Above the Sky Screen, light and shadow flowed.
In the Black World scene on the left, the Shrek Team stepped into Star Luo City; in the White World scene on the right, the Sun Moon Team was also heading toward the same city.
[Black World, Star Luo City, the venue for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament.]
[The streets were decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and the crowds were surging. Spirit Masters, merchants, and commoners from all over the continent gathered here to witness this grand event that happened once every three years. A huge banner hung above the city gate, reading "Welcome, Talented Students from Major Academies."]
[However, amidst this bustle, one team appeared exceptionally silent.]
[Shrek Team.]
[Teacher Wang Yan walked at the very front of the team, his expression calm, showing no emotion. But the frequency with which he pushed up his glasses was twice as high as usual.]
["We have arrived." Teacher Wang Yan stopped his steps.]
[Huo Yuhao looked up. Before him was a magnificent restaurant. The rooms they were staying in were the best decorated; that was Shrek's glory, preserving the last bit of dignity for them.]
[However, when walking into the courtyard, everyone fell silent. The rooms were large enough and luxurious enough, but the people who should have been living here were the selected team members. And now...]
["Don't think too much." Teacher Wang Yan smiled rarely, "Get settled first, I'm going to draw lots."]
[When he turned to leave, his back looked somewhat desolate.]
...
Black World, Douluo Continent.
In the tavern, the commoners looked at the Sky Screen with complex expressions.
"Shrek is really in a difficult spot this time. Three of the selected team members are dead and four are seriously injured; only these few reserve team kids are left to shoulder the burden."
"But people outside don't know that. They all think Shrek is training their troops and being arrogant. Who could have imagined the truth is so tragic?"
"That expression on Teacher Wang Yan... He is a teacher, he can't collapse, he can only hold on."
Someone sighed: "These children, it hasn't been easy for them. How old is Huo Yuhao? He has to carry such a heavy burden."
"This is fate. In the other World, he is treated like a treasure in the Sun Moon Empire. Here on our side, he is a pillar of Shrek."
Inside the Tang Sect.
Black World Huo Yuhao looked at Teacher Wang Yan, who was pretending to be calm on the Sky Screen, and a bitter smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
He remembered those days. Teacher Wang Yan carried all the pressure by himself, pretending to be relaxed in front of them, but behind their backs, he was so worried he couldn't sleep all night.
"Thank you for your hard work, Teacher Wang." He murmured.
...
[After Teacher Wang Yan returned, he told everyone the results of the draw.]
["First round, knockout stage. The opponent is Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy. 7v7, lose and you are eliminated."]
[The reserve members looked at each other. A knockout stage, there is no room for error. If they lose, it is truly over.]
["But—we will not lose." Teacher Wang Yan walked to the tactical board and began to analyze the opponent. Tianling Academy, the captain has four rings, and the other members have three four-ringers and three three-ringers. Their strength is average, belonging to the lower-middle tier in the tournament.]
["With your strength, you can win even if you fight normally." Teacher Wang Yan pushed up his glasses, "But what we want is not just a win, but a crushing victory."]
["Shrek's signboard cannot be tarnished in our hands."]
[Everyone was silent.]
["I have an idea." Huo Yuhao suddenly spoke.]
[Everyone looked at him.]
["Simulation Spirit Ability." Huo Yuhao said slowly, "I can simulate six 100,000-year spirit rings to create a visual shock. When the opponent sees this formation, their mentality will collapse halfway first."]
[Wang Dong's eyes lit up: "And then we take the opportunity to use our Spirit Fusion Skill to decide the victory in one strike?"]
[Huo Yuhao nodded.]
[Everyone looked at each other, fighting Spirit igniting in their eyes.]
...
Black World, Douluo Continent.
In the tavern, the commoners were invigorated.
"Simulating 100,000-year spirit rings? This move is ruthless enough!"
"A twelve or thirteen-year-old child with six 100,000-year spirit rings, anyone would be stunned."
"And then a Spirit Fusion Skill to win in one strike! This tactic is perfect!"
Someone exclaimed: "This kid Huo Yuhao, his brain really works well. In this situation, others would have panicked long ago, but he can still come up with such a method."
White World, after hearing Huo Yuhao's plan, many people started discussing:
"Can a Simulation Spirit Ability be used like this? Aren't they afraid of being discovered?"
"Huo Yuhao has the aura of the Ice Empress, simulating it won't be a problem!"
"This ability is really great! But in this way, even if they win, what will they do in the next match? After all, their selected members still need quite a bit of time to recover!"
