The match between Shrek and Qianling Academy had gone much as expected. They opened with a Simulation Soul Skill to shake the enemy's morale, then Jiang Nannan disrupted their shield formation while Xu Sanshi helped break through their defenses.
Afterward, Huo Yuhao used his ultimate ice to suppress the opposing ice-and-fire control Soul Masters, then shattered their control system with a Spiritual Shock. With the assault fighters backing him up, they won with ease.
The atmosphere in Shrek's conference room was a little gloomy. Everyone was quietly discussing the upcoming match schedule.
"Creak."
A piercing door squeak abruptly rang out, interrupting their hushed conversation. Everyone's eyes snapped toward the entrance, where Beibei strode in.
Beibei was usually gentle and refined, but his expression was exceptionally grim now.
Everyone froze. An ominous feeling spread through their hearts.
"Eldest Senior Brother? What's wrong?" Huo Yuhao was the first to react, hurrying over to him.
Beibei let out a helpless sigh. "The list of our opponents for tomorrow is out."
Wang Yan was already dead, and Shrek hadn't appointed a new team leader, so Beibei had taken over Wang Yan's duties.
"Your face looks so bad. Don't tell me we're facing the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy early?" Xu Sanshi asked uncertainly.
"No." Beibei shook his head.
"Phew."
At his words, everyone from Shrek couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
"It's Zhengtian Academy."
The moment Beibei finished speaking, it was as if someone had pressed pause on the conference room.
The next second—
"Crash! Clatter!"
Chairs toppled one after another as everyone sprang to their feet at once. Some moved so abruptly that they stumbled over with their chairs, and the room descended into chaos.
"What?!"
"Zhengtian Academy?!"
"How did we draw Zhengtian Academy!" Xu Sanshi's pupils shrank, and his voice trembled despite himself.
Shock flooded Huo Yuhao's eyes, and his mind went blank.
"Beibei, are you sure it's the Zhengtian Academy with a Soul Douluo in their ranks?" Ma Xiaotao steadied herself, then sat back down.
"Yes." Beibei nodded, his expression grim.
"This isn't a draw—it's a run of rotten luck!" Xu Sanshi shrieked.
"Ah..." Beibei gave a bitter smile. "It's all my fault. I've become Shrek's sinner."
Jiang Nannan kicked Xu Sanshi hard. "Why are you yelling at a time like this? We haven't even fought yet, and you're already throwing the whole team into disarray. Do you want Beibei to feel even worse?"
Xu Sanshi muttered under his breath, "But it's true... That's Zhengtian Academy. They have a Soul Douluo. How are we supposed to fight them..."
"Everyone, shut up!" Ma Xiaotao snapped. Then she turned to Beibei and said, "Beibei, there's no point being afraid now that we've drawn them. So what if it's Zhengtian Academy? Who has Shrek ever been afraid of?"
Huo Yuhao finally came back to himself. Seeing Beibei's guilt-ridden expression, he walked over and gently patted his shoulder. "Eldest Senior Brother, this isn't your fault. A draw is a matter of chance. If we've crossed paths with them, then this is our trial. Zhengtian Academy may be strong, but we're no easy targets."
"Exactly!" He Caitou chimed in. "At worst, we'll fight to the end. My Soul Tools aren't just for show!"
Xiao Xiao nodded. "Yuhao's right. We can't lose our nerve before we even step onto the field."
Looking at his friends, Beibei felt the gloom in his eyes finally begin to lift. He took a deep breath and said firmly, "All right!"
"Beibei, how much do we know about the Soul Douluo from Zhengtian Academy?" Ma Xiaotao asked.
Beibei took a file from his Storage Soul Tool. "This has all the information we currently have on their Soul Douluo."
When everyone saw the information, their spirits—which had just begun to rise—deflated like a punctured ball.
Name: Xiao Jinchen
Age: Twelve
Martial Souls: Twin Martial Souls (Body Martial Soul, Elemental Martial Soul)
Cultivation: Rank 80
Spirit Ring configuration: Yellow, Purple, Black, Black, Black, Red, Forest White
"Th-this can't be human. Twelve? He's only twelve?" Xu Sanshi was completely dumbfounded. He had assumed Xiao Jinchen was at least twenty, like the other contestants.
