Opening Fire on Shrek Academy

Qin Chuan's appearance was but a flash in the pan. The only thing worth noting was his possession of the Death Spider Emperor martial soul. Because of Pope Bibi Dong ten thousand years ago—the Martial Soul Hall Pope who left an indelible monument in history, the founder of the Martial Soul Empire who nearly unified the entire continent single-handedly—she was the greatest enemy of both the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires at the time.

Even now, the Star Luo Empire's library archives contain records of Bibi Dong, and the description of the Death Spider Emperor matches exactly what Qin Chuan revealed.

News of Qin Chuan possessing the Death Spider Emperor martial soul spread like wildfire, drawing serious attention from the Star Luo Empire, as well as the Heaven Soul and Dou Ling Empires. What if this kid really was a descendant of Pope Bibi Dong?

But on second thought, the Martial Soul Hall had been destroyed for ten thousand years. Even if it rose again now, what threat could it possibly pose?

Besides, Shrek Academy was still around. What were they really worried about?

Thinking this way, they relaxed a little. After all, if something went wrong, Shrek Academy would handle it.

Wait, no!!!

That kid named Qin Chuan was from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. Keep an eye on him! Double the surveillance!

The elimination rounds went on for three days. During that time, Qin Chuan stayed in his dorm, only occasionally coming out to find food.

He noticed at least three or four pairs of eyes watching him from the shadows. Clearly, Qin Chuan had become a person of high interest to the Star Luo Empire.

Even if his martial soul was the Death Spider Emperor, Qin Chuan couldn't escape the scrutiny of the three empires and Shrek Academy.

"If news got out that I'm Bibi Dong's youngest son, the three empires and Shrek Academy would turn the world upside down," Qin Chuan thought to himself, unconcerned by all this fuss.

A year ago, the stone heads of the Shrek Seven Monsters were severed, and eight large characters were carved into the sky: "Ten-thousand-year blood feud, settled today."

This incident was still spreading across the continent, and as time passed, it had spiraled out of control.

On the last day of the elimination rounds, a shocking piece of news suddenly broke.

"Have you heard? While dealing with evil soul masters recently, Shrek Academy lost four more inner courtyard students."

"What?! Four inner courtyard students? That's Shrek Academy! What kind of evil soul master is this?"

"Rumor has it that guy can control skeletons, each one with the combat power of a Soul Ancestor. Shrek Academy slipped up and got overwhelmed by his swarm tactics. In the end, outnumbered, four inner courtyard students died in battle."

"I was wondering why Shrek Academy only sent one Soul King to the elimination rounds. Now it looks like those four dead inner courtyard students were probably all regular team members for this tournament."

"Shrek Academy is really unlucky. Remember what happened a year ago? Now four more inner courtyard students are dead. That person who left those eight characters must be someone significant."

"... "

News that Shrek Academy's regular team had only three members left, and that they were likely seriously injured, spread like wildfire. Instantly, the other sixty-six participating teams' eyes turned red.

After all, Shrek Academy had monopolized the championship for nearly a thousand years. Snatching the title from them would make any academy truly famous across the Douluo Continent.

With their regular team depleted and injured, and only reserve members left—including two Soul Grand Masters and one Soul Elder—this golden opportunity was like a pie falling from the sky.

Suddenly, every participating academy began studying and targeting Shrek Academy.

In the meeting room, the atmosphere was a bit tense.

"Who leaked the information!" Zhou Yi's aged face showed a trace of anger.

"Only the academy and the Star Luo Empire knew about this. The latter wouldn't do something like this at such a critical moment," Dai Yueheng spoke first.

"Then it must be that evil soul master. Spreading the news caught us off guard," Ma Xiaotao said, barely holding back her rage these past few days. The battle with the evil soul master was the greatest humiliation of her life.

Bei Bei looked at Zhou Yi, then said, "But they got one thing wrong. Our three regular team members are perfectly fine, not seriously injured."

Zhou Yi nodded slightly after hearing this. "That's both our advantage and our disadvantage. We could have kept it hidden, but at this point, the more we try to cover things up, the more suspicious it looks."

Xu Sanshi followed up, "Has the academy found anything?"

Zhou Yi shook her head. "Dean Yan and Dean Xian have already gone to the Mingdou Mountains to search for the evil soul master's whereabouts. As for the one who released this information, it's undoubtedly that evil soul master. And maybe... he's even the same person who left those eight characters."

"Ten-thousand-year blood feud, settled today."

Everyone's faces darkened, their brows furrowed.

Those eight words had become taboo at Shrek Academy. No one dared to say them aloud, only referring to them as "those eight characters."

"Alright, let's stop here. Your task is this tournament. As for everything else, the academy will handle it. Don't be afraid."

