Soto Grand Hotel, penthouse suite.
Night had fallen, and the bustling Suotuo City was gradually growing quiet.
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling had already gone back to the room next door to rest. Dugu Yan had wanted to stay here, but Ye Lingling had insisted on dragging her away, saying it was to ensure she was in peak condition for tomorrow's match.
Yu Tianyu sat cross-legged alone in front of the enormous floor-to-ceiling window, regulating his breathing.
With every breath, the free-floating fire and lightning elements in the air seemed to come alive, eagerly burrowing into his body.
"Phew..."
Just then, Yu Tianyu's eyes snapped open.
The air in the room suddenly turned thick. A familiar scent, carrying a faint hint of violets and the promise of an approaching thunderstorm, silently spread through the room.
"Since you're here, there's no need to hide."
Yu Tianyu's lips curled into a smile. He didn't turn around. "Teacher."
"Crackle—"
A flash of purple lightning streaked across the terrace outside.
The next second, the tightly shut window had somehow opened, and the voluptuous figure that had been haunting Yu Tianyu's thoughts lounged against the frame.
Today, Ji Wushuang had changed her outfit.
She was no longer wearing that high-slit qipao. Instead, she wore a tight-fitting black bodysuit. It did nothing to hide her figure; the stretchy material only accentuated her stunning S-shaped curves, making them even more alluring. In particular, the zipper at her chest had been pulled down just enough to reveal a glimpse of snowy skin, which gleamed like ivory in the moonlight.
"Not bad, little one. You're pretty alert."
Ji Wushuang swirled the wine in the stemmed glass in her hand—who knew why she carried one around—and sauntered into the room with the grace of a cat.
"What's the matter? It's only been a few days, and you've already forgotten about your big sister? I heard you beat up that old turtle from Canghui Academy downstairs because of your two little girlfriends."
She walked up to Yu Tianyu and sat directly on the coffee table in front of him, crossing her long legs. The tip of her shoe lightly tilted up his chin.
"That was to defend the team's honor."
Feeling the cool touch against his chin, Yu Tianyu openly looked over the beauty before him. "Besides, someone like him isn't worth my time."
"Heh, all talk."
Ji Wushuang chuckled, a hint of approval in her eyes. "Still, well done. The people of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan—even an Abandoned Disciple—can't be allowed to have trash like that walk all over them."
"You didn't come here tonight just to praise me, did you?" Yu Tianyu asked.
Ji Wushuang's smile faded. She tipped her head back and drained the red wine in her glass, her eyes turning cold.
"I came to give you some news."
"That so-called 'uncle' of yours—the greatest disgrace to the clan, Yu Xiaogang—is in this city right now."
"Yu Xiaogang?"
Yu Tianyu pretended to be surprised, a trace of mockery flashing in his eyes. "You mean the Grandmaster who claims to be 'unrivaled in theory,' but can't even break through level twenty-nine?"
"That's right."
Disgust flashed across Ji Wushuang's eyes. "Back then, his Martial Soul mutated into Luo Sanpao, and he was expelled from the clan. I never thought that after all these years, he'd be teaching a bunch of so-called 'monsters' in this little city of Suotuo."
As she spoke, she leaned forward and moved close to Yu Tianyu's ear, her breath sweet and warm.
"The clan leader—your father—says that since you've run into him, don't hold back."
"Back then, his so-called Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul were utter nonsense, and nearly led several of the clan's geniuses astray. This time, on the Soul Fighting stage, in front of everyone, you're going to trample the disciples he's so proud of."
"Prove to the world that only strength and bloodline are the truth. Theory is worthless in the face of absolute power."
Taking in the mature fragrance clinging to her, Yu Tianyu sneered inwardly.
As expected, although the old man had publicly banished Yu Xiaogang, he was still holding a grudge.
"Don't worry, Teacher."
Yu Tianyu reached out and caught Ji Wushuang's wandering hand, gently tracing his fingertip across her palm. "Even if you hadn't said anything, I had no intention of letting them off."
"Especially that one called Tang San."
"Good."
