Everyone Is Shocked — Even If They Die, They Still Have to Win
"Mr. Jin, do you have anything else to explain?"
Yuhao turned his gaze toward Jin Peng, his expression calm but carrying an unquestionable authority.
"Never mind."
Jin Peng slowly shook his head. Not only did he feel no displeasure toward Yuhao's somewhat domineering attitude, but instead, a trace of appreciation surfaced deep in his eyes.
Before coming here, Du Bushit had personally spoken to him once and deliberately revealed some inside information regarding Huo Yuhao.
After that conversation, Jin Peng's impression of Yuhao changed completely.
From a mere talented junior, Yuhao had gradually become someone Jin Peng genuinely admired.
In fact, he could even be called a loyal supporter of Yuhao now.
"Alright, since that's the case, we'll end the meeting here. Everyone, disperse. Have a good rest and prepare yourselves."
Yuhao turned his head once more and spoke in a clear, resounding voice:
"Win the championship of this Soul Master Elite Competition — in the name of your Original Body Sect."
Although Yuhao had only just returned to the team, and his soul power cultivation was still the lowest among the official team members, not a single person present raised an objection.
Even Zhen Yue, who had always been somewhat unruly, stood up immediately.
Obviously, Yuhao's dazzling performance earlier had already convinced everyone beyond doubt.
However, there was still one person seated firmly in place, unmoving.
That person was Wei Na.
A flicker of hesitation flashed across her delicate and beautiful face. Muxue, who was sitting beside her, subconsciously reached out and tried to stop her.
But Wei Na clenched her teeth and still stood up with a soft yet resolute sound.
"Wait a moment!"
Yuhao, who was already preparing to leave, paused and turned around. His gaze landed on Wei Na, and he asked indifferently:
"Is there anything else?"
"I think I'm more suitable for this team than you."
Wei Na met Yuhao's gaze head-on. Her expression was surprisingly calm, yet beneath that calmness lay suppressed dissatisfaction and pride.
As the princess of the Heavenly Soul Empire, Wei Na's status was even higher than that of the Young Sect Master of the Noumenon Sect.
The reason she spoke out now was not solely because she wanted to appear in the Soul Master Elite Competition, but also because of her long-standing dissatisfaction toward Yuhao.
When she was still at the Noumenon Sect, due to Yuhao's astonishing talent and terrifying growth speed, Wei Na had repeatedly expressed her goodwill toward him.
However, Yuhao showed no interest in her at all. He ignored her again and again, never responding to her intentions.
This caused Wei Na, a proud imperial princess who had never been rejected so thoroughly before, to feel both embarrassed and angry.
Afterward, she worked desperately hard, pushing herself day and night, yet in the end, she only managed to secure the position of a substitute in the Soul Master Elite Competition.
She finally obtained a chance to step onto the stage.
But unexpectedly, the moment Yuhao returned, he decisively eliminated her position.
How could Wei Na accept this?
"I admit that your frontal combat capability is stronger than mine."
Wei Na continued, her voice steady but forceful.
"But this team doesn't lack attackers. What we truly lack is control and assistance. My twin martial souls can fulfill both roles."
As she spoke about her twin martial souls, Wei Na deliberately nodded slightly toward Yuhao.
The look in her eyes was unmistakable.
It was as if she were saying, Did you hear that? My talent is not inferior to yours.
"And in the past two months, I've trained and fought alongside everyone here. In terms of coordination, mutual understanding, and battlefield adaptability, I am absolutely better than you."
The moment these words fell, the entire conference room sank into silence.
No one expected Wei Na to openly challenge Yuhao like this.
However, upon further thought, it also seemed reasonable.
After all, among everyone present, the only person who could confront Yuhao so directly was Wei Na — the imperial princess of the Heavenly Soul Empire.
Yuhao listened quietly from beginning to end. His expression remained calm, without the slightest ripple of emotion.
When Wei Na finished speaking, Yuhao slowly opened his mouth:
"Are you done?"
"Yes."
Wei Na lifted her chin slightly, her large, watery eyes staring straight at Yuhao without retreat.
"Alright."
Yuhao nodded gently.
"Then I'll let you understand why I am an official team member… and why you are only a substitute."
The moment his voice fell, Yuhao's aura abruptly changed.
As his soul power surged, his eyes bloomed with a dazzling blue radiance. Within his pupils, purple and gold light alternated rapidly, like stars colliding.
