While academies across the continent were busy preparing for the upcoming Soul Master Tournament to be held six months later, the Sun Moon Empire suddenly announced a new decree.
This year's tournament, to be hosted in Mingdu, would allow sect forces to send their own representative teams to participate!
When this news spread throughout the continent, all the academies were caught off guard, while the sects themselves were in utter shock.
Since the establishment of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Battle Tournament ten thousand years ago, no sect had ever been permitted to participate. The Sun Moon Empire's decision instantly drew overwhelming support and praise from countless sects.
Sects such as the Clear Sky Sect, the Body Sect, and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect were renowned throughout the land, but they were only a handful among thousands. Most sects were not exactly unknown, but neither were they famous — and now they were being given the chance to shine in front of the entire soul master world.
How could they possibly refuse?
Some academies did raise protests to the Sun Moon Empire, but most of them were weaker institutions to begin with.
As for those protests, the Sun Moon Empire simply turned a deaf ear.
At Shrek Academy, Elder Xuan and Yan Shaozhe gathered the official members of the upcoming tournament team.
Among them stood Jiang Shengyu, Jiang Qingtong, and Beibei. Ning Tian, who had awakened the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, had also been selected as an official team member.
The remaining three members were Xiaoxiao, Jiang Feixin, and Xu Sanshi.
The lineup had been chosen personally by Yan Shaozhe, who naturally favored martial soul specialists over soul engineers.
Moreover, since He Caitou had shut himself away in the Soul Engineering Department after being heavily discouraged by Xiao Hongchen and his team in the previous tournament, he was not considered this time.
Elder Xuan stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the seven before him.
"You've all heard about the Sun Moon Empire's change to the tournament rules, yes? This time will be different. The sects will be joining in — and unlike academies, their fighters are far more ruthless and pragmatic in battle."
After all, academy competitors were still students. Sect disciples, however, came from all sorts of backgrounds — no one could predict what hidden methods they might possess.
"Therefore, to toughen your combat readiness, I've arranged for some of your seniors from the Inner Court to serve as your sparring partners."
As Elder Xuan said this, he waved his hand. From behind him and Yan Shaozhe stepped out several figures.
Zhang Lexuan, Han Ruoruo, and Wu Ming walked in front, followed by Ling Luochen, Dai Yueheng, and Mo Xuan — six Inner Court elites.
Xu Sanshi quickly counted and frowned.
"Elder Xuan, that doesn't add up! There are seven of us and only six of them — isn't that unfair?"
Elder Xuan snorted coldly.
"Brat, do you really think you can beat them?"
Han Ruoruo cast him a playful glance and smiled.
"Little junior, don't underestimate us."
Beibei whispered urgently,
"Sanshi, apologize! That's Senior Han Ruoruo — a Seven-Ring Soul Sage!"
The moment he heard "Soul Sage," Xu Sanshi immediately straightened up and bowed his head in apology.
"Shaozhe, explain the match rules to them,"
Elder Xuan instructed.
Yan Shaozhe nodded and stepped forward.
"The rules are simple — you're not allowed to attack Mo Xuan."
"That's me,"
Mo Xuan said cheerfully, pointing to himself in the corner.
Xu Sanshi and the others were puzzled by this rule, but Yan Shaozhe offered no explanation. Instead, he motioned for both sides to take their positions and prepare for battle.
Zhang Lexuan's cultivation had already reached the eight-ring Soul Douluo level, and she even possessed a hundred-thousand-year soul ring — her strength was terrifying.
Below her, Han Ruoruo and Wu Ming were both Seven-Ring Soul Sages. Ling Luochen, since her battle with Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong, had broken through to the sixth ring, becoming a Soul Emperor. Though her martial soul hadn't evolved into an Ultimate Ice variant, her cultivation had advanced rapidly.
Dai Yueheng's soul power had reached Level 71, and he was set to graduate from the Inner Court after this tournament — helping Jiang Shengyu's team train was to be his final graduation task.
As soon as the mock battle began, Mo Xuan's aura flared, enveloping his teammates in radiance. Zhang Lexuan gave Jiang Shengyu's group no chance to react — her hundred-thousand-year soul ring shone scarlet, and she charged straight at them.
The full might of a Soul Douluo burst forth!
Ning Tian immediately activated her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, granting support buffs to her teammates. Everyone leapt into action: Beibei and Xu Sanshi joined forces against Wu Ming and Ling Luochen, while Xiaoxiao and Jiang Feixin faced Han Ruoruo and Dai Yueheng.
As for the strongest — Zhang Lexuan herself — she was left to Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong.
However, the siblings did not intend to use their martial soul fusion skill at this stage. They relied solely on their mastery of martial souls and soul skills to contend with her directly.
This kind of training became their daily routine.
Through countless battles, Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong refined their control over their power. From initial defeats, they gradually extended their endurance — eventually reaching the point where they could stalemate against Zhang Lexuan.
Their progress shocked everyone once again.
Though their soul power levels hadn't increased, they could now hold their own against a Soul Douluo with a hundred-thousand-year soul ring.
Time flew by amid this intense regimen. In the blink of an eye, only one month remained before the Soul Master Tournament. Elder Xuan and Yan Shaozhe, seeing how hard they'd worked, finally granted them a rare break.
Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong took the chance to stroll leisurely through Shrek City.
Suddenly, they stopped short — someone appeared before them.
It was Wang Dong'er, who had vanished without a trace since the Sea God Fate Matchmaking Festival. Behind her stood two towering men whose imposing auras immediately drew attention.
The human forms of the Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape — Niu Tian and Titan!
They had come from Clear Sky Castle to Shrek Academy?
What was going on?
"I have something important to discuss with you,"
Wang Dong'er said quickly, leading the two of them toward a small roadside tea stall.
Jiang Shengyu glanced at the two giants behind her and, after a moment's thought, did not refuse.
Once seated, Wang Dong'er ordered tea and refreshments. Jiang Qingtong, puzzled by the formal atmosphere, asked,
"Wang Dong'er, what is it you wish to say? If this is about the Sea God Fate event, I don't believe there was any misunderstanding between us."
Titan snorted coldly.
"Funny, we didn't see any 'special relationship' back at Clear Sky Castle!"
"And what's wrong with our relationship?"
Jiang Shengyu shot back, frowning.
"Are we supposed to announce to everyone we meet that we're not siblings but lovers? Isn't that ridiculous?"
"Easy there, young man,"
Niu Tian said, patting Titan's shoulder to calm him down. Then he turned to the two calmly.
"We're not here to argue. There's something important we wish to entrust to you both."
"Entrust?"
Jiang Shengyu's brows knitted.
"What is it?"
Niu Tian sighed deeply.
"It's about Dong'er. Before her parents passed, they asked us to take care of her. But her body has always been… unusual. And lately, the problem has worsened. It's reached the point where only the powers of an Ultimate Ice and an Ultimate Fire soul master can suppress it."
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