Above the Sky Screen, light and shadow flow.
On the left, in the Black World scene, Shrek Team fought their way through to the finals; on the right, in the White World scene, Sun Moon Team also advanced triumphantly, meeting Shrek in the final battle.
...
Black World, Sky Screen.
[After the round of 16, Shrek Team advanced to the top of their group. With the return of three key players— Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, and Ling Luochen —from injury, this young team finally filled their last gap. In the knockout stage, they fought their way through the competition, defeating strong opponents such as Star Luo National Academy and Heaven Dou Empire Academy to reach the final.]
Their opponent in the finals is their old rival— Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.
[On either side of the arena, two teams representing the highest level of skill on the continent faced each other. On Shrek's side, Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire Phoenix conjured enormous fiery wings behind him; on Sun Moon Empire's side, Xiao Hongchen's metal manipulation caused the entire arena to tremble slightly.]
" Shrek vs. Sun Moon Empire, this is what a final should look like," someone murmured from the stands.
However, no one could have predicted just how fierce this final would be.
In the individual elimination rounds, both sides gave it their all from the very beginning. Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire Phoenix forced his opponents back one by one, Dai Yueheng's White Tiger Spirit clashed head-on with Xiao Hongchen's Metal Domain, and Ling Luochen's Ice Spirit Ability clashed with Meng Hongchen's Ice Phoenix. Spirits collided in the air, creating a shower of ice crystals. Each duel was like a mini-war, and every collision elicited gasps from the audience.
[ Sun Moon Empire's spirit tools displayed astonishing power in this battle. Their soul-guided cannons, soul-guided shields, and soul-guided thrusters inflicted heavy losses on Shrek's students. One Shrek student after another was knocked off the stage, but Sun Moon Empire's fighters also paid a heavy price—several were seriously injured and carried out of the arena.]
[Ultimately, the individual elimination rounds ended in a brutal fashion. Both sides suffered heavy losses, but neither was willing to back down.]
[The final battle of the 2-2-3 series.]
[ Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong stood on the arena, facing the last elite forces of the Sun Moon Empire. Bei Bei had exhausted her spirit power in the previous battles, Xu Sanshi and Jiang Nannan were both injured, and He Caitou had run out of cigars. Shrek's strongest lineup consisted only of them.]
"Are you ready?" Huo Yuhao asked softly.
Wang Dong nodded without speaking. Her face was pale, but her eyes were resolute.
The battle erupted in an instant. Huo Yuhao unleashed his Spiritual Detection at full power, while Wang Dong's Light Goddess Butterfly hovered around him. For the first time in a formal match, the two unleashed four Martial Soul Fusion Skills in succession —Fallen Amidst Brilliance, Mantra in the Void, Solo Dance in Frost, and Blazing Inferno in Extreme Freeze. Each Spirit Ability caught their opponent off guard, each Spirit Ability ripped through one of their opponent's defenses.
But Sun Moon Empire's counterattack was equally fierce. Xiao Hongchen's metal manipulation turned the entire ring into a steel cage, and Meng Hongchen's Ice Phoenix... Spirit and Ling Luochen's ice-type Spirit Ability collided in mid-air, creating a shower of ice crystals.
[Just when Shrek was about to collapse—]
[ Ma Xiaotao reappears. The flames of the Evil Fire Phoenix burn in her eyes, no longer pure crimson, but tinged with an eerie black. The backlash from the Sword of Judgment is causing her Spirit to spiral out of control. The Evil Fire Phoenix is transforming into the Black Phoenix.]
["Ah—!" Ma Xiaotao roared to the sky, black flames erupting from her body. The flames, carrying an aura of annihilation, swept across the entire arena. The Sun Moon Empire's fighters were utterly defeated by this power, ultimately being completely routed.]
Shrek won.
But no one cheered.
[ Ma Xiaotao stood in the center of the arena, black flames burning around her. Her eyes had lost all reason, filled only with a pure desire for destruction. Xuan Zi rushed onto the arena, pressing a palm against her shoulder, forcefully suppressing the rampaging evil fire within her with his level 98 spirit power.]
"Take her back," Xuan Zi's voice was hoarse. "Immediately."
...
Black World, Douluo Continent.
Silence fell over the tavern.
"They won… Shrek won. But Ma Xiaotao …"
" The Evil Fire Phoenix has turned into the Black Phoenix. That's not a good thing. It's a sign that it's about to fall into the Evil Soul Master realm."
" Shrek won the game, but may lose a starter. That's too high a price to pay."
