Shrek Comes to Provoke

The eight members of the Shrek Academy delegation stood before the main gate of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy, the afternoon sun scorching overhead.

Xie Xie tilted his head to look at the academy emblem, where the sun and moon intertwined, and let out a low whistle. "This entrance is more imposing than our academy's."

Xu Lizhi, clutching half a bag of chestnut cakes with crumbs still clinging to the corners of his mouth, mumbled a reply, "I wonder how their cafeteria is."

"All you ever think about is food," Xie Xie retorted.

"What's wrong with eating? You need to be full to have the strength to fight."

Tang Wulin walked at the very front, ignoring the bickering behind him. Ye Xinglan walked beside him, simply observing the academy, lost in her own thoughts.

Wu Sidu, Xu Yucheng, and Luo Guixing followed behind. Wu Sidu's gaze swept over the students coming and going at the gate, her expression indifferent.

Xu Yucheng remained silent as always, trailing at the back like a shadow. Luo Guixing was busy adjusting his cuffs, his movements slow and methodical; he looked less like someone here to challenge a rival school and more like someone out for afternoon tea.

Leading the group was Wu Zhangkong. With his white clothes, blue hair, and icy expression, his mere presence at the gate felt more chilling than the academy's ten-thousand-year-old signboard. He ascended the steps, the seven students following in his wake.

The gate opened.

Zhang Hanlin stood behind it, dressed in a dark gray suit, his white hair combed meticulously, hands clasped behind his back. There was no expression on his aged face as his gaze swept over the seven youths behind Wu Zhangkong.

"Shrek Academy, challenging our Sun Moon?"

"Indeed!" Tang Wulin replied. "We challenge the strongest seven-man team under the age of eighteen from the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy! A seven-on-seven battle!"

Zhang Hanlin nodded, appearing unsurprised. He stepped aside and gestured for them to enter. "Guests from afar are welcome. Please."

As Xie Xie followed Wu Zhangkong inside, his eyes darted everywhere. He couldn't help but remark, "Yo, is that a statue of the Spirit Ice Douluo? Sun Moon sure knows how to bask in reflected glory."

Luo Guiming glanced at it as well, his tone tinged with amusement. "Since the Spirit Ice Douluo was an exchange student here, this is practically his alma mater."

Zhang Hanlin didn't stop walking, merely tilting his head slightly. "The Spirit Ice Douluo did indeed study at our academy as an exchange student. As the founder of the Spirit Pagoda, he is a part of our academy's history."

Zhang Hanlin led the way, the corners of his mouth curling up in a way that was almost imperceptible. The group passed through the central plaza, skirted the Mimicry Cultivation Ground, and arrived at the Main Competition Arena.

This arena was specifically designed by the Sun Moon Academy for hosting official matches and receiving visiting delegations. The dome was exceptionally high, and the four walls were embedded with soul guidance lighting arrays. The central competition platform was constructed from solid blocks of White Obsidian, its surface area more than three times larger than the mimicry platforms used within the academy.

A massive holographic projection screen hung above the main entrance of the arena, scrolling through the Sun Moon Academy's competition records from the past decade.

At the very top, in the largest font, was the record of the Tianhai Alliance Grand Competition five years ago, where Shen Nanxun and Gu Yue defeated Shrek Academy in a two-on-seven match.

This screen had hung there for five years, never once taken down.

Ye Xinglan saw it, and her hand, hanging at her side, tightened slightly.

Of course, she remembered that battle.

How could she possibly forget?

Zhang Hanlin pushed open the arena doors and stepped aside. "Please, everyone. We can discuss the details inside."

He led them into the arena's lounge, where tea and snacks were laid out on a table with such impeccable hospitality that one could find no fault. It was hard to believe these two academies were bitter rivals.

He stood at the door, hands still clasped behind his back, his tone remaining that same business-like, indifferent monotone. "Please, make yourselves comfortable. As per Shrek Academy's request, we will arrange for the seven strongest students under the age of eighteen from the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy to face you. I shall return shortly."

With that, he turned and pushed open the lounge door, stepping out. The moment the door clicked shut behind him, a brilliant, triumphant smile bloomed across his wrinkled face.

Zhang Hanlin walked briskly down the corridor, ducked into an empty preparation room, and locked the door behind him. He pulled his Soul Guidance Communicator from his pocket, his fingers trembling with excitement.

"Dean, they're here. Yes, Shrek, seven of them." His voice was low, but the excitement was impossible to hide. "Don't worry, everything is arranged perfectly. If we don't make Shrek cry all the way home this time, I've lived my life in vain!"

Ending the call, he straightened his tie in the preparation room mirror and took a deep breath. By the time he pushed the door open again, his expression had returned to that of a dull, pedantic old scholar.

Inside the arena, both teams took their positions.

Tang Wulin and his six companions were clearly confident; as students of the continent's premier academy, they naturally possessed the pride that came with looking down on all others.

