Chapter 58 – Shrek's Disagreement, Body Sect's Attention
Although Shrek Academy managed to win their first match, the expressions on everyone's faces—including Wang Yan's—were anything but pleasant.
They could clearly hear murmurs and criticism from the crowd. Everyone knew that if Shrek continued performing like this, the road ahead would only grow more difficult.
But at this point, there was no other choice. They could only grit their teeth and endure, holding out until Ma Xiaotao recovered. Only then might they still have a glimmer of hope.
Trying to hold morale together, Wang Yan forced a smile as he addressed Beibei and the others.
"Alright, at least we've advanced past the first round. Next up is the knockout stage. Don't let the pressure weigh on you. I'll tailor strategies for each of our opponents once we're back. What we need now is to reflect and learn."
To his credit, Wang Yan truly lived up to Shrek's name. Even in this situation, giving up never crossed his mind. He was one of the few at Shrek who devoted himself wholeheartedly to research and teaching—one of the few who still had a clear head. Compared to people like Zhou Yi, he was leagues above.
The second round of the knockout matches featured the Star Luo Royal Team, followed by the academies of the Original Douluo Three Kingdoms. Whether by coincidence or design, the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy had been arranged to appear last.
When both the Star Luo Royal Team and the Sun Moon Academy took the stage, the atmosphere, which had sunk into disappointment because of Shrek's earlier performance, reignited in full force.
The arena thundered with cheers for the Star Luo Royal Team. As for the Sun Moon Team, even though their performance was dazzling, this was the Star Luo Empire's home ground. Naturally, the people weren't going to wave flags for an enemy nation.
Just like that, the first day of the knockout stage concluded—beginning with Shrek's awkward performance, followed by a string of thrilling battles.
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Meanwhile, at Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion.
Bang!
"Elder Mu, why won't you send reinforcements to those children?!" Yan Shaozhe slammed his hand on the table, his anger and confusion boiling over. "Is Shrek's thousand years of glory really going to end here?!"
That he dared pound the table before Mu En of all people showed just how shaken he was.
But the other elders present only sat in silence, unwilling to speak. None of them wanted to bear the blame for Shrek losing its thousand-year-old honor.
Mu En narrowed his eyes, giving Yan Shaozhe a single look. Immediately, Shaozhe wilted, his defiance shrinking away—though his voice still carried a bitter edge.
"Teacher, the Academy could easily petition the Star Luo Empire for special privileges, send aid to those kids. Shrek cannot afford to lose this championship… just as it cannot afford to lose the Sea God Pavilion."
Mu En let out a weary sigh, fatigue written across his face.
"No need. Glory? Championships? To me, none of that outweighs the children's futures. Let them endure this trial themselves."
The Academy has indulged in false prestige for far too long. Our true honor has never been defined by a single tournament victory.
Ever since hearing about the Sun Moon Empire producing a genius like Huo Yuhao, Mu En had gone to investigate in secret.
What he saw in the Sun Moon Empire shocked him—its advancements left Shrek and the Original Douluo Three Kingdoms far behind. He understood then: if Shrek did not reform, its only fate would be annihilation by the Sun Moon Empire.
But reform was no easy task. The Sea God Pavilion elders were stubborn traditionalists. Even his own disciples dismissed soul guidance devices as nothing more than heretical tricks.
And Shrek's current generation lacked the heaven-defying talent needed to reshape the balance of the continent. Soul guidance development was suppressed at every turn. Under such circumstances, only a painful defeat could wake the leadership from its complacency.
That was why, despite knowing the risks, Mu En refused to request special aid.
Especially since Xuan Zi—Shrek's strongest after Mu En—had already squandered two generations of Shrek's Seven Devils. Entrusting the future of the Academy to him? Mu En would rather die with his eyes open.
Xuan Zi himself didn't even dare breathe too loudly. Since returning from the last disaster, he could no longer endure the accusatory gazes of others. He had tried to retire quietly, but Mu En forbade it.
Like Zhang Lexuan's failed expedition, Shrek had still chosen to keep him. He had personally apologized to the families of Yao Haoxuan and Chen Zifeng, and those matters had been settled.
But Dai Yueheng and Xu Sanshi were another story. One crippled, the other's martial soul shattered—both from powerful families. Shrek couldn't simply brush things aside this time. They were forced to pour vast resources into treatment, to prove their "sincerity."
And if the Academy truly lost this tournament, the blame would inevitably fall squarely on him.
Yet even so, he dared not contradict Mu En.
The other elders only lowered their heads into silence.
"Enough," Mu En finally said. "Zhuang Yusen, you and Xuan Zi will head to Star Luo City and focus on Ma Xiaotao's recovery. That is our priority."
The ninety-fifth rank healing Super Douluo, Elder Zhuang, immediately rose to his feet.
"Understood, Elder Mu."
But even as they obeyed, Yan Shaozhe and the others shared heavy looks. To simply abandon reinforcements like this—it wasn't in their nature.
If Mu En forbade it, then so be it. They would simply send support in secret. After all, everything is for Shrek's glory.
---
Meanwhile, in Star Luo City.
Two Body Sect disciples, Lang Ya and Yu Tao, were deep in discussion inside a private room.
"You're certain? That boy, Huo Yuhao, from the Sun Moon Academy—he's truly a body martial soul user?"
Lang Ya's voice trembled with excitement. When he'd first come to the tournament, he expected nothing but routine scouting. Never did he imagine they'd stumble across such a gem.
The Spirit Eye, a body martial soul—and not just any child, but the Sun Moon Empire's once-in-a-thousand-year prodigy. Truly a shocking discovery.
Yu Tao was equally thrilled.
"Intelligence is solid. He didn't appear in today's match, being only a reserve member, so I couldn't study him personally. But the reports are clear: Spirit Eye, body martial soul, spiritual-type… likely connected directly to the brain itself. A talent like this belongs with our Body Sect."
Of course, they both understood this wouldn't be easy. Yuhao wasn't just some nameless rogue soul master. Even in the Sun Moon Empire, he was the most dazzling star of his generation.
To pull him away from their hands? Easier said than done.
"No need to rush," Lang Ya said after a moment. "Let's keep observing. Once he actually takes the stage, we can confirm the truth before deciding our next step.
Right now, the boy is in the open, and we are in the shadows. To approach recklessly would only backfire."
They also had to consider the possibility that Yuhao already had powerful backers—perhaps even as someone's personal disciple.
The Body Sect was indeed the home of all body martial soul users. But why should Yuhao trust an unfamiliar sect upon first meeting?
Still… if his talent was truly as monstrous as the reports suggested, then they would not hesitate to inform the Sect Master immediately.
The Body Sect's younger generation had decent talent, but none were true monsters. If Yuhao proved to be the one destined to bear the sect's future… then even if they had to snatch him from the Sun Moon Empire's hands, they would.
"Tomorrow begins the round-robin matches," Yu Tao reminded. "He may appear then. We'll watch closely."
"And tomorrow night, there's that soul guidance device auction," Lang Ya added. "Another perfect chance to observe him from the shadows."
"Good. Until we're certain, we don't act rashly."
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End of Chapter