Mu En continued in a calm but firm tone, "One more thing—after today's Sea God Pavilion meeting, all inner court disciples must report to the Soul Engineering Department for custom-made defensive soul tools. Anyone who refuses will be expelled from the academy."
"Yes, Sir." Xian Lin'er nodded without hesitation.
At Shrek Academy, the Martial Soul Department and the Soul Engineering Department had always been at odds, with the former holding an absolute advantage. The pride of the Martial Soul Department extended to its disciples, who often shunned the use of soul tools. In their view, true strength lay in the purity of martial soul mastery, not reliance on external tools.
Yan Shaozhe hesitated before speaking cautiously, "Teacher, the inner court students seem reluctant to use soul tools. Should we reconsider? After all, the Martial Soul Department and the Soul Engineering Department have always…"
Before he could finish, Mu En's sharp gaze cut him off. "If those children had carried defensive soul tools during the Sun Moon Empire's soul engineer corps' ambush, would their injuries have been less severe? Would the fates of Gongyang Mo and Yao Haoxuan have been different?"
"Times are changing. Soul tools are the product of progress. If you dare oppose me again, I will remove you from your position as head of the Martial Soul Department."
Although dissatisfied, Yan Shaozhe bowed respectfully, swallowing his objections. "Teacher, the inner court suffered heavy losses this time. With the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament approaching, only two inner court students are currently of eligible age, and their abilities fall short…"
"This tournament is vital to Shrek Academy's millennia-old honor. I would not lightly abandon it," he added with a heavy heart.
Before Mu En could respond, Xuan Zi interjected, "What if we allow the outer court disciples on the verge of entering the inner court to participate? I'll personally lead the team."
Yan Shaozhe shook his head. "The strongest among them barely possess four rings. How could they shoulder such a responsibility? I fear they are unqualified."
After a moment of contemplation, Mu En asked, "Among the injured inner court disciples, how long until they recover?"
"Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, and Ling Luochen sustained the lightest injuries, but even they will need at least half a month to recover. Chen Zifeng's arm is being replaced with a soul-engineered prosthetic, but full recovery will take about a month. Xi Xi, the last surviving member, will also need a month. Despite their disabilities, the prosthetics should not significantly impact their ability to compete," Yan Shaozhe replied.
Xuan Zi proposed, "Here's an idea: let Wang Yan take the outer court disciples to Star Luo Empire first. Ma Xiaotao and the others can recuperate at Shrek. When the tournament approaches, I'll personally escort them there. Mixing inner and outer court members will reduce our overall strength, but at least we can field a full seven-member team. What do you think?"
"Agreed. Let's proceed as Xuan Zi suggested." Mu En nodded before turning to Yan Shaozhe. "You will personally visit the families of Gongyang Mo and Yao Haoxuan to console them."
"Yes, Teacher." Yan Shaozhe bowed deeply.
---
Half a Month Later
The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament, hosted in Star Luo City, capital of the Star Luo Empire, had drawn a massive influx of visitors, from ordinary spectators to wealthy patrons seeking profit from the event. The tournament's influence ensured it would be grand and unforgettable.
The spotlight, as always, was on the anticipated clash between Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy and Shrek Academy. For millennia, Shrek Academy had consistently emerged victorious, leaving the Sun Moon Empire in bitter humiliation.
This year, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy carried the hopes of its higher-ups, sending a delegation of fifteen, including a teacher and fourteen competitors, to Star Luo City.
Thanks to their flying soul tools, the journey from Mingdu to Star Luo City took less than two days. Upon arrival, Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel a tinge of nostalgia. As the capital, Star Luo City was the largest city in the empire, famed as the "Imperial City That Never Falls." His childhood home, the Duke's Manor, was located on the outskirts.
Although returning to familiar territory, Xiao Yan remained composed. Over the past year, his strength and maturity had grown significantly, tempering his emotions.
The Sun Moon team quietly checked into the Star Emperor Hotel, arranged by the Star Luo royal family for all participating teams. The hotel housed almost all competitors, with the Sun Moon team occupying the top floor. Conveniently—or inconveniently—their neighbors were none other than Shrek Academy's team, making them temporary neighbors before the competition began.
Since their arrival, Xiao Yan had largely stayed in his room, immersed in cultivation, only attending strategy discussions occasionally. Meanwhile, Shrek Academy's team arrived fashionably late, prompting Sun Moon's team to immediately collect intelligence.
---
Sun Moon Team's Briefing
In the Star Emperor Hotel's conference room, team captain Ma Rulong shared his observations. "The Shrek team has arrived, but they only brought seven members. From what I've seen, they look like a reserve team under the age of fifteen."
"Do they really think their reserve team can win?" he asked incredulously.
The room buzzed with curiosity until Xiao Hongchen sneered, "Shrek Academy's arrogance knows no bounds. Sending a reserve team to compete? In past tournaments, they've maimed our students under the guise of competition. If I get the chance, I'll ensure they experience the same pain."
