In the meeting room led by Wang Yan, the Shrek members sat with bewildered expressions. Most seemed dazed, struggling to process what they had just witnessed. Everyone exchanged glances, witnessing the same disbelief mirrored in each other's eyes.
"Ahem, well... love is free, you know. Let's try to be understanding," Wang Yan coughed awkwardly, forcing out a dry remark.
"Understand, understand."
Bei Bei let out a sheepish laugh, although his back was already drenched in cold sweat. Honestly, he was panicking a bit.
He had always been on good terms with Xu Sanshi before this, but who would have thought Xu Sanshi was harboring such hidden preferences?
If Xu Sanshi ever lost his mind and set his sights on him, wouldn't that be disastrous?
Bei Bei shuddered just thinking about it. Thankfully, he discovered Xu Sanshi's... quirks in time.
Otherwise, who knows what might have happened to him someday?
"What exactly happened? Why does everyone look so weird?"
Jiang Nannan looked confused, completely oblivious to the situation. She hadn't seen what had transpired since she had spent the previous night preoccupied with thoughts of Su Yu, only managing to fall asleep late. Having just finished getting ready, she had now walked out.
Zhang Lexuan leaned closer to Jiang Nannan and whispered a brief explanation. In truth, she hadn't seen it herself either; she simply wasn't interested.
The only person who could catch her attention was elsewhere. But based on Wang Yan's comments and the strange expressions of the others, she could more or less piece together what had happened.
Zhang Lexuan was speechless. She was sure this wasn't an accident.
She was sure Su Yu was behind all of this.
The only reason Su Yu would do this was likely because she had told him about how Xu Sanshi and Dai Huabin had bullied Jiang Nannan. This was probably his way of retaliating against them. She wasn't surprised that Su Yu would step in; what surprised her was how... creative his revenge was. With this stunt, Xu Sanshi and Dai Huabin's reputations were utterly ruined. They would likely be scorned by everyone now.
"Su Yu, that kid... when he strikes, he doesn't hold back," Zhang Lexuan mused, shaking her head silently and sparing a moment of pity for Xu Sanshi and Dai Huabin. Messing with Su Yu was asking for trouble. Still, pity aside, Zhang Lexuan had no intention of revealing Su Yu's involvement. She knew where her loyalties lay, and hers would always be with Su Yu.
Not only would she not expose him, but if anything came up, she'd even help cover for him."
Wait, what? It was... that?"
"Ew, that's disgusting!"
Jiang Nannan shuddered, her expression full of revulsion. Zhang Lexuan smiled faintly. All of this, Nannan, is because of you. This girl was so innocent, blissfully unaware of the events she'd set in motion. Still, maybe her naivety was a good thing. Perhaps someone as pure as Jiang Nannan might catch Su Yu's interest. After all, opposites attract, and Su Yu's calculating nature might make him appreciate someone simpler.
...
Meanwhile, at the Star Emperor Hotel
Su Yu could faintly sense the commotion coming from the Shrek Academy side.
The sun was up. Looks like everything has been discovered. Those two idiots deserved what they got. Honestly, they might even end up thanking him one day. Snapping his fingers, Su Yu summoned Mu Wu.
"Senior Mu Wu, I have another task for you."
"Please instruct me, young master," Mu Wu replied, though his expression was complicated. Last night's assignment had caught him completely off guard. He, a mighty Soul Douluo, an Ice God Palace protector, and a half-step Ultimate Douluo, had been sent to do... that. It was beneath him, honestly.
But an order was an order, and he had to follow it.
Surely the young master doesn't have another... creative plan in mind?"
If he does, maybe I can suggest letting the High Priest handle it instead. It can't always be me getting roped into these things.
"Relay this to all members of the Ice God Palace: Issue a bounty on the Death God's Messenger and prioritize capturing them," Su Yu instructed, his tone calm.
"The target is at the Soul King level and has strange abilities, including corpse detonation and corpse control techniques. All engagements should be approached with caution. I recommend Soul Sage or higher for this mission. Capture alive if possible; otherwise, eliminate them on sight."
Mu Wu visibly relaxed. So it was a serious matter this time.
"As you command, young master. I will see to it immediately."
"Thank you for your efforts," Su Yu nodded.
"It is my duty. I take my leave."
After bowing, Mu Wu disappeared without a trace. Su Yu sighed lightly, got out of bed, and began to freshen up. Today was another beautiful day.
...
The Next Day
Under the watchful eyes of countless spectators, the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Competition finally began.
The venue was none other than Star Luo Plaza, where a massive competition stage had already been constructed.
Around 8:30 a.m., spectators started entering the venue under the arrangements of Star Luo's officials.
Meanwhile, Su Yu and the students of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy team had already taken their positions in the competitors' area.
Right in front of them stood the Shrek Academy representative team, dressed in their characteristic dark green uniforms. That indescribable color often gave people an inexplicable sense of discomfort.
