Early the next morning, on the top floor of the Spirit Pagoda.
Luo Yang opened his eyes and felt like a complete wreck.
The agonizing experience of being sandwiched between two people the night before had earned him the worst night's sleep of his life.
He silently swore to himself. Tonight, he was definitely locking the door!
"Awake?"
Just then, Leng Yaozhu's languid voice came from beside him. She stretched, her perfect curves on full display in the sunlight.
"How'd you sleep?"
"...Pretty well," Luo Yang answered against his conscience.
Leng Yaozhu nodded in satisfaction, threw off the covers, and got out of bed. Looking back at him, she winked. "Then let's do it again tonight."
Luo Yang: "???"
Do what again?! Who wanted to do that with you?!
But Leng Yaozhu had already left the room with a smile, leaving Luo Yang alone, utterly bewildered.
Ye Guyi had woken up at some point, too. She watched Luo Yang quietly, her gaze seeming to say: I know everything, but I won't say a word.
Luo Yang took a deep breath and set aside what had just happened.
There were other things to think about today.
The friendly exchange match with Shrek Academy!
Shrek City, Central Arena.
This was a massive structure capable of seating a hundred thousand spectators. Built entirely of white soul-guidance alloy, it was grand and imposing, its metallic sheen glinting in the sunlight.
At that moment, the area around the arena was packed with people. Residents from Shrek City and the surrounding cities had flocked there, all hoping to witness this annual event.
A long line had formed at the entrance. Vendors hawked all kinds of snacks and souvenirs, and the sweet scents of grilled sausages and candy filled the air.
Children ran excitedly around, waving Shrek Academy flags, while adults gathered in groups of three or five to discuss the day's match.
"I heard the Spirit Pagoda brought some amazing newcomers this year!"
"Give me a break. They say that every year, and Shrek wins every time. We're used to it by now."
"True. They've got ten thousand years of foundation behind them. The Spirit Pagoda wants to win? Maybe in another ten thousand years!"
"You can't say that for sure. I heard the Heavenly Phoenix personally brought the team this time. Maybe they really do have a trump card..."
"Wanna bet? I'm putting my money on Shrek winning three to zero!"
"I say two to one! Loser buys the other dinner for a month!"
Similar conversations rippled through the crowd, the atmosphere as lively as a festival.
Inside the arena, all one hundred thousand seats were filled.
The enormous battle platform at the center measured a hundred meters on each side. It was paved with the toughest soul-guidance alloy and engraved with intricate defensive arrays, making it sturdy enough to withstand a Soul Saint's full-force attack.
Four enormous soul-guidance screens hovered above the platform, broadcasting every detail of the match in real time from multiple angles.
Cheers, shouts, and cries of encouragement blended into a deafening roar.
The observation stand, VIP section.
This was the best spot in the entire arena, high above the ground with a clear view of the whole battle platform.
At that moment, two figures sat opposite each other, the atmosphere between them delicate.
On the left sat Cai Yue'er, the dean of the Martial Soul Department's outer school at Shrek Academy. She was an elderly woman who looked to be in her fifties, dressed in a dark green robe embroidered with Shrek Academy's emblem. Though she wasn't deliberately releasing her Soul Power, the invisible pressure surrounding her was enough to make ordinary people keep their distance.
On the right sat Leng Yaozhu, Vice Pagoda Master of the Spirit Pagoda. She wore a brilliant red dress like a blazing fire, and her exquisite features seemed to glow in the sunlight.
The two women looked at each other, and the air seemed to grow still.
"Your Spirit Pagoda loses every year. What makes you brave enough to come back this time?" Cai Yue'er spoke first. Her tone was mild, but carried a hint of mockery.
Leng Yaozhu smiled slightly, her smile so bright that the spectators around them were momentarily dazzled. "The past is the past. The present is the present. This year, the Spirit Pagoda won't lose."
"Oh?" Cai Yue'er raised an eyebrow, a spark of interest in her eyes. "It's been a long time since I've seen the Spirit Pagoda this confident. I take it the Heavenly Phoenix found a few promising talents?"
Leng Yaozhu didn't answer directly. She only smiled a little more deeply.
Cai Yue'er was about to speak when Leng Yaozhu suddenly changed the subject.
"Elder Cai, how about we make a wager?"
Cai Yue'er paused slightly. "A wager?"
"If Shrek wins again this time," Leng Yaozhu said unhurriedly, "the Spirit Pagoda will provide you with an Unyielding Soul Spirit for free. You can choose any kind you like, as long as it's under ten thousand years."
Cai Yue'er's pupils contracted, and a trace of surprise crossed her face.
An Unyielding Soul Spirit under ten thousand years, with her choice of kind?
That was an immense fortune beyond measure!
The Spirit Pagoda was certainly wealthy, but a Soul Spirit of this caliber was a treasure of the tower. Just one could be enough to cultivate a top genius!
"Yaozhu, looks like you've really put everything on the line this time." Cai Yue'er's gaze sharpened. "Are those few youngsters worth such a big bet?"
Leng Yaozhu only smiled, neither confirming nor denying it.
Cai Yue'er fell silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed. "Fine. That's bold of you. But Shrek can't take advantage of you, either."
"If the Spirit Pagoda wins, Shrek Academy will let your disciples study in our Inner Court for free for half a month."
"..."
Leng Yaozhu's smile stiffened.
What kind of lousy reward was that? Who would want to study in Shrek's Inner Court?
