Shrek Academy, The Greatest Opponent

Zhou Yi's appearance was undoubtedly a potent dose of medicine for the group, whose morale was currently at rock bottom.

For an entire shichen, Zhou Yi scolded them so harshly they couldn't lift their heads, especially the inner courtyard students like Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, and Ling Luochen.

"I really misjudged you all! Still calling yourselves inner courtyard students—a tiny setback defeats you? How will you ever become the pillars of the academy? How will you face your fallen friends?"

"Don't you dare go out there and claim you're inner courtyard students of Shrek Academy from now on. I don't care if I lose face, but you can't afford to lose the academy's face, and even less your own."

"..."

Then Zhou Yi kept spraying, her spittle nearly landing all over their faces.

Ma Xiaotao couldn't take it anymore. She had never been scolded like this before, especially by someone whose Soul Power Level was lower than her own.

"Enough! In tomorrow's battle, we'll prove with our strength that this competition's championship belongs to none other than Shrek Academy." Ma Xiaotao's eyes blazed with raging fire as she growled in a low voice.

"Anyone can talk big. I want to see your actual actions." Zhou Yi's icy gaze swept over the crowd.

All traces of dejection had vanished from their faces, replaced by a heroic spirit of charging fearlessly forward.

Elder Xuan sat outside the window, peering through the gap at the people inside. He nodded with great relief and murmured to himself: "Elder Mu is truly formidable, sending Zhou Yi this girl here specifically to stimulate these little ones. But this girl's scolding is too fierce—even I couldn't take it after listening for just one shichen. It seems this good medicine is working; the little ones have regained their confidence. I must stay by their side and guard them at all times."

Elder Xuan touched the wine gourd at his side but ultimately put it down, crossing his arms over his chest as he silently kept watch in the shadows.

Inside the room.

Zhou Yi sat down and said in a serious tone: "A total of one hundred and thirty-two teams are participating in this Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Competition, and they have all arrived."

On the other side, Elder Ma had also gathered the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy members. After Qin Chuan, Qian Renxue, and Meng Hongchen took their seats respectively, Elder Ma, pipe in mouth, said: "The first round of the competition will be determined by drawing lots. It's an elimination round—one match decides victory or defeat. The losing team will leave the stage of this competition. The elimination round will last for three days."

Zhou Yi said: "After that, the remaining academies will be divided into groups. Each group will have approximately nine teams and will compete in a round-robin format. During the round-robin, a random match system will be adopted, consisting of single elimination, three-on-two-two coordinated combat, and finally the team battle."

Elder Ma said: "No matter who your opponent is, our goal is only one—the championship. We must trample Shrek Academy firmly underfoot."

Zhou Yi said: "You want to prove yourselves to me, don't you? As the champion of the last competition, Shrek Academy will be the first to take the stage tomorrow. The participating members are Ling Luochen, Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, Xiao Xiao, Huo Yuhao, and Wang Dong."

Elder Ma said: "In tomorrow's battle, we will make these people know the might of our Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, especially Shrek Academy. The members taking the stage tomorrow are Ma Rulong, Lin Xi, Chen Fei, Li Yan, Mika, Xiao Xiafeng, and Qin Chuan."

"Why? I am the strongest in this competition—why am I not allowed to take the stage?" Ma Xiaotao asked with a slight frown.

"Hm? I'm going on stage? I thought I'd be the finale." Qin Chuan hadn't expected to be deployed so soon.

Zhou Yi cast a faint glance at Ma Xiaotao and said sternly: "Xiaotao, you are naturally reckless, act with a fiery temper, can't even control your own strength, and have no sense of restraint when striking. Every one of your soul skills is extremely domineering, and as the strongest in this competition, your Soul Power Level of sixty-eight can even erupt with power rivaling a Soul Saint. I want you to be the team's trump card."

Elder Ma looked at Qin Chuan and smiled calmly: "Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen possess a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, which can catch Shrek Academy off guard. Han Xue and Gu Yi are the only Soul Emperor and Soul King among us; the rest will be arranged freely later."