Someone asked in a low voice, " Can Ma Xiaotao recover?"
No one can answer that.
Beyond the Sky Screen, in the Black World, lies the Star Luo Empire's palace.
Emperor Xu Jiawei stared solemnly at the final match from ten years ago on the Sky Screen. Ten years ago, he sat in the stands of Star Luo City and witnessed that brutal duel. Shrek won, but won badly. Ma Xiaotao was corrupted, the entire reserve team was injured, and three of the starting players died and four were seriously injured—that championship team won the trophy with blood.
Now, ten years later, the Sun Moon Empire's iron hooves have trampled across half of the Star Luo Empire's territory. That victory was ultimately only temporary.
" Your Majesty, that match is on the Sky Screen again," the old eunuch beside me whispered.
Emperor Xu Jiawei nodded without saying a word.
Of course he remembered. He remembered Ma Xiaotao's screams, Xuan Zi's retreating figure as he rushed onto the stage, and the deathly silence of the entire arena. He also remembered that in the ten years that followed, the Sun Moon Empire's soul-guiding technology advanced by leaps and bounds, while they could only retreat step by step.
"Keep watching," he said softly.
...
Beyond Sky Screen, Black World, Shrek City, Inner Court.
Xuan Zi stared at the final match from ten years ago on the Sky Screen, a complex mix of emotions flashing in his eyes. He remembered that match. He remembered Ma Xiaotao's screams, his own back as he rushed into the ring, the deathly silence of the entire arena. Shrek won, but he had never felt that winning was such a heavy thing.
"Xiao Tao…" he murmured.
Yan Shaozhe said in a low voice, "Elder Xuan, that match happened ten years ago."
"I know, " Xuan Zi nodded, "but every time I see it, it still hurts."
Qian Duoduo said in a low voice, "Ten years have passed, and Xiao Tao still hasn't come back. The thought of this makes my heart ache!"
Xuan Zi fell silent after hearing Qian Duoduo's words. If he had reacted faster back then, Xiao Tao might not have ended up in that situation.
Considering the mistakes he has made, is he really suitable for the position of head of the Sea Gods Pavilion?
...
Black World, Tang Sect.
Huo Yuhao was deeply moved when he saw that scene again.
They achieved their final victory through their concerted efforts.
Unfortunately, Sister Peach's attributes were changed by the Sword of Judgment, and he was unable to save her.
He didn't know if Xiao Tao Jie from another world was the same as those in their world.
...
White World, Sky Screen.
[ Unlike the brutality of Black World, the White World finals presented a completely different picture.]
[ Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy advanced with an undefeated record to the finals. Their opponent was once again Shrek Academy. However, this Shrek team was different from the Black World team, which fought with all its might—although its main players had recovered from injuries and returned to the team, they still seemed powerless against the overwhelming force of Sun Moon Empire's spirit tools.]
[ Sun Moon Team, Huo Yuhao stands in the center, Spiritual Detection fully activated. His Spirit Eyes Martial Soul becomes the most important presence on the battlefield at this moment.]
["Thirty meters to the left, Soul Guidance Cannon charging."]
["The two men on the right are changing their spirit tools."]
["The opposing team's captain, Ma Xiaotao, is experiencing abnormal fluctuations in spirit power. Her is preparing to unleash his Spirit Ability."]
As the Spirit Master, the main controller of the Sun Moon Team, his voice is calm and rapid, accurately conveying every piece of information on the battlefield to each teammate. Under the coverage of Spiritual Detection, no move by the Sun Moon Team can escape detection. Xiao Hongchen's metal manipulation, Meng Hongchen's ice Phoenix... The Soul-Guided Cannon array of Spirit and Dragon —all their attack routes and tactical intentions—were anticipated by Huo Yuhao in advance.
In the team fight, Sun Moon Team overwhelmingly defeated Shrek. Although Huo Yuhao didn't directly attack, his Spiritual Detection allowed each teammate to perform at 200% of their potential. Xiao Hongchen's Metal Cage trapped Ma Xiaotao, and Meng Hongchen's Ice Phoenix... Spirit froze Dai Yueheng's escape route, while Ma Ru Dragon's array of soul-guided cannons sealed off the entire arena. Shrek Team fought with all their might, but still couldn't break through. The Sun Moon Empire's defensive line.
[In the one-on-one elimination matches, Sun Moon Empire displayed terrifying roster depth. Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, Ma Ru Dragon … every player who stepped onto the stage possessed a skill level of at least the fifth ring, and each was proficient in both Spirit Tool and Spirit combat styles. On Shrek's side, many of their members were defeated by Meng Hongchen's poison, and although Dai Yueheng entered the fray, he only managed to defeat Meng Hongchen.]