...
[The day of the match, Arena No. 1.]
[Tens of thousands of spectators filled every seat. When the Shrek Team walked onto the arena, low murmurs erupted at the scene.]
["Why are they all children? Where are the selected team members?"]
["I heard they are on a mission and couldn't come. This is the reserve team, here to train."]
["Training? Isn't Shrek too arrogant?"]
["They have the capital to be arrogant, is that any of your business?"]
[Doubts, ridicule, and expectations followed one after another. However, the moment Huo Yuhao released his Spirit—]
[The whole arena went dead silent.]
[One, two, three, four, five, six. Six spirit rings were neatly arranged on his body. Every single one was red. 100,000-year spirit rings!]
["This... how is this possible?!"]
["A twelve or thirteen-year-old child, six 100,000-year spirit rings?!"]
["What kind of monster is this Shrek?!"]
[The members of Tianling Academy were dumbfounded, their spirit tools almost falling to the ground. Their captain swallowed, his voice trembling: "Steady! That... that might be fake!"]
["Fake? Can you simulate 100,000-year spirit rings?!"]
[Just at the moment they were arguing endlessly—]
[Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong moved simultaneously.]
[A huge golden vertical eye appeared out of thin air above the arena, and a beam of light mixed with blue, purple, and gold colors spanned dozens of meters, striking the members of Tianling Academy directly!]
["Spirit Fusion Skill—Withering in Brilliance, Golden Road!"]
[Wherever the light passed, the spirit rings on the Tianling Academy members instantly vanished, and their Spirits were forcibly sealed. They stood blankly on the spot, without even the strength to resist.]
["Shrek Academy, victory!"]
[The referee's voice sounded in the silence, and the whole arena erupted in earth-shattering cheers!]
...
Black World, Douluo Continent.
In the tavern, the commoners were boiling with excitement.
"They won! One strike victory!"
"Six 100,000-year spirit rings plus a Spirit Fusion Skill, who can withstand this?"
"Those people from Tianling Academy probably have psychological shadows for the rest of their lives."
Someone laughed: "The key is, no one knows about the injury of the Shrek selected members. Other academies seeing this formation must think Shrek is intentionally hiding their strength, and their mentality for the following matches will be different."
"This is Teacher Wang Yan's strategy. Showing weakness to the enemy is not as good as showing strength."
Shrek City, Inner Court.
Xuan Zi looked at the young man standing in the center of the arena on the Sky Screen, a look of gratification flashing in his eyes.
Yan Shaozhe sighed: "This battle has brought out Shrek's prestige. Now everyone will re-evaluate the strength of this reserve team."
Qian Duoduo nodded: "The key is, no one knows the truth. Other academies seeing this formation must think Shrek still has hidden cards, and they won't dare to act rashly."
Inside the Tang Sect.
Black World Huo Yuhao looked at his high-spirited self on the Sky Screen, a smile appearing on the corner of his mouth. He remembered that match. That was the first time they proved themselves in the spotlight.
"Well done." He murmured.
...
Meanwhile, White World, Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy team also started to move.
[Outside Star Luo City, a team was driving slowly.]
[The flags on the carriages fluttered in the wind, embroidered with the emblem of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. At the very front of the team, an old man with white hair rode on a horse, his complexion ruddy, his Spirit vigorous. He wore a deep blue robe, with a golden badge pinned to his chest—the mark of a Level 9 Soul Engineer.]
[Virtuous Hall, Ma Jie, Level 9 Soul Engineer, nine-ring Titled Douluo.]
[Behind him were the selected members of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.]
[And at the very back of the team, a young man was lifting the curtain of the carriage, looking curiously at the distant city wall.]
[Huo Yuhao. Level 4 Soul Engineer. Three-ring spirit power. The youngest, the weakest in strength, yet the most focused person in this team.]
...
White World, Sun Moon Empire, Bright Capital.
The commoners looked at the Sky Screen and started discussing excitedly.
"Venerable Ming has arrived! He's at Star Luo City!"
"Ma Lao is leading the team personally? It seems the academy attaches great importance to this competition."
"That goes without saying, this is the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament. Our Sun Moon Empire is going to take the championship!"
Black World, Douluo Continent.
In the tavern, the commoners looked at the Sky Screen on the right with complex expressions.
"Huo Yuhao from that World is here to compete."
"Huo Yuhao from our side is also here to compete. But one represents Shrek, and the other represents the Sun Moon Empire."
"He's already a three-ringer, it will take us quite some time here!"
