"The final 7v7 match of the Soul Master competition is next."
"First-year participants: Tang Wulin, Wu Siduo, Ye Xinglan, Xu Xiaoyan, Wang Jinxi, Xie Xie, Zhang Yangzi..."
"Versus second-year participants: Yuanen Yehui, Qiu Palei, He Xiaopeng, Bai Hanying, Ye Xingmo, Duan Hunxiao, Le Zhengyu."
As the final match began, Shen Yi calmly announced each participant's name. Then, the first and second-year students stepped onto the stage one after another.
By now, the spectator stands had fallen into silence. The reason was simple—this generation of first-year students was overwhelmingly powerful.
Tang Wulin and Wu Siduo were already formidable—one with a hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring, the other a Battle Armor wielder. The swordswoman Ye Xinglan, equipped with eight pieces of Battle Armor, had defeated an opponent in just three strikes.
Additionally, there was Xu Xiaoyan with her absolute control, Xie Xie with his Shadow of the Extreme, Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi's near-perfectly synchronized Fusion Skill, and even their substitute, Wei Xiaofeng...
While their performance in auxiliary professions remained unknown, in terms of Soul Master prowess, the first-years had undoubtedly crushed the second-years.
This fact was deeply etched into the minds of every second-year participant, their morale severely dampened. These newcomers...
Were so strong that they almost made them want to kneel!
"Both sides, prepare yourselves."
Shen Yi's voice rang in everyone's ears.
"Martial Soul Avatar—"
On the second-year side, Yuanen Yehui was the first to release her Martial Soul, followed immediately by the other six.
In the end, the dazzling brilliance of her Battle Armor served as a powerful reassurance to her unsettled teammates.
Their class monitor was also incredibly strong!
The first-years were nothing to fear!
"Release your Martial Souls."
Meanwhile, the first-year team stood with Tang Wulin at the center, each taking their positions. A faint smile crossed their faces before radiant light enveloped them.
Not only did they activate their Martial Soul Avatars, but each of them was also clad in brilliantly glowing armor with an astonishingly high affinity.
"My Battle Armor..."
"Feels amazing."
Xie Xie swung his arms, a streak of white light flashing behind him as he grinned. The others were in a similar state.
This was the Battle Armor Tang Luochuan had crafted for them—everyone had their own. Of course, depending on their cultivation level, the extent of their armor varied.
For instance, Tang Wulin and Wu Siduo possessed full sets of Battle Armor, while a powerhouse like Ye Xinglan was close to completing hers. Xie Xie had five pieces.
Even their substitute, Wei Xiaofeng, who was cheering from the sidelines, had already absorbed five pieces of Battle Armor. This was a true Battle Armor team in every sense!
Whether they were originally stronger or weaker, with the enhancement of these Battle Armor components, their current strength was incomparable to their former selves.
In stark contrast to the composed and even cheerful first-years, the mood among the others was entirely different.
"..."
For a moment, the entire arena erupted in shock. The vast spectator stands fell into stunned silence—no one could speak.
Every single one of them had Battle Armor? How was that possible?!
Not just the audience—even the second-year students behind Yuanen Yehui instinctively took a step back, their faces darkening with tension.
All equipped with Battle Armor—regardless of their actual strength, every member of the first-year team actually had Battle Armor. They had assumed that only Wu Siduo and Ye Xinglan possessed it, but how could Tang Wulin not have one?
Turns out, they were simply confident enough not to need it! But now, faced with this situation, what chance did they even have?
"Class monitor, this..."
Duan Hunxiao wore a troubled expression as he couldn't help but ask.
Meanwhile, at the front, Yuanen Yehui, who stood above all her teammates, also wore a pensive look as she silently gazed into the distance, her heart filled with bitterness.
The first-years were never weak to begin with—this much was clear from the earlier 1v1 matches, where she was the only one who had won a round, while none of them had managed to secure a victory in the 2v2 battles.
They were strong. Truly strong. For the second-years, this was already a formidable opponent, let alone now...
"Luo Chuan..."
"You really made Battle Armor for all your teammates, didn't you?"
Yuanen Yehui couldn't help but glance toward the stands, as if trying to lock onto a certain figure, murmuring under her breath.
They couldn't win before...
Now, it was even more hopeless!
"Brother."
"Sister Yehui looks so helpless right now."
In the spectator seats, Na'er smiled playfully as she looked at Tang Luochuan, unable to hold back her laughter. A team where everyone had Battle Armor...
Forget the second or third-years—they could probably even take on the fourth-years without much trouble!
"I can see that."
Tang Luochuan chuckled in response. Everything on the battlefield was within his sight, including Yuanen Yehui's reaction.
It was clear—she was genuinely shocked.
"But whether it's Yehui, Wulin, or Siduo, they're all way beyond the standard for the outer court. It's just that this fact wasn't obvious before..."
"Starting today, their names will truly resonate throughout the academy."
Tang Luochuan shook his head with a smile, lost in thought. From this day onward, their reputations would spread far and wide, marking the first step toward becoming top-tier powerhouses.
"What about you, Brother?"
Beside him, Na'er couldn't help but ask softly.
"Me?"
Tang Luochuan grinned and shook his head.
"Our talents..."
"Are probably even more outrageous."
Gu Yue chimed in with a smile, especially Luo Chuan—his Martial Soul had even inherited the Dragon God Bloodline. Across the entire Douluo Continent, no one could compare.
"Ah..."
"That's true!"
