At the back mountain of Shrek Academy, the morning sun was warm but not yet scorching like at noon.
The breeze stirred the forest, shadows interlaced on the ground.
"So they remodeled it, split into sections… this must be why Shrek Academy dares not destroy the place, huh?" From the darkness on the ground, a shadow slowly rose.
Glancing at the strange buildings and apparatus ahead, he reached into his robes and pulled out a small orb.
With soul power infused, the orb lit up instantly.
At the same time, outside the Great Spirit Arena of Heaven Dou City.
"So many people?" Ma Hongjun's eyes widened in shock at the sea of heads. He quickly steadied the mask on his face, his eyes sweeping left and right, throat bobbing repeatedly, fire burning in his chest. 'So this is the Soul Master Tournament.'
'So many beauties!'
"Hurry up, don't embarrass us here." Dai Mubai's eyelids twitched as he caught people looking their way. He urged them in a low voice, quickening his steps toward the competitors' passage.
The others lowered their heads in response and followed quickly, squeezing into the crowd.
"My god! What academy are these people from? Their uniforms look like they just crawled out of a latrine!"
"Haha, but that green monster on the chest is kind of cute. Its ears look like trumpets."
"Pfft! 'Seeking Sponsors'? Is this really a team from an advanced academy? Hilarious! How poor do you have to be to think of advertising like this? Guess it's true, it takes all kinds of birds to fill the forest."
"Keep your voice down, they're still soul masters. But they must just be here to fill the numbers. Look, that fat one waddling in front, shaking his head and neck. His martial soul can't really be a roly-poly doll, can it?"
"No, that's not shaking his head, that's him peeking. Didn't you see? Every time he turns his head, it's lowered — and always toward the girls' chests."
"Ugh! Shameless! Disgusting! And this kind of guy is allowed in the Soul Master Tournament?"
"…"
Wherever Shrek Academy passed, people on both sides pointed and whispered.
"…" At the front, Flender, Xiaogang, and Liu Erlong quickened their pace, acting like they didn't know the people behind them. With the small crest on their own chests barely visible, no one paid them any attention.
'I'm not angry, I'm not angry…' Hidden in the middle, Ning Rongrong clenched her fists as her chest filled with rage. If not for her father Ning Fengzhi instructing her to remain at Shrek, she would have quit right then. 'Too humiliating.'
'At least I'm not tall… and not fat…' She glanced at her taller teammates, lowered her head, and walked on.
Before long, they squeezed into the Arena, finally sighing in relief.
"Next match, I'm not wearing this again. Too damaging to my heroic image." Ma Hongjun was the first to complain.
Tang San sighed helplessly. "We're probably not fighting today anyway. Let's talk to the Dean afterward. At the very least, we'll remove the words on the back."
Everyone nodded in agreement, following Tang San to sit in a secluded corner of the rest area.
Not long after, Flender sauntered over. "Eh? Why are you all hiding in this corner?"
The team glared at him.
"Ahem." Flender coughed, covering his awkwardness. "Well, since you're here, we'll stay here then."
"The registration is complete. Later, during the opening ceremony, hold your heads high. Don't shame our Shrek Academy."
"You're the team that's going to win the championship!"
"Championship? Hah, toads wanting to be champions?" A disdainful voice cut in.
Already simmering with anger, the Shrek members all turned, eyes blazing. Especially Dai Mubai, Xiao Wu, and Tai Long.
Tang San's gaze sharpened as well. One look revealed their old enemies: Canghui Academy.
Back when he broke through soul rank 30 and went to Star Dou Forest for a soul ring, he had already clashed with them.
"Who are you calling a toad?" Tai Long exploded, stepping forward.
A youth from Canghui Academy sneered back.
"I'll show you who's a toad!" Tai Long, his temper flaring, raised his fist ready to punch.
"Tai Long, come back." Tang San said flatly. "What's the point of barking? If you want to fight, wait till we're on the arena." He swept his gaze across Canghui Academy Team.
"Where did this pack of stray dogs come from? Do they even have an owner? Hurry up and leash them."
The Canghui Academy youths bristled with fury. Their leader was about to step forward when a voice cut in.
"What are you doing?"
Flender's eyelids twitched at the sight of the white-robed old man approaching.
Unfazed, Ma Hongjun whistled. "Oh, so the stray dogs' master has come? Hurry and leash them before they start barking everywhere. If they crap all over the place, that'd be disgusting."
The old man glanced at Ma Hongjun once, voice calm but cold. "Go."
Then he turned and walked away.
His team members glared at Shrek before following him.
"Haha, the master comes and they really do listen. How obedient." Ma Hongjun tilted his chin smugly.
"Enough, Fatty." Flender snapped, glaring.
Ma Hongjun shut his mouth, still pouting.
'If our sect recruited someone like this, they'd just cause endless trouble…' Ning Rongrong pursed her lips.
Flender frowned, watching Canghui Academy leave, before introducing the white-robed elder's identity.