Someone said softly: "This is fate."
"It's not fate, it's a choice."
...
[Along the way, Huo Yuhao was well taken care of.]
["Little Yuhao, come, have a fruit." Xiao Hongchen threw a Spirit fruit over, saying with a grin, "Eat more, grow stronger."]
["Thank you, Senior Brother Xiao." Huo Yuhao took the fruit and showed a harmless smile.]
[Meng Hongchen rolled her eyes at her brother from the side: "Stop teasing him. Yuhao, are you tired on the road?"]
["It's okay." Huo Yuhao shook his head obediently, "Thank you for your concern, Senior Sister Meng."]
[Chen Fei patted his shoulder: "When we arrive at Star Luo City, follow us, don't run around."]
["I know." Huo Yuhao nodded, "I will be careful."]
[Everyone looked at this obedient young man with kindness in their eyes. They all knew this child had a bright future. A Level 4 Soul Engineer, three-ring spirit power, and inventor of various new types of spirit tools—such a person would definitely stand at the highest point of the Sun Moon Empire in the future.]
[Even the usually cold and arrogant Xiao Hongchen looked at Huo Yuhao differently. "This kid is interesting." He said privately to Meng Hongchen, "Looks harmless, but is very clear-headed."]
...
White World, Sun Moon Empire, Bright Capital.
"Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen are both quite good to Venerable Ming."
"Nonsense, with Venerable Ming's strength and talent, who wouldn't want to be on good terms with him?"
"Harmless? Venerable Ming is pretending! When he gets ruthless, even a Spirit Saint gets subdued!"
Black World, Douluo Continent.
The atmosphere in the tavern was a bit subtle.
"Huo Yuhao from that World... is treated like a treasure."
"What about Huo Yuhao from our side? Working like a horse at Shrek."
"This is the gap."
Someone said softly: "But they are both the same person..."
No one answered.
...
[Star Luo City, Sun Moon Team base.]
[After settling down, Huo Yuhao inquired about the news of Shrek Academy for the first time.]
["Shrek? I heard the selected members are on a secret mission, and this time the reserve team is here." Chen Fei said casually, "Everyone outside is rumored that Shrek is training troops, reserving talent for the next session. Why, are you interested in them?"]
[Huo Yuhao nodded: "I want to see and learn."]
[On the day of the match, Huo Yuhao sat in the audience, his gaze fixed on the arena.]
[The Shrek Team appeared. Seven people, generally young, the oldest no more than fifteen or sixteen. Walking at the very front was a young man with a gentle face—Bei Bei, the captain of the reserve team.]
[Huo Yuhao's gaze swept across the team. There was no one with the same name as him. There was no Wang Dong. There wasn't even a decent lower-grade student.]
["Sure enough..." He murmured.]
[He had guessed it long ago. If he didn't go to Shrek Academy, it meant that Shrek Academy's younger generation didn't have him. In this way, the lower-grade students in Shrek Academy's internal qualifiers wouldn't even have the qualifications to participate.]
[After all, without his Spiritual Detection Sharing and Spirit Fusion Skill, it was very normal that Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao wouldn't appear in the Shrek Team.]
[Huo Yuhao withdrew his gaze and sighed softly.]
["What a pity."]
...
White World, Sun Moon Empire, Bright Capital.
"What is Venerable Ming looking at? Who is he looking for?"
"He should be looking at who is in the Shrek Team. He is curious about this number one academy on the continent."
"What a pity, that World doesn't have him. There isn't even a decent lower-grade student in Shrek's team."
...
Black World, Douluo Continent.
In the tavern, the commoners looked at the sighing young man on the right Sky Screen, their hearts filled with mixed feelings.
"He is looking at the Shrek Team. He wants to see what Shrek looks like without him."
"He saw it. A pieced-together team, not even with lower-grade students."
"Does he know Wang Dong? The girl who stood side by side with Huo Yuhao in our World?"
"He should know. He is looking, but he didn't find her."
Someone said softly: "He has everything in the other World. He has nothing on our side."
Black World, Shrek Academy.
Yan Shaozhe and others looked at the actions of White World Huo Yuhao, a bit puzzled. They didn't know why Huo Yuhao from that World would be so interested in Shrek Academy; normally, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy should have some information internally.
...
Shrek City, Tang Sect.
Huo Yuhao looked at the actions of the other himself, his brows slightly raised, and then fell into deep thought.
A guess emerged inexplicably in his heart, a guess he didn't dare to imagine at all.