Chapter 107: The Most Hopeful Year for the Sun Moon Empire!
The next morning, after breakfast, the Shrek group set out from the Star Emperor Hotel once again. Unlike before, however, there were four more figures in the team this time.
They were Ling Luochen, Ma Xiaotao, Chen Zifeng, and Dai Yueheng, whose injuries had completely recovered.
Teacher Wang walked at the very front leading the way, holding that notebook in his hand. He looked at the information on it and spoke.
"Before we head onto the stage, I'm going to tell you one last time about some key precautions regarding the knockout stage."
"First, our opponent for the round of sixteen is Zheng Tian Academy. Our luck is quite good in this regard; as long as you perform normally, we are one hundred percent guaranteed a victory. But what I want to remind you of are the rules of the knockout stage and our subsequent tactics."
Teacher Wang paused for a moment and continued, "In previous editions of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Competition, the rules of the competition for each stage were different. Especially in the final knockout stage, in order to make the competition more exciting and to allow the participating students to better showcase their strength, the format of the competition will differ from the preceding round-robin stage."
"There is no longer a need to temporarily determine the competition format through a draw. Instead, it is fixed: first, a seven-on-seven team battle is held, followed by an individual elimination match. These will be held over two days. Winning the team battle does not necessarily mean you can advance. In the subsequent individual elimination match, if the side that lost the team battle can defeat all seven of the opponent's members with just three members, they can similarly turn defeat into victory."
"Conversely, the side that won the team battle only needs to defeat three of the opponent's members with their seven members in the subsequent individual elimination match to secure the final victory. This tournament system both reflects the importance of overall team strength and gives opportunities to those teams with powerful individual strength."
Everyone seemed disinterested and indifferent toward these rules they already knew. In their view, now that they had the two Soul Emperors Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng joining them, along with the two Soul Kings Chen Zifeng and Ling Luochen, let alone the already defeated Zheng Tian Academy, even their most potent competitor, the Sun Moon Team, would be vulnerable.
Regarding the team members' reactions, Teacher Wang instinctively wanted to give a few words of warning, reminding them not to underestimate the enemy, but after thinking about it, he kept his mouth shut.
To be honest, looking across all the participating teams, he personally couldn't think of anyone who could beat them.
"Next is the tactical arrangement," Teacher Wang looked at the battle-ready Ma Xiaotao and the other three, and couldn't help but feel a headache.
"According to Lin Xuan's arrangement, all of you can take the stage for this next match to show everyone our strength. But this doesn't mean you should reveal all your trump cards. At most, you are only allowed to use thirty percent of your strength."
"Got it, got it. You've said it so many times, my ears are growing callouses." Ma Xiaotao waved her hand impatiently and yawned with tired eyes.
God knows how long she had been crouching in the corner of the wall last night listening to the movements in Ling Luochen's room; she hadn't rested well all night.
Dai Yueheng said in a relaxed tone, "Don't worry, Teacher Wang, we'll know when to stop. To be honest, with Zheng Tian Academy's strength, all of us going up is like using a cannon to hit a mosquito."
As they spoke, they had already arrived at the competition venue.
There were exceptionally many spectators at Star Luo Square today; it was practically shoulder to shoulder, a sea of people as far as the eye could see.
In the contestant rest area, however, it was noticeably much quieter. Out of over a hundred participating academies, only sixteen remained.
This was perfectly normal. The sixteen teams that remained were the representatives of the strongest Soul Master academies on the continent today.
Inside the Sun Moon Team's rest area, the moment the Shrek group arrived, Ma Rulong, the Hongchen siblings, and the other team members all immediately cast their gazes over.
After seeing the four unfamiliar faces of Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, Ling Luochen, and Chen Zifeng, Ma Rulong was first stunned, then he slowly nodded, not at all surprised.
"Shrek Academy indeed had members who hadn't taken the stage yet... Four people? Looking at it this way, did they encounter some problem on the way here that resulted in personnel losses?"
