On the competition stage, Xu Tianxi, who had orchestrated the Soul Ring formation change, showed no change in expression. He patted Xiao Hongchen's shoulder and said, "It's your turn. Go ahead."
"Alright, I'll just show them a small fraction of my power."
Xiao Hongchen put on his Detection Glasses and threw out hundreds of metal orbs, which expanded in mid-air into Level 5 Soul Guided Cannon barrels, gleaming menacingly.
"Our captain said we'd send you all down at once, so don't blame me for not giving you a chance to perform. Don't worry, I know my limits; I definitely won't kill anyone."
Xiao Hongchen gestured to the opposing team, then controlled hundreds of Level 5 Soul Guided Cannons to fire simultaneously, demonstrating a perfect combination of overwhelming firepower and precise strikes.
Soul Guided cannons shot out soul-guided beams as brilliant as rainbows, directly blasting all five Soul Ancestors and two Soul Elders, who looked desperate, off the competition stage. A twenty-meter diameter crater appeared where they had been—Xiao Hongchen had aimed most of the firepower at the ground; otherwise, the seven opponents would have been reduced to ash.
The entire arena fell silent. The mocking laughter and words of countless local spectators were caught in their throats.
Even Xu Jiawei's expression on the high platform instantly froze.
Those who didn't understand assumed that since Xiao Hongchen alone had taken out five Soul Ancestors and two Soul Elders, it was impossible for a Soul King to do so; only a Soul Emperor could.
Those who understood had grim expressions. They didn't know that Xiao Hongchen's Martial Soul was the Three-legged Golden Toad, a severely overpowered Divine Beast Martial Soul. Controlling hundreds of Level 5 Soul Guided Cannons simultaneously definitely put him at the level of a top-tier Soul Emperor!
In other words, this white-haired individual firing the cannons was a genuine, powerful Soul Emperor, yet he was only a reserve team member, no older than fifteen. When had such a monstrous talent ever appeared in the history of the Douluo Continent?
Moreover, he wasn't even the captain of the Sun Moon Battle Team's reserve squad; the leader hadn't even made a move yet!
Such a genius would surely be incredibly proud. Would he willingly submit to others? It seemed impossible! The captain, who disdained even making a move, must be an even more terrifying existence.
For a moment, many important figures couldn't help but gasp. The danger levels of Xu Tianxi and Xiao Hongchen rapidly escalated in their minds.
Two Soul Emperors! The Sun Moon Empire truly had at least two Soul Emperors under the age of fifteen!
Dai Huabin's expression was stunned. He rubbed his eyes, unable to accept this reality.
Taking out five Soul Ancestors and two Soul Elders without even breaking a sweat? This can't be real, can it? Even Zhu Lu and I together would struggle to do that with our Netherworld White Tiger!
They could kill so easily, and the Lan Family Sisters' Heavenly Net also contributed greatly. But compared to Xiao Hongchen single-handedly wiping out a team, it's far inferior. This is definitely genuine Soul Emperor-level combat power!
Dai Huabin prided himself on his exceptional talent, confident that he could reach a Soul Power level no less than Ma Xiaotao's by Dai Yueheng's age. But for him to reach Soul Emperor before fifteen... that was absolutely impossible. He couldn't do it even if it killed him.
Ma Xiaotao's proud expression froze for the first time. Yu Yang, Hu Yanbashan, Bei Bei, and others were dumbfounded, their minds buzzing.
This, this, how are we supposed to fight this? We're definitely going to lose. If the reserve team was this terrifying, wouldn't the main team be even stronger?
Were they destined to suffer the humiliation of failing to defend their title this year?
Especially Bei Bei, the thought that this group would become the new main team in five years, and he would have to lead his own team to clash with them, filled his heart with despair. Can the Light Sacred Dragon bridge a gap of nearly two major ranks? Three-stone, I miss you so much—
Zhang Lexuan's pupils constricted, and she covered her mouth in surprise. This year's Sun Moon Battle Team members were far stronger than those of her own generation.
Just as the atmosphere fell into a dead silence, Cai Meier's voice suddenly rang out in everyone's ears, laced with reprimand.
"Calm down! It's impossible for the Sun Moon Battle Team to really have that many Soul Emperors! They only have this strength by relying on drugs and sacrificing their future. Why are you nervous? When have Shrek's geniuses ever been weaker than others?"