Xiao Jinchen had only appeared in one match. By then, everyone from Shrek had already left, and the only person who had seen him was Wang Yan, who had stayed behind to watch.
"Twelve years old, with Twin Martial Souls, and already at Rank 80? How is that possible!" Wang Dong said in disbelief. "How can he be only twelve? Doesn't that mean he can still compete in the next Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament?"
Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng exchanged a glance, then slowly rose to their feet.
"We'll compete tomorrow—Dai Yueheng and I," Ma Xiaotao announced.
"Xiaotao-jie, what about your injuries?" Huo Yuhao asked.
"For the glory of Shrek, we have to do this," Ma Xiaotao said gravely.
"Come on." Ma Xiaotao beckoned to everyone. "Isn't Xiao Jinchen just a Soul Douluo? This old lady will take him on tomorrow!"
While Shrek's side was in the thick of their discussion, Xiao Jinchen was still asleep, holding the Ice Empress in his arms.
Star Emperor Grand Hotel.
The next morning, a ray of dawn pierced the curtains and spilled softly into the room. A faint halo washed over the bed, settling quietly on Xiao Jinchen's face and the face of the Ice Empress in his arms.
Xiao Jinchen's eyelashes trembled, and he woke up.
He lowered his eyes. The Ice Empress was curled up in his arms, sleeping without a care in the world. Her long eyelashes rose and fell gently with each breath.
Perhaps sensing Xiao Jinchen's gaze, the Ice Empress furrowed her brow. She didn't open her eyes, but instinctively burrowed deeper into his warm embrace, snuggling into a more comfortable position. Only then did she reluctantly lift her eyelids.
A sleepy haze still clouded the Ice Empress's orange-gold eyes. The moment she saw the handsome face before her, it vanished, replaced by a hint of shyness and her usual haughty air.
"Ah Chen, hold me a little longer... just a little longer." The Ice Empress called out sweetly, then closed her eyes again.
"We have a match today." Xiao Jinchen stroked her emerald-green hair and spoke softly. He did the math; today should be the match between Zhengtian Academy and Shrek Academy.
At that, the Ice Empress pouted unhappily and reluctantly slipped out of Xiao Jinchen's arms. She looked rather adorable.
The two of them got dressed and headed straight to Zhengtian Academy's conference room.
Xiao Jinchen and the Ice Empress soon arrived outside the conference room.
Xiao Jinchen stepped forward and knocked.
A short while later, the door opened. Losk was standing there.
"Jinchen?" Losk was a little surprised to see Xiao Jinchen. After all, Xiao Jinchen had competed in one match and then stopped involving himself in the team. But given Xiao Jinchen's status, he hadn't felt he could say anything.
"Dean Losk." Xiao Jinchen nodded in greeting.
Only then did Losk notice the Ice Empress beside Xiao Jinchen. He hurriedly bowed. "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Faced with a Limit Douluo like the Ice Empress, Losk naturally didn't dare be the least bit negligent.
"Never mind." The Ice Empress waved a hand casually.
When they entered the conference room, everyone was a little surprised to see Xiao Jinchen.
"Jinchen, Your Majesty, please sit wherever you like," Losk said respectfully.
"Your Majesty?" The people from Zhengtian Academy were startled by Losk's form of address and hurriedly rose to bow.
"Mm." The Ice Empress inclined her head, indicating that they should sit.
Xiao Jinchen led the Ice Empress over to a sofa and sat down with her.
"Today's opponents are Shrek Academy, the one that has claimed nearly ten thousand years' worth of tournament championships—"
"Enough."
Xiao Jinchen waved a hand, cutting Losk off before he could finish.
Losk froze. The tactical analysis he'd prepared so carefully caught in his throat as he looked at Xiao Jinchen and the Ice Empress.
"Shrek? Are they really that impressive?" Xiao Jinchen gave a disdainful smile. "Whatever. I'll handle it myself."