Zhou Yi swept her gaze across the group and spoke calmly. "You did well in the first match. You showed Shrek Academy's true style. The elimination rounds are over now. Our group in the round robin has nine teams, all of them formidable opponents, all long-established academies. The upcoming round robin will be especially brutal. I hope you're all mentally prepared."

Bei Bei smiled gently. "That makes it more interesting."

"Bring it on. I've been holding in a fire and need somewhere to let it out," Ma Xiaotao said, cracking her knuckles, flames blazing in her eyes.

But Zhou Yi immediately poured cold water on her without mercy. "In the round robin, unless absolutely necessary, Xiaotao, you're still our secret weapon."

Ma Xiaotao: -`д´-

"Teacher Zhou, what do you think of this year's Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy?" Huo Yuhao suddenly asked.

"Yuhao, why do you ask that all of a sudden?" Zhou Yi looked at Huo Yuhao.

"I have a feeling that this year's Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy will be a very tough opponent. Especially that Qin Chuan's Death Spider Emperor poison—it's hard to guard against. We don't have a healing-type soul master. If we get hit by the Death Spider Emperor poison and don't receive timely treatment, and with our opponents eager to see Shrek Academy fall, unlike last time with Ning'an Advanced Soul Engineer Academy where they took the initiative to detoxify us, our situation would be dangerous."

"Yuhao's concern is not unfounded." Zhou Yi nodded solemnly. "The Death Spider Emperor's poison is unmatched in its ferocity. This type of soul beast has long been extinct. Aside from a few records in ancient texts, we have no way to protect against it."

"I'll say it again: everyone must prioritize their own safety. If it comes down to it, even conceding the match is better than risking yourselves."

Everyone nodded gravely, except Ma Xiaotao, who couldn't care less. In her eyes, absolute strength was enough to crush everything.

Besides, who gave Zhou Yi the right to order her around?

"Shrek Academy really is unlucky. Looks like this year's Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Competition champion is destined to be our Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy." Xiao Hongchen's loud laughter rang out, just as he ran into the Shrek Academy crowd who had just finished their meeting and were exiting the conference room.

The two sides stared at each other, the atmosphere in the corridor somewhat awkward.

"Dare you say that again?" Ma Xiaotao gritted her teeth, her tone icy as she radiated a terrifying aura.

Xiao Hongchen frowned slightly, sensing that the voluptuous red-haired woman before him possessed unfathomable depth. A lean camel is still bigger than a horse—he really couldn't underestimate Shrek Academy.

Thinking this in his heart, his mouth still said, "This year's champion belongs to us, Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy."

The scene instantly became tense. Dai Yueheng stood before Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and the others, rubbing his fists together as if he'd been holding back for a long time.

This was hardly surprising. The main team's crushing defeat at Mingdou Mountains, the deaths of four inner courtyard students—all of it had left Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, and Ling Luochen with a pent-up fury.

Now, finally encountering someone who didn't know their place, and with the person before them being from Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, it was time to settle old and new scores together.

Even Xiao Hongchen felt the pressure. He chose to stand his ground, forcing himself to meet the gazes of the three before him, neither servile nor arrogant.

At the critical moment, two figures approached, arriving at the same time.

"Shrek Academy is quite something, trying to bully someone from my Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. Do you really think we're made of dough to be kneaded at will? Or has Shrek Academy already reached the point of covering the sky with one hand, daring to lay hands on people privately during the competition? Don't you know that would get you disqualified?"

Qin Chuan walked over slowly with his hands behind his back, accompanied by an elderly man whose eyes flashed like lightning. The old man swept his gaze over the Shrek Academy crowd, his expression full of disgust.

Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luochen, Dai Yueheng, and behind them Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, Huo Yuhao, and the others all felt an unprecedented pressure. This pressure was... Title Douluo!!!

"Don't go too far, sir!" Elder Xuan appeared abruptly, waving his hand, and the pressure bearing down on everyone vanished without a trace.

"You were the ones who wanted to start a fight first."

"And you were the ones who provoked us first."

The old man locked eyes with Elder Xuan, sensing each other's profound soul power. Neither made a move.

Qin Chuan spoke up: "We're stating facts. It's not like your Shrek Academy has committed any crimes—can't others speak the truth?"

"If you have the guts to gossip behind our backs, do you dare to spar with me?" Bei Bei glared at Qin Chuan and Xiao Hongchen.

"Spar with you, and then you turn around and accuse us of starting a fight, playing the victim first to get us kicked out of this competition. What a clever scheme."

"Shrek Academy is not as despicable as you claim," Xu Sanshi said angrily.

"Oh, is that so? As I recall, your leader Zhou Yi is very fond of expelling students. Expelling students without the academy's permission—how is such a teacher fit to remain at Shrek Academy? Is it to weed out inferior students, or to boost graduation rates for her own benefit?"