"He Who Gains the Master, Gains the World" (A Jest)

"You little brat, I'll kill you!"

Liu Erlong's roar, brimming with boundless fury, exploded across the arena like a peal of thunder.

The pale blue flame of her soul power no longer merely circled her; it erupted from her body like a volcanic explosion, illuminating her like a war goddess bathed in fire.

Her eyes were locked onto Yang Teng, who remained standing in place with an expression so indifferent it bordered on boredom, and her killing intent nearly solidified into a physical force.

"Seventh Soul Skill: Red Dragon True Body!"

As she let out a near-scream, the seventh pitch-black ten-thousand-year soul ring at her feet suddenly erupted with profound radiance.

She merged with the blue fire dragon phantom behind her, her figure expanding rapidly amidst the scorching red light!

In an instant, a massive dragon, far larger than before and with scales wreathed in raging flames, replaced Liu Erlong's original position on the arena stage!

This was the hallmark of a Soul Saint: the Martial Soul True Body! Its power was worlds apart from her normal state!

Many spectators turned pale, gasping for air under the crushing pressure of her aura.

In the VIP gallery, many powerhouses shifted slightly, their expressions changing; the fierce reputation of Liu Erlong, the "Horn of Slaughter," was clearly no mere rumor!

Gu Yena's silver hair fluttered slightly, a trace of coldness flashing through her violet eyes.

She took a light half-step forward, the elements around her stirring silently, as if she were ready to unleash an elemental frenzy at the slightest provocation.

However, a cold and steady figure moved faster than her, blocking the path between Yang Teng and the enraged Red Dragon.

It was the Dean of Tianshui Academy, Shui Yunxia!

This woman, tempered by the passage of time, had truly broadened her horizons!

A cold, icy aura—not scorching, but incredibly resilient—quietly emanated from her body.

"Seventh Soul Skill: Ice Mantis True Body."

Shui Yunxia's voice was not loud, yet it reached every person clearly.

At her feet, another deep black ten-thousand-year soul ring lit up, but unlike the violent and fiery transformation of Liu Erlong, Shui Yunxia's figure appeared hazy and swift within the ice-blue light.

As the light faded, what appeared before the crowd was a giant mantis, elegant and slender, its entire body appearing as if carved from black ice!

This Ice Mantis was not as tall as the Red Dragon, but what drew the eye were the massive, icy crystal scythes on its forelimbs, the space around their blades seemingly warping from the extreme cold.

So, Dean Shui Yunxia's Martial Soul was actually a top-tier insect-type Martial Soul with an ice attribute.

"Nine Ice Mantis!"

The Ice Mantis True Body raised one of its massive crystal scythe forelimbs, precisely catching the Red Dragon True Body's flaming, rage-fueled claw!

BOOM!

The stalemate of the collision lasted only a fleeting moment.

Thud, thud, thud!

The massive body of the Red Dragon True Body actually stumbled back three steps, leaving deep, scorched claw marks in the ground.

The Ice Mantis True Body, however, only slid back a short distance before standing firm, its pair of crystal scythes still shimmering with chilling light.

Who held the upper hand was immediately clear!

From within the Ice Mantis True Body came Shui Yunxia's voice, still calm but carrying a trace of clear disappointment.

"Horn of Slaughter Liu Erlong... how disappointing. As a teacher, you fly into a rage when your disciple is defeated, disregarding the rules to attack a contestant? Have you only grown a temper over these years, and not a brain?"

"You...!"

A roar of shock and fury erupted from the Red Dragon True Body.

She had not expected Shui Yunxia's strength to be so formidable, suppressing her Red Dragon True Body in a direct collision! What was even harder to endure was the mockery and disdain in the other woman's words.

"Shui Yunxia! Don't forget about our Golden Iron Triangle!"

Flender's anxious voice rang out. He and Yu Xiaogang had rushed to the edge of the stage when Liu Erlong erupted; seeing her at a disadvantage, they could no longer hold back, leaping onto the stage together to stand side-by-side with the slightly disheveled Red Dragon.

Flender's seven soul rings—two yellow, two purple, and three black—rose up with the Cat Eagle phantom behind him; Yu Xiaogang's soul power was so low he didn't even release his soul rings.

The three stood firm, vaguely forming a triangular formation as their soul power began to resonate and link in a peculiar way.

The Ice Mantis behind Shui Yunxia did not show the slightest sign of weakness.

