Chapter 57 – Damn it, Shrek, Refund!!
The next day.
The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament officially began.
One hundred and thirty-three teams from across the continent gathered, while tens of thousands of spectators roared in excitement, their voices shaking the skies.
On the podium, Star Luo Emperor Xu Jiawei stood tall, his voice amplified through a soul guidance device to echo across every corner of the arena.
"I declare—the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament has officially begun!"
"As the highest-level competition on the continent, on behalf of the Star Luo Empire, I welcome all academy teams who have come from afar. May you all show your brilliance in the coming month!"
This was Star Luo team's home ground, and the audience instantly erupted in chants of Long live the Emperor! The atmosphere surged to its peak.
Yet, with Xu Jiawei's next words, the cheers grew even louder, nearly reaching madness.
"And especially the team about to enter the stage—Shrek Academy! The undefeated number one across the continent, the team that has claimed nearly every championship title. We are all eager to witness your performance!"
Although most of his attention was focused on the Sun Moon Empire, Xu Jiawei wasn't too clear on Shrek's current situation. Still, to show goodwill, he deliberately emphasized Shrek's unique standing.
And just as he expected, the moment the words fell, the cries in the arena nearly tore the skies apart.
"Shrek forever!"
"Champions!!"
Shrek's team members, already under immense pressure, now felt like they were sitting on pins and needles. Their hearts pounded as if they had thorns in their backs and fish bones stuck in their throats. It was as if they were being roasted alive—unable to advance, unable to retreat.
As the leading teacher, Wang Yan felt an even greater weight crushing down on him. At the same time, the other teams were no better—both shocked and suppressed by the mere mention of Shrek.
The difference was, Shrek worried about their own strength being exposed, while the other teams simply prayed not to meet Shrek too soon.
Only the Sun Moon Empire's team remained calm. This wasn't their home ground to begin with, and they already had detailed intel on Shrek. Instead of pressure, they almost couldn't hold back their laughter.
The higher they raise Shrek now, the harder they'll fall later. This tournament will mark the end of Shrek Academy's thousand years of glory.
Xiao Hongchen chuckled.
"Yuhao, what do you think Shrek is feeling right now?"
Huo Yuhao lifted his arm, peeking at Emperor Xu Jiawei through the gaps of his fingers, and replied calmly.
"Perhaps… they're still thinking about guarding that dogshit 'thousand-years of glory'."
The moment he spoke, Ma Rulong and the others burst out laughing. Every time Yuhao spoke, there was this sharpness that cut right through the air.
They couldn't wait to clash with Shrek. Hopefully, as Yuhao said, Shrek would at least try to struggle a little. That way, crushing their thousand-year honor into the dirt would feel all the more satisfying.
Yuhao's gaze then shifted subtly toward Shrek's formation, landing on a figure with powder-blue hair.
The moment he entered the Star Emperor Hotel, he used the Destiny echo of his second Martial Soul to disrupt the surrounding Destiny, fearing that he would be targeted after encountering Tang Wutong's fragments.
However, for some reason, he did not feel that suffocating Blue Silver Entanglement sensation.
Strange, truly strange, too strange!
Could something have happened to Wang Dong? Or was there a problem with God King Tang's divine sense?
The thought lingered, but Yuhao chose patience. The tournament had just begun, and there would be plenty of opportunities to test his suspicions.
Still, when his eyes swept past Dai Huabin and Ning Tian, a hint of amusement flickered within him. Without him around, this second son of the White Tiger Duke had actually gotten what he wanted.
Well then, since the prey had willingly delivered themselves, what else was there to say? Yuhao had already decided: whether Dai Huabin or Dai Yueheng—who had likely already been gravely injured—neither of them would survive this tournament.
And once it was over, even the White Tiger Duke's wife would no longer have the right to draw another breath.
---
With the teams returning to their waiting areas, the first round of the tournament quickly began.
As the continent's so-called number one academy, Shrek was naturally scheduled to fight first, expected to secure a flawless victory and set the tone for the competition.
Match One: Shrek Academy vs. Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy.
But Shrek's reserve team of six stood frozen under pressure. They all knew—there was no way they could deliver a perfect opening victory. Still, there was no turning back. They had to grit their teeth and charge forward.
"Don't worry," Wang Yan tried to comfort them. "You just need to win. The first opponents aren't strong. A perfect victory isn't necessary."
Led by Beibei, Wang Dong, and the others entered the stage, while Ma Xiaotao and the senior students frowned deeply.
If they lost the first match… the humiliation would be beyond words.
In the viewing stands, Xu Jiawei and the officials nearly leapt to their feet.
"What's going on? Why isn't Dai Hao's son on the stage? Where are Shrek's main lineup members?"
The audience erupted in debate.
"No way, right? We know Shrek is strong, but sending only their reserve team in the opening match—isn't that a bit arrogant?"
"Exactly! Just because you're the reigning champions doesn't mean you can look down on everyone else!"
"Maybe they've got some strategy. Let's just watch and see."
"Strategy my ass! This is the elimination round! Using substitutes in the first fight—are they looking down on the Tianling team, or us Star Luo citizens?"
"Damn it! What is Shrek thinking?!"
Meanwhile, Tianling Academy, which had already given up hope, suddenly flared with fighting spirit.
'What, do they think we're clay to be molded at will? Sending only substitutes against us? Fine. We'll fight to the end!'
Tianling's team quickly formed a standard battle formation, while Shrek, lacking Yuhao's showy ten-thousand-year soul ring intimidation, could only rely on Beibei's command, arranging themselves into a simple three-two-one formation.
---
Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy Viewing Stand
"Place your bets, place your bets! I'll put down ten thousand gold soul coins—Shrek wins within ten minutes!"
"I'll go with fifty thousand—Shrek wins within twenty minutes!"
"Pfft, cheapskates. I, Xiao Hongchen, bet a hundred thousand gold soul coins—Shrek loses their first match! That's how confident I am."
Meng Hongchen covered her face in embarrassment.
'Hopeless. My stupid brother is hopeless.'
"Yuhao, you want to join in?"
Yuhao shook his head.
"No. You all play. But Xiao—Shrek won't lose."
He knew well enough. Though Beibei didn't show off much, he had Tang Sect hidden skills and secret weapons. That alone was enough to handle ordinary teams.
"I know, I know," Xiao Hongchen grinned.
"I'm just having fun. It's rare to see Shrek humiliated. A hundred thousand gold coins—just pocket change!"
Yuhao didn't bother persuading him further. After all, Ma Rulong and Lin Xi were still waiting to feast on a fat sheep later. If Xiao Hongchen wanted to burn his money, so be it.
And just as Yuhao expected, Shrek did manage to win the match against the Tianling Academy team. But the Tianling team had also managed to force out several of Shrek's soul skills.
How to put it? They won without too much difficulty, but it wasn't easy either. Overall, their performance was lackluster—downright unimpressive.
The audience, whose expectations had been sky-high, now exploded with outrage.
"I thought Shrek was about to put on a godly performance, but this… this is it?"
"What the hell, Shrek?!"
"Do you deserve our support? Do you deserve His Majesty's grand introduction?"
"Damn it! Refund!!"
Xu Jiawei's expression also turned sour. From his position, he instinctively felt something was wrong with Shrek.
"Juichui, go find out what's happening with Shrek!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
(End of Chapter)