Cai Meier said coldly, "I can assure you, at most two of those seven are Soul Emperors. The others are just putting on a show. Perhaps the Sun Moon Empire has invented some new special Soul Guided Devices specifically to intimidate us!"
"Even if it is those two!" Cai Meier's cold gaze pointed at Xu Tianxi and Xiao Hongchen as she declared, "Their cultivation could never have been achieved through their own training. They must have used a large amount of drugs to exploit their potential. Doing so causes immense damage to one's talent. Even if they are top-tier geniuses, they will absolutely never be able to reach the Titled Douluo realm in this lifetime! The future belongs to you!"
Upon hearing this, the expressions of the participating team members softened slightly, looking at the people on stage with uncertainty. Right, these drug-addled individuals can't possibly have a better future than them. The future is still theirs, theirs—
"Are you saying we have no future? No matter, today we'll give you a grand show."
Cai Meier's voice was so loud that Xu Tianxi heard it clearly. He gave a slight smile to the four members of the "stamp collecting" group.
The hidden Martial Souls of the four appeared: Star Luo's White Tiger, Dou Ling's Swan, Shrek's Owl, and Heavenly Soul's Snow Lotus—Li SanShui, a student whose ancestor was from the Heavenly Soul Empire, did not have a Snow Lotus Martial Soul, but Xu Tianxi simulated it for him. The White Tiger and Swan were originally only similar, so Xu Tianxi simply simulated them as authentic versions. The Owl didn't need to be simulated.
"You damned scoundrel! How dare you insult the legacy of my White Tiger lineage!"
Seeing this, Dai Huabin's eyes glazed over for a moment, then immediately turned bloodshot, breathing heavily. He stared intensely at the fake White Tiger, wishing he could tear him apart!
Cai Meier's face also looked terrible. As the vice dean of Shrek's Martial Soul Department, she naturally knew that the first dean, Flander, had an Owl Martial Soul. What did this mean? Were they intentionally insulting them?
The Royal Academies of the Three Great Empires also recognized the particularly significant Martial Souls of those individuals, and their gazes all turned unfriendly. Xu Jiujiu's expression was strange; she really wanted to know what these people were trying to achieve by going to such lengths.
Just provoking them? It can't be that childish, can it?
Fortunately, these guys knew that their Star Crown lineage was rare and didn't produce a fake Star Crown; otherwise, she might have been furious too.
The audience also understood the situation. While cursing the Sun Moon Battle Team's arrogance in their hearts, they didn't immediately start yelling. Xu Tianxi and Xiao Hongchen's power was still evident.
"The effect is good. Time to perform."
Leading everyone off the stage, Xu Tianxi simultaneously raised the microphone, his voice echoing throughout the arena:
"I am Kong Tianxi, captain of the Sun Moon Battle Team. On behalf of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, I extend our sincerest greetings to everyone. I hope this grand competition is a complete success, and that the Soul Masters and Soul Engineers of our Four Great Empires can embrace an even brighter future."
As his voice fell, Xu Jiawei on the high platform keenly sensed that this kid probably had a lot of tricks up his sleeve. The Prime Minister cast a glance, asking "Should we stop him?", but Xu Jiawei gently shook his head.
Intervening over such a small provocation would only make their Star Luo appear petty. The Imperial Family had its own demeanor.
Moreover, he had created a fake White Tiger, not a fake Star Crown, so Xu Jiawei wasn't too angry and was even a little curious.
"Displaying their Martial Souls here in public today is to vindicate the image of our Sun Moon Empire. We are not the demons and monsters that some ill-intentioned people claim us to be. We are all true human beings."
"The Sun Moon Empire is willing to accept talent from outside with the utmost sincerity and treat everyone equally. What just happened proves my words—even with such unique Martial Souls, it doesn't prevent them from entering the reserve team and making a significant mark on their life's journey."
"Just now, my teammate used a Level 5 Detection Soul Guidance Device to defeat his opponent. This Soul Guidance Device was made by an Level 8 Soul Engineer Grandmaster from our academy. His parents are from the Heavenly Soul Empire, and he himself is already a top Level 8 Soul Engineer in our country, and will be a Level 9 Soul Engineer in the future—"
Oh no! This kid's conscience is utterly rotten!
Xu Jiawei's brows furrowed deeply, black lines appearing on his forehead. He desperately wanted to go down there and strangle him.
Is that something you can say in public? That's going too far!
