Could it be him!

Tianhai Stadium is situated at the end of the most bustling coastal boulevard in Tianhai City. The entire structure resembles a massive white seashell half-embedded into the coastline, with a ring of transparent reinforced glass curtain walls along the edge of its dome, offering a bird's-eye view of the shimmering waves of Tianhai Port and the distant horizon.

The interior of the stadium is large enough to accommodate one hundred thousand spectators, and at this moment, it is packed to capacity. The circular stands are filled with a deafening roar, with flags and banners of various colors surging like waves in the autumn breeze, and the air is thick with a fervent atmosphere.

At the center of the arena lies a standard competition platform. The base is constructed from massive slabs of white granite, its surface engraved with dense, intricate patterns of protective magic arrays.

At each of the four corners of the platform stands a silver-white soul guidance crystal pillar. These are high-definition soul guidance screens used to project combat footage in real-time. Currently, all four pillars are glowing, projecting the massive emblem of the Tianhai Alliance into mid-air, where it slowly rotates.

In the waiting area, the three members of Shen Nanxun's group have all arrived, though Na'er is merely here to spectate; only Shen Nanxun and Gu Yue are participating.

The team leader from Tianhai Soul Master Academy approaches them with a polite smile. "Her Excellency Heavenly Phoenix has already made the situation clear to us. Just follow the five students from our academy onto the stage in a moment."

In the face of interests, everything can be compromised, especially when it concerns someone as prominent on the continent as Leng Yaozhu; manipulating a small Tianhai Alliance Grand Competition is no issue at all.

"Yu Chen, look at those few over there. Do they look familiar?" Ning Yu points toward a few people not far away and whispers.

Yu Chen gazes into the distance, his brows slightly furrowed. "It's those guys from dinner yesterday!"

"You don't think they're going to be our opponents, do you?" guesses Zhou Min, the agility-type battle soul master beside him.

"I hope so," Yu Chen snorts coldly. "They made us wait for nothing yesterday. If they really are our opponents, it'll be the perfect chance to teach them a lesson!"

"Look, Sister Xinglan, it's that silver-haired guy. He can eat even more than I can!" Xu Lizhi is muttering to himself nearby.

Although Ye Xinglan didn't go with them yesterday, for some reason, whenever she sees the figure of the boy standing next to the silver-haired girl, she feels an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

Yet, she simply cannot figure out who he is.

As a stirring horn blast sounds, the voice of the host emanates simultaneously from the soul guidance loudspeakers surrounding the entire stadium.

A clear yet solemn female voice, carrying the infectious energy unique to professional commentators, rings out: "Distinguished guests, fellow soul masters, welcome to the 17th Tianhai Alliance Grand Competition! I am your host, Lan Wei. Today, Tianhai Stadium welcomes young soul masters from all across the Tianhai Alliance, and they will fight here for glory and dreams!"

The cheers of one hundred thousand spectators rise like a tidal wave, lifting her voice toward the dome. The four soul guidance crystal pillars switch images simultaneously, beginning to play highlights from past Tianhai Alliance Grand Competitions.

The collision of ice and fire, the roar of beast spirits, the clash of tool spirits—classic duels flash across the sky above the stadium one after another, drawing waves of cheers from the stands that grow ever louder.

Lan Wei's voice sounds again: "And before the official competition begins, we are honored to invite the continent's premier academy—Shrek Academy—to join our host, Tianhai Soul Master Academy, for a spectacular exhibition match!"

The cheers in the stands rise by an entire octave; the name Shrek Academy carries incomparable weight on the continent.

"First, let us welcome our host—the Tianhai Soul Master Academy representative team!"

Seven youths file out from the tunnel on the left side of the arena. However, only five are wearing the uniform team attire, while two are dressed differently.

They are none other than Shen Nanxun and Gu Yue, who have joined the procession.

Once the Tianhai team's introduction concludes, Lan Wei's voice suddenly rises in pitch, carrying a rhythmic tension designed to build suspense: "Next, let us welcome—the Shrek Academy representative team!"

Seven figures walk out side-by-side from the tunnel on the right side of the arena. Their "poop-green" school uniforms are particularly eye-catching.

"They're actually here?"

Yu Chen spots Shen Nanxun and Gu Yue behind the seven members of Tianhai Academy immediately, though the silver-haired girl is not among them.

"Shrek Academy, versus, Tianhai Soul Master Academy." Lan Wei draws out the end of her sentence before dropping it at the climax: "The match begins!"

The team members from both sides take their positions, and the protective magic array on the arena lights up with a blue glow.

But at this very moment, the five leading members of the seven-man Tianhai team simultaneously raise their right hands high toward the judges' bench. Five right hands are lifted, fingers spread, palms facing the judges. This is the universal gesture for forfeiture in the Tianhai Alliance Grand Competition.

The entire stadium is in an uproar. Lan Wei's voice trembles; she has never encountered such a situation in her career as a commentator. The host team, at the very last moment before the exhibition match, has five members forfeit simultaneously, handing the arena over to two strangers who aren't even wearing the Tianhai team uniforms.

Yu Chen's expression shifts. He takes a step forward, his gaze crossing the arena to fixate on the two remaining figures on the opposite side.

"Are you trying to humiliate Shrek?"

But he is not met with an explanation; instead, he is met with Gu Yue's decisive strike.

The girl raises her right hand, fingers slightly spread. Fire, wind, earth, and water—the four elements condense simultaneously in her palm. The four elemental halos, initially only the size of a fist, swell instantly in the wind, weaving together in front of her into a massive four-colored ring. The space at the edge of the ring distorts slightly, emitting a low, deep hum.

She isn't here for an exhibition match; she is here to end this quickly. The four-colored ring erupts with a boom, and flames, wind blades, earth spikes, and ice cones rain down upon the seven members of Shrek like a violent storm.

She goes all out from the very first move.

In the stands, Na'er leans back in her seat, legs crossed, holding a bucket of popcorn and eating with relish. Watching the scene in the arena where Gu Yue is suppressing Shrek by fighting seven people at once, and then looking at Shen Nanxun standing behind Gu Yue without even unfolding his wings of light, she curls her lips into a smug arc.

Tossing a piece of popcorn into her mouth, she mumbles vaguely, "Stinky Gu Yue, stealing Na'er's thunder."

However, considering she is earning face for Shen Nanxun today, she won't hold it against her.

After a brief moment of fury, Yu Chen senses the threat posed by Gu Yue, and his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon spirit instantly manifests as he lunges forward.

"Ning Yu!"

Ning Yu reacts quickly, the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda leaping from her hand.

"Seven Treasures Glazed Tile, amplify!"

"First, Power!"

"Second, Speed!"

Empowered by the buffs, Yu Chen meets Gu Yue's elemental storm with a dragon's roar, attempting to shatter it with his own strength.

Meanwhile, the agility-type battle soul master Zhou Min moves in sync, sprinting toward Shen Nanxun at the back with extreme speed.

Within seconds, Zhou Min's figure has circled behind him. As an agility-type battle soul master from Shrek's outer court, his speed ranks among the best of his peers, and his Wind-Chasing Falcon spirit grants him explosive speed. He is confident he can complete a surprise attack before Shen Nanxun can react.

But the target of his ambush simply spreads his golden wings. He suddenly ascends high into the air, avoiding a head-on collision.

Shen Nanxun unfurled his angelic wings, the first brilliant golden soul ring beneath him lighting up as a long golden sword materialized in his hand.

"A golden soul ring?!"

It was not just Zhou Min at the very front who was shocked, but also Ye Xinglan, who stood not far behind him.

Wings, a golden sword, a brilliant golden soul ring!

Could it be... him!