Ji Wushuang smiled with satisfaction, then caught Yu Tianyu by the wrist. A stream of remarkably pure Soul Power flowed through his meridians.
"Here's your reward."
"This is...?" Yu Tianyu sensed that this Soul Power contained a trace of insight into the laws of lightning.
"Breath of the Thunder Luan. It'll help you better control that rampant dragon might."
Ji Wushuang stood up and patted Yu Tianyu's cheek. "Your match tomorrow—I'll be watching from the shadows."
"If you do well... tonight's 'reward' will only be an appetizer."
With that, she transformed into another flash of purple lightning and disappeared into the night outside the window.
Only the faint scent of violets remained, along with the lingering warmth in Yu Tianyu's palm.
"What a temptress..."
Yu Tianyu looked at the empty windowsill and clenched his fist.
"Yu Xiaogang... Tang San..."
"Since my beautiful teacher has given the word, your luck must be pretty terrible."
The following evening.
The Soto Great Spirit Arena was packed with people, the noise deafening.
As the most thrilling and violent venue on the continent, it drew tens of thousands of spectators and gamblers every night.
The seven members of the Imperial Fighting Team, wearing specially made masks to avoid revealing their identities too soon, entered the registration hall.
"We're here to register a team."
As captain, Yu Tianlei placed seven prepared Iron Fighting Badges on the counter. The two girls and Yu Tianyu had new ones; the others already had records.
The young woman behind the counter casually picked up their forms.
The next second, her eyes went wide.
"All of them... Silver Soul Fighters?! Wait, these three are new... and they're ten-year-old Soul Grandmasters?!"
She stared at the masked group in alarm.
Her gaze lingered on the black-clad boy standing in the middle. He was the youngest, yet had the strongest presence.
"We want to enter tonight's team Soul Fighting match."
Yu Tianyu spoke coolly. "Don't match us against some trash team. I hear there's a team here called the 'Mad Battle Team.' Seven straight wins, right?"
"Y-yes!" the young woman stammered. "The Mad Battle Team is the most vicious team around lately. Their methods are... are brutal. They've left a lot of teams badly injured."
"Then we'll take them."
Yu Tianyu snapped his fingers. "Set it up. And place a bet of ten thousand Gold Soul Coins on us to win."
"What's the team's name?" the young woman asked, her hand trembling as she held her pen.
Yu Tianyu glanced at his teammates behind him.
Their original name was the Imperial Fighting Team. But since they were going to set off a storm in Suotuo City—and since they were targeting Shrek—
"We'll call ourselves—"
"World Burial."
They would bury every false genius in this world.
Meanwhile, in another rest area of the Great Soul Arena,
the Shrek Seven Devils were seated together.
Dai Mubai, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing.
Standing before them was a middle-aged man with a crew cut and a rigid expression: the Grandmaster, Yu Xiaogang. Beside him stood Dean Flender, whose face was broad and fleshy.
"I just got some news."
Flender pushed up his glasses, looking perplexed. "The team originally scheduled to face you tonight was the Mad Battle Team. But... someone just snatched the match away from you."
"Snatched it away?" Dai Mubai asked in surprise. "Who'd be bold enough to do that? The Mad Battle Team is famous for being a pack of mad dogs."
"It's a newly registered team called 'World Burial.'"
Flender handed them a match schedule. "And they specifically asked to fight the Mad Battle Team."
"World Burial..." Tang San murmured the name, and that uneasy feeling came over him again.
The Grandmaster took the schedule and glanced over the brief information. His brows drew together.
"They're all wearing masks? They've certainly gone to some effort to seem mysterious."
With his hands behind his back, the Grandmaster began his trademark analysis. "A team that dares to challenge the Mad Battle Team directly is either exceptionally strong or made up of spoiled fools who don't know their place."
"Xiao San, you don't have a team match tonight. Why don't you watch from the stands?"
"Teacher, do you think the Mad Battle Team will lose?" Tang San asked.
"Unlikely."
The Grandmaster shook his head confidently. "I've studied the Mad Battle Team's lineup. That Mad Rhino is a Soul Elder who combines defense and strength. Add in their Support Spirit Master's 'Wishful Disk,' and they're practically unbeatable at this level of Soul Fighting in Suotuo City."