"No way, right?" Xiao Hongchen asked doubtfully. "We had Elder Ma accompanying and guarding us on the way here. How could Shrek Academy not have someone? What kind of danger could they encounter that even a Soul Douluo, or even a Titled Douluo, couldn't resolve?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone else couldn't help but nod in agreement. However, they probably wouldn't think in their wildest dreams that a mere Evil Soul Master Soul King could nearly wipe out everyone right under Xuan Zi's nose.
Meng Hongchen's gaze, however, remained fixed on Lin Xuan, though her current mood was not pleasant.
She saw that there wasn't a single boy by Lin Xuan's side. He was practically surrounded by Ning Tian, Ling Luochen, and Ma Xiaotao. The lively chatter along the way was enough to make others envious.
"As expected of the man I regard as my rival. In terms of charm, he can actually rival me!"
Meng Hongchen: "..."
Is this idiot crazy? He even wants to compete in this?
"Quiet down, all of you!"
A sharp shout suddenly rang out. A ruddy-faced, burly old man burst through the door. Seeing this, everyone instantly fell silent.
The newcomer was none other than the lead teacher of the Sun Moon Team, the eighth-class Soul Engineer, Elder Ma.
Elder Ma stared at Lin Xuan's group in the Shrek rest area, his gaze constantly shifting between them.
"Look closely, all of you. If this old man's guess is correct, the current Shrek group represents all of their participating personnel for this competition."
"If it's really like this..."
Elder Ma did not continue, but everyone understood his meaning.
If Shrek's strength ended here, then they, who had been called the'Second-Place Team' for thousands of years, had a very high probability of winning the championship.
Recalling the members of the Sun Moon Team who were full of hope in edition after edition only to eventually fail, Elder Ma's hands clenched tightly together. After a long time, he took a deep breath.
"This is the most hopeful year for our Sun Moon Empire."
Then, he turned to look at his grandson Ma Rulong, the Hongchen siblings, and all the other team members, saying word for word,
"This old man doesn't want to hear about how badly you've been injured. I want you to take that damn championship for me at any cost!"
"Yes!" the members of the Sun Moon Team shouted in unison.
...
The first match of the round of sixteen soon began, with Shrek Academy facing their old rival, Zheng Tian Academy.
The result of the match was without suspense. Zheng Tian Academy's strength was already inferior to the six members of Lin Xuan's preparatory team. This time, with the addition of Ma Xiaotao and the other three, the situation on the field became one-sided as soon as it began.
The only difference was that Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng completely ignored Teacher Wang's pre-match instructions. They opened with full power as soon as they stepped up, as if they wanted to vent all the resentment they had accumulated since the Death God Messenger incident in one go.
"White Tiger Meteor Shower!"
"White Tiger Light Wave!"
"Phoenix from the Flames!"
"Phoenix Skyward Strike!"
In an instant, Phoenix Flame and White Tiger golden light flew across the stage. Ning Tian, He Caitou, and Xu Sanshi, who had taken the stage with them, didn't know what to do. They could only stand blankly at the edge of the field, at a loss.
Ling Luochen and Chen Zifeng, who had originally intended to hold back, couldn't help but feel a bit restless upon seeing this. Although they didn't go all out, they still used fifty percent of their strength.
Thus, this round of sixteen matchup, which should have been a strong confrontation and full of highlights, ended in a total rout for Zheng Tian Academy in just three minutes.
When the referee announced Shrek Academy's victory, a mountain-like roar of cheers suddenly erupted from the previously silent spectator stands!
Countless Shrek fans who had been suppressed for a long time felt an unprecedented sense of relief at this moment. The Shrek they were familiar with had officially returned at this moment.
"Did you see that?! Did you see that!!!" A red-faced Fatty stood on his seat, wildly waving his fists.
"This is the true strength of my Great Shrek! What Zheng Tian Academy, what three Soul Kings? They're all trash in the face of three minutes!"
People nearby joined in the jeering, "Sun Moon Team, come out and take a few steps! Weren't you always bragging that this edition is the most hopeful? Where's the hope? Where's the hope?!"
These words immediately ignited a section of the area not far away.