[And Shrek Team had three members defeated by Meng Hongchen.]
[Since the finalists cannot be changed once confirmed, Shrek Team is now left with only Bei Bei, Ma Xiaotao, Xu Sanshi, and Ling Luochen.]
[Of the four, only Ma Xiaotao is at the Spirit Emperor level, but even she is no match for everyone in the Sun Moon Empire. In her match against Ma Ru Dragon, she was also corrupted by evil.]
[In the end, Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy cleanly defeated the final with a score of 2-0.]
[ The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament welcomes a new champion.]
...
Black World, Douluo Continent.
Inside the tavern, the people looked at the Sky Screen on the right and discussed it amongst themselves.
" Sun Moon Empire won? Two to zero? Shrek hasn't won a single game?"
" Huo Yuhao of that world is terrifying in Spiritual Detection. With him around, everyone on the Sun Moon Team knows what the enemy is doing."
"But he didn't even lift a finger! He just stood there talking and beat Shrek?"
"That's the value of a top-tier support. He doesn't need to make plays; he makes his teammates stronger."
Some people lamented, "Our Huo Yuhao fought tooth and nail to help Shrek win the championship. That Huo Yuhao over there just won by standing on the sidelines and talking. They're both Huo Yuhao, how come the difference is so huge?"
...
Shrek City, Inner Court.
Yan Shaozhe stared at the Sky Screen, his expression complex: "Two to zero... that World's Shrek hasn't won a single game."
Xuan Zi paused for a moment, then slowly said, "It's not that Shrek is weak, it's that the Sun Moon Empire is too strong. Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection allowed the Sun Moon Empire's spirit tool advantage to be maximized. Without him, the Sun Moon Empire could still win, but not so easily."
Qian Duoduo sighed, " Huo Yuhao on our side also performed exceptionally well. If it weren't for him, we might not have even made it through the round-robin."
"So the powerful ones aren't the academy, but the individual Spirit Masters!"
...
White World, Sun Moon Empire, Bright Capital.
The people were in an uproar.
"Champions! Sun Moon Empire is the champion! They swept Shrek 2-0!"
" Although Venerable Ming didn't make a move, his Spiritual Detection is amazing. With him around, our Soul Engineer is like he has a Heavenly Eye."
" Shrek has dominated the Soul Fighting Tournament for so many years, but we've finally dethroned him!"
Someone laughed at Dao: " Shrek from World won, but he won badly. We won easily. That's the difference."
...
Black World, Body Sect, a secret outpost somewhere.
Sect Master Du Busi gazed at the Sky Screen, his eyes landing on Huo Yuhao. " Huo Yuhao from that world is far more talented than the one from our world. I wonder if the Body Sect from that world has made a move. If such a Genius can't join our Body Sect, it's best to eliminate him on the spot."
Elder whispered to Dao beside him, " What does Sect Master mean?"
"Me?" Du Busi shook his head and smiled bitterly. "I'm already half-crippled, what's the point? Huo Yuhao of that World has already broken through to the God King's throne, so obviously the Body Sect doesn't pose a threat to him."
"Forget it, everything changed after Sky Screen appeared. Our only goal now is to protect Sect." "As long as the Legacy and the Heaven Dou Empire's royal families survive, that's enough. We'll deal with the rest after this Sky Screen ends!"
"Hopefully, this Sky Screen will give us some breathing room!"
"Yes, Sect Master!"
...
[ In the Sky Screen, after the match, the two champion teams embarked on their respective journeys home.]
[ The Shrek Team of Black World, battered and bruised, and carrying a heavy trophy, returned to Shrek City. Xuan Zi led the way, followed by Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, Ling Luochen, and the rest of the reserve team who had fought with all their might. Huo Yuhao walked in the middle; despite his second-ring strength, no one dared to underestimate him. He carried the ice jade scorpion left arm bone he had acquired at the auction, and the Soul of Life Blade that Electrolux had processed for him. He knew this was just the beginning. The road ahead was long.]
[ The Sun Moon Team of White World returned to the Sun Moon Empire with a perfect record and a brand-new trophy. Huo Yuhao walked in the middle of the team, the spirit power of the Third Ring faintly emanating from him. In his spirit tool storage, he kept the Ice Jade Scorpion Left Arm Bone and two engraving knives, gifts from the Star Luo Empire. He had gained a great deal from this trip and could now rest and recuperate for a while after returning to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.]