"What do you think? If that's not enough, we can make it a month." Seeing Leng Yaozhu's expression, Cai Yue'er assumed she wasn't satisfied.
However.
"Shrek Academy is far too stingy. Who would want to study in your Inner Court?"
Leng Yaozhu was almost laughing with anger.
It wasn't as if she didn't know the rules of Shrek Inner Court. Every month, its students had to take on missions, most of which involved exterminating Evil Soul Masters.
However.
Very few students ever graduated from Shrek Academy's Inner Court. In fact, the vast majority had died in the line of duty.
Cai Yue'er's face darkened.
What did she mean? Countless people wanted to get into Shrek's Inner Court but couldn't, and the Spirit Pagoda looked down on it?
Just then, a gentle voice rang out.
"In that case, I'll add another wager: the Holy Spirit Baptism."
The speaker was an exquisite woman who looked to be around thirty. She wore a simple white dress, her temperament gentle as water, yet she carried an unmistakable dignity and authority.
She stood quietly, and the entire observation stand seemed to brighten around her.
Ya Li.
A member of Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion, she was hailed as "the most beautiful woman on the continent" and was the goddess in countless people's hearts.
She possessed an indescribable air, as if she embodied the perfect wife. At the sight of her, people couldn't help but feel reverence.
Yet the instant she appeared,
Leng Yaozhu's smile froze for a moment, and a bone-chilling glint suddenly swept through the depths of her beautiful eyes.
It was this woman.
This woman had stolen the man Leng Yaozhu had secretly loved for so long.
All those years of admiration, all those years of waiting, all those years of dreams had ultimately lost to the woman before her, who seemed gentle but was actually "deeply calculating."
Leng Yaozhu's fingers tightened slightly, her nails nearly digging into her palms.
But she didn't let it show.
As a Limit Douluo and Vice Pagoda Master of the Spirit Pagoda, she had long since learned to bury every emotion deep inside.
Ya Li seemed not to notice anything unusual about Leng Yaozhu. She smiled gently, her expression tender enough to melt ice and snow.
"If the Spirit Pagoda wins this time, I'll personally perform a Holy Spirit Baptism on one of your contestants."
The Holy Spirit Baptism!
At those four words, several Shrek higher-ups nearby drew in sharp breaths.
It was an extremely rare and precious ritual.
A top powerhouse used their own Soul Power as a guide to draw the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into the recipient. It could cleanse a Soul Master's body and soul to an extraordinary degree, improve their aptitude, and might even awaken the hidden potential of their Martial Soul!
Across the entire Douluo Continent, fewer than a handful of people had the ability and qualifications to perform a Holy Spirit Baptism!
Leng Yaozhu's pupils contracted. Then she put on her calm, unruffled smile again and looked straight at Ya Li.
"Fine. It's a deal."
Ya Li smiled gently and nodded.
The two beautiful women looked at each other, and invisible sparks seemed to fly through the air between them.
Cai Yue'er looked from one to the other, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.
As someone who had been around the block, she knew all about the love and resentment between them. She could also see the complicated emotions Leng Yaozhu felt toward Ya Li: jealousy, unwillingness, hostility, and a trace of... envy.
Beneath the battle platform, in the contestants' waiting area.
Luo Yang, Yuanen Yehui, and Na Nali stood together.
Ye Guyi couldn't appear in public, so she had stayed at the Spirit Pagoda to rest.
"Good luck. Just relax," Luo Yang said, smiling encouragingly at Yuanen Yehui.
Yuanen Yehui nodded silently. Her cold face gave nothing away, but her clenched fist betrayed her nervousness.
Luo Yang was confident in Yuanen Yehui's strength.
He knew her abilities better than anyone.
She had Twin Martial Souls: the Titan Giant Ape and the Fallen Angel. Even without using the Fallen Angel Martial Soul, the terrifying strength of the Titan Giant Ape alone was enough to crush the vast majority of opponents her age.
After all, the Titan Giant Ape was a top ruler of the Soul Beast Realm, an ultimate powerhouse focused purely on strength. At the same level, it was almost without rival.
What's more, Yuanen Yehui's combat experience and ability to adapt on the fly far surpassed those of her peers.
As long as she didn't underestimate her opponent, she had an excellent chance of winning.
"Don't worry," Luo Yang said with a smile. "Just fight as you normally would. If you really run into a tough opponent, the Titan Giant Ape will be enough. It doesn't matter if you lose."
"Don't use the Fallen Angel Martial Soul under any circumstances."
The match was taking place right under Shrek Academy's nose. If the Fallen Angel Martial Soul was exposed, Shrek Academy would definitely treat her as an Evil Soul Master.
Shrek Academy was clearly an Evil Soul Master's den, yet it couldn't stand the sight of Evil Soul Masters.
Yuanen Yehui nodded again.
Just then—
The opposing contestants' entrance opened, and Shrek Academy's contestants filed out amid the audience's thunderous cheers, stepping onto the battle platform.
At the head of the group was a tall, handsome blue-haired boy, his brows marked by a born arrogance.
Yu Longheng.
A young genius of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, he possessed the purest Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul and was hailed as a rising star "destined to become a Titled Douluo."
Behind him followed a plump little fatty, Xu Lizhi; a girl in a pink dress; and a cold-faced girl, Ye Xinglan, who seemed utterly indifferent to everything.
The five lined up to face the three contestants from the Spirit Pagoda.
The audience cheered even louder.
"Shrek! Shrek! Shrek!"
"Yu Longheng! Yu Longheng!"
"We're winning again this year!"