The Tournament Begins

This time, Kong Deming accompanied them to Star Luo City.

Elder Ma was informed of the news.

His expression showed some surprise, but he still respectfully bowed to the Father of Soul Tools.

The Sun Moon Empire had suffered a crushing defeat four thousand years ago, ceding territory and paying reparations. Its national strength had once been barely greater than that of the Dou Ling Empire.

Though it had spent a thousand years recuperating,

the one who had truly enabled the Sun Moon Empire to rise again was this elder over one hundred and forty years old—Kong Deming.

Soul Tools had developed by leaps and bounds over the past century.

Every Level 9 Soul Master today had received, to varying degrees, Kong Deming's guidance and assistance.

Ming Capital was not far from Star Luo City.

Kong Deming controlled a Ninth-Grade Soul Tool and flew at the front.

The Sun Moon Team students were enclosed within Silver Moon Sky, unable to feel even the slightest gale or jolt.

Star Luo City was already in sight.

Its walls stood a hundred meters tall and were equally a hundred meters thick. Built from hard stone, they covered more than a thousand square kilometers and were magnificently imposing.

Xu Tinglan looked at those walls.

He instinctively thought of the Mingdou Mountain Range, where the Sun Moon Empire's soldiers were still fighting the Star Luo Empire's forces.

Yet the members of their Sun Moon Team had openly come to Star Luo City to compete.

He shook his head.

The tournament took priority over the war, and most importantly, neither side objected.

It really was hard to judge.

Led by a Star Luo Soul Master, the Sun Moon Team made their way to the eastern side of Star Luo Square, where the Star Emperor Hotel was located.

As the perennial second-place Sun Moon Team, their accommodations were also lavish.

Inside the conference room,

Elder Ma prepared to rally them, anger visible on his face. "This time, Shrek only sent three main-team members. This is undoubtedly contempt for us."

Xu Tinglan raised a hand to signal him.

The old man's expression eased, and he nodded.

Only then did Xu Tinglan speak, amusement at the corners of his mouth. "It might not be contempt. It could also be stupidity."

"I have a feeling their other members died on the way here."

The other students turned to look at their new captain.

Astonishment appeared in their eyes, as though they were asking, You aren't joking, are you?

Elder Ma frowned slightly. "They are Shrek. Their team leaders are never weak. How could they have met with an accident on the road?"

Xu Tinglan explained slowly. "Every year, Shrek's Inner Court students must carry out inspection missions, and the casualty rate exceeds half."

"What is interesting is that the equipment Shrek gives Inner Court students consists of a rainproof cloak identifying their status and a signal flare gun..."

"Other than storage, they are not permitted to use any other Soul Tools."

Xiao Hongchen slapped his palm against the table, his face full of disbelief. "How is that any different from suicide?"

He launched into a tirade.

"Humans surpass beasts precisely because we know how to use weapons. Soldiers need swords, shields, and armor in battle, yet Soul Masters actually reject Soul Tools?"

"If they have the guts, they should stop using storage Soul Tools too and carry backpacks on their backs!"

As soon as he said that,

everyone present burst into laughter.

In their eyes, Shrek's actions were unquestionably idiotic.

Elder Ma shook his head in disappointment and mocked,

"Shrek's teachers really do not treat their students like people."

"Could it be that they merely regard them as consumable materials for fighting over honor?"

Meanwhile,

Shrek was also holding a meeting in their exclusive conference room.

Their team leader, Wang Yan, encouraged everyone.

The pressure on his shoulders was immense this time.

Shrek had been champions for thousands of years. If their winning streak ended in his hands, their honor would be lost and their reputation ruined.

What should he do?

This mild-tempered teacher

felt incomparably fearful and uneasy deep down whenever he thought of Shrek's honor being destroyed in his hands.

He clenched his teeth.

A rather bold battle plan formed in his mind,

which was to injure their opponents as severely as possible in the individual matches, then secure a major victory in the team match.

Whether Star Luo, Sun Moon, or Heavenly Soul stood in their path,

they would be beaten until they were crippled and wounded. Even death would not be spared.

What Wang Yan did not know was that this was actually a Shrek tradition from ten thousand years ago. Sea God Tang San had done something similar when he was a student.

Someone in the reserve team raised his hand.

Wang Yan nodded. "Sanshi, what are your thoughts? Feel free to speak."

Xu Sanshi considered for a moment before slowly speaking.

"I think I just saw my cousin. He was originally supposed to join Shrek with me..."

Ma Xiaotao looked somewhat displeased.

Though she was seriously injured, her imposing presence had not diminished in the slightest as she interrupted him.

"We are discussing battle plans. We do not care in the least which coward your cousin is."

"Stop wasting everyone's time with useless nonsense."

Dai Yueheng glanced at Ma Xiaotao but said nothing.

Originally, he, Dai Yueheng, had been the captain of the Shrek Team.

Yet Ma Xiaotao, the headmaster's adopted daughter, had suddenly been assigned here. She had even taken a spot that originally belonged to a Soul Tool Department student.

Xu Sanshi felt somewhat wronged.

"Sister Xiaotao, wait until I finish. I saw my cousin among the Sun Moon Team."

"I suspect that after running away from home, he joined Sun Moon Academy."

"Our relationship is not bad. I can go ask around."

Ma Xiaotao reclined in her chair with an indifferent look on her face.

"At most, he is a reserve member. What could he possibly know about the main team? Do not take this too seriously, all right?"

Wang Yan was somewhat displeased by Ma Xiaotao's words.

He turned to Xu Sanshi instead.

"Besides strength, the key to winning a tournament is information about the Soul Masters' abilities. Sanshi, contact your cousin quickly and see whether you can obtain any information."

The Sun Moon Team had placed second almost every time.

If they had not encountered Evil Soul Masters, they definitely would not have regarded the Sun Moon Team as a threat.

But now, even Ling Luochen, the least injured among Shrek's main members, needed ten days to recover.

Information had become especially important.

Xu Sanshi stood up. "All right, I'll go now."

Near the back of the long conference table,

Huo Yuhao lowered his voice and asked Beibei, "Senior Brother Sanshi is from Dou Ling, right?"

The refined young man nodded.

"That is correct."

Huo Yuhao frowned slightly, speaking somewhat quickly. "Then wouldn't Senior Brother Sanshi's cousin be a traitor to Heavenly Soul?"

Although Huo Yuhao had endured an exceptionally miserable childhood at the White Tiger Duke Mansion in the Star Luo Empire,

he was still willing to give his life for the Star Luo Empire.

Beibei fell silent for a moment.

"Little Junior Brother, learn more and observe more. Do not define people so easily."

"If Sanshi's cousin really leaks information about the Sun Moon Team, then I will look down on him. If he does not, then things become interesting."

Huo Yuhao thought about it and gave an affirmative answer.

"I think he will leak it."

"How could someone disloyal to his empire keep the Sun Moon Team's secrets?"

A refined smile appeared on Beibei's face.

"Little Junior Brother, then let us wait and see."

Xu Sanshi left the conference room.

He walked up to a lobby attendant and asked for the Sun Moon Team's room number and floor.

The woman wore a Star Emperor Hotel uniform.

She had initially wanted to refuse, but then learned that he was from Shrek and possessed an Inspector Badge.

After a brief hesitation,

she told Xu Sanshi the Sun Moon Team's room number.