It was baffling—how had Shrek Academy stuck with the same aesthetic for ten thousand years?"
"Hmm, Su Yu, it seems like there are a few new official members in Shrek Academy's lineup," Xiao Hongchen remarked with a slight frown, nudging Su Yu beside him.
Su Yu replied calmly, "That's normal. They've brought reinforcements—four Soul Kings."
"Soul Kings, huh? Tch."
Xiao Hongchen scoffed, disdain evident in his tone.
"I wonder what happened to their original team members. Could they have encountered some trouble? Do they seriously think four Soul Kings are enough to deal with us?"
He snorted dismissively.
"We've got plenty of Soul Kings ourselves."
Su Yu elaborated, his tone indifferent, "It's already been investigated. Shrek's original representative team ran into an incident. Their dean, Bright Phoenix Douluo Yan Shaozhe, was leading them on a mission to eliminate evil soul masters. Unfortunately, they were ambushed by a group of them. One particular Soul King evil soul master nearly wiped out the entire Shrek team with a corpse explosion technique. Only Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng and a few others survived, but even they were severely injured. These three might still participate in the competition once they recover, but Shrek's current lineup is incomplete. Their full team should have comprised two Soul Emperors and five Soul Kings."
Su Yu glanced at his teammates.
"Even so, Shrek Academy remains our primary rival. If nothing unexpected happens, they'll be our opponents in the finals."
The information left everyone stunned.
"A Shrek team, led by a Super Douluo, got taken down by a single Soul King?"
"Seriously? Yan Shaozhe couldn't handle that? What was he even doing?"
The rest of the Sun Moon team couldn't hide their disbelief.
Shrek Academy, with two Soul Emperors and five Soul Kings, had been defeated by a single Soul King?
"That evil soul master must've been ridiculously strong," someone murmured, though they still found it hard to understand.
With numbers like that, how could Shrek not handle a lone Soul King?
Mixed with their confusion was a hint of schadenfreude. Watching their rival stumble was undeniably satisfying.
"What happened to that evil soul master in the end?"
Xiao Hongchen asked curiously.
Su Yu's expression turned strange.
"He escaped."
"He escaped?"
Xiao Hongchen's eyes widened in disbelief, and the rest of the team gasped aloud. Their exclamations drew curious glances from nearby teams, though most quickly averted their eyes with apprehension. No one wanted to face the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy in an early elimination round.
"Haha! I can't stop laughing!"
Xiao Hongchen burst out, clutching his stomach. His laughter was loud and unrestrained.
The rest of the Sun Moon team also chuckled, unable to suppress their amusement.
"A Super Douluo let a Soul King injure his team and then escape? What a joke! This has to be the funniest thing I've ever heard!"
Xiao Hongchen ridiculed between laughs.
"Just how much of Yan Shaozhe's reputation is fluff, anyway?"
The others nodded in agreement, mocking Shrek's misstep. Had it been their empire's Ninth-Level Soul Engineers in that situation, no mere Soul King could have escaped unscathed.
Su Yu, however, interrupted their laughter.
"It's amusing, yes, but don't underestimate them. Shrek Academy's reputation isn't for nothing. Yan Shaozhe's strength is real; he was just careless this time. Evil soul masters are highly unpredictable."
"Su Yu's right. Shrek Academy may have faltered, but they've overshadowed us for thousands of years for a reason," Ma Rulong agreed solemnly. Hearing both captains speak, the rest of the team quickly reined in their laughter and nodded in acknowledgment.
...
Meanwhile, the Shrek Academy team stood under a palpable cloud of tension. The relationship between Xu Sanshi and Dai Huabin had plummeted to a freezing point, with a visible air of hostility lingering around them. Even from a distance, their oppressive mood was evident, leaving teammates like Bei Bei rubbing their temples in exasperation.
Soon, the competition officially began with an announcement from the Star Luo Emperor. The first phase was the elimination round, with Shrek Academy taking the opening match. As reigning champions, their popularity was unmatched. Shrek's four Soul Kings—Chu He, along with Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and He Caitou—dominated the battlefield, sweeping their opponents effortlessly to advance to the next stage.
"Shrek! Shrek!"
"Champion Shrek!"
The crowd erupted into cheers, their voices deafening. Shrek Academy's long legacy had earned them an immense fanbase. Across the three empires, no academy rivaled their renown.
"Impressive," Ma Rulong admitted, clicking his tongue.
"Their popularity is something else."
"Tch. What's the point of being popular now?"
Xiao Hongchen scoffed.
"When we defeat them, their supporters will fall silent soon enough. This championship has only one winner, and that's the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy."
Ma Rulong smiled faintly, not disputing Xiao Hongchen's claim. Their confidence stemmed from their overwhelming strength, leaving no room for doubt about their victory.