Double Crown

On the day of the team competition finals, the Soto Great Soul Arena was packed to capacity.

The roar of tens of thousands of spectators surged like boiling water, echoing through the circular structure. The betting odds had already been set—1 to 1.5 for Shrek Academy, and 1 to 2.3 for Nuoding Team 13. Most people bet on Shrek to win; after all, Dai Mubai's level 37 strength was plain to see, a full seventeen levels higher than Lin Mo.

Grandmaster sat in the contestant lounge, his expression calm, though his knuckles were white as he gripped his notebook.

"Remember the tactics?" he asked.

"Take out Oscar at the start," Lin Mo said, flexing his wrists. "Tang San will control Zhu Zhuqing, and I'll hold off Dai Mubai. Xiao Wu will look for an opening to support."

"Dai Mubai's White Tiger martial soul has long-range soul skills," Grandmaster added. "The White Tiger Intense Light Wave could shatter rock even when he was level 20. You aren't even level 30 yet; take one hit head-on and you'll be dead or crippled. So—"

He looked at Lin Mo: "Do not give him the chance to unleash his long-range soul skills. Stick close, fight in close quarters, and use your combat techniques to suppress him. Although Dai Mubai has a higher level, he grew up in an aristocratic academy; his real-combat experience is nowhere near yours."

Lin Mo nodded. Grandmaster's assessment was sharp—Dai Mubai's strength was built on the foundation of level suppression, and his experience in true life-or-death combat was likely not as rich. As for himself, the instincts he had accumulated on the battlefield in his past life were carved into his very bones.

"Also," Grandmaster lowered his voice, "if the situation turns dire, concede. It's just an exhibition match; it's not worth risking your life."

Lin Mo didn't speak. He had never once considered the word "concede."

In the lounge on the other side, Dai Mubai leaned against the wall, hands in his pockets, looking lazy.

"Boss, that Lin Mo from the other side seems pretty tough," Oscar said while filing his nails. "Individual champion, two thousand-year soul rings."

"Thousand-year soul rings?" Zhu Zhuqing spoke coldly. "To withstand two thousand-year soul rings at age six—his martial soul is not simple."

Dai Mubai opened his eyes, a flicker of interest flashing through his heterochromatic pupils: "Chaos Dragon Mastiff, a martial soul I've never heard of. I watched the individual finals; his combat techniques are indeed strong. Even someone like Zhao Wuji, with his power-type build, was spun around by him."

"So how do you plan to fight?" Oscar asked.

"According to the plan," Dai Mubai stood up straight. "At the start, you fall back to provide support, Zhuqing will flank, and I'll press the front. His Dragon Might suppresses beast-type martial souls, but I'm level 37; he can't suppress me. As long as I force him into a head-on collision, I can decide the outcome within three moves."

He walked out of the lounge and paused as he passed Lin Mo.

"See you in the finals."

Lin Mo looked up at him: "See you."

Their gazes collided, and sparks seemed to fly in the air between them.

The referee stepped onto the ring and raised his arms: "Soto Great Soul Arena Exhibition Match—Team Finals! The opposing sides: Shrek Academy Team! Nuoding Team 13!"

The entire arena erupted in cheers.

"Rules: Three-on-three, no-holds-barred combat. The match ends when one side concedes or loses the ability to fight. Now—begin!"

The moment the referee finished speaking, Oscar immediately retreated, waving his right hand: "I have a Mushroom Sausage!"

A sausage glowing with golden light flew toward Dai Mubai. This was Oscar's soul skill—Mushroom Sausage; consuming it increased movement speed by 30% for a short time.

Dai Mubai caught the sausage and swallowed it whole, his speed surging! The two yellow soul rings beneath his feet lit up, a phantom of a White Tiger coalescing behind him, claws extended as he lunged straight for Lin Mo!

At the same time, Zhu Zhuqing's figure vanished from where she stood—the stealth ability of the Hell Spirit Cat activated, leaving only a faint afterimage in the air.