A middle-aged man wearing the Sun Moon battle robe stood up abruptly, his face ashen. "So noisy! What else can you Shrek fans do besides brag? The Sun Moon Team hasn't lost a single match so far! Not a single match!"
"Exactly!" someone nearby echoed. "Being able to win this match is just good luck from drawing Zheng Tian Academy! Wait until you encounter our Sun Moon Team; let's see if you can still laugh then!"
"Hahahaha!" The Shrek fans erupted in exaggerated laughter. "Zheng Tian Academy is a defeated opponent? Isn't your Sun Moon Team also a perennial second-place? You've been losing for nearly ten thousand years; what right do you have to bark here?"
"You!"
"You what? Go back and look through your academy's trophy room. Are the runner-up trophies almost overflowing? How about we Shrek lend you a few cabinets?"
"Holy shit!"
The shouting match between the two sides grew more and more intense, almost escalating from a verbal spat to a physical conflict. In the end, it was the City Defense Army maintaining order that arrived to forcibly separate the two groups.
Inside the Shrek rest area.
Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng had just returned, the excitement on their faces not yet faded, when they were met with a harsh scolding from Teacher Wang.
"You! You!"
Teacher Wang's face was flushed red, and his fingers were trembling with anger.
"I shouldn't have let you take the stage in the first place! It was Lin Xuan who stood against all opinions and said to let you release some steam, so I reluctantly agreed! And the result?!"
He slammed the table hard. "What did you do as a result?! You went full power right from the start! White Tiger Meteor Shower! Phoenix Skyward Strike! Why didn't you throw out your sixth spirit abilities too?! How are we supposed to plan for the upcoming matches?! All our opponents have seen your strength clearly now!"
Dai Yueheng rubbed his nose sheepishly and lowered his head in embarrassment. "Teacher Wang, that... sorry, I didn't control myself."
Ma Xiaotao, however, curled her lips indifferently and glanced sideways at Teacher Wang. "Fine, fine. It's just exposing a bit of strength. What's the big deal? The championship is ours sooner or later anyway; what does it matter if they see it clearly?"
"You—!"
Teacher Wang couldn't catch his breath, his face turning even redder. He clutched his chest and gasped for air, looking as if he might pass out at any moment.
The atmosphere froze for a moment. Then, Lin Xuan spoke. His voice wasn't loud, but it made Ma Xiaotao instinctively sit up straight.
"Senior Xiaotao, you were in the wrong this time. You need to apologize to Teacher Wang."
Ma Xiaotao opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but was cut off by Lin Xuan's next words.
"However, it is also understandable." Lin Xuan's tone remained calm as his gaze swept over Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng.
"Ultimately, hiding one's strength is a manifestation of a lack of confidence in one's own power. As long as you are strong enough, if you want to take the championship, you just need to crush all your opponents."
As soon as these words came out, everyone's expressions softened a bit. Dai Yueheng nodded thoughtfully, and Chen Zifeng and Ling Luochen were also slightly moved.
Ma Xiaotao pursed her lips, wanting to say more, but meeting Lin Xuan's gaze—a gaze that wasn't exactly stern but somehow made her feel inexplicably guilty.
She turned her head away and muttered reluctantly,
"...Fine, fine. I'm sorry, okay?"
Teacher Wang was stunned for a moment, and his face finally relaxed. He took a few deep breaths to calm his emotions and waved his hand.
"Forget it, forget it. You all go back to the hotel and rest first. I'll stay here to continue gathering intelligence on our future opponents."
Hearing this, everyone stood up and left in small groups.
Ma Xiaotao walked to the door, looked back at Lin Xuan, hesitated to speak, and finally followed Dai Yueheng and the others out.
Ning Tian walked to Lin Xuan's side and asked softly, "Aren't you leaving?"
Lin Xuan shook his head. "I have some business. You go back first."
Ning Tian looked at him, and seeing that Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luochen had both left, she was no longer worried. She turned and followed the others out of the rest area.
After everyone had gone far, Lin Xuan walked over to Teacher Wang.
"Teacher Wang."