When he finished, he turned back to his students. "Alright, the ceremony's starting. Tianheng, Xiao San, you two lead the team in. Teachers will go on ahead — I'll be watching your heroic bearing from the stage!"
Before anyone could protest, he slipped away.
"…" The students looked down at their uniforms, tangled in thought.
Soon, staff entered the rest area, guiding the teams that were ready to line up for entry.
"First to enter: the Heaven Dou Royal Academy team." the announcer's voice rang out.
The Shrek members all turned to watch through the windows.
Tall and upright, dressed in white, Yang Yunhai stepped out of the tunnel.
Compared to when they first saw him, he had grown to nearly 1.8 meters tall, with chiseled features, sword-like brows, and bright eyes. Handsome as ever.
His aura was steadier now, exuding calm elegance.
"Wow, so handsome!"
The crowd of girls burst into cheers.
"…" Dai Mubai clenched his fists.
Zhu Zhuqing had grown even more beautiful — and thinking of her as Yang Yunhai's woman made him furious.
Yu Tianheng stared blankly at Dugu Yan beside Yang Yunhai, now more stunning than ever. The light seemed to flash green above his head.
'Goddess… absolute goddess.' Ma Hongjun's throat bobbed as his eyes flicked between Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan.
Then his expression shifted. He looked Dugu Yan up and down, then glanced at the glow over Yu Tianheng's head, but chose not to say anything.
Beside them, Tang San's eyes gleamed coldly with battle intent.
Xiao Wu fumed at his side, glaring daggers at Yang Yunhai and Dugu Yan.
She hadn't forgotten how those two humiliated her in Suotuo Arena.
"Heaven Dou Royal Academy! Heaven Dou Royal Academy!" The audience didn't care about any of this — the cheers only grew louder.
As the empire's seed team, they had no shortage of supporters.
"Hmph, what's so great about them?" Tai Long scoffed. "On the arena, we'll beat them till they eat dirt. Let's see their fans cheer then."
In his eyes, Tang San was the strongest — the one who had single-handedly defeated his own father, a Soul King.
Even though Tang San was still only a Soul Elder, he had easily crushed Tai Long, a Soul Ancestor. Tai Long was utterly convinced.
"Exactly. Once we face them, they're finished." Ma Hongjun sneered, though his eyes lingered on the two beauties.
He was bitterly jealous of Yang Yunhai.
Time passed as one academy after another entered. But no staff came for Shrek.
"What's going on? Where are the guides? Did they all die?" Xiao Wu snapped.
"Xiao Wu, it's just formality. No need to be upset." Tang San comforted her. "Whether we go in first or last doesn't matter. On the battlefield, only strength speaks. When we fight, we'll prove ourselves."
His words calmed them somewhat.
At last, staff arrived, and sure enough, they were the final team called.
"The last to enter: the Shrek Academy team. Look at their unusual uniforms — so striking! 11 students in total, and their slogan: 'The Champion Without Rivals!'"
"A bold motto indeed. Let's hope they put on a good show!" The announcer introduced enthusiastically.
"Hahaha! 'Champion Without Rivals'? What a joke!" The audience roared with laughter.
"So arrogant! Even the five elemental academies wouldn't dare say that. Brave, I'll give them that!"
"High-profile like this, they'll just get targeted. Whoever thought of that slogan must have no brains."
"…"
"Damn it, I can't take this anymore." Dai Mubai clenched his fists as he walked.
"Boss Dai, just hold it in. Once we're on stage, we'll shut them up with strength." Tang San whispered.
Dai Mubai sucked in a breath, suppressing his fury.
Soon, all teams had entered.
Ignoring the cheers, Tang San looked toward the VIP stands. He saw familiar faces: Prince Xue Xing, the three Committee Members of Heaven Dou Royal Academy — all seated in the second row.
In the first row sat three figures. One was also familiar: Ning Fengzhi.
Beside him in the center sat an old man in golden-red robes, a diamond crown on his head — none other than Emperor Xue Ye himself.
On the other side, a frail old man in red robes and a platinum five-pointed crown — clearly a Platinum Bishop of Spirit Hall.
"Now, let us invite His Majesty, Emperor Xue Ye of Heaven Dou Empire, to declare the tournament open!" the announcer cried.
Cheers erupted throughout the arena until Xue Ye rose, waved gently, and pressed his hand down for silence.
"I, Xue Ye, Emperor of Heaven Dou…" His deep voice carried across the stadium through a soul tool.
After him came Ning Fengzhi, who answered a few questions. Finally, the Platinum Bishop Salas stood.
Not one for long speeches, he spoke briefly before following the palace maids to the announcer's side for the drawing of lots.
"First round of the preliminaries!"
"Canghui Academy versus Purple Star Academy… Oakland Academy versus Blazing Academy…"
…
"Heaven Dou Royal Academy's first team… versus Shrek Academy!"
(End of Chapter)
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