Tang San's Blue Silver Grass erupted from the ground, surging like a swarm of snakes toward Zhu Zhuqing's stealth trajectory. With the Purple Demon Eye activated, he could see her position—three meters to the left, moving at high speed!

"Xiao Wu, front left!"

Xiao Wu launched herself out, her long legs sweeping horizontally, forcing Zhu Zhuqing to reveal herself and block. A crisp sound like clashing metal exploded as the two became entangled in a struggle.

And at the front—

Dai Mubai's claws were already at Lin Mo's face!

Lin Mo did not retreat. He knew he couldn't—retreating would give Dai Mubai the space to unleash his long-range soul skills. He ducked, the claws grazing his scalp and shaving off a few strands of hair. Simultaneously, he slammed his right fist toward Dai Mubai's ribs.

Dai Mubai reacted with lightning speed, dropping his left arm to block. Fist met arm with a bang, and both men retreated a step.

"Good strength," Dai Mubai's eyes brightened. "But not enough!"

He activated his second soul skill—White Tiger Intense Light Wave! But instead of releasing it as a projectile, he condensed the energy into his claws, forming a pair of light blades. This was his true style—using a long-range soul skill for close-quarters combat, doubling the explosive power!

The dual claws slashed down in a cross!

Lin Mo crossed his arms to block, scales manifesting. [Scale Armor Protection] activated, reducing damage by 30%—but Dai Mubai's attack was too fierce; the light blades struck the scales, sending sparks flying. Lin Mo was knocked back three steps, his arms numb, deep gouges left in his scales.

The system prompt flickered:

[Received powerful attack, Scale Armor Protection reduced damage by 30%, remaining durability: 70%]

The gap was too large.

Level 37 against level 20—a seventeen-level difference in soul power. Even with the bonuses from his martial soul quality and talent, a head-on collision was still grueling.

Dai Mubai didn't give him a chance to breathe, lunging forward again. His claws slashed in rapid succession, moving so fast the naked eye could barely track them. Lin Mo relied on combat instinct to barely block, but he was forced back a step with every strike, retreating step by step.

In the spectator stands, Grandmaster's brows were locked in a frown.

"Lin Mo is being suppressed," the teacher beside him shook his head. "The level gap is too wide; no matter how strong his combat techniques are, he can't make up for it."

Grandmaster didn't speak, but his eyes remained fixed on the ring.

He was waiting—waiting for that single moment when Lin Mo would turn the tide.

On the ring, Lin Mo was forced to the very edge.

Dai Mubai raised his claws high, the White Tiger Light Blade condensed to its maximum: "Concede. You can't beat me."

Lin Mo's lips curled upward: "Is that so?"

[Dragon Mastiff Fury] activated!

All attributes surged by 80%! Dark golden energy waves exploded from within, Dragon Might unleashed to its fullest—the talent that boosted beast soul suppression by 200% was now at its peak!

Dai Mubai's body stiffened.

The White Tiger spirit trembled within him, as if encountering its natural predator. He had never felt this way before—his spirit power was seventeen levels higher, yet his spirit was cowering in fear!

This was a bloodline suppression. The Chaos Dragon Mastiff suppressed all beast spirits, not by level, but by bloodline. And the White Tiger's bloodline was nothing before the Primordial Dragon Beast.

Lin Mo seized this fraction of a second of paralysis, his right claw extending—

[Dragon Claw: Sky Splitter!]

Five dark golden claw marks shot towards Dai Mubai's chest!

Dai Mubai broke free from the suppression at the last moment, blocking with his arms. The claw marks slashed against the White Tiger Light Blade, and with a boom, both were sent flying back.

Dai Mubai looked down—five gashes tore through his chest armor, and shallow bloodstains marked his skin. Though not critically injured, still—

He was wounded.

Wounded by a six-year-old child at level twenty.

Dai Mubai's gaze changed. The previous disdain and amusement were gone, replaced by seriousness—true seriousness.

