Releasing Their Martial Souls Scared Them to Tears

Star Luo Square, atop the high platform.

"I hereby announce that the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Duel Tournament has officially begun!"

With the Star Luo Emperor's loud proclamation, the tournament officially commenced!

Boom, boom, boom...

The 108 ceremonial cannon blasts from the city walls thoroughly ignited the spectators' excitement below.

"Next, the first match will begin shortly."

The host's voice boomed across the entire square through a sound-amplifying soul tool:

"The competing sides are the team from Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy of the Dou Ling Empire."

"And... the team from Shrek Academy—the continent's number one academy, bearer of countless honors, and the winner of nearly every tournament championship over the past thousand years!!"

In an instant, waves of cheers erupted, making everyone's ears buzz.

Among all the academies on the Douluo Continent, Shrek Academy was the undisputed hegemon!

Although the majority of people in the square were citizens of the Star Luo Empire, Shrek Academy undoubtedly had more supporters than any other academy.

"First, let us welcome the competitors from Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy!"

From a spot toward the back of the competitors' area, a team of pale-faced young students emerged.

As they walked out from the competitors' area, their faces looked as though they were about to cry, and their steps were unsteady.

Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy members: We're fighting Shrek? Is this for real?

At that moment, the team members wished they could drag their captain out and beat him to death with clubs.

Running into Shrek meant there was nothing to say—they would be eliminated in the first round on the very first day.

"Good, the competitors of Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy have taken the field."

The host roared, "At this moment that has captured everyone's attention, let us now welcome the representatives of the continent's number one academy, the true kings among academies—Shrek Academy!!"

Star Luo Square instantly became an ocean of cheers.

Even the Star Luo Emperor on the high platform could not help stretching his neck to look toward the competitors' area.

This was his alma mater too!

The first to emerge from the competitors' tunnel was a remarkably handsome blond youth.

He stood tall and straight, with a pair of gold-and-silver eyes and a trace of youthful innocence still on his face.

Two steps behind him, to his left and right, were the peerless beauties Di Ruiqiu and Gu Yuena.

Behind them came the noticeably older Dai Yueheng, Ling Luochan, Gongyang Mo, and Chen Zifeng.

The seven slowly ascended the platform and faced their opponents from afar.

"Captain, those three students walking at the front look so young!"

A member of Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy whispered, "Did our teacher slip them a red envelope last night? Those three from Shrek Academy are reserve members, right?"

"They're going easy on us!"

The team members were delighted.

Everyone would lose against Shrek Academy anyway. As long as they did not lose too horribly, that would be enough!

"Idiot!"

The captain shot him a glare. "Do you think it won't be terrifying just because Shrek Academy only sent four main team members?"

"You'd better be thankful if you can withstand even one extra move!"

It was not only the students of Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy who were confused. The other uninformed academies also took Ye Ming's group of three for reserve members.

But those who knew the truth were silently mourning for the members of Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy.

On the high platform, the Star Luo Emperor lightly clapped as he watched the seven take the stage.

"They're all talented!"

"Haha, Dai Hao's son is competing too. This is going to be interesting!"

"Strange, why isn't Dai Yueheng at the front?"

An attendant beside him immediately replied, "Your Majesty, the captain reported by Shrek Academy is a four-ringed Soul Ancestor."

"He is the blond youth leading the group, Ye Ming."

"Oh?" The Star Luo Emperor was intrigued. "For Ye Ming to keep Dai Yueheng in line, he must possess extraordinary qualities!"

On the other side of the competitors' area, where the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy was gathered.

Xiao Hongchen stared at the figure on the stage, his fists clenching tightly.

"Ye Ming!!" He gritted his teeth. "This time, I won't fail again!"

Ever since that defeat, he had returned to the academy and trained bitterly for a year, all so that he could defeat his fated opponent at the Soul Duel Tournament!

Yet just as his emotions rose, Meng Hongchen shattered them with a single sentence.

"Wow... he's gotten even more handsome!"

"And he's become the captain of the Shrek Seven Monsters too. He's amazing!"

Meng Hongchen's eyes sparkled as she murmured, "Those eyes are even prettier than Little Yuhao's."

Xiao Hongchen slapped his forehead. "Sister, stop acting lovestruck. He's our enemy!"

"Our mortal enemy!"

"This time, it will be our battle of revenge!"

Huo Yuhao, among the reserve team, scratched his head and replied with complete seriousness, "Sister Meng is right. His eyes really are beautiful."

Although he said that, Huo Yuhao's gaze remained fixed on the burliest figure on the stage.

Dai Yueheng... his half-brother from the same father!

"The White Tiger Duke... Shrek Academy..." Huo Yuhao's Spirit Eyes were filled with hatred.

Seeing that both sides had taken the stage, the referee directly announced, "Both sides, retreat to the edges of the arena. Begin when I give the command."

"Before I announce the start, no one may release their martial soul in advance. Otherwise, you will be judged to have lost immediately!"

Beyond fairness and impartiality, Soul Duel matches were meant to showcase strength to the public and collect ticket revenue.

Naturally, the Star Luo Empire hoped that Shrek's star competitors would stay in the tournament for a while longer.

The two sides slowly widened the distance between them. As they retreated, Ye Ming merely said to the team behind him, "The quick get it; the slow miss out!"

Soon, both sides reached the edges of the arena.

The referee standing at the center of the arena slowly raised his right hand, and the competitors on both sides immediately began taking their positions.

At the same time, more than a hundred Star Luo soul masters below the viewing stands poured soul power into the metal covers before them, activating the defensive barrier.

On Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy's side, the seven quickly spread out into a standard three-two-one-one formation.

Shrek Academy, on the other hand, had its seven members standing boldly in a single row, each rubbing their fists and itching for a fight.

When the seven from the Tianling Empire saw that lineup, their hearts turned bitter.

Shrek Academy was not taking them seriously at all!

Though the referee froze for a moment, he quickly recovered, dropped his right hand, and shouted, "Begin!"

Along with the referee's roar, the students from both sides released their martial souls almost simultaneously.

The seven from Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy were not weak either.

Among them, five had four rings, while only two were at the three-ring level.

Unfortunately, they had encountered a group of freaks.

Every spectator's gaze converged on Shrek Academy.

When the seven released their respective martial souls, dazzling light engulfed the entire battle platform.

Gu Yuena and Di Ruiqiu, the two Soul Ancestors, seemed fairly ordinary beside the three Soul Emperors—Gongyang Mo, Chen Zifeng, and Ling Luochan.

Yet even the combined pressure of Ling Luochan and the other two could not compare to the oppression brought by Dai Yueheng's seven soul rings.

And even all six of them together could not overshadow the four utterly terrifying soul rings on Ye Ming.

Black, black, black, red!

Blood-red light illuminated the entire competition platform.

The seven members of Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy stared with their eyes wide, their hands and feet beginning to tremble.

Three Soul Emperors, one Soul Sage, and one four-ringed freak!

They were genuinely scared to tears!

The student who had spoken earlier asked through tears, "C-Captain, do you think we'll die?"