In an instant—
An overwhelming mental fluctuation spread outward.
With Yuhao at the center, all three-dimensional terrain, distances, soul power fluctuations, and even subtle environmental changes within a radius of one kilometer were transmitted directly into everyone's minds.
They didn't need to observe.
They didn't need to analyze.
Everything was already clear.
"This— what kind of soul skill is this?!"
Jin Peng exclaimed in shock. Even a Titled Douluo like him was completely stunned by the scene unfolding within his consciousness.
If even Jin Peng was like this, then Long Aotian, Zhen Yue, and the others — Soul Kings and Soul Sects — were even more shaken.
They were not ordinary soul masters. Naturally, they instantly understood how terrifying this ability would be in an actual competition or battlefield.
The next moment, Yuhao calmly withdrew his Mental Detection and Mental Sharing.
He looked at Wei Na, whose eyes had already lost their focus, and asked lightly:
"Now… do you understand?"
This single ability alone was enough to completely suppress Wei Na's entire battlefield value.
Wei Na stood there for a long time without speaking.
Seeing that she had no response, Yuhao no longer paid her any attention. He turned around and left the conference room without hesitation.
...
At the same time, on another floor of the hotel.
The defending champions — Shrek Academy's team — were staying here.
Yet at this moment, there was no trace of the confidence or pride befitting defending champions. Instead, a heavy and oppressive atmosphere filled the room.
The reason was simple.
During a previous inspection mission, three of their seven official team members were seriously injured, three suffered minor injuries, and the last one died tragically on the spot.
That's right.
Just like in the original course of events, Shrek Academy still went to the Mingdou Mountains before arriving in Star Luo City, preparing to eliminate the notorious Death Hand bandits.
However, they never expected to be counterattacked by the Death Messenger.
The difference was that this time, the person leading the team was not the carefree Xuanzi, who only knew how to drink wine and gnaw chicken drumsticks, but the cautious and meticulous Yan Shaozhe.
As a result, the casualties were significantly reduced.
Apart from Yao Haoxuan, who still fell in battle, the others, although injured, would be able to fight after several days of recovery.
Among them, Ling Luochen, Xixi, and Dai Yueheng suffered the lightest injuries and would recover the fastest.
However, even so, it was impossible for them to participate in the first round of the knockout stage.
"The official team members can't fight."
Yan Shaozhe spoke solemnly as his gaze swept across the seven substitutes standing before him.
"So the first round of elimination will depend entirely on the seven of you."
Naturally, these seven substitutes did not include Huo Yuhao or He Caitou.
Instead, Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu had taken their places.
Hearing Yan Shaozhe's words, Mu Beibei, Xu Sanshi, and the others felt immense pressure weigh down on their shoulders.
"I know you're under tremendous pressure," Yan Shaozhe continued slowly, his eyes sharp.
"But don't forget — you represent Shrek Academy."
"For thousands of years, the championship of the Soul Master Elite Competition has belonged to Shrek."
His tone suddenly became stern.
"Even if you risk your lives, you must protect this honor. Do you understand?!"
At the end of his sentence, Yan Shaozhe's voice rose sharply, startling the seven people before him.
"Yes, Dean!"
As the acting captain, Mu Beibei gritted his teeth and replied:
"We will definitely give it our all, but—"
"No 'but'!"
Yan Shaozhe cut him off forcefully.
"Shrek's honor must not be destroyed in our hands."
"You must win."
Facing Yan Shaozhe's furious expression, Mu Beibei and the others felt both confusion and fear.
Seeing this, Yan Shaozhe also realized that his words might have been too harsh. He exhaled slowly, his tone softening.
"I know this is difficult for you."
"You only need to lead the team through the first round."
"After that, Dai Yueheng and the others will take over."
"Believe in yourselves. You can do it."
Hearing this, the pressure in the seven substitutes' hearts finally eased somewhat.
Yan Shaozhe encouraged them a few more times before turning and leaving.
The reason he had been so tough — demanding victory at all costs — was not solely for Shrek's honor.
It was also because of what Moon had said to him before departing.
"No matter the price… we must reclaim the championship."
Yan Shaozhe understood clearly.
The true reason behind those words was the wager between Shrek Academy and the Noumenon Sect.
And he knew better than anyone how unwilling his teacher was to lose.