"You are strong," he said, "stronger than any spirit master of the same level I've ever seen. But—"

The White Tiger phantom roared, its two yellow spirit rings spinning madly. Dai Mubai's spirit power erupted, his clothes billowing as if in a wind, his hair standing on end.

"I will not lose."

The ground beneath him cracked, the White Tiger spirit's pressure descending like a mountain. His full spirit power at level thirty-seven was unleashed, the entire arena trembling.

The ordinary spectators in the stands could no longer bear it; some covered their ears and screamed, others fainted outright. Even the referee at the edge of the stage turned pale and took a few steps back.

Tang San and Xiao Wu were also affected. Zhu Zhuqing seized the opportunity to break free from her entanglement and retreated to Dai Mubai's side. Oscar threw two sausages—one to restore stamina, the other to heal wounds.

The three Shrek members regrouped.

Lin Mo retreated to Tang San and Xiao Wu's side.

"Can you still fight?" Tang San asked.

Lin Mo panted, the duration of [Dragon Mastiff Fury] remaining for eight breaths. After eight breaths, he would enter a thirty-breath period of weakness.

"Eight breaths," he said. "The fight must end within eight breaths."

"How do we fight?" Xiao Wu wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth.

Lin Mo quickly scanned the opponents—Dai Mubai was the main attacker, Zhu Zhuqing flanked, and Oscar supported from the rear. A standard offensive, assassination, and support configuration.

"Tang San, can you control both Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing simultaneously?"

Tang San activated his Purple Demon Eye and calculated, "If it's just control, without aiming for damage, three seconds."

"That's enough," Lin Mo said. "Xiao Wu, Oscar is your responsibility. Deal with him within three seconds."

"No problem!" Xiao Wu clenched her fist.

"After three seconds, regardless of whether Xiao Wu succeeds or not, Tang San, release immediately and retreat to a safe distance. The rest—"

Lin Mo looked at Dai Mubai.

"Is up to me."

[Dragon Mastiff Fury] remaining time: six breaths.

"Go!"

Tang San's Blue Silver Grass erupted with full force! The hundred-year Mandala Snake spirit ring glowed intensely, and Blue Silver Grass surged towards Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing from the ground, the air, and all directions. This wasn't ordinary entanglement; it was a strengthened binding formed by Tang San injecting Mysterious Heaven Skill into the Blue Silver Grass—each strand was as tough as steel wire!

Dai Mubai slashed with his twin claws, cutting through a patch of Blue Silver Grass. But Tang San's control was too dense; as soon as one batch was cut, another appeared, like an endless stream.

Zhu Zhuqing's ankles were entangled by the Blue Silver Grass, her movement momentarily halted.

Now!

Xiao Wu sprang forward, her target—Oscar!

Food-type spirit masters possessed no combat power. Oscar's face turned pale as he saw Xiao Wu charging at him, instinctively retreating. But how could his speed possibly match Xiao Wu's? Xiao Wu flipped in mid-air and kicked Oscar in the chest, sending him flying out of the arena.

"Oscar is eliminated!" the referee announced.

[Dragon Mastiff Fury] remaining time: four breaths.

Tang San released his grip, and the Blue Silver Grass instantly retracted. Dai Mubai broke free from the binding and his expression darkened as he saw Oscar eliminated.

"You—"

Before he could finish speaking, Lin Mo was already in front of him.

It wasn't a charge, but a flash—he unleashed the full speed burst amplified by [Dragon Mastiff Fury] at this moment, shooting towards Dai Mubai like a bullet.

Right claw, left fist, knee, elbow—a storm of attacks poured down! Every move aimed for a vital point, every strike delivered with full force. Dai Mubai was forced to block, but Lin Mo's speed was too great, his power too fierce, his defense was collapsing.

[Dragon Mastiff Fury] remaining time: two breaths.

