The Final

As time passed, the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament finally reached its most eagerly anticipated showdown—

Shrek Academy versus the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy.

After Ji Jing had displayed his terrifying strength in the previous battle, and revealed Battle Armor that left every Soul Engineer in the arena questioning everything they knew, the atmosphere on the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy's side had grown oppressive in the extreme.

Inside Shrek Academy's private rest area.

Ji Jing sat on a comfortable sofa and casually waved a hand. Several metal medallions, each radiating a pale blue glow, immediately lined up in neat rows on the table.

The medallions were exquisitely crafted, their surfaces engraved with intricate yet understated array patterns.

"These are for you."

Ji Jing pointed to the medallions on the table and said calmly,

"One for each of you. Level 7 Defensive Soul Tools."

"Level 7?!"

Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, and the others sucked in a sharp breath.

A Level 7 Defensive Soul Tool was a life-saving treasure capable of withstanding a full-power strike from a Soul Saint!

The reserve team members here weren't even Soul Kings yet, let alone qualified to use one.

"Ji Jing, we... don't have enough Soul Power to activate a Level 7 Soul Tool."

Gongyang Mo couldn't help saying, his voice tinged with helplessness.

Ji Jing smiled faintly. "Don't worry. I took that into account before bringing them out. Each of these Soul Tools has an energy-storage device built in. I've already charged them, and the energy won't dissipate."

"You don't need to meet any cultivation requirement to use one. Just trigger it with your Soul Power, or press the switch on the side, and it will instantly release a defensive barrier and operate automatically."

"In short, even an ordinary person can use one just by holding it."

At that, Dai Yueheng and Ma Xiaotao exchanged a glance, both visibly shaken.

A Level 7 Soul Tool that required no cultivation to activate!

An energy-storage device that didn't lose its charge!

If word of this reached the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy, even those Level 9 Soul Engineers would be stunned.

After all, Soul Tools like Milk Bottles hadn't yet become widespread!

Energy-storage Soul Tools had always been the Sun Moon Empire's exclusive domain.

Most importantly, the Sun Moon Empire's Milk Bottles didn't have sealing technology!

"Thanks, Ji Jing."

Dai Yueheng didn't refuse. He was the first to pick one up.

With these things, Shrek's safety during the final would be raised to a terrifying level.

As they were distributing the Soul Tools, an official from the tournament committee delivered the final match format.

Wang Yan strode into the rest area.

"Everyone, listen up. The format for the final has been announced."

"Unlike the previous rounds, the final will consist of a team battle, an individual elimination match, and a 2-2-3 battle format. It'll be a best-of-three, meaning we have to win two of the three events—the team battle, the individual match, and the 2-2-3 battle—to claim the victory."

The mood in the rest area sank slightly at the announcement.

Dai Yueheng looked at the Level 7 Defensive Soul Tool in his hand, then at the reserve team members sitting nearby, and finally turned his gaze to Ji Jing.

"Ji Jing,"

Dai Yueheng said solemnly,

"Since there are three events in the final, and we have such powerful defensive gear,"

"I think we can let the reserve team compete in the individual match and the 2-2-3 battle to get some experience. With you backing them up and these life-saving Soul Tools, nothing should go wrong."

At that, Dai Yueheng paused, as though he'd remembered something, then smiled.

"Oh, right. There was a top-tier auction a while back. It's a shame you missed it because you were cultivating in seclusion. Yuhao got a pretty good Soul Bone there."

Ji Jing merely smiled without comment. His eyes remained calm.

Of course he knew.

Huo Yuhao had obtained an Ice Jade Scorpion Soul Bone at the auction, one that came with the divine Ice Explosion Technique.

He had no interest in auctions or Soul Bones of that caliber. Rather than waste time going, he'd preferred to meditate in his room.

However, Dai Yueheng's suggestion to let the reserve team compete had touched on another thought of Ji Jing's.

His gaze swept over the reserve team and eventually settled on Xiao Xiao.

Xiao Xiao had the Eight Trials of Goodness.

Under the circumstances, if she didn't get another chance to fight alongside her teammates and face powerful enemies together in the arena, she could forget about passing the First Trial of Goodness.

At that point, they'd probably have to pull strings and go easy on her.

As someone who wanted to help his companions grow, Ji Jing naturally didn't want Xiao Xiao's trial to be left with a blemish.

"I agree."

Ji Jing gathered his thoughts and spoke calmly.

"The reserve team can take on the individual match and the 2-2-3 battle to gain experience. We'll win the first event—the team battle—with our starting lineup and get off to a strong start."

With Ji Jing's decision made, Wang Yan and Dai Yueheng both breathed a sigh of relief.

"Good!"

Wang Yan immediately took out the tactical board, his expression serious as he announced the team battle lineup.

"Then the lineup for the first team battle is set—"

"Ji Jing, Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, Gongyang Mo, Ling Luochеn, Chen Zifeng, and Xixi!"

The seven starters from Shrek Academy rose as one.

At Star Luo Plaza, the shouts of a hundred thousand spectators crashed over them like an avalanche.

Amid the earth-shaking roar, the two teams slowly entered the enormous Soul Fighting Arena.

Ji Jing led the Shrek Academy team, with Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, and the others close behind. Each of them radiated a terrifying surge of Soul Power.

Facing them stood the seven starters from the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy.

At their head was their captain, Ma Rulong.

His Martial Soul was the Big-Headed Spirit Ape. He had reached the six-ring Soul Emperor level and was also a bona fide Level 7 Soul Engineer.

At Ma Rulong's side stood two striking young figures.

One was arrogantly poised: Xiao Hongchen, a five-ring Soul King with the rare Beast Martial Soul Three-Legged Golden Toad.

Standing beside Xiao Hongchen was Meng Hongchen.

Her Martial Soul was the extraordinarily rare and venomous Vermilion Clear Ice Toad, and she too was a five-ring Soul King.

The other four team members behind them were all Soul Kings as well, each carrying a variety of core Soul Tools.

One Soul Emperor, six Soul Kings, and an assortment of cutting-edge Soul Tools—this was the strength of the Sun Moon Empire's team, and the confidence behind their challenge to Shrek.

"Both teams, step back and prepare for the match!"

The referee shouted. A powerful surge of Soul Power formed a barrier between the two sides.

Ma Rulong took a deep breath and gave Ji Jing a long look before speaking quietly to his teammates.

"Remember the strategy. That Ji Jing is a monster, but as long as we use high-level Soul Tools to hold him back and focus our fire on eliminating the others first, we'll have a chance! For the glory of Sun Moon!"

"For the glory of Sun Moon!"

On the other side, the Shrek Team looked relaxed.

With Ji Jing on their side, this team battle was nothing more than a showcase of their dominance.

Even without him, the six who had now fully recovered were more than capable of tearing the opposing team to shreds.

Ji Jing stood with his hands behind his back, gazing indifferently at the seven opponents waiting in formation.

In his eyes, the six-ring Ma Rulong and the so-called peerless duo, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, were all ants he could crush with a flick of his hand.

"Begin!"

At the referee's command, Soul Power surged wildly across the Soul Fighting Arena!