Teacher Wang was looking down, recording something in his notebook. He looked up upon hearing him.
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
"The next one on stage is Star Luo Imperial Academy, right?"
Wang Yan nodded and smiled, "Exactly. Why, are you interested in this team?"
Lin Xuan didn't answer, instead asking casually, "Oh, by the way, any news of Elder Xuan? Has he come to the Star Luo Empire yet?"
Wang Yan was stunned for a moment, then sighed, "No, not a word."
He put down his pen, his brow furrowed with worry, "To be honest, in this foreign land, without a powerhouse like Elder Xuan overseeing things, my heart... is always a bit uneasy."
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Lin Xuan didn't respond; he simply looked up toward the Soul Fighting Platform.
There, the members of the Star Luo Imperial Academy were entering. Leading them was a golden figure—Princess Xu Jiujiu.
Dressed in military attire and looking valiant, she was arranging tactics for her teammates with a focused and serious expression.
Seeing this, a meaningful smile slowly curled at the corners of Lin Xuan's mouth.
...
Night fell.
On the top floor of a high-rise in the northeast corner of Star Luo City.
The night wind was biting, making clothes flap loudly. Princess Xu Jiujiu arrived alone, eventually standing at the edge of the rooftop, her long golden hair dancing in the wind.
Her eyes were nervous, and even her fingers were trembling. She glanced around, but saw no one; only the lights of Star Luo Square in the distance faintly illuminated the night sky.
Princess Xu Jiujiu took a deep breath and looked back once more.
Still no one.
Could it be... she was early? Or was he lying to her?
"Long time no see."
A familiar voice rang out eerily from behind her.
Princess Xu Jiujiu's heart leaped, nearly jumping out of her throat. She spun around to see a figure standing with his hands behind his back, less than three meters away.
White hair, blue eyes, and that faint, mocking curve of the lips—it was particularly striking in the darkness.
The Fallen Heaven Douluo, or more accurately, Lin Xuan.
Princess Xu Jiujiu instinctively took half a step back. She took a deep breath to calm herself, then bowed.
"Greetings, Fallen Heaven Mianxia."
"We're old acquaintances, why so formal?"
Lin Xuan waved his hand dismissively, then turned to look at the vast Star Luo City, where the lights were bright and the crowds were bustling.
"After waiting so long, it's time for me to get what I want."
"Furthermore..." Lin Xuan's gaze suddenly turned cold. Addressing the empty night sky, he spoke indifferently.
"Hiding away like cowards—is this how the Star Luo Empire treats its guests?"
"Guests? Since when do Evil Soul Masters count as guests?"
A cold voice suddenly rang out, interrupting Lin Xuan.
In the night sky, the void distorted, and six figures emitting powerful auras emerged one by one, surrounding Lin Xuan in a pincer formation!
Shattering Star Douluo, Heavenly Fiend Douluo, Giant Hammer Douluo, Giant Strength Douluo, Medicine Fairy Douluo, and Nebula Douluo!
The six High Priests of the Star Luo Imperial Family had come out in full force!
Led by the strongest, Shattering Star Douluo and Medicine Fairy Douluo, the six stood in the night sky. Their Soul Power surged, and the pressure of Titled Douluo bore down on Lin Xuan like a tide.
"Oh? Out in full force?"
Lin Xuan stood his ground, unmoving. Instead, he chuckled softly.
"Are you all planning to make a move against me?"
"Evil Soul Masters are to be executed by everyone," Shattering Star Douluo said coldly, a chilling light flickering in his deep eyes.
Medicine Fairy Douluo, Wang Xianer, took half a step forward and stared intently at Lin Xuan, saying bluntly:
"Don't even think about using Her Highness the Princess as a threat. To tell you the truth, I have checked her body several times and found no abnormalities whatsoever."
She paused, emphasizing every word.
"In other words, from beginning to end, you have been nothing but a bluff."
Hearing this, Lin Xuan didn't panic; instead, he shook his head gently.
He could see that Shattering Star Douluo and the others were merely testing him. They wanted to see if the measures he had placed on Princess Xu Jiujiu actually existed.
