"Confidence comes from strength. If you really insist on us participating, I suppose it's not impossible—unless the champion's prize is a soul bone."
Sima Lanxiao's expression changed instantly. Of course he knew what a soul bone was. Even twenty thousand years ago, when the Douluo Continent was still in the cold weapon era, soul bones were already considered supreme treasures. And now, in modern times, their rarity was beyond imagination.
Soul bones came from soul beasts—but unlike soul rings, which every soul beast would produce, the chance of a soul bone appearing was only one in a thousand, and that was for a ten-thousand-year soul beast. Only hundred-thousand-year soul beasts would definitely produce a soul bone.
Although the Star Luo Continent still had an ancient forest left, it was under strict protection by the Star Luo Federation. Hunting soul beasts there was completely forbidden. Even if one somehow managed to kill a beast in secret, being discovered would mean the death penalty.
"Elder Cai," Sima Lanxiao continued, "our competition is called the All-Continent Advanced Youth Soul Master Elite Tournament. It includes multiple divisions—individual, team, mecha, and so on.
As for the soul bone you mentioned, there's only one available as the prize for the overall champion of the individual competition.
In the team category, the seven-person team champions each receive a piece of soul-forged metal.
In the two-on-two tournament, the champions get a ten-thousand-year spiritual treasure.
For the mecha competition, the champion receives a black-grade mecha, while the runner-up and third place receive purple-grade mechas.
So… since there's only one soul bone available, what do you think?"
Cai Yue'er raised an eyebrow. She hadn't expected the Star Luo Empire's "Elite Tournament" to offer prizes of such astonishing value—not only did it truly include a soul bone, but the other rewards were also extremely generous.
"Sounds impressive," she said lightly. "But don't you think the prizes across your different events are… a bit uneven?"
Soul-forged metal, mechas, and heavenly herbs were all fine rewards—but compared to a soul bone, they were clearly in a different league.
Sima Lanxiao replied,
"The individual prize is so generous because our one-on-one event is called the Unlimited Challenge. In this division, all means are allowed—mechas, battle armor, martial souls, soul tools—anything goes.
And the participants must sign a life-and-death agreement.
Only with such a valuable prize can we attract the most powerful competitors. That's why the one-on-one is the most prestigious of all the events."
That was a sharp contrast with the Douluo Continent, where seven-on-seven team battles had always been the centerpiece.Here, clearly, personal heroism was held in higher regard.
"What are the participation requirements?" Cai Yue'er asked calmly.
Sima Lanxiao's heart lifted—she was interested.
"Under twenty years old," he said. "No other restrictions. Especially none for Shrek Academy."
"Good," she replied simply.
They boarded a luxurious soul train, admiring the unique urban scenery of the Star Luo Empire.
Compared to the prosperous, mechanized Douluo Continent, the Star Luo Continent felt far more primitive—the difference in development was obvious. The train moved slower, and outside the windows, forests and lakes stretched endlessly. The air was so pure that one could see far into the distance. Occasionally, they passed cities whose modernization clearly lagged behind those of Douluo.
Still, the food was nearly the same—and for the visiting delegation, the train staff had prepared an extravagant feast.
Watching the scenery, eating fine food—this was relaxation like they hadn't known in ages. Ever since joining Shrek Academy, none of them had enjoyed such luxury.
Sharing the same car with them were members of the Star Luo Royal Academy's representative team. Everyone sat in the same carriage.
When they'd first boarded the ship, there had been some friction between the two sides, but by now, they'd grown familiar with one another—if not exactly friends, at least cordial.No fights had broken out, at least.
The seats were arranged four to a table, two facing two.
Right now, Gu You was devouring food like a wild beast.
Across the aisle, the Star Luo students occasionally sneaked glances at him.
"That guy sure can eat," a young girl whispered. "And he's actually kind of handsome."
The girl across from her chuckled,
"Zhenzhen, are you trying to be the old cow eating tender grass? He's at least four or five years younger than us! He's the captain of the Shrek Academy team.
Didn't you see that day when we were surrounded by sea soul beasts? He transformed into that dragon-like form—looked just like a Dragon King. So powerful."
"That was his martial soul true body, right?"
"Don't be ridiculous! He's way too young to have a seventh soul skill. Don't go inflating the enemy's morale and crushing our own. Our captain's already level fifty-five, and he's got a full set of one-word battle armor! He's definitely not weaker than him."
"Look! What's that?!"A Star Luo student suddenly cried out in alarm.
Everyone turned toward the window.
"Aren't those… mechas?"
But almost immediately, the mechas' bodies lit up with clusters of light.
At that exact moment, Cai Yue'er—who had been sitting quietly with her eyes closed—snapped them open. She turned sharply toward the window.
"They're not friendly!"
A wave of chilling energy erupted from her seat, and a streak of cold light slashed across the entire carriage roof.
In the blink of an eye, the entire ceiling of that train car was ripped away, exposing the roaring wind outside.
The next instant, Wu Zhangkong shot into the air. His two-word battle armor flared to life, the icy-blue soul power forming a protective barrier around everyone—including the students from Star Luo Academy.
Explosions roared in rapid succession.
Using his Purple Demon Eyes, Gu You could see everything clearly—the incoming swarm of soul-guided shells raining down on the train. In the distance, more than a hundred mechas were descending—and leading them was a crimson one!
But unlike Muye's red mecha, this one was shaped like a falcon, wings spread wide as it streaked through the sky at blinding speed.Almost the instant the explosions began, it was already hovering above the soul train.
The detonations sent the entire train spinning into the air—fire and smoke erupting, deafening booms echoing as shattered debris rained down.
This was a diplomatic special train—carrying numerous representatives from the Douluo Continent!
After entering Star Luo territory, the delegations had split up somewhat at the coastal city, but at least half of them—including Shrek's group—were bound for Star Luo City aboard this train.
And then, a strange phenomenon occurred.
Layers of silver light spread across the tumbling train. The flames of the explosion flickered… and abruptly went out.
The soul train—
(End of Chapter)