"Unless this new team is made up entirely of Soul Elders or has an exceptionally powerful Control System Spirit Master."
"Let's go see what these World Burial people are capable of."
Half an hour later.
The central main Soul Fighting stage.
The lights blazed, and the cheers shook the arena.
The host flew through the air, shouting with fervor. "Ladies and gentlemen! It's time for tonight's main event! On one side, we have the vicious Mad Battle Team, who've taken seven straight victories here in Suotuo City!"
"Roar!!!"
With beastlike howls, seven burly men with wild looks in their eyes charged onto the stage. At their head was Mad Rhino, bare-chested, his muscles like blocks of iron as he stared at his opponents with bloodthirsty eyes.
"And on the other side! We have a mysterious new team! They wear masks, and they've got a bold name! Let's welcome—World Burial!"
There were no cheers.
Only the sound of seven pairs of footsteps, perfectly in sync.
The seven figures walked onto the stage like ghosts.
Unlike the Mad Battle Team, they didn't shout or roar. They simply stood in a distinctive formation.
At the front stood the brothers Shi Mo and Shi Mo, like two guardian deities.
In the middle was Yu Tianyu, hands in his pockets, looking as relaxed as if he were out for a stroll.
On either side stood Oslo and Yufeng.
At the rear were Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling.
"This formation..."
The Grandmaster's pupils contracted as he watched from the stands. "Two-one-two-two? That's an extremely unusual arrangement. What's the short kid in the middle doing? He's not in a Control System or Power Attack System position. Could he be... bait?"
On the stage,
Mad Rhino looked at the boy who barely reached his chest—Yu Tianyu—and spat disdainfully. "Ptui! A bunch of little brats who haven't even been weaned! Wearing masks and pretending to be mysterious! Brothers, leave the one in black to me. I'm going to crush every bone in his body!"
"Is that so?"
Through his mask, Yu Tianyu looked at Mad Rhino as if he were a pig waiting to be slaughtered.
"Lingling."
"Yes."
"You can sit this one out. We won't need any healing."
"Yes." Ye Lingling took a step back and sat down on a chair that had appeared beside her. She actually sat down!
The whole arena erupted.
It was an outright insult! The Mad Battle Team was raging, and their Support Spirit Master had sat down to rest?
"Bastards! Die!!!"
Mad Rhino flew into a rage. "Brothers! Release your Martial Souls! Wishful Disk, go wild!"
They didn't even bother testing their opponents.
The Mad Battle Team used their strongest trump card right from the start.
The alluring female Support Spirit Master's silver disk shone brilliantly, and six red beams instantly shot into Mad Rhino and the others.
Roar!!!
Mad Rhino and the others' bodies swelled, and their eyes turned bloodshot. Their reason vanished, leaving only the instinct to kill. That was what made the Mad Battle Team so terrifying: their berserk state had a time limit, but while it lasted, they felt no pain and feared no death!
"Uh-oh!" Tang San exclaimed from the stands. "They've gone berserk right from the start? Those newcomers are done for!"
The Grandmaster sighed as well. "They're far too arrogant. The best way to deal with opponents in a berserk state is to keep moving and drag out the fight. And they even let their Support Spirit Master rest? That's a grave tactical mistake."
But—
The very next second,
the Grandmaster's jaw nearly hit the floor.
"Too noisy."
At the center of the stage, Yu Tianyu impatiently picked his ear.
"Shi Mo, Shi Mo. Clear them out."
"Yes!"
The brothers, like two iron towers, moved.
They didn't charge forward with their turtle-shell shields as they had before. Instead, they did something even more astonishing.
The two faced each other and clasped all four hands together.
"Martial Soul Fusion Skill—Gravity: Great Grinding Disk!"
As their Soul Power resonated, the ochre light around them instantly joined together, forming a huge yellow ring more than ten meters across!
It wasn't a true Martial Soul Fusion Skill. It was a combined Spirit Skill Yu Tianyu had taught them, based on the characteristics of their Martial Souls and the concept of "gravity magic."
