The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament had come to an end.
For the first time in a thousand years, Shrek Academy failed to claim the championship. Instead, the title went to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy — the very academy long resisted and spurned by the three nations of the original Douluo Continent.
Such a dramatic turn of events had caught countless people off guard. Through the gossip of spectators and traveling merchants, news of this would soon spread across the entire continent.
Not long after Jiang Shengyu and the others returned to their hotel, the Star Lou authorities delivered the championship prizes for this Soul Master Tournament — three ten-thousand-year-grade spirit bones, all of respectable quality.
"Well now, they actually didn't short-change us?"
Xiao Hongchen picked up one of the spirit bones and examined it carefully, smiling.
"I thought they'd swap in some trash spirit bones for us. Didn't expect them to be this generous."
"They're a great empire, after all. Being stingy here would be shameful."
Jiang Shengyu didn't even bother to look at the spirit bones. In any case, he had no intention of fusing a soul beast's bones into himself.
Flesh was frail — mechanical ascension was the true path. Far more interesting to finish crafting a soul tool battle armor than to "replace his bones."
Their leading teacher clapped his hands to draw everyone's attention.
"You've all been competing for many days now, and I know you're tired. Rest well tonight. Tomorrow we set off for the academy. The Dean will be there to receive us."
"Yes!" the group answered in unison.
Meanwhile, back at Shrek Academy's side, Wang Yan led his group straight to Xuan Zi upon returning to the rest area.
At that moment, Xuan Zi was suppressing Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire Phoenix martial soul. The surging black flames constantly gnawed at the soul power barrier Xuan Zi had constructed, forcing him to pour in power without pause to maintain its stability.
"Elder Xuan… Senior Sister Xiaotao, she—"
Everyone looked at Ma Xiaotao with deep worry.
Xuan Zi sighed.
"Xiaotao's Evil Fire Phoenix has completely mutated. The evil fire within her can no longer be suppressed. Her martial soul is no longer the Evil Fire Phoenix, but the Black Phoenix. If this isn't properly controlled, she may… one day become an evil soul master."
Evil soul master!
The memory of that terrifying evil soul master Soul King attack made everyone shiver the moment those three words were spoken.
Xiao Xiao and the others stared at Ma Xiaotao in disbelief.
"How… how could Senior Sister Xiaotao become an evil soul master…"
"I only said it's a possibility — nothing is certain yet!"
Xuan Zi's brows furrowed slightly, displeased with Xiao Xiao's wording.
"Once we return to the academy, we'll ask Elder Mu to act. His martial soul is the Light Holy Dragon — he will definitely be able to resolve the darkness within Xiaotao's martial soul."
Hearing this, everyone finally breathed a little easier.
The next day, Shrek Academy's team and the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy's team left the city at the same time. At the gates, they ran into each other again.
But with his mind weighed down by concern for Ma Xiaotao, Xuan Zi gave Jiang Shengyu and his group no friendly expression at all.
Beibei, He Caitou, and Dai Yaoheng were even more standoffish. Only Jiang Nannan and Xiao Xiao remained polite, exchanging greetings with Jiang Shengyu's side.
Once they left the city, the two groups went their separate ways.
Xuan Zi escorted his group toward Shrek Academy, but his eyelid kept twitching. He had a constant, uneasy feeling — as if someone were following them.
Yet whenever he looked back, he saw no one other than the few youngsters.
After a while, Xuan Zi began to wonder if it was just his imagination.
However — just as they were about to reach Shrek Academy — a figure suddenly appeared ahead, blocking the path.
The figure was shrouded in a black robe, standing suspended in mid-air.
Seeing this sudden intruder, Xuan Zi halted immediately, shielding the group behind him. His gaze sharpened as he asked in a deep voice:
"Who goes there? Why block our way?"
From beneath the robe, Long Xiaoyao said nothing. He simply raised a hand — reaching past Xuan Zi, directly for Ma Xiaotao.
The moment Xuan Zi realized Long Xiaoyao's target, he unleashed his martial soul without hesitation.
Taotie Divine Ox — Martial Soul Possession!
His body swelled with power, horns sprouting from his head. Nine soul rings rose in perfect optimal configuration — and when the blood-red ring appeared, even the surrounding space seemed to sink under its pressure.
It was the first time the youngsters had seen Xuan Zi reveal his true strength.
Yet even so — Long Xiaoyao's hand passed through without obstruction, seizing Ma Xiaotao.
Feeling that overwhelming force in an instant, Xuan Zi's expression was shaken.
"You… you're an Ultimate Douluo!"
Ultimate Douluo!
The moment those four words left Xuan Zi's mouth, the group behind him paled in shock.
Xuan Zi might be a rank 98 Super Douluo — second only in strength within all of Shrek Academy — but that only made him all the more aware of how terrifying an Ultimate Douluo truly was.
In this era, with no rank-10 soul engineers in existence, an Ultimate Douluo was absolute — unmatched! Even the Beast God Di Tian wouldn't dare claim he could casually handle Elder Mu.
"Long Xiaoyao… you're Long Xiaoyao!!"
Xuan Zi reacted at once, recognizing the man before him. In this era, besides Mu En, only Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui shared that level of power — and as Mu En's successor, Xuan Zi naturally knew some of their history.
Long Xiaoyao offered no further words. With Ma Xiaotao in hand, he simply turned and left.
"Wang Yan! Take the children back to Shrek immediately — and notify Elder Mu at once! I'm going to get Xiaotao back!"
Xuan Zi spoke, set the others down, and shot off in pursuit.
"Can Elder Xuan even beat that guy?"
Xiao Xiao watched Xuan Zi vanish and asked softly after a moment's hesitation.
Wang Yan's face was grim.
"If it's an Ultimate Douluo… I fear Elder Xuan is not his match. No — we must report this to the Sea God Pavilion's Grand Elders at once. Hurry!"
But just as he finished speaking, a golden streak of light shot across the sky — straight toward the direction Xuan Zi and Long Xiaoyao had gone.
In the core of the Star Dou Great Forest, by the Lake of Life…
Di Tian frowned slightly, speaking to several other figures around him whose auras were equally fearsome.
"Beyond the Star Dou Forest, I sense the presence of an Ultimate Douluo."
"An Ultimate Douluo?" The others looked surprised.
A towering, muscle-bound man clenched his fists.
"So… the humans finally couldn't hold back? Let me go tear them apart!"
Di Tian shot him a calm glance.
"Bear Lord, restrain yourself. This Ultimate Douluo is not here for us soul beasts. Bi Ji — go calm the frightened ones."
"Understood." Bi Ji nodded.
Di Tian then turned his gaze toward the Lake of Life, his golden pupils piercing through the water.
"Once our master awakens… humanity will be nothing more than dust to be swept away — in the blink of an eye."
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