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Shrek emerged victorious.
Despite the Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy boasting five soul cultivators of the Soul Elder level, all under twenty years old, their martial soul quality and soul ring combinations ultimately fell short against Shrek's team.
Yè Wúshuāng, in particular, wielded his Seven Star Sword with an unmatched killing aura. With his first and third soul skills boosting his power, he unleashed a self-created soul technique passed down through his family, every strike imbued with sharp killing intent.
"Let's go."
Shrek's victory was nearly overwhelming. Even when faced with opponents above their rank, the result was the same. The crowd's cheers erupted, filling the venue.
The competitors from Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy were naturally displeased by the cheers, and they left the scene early.
"Su Yu, what do you think about me going over to Shrek's team and throwing out a threat?" Xiào Hóngchén suggested.
"Not a good idea; it's unnecessary."
"Well, that's boring."
Following the opening ceremony, the heated elimination rounds began. The Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, Su Yu's team, faced an advanced Soul Master academy from Seaport City, Star Luo Empire. This academy gave equal weight to soul engineers and soul masters.
Their match was scheduled for the afternoon. After resting at their hotel, Su Yu and his teammates strolled unhurriedly to the competition grounds.
"You're here?"
Elder Ma had been closely observing the competition landscape. Xiào Hóngchén, Mèng Hóngchén, and Su Yu carried themselves with unwavering confidence, their attitudes incredibly relaxed. However, Elder Ma was anxious. As the team leader, a failure given their overwhelming advantage would be a grave offense.
Mǎ Rúlóng, captain of the Sun and Moon Royal Team, was also there, analyzing the other academies' strategies alongside Elder Ma.
"During the elimination rounds, if it's unnecessary, Xiào, Mèng, and Su Yu, you three don't need to fight. You're our team's trump cards."
Having gathered intelligence throughout the morning, Elder Ma deemed that the afternoon match wouldn't require these three to step in. Hearing this, the three lost interest in watching further. Why waste time here when they could be training?
Su Yu was engaged in extensive skill development, while Xiào Hóngchén and Mèng Hóngchén focused intently on refining their rune techniques. All three were incredibly busy.
Time passed quickly.
Shrek Academy's battle style was undeniable—crossing levels and outright dominance. Shrek had made an impressive impact by combining two seemingly contradictory terms. Although lacking a Soul Emperor's shocking presence, the cheers never waned, testament to Shrek Academy's solid foundation.
It must be acknowledged that Shrek Academy's heritage runs deep. The original Shrek journey was arduous, all in pursuit of the coveted Shrek Seven Devils title. While Su Yu didn't know the exact selection criteria for the Seven Devils, it was clearly not just handed out based on talent alone.
If Shrek could set aside a few rigid standards, the sixth years in the Outer Court would be overflowing with Soul Elders. They wouldn't be plentiful, exactly, but virtually all sixth-year students would be Soul Experts above level 35, with Soul Elders in the double digits.
Most of them would also meet the requirement of being under twenty.
Three days passed in a flash.
Shrek's team lineup shifted from the original seven.
Bèi Bèi was the first to recover, his healing progress the swiftest. Besides him, only Dài Yàohéng had taken to the stage again.
The Star Luo Empire had even dispatched the Healing Immortal Douluo, with a primary focus on Dài Yàohéng, who was expected to return to his homeland upon graduation.
As for Mǎ Xiǎotāo, she had been the most reckless during the fight, charging in without much forethought. Consequently, her injuries were among the worst of the surviving members.
Although Dài Yàohéng received treatment from the Healing Immortal Douluo, full recovery wasn't possible, but he could still take the stage and put some Soul Elders in their place.
With a Soul Emperor entering the arena, any gaps in Shrek's intimidating presence were quickly mended.
On the fourth day of the Tournament, which also marked the start of the round-robin, the Sun and Moon Royal Team was placed in the second group.
"Our group looks like it's going to be tricky."
Elder Ma reviewed the grouping situation, and Su Yu immediately sensed something unusual.
"Star Luo Empire Academy, Dou Ling Royal Advanced Academy?"
Both of these academies matched the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy's level and were considered strong contenders for the top four. It was unexpected that Sun and Moon Royal Academy would be placed in the same group as Dou Ling.
"Our first opponent is Dou Ling Royal Advanced Academy," Elder Ma said, pulling out a list detailing information about Dou Ling's team.
"The Dou Ling team has five Soul Kings!"
Dou Ling Royal Advanced Academy's strength was unquestionable. As the premier academy of Dou Ling Empire, it represented the empire's best.
"This battle is a single-elimination match. Su Yu, you'll go first. Your endurance is unmatched, so eliminate as many of their players as possible. After you, Mǎ Rúlóng will go, followed by Mika, Chen Fei, and Lin Xi. Xiào Hóngchén and Mèng Hóngchén will be our safety net."
Elder Ma's strategy was notably conservative. He had positioned all three trump cards for this first round-robin match, not wanting to take any chances against Dou Ling Royal Advanced Academy's formidable reputation.
Elder Ma actually knew the least about Su Yu's abilities. Since Xiào Hóngchén and Mèng Hóngchén had grown up within the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, Elder Ma was familiar with their fighting styles. However, Su Yu had only fought once since joining the academy, and that was in a secluded area behind the royal grounds, with only Jìng Hóngchén and Kong Deming observing.
Elder Ma's understanding of Su Yu's skills was limited to a report provided by Jìng Hóngchén. Putting Su Yu first also served as an assessment of his capabilities.
"Huh?" Xiào Hóngchén was thrilled at the prospect of entering the fray, but hearing that Su Yu would go first dampened his spirits.
"If that guy's going first, who else will get a turn?"
Xiào Hóngchén vividly remembered that even when Su Yu was only a Soul Elder, he could hold his own in an endurance match against two advanced Soul Elders.
Elder Ma raised an eyebrow, surprised by Xiào Hóngchén's reaction. Was Su Yu really that powerful? Could his stamina be that impressive? Facing five Soul Kings, no matter how enduring he was, it was unthinkable that he could outlast and defeat them all.
Xiào Hóngchén kept his thoughts to himself.
After all, Su Yu's fourth soul ring was ten thousand years old—a level that put him on par with many Soul Kings. The primary differences between a Soul King and a Soul Elder were not just in spirit power quantity and quality but also in access to the powerful ten-thousand-year soul skills. Su Yu, however, possessed all three: soul power, technique, and a formidable recovery rate that, when combining his first two soul skills, could almost defy nature.
"The match begins!"
Dou Ling Royal Soul Engineering Academy sent out their first fighter, Chi Hengyu, a defensive Battle Soul King, choosing a strategy mirroring Sun and Moon's plan—to outlast the opponent.
"It's him! Su Yu!"
In Shrek's waiting area, Bèi Bèi gasped when he saw Su Yu take the field.
"Hm?" Wang Yan noticed Bèi Bèi's reaction and sensed something unusual.
"What is it, Bèi Bèi? Do you know this member of the Sun and Moon Royal Team?"
Bèi Bèi nodded.
"Yes. A year ago, he had just obtained his third soul ring, which, like Wang Dong's second ring, was also a thousand-year ring. His third soul ring was an explosive chili pepper soul ring, with a duration of 5,800 years!"
"What?!"
(End of Chapter)