In the VIP viewing gallery above the competition platform, behind a massive floor-to-ceiling glass window, two men stood side by side. On the left was Dean Kong Jieming, and on the right was the Dean of Academic Affairs, Zhang Hanlin. As they watched the scene below, they shared an identical, knowing smile.

"Heh, heh, heh," Zhang Hanlin chuckled under his breath. "Dean, I have waited decades for this day."

Kong Jieming took a sip of tea, his tone calm, though he couldn't suppress the curve of his lips. "Is the live broadcast arranged?"

"Federation TV, Ming Capital Sports Channel, and the top spot on the Xingdou Network—all three platforms are broadcasting simultaneously. After today, let's see how Shrek continues to gild their reputation as the 'Continent's Number One'." Zhang Hanlin had long since arranged everything.

The four giant soul guidance screens suspended above the competition platform lit up simultaneously, and the countdown for the Federation TV broadcast appeared in the center of the screens.

In the spectator stands surrounding the arena, students of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy were already packed in. In the academy plaza behind them, crowds of Shrek students who hadn't been able to enter were also gathered, looking up at the holographic broadcast screen in the center of the square.

Back at the Shen family estate in Ming Capital, Elder Shen had uncharacteristically skipped his visit to the military department. He sat on the living room sofa, the holographic screen before him displaying the live feed from Federation TV.

Ye Li walked out of the kitchen carrying a fruit platter, while Shen Xing sat cross-legged on the carpet, clutching a bag of potato chips, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on the screen.

"Shrek Academy versus Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy!" The host's voice boomed beneath the arena dome. The arena lights flared to full brightness.

"Let us welcome the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy—the strongest seven-man team!"

Seven figures emerged side-by-side from the tunnel on the left side of the competition platform. Leading them was naturally Shen Nanxun, followed by Na'er on his left and Gu Yue on his right, with Xu Xiaoyan close behind. Bringing up the rear were the Radiant Sacred Dragon Long Chen, Xue Liushuang, and Weng Daimin.

The cheers from the spectator stands erupted like a thunderclap.

The moment Shen Nanxun stepped onto the competition platform, the four giant screens cut simultaneously to a close-up of him. Dressed in black with black hair, his figure was tall and straight.

"Shen Nanxun! Shen Nanxun!"

Someone in the stands started the chant, and the wave of sound rolled down from the highest tiers, causing the entire arena to hum with vibration.

"The number one of Sun Moon!"

Xie Xie's gaze, however, did not linger on Shen Nanxun. He looked at the two people beside Shen Nanxun, his lips moving slightly: "Gu Yue, Xu Xiaoyan?"

"It's them!" Tang Wulin's eyes were complex, and he could not help but sigh.

The East Sea Quartet of the past had now reached opposite sides.

Ye Xinglan looked at Shen Nanxun, her breath hitching slightly. Five years. He was even more mature than he had been back then.

Yet only she knew just how strong he truly was, because she alone had spent these years collecting the records of every one of his public duels.

Now, he would only be stronger than before.

She turned her head, lowered her voice, and spoke faster than usual: "That Shen Nanxun in the front must be held back. Otherwise, if he is allowed to let loose, none of us will be left standing at the end."

"Don't boost others' morale and dampen our own," Luo Guixing frowned slightly.

"Leave it to me!" Wu Sidu's eyes narrowed as she looked toward the distant Shen Nanxun; she loved challenging the strong.

Especially this guy who was known as the number one of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy!

The host raised her right hand high, and the lights of the entire arena dimmed for a moment with her movement, before suddenly exploding into a blinding white glare.

"Shrek Academy versus Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy—the match begins!"

As soon as the words fell, Luo Guixing pressed his hands into the air in front of him. Silver-white space energy spread silently, and a spatial lock landed precisely on Shen Nanxun, instantly separating him from the six people behind him.

"Wu Sidu!" Tang Wulin shouted in a low voice. Blue Silver Grass grew wildly beneath his feet, and vines shimmering with a jade luster wove into an impenetrable wall behind Shen Nanxun, cutting off Gu Yue, Na'er, and Xu Xiaoyan several yards away.

Wu Sidu had already charged out. With her White Tiger Martial Soul possessed, her speed was immense. Her hands were covered in a layer of dark golden tiger stripes, and sharp tiger claws sprang from her fingertips. She cut into the spatial rift created by Luo Guixing like a bolt of dark golden lightning, heading straight for Shen Nanxun.

The tiger claws slashed down toward Shen Nanxun's head with a sharp, wind-tearing sound.

At the same time, Xu Yucheng's figure appeared silently on Shen Nanxun's flank, sealing his only path of retreat.

Ye Xinglan drew her sword, the Star God Sword pointing diagonally at the ground, waiting for the moment Wu Sidu's first wave of impact tore open the defense.

Tang Wulin's arm muscles bulged, and the Blue Silver Grass, reinforced by life energy, continuously fortified the vine wall; he had to hold the others back, even if only for a few seconds.

On the arena stage, the seven Shrek members moved faster than anyone had anticipated.

Spatial lock, vine wall isolation, tiger claw assault, shadow positioning.

