. His body, carrying the bloodline of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon imbued with light, resonated with an uncontrollable surge of emotion.
For the first time, he had witnessed the true might of the Holy Light Dragon Spirit up close. That overwhelming scene was like a blazing fire searing into his heart, igniting his blood with unrestrained fervor.
His eyes shimmered with fiery determination as he imagined the near future — the day he would completely master the evolution of his bloodline.
He could almost see himself soaring through the world of soul masters, conquering every obstacle with absolute strength, becoming someone worthy of admiration and awe.
Xu Sanshi, Wang Dong, Jiang Nannan, and the others watched Zhou Sichen with equal reverence.
Even though Zhou Sichen had only displayed the strength of a five-ring Soul King, despite heavily suppressing his true power, what he showed during the match still far surpassed anyone's expectations.
Every strike, every move seemed to contain boundless might, leaving his companions deeply awed.
In their eyes at this moment, even the three Soul Emperors — Ye Guyi, Ma Xiaotao, and Dai Yueheng — appeared dim beside Zhou Sichen's brilliance.
Of course, they all knew well that this wasn't anywhere near the full strength of the Shrek Seven Devils.
The reserve team members, in particular, were keenly aware of how much Zhou Sichen and the others had held back during the battle.
Cao Jinxuan, Long Xiangyue, and He Caitou, who interacted most closely with Zhou Sichen, understood better than anyone that his true capabilities went far beyond what he revealed today.
At the same time, they couldn't help but feel anticipation burning within their hearts. Five years from now, as the next generation of Shrek's main team, could they also shine so brilliantly upon the battlefield?
As for the Hongchen siblings, they were of the same generation — their strength stood unmatched among their peers.
Even without their terrifying martial soul fusion skill, their individual abilities already surpassed most others at this stage.
This year's championship once again belonged to Shrek, but what about the next? Who would claim the crown in the tournaments yet to come?
Meanwhile, in the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy's rest area, the atmosphere was suffocating.
Of the seven main team members, Captain Ma Rulong had lost his left arm. His face was pale as paper — not only had he lost the ability to fight, but even his future prospects as a soul engineer seemed bleak.
His eyes were filled with despair and unwillingness, as if all hope for the future had been ripped away.
The Hongchen siblings were equally worn out. Their earlier battle had drained them completely — their bodies so weak that they couldn't even summon their martial souls for at least a week.
They slumped in their seats, breathing weakly, exhaustion written all over their faces.
Chen Fei and Li Yan were severely injured as well, their bodies wrapped in bandages that were already stained with faint traces of blood. Pain twisted their features, their eyes clouded with helplessness and frustration.
Xiao Xiafeng and Mijia, though only lightly wounded, still retained the ability to fight — but even if they joined forces with the two substitutes who had replaced the Hongchen siblings, the Sun Moon team's remaining combat power amounted to merely four Soul Kings.
Against Shrek Academy, their strength was laughably insufficient.
Forget facing Shrek's main team — even the reserve team's gifted members were likely beyond their reach.
Though unwilling, they could no longer deny the harsh truth before them.
Elder Ma let out a heavy sigh, his voice filled with resignation.
"We have no chance left."
Those simple words fell like a crushing weight, extinguishing the last embers of hope within the Sun Moon team.
Silence blanketed the room. Every member looked lost, uncertain how to face what came next.
The second match of the finals was a one-on-one format. Even if Zhou Sichen couldn't continue due to exhaustion, the presence of three Soul Emperors standing on Shrek's side was like facing an unscalable mountain — an unbridgeable chasm of despair.
And when they thought of Ma Rulong's tragic fate, fear seeped into their hearts.
What if that happens to me next?
That fear spread like a dark shadow, suffocating them.
After a long, painful pause, Elder Ma finally made his decision. With heavy steps, he approached referee Huang Jinxu, his face etched with bitterness and regret.
"Referee… the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy concedes the finals."
Without another word, he turned and led his defeated team out of the Star Luo Plaza.
Their backs looked small and lonely — the silhouettes of those who had fallen in defeat.
For a brief moment, the entire audience was stunned, unable to believe what they had just heard.
Then, the silence shattered into an uproar.
"What's that supposed to mean?! Even if you were doomed to lose, at least let us see Shrek's top geniuses fight properly!"
"Cowards! You dare challenge Shrek and then run away? Pathetic!"
"Your reserve team made the semifinals, and this is what your main team does? What a disgrace!"
The voices of the crowd surged like a violent tide, roaring and crashing again and again — marking the end of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament.
With the Sun Moon team gone, only Shrek's main and reserve teams remained in the rest area.
Their faces glowed with pride and joy, basking in the light of victory.