Dai Mubai was forced to the edge of the arena. He roared, his White Tiger spirit erupting to its fullest, his twin claws smashing towards Lin Mo's chest—this was a mutually destructive tactic!

Lin Mo did not dodge.

He took the blow head-on!

The White Tiger Light Blade slashed across his chest, shattering scales and sending blood spraying. The searing pain forced a muffled groan from Lin Mo, but he gritted his teeth, grabbing Dai Mubai's wrist with his right hand and locking onto his shoulder with his left.

"You—"

Dai Mubai's pupils contracted.

Lin Mo pressed his forehead against Dai Mubai's, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth: "You lost."

[Dragon Mastiff Fury] remaining time: zero.

The thirty-second weakness period began.

But it was no longer needed.

Xiao Wu had circled behind Dai Mubai at some point, clamping her legs around his neck and exerting force from her waist and abdomen—Waist Bow!

Dai Mubai's body was twisted into the air, and Lin Mo used the momentum to shove him off the arena.

Dai Mubai flipped in mid-air, landing unsteadily, but his feet had already touched the ground outside the arena.

Dead silence.

The entire venue was speechless.

And then—

Explosive cheers!

"Nuoding Team 13 won!"

"They defeated Shrek!"

"What kind of monster is that kid in black!"

The referee stood stunned for several seconds before raising his arm: "Team competition champions—Nuoding Academy Team 13!"

Lin Mo knelt on one knee on the arena floor, gasping for air. The wound on his chest burned like fire, and the weakness period made his entire body feel hollowed out. But he smiled.

He won.

Tang San walked over and handed him a bottle of healing potion: "Stop the bleeding first."

Xiao Wu hopped over, her face covered in sweat but beaming brightly: "We won! We actually won!"

Dai Mubai stood below the arena, watching Lin Mo. After a long silence, he suddenly laughed.

"Interesting." He turned to leave, then looked back after a few steps, "Next time we meet, I won't lose again."

Lin Mo looked up: "I'll be ready anytime."

[Team competition victory achieved, rewards issued: Evolution Points x300, Random Spirit Bone Fragment x1]

[Double champion bonus: Unlocked location hint for third spirit ring]

[Generating third spirit ring hunt target...]

[Target: Thunder Dragon Python · Sub-dragon species · 2,200 to 2,500 years]

[Location: Outer edge of the Star Dou Forest core area, Thunder Marsh]

[Dragon blood concentration: 71%]

[Recommendation: Reach level 25 spirit power before heading out]

[Current Evolution Points: 840]

[Drawing Spirit Bone Fragment...]

[Congratulations: Obtained Millennium Earth Fire Dragon King Right Leg Bone Fragment (2/5)]

[Collect five pieces to synthesize a complete Spirit Bone]

[Spirit Bone Fragment effect: Not enabled (unlocked upon collection)]

Lin Mo looked at the description of the Spirit Bone fragment—it required five pieces to enable; with only one, it was still a long way off.

But the target for his third spirit ring had appeared. Thunder Dragon Python, 2,200 to 2,500 years, Star Dou Forest.

"Still five levels short." Lin Mo muttered to himself, "I need to speed up my cultivation."

The award ceremony was held that evening.

The person in charge of the Great Soul Arena personally presented the medals and prize money—five hundred Gold Soul Coins for the individual competition and five hundred for the team competition, totaling one thousand Gold Soul Coins. For an ordinary family, this was a massive fortune.

Lin Mo gave three hundred to Tang San and three hundred to Xiao Wu, keeping four hundred for himself. Tang San tried to decline, but Xiao Wu shoved them into his pocket: "Don't be so polite! We have to fight together in the future anyway!"

Grandmaster watched from the side, a rare smile appearing on his face.

"Grandmaster." Lin Mo walked over, "I want to accelerate my cultivation progress. I aim to break through to level 25 within two months."

Grandmaster put away his smile and looked at him seriously: "You want to hunt that Thunder Dragon Python?"

"Yes."

