Semifinals, Divine Grace Barrier

In Ling Mo's room at Shrek Academy, the person lying on the bed opened his eyes. Even after Ling Mo's repeated explanations, Fei Yu Maru still wore an expression that said, "I still don't understand you." Seeing that his explanations were useless, Ling Mo could only sigh helplessly and say no more. Ignoring Snow Empress, who was laughing so hard she could not straighten her back, he took Fei Yu Maru and left Stigmata Space.

After leaving Stigmata Space, Fei Yu Maru returned to Ksitigarbha Soul. After putting Ksitigarbha Soul away, Ling Mo held the still soundly sleeping Bella in his arms. The appearance of Ksitigarbha Soul had brought Ling Mo a tremendous surprise. Since Ksitigarbha Soul could appear in the Douluo World, there had to be a way to return to the Honkai World or his original world as well. With that hope in his heart, Ling Mo gradually fell asleep.

The tournament remained fiercely contested, but with the return of the two Soul Emperors, Shrek's confidence and strength greatly increased. In the round of sixteen, their tactics completely countered Dou Ling Royal Advanced Soul Master Academy. In the quarterfinals, they faced the weakest team, Zheng Tian Academy. During the round-robin stage, the eight members of the reserve team had already defeated Zheng Tian Academy. Now that they had three regular members, the outcome went without saying.

At this point, only four teams remained in the Continental Advanced Soul Academy Soul Dueling Tournament: Shrek Academy, where Ling Mo was; Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy of the Sun Moon Empire; Star Luo National Academy of the Star Luo Empire; and Di Ao Academy of the Heavenly Soul Empire.

On the night before the semifinals, Wang Yan gathered everyone as usual for a tactical planning meeting. Unlike the previous matches, the format would no longer be decided by drawing lots. All three formats would be played in a best-of-three series: team battle first, then individual battles, followed by the 2-2-3 format.

During this meeting, Wang Yan carefully explained the personnel, Martial Soul characteristics, and Soul Skill effects of the other three teams. Based on his observations over the past half month of the tournament, he also thoroughly analyzed every competitor's abilities. Compared to the previous meetings, this tactical briefing was the longest since the tournament had begun.

The next day, the semifinals officially began. After the draw, Shrek Academy's opponent was Star Luo National Academy from the Star Luo Empire, while the Sun Moon Team would face the Di Ao Team.

As was customary, the first semifinal was between the Shrek Team and the Star Luo National Team. To everyone's surprise, the captain of the Star Luo National Team had been replaced by Jiu Jiu, the auctioneer from the previous auction. Only after Dai Yueheng and the Star Luo Emperor in the stands explained did everyone learn that Jiu Jiu, the auctioneer from that day, was actually a princess of the Star Luo Empire.

The strength of the four remaining teams could not be underestimated. To prevent any accidents, the referee onstage was no longer a Soul Sage-level Soul Master, but a guardian Titled Douluo of the Star Luo Empire, the Heavenly Fiend Douluo. Once both sides took their positions, it was worth mentioning that, for safety's sake, Wang Yan had arranged for Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, Ling Luochen, Xu Sanshi, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Ling Mo to participate in the semifinal team battle.

The match was about to begin, and both sides widened the distance between them. At the very front of Shrek's formation stood the two Soul Emperors, Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng. Xu Sanshi stood behind them, followed by the control-type Soul King Ling Luochen. Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong stood side by side behind Ling Luochen, ready to provide support at any moment, while Ling Mo stood at the very back.

In Wang Yan's view, Ling Mo was more suited to the role of an Assault Type Soul Master. Whether it was his second Soul Skill, which was immune to spiritual-type skills, or his fourth Soul Skill, which possessed the power of disassembly, both could make Ling Mo an outstanding Assault Type Soul Master. However, Ling Mo had Twin Martial Souls. Without knowing the development direction of his Second Martial Soul, Wang Yan could not determine which path Ling Mo was taking. Even when the classes had originally been assigned, Ling Mo had been forcibly thrown into Class One by Xuan Zi. Thus, Wang Yan could only treat Ling Mo as half an Assault Type Soul Master. With two Assault Type Soul Emperors already present, he had Ling Mo remain behind them and act when the opportunity arose.

The Star Luo National Team, on the other hand, had six members arranged in a triangular formation, while their captain, Jiu Jiu, stood behind the triangle.

"The match begins." After making the announcement, the Heavenly Fiend Douluo flashed with golden light and vanished from the competition stage.

Both sides reacted swiftly, releasing their Martial Souls the instant they heard the signal. There was only one exception: Ling Mo.

Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng charged forward. With their speed, they quickly rushed before the Star Luo National Team. Seeing this, the former captain of the Star Luo Team and another Assault Type Soul King stepped out to block them. At the same time, golden light rose up. Centered on Jiu Jiu, it enveloped the Star Luo side along with Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng. Under the enhancement of that golden light, the two Assault Type Soul Masters of the Star Luo Team, who were only Soul Kings, actually blocked Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng's first attack.

However, even though they had stopped the first wave, Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng's cultivation was there for all to see. Breaking through the line was only a matter of time, and it would not take long.

The Star Luo Team also knew that two Soul Kings could not hold them back. Two more Soul King-level Soul Masters stepped in, the two Wind Fire Dual Control Soul Masters Wang Yan had introduced before the match.

With the cooperation of one assault-type and one control-type fighter, along with Jiu Jiu's support, Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng were unexpectedly restrained for a time, unable to break through.

Seeing Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng being held back, Ling Luochen joined forces with Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong. She swung her Ice Staff, and the Ice Mist that had originally enveloped the five of them suddenly surged, spreading at incredible speed to the battlefield where Ma Xiaotao's group of four was fighting. The Ice Mist suppressed the enemy's control, and with that support, several Soul Rings behind Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng lit up. Their aura and power instantly soared, placing immense pressure on the Star Luo Team's four members.

Yet just as Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng were about to break through the four-man blockade, an unexpected change occurred. A streak of golden light flew from Jiu Jiu's hand and struck Ma Xiaotao, who was bathed in Phoenix Flame. A layer of light immediately appeared, enveloping Ma Xiaotao within it.

Trapped inside, Ma Xiaotao immediately attacked the barrier. However, she only caused ripples to spread across its surface and could not damage it at all.

He Caitou cried out in alarm from below the stage, "It's Absolute Defense! That's a Level 7 Soul Tool!"

Hearing this, Wang Yan hurriedly asked He Caitou what Absolute Defense was. After He Caitou explained, he learned that Absolute Defense was a one-use defensive Soul Tool of at least Level 7. Unlike a three-second invincibility shield, Absolute Defense lasted for a quarter of an hour. The barrier it generated possessed Soul Douluo-level defensive power both inside and out.

At that moment, Wang Yan was secretly alarmed and could not help worrying for the seven people onstage.

On the stage, after Ma Xiaotao was trapped, her original opponents joined the fight against Dai Yueheng. Two Assault Type Soul Kings and two control-type Soul Kings fought Dai Yueheng together. In addition, the Star Luo Team sent out another Soul King, their only Agility Attack Type Soul Master.

Was Dai Yueheng weak? The answer was no. As a six-ringed Soul Emperor, he was extremely powerful. Yet at this moment, under the combined assault of five Soul Kings and Jiu Jiu's support, he actually began to feel strained. But as a Shrek inner court disciple and the eldest son of the White Tiger Duke, he had his own pride. That pride would not allow him to retreat at such a time.

Dai Yueheng roared, and a phantom of a white tiger appeared behind him. He clenched both fists and smashed them fiercely into the competition stage. Under his overwhelming aura, he actually scattered all five opponents' skills. At that moment, the pressure on Dai Yueheng sharply dropped, but he did not rest. He kicked off the ground and charged straight toward the Star Luo captain, Jiu Jiu.

Watching Dai Yueheng rush at her, Jiu Jiu did not panic in the slightest. The five people who had been forced back by Dai Yueheng moved to block him once more, but Dai Yueheng, whose ferocity had been stirred, would not be stopped so easily.

Just as Dai Yueheng clashed with the foremost Assault Type Soul King, a shocking scene unfolded. When the two collided, it was Dai Yueheng, the Soul Emperor, who was sent flying backward, blood spraying from his mouth.

Though that Soul King had sent Dai Yueheng flying, he was not in good condition either. After spitting out a mouthful of blood, he dropped to one knee, clearly having suffered serious injuries.

The reason the Star Luo Team had been able to repel Dai Yueheng was because they had used a Soul Tool called the Nine Transformations Soul Instrument. With the help of this Soul Tool, the five of them had concentrated their Soul Power into one person, allowing that Soul King to knock Dai Yueheng back.

Seeing the situation turn unfavorable, Ling Luochen inwardly cried, This is bad. She controlled the Ice Mist and tried to support Dai Yueheng. However, Jiu Jiu's fourth Soul Ring lit up at that moment. The golden light that had originally risen formed a barrier, enclosing her own seven teammates along with Dai Yueheng and the trapped Ma Xiaotao. At the same time, eighteen stars appeared on the barrier. Under Ling Luochen's attack, one of them began to dim.