"Haha." Jing Hongchen chuckled, standing up. "They're not arrogant. Their main team simply can't compete. Even if they could, they'd be crippled."
"What do you mean, Headmaster?" Ma Rulong asked, puzzled.
Jing Hongchen explained, "Do you remember the group that attacked Xiao Yan in Mingdu? Those young Soul Masters around sixty levels were Shrek's main team. After escaping Mingdu, they encountered our soul engineer corps. Reliable sources indicate their main team lost two members and has five severely injured. This tournament is our chance for revenge."
"According to our intelligence, Shrek's reserve team splits into two groups. Four older members have four rings but likely don't exceed forty-five levels. The other three appear around twelve or thirteen years old, each possessing only two rings."
"Two rings?" a reserve Sun Moon team member blurted. "Our weakest member has four rings. Shrek's two-ring students stand no chance. If they face a strong team in the first round, they won't make it past."
Jing Hongchen waved dismissively. "Don't underestimate Shrek Academy. Their thousand-year foundation is formidable. This could be a ruse to mislead us. Complacency is the enemy. Stay alert and prepare for the unexpected."
"Yes, Headmaster," the team responded in unison.
"Good. The tournament begins in two days. Avoid unnecessary outings until then."
With their orders clear, the Sun Moon team began their final preparations for the upcoming battles.
As the first rays of sunlight pierced through Star Luo City, the capital of the Star Luo Empire exuded a solemn atmosphere.
The streets surrounding Star Luo Plaza were cordoned off by rows of armored soldiers, with thousands stationed near the Star Emperor Hotel. The path leading to the plaza was entirely sealed, allowing passage only to academy teams heading for the tournament.
On this special morning, Xiao Yan also woke early. Sitting cross-legged on his bed, he meditated for an hour, ensuring his body was in peak condition. Only then did he slowly open his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them.
"Mother, I've returned to this land of your suffering. Watch over me... just grant me a little more time," he murmured, his tone cold. Stretching lazily, Xiao Yan climbed out of bed and exited his room, immediately spotting Jing Hongchen waiting outside.
"Awake?" Jing Hongchen greeted him with a yawn, his face showing signs of fatigue.
"Old sir, did you stay up all night?" Xiao Yan asked, noticing his weariness.
Jing Hongchen sighed helplessly, then smirked. "Shrek Academy's main team suffered two deaths and five severe injuries within the Sun Moon Empire. Knowing their vengeful nature, I couldn't afford to relax."
"Enough talk. It's almost time. The others have already gone downstairs. Let's head to the venue." Jing Hongchen patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder before turning to leave. Xiao Yan followed closely behind.
Unlike previous tournaments held in Star Luo Plaza, this year's matches were staged right before the Imperial Palace's main gate, allowing Star Luo's nobles to observe the battles from a secure vantage point atop the city walls. The setup provided both the best view and maximum safety.
The competition arena was a square, each side measuring 100 meters. Surrounding the platform were 108 metallic pillars embedded with defensive soul tools. Once activated, these would form an immense protective shield, containing all soul skills unleashed within while ensuring spectators could still enjoy an unobstructed view.
Ten minutes later, the Star Luo Emperor and Empress arrived, ascending the palace walls. Below, the assembled teams from all participating academies bowed in greeting.
After a brief speech by His Majesty, the Prime Minister presided over the opening ceremony. As the rituals progressed, the first match of the tournament approached amid thunderous cheers.
Suddenly, a booming voice echoed throughout the venue:
"The opening match of this year's tournament: Shrek Academy vs. Dou Ling Empire's Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy!"
The announcement electrified the crowd. The atmosphere at Star Luo Plaza reached a fever pitch.
"Shrek! Shrek! Shrek!"
Deafening chants for Shrek Academy resonated from every corner.
Shrek's Pre-Match Jitters
The overwhelming support stunned the seven members of Shrek's reserve team, who were preparing to take the stage. The sheer scale of the crowd, numbering in the tens of thousands, left them pale-faced and visibly shaken. This was the first time they had faced such a monumental stage. The thought of losing and tarnishing Shrek Academy's reputation in front of this audience was unthinkable.
This year's tournament featured 133 participating academies. The first round followed a knockout format—one loss, and the team was eliminated.
The rules for the opening round were straightforward: a 7v7 team battle. Only after advancing would teams be divided into groups of approximately nine, competing in a round-robin format. Matches during the group stage would follow one of three randomly assigned formats:
1. Single-Elimination Duels
2. 3v3 and 2v2 Collaborative Matches
3. 7v7 Team Battles
Before every match, a lottery draw determined the format.
The tension among the competitors was palpable. As the Shrek reserve team steeled themselves for their debut
, the crowd's anticipation soared. Whether Shrek's reserve team could uphold their academy's millennium-long legacy remained to be seen.