"A sub-dragon species over two thousand years old is more than a grade stronger than the Earth Fire Dragon King." Grandmaster pondered, "Furthermore, the Thunder Dragon Python's lightning attacks have a wide range and high burst damage; your close-quarters combat style will be at a significant disadvantage."

"So I need stronger strength," Lin Mo said. "Level twenty-five is just the foundation. I want to reach level thirty before I go."

Grandmaster nodded. "At level thirty, your chances will be much greater. But do you know what it means to go from level twenty to level thirty in two months? An ordinary soul master would need two years."

"I am not an ordinary soul master."

Grandmaster was silent for a long time, then finally sighed. "Alright. I'll create a training plan for you. But there's one condition—"

He looked into Lin Mo's eyes. "If your body has any problems, stop immediately. The evolution of a growth-type martial soul requires a stable foundation. Rushing it will only ruin it."

"Okay."

That night, Lin Mo checked his system panel in the hotel room.

[Host: Lin Mo]

[Martial Soul: Chaos Dragon Mastiff · Earth Fire Scale Armor Form]

[Soul Power Level: 20]

[Soul Rings: Purple (450 years), Purple (1400 years)]

[Soul Skills: Dragon Mastiff Fury, Earth Fire Dragon Breath, Dragon Claw: Sky Splitter]

[Talents: Scale Armor Protection (Damage Reduction 30%), Earth Fire Protection (Counterattack), Dragon Might (Suppression)]

[Evolution Progress: 45%]

[Evolution Points: 840]

[Skill Enhancement Stone ×1]

[Thousand-Year Earth Fire Dragon King Right Leg Bone Fragment (1/5)]

He took out the Skill Enhancement Stone and considered which skill to enhance.

[Dragon Mastiff Fury] had already been enhanced once, and further enhancement would yield diminishing returns. Among the remaining choices, [Earth Fire Dragon Breath] was an area-of-effect attack, and [Dragon Claw: Sky Splitter] was a single-target powerhouse.

After much thought, Lin Mo chose [Dragon Claw: Sky Splitter].

This was his core output skill, playing a crucial role against the Earth Fire Dragon King and Dai Mubai. If he could enhance it further, he would have a greater chance against stronger opponents.

[Enhancing Dragon Claw: Sky Splitter...]

[Enhancement Successful!]

[Dragon Claw: Sky Splitter → Dragon Claw: Void Breaker]

[Effect: Five claw marks condense into one, power increased by 100%, with enhanced armor-piercing effect (ignores most defenses)]

[Cost: Soul Power consumption increased by 50%]

The power doubled.

Lin Mo nodded with satisfaction. Although the soul power consumption increased, as a trump card, power was the top priority.

The next day, the three of them followed Grandmaster back to Nuoding Academy.

In the carriage, Grandmaster took out a new training plan. "For the next two months, the training intensity will double. Forty kilometers of cross-country running with weights every day, four hours of soul power control training, and six hours of combat sparring. Also—"

He looked at Tang San. "Your Blue Silver Grass needs stronger control. Starting today, you will weave ten different shapes with your Blue Silver Grass every day—animals, weapons, armor, anything. The goal is to train your fine manipulation of your martial soul."

Tang San nodded.

"Xiao Wu, your soft techniques are already very strong, but they lack explosive power," Grandmaster said. "The focus of your training from now on is strength—five hundred weighted squats and three hundred pull-ups every day. Two months from now, I want to see you shatter rocks with a single punch."

Xiao Wu made a pained face. "Five hundred? I'll die..."

"You won't die, you'll just shed a layer of skin," Grandmaster said expressionlessly. "If you don't want to train, you can quit."

"Train, train, train!" Xiao Wu quickly said.

Lin Mo looked at his own training plan—it was twice as much as Tang San's and Xiao Wu's combined. Grandmaster was truly treating him like a monster.

It was already evening when they returned to Nuoding Academy.