"Qin Chuan, although you have Twin Martial Souls, you are only a Soul Ancestor. Moreover, as the subsequent opponents will only grow stronger, your opportunities to take the stage can be said to be few and far between. The reserve members are actually being prepared for the competition five years from now. Letting you adapt to the competition rhythm this time is fine; you can strive for honor for the academy five years later without delay."

Ma Xiaotao understood. Zhou Yi wanted her to lie low and strike out at a critical moment to catch the opponent off guard.

Qin Chuan also understood. Among everyone present, he was the only Soul Ancestor. With many matches still to come, he would likely have few chances to take the stage. Adding him to this first match was nothing more than a consolation prize.

Ma Xiaotao was deeply dissatisfied with Zhou Yi's arrangement in her heart, but she still chose to obey.

Qin Chuan, however, sneered inwardly. He had already killed four Soul King inner courtyard students from Shrek Academy. Tomorrow, he would show everyone what it meant to sweep through the masses with his own strength.

Both meetings ended, and the crowd dispersed to their respective rooms to rest.

Back in his room, Qin Chuan lay directly on the bed and went to sleep. Everything was for tomorrow—rest and recuperation were the most important.

The next morning dawned with a rare good weather.

The sky was clear and cloudless, making Star Luo City exceptionally lively. Because of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Competition, this giant city, capable of holding eight million people, was now packed with surging crowds.

Now, over twenty million people had suddenly poured in, all because of the convening of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Competition.

The competition had first appeared ten thousand years ago and now had a history of ten thousand years.

The competition venue was located at Star Luo Square in front of the imperial palace, a massive square capable of accommodating two hundred thousand spectators.

The road leading to the Star Emperor Hotel was already packed with people. Soldiers holding long spears and clad in armor cleared a path straight to Star Luo Square for the participating teams to pass through.

Early that morning, leading teachers like Elder Ma and Zhou Yi had already completed the drawing of lots for the elimination round. During this time, officials of the Star Luo Empire were responsible for registration and arranging the competition schedule.

As the champion of the last competition, Shrek Academy was naturally the first to take the stage and compete.

The opponent Elder Ma had drawn was a Soul Engineer Academy from the Heaven Dou Empire, called... Ning'an Advanced Soul Engineer Academy—just an unknown, unlucky academy.

Above the imperial city gate, a middle-aged man wearing an Eight-Treasure Purple Gold Crown stood with his hands behind his back, dressed in a bright yellow robe. Beside the man, a beautiful woman in luxurious attire accompanied him.

Emperor Xu Jiawei and the Empress.

"Your Majesty, a message has arrived from the Star Emperor Hotel. All participating academy teams have reported that they are ready and await Your Majesty's command to enter the arena." The Prime Minister, dressed in red robes, bowed and spoke.

Xu Jiawei nodded slightly, a faint smile on his face: "Very good. Pass my order: open all checkpoints. Under the premise of ensuring safety, make sure all participating members arrive in full. If any link has a problem, directly find the person in charge and deal with it strictly."

"Yes." The Prime Minister nodded, bowed, and went down to make arrangements.

Every street and alley was packed with people. If not for the soldiers maintaining order, the term "overcrowded" would become even more vivid.

"Shrek Academy!"

"Shrek Academy!"

"Shrek Academy!"

As the number one for nearly a thousand years, Shrek Academy had not just dominated for a day or two—it had long held the top spot, suppressing countless academies so thoroughly they couldn't lift their heads. The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy was one of them.

The moment Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, and the others appeared, wave after wave of thunderous cheers came roaring in, each layer louder than the last.

Compared to the cheers that greeted Shrek Academy wherever they went, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy's reception was far more desolate.

The crowds thinned as they passed, people silent, even casting glances tinged with disgust.

"Looks like we're not exactly popular here." Qin Chuan still had the presence of mind to joke.

The others were long accustomed to this. Four thousand years ago, the Sun Moon Empire had launched a sudden war to invade Douluo Continent, a history known to every inhabitant of the continent. As a result, people from the Sun Moon Empire were unwelcome in Douluo Continent.

Even the ancient sects refused to accept advanced and powerful Soul Tools, making it difficult to spread them.

"Sooner or later, our Sun Moon Empire will unify Douluo Continent," Xiao Hongchen said softly.