Boom!
The ring expanded.
The Mad Battle Team, who had been charging forward in a frenzy, suddenly felt their bodies grow heavy.
It was as if a mountain had landed on their backs!
The Mad Battle Team's frenzied charge was halted in an instant. All seven burly men dropped to their knees in unison, smashing the granite floor beneath them!
"W-what kind of Spirit Skill is this?!"
Mad Rhino struggled desperately to stand, but the force of gravity was absurdly strong.
"They're already on their knees?"
Yu Tianyu slowly emerged from behind the Shi Brothers.
He looked down at Mad Rhino, who knelt before him with a twisted expression, and shook his head.
"Since you like going berserk, like losing your minds..."
"Then I'll help you... come to your senses."
Yu Tianyu took a deep breath, his chest swelling.
A peculiar power gathered in his throat.
There were no flames, no thunder.
Only a sound wave that struck directly at the soul.
Dragon Slayer Secret Art: Dragon Roar!
"ROOOOAR—!!!"
A deafening dragon's roar burst from the boy's mouth!
It wasn't merely a sound-wave attack. It also carried the absolute spiritual pressure of a higher dragon over lower creatures!
Crack! Crack!
It was as if the very air had shattered.
The Mad Battle Team took the brunt of it. Their eyes, bloodshot with madness, instantly went vacant at the dragon's roar, then rolled back.
Thud! Thud!
Their so-called "berserk" state was scared right out of them!
The seven burly men foamed at the mouth and collapsed limply onto the ground, as if their spines had been pulled out, their bodies twitching.
The female support-type Spirit Master was hit especially hard. The Ruyi Disc in her hands shattered, and she passed out on the spot.
One roar.
Total annihilation.
The entire Great Soul Arena fell into deathly silence.
Even the host forgot to breathe. The microphone dropped to the ground, emitting a harsh screech.
In the stands,
the Shrek Seven Devils stared with mouths agape, wide enough to fit an egg.
Ma Hongjun landed hard on his butt, terrified. "W-what kind of monster is that? Was that a Spirit Skill? Why didn't I see any Spirit Rings light up?"
Dai Mubai's face was pale. As the Evil-Eyed White Tiger, he felt the pressure of that king among beasts more keenly than anyone. "That presence... it's a dragon? And not an ordinary one... My Martial Soul is afraid."
But Grandmaster's reaction was the most extreme.
He gripped the railing so tightly his knuckles turned white, his eyes filled with disbelief and feverish speculation.
"There was no Soul Ring fluctuation... No, there was an extremely faint fluctuation, but it wasn't a Spirit Skill."
"Was that a Self-Created Soul Skill? Or a Torso Soul Bone ability?"
"That dragon's roar... it carried the aftertaste of thunder, but also some kind of... ancient aura."
"Could he be from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan? But the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon's Dragon Transformation isn't like that... and he didn't transform!"
Grandmaster's worldview began to crumble.
This was completely beyond the scope of his theory of the "Ten Core Competencies." A Soul Grandmaster, judging by his Soul Power fluctuations, had instantly defeated an entire team of Soul Elders in a berserk state with a single roar?
It wasn't scientific!
In the arena,
Yu Tianyu paid no attention to the shock around him.
He turned his back on the fallen Mad Battle Team and looked up toward a particular part of the stands.
That was where the Shrek Seven Devils were seated.
Even through his mask, Tang San could feel that mocking gaze.
Yu Tianyu raised his right hand, pointed his thumb down, and made an emphatic gesture.
Then he led the members of the World Burial team away with a carefree stride.
All that remained was an utterly arrogant figure walking off—and the crowd's belated, frenzied screams.
"World Burial! World Burial! World Burial!"
That night, a new legend was born at the Suotuo City Great Soul Arena.
And in a shadowy corner,
Ji Wushuang swirled her glass of red wine, watching Yu Tianyu's retreating figure. A charming smile curled her lips.
"Beautifully done, my Little Dragon King."
"Looks like that useless theorist Grandmaster won't be getting any sleep tonight."
Before you continue