As soon as they entered the school gate, they saw a middle-aged man in a black robe standing in front of the teaching building. The man wore a badge of the Martial Soul Hall on his chest—two crossed swords with a crown above them.

Someone from the Martial Soul Hall.

Grandmaster's expression changed slightly, and he blocked Lin Mo.

The black-robed man turned around, a professional smile on his face. "Hello, I am the new deacon of the Nuoding branch of the Martial Soul Hall, Zhao Wuji—not the Zhao Wuji you know, just a coincidence of names."

He looked at Lin Mo behind Grandmaster. "This must be student Lin Mo, right? Innate Full Soul Power, Chaos Dragon Mastiff martial soul, two thousand-year soul rings. Six years old, champion of the Nuoding Academy freshman practical assessment, two-time champion of the Soto Great Soul Arena exchange match."

With each sentence, his smile deepened.

"The Martial Soul Hall is very interested in you. Student Lin Mo, are you interested in joining the Martial Soul Hall Academy? All expenses are waived, and you'll even have a Titled Douluo personally guiding you."

Here it comes.

Lin Mo had been mentally prepared for this. The Martial Soul Hall's recruitment of geniuses was a tradition—if they couldn't be used by us, they would be used by others. And the fate of being "used by others" was never good.

"Thank you for your kindness," Lin Mo said. "But I have no plans to leave Nuoding Academy for now."

Zhao Wuji's smile didn't change. "No rush, take your time to consider. The doors of the Martial Soul Hall are always open to you."

He turned to leave, then stopped after a few steps and looked back. "Oh, right. In three days, the Martial Soul Hall will send someone to conduct a detailed martial soul appraisal for you. This is a routine procedure, and every child with Innate Full Soul Power must undergo it. At that time—"

He glanced at Grandmaster: "I hope you can cooperate."

The man left.

Grandmaster's expression was grim: "Martial Soul appraisal... they want to get to the bottom of your Martial Soul."

"Can I refuse?" Lin Mo asked.

"No." Grandmaster shook his head, "Martial Soul Hall has the authority. Unless you join another major power and have a Titled Douluo as a backer. But we don't."

Lin Mo fell silent.

Tang Hao was a Titled Douluo, but he could not reveal his identity. Once exposed, it would not bring recruitment from Martial Soul Hall, but a manhunt.

"Three days from now..." Grandmaster mused, "Try to reveal as little as possible. You can show the Martial Soul form, but hide the evolution ability. Two thousand-year spirit rings are already astonishing enough; if they knew your Martial Soul could also evolve..."

He didn't continue, but the meaning was clear—Martial Soul Hall would spare no cost to obtain Lin Mo. Either recruit him, or destroy him.

That night, Lin Mo practiced in his dormitory until late.

Spirit power circulated through his meridians, growing slowly but steadily. Although Grandmaster's training plan was brutal, the results were significant—at the current rate, breaking through to level thirty within two months would not be a problem.

The system suddenly popped up a notification:

[External threat detected: Martial Soul Hall has begun to take notice of the host]

[Hidden quest triggered: Undercurrent]

[Requirement: During the Martial Soul Hall appraisal, hide the Martial Soul Evolution ability without being discovered]

[Reward: Evolution Points ×200, Anti-Reconnaissance Skill ×1 (can mask spirit power detection)]

[Failure: Martial Soul Hall will learn the secret of the Martial Soul Evolution, triggering the 'Hunt' event]

[Accept?]

"Accept."

Anti-reconnaissance skill... this was too critical. If he could mask spirit power detection, he would have an extra layer of protection when facing Martial Soul Hall in the future.

He had to pass the Martial Soul appraisal in three days perfectly.

Lin Mo closed his eyes and continued his practice.

Outside the window, under the moonlight, Tang Hao's figure leaned against a tree, holding a wine bottle in his hand.

He looked at the window of Lin Mo's dormitory and muttered to himself: "Ah Yin, you were right... this child's life is heavier than I thought."

He tilted his head back to take a swig of wine and vanished into the night.