At this point, Jiu Jiu's fourth Soul Skill had divided the field into two separate areas. Within Jiu Jiu's Star Guardian, Dai Yueheng was being besieged by the Star Luo Team. Outside it, Ling Luochen was doing her utmost to break through Star Guardian's defenses. However, anyone with eyes could see that even after the quarter-hour duration of the Absolute Defense trapping Ma Xiaotao ended, Ling Luochen would still be unable to break through Star Guardian's defense.

Just as the spectators believed the overall situation had been decided, a golden halo burst out from Ling Luochen's Ice Mist. As the golden halo spread, Ling Luochen's Ice Mist vanished as well.

Just as Jiu Jiu wondered what the Shrek members outside Star Guardian were planning to do, an unbelievable sight appeared before her.

When the golden Star Guardian barrier came into contact with the halo that had dispersed the Ice Mist, it did not stop it as she had expected. Instead, it turned into specks of light and scattered into the air. It was not only Star Guardian. Even the Absolute Defense trapping Ma Xiaotao disappeared beneath the halo. Even the Level 8 defensive Soul Tool barrier below the stage that protected the spectators dissipated under that golden halo.

Seeing this, it was not only Jiu Jiu who was stunned. Even the Star Luo Emperor in the stands could no longer remain seated. He abruptly rose to his feet, his gaze solemn as he stared at the golden halo and Ling Mo, who had released it.

Before Ling Mo, a massive golden cross as tall as a person stood planted in the ground. That golden halo radiated outward from the cross.

However, the battle on the competition stage would not stop because of Ling Mo's appearance. After escaping, Ma Xiaotao wanted to retaliate, only to discover that she could no longer use Soul Power. Yet she quickly realized that it was not just her. No one else could mobilize their Soul Power either.

The final result was obvious. Without Soul Power, the Star Luo Team, which only had two Assault Type Soul Kings, was no match for two Assault Type Soul Emperors. They were all blasted off the competition stage.

As the Heavenly Fiend Douluo announced the end of the match, Ling Mo put away the Oath of Judah mimicked by Void Treasury Mimicry before him and sighed. Since he had not participated in the previous matches, he had not really wanted to fight later on. However, seeing that Huo Yuhao had done little throughout the battle, he could only act helplessly.

Against Jiu Jiu's Star Guardian, without using Herrscher Mode, Ling Mo had only three ways to break its defense. One was to force his way through with the Skyfire Greatsword, but that might injure his teammates. The power of the Key of Destruction was no joke. Another was Black Abyss White Flower, but the reason was the same. If he failed to control Black Abyss's power of disassembly, someone might die. The final option was the Mimic Judas Ling Mo had used, and the result spoke for itself.

Having lost the team battle, the Star Luo Team directly conceded and gave up the individual battles that followed. Shrek Academy therefore claimed victory in this semifinal. After the other semifinal between the Sun Moon Team and the Di Ao Team ended, the Sun Moon Team emerged victorious.

That night, Wang Yan gathered everyone once again and added further analysis based on the information the Sun Moon Team had revealed during the day. Everyone listened attentively.

At the end of the meeting, after explaining the Sun Moon Team's new intelligence, Wang Yan turned to Ling Mo and asked, "Ling Mo, can you tell me what that Soul Skill you used today was? And what was going on with those seven Soul Rings?"

Ling Mo did not hide anything and directly replied, "That skill is called Divine Grace Barrier. Everyone within the barrier is unable to use Soul Power, and all Soul Tools and Soul Skills become ineffective."

Ling Mo spoke casually, but those listening reacted very differently. Everyone's eyes widened as they stared fixedly at him. Wang Yan suppressed the excitement in his heart and continued asking, "Does your Divine Grace Barrier have any restrictions?"

Ling Mo thought for a moment before answering, "It does. Divine Grace Barrier places a tremendous burden on its user. If the people inside the barrier are far stronger than me, that burden could endanger my life. Also, with my current strength, I cannot use this skill freely. It is like Beibei and Xu Sanshi's Martial Soul Evolution. I might only be able to use it normally after reaching seven rings."

Wang Yan was startled and quickly asked, "Then how do you feel now? The barrier you used today even disabled the Level 8 defensive barrier below the stage. It has not caused you too much harm, has it?"

Only after Ling Mo repeatedly assured him that he was fine did Wang Yan relax. "It's getting late. Everyone should go back and rest. When we reach the finals, I'll arrange our tactics according to the situation. That's all. Meeting adjourned."

After returning to his room, Ling Mo did not rest. Today's Divine Grace Barrier had placed a heavy burden on him, and he needed to adjust his condition.