Meng Hongchen had already defeated two of Shrek Academy's team members single-handedly. Any discerning observer could tell: if Shrek kept sending out reserve members, defeat was inevitable.
The audience began shouting, urging Shrek Academy to send out their core team. They couldn't accept the Continent's number one academy losing to the Sun Moon Empire!
However, those who knew the truth—such as Dai Hao and other insiders—fell into heavy silence as they heard the chants. Their expressions grew solemn, and they couldn't help but sigh.
Of course, they also wished for Shrek Academy to defeat the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy.
But with the situation as it stood… what could they do?
All of this was the fault of those damned evil soul masters.
Other academies in the audience were also holding private discussions, trying to figure out what had happened to Shrek Academy.
They didn't know the full story, but it was clear that something had gone seriously wrong with Shrek's core team.
Wang Yan heard the audience's calls as well. He could even make out the whispers of nearby competitors. Feeling those curious and probing gazes fall on him, his expression turned heavier.
He looked up at the sky and let out a long sigh. In his entire life, he had never sighed as much as he had during this Soul Master Tournament.
Xiao Xiao had returned to the rest area. Aside from her pale face due to depleted soul power, she was uninjured. Wang Yan knew this was because Meng Hongchen had held back.
Likely out of respect for Jiang Qingtong.
He gently patted Xiao Xiao on the shoulder, then turned to Wang Dong. "You're up next. That Meng Hongchen's soul power is nearly depleted. You hold the advantage with your martial soul—you should be able to outlast her."
"Don't worry, Teacher Wang! I'll beat her!" Wang Dong replied confidently, striding up to the stage.
As he walked up, full of momentum and self-assurance, Meng Hongchen's face remained calm. She had roughly one-third of her soul power left. No matter the outcome of this round, she would have to step down afterward.
"Wang Dong, reserve team member of Shrek Academy. Rank 32, power-type Battle Soul Elder!" he announced to Meng Hongchen.
When the match began, Wang Dong took the initiative, becoming the first to actively attack Meng Hongchen. Both He Caitou and Xiao Xiao had been forced into defensive positions, but Wang Dong rushed forward immediately.
From this, one could tell much about Wang Dong's character.
Meng Hongchen faced him head-on. She didn't dare underestimate him in the slightest. In her eyes, Wang Dong's presence brought more pressure than all of He Caitou's soul tools combined!
Of course, part of that was due to her depleted soul power. But the strength Wang Dong exhibited was undeniable.
From the start, he gained the upper hand, suppressing her with his relentless offense. Meng Hongchen could only retreat and defend.
Just as she was about to be forced off the stage, she raised her hand and unleashed a cloud of ice mist—within it, the poison of her martial soul, the Red eyes Ice Toad, spread.
Wang Dong was forced to retreat from the poisonous mist.
This was the first time Meng Hongchen had used her toxin-laced soul skill. Against He Caitou and Xiao Xiao, she had only used her third skill, Ice Refraction, to boost her mobility.
Now, facing Wang Dong's aggressive pressure, she finally had no choice but to use poison.
Wang Dong frowned as he saw the toxic mist enveloping her. But then he recalled Wang Yan's earlier advice—Meng Hongchen didn't have much soul power left.
So, he soared upward, heading straight into the sky.
Meng Hongchen responded by shifting the mist overhead to cover herself from above, glancing up through it to watch Wang Dong closely.
Planning to attack from the air?
Wings of the Goddess of Light Butterfly flared behind Wang Dong. He raised his right hand, and with a flash of dark light, a small, pitch-black hammer appeared.
At the same time, his soul rings shifted—turning into a purple ring.
He was switching martial souls.
"He's a twin martial soul user too?" Emperor Xu Jiawei gasped. "But… what is his second martial soul? Why can't I tell?"
Dai Hao narrowed his eyes. When he spotted the design of the hammer in Wang Dong's hand, his pupils shrank.
"Your Majesty," he said with a startled expression, "look at that boy's right hand… that is—the Clear Sky Hammer!"
Clear Sky Hammer!
The name exploded like thunder in the hearts of everyone present.
Though the Clear Sky Sect had long secluded itself from the world, its legend had never faded. After all, Sea God Tang San himself was a direct descendant of the Clear Sky bloodline!
The strongest power-type tool martial soul on the continent!
"Truly worthy of the title 'Shrek Academy: the best in ten thousand years!' In just a few rounds, they've sent out not only two twin martial soul users—but now, one of them is even from the Clear Sky Sect! How terrifying—how utterly terrifying!" Xu Jiawei stared at Wang Dong, who was fluttering in the sky, eyes filled with desire.
If only a genius like this could be recruited into the Star Luo royal court…
The moment the Clear Sky Hammer appeared, the very air seemed to grow heavier. Even Meng Hongchen felt a crushing pressure in her heart as she looked at the weapon in Wang Dong's hand.
Her face grew solemn. If I get hit by that hammer, it's definitely going to hurt.
Wang Dong raised the hammer and activated Butterfly Goddess's Light, casting a radiant glow around himself.
The light would generate a three-second barrier upon taking damage—plenty of time for him to get in one good strike with the Clear Sky Hammer.
With that, Wang Dong dove straight into the poisonous mist surrounding Meng Hongchen.
As he entered the fog, the Butterfly Goddess's Light instantly created a barrier that blocked the poison. Wang Dong closed in fast. Just as he was about to land the hammer, Meng Hongchen dodged to the side.
But Wang Dong reacted swiftly, adjusting mid-swing and striking her shoulder.
Meng Hongchen cried out in pain. The poisonous mist dispersed instantly. Clutching her right shoulder, she stumbled backward.
With the ice fog gone, there were no more obstacles between the two. Wang Dong raised the hammer again to strike—
"I forfeit! I'm out of soul power!" Meng Hongchen shouted quickly toward Huang Jinxu.
The moment her voice rang out, the Heavenfiend Douluo appeared on the platform in a flash, catching the descending Clear Sky Hammer with one hand.
Though the Clear Sky Hammer was known as the strongest tool-type martial soul, Wang Dong was still only a three-ringed Soul Elder, and the hammer had just one ring attached. For a Title Douluo like Huang Jinxu, stopping it was effortless.
The score was now 2–1.
Shrek Academy had taken a round back. The audience broke into thunderous applause.
Meng Hongchen stepped off the stage, still holding her injured shoulder. Apart from her own team, no one seemed to care about her condition.
Xiao Hongchen and the others rushed to the base of the platform to greet her.
Xiao Hongchen looked at her with concern. "Sis, does it hurt a lot?"
PS: Access advance (100+) chapters at