Otherwise, if they really intended to strike, why would they have let Princess Xu Jiujiu come in person and risk herself?
Clap, clap, clap.
Lin Xuan clapped his hands lightly, as if applauding this brilliant probe.
Then he turned to look at the pale Princess Xu Jiujiu and shook his head with feigned heartache.
"Princess, is this how you treat me?"
Lin Xuan's tone carried a hint of resentment, as if his heart had truly been wounded.
"I treated you with total sincerity. As long as you gave me the 100,000-Year Spirit Beast Embryo, wouldn't I have removed the threat inside you?"
"I..."
Princess Xu Jiujiu opened her mouth, her mind a complete blank.
She didn't know it would turn out like this. It was supposed to be according to their agreement: she would meet Lin Xuan, they would trade, and both would get what they needed.
Who would have thought it would escalate to this?
The six High Priests had appeared out of nowhere, and the atmosphere was so tense it felt like a fight would break out at any second.
"Enough."
The smile on Lin Xuan's face gradually faded, and a cold light flashed in his eyes.
"You are all Titled Douluo. Telling lies meant for children is quite boring."
Before his voice could fade, a terrifying sense of oppression suddenly descended from the heavens!
Boom—!
In the night sky, a massive and pale giant shadow crashed down!
Divergent Sila Divine General · Mahoraga!
It was over ten zhang tall, entirely pale, with six wings on its back. A pitch-black giant sword was wrapped around its right forearm, and the Dharma Wheel of Adaptation sat atop its head. Its face had four wings, giving it a strange yet majestic appearance like a god or demon. Simply standing there, it brought a terrifying pressure that seemed to freeze the soul.
Simultaneously, a crimson Soul Ring slowly rose from beneath Lin Xuan's feet.
Upon that Soul Ring, four golden patterns were flowing slowly, breathing as if they were alive.
Crimson as blood, with four golden patterns.
Four hundred thousand years!!!
"This... this is..."
Shattering Star Douluo's pupils constricted to pinpricks, and the composure on Medicine Fairy Douluo's face instantly froze.
Heavenly Fiend Douluo, Giant Hammer Douluo, Giant Strength Douluo, and Nebula Douluo—all four Titled Douluo were now frozen in place, as if a Entanglement spell had been cast on them.
A 400,000-year Soul Ring!!!
All six of them were experts at the Titled Douluo level, so they naturally knew what this represented.
A 400,000-year Soul Beast was a terrifying existence even stronger than the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion, ranked seventh among the Ten Great Savage Beasts!
Even if the six of them joined forces, they might not be a match for a Soul Beast of that level.
Yet such a world-destroying savage beast had actually... become the Fallen Heaven Douluo's Soul Ring?!
Then how terrifying must the Fallen Heaven Douluo himself be?
Rank 97?
Rank 98?
Or...
Rank 99?
They didn't dare think further.
The night wind was biting, making the robes of the six Titled Douluo flap loudly, yet not one of them dared to move.
Lin Xuan's gaze slowly swept across their six stiff faces, a cold sneer curling his lips.
"Whether the methods I used on the Princess are real or fake—does it matter?"
"What if I don't have a hostage?"
He raised his hand slightly, pointing at the six Titled Douluo, and said word by word:
"If I wish to start a massacre, who in the entire Star Luo Empire... can stop me?!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of the six Titled Douluo changed in unison.
Shattering Star Douluo opened his mouth, but found he couldn't say a single word.
Indeed, what if the threat was fake? What if they didn't have Princess Xu Jiujiu as a hostage? Could they win?
They couldn't. They simply couldn't.
The owner of a 400,000-year Soul Ring was at least a Rank 98 Super Douluo. Even if the six of them combined, they wouldn't be enough to handle him with one hand.
The scene fell into a dead silence for a moment.
Just then, Princess Xu Jiujiu took a deep breath and stepped forward.
"Lords Priests, today's matter is an agreement between me and His Excellency Fallen Heaven."
"Please... step back for now."
Shattering Star Douluo's brow furrowed as he looked at Princess Xu Jiujiu.