"Referee, quick! Smash his Soul Guidance Device!"
Without Xu Jiawei's command, the Prime Minister immediately used a voice transmitter to order the referee to act.
The referee, a Seventh Ring Soul Sage, received the order and instantly unleashed a streak of Soul Power. Xu Tianxi's expression remained unchanged.
Meng Hongchen snorted coldly, sweeping her sword to shatter the streak.
To dare make a move with such poor Soul Ring configuration, they truly can't distinguish reality.
"The Sun Moon Empire's doors are always open to righteous individuals and talented people from the Three Great Empires. We welcome Soul Masters with three or more Soul Rings to come to the Sun Moon Empire to seek opportunities and explore the world of Soul Guidance with us.
In the history of the Sun Moon Empire, there's no shortage of Soul Guidance Masters whose ancestors or they themselves originated from the Original Three Kingdoms. As long as they contribute to the development of the Sun Moon Empire, they are our closest companions, even those with unique Martial Soul backgrounds like theirs."
In short, Hongchen Dean asked me to tell you that as long as you surrender now, the benefits will be immense.
Furthermore, regardless of origin, Martial Souls connected to the Imperial Family can surrender, let alone the rest of you.
Calmly retrieving his Soul Guided Device, Xu Tianxi looked up at the referee, whose face was completely dark, and pointed to the ground.
He smiled faintly:
"Mr. Referee, we have already stepped off the competition stage, yet you launched an attack on us. Can you explain this? I don't recall us violating any rules of the competition."
"Heh heh, your actions seem unfair; after all, when certain academies committed fouls and killed people earlier, we didn't see you intervene."
With that, Xu Tianxi's voice suddenly grew impassioned. He raised both arms, proclaiming loudly:
"Under the gaze of millions of spectators at this competition, is the esteemed Star Luo Empire only capable of bullying the weak and fearing the strong?! Can you still guarantee the fairness and impartiality of this competition! Can you still be worthy of everyone's ticket money?!"
"If you cannot provide an explanation, we, as juniors, are naturally powerless, but we can only ask our elders to step forward. Jing Hongchen Your Majesty and other Level 9 Soul Engineers will not tolerate your deception of countless spectators; their purchasing tickets to attend is a sign of respect for you, not an invitation to be deceived!"
The murmuring crowd of spectators immediately fell silent, a strange sense of comfort washing over them. Their gaze towards the Sun Moon Battle Team softened slightly.
Regardless of whether that guy had ulterior motives, those few words certainly felt good to hear.
Sweat poured down the referee's face. He hadn't expected the opponent's words to be so sharp, constantly leveraging the millions of spectators, each word like a knife.
Fortunately, at that moment, there was still a responsible person on the Star Luo side.
The Star Luo Emperor, Xu Jiawei, spoke, his voice calm and deep, suppressing his anger:
"You are spreading seditious rumors. This referee is a citizen of my Star Luo Empire; his patriotism is self-evident. How could he tolerate this? This matter was by my command. If the Mingde Hall Master wishes to discuss it, he should seek me."
Xiao Hongchen showed a look of sudden understanding: "So, in Your Majesty's eyes, speaking the truth is spreading seditious rumors?"
Meng Hongchen pouted and also took out a microphone, saying, "It's not like we've only been slandered for a day or two. Why be surprised?"
"Indeed, let's go; since His Majesty himself has intervened, we can't be ungrateful."
Xu Tianxi concluded with that last sentence, leading the team towards the resting area. However, anyone could hear the mockery in his tone.
Xu Jiawei swore that if he had a choice, he truly wanted to capture all three of them. But putting aside the public implications, the strength and background of these three also made him dare not act rashly.
They were the Millennial First Genius of the Sun Moon Empire, one after another. Who knew if the Sun Moon Empire had sent Level 9 Soul Engineers to secretly accompany them? Perhaps even the Mingde Hall Master was already hidden in the shadows.
"Damn it, instead of doing this, you might as well learn from Shrek and kill a few more people!"
The veins on Xu Jiawei's forehead and arms throbbed. He could imagine how many people would be agitated by the Sun Moon Battle Team's reserve team's performance.
In Shrek's resting area, the atmosphere was terribly stiff. Everyone, including Zhang Lexuan, quietly distanced themselves from Cai Meier, unwilling to get too close to her aura.
"Damn it~ you bastards!"