Just as the tension reached its breaking point:

"Enough!"

A low, majestic shout, brimming with unquestionable fury, exploded from the highest point of the VIP gallery!

The source of the voice was Emperor Xue Ye!

The supreme ruler of the Heaven Dou Empire had stood up at some point.

He did not release any soul power pressure, but the imperial majesty cultivated from long years in power, combined with the undisguised rage on his face, created an aura even more heart-stopping than that of a Titled Douluo.

His eyes, sharp as a hawk's, slowly swept over the figures confronting each other on the stage, and wherever his gaze fell, the air seemed to freeze.

"What do you think this Spirit Fighting tournament is?!"

Emperor Xue Ye's voice echoed throughout the silent arena.

"Is this a slaughterhouse where you can run wild, ignore the rules, and openly attempt to kill participating students?! You three from Shrek Academy, do you have any regard for the laws of the Empire, or for this Continental Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament?"

Every question struck like a heavy hammer against their hearts.

Flender's face turned pale, and he subconsciously withdrew his spirit power.

"And the Dean of Tianshui Academy, do you also have no respect for the law?"

Shui Yunxia also deactivated her Ice Mantis True Body, returning to her human form. She gave a slight nod of greeting toward Emperor Xue Ye before stepping back two paces, remaining positioned in front of Yang Teng and Gu Yena.

Yang Teng raised an eyebrow, and the elemental fluctuations beside Gu Yena gradually calmed down.

The arena, which had been tense just a moment ago, was now as still as water.

This power and presence to control the entire situation—the majesty of an emperor—was sometimes truly more awe-inspiring than pure strength.

Seeing everyone subdued, the anger in Emperor Xue Ye's eyes faded slightly, though his majesty remained.

Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

He stepped forward and bowed respectfully toward Emperor Xue Ye, his posture deferential, yet his tone carried a deliberately maintained steadiness and confidence:

"Respected Your Majesty, I am Yu Xiaogang. I once proposed the Ten Core Competitiveness Theories of Martial Souls, and thanks to the kindness of the spirit master world, I have been bestowed the humble title of 'Grandmaster'."

He paused slightly, as if weighing his words, but the faint, irrepressible trace of pride in the corner of his eyes—born from this title—was precisely captured by Yang Teng, who had been observing him the entire time.

His skin is truly thick enough!

"Grandmaster?"

Emperor Xue Ye pondered for a moment, as if recalling something.

"Oh... I believe I have read some of your published treatises; they possess quite a few unique insights."

Hearing the Emperor of the Empire personally acknowledge his theories, a smile finally broke across Yu Xiaogang's previously tense face, one he could no longer control.

His theories had finally received recognition at the highest level!

Just then, Ning Fengzhi, the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect who had been sitting quietly beside Emperor Xue Ye, stood up, walked to the Emperor's side, and leaned in slightly.

"Your Majesty, this man is the mentor of Tang San from the Shrek team on the field. Those children, including Tang San who possesses a ten-thousand-year fourth spirit ring, are said to have been trained and cultivated entirely by his hand."

Ning Fengzhi's voice was gentle, yet every word was clear.

"He who gains the Grandmaster, gains the world."

In this tournament, these children from Shrek were all nearly Spirit Ancestors at such a young age; their potential was truly astonishing.

As Emperor Xue Ye listened to Ning Fengzhi, his gaze swept once more over the unconscious Shrek Seven Devils on the stage, then glanced at the Tianshui Academy side, where, aside from Shui Bing'er, Yang Teng, and Gu Yena, the other female team members did indeed appear relatively mediocre.

He could not help but nod inwardly.

Just as the scales in Emperor Xue Ye's heart began to tip, and he considered whether to take this opportunity to win over this "Grandmaster" and show favor to his disciples, thereby binding these geniuses to the Empire—

"Father."

A clear, gentle voice rang out.

Crown Prince Xue Qinghe had arrived at the front of the VIP seating at some point. He first bowed respectfully to Emperor Xue Ye and Ning Fengzhi, then leaned toward the Emperor's ear, speaking a few words in a low, rapid, and clear voice.

Emperor Xue Ye's pupils contracted sharply, and a look of unconcealable shock flashed across his face.

"Breaking through from Spirit Venerable to Spirit Ancestor in one month, combined with a two-purple, two-black spirit ring configuration—even Spirit Hall does not have such a prodigy!"