After this tournament, the royal family had two major matters to handle—one was choosing a consort for the princess, and the other was announcing the crown prince.
His daughter was already enough of a headache. He could only hope that there wouldn't be any complications with the crown prince's position. If Dai Yueyan could defeat Gu You, then even if he didn't ultimately win the championship, it would still be the perfect opportunity to name him as the heir. A crown prince who excelled both in civil and martial disciplines would be far easier for the nobility and public to accept.
But if he lost...
Dai Tianling dared not think further. Even with his authority as emperor, the stubborn old officials in court would likely come up with endless troubles.
"The next match is also today's most anticipated battle. Representing Shrek Academy, we have Gu You. Representing Monster Academy, the competitor is none other than Dai Yueyan!" Fang'er's voice noticeably rose in pitch, betraying her own excitement and nervousness. Her eyes couldn't help but drift toward Dai Yueyan, her hands clenched into fists on her knees. 'You must win!'
"Your Highness! Your Highness! Your Highness!"
A wave of thunderous cheers erupted from the stands like crashing waves.
Dai Yueyan, who had just risen from the waiting area, was immediately overwhelmed with emotion. Even with his calm nature, the sight of the people united in shouting his name stirred something deep within him. Words couldn't describe that feeling.
But... he really couldn't beat Gu You! He had originally considered surrendering, but in front of this many people, how could he possibly give up? What kind of crown prince would that make him?
"Ha! Ahahaha!"
Just as Dai Yueyan struggled with indecision, a loud and inappropriate burst of laughter rang out from the waiting area, drawing every gaze toward the source.
It was Xie Xie, who was now dancing and laughing hysterically, having stood up and doubled over with amusement.
Dai Yueyan's face twitched. 'He's doing that on purpose! He must be!'
"I get it now! I finally understand!" Xie Xie shouted between peals of laughter.
'This guy...'
Dai Yueyan clenched his fists tightly.
"I get it! For an agility-type soul master to truly succeed, you can't be too serious! That's my problem—I was too serious! That's why I couldn't master it!" Xie Xie howled with delight.
Dai Yueyan calmed himself and walked out of the waiting area toward the stage.
"You've lost it," Yuanen Yehui muttered, standing up and reaching out to pinch Xie Xie by the neck. But unexpectedly, he suddenly opened his arms and pulled her into a tight hug.
"I get it! I finally get it!" Xie Xie's excitement didn't seem fake at all.
Yuanen Yehui instinctively tried to push him away, but the strong scent of blood from his body struck her first. Remembering that he was covered in wounds, she stopped herself. Still, she growled in a low voice, "Let go of me."
Xie Xie seemed not to hear her.
"Yuanen, I get it now. I really do. In the beginning, I was too careless and undisciplined. I never trained hard, so I couldn't tap into my full potential as an agility-type soul master. But after you crushed me that day, I started putting in effort—real effort. I trained like mad, just to catch up to you, to be worthy of standing beside you."
"Back then, I improved quickly. I felt more confident than ever. But just before we left for this tournament, I felt stuck. Not in soul power, but in my understanding of being an agility-type soul master. No matter how hard I trained, I felt I wasn't getting any better at speed, technique, or insight."
"But in that fight just now, I finally realized… I had wound myself too tight. The key to an agility-type isn't just speed—it's freedom. If I can't let my speed become part of something free and natural, I'll never truly master it. So I understand now. I'm never going to suppress myself again. I'll let my heart run free… and I will become strong enough to stand beside you…"
His voice grew fainter, and by the time he reached the end, his body had gone limp, collapsing completely against Yuanen Yehui—he had fallen asleep.
With her cultivation, his weight meant nothing. But she stood there frozen for a moment. Almost unconsciously, she wrapped her arms around him. She could feel the deep obsession within him. His determination. All of it—for her?
A strange glimmer flickered in Yuanen Yehui's eyes. Carefully, she helped Xie Xie back onto the sofa and let him rest there, fast asleep.
By now, Gu You and Dai Yueyan had already stepped onto the competition stage. The roar of the crowd vanished with the activation of the soul barrier.
"Please guide me well, and go easy on me," Dai Yueyan said with a polite bow.
"Of course," Gu You nodded lightly.
After all, this was the future emperor of the Star Luo Empire. That much respect was due.
The two stood hundreds of meters apart.
"Three… two… one… begin!"
The referee, seeing that both were ready, announced the start of the duel.
A faint radiance appeared in Gu You's eyes. Purple-gold scales and a pair of dragon claws emerged as his body elongated slightly. His spine emitted subtle crackling sounds as it extended, as if his entire body was stretching and releasing its full power.
Inside Private Box No. 2, it wasn't just Elder Cai and Wu Zhangkong watching now. There were also seven or eight dignified members of the Douluo Continent diplomatic delegation.
When Shrek Academy had first entered the tournament, they hadn't taken it too seriously. Some of the important figures were even attending exchanges elsewhere.
But as the tournament progressed—and as Shrek Academy gained both scorn and success—the top figures from the delegation started paying close attention.
The Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament hadn't been part of their original plan. If they'd known it would become this significant, they would've sent stronger, older contestants—powerful twenty-year-olds who could secure a clean victory.
So they didn't care much about the final results. What mattered now was whether Shrek Academy's participants could represent the strength and prestige of the Federation.
And as the team's results grew better and better, they began thinking of one person—Gu You! A name that had once left a deep impression on them.
'With him here, how hard could it be to win first place?'
"Elder Cai, what do you think of this Gu You boy?"
Standing beside Elder Cai was the leader of the diplomatic group, Tang Bingyao—Vice President of the Federal Parliament. He spoke in a low voice.
Tang Bingyao wasn't officially part of the delegation…
(End of Chapter)
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