Hearing this, Na'er immediately nodded, then looked at Tang Luochuan and Gu Yue in turn.
At that moment, the three Soul King-level youths exchanged knowing smiles. When it came to being overpowered, they were truly in a league of their own!
"..."
On the platform, the higher-ups of Shrek Academy fell into deep contemplation as they watched the scene unfold on the battlefield. The second-years were being completely crushed!
"Incredible."
"Absolutely incredible."
Cai Yue'er wore an expression of awe as she spoke bluntly.
"Battle Armor."
"Every single one of them has Battle Armor."
Yun Ming, on the other hand, looked utterly astonished as his gaze swept over the first-year team on the field. The unique glow emanating from each of them instantly led him to the mastermind behind it all.
He had considered the possibility that Luo Chuan might craft Battle Armor for his teammates, but he had assumed it would only happen once they all reached the Soul Ancestor level. Yet now...
Even those without the support of four soul rings had already received their own Battle Armor components from Luo Chuan!
"I'd like to know..."
"Even for a master of auxiliary professions, creating Battle Armor for every individual must be incredibly difficult, right?"
At this moment, Ya Li couldn't help but remark, "Wearing Battle Armor is easy, but making it is difficult. Luo Chuan must have put in a lot of effort."
"About the Battle Armor..."
"Forging might be somewhat manageable, but there's also designing blueprints, crafting components, assembling parts..."
Nearby, Feng Wuyu hesitated before speaking. He didn't know about the rest, but just producing the metal for the Battle Armor components alone required considerable effort.
Even with a group working in an assembly line, the time and energy required would be substantial, let alone Luo Chuan doing it alone. His secondary profession abilities...
Were truly terrifying.
"That's right."
Cai Yue'er agreed as well. As a master in the field of Mecha design, she naturally understood the immense dedication required when cultivating a secondary profession in one's youth.
But Tang Luochuan...
While advancing in all secondary professions, he could still craft Battle Armor for his companions. It was truly unfathomable.
"Is this the composure of a top-tier Forging Master?"
Yun Ming nodded, not fully understanding but deeply impressed. Perhaps for Luo Chuan, this really wasn't difficult.
Yet, he couldn't help but wonder in his heart: Was it truly good for the children to grow up under Luo Chuan's care and assistance?
But soon, he shook his head with a smile.
These children still had long futures ahead of them. Whether it was their life at Shrek Academy or their future development, the possibilities were endless.
"In the future."
"They'll just need more tempering."
Yun Ming smiled, his mind wandering. For children to grow, they must eventually step outside.
Not remain in the academy, like flowers in a greenhouse.
"..."
Not long after, under everyone's watchful eyes and expectations, the second-year students on the battlefield were steadily losing ground—an outcome that was only natural.
After all, in this era, the power of Battle Armor was undeniable to all. Even top-tier experts acknowledged it, let alone the younger generation, where its enhancements were immense.
Among the second-years, only Yuanen Yehui, their strongest, possessed Battle Armor. While the others were no weaklings, they clearly stood little chance.
Soon, the second-years on the battlefield could hold out no longer, and the final match of the Soul Master Tournament came to a close.
"The last match of the Soul Master Exchange Tournament."
"First-year Class One, victory."
Even though Shen Yi had anticipated the result, she couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions. She wasn't surprised the children had won, but the key point was...
When did everyone get Battle Armor?! How come even she, their homeroom teacher, didn't know about this?
That kid Luo Chuan, keeping secrets from everyone, huh!
"With the Soul Master Tournament concluded, next..."
"After the academy's healing-type experts restore everyone, the first and second years will begin their secondary profession competition."
Shen Yi, acting as the referee, announced once more. The academy was undoubtedly fair and just, ensuring everyone was on equal footing with healing-type Soul Masters' aid.
"First event: Forging."
At this, a smile reappeared on Shen Yi's face. They might have won the Soul Master Tournament, but when it came to secondary professions...
That would be too easy.
Even without Luo Chuan participating, there was Wu Lin, and the others' secondary profession levels weren't far behind either.
"Secondary professions..."
"Right, we still have secondary professions!"
Hearing this, the three deputy professional committee members from the second-year class—Mecha Manufacturing, Design, and Forging—all brightened up. They were already fourth-level masters.
And it wasn't just them. Even their class monitor, Yuanen, was actually a fourth-level Mecha Repair Specialist. With four fourth-level masters, how could they possibly lose to the first-years?
Of course, it would be best if Mu Xi, the forging student, also joined the competition—after all, she was a sixth-level Forging Grandmaster!
But even without her, the current lineup was more than enough. With fourth-level deputy professional skills, how could they possibly lose to the first-years?
"The four of us are all fourth-level masters!"
"There's no way we'll lose!"
At that moment, Bai Hanying, the Design Committee member, said earnestly.
"Exactly!"
"Winning the Soul Master competition before proved that the first-years have extraordinary combat abilities, but when it comes to deputy professions—"
"We second-years are determined to win…"
"..."
While the team members were cheering each other on, on the other side, Le Zhengyu hung his head, his face filled with frustration.
He had lost—humiliatingly so.
He had been defeated in both the team and individual matches, with the individual match being the most humiliating of all—losing in just three strikes to a female Soul Master two years his junior.
"Disgraceful…"
"This is a disgrace to my Sacred Family!"
Le Zhengyu gritted his teeth, unable to hold back his words.
He…
Would definitely win next time!
(End of Chapter)