"Your Highness..."
"Step back," Princess Xu Jiujiu interrupted him, her gaze firm.
The six High Priests looked at each other and finally withdrew their Soul Power, taking half a step back, though they did not leave.
Watching this, the coldness on Lin Xuan's face suddenly melted away. He turned to face Princess Xu Jiujiu and reached out to gently stroke her cheek with an extremely tender motion.
"The Princess is indeed sensible."
His tone also became soft, a complete contrast to the overbearing aura from moments ago.
"I wouldn't want these foolish matters to affect the relationship between us."
Princess Xu Jiujiu's body stiffened slightly, her heart rate spiked, and a faint blush crept onto her ears. Seeing this, the eyes of the six High Priests twitched in unison.
Wait... is the relationship between you two... a bit off?
Why does it look like... something is going on?
If that's really the case, then we look like total clowns!
Shattering Star Douluo cleared his throat, stepped forward, and took something out of his storage soul tool.
It was a white tray with a wooden stand on it, encrusted with at least a hundred various gemstones. Above this small wooden stand, a mass of air was fluctuating slightly.
This mass of air appeared white. Its soft white color didn't make one feel any power, yet the air was condensed and did not dissipate, faintly surging back and forth as if trying to break through.
The wooden stand beneath it constantly emitted a layer of pale gold light, enveloping it and preventing any breakthrough.
The Rank 9 spirit tool, God-Sealing Platform, and the 100,000-Year Spirit Beast Embryo.
To be precise, it was the Snow Empress embryo.
"Your Excellency Fallen Heaven," Shattering Star Douluo said solemnly, "The item you want is here."
Lin Xuan's gaze fell upon the embryo, a flash of excitement passing deep within his eyes. His face remained calm as he reached out to take it and put it into his storage soul tool.
"Very good."
Princess Xu Jiujiu looked at him expectantly, hesitated, and then asked:
"Your Excellency Fallen Heaven, then... the thing inside me..."
Lin Xuan turned to look at her without speaking, a meaningful smile slowly curling on his lips.
That smile caused Princess Xu Jiujiu's face to freeze instantly, and she immediately realized the truth.
It was a lie!
He was just tricking them!
The six High Priests were also speechless. It really was a lie... was there not a single word of truth from this Fallen Heaven Douluo's mouth?
But thinking about it carefully, so what if the threat was fake?
Could they beat Fallen Heaven?
Lin Xuan withdrew his gaze and turned to leave.
"Your Excellency Fallen Heaven."
Princess Xu Jiujiu's voice suddenly rang out. Lin Xuan paused, but did not turn around.
"We have checked," Princess Xu Jiujiu's voice carried through the night wind. "The title of Fallen Heaven Douluo has never committed any sins in the nearly hundred-year history of the Douluo Continent."
She paused and continued, "I don't know if you truly haven't done evil, or if you are using a fake identity now, but regardless..."
She took a deep breath, her eyes determined. "As long as you join our Star Luo Empire, we will no longer pursue the responsibility for the Star Crown Auction House."
"And you, Fallen Heaven Douluo, will be clean."
The six High Priests remained silent. This was exactly what Xu Jiawei had thought before: to recruit the Fallen Heaven Douluo into the Star Luo Empire.
As for the identity of an Evil Soul Master? Sorry, if the Imperial Family says he's a righteous Soul Master, who would dare object!
Lin Xuan was silent for a moment, and then he laughed.
"I'll consider it. Perhaps if I'm interested in the future, I'll come to your Star Luo Empire as a guest."
Princess Xu Jiujiu was stunned. However, just as Lin Xuan was preparing to retreat, an old voice full of fury suddenly exploded in the night sky!
"To think that the dignified Star Luo Imperial Family would one day collude with an Evil Soul Master!"
The expressions of the six High Priests changed in unison, and they sharply looked toward the source of the voice.
In the night sky, a slovenly figure had appeared at some point, staring fixedly at them, his cloudy old eyes filled with anger and disappointment.
It was the Gluttonous Douluo, Xuan Zi.
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