The round of sixteen progressed smoothly.
In the afternoon, it was the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy's turn to compete.
Although this match lacked the same shocking intensity as the clash between Shrek Academy and the Star Luo Imperial Academy, the Sun Moon team still demonstrated overwhelming overall strength.
Even without their captain Ma Rulong taking the field, six of their main team members plus one reserve easily secured victory.
There were no dazzling collisions of soul skills—only dense, crisscrossing beams of soul tool light blanketing the arena. Their opponents were effortlessly blasted off the stage.
As Wang Yan had said before, this year's Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy team was indeed the strongest lineup in its history.
Besides Ma Rulong—a Soul Emperor and Level Six Soul Engineer—the other six main team members, along with siblings Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, were all five-ring Soul Kings and Level Five Soul Engineers.
However, from the beginning of the tournament until now, Ma Rulong and the Hongchen siblings had yet to officially show their true strength in a match.
On Shrek Academy's side, Ma Xiaotao, after the crisis she had faced in the morning battle against the Star Luo Imperial Academy, rarely reflected on herself.
Though her temper wasn't the best, she wasn't someone entirely unreasonable or unable to accept advice.
Having been taken as Yan Shaozhe's personal disciple since childhood, she held deep feelings for Shrek Academy. When it came to the academy's honor, she dared not act on personal whims again.
That evening during dinner, she took the initiative to approach Wang Yan, expressing her willingness to follow his tactical arrangements from then on.
Magnanimous as always, Wang Yan naturally accepted with ease. He arranged for Ma Xiaotao to lead the individual elimination round against the Star Luo Imperial Academy scheduled two days later.
After this small incident, the atmosphere among the Shrek Academy members became much more harmonious once again.
Unfortunately, Ma Xiaotao didn't even get the chance to appear in that individual elimination round.
Knowing she had no chance of winning in singles combat against Shrek Academy, Princess Xu Jiujou, representing the Star Luo Imperial Academy, chose to forfeit the individual matches entirely.
With that, Shrek Academy advanced first into the quarterfinals.
Before the quarterfinal matches began, Shrek Academy would have a four-day break with no competitions.
Beibei and Xu Sanshi had only sustained minor injuries. Over those four days, both recovered to their peak condition.
Taking advantage of this brief respite, Xu Zihuang spent nearly every day cultivating.
As someone with an Ultimate Martial Soul, his cultivation speed had noticeably slowed after reaching the Soul Ancestor level. Four days of training couldn't bring any real breakthrough, so instead, he focused on understanding the abilities granted by the Thunder Prison Vine Right Leg Bone.
Its domain-type offensive soul skill Thunder Hell—with its terrifyingly vast area of effect—spoke for itself.
But aside from that, this soul bone had granted him another ability: the power to actively summon heavenly lightning and alter the weather itself.
These days, that was what he had been exploring. After all, Princess Jiujou had said herself that this soul bone also inherited the Thunder Prison Vine's ability to evolve through tempering by thunder-attribute soul power and the power of lightning.
Soon, the quarterfinals arrived as scheduled.
This time, luck seemed to be on Shrek Academy's side. They drew the weakest team among the eight finalists—Zheng Tian Academy, the same academy they had previously crushed.
The result was obvious. Back then, with only Chen Zifeng and Gongyang Mo—two Inner Court disciples—fighting, Shrek had nearly overwhelmed Zheng Tian Academy head-on. Now, with Dai Yueheng and Ma Xiaotao, both Soul Emperors, joining the lineup, Zheng Tian Academy was utterly doomed.
As expected, Zheng Tian Academy was easily defeated with no suspense at all. Thus, Shrek Academy advanced effortlessly into the final four.
By this point, the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament had nearly reached its end—and the finale, as always, promised to be its climax.
Countless spectators eagerly anticipated the showdown between the continent's number one academy, Shrek Academy, and the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy.
Of course, the other semifinalists were by no means weak.
The remaining two academies were the Tianhun Empire's Imperial Academy, Dio Academy, and the Dou Ling Empire's Dou Ling Imperial Academy—the top institutions of their respective empires.
In a spacious and luxurious room, Xu Zihuang sat cross-legged on the soft sofa, meditating as usual.
The brilliant golden glow surrounding him suddenly converged inward, and he opened his eyes.
A flash of violet-gold light flickered across his pupils as he turned his gaze toward the door, sensing something.
Almost in response, the door opened quietly, and Ning Tian, dressed in a flowing white gown, stepped in softly. Her platinum-blonde hair shimmered faintly, contrasting beautifully with her fair, delicate skin. Even in the dimly lit room, her natural grace was unmistakable.
Ning Tian's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul and Xu Jiujou's Star Crown Martial Soul could both be broadly classified as gem-type martial souls. Influenced by their martial souls, both women shared a similar aura—elegant and noble.
In terms of status and standing on the continent, Ning Tian—the sole heir to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—was no less distinguished than Princess Xu Jiujou herself.
She looked at Xu Zihuang in surprise as he rose from the sofa.
She knew he had been deeply focused these past few days on comprehending the Thunder Prison Vine Right Leg Bone's power.
Normally, based on his habits, he wouldn't have finished meditating so soon—they usually went to the restaurant together once he ended his cultivation.
"Tianhuang, how's it going?" she asked softly.
"I just need to conduct some practical tests to confirm it," Xu Zihuang replied with a gentle smile as he approached her. "That Princess Jiujou was right—this soul bone can indeed evolve by tempering it with the power of thunder."
Ning Tian was tall for her age, but still nearly half a head shorter than Xu Zihuang.
That height difference, however, suited them perfectly.
Naturally, Xu Zihuang reached out and took her jade-like hand. Since the two of them had openly acknowledged their relationship, they'd grown far closer in daily interactions.
Ning Tian tilted her head slightly, gazing up at him. Her water-blue eyes shimmered with light, filled with warmth and emotion. After spending nearly ten days together like this, she had grown accustomed to such intimacy.
Yet at this moment, in the dimly lit room, the atmosphere between them turned subtly ambiguous.
Seeing the emotions flicker in her eyes, Xu Zihuang smiled faintly and opened the door.
"Let's go eat."
This level of closeness was just right—enough to express affection, yet not so forward as to make Ning Tian flustered.
Perhaps if he wished to push things further, Ning Tian wouldn't refuse. But there was no need. Some things were best taken step by step, always at the right pace.
At present, Ning Tian was his top candidate to pick the Acacia Heartbroken Red.
For his current goals, letting her fall completely and deeply for him was the most beneficial outcome.
"Mm." Ning Tian responded softly with a smile. The warm light from the crystal soul-guide chandelier in the hallway ceiling eased her composure.
Though a faint blush still lingered on her face, at least on the surface she appeared calm.
As Xu Zihuang held her hand, her gaze flickered slightly.
Tomorrow, the semifinals of this Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament would begin. Wang Yan was currently in the restaurant, discussing tactics with the others.
In truth, she had come to Xu Zihuang's room at Wang Yan's request—to summon him for the meeting.
But now, she decided not to mention that. After all, the result would be the same.
If she told Xu Zihuang outright, he might act more reserved in such a serious tactical meeting.
Although their relationship had already become clear since that night after the elite auction, walking hand in hand into the room together would make a stronger impression—especially for certain people.
She didn't like resorting to such small ploys, but Ma Xiaotao's presence posed too great a threat.
Rather than saying she wanted to show affection in front of everyone, it would be more accurate to say she specifically wanted Ma Xiaotao to see it.
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