Huang Jinxu stood tall on the stage and raised his voice:
"The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy has conceded the second round! With two victories out of three — the champions of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament are… Shrek Academy!"
His powerful voice echoed like thunder throughout the plaza.
"Let's give them the loudest applause and cheers! Congratulations to Shrek Academy for defending their title once again!"
The crowd erupted in a deafening roar, cheers and chants rolling like waves across the square. Flags and ribbons fluttered as if the very air trembled in celebration of Shrek's triumph.
Outside the plaza, as they were leaving, Xiao Hongchen couldn't help but glance back toward the stage. His eyes burned with frustration and fighting spirit.
"Five years from now… victory will belong to Sun Moon."
Meng Hongchen supported her brother, determination shining in her eyes as Zhou Sichen's warm smile flashed through her mind.
"When that time comes, we'll give them a surprise they'll never forget."
Her heart was filled with anticipation — a yearning to meet Shrek again, stronger than ever.
Xiao Hongchen then remembered the exchange program invitation between the two academies and nodded firmly.
"When we return, I'll talk with Grandpa. We truly need to deepen our understanding of martial souls through proper study and training."
Only by growing stronger could they stand as equals in the battles to come.
The excitement in Star Luo Plaza lasted for hours before the soldiers finally managed to restore order.
Even as the crowd dispersed, people's faces were glowing with pride and exhilaration — as though Shrek's victory belonged to them as well.
To prevent overcrowding in the capital, Emperor Xu Jiawei announced publicly that the award ceremony would not be open to the public.
"This award ceremony concerns the privacy of both academies and the security of the soul bones. To avoid unnecessary trouble, it will be conducted in private," the Emperor declared with calm authority, his eyes filled with concern for both sides.
It was a wise precaution — after all, the prizes included precious soul bones.
Even though few would dare covet them under the protection of Shrek or the Sun Moon Empire, Xu Jiawei preferred to ensure complete safety and discretion.
With the announcement, the city began to calm down as visitors slowly departed.
Prices in Star Luo had already soared to several times the norm due to the influx of tourists, and now that the grand show was over, there was no reason to stay.
Security around the Star Emperor Hotel — where the teams stayed — was tightened threefold to prevent overzealous fans from flooding in.
Guards stood at every corner, vigilant and ready.
Inside the hotel, Xuan Zi was already waiting in the conference room. When the Shrek students entered, his smile nearly reached his ears — pride and relief shining from his face.
"Children, you've done wonderfully," he said warmly. "You've once again upheld the supreme honor of Shrek."
His words carried both joy and approval, filling every heart with pride.
"I've already reported your victory back to the academy," Xuan Zi continued with a chuckle. "When you return, each of you will be rewarded handsomely. You've all earned it."
At once, both the main and reserve team members lit up with excitement, imagining the treasures and cultivation resources awaiting them.
Shrek Academy — standing unshaken for over ten thousand years — possessed unfathomable foundations. There was no doubt that their rewards would match their extraordinary performance.
After offering his praise, Xuan Zi left them alone to rest.
He understood how exhausting the past month had been — constant battles and pressure had pushed them all to their limits.
Now, at last, they could relax.
Though their bodies were weary, their eyes gleamed with triumph and the promise of the future.
And the rewards of the tournament weren't limited to trophies or fame — every one of them had improved through combat.
Zhou Sichen's soul power had smoothly reached Rank 56, edging him ever closer to the Soul Emperor realm.
Most others had gained at least one level.
Ye Guyi had reached Rank 76, Ma Xiaotao Rank 73, Dai Yueheng Rank 65, and Gongyang Mo had advanced to Rank 60 — needing only one more ring to become a Soul Emperor himself.
Ling Luochen was at Rank 59, Dugu Xianmeng and Zhou Sichen both at Rank 56, while the reserve team stood as follows: Cao Jinxuan, Long Xiangyue, and Xu Sanshi at Rank 44, Beibei and He Caitou at Rank 43, Jiang Nannan at Rank 42, and Wang Dong at Rank 33.
Every one of them had grown through this grueling tournament.
Among the reserve team, the youngest was Wang Dong — only twelve. Next were Long Xiangyue and Cao Jinxuan, both thirteen.
Beibei, Xu Sanshi, He Caitou, and Jiang Nannan were all just shy of fifteen.
Though still young, their talent and strength shone brightly — their potential limitless.
Five years from now, when Zhou Sichen would no longer participate due to age, these seven would be Shrek's new main force — the future champions who would carry the academy's banner.
They would stand once more in the light of the arena, radiating brilliance for Shrek Academy, the eternal symbol of pride on the continent.