The four people's actions were completed within the same second, their coordination incredibly tacit!

"This tactic is quite decisive," Zhang Hanlin narrowed his eyes in the VIP viewing area.

"Decisive is one thing, whether it's useful is another," Kong Jieming held his teacup, slowly blowing away the tea foam.

Yet, this focus-fire tactic was not as effective as imagined.

Luo Guixing's spatial lock shattered first. The moment nine-colored light patterns lit up around Shen Nanxun, that silver-white spatial curtain shattered from the center like glass hitting a hammer.

Immediately after, Tang Wulin's Blue Silver vine wall was torn from the inside by a massive, overwhelming force, and dozens of vines reinforced by life energy snapped inch by inch.

Wu Sidu's tiger claws had already reached Shen Nanxun. She had been full of confidence when she attacked; Luo Guixing's crowd control, Tang Wulin's separation, and Xu Yucheng's positioning had left her with a near-perfect window for a frontal assault.

But the moment Shen Nanxun's black eyes turned toward her, her White Tiger Martial Soul faltered under the shroud of the Angel God's might. Shen Nanxun simply clenched his fist, the muscles in his right arm bulging suddenly, and nine-colored light patterns spread along his meridians from his shoulder all the way to his knuckles.

He met Wu Sidu's tiger claws head-on with a punch.

The moment the dark golden tiger claws collided with the nine-colored fist, a visible white shockwave exploded in all directions.

Wu Sidu felt a force so terrifying it was almost unreasonable travel from the tips of her claws to her arms.

This was pure, crushing power—the kind of strength that made her proud White Tiger body tremble instinctively.

Wu Sidu was sent flying backward by the punch, her tiger claws plowing ten deep furrows into the ground. White Obsidian fragments splashed everywhere, and she only barely managed to steady herself at the edge of the arena. She looked down at her right hand; the dark golden light on her tiger claws had dimmed by more than half.

She struggled to lift her head, only to see that Shen Nanxun had vanished from his original spot. The next second, the nine-colored fist appeared before her.

He had counterattacked.

Wu Sidu had no time to think; almost instinctively, she crossed her arms in front of her, pushing the defensive power of her White Tiger Martial Soul to the limit.

The punch smashed into the intersection of her arms, the dark golden tiger stripes vibrating violently. Her feet slid back several more feet on the ground, and her tiger claws left a final, deep crack at the edge of the arena.

She could not retreat.

If she retreated any further, she would be out of bounds. She knew Shen Nanxun was strong, but she hadn't expected him to be this strong. Just one punch had cracked her White Tiger form.

She could not hold back any longer.

Wu Sidu took a deep breath, and the soul power within her began to oscillate at an extremely unique frequency. The dark golden light of the White Tiger Martial Soul erupted from her body, and at the same time, a completely different aura awakened within her: the Nether Spirit Cat.

These two Martial Souls were activated simultaneously within her. Dark golden and deep purple lights intertwined and entangled, her figure splitting in two and merging back into one amidst the light and shadow. A massive phantom of a Nether White Tiger emerged behind her, its body draped in dark golden tiger stripes, yet its eyes burned with cold, deep purple flames.

Self-Martial Soul Fusion Skill—Nether White Tiger.

The entire arena was in an uproar.

A self-Martial Soul fusion skill.

Martial Soul fusion skills were rare enough, let alone a self-Martial Soul fusion skill.

Wu Sidu's figure became blurred and massive within the phantom of the Nether White Tiger. The dark golden tiger stripes and deep purple cat eyes swirled together, and she descended upon Shen Nanxun, shrouded in the terrifying pressure of the fused twin Martial Souls.

She held nothing back in this strike; every second the Nether White Tiger was maintained burned through her soul power—she could not afford to drag this out.

Shen Nanxun did not retreat. He raised his eyes, and deep within his black pupils, a faint, profound nine-colored light ignited. Then, behind him, the shadow of a dragon emerged.

At first, it was merely a faint, translucent phantom, but it swelled against the wind in an instant. The dragon's body was slender, its scales layered one upon another, with nine-colored light patterns flowing across every single plate. The dragon raised its head high, its vertical pupils looking down upon the charging Nether White Tiger.

It was the phantom of the Dragon Prince. The Dragon Prince Soul Spirit had not yet fully awakened, but when Shen Nanxun stimulated his bloodline, the projection of the Dragon Prince's origin was already enough to crush any mortal martial soul.

The dragon claw lifted, nine-colored light patterns coalescing upon its tips, before it smashed down directly.

The moment the Nether White Tiger's dark gold stripes and deep purple feline eyes touched the dragon claw, they began to shatter. The fused form of two top-tier beast martial souls was like paper before this pressure, disintegrating inch by inch starting from the tiger's head. The dark golden radiance crumbled into dust, and the cold, deep purple flames were swallowed clean by the nine-colored light patterns.

That arrogant Nether White Tiger did not even have time to let out a whimper before it was torn clean in two by the dragon claw.

A mantis trying to stop a chariot—overestimating one's own strength!