The Star Luo Imperial Family's Test

At this moment, Huo Yuhao was taking in far less air than he was letting out. His chest had caved in, and his already unstable meridians had been shattered by the dragon's pressure just now. He passed out on the spot.

"Bastard! How dare you assault someone in broad daylight!"

Behind the Shrek Team, another burly middle-aged teacher stepped forward with an angry roar.

As rings of Soul Rings lit up beneath his feet—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black—eight Soul Rings rose around him. He was clearly an eight-ringed Soul Douluo-level powerhouse of the assault type!

The teacher activated Martial Soul Possession, his arms turning into thick black bear limbs as muscles bulged all over his body. Pointing at Yu Chen, he berated him, "You reckless madman! How dare you attack a Shrek student in broad daylight! No matter which sect you belong to, you're coming with me to the Star Luo Empire's Imperial Inspection Squad today!"

Facing the pressure of a Soul Douluo, Yu Hai and the other four Heavenly Dragon Gate disciples felt their scalps prickle. Yet remembering their young master's earlier words, they gritted their teeth and remained where they stood.

Yu Chen merely slowly closed the folding fan in his hand and tapped it against his palm.

He raised his head. Deep within his formerly tranquil eyes, a trace of the Red-Eyes Black Dragon's ultimate destructive deathly aura quietly emerged.

It was not ordinary killing intent, but the superior pressure of a higher-dimensional Dragon Clan, carrying a deathly stillness that could devour all life.

Yu Chen took a step forward, his gaze settling directly on the Soul Douluo teacher. His voice was as calm as if he were discussing something trivial. "Take one more step, and I guarantee you won't see tomorrow's sun."

The instant those words fell, the eight-ringed Soul Douluo froze mid-motion.

The burly middle-aged man felt a chill shoot from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. The air around him seemed to have been sucked away in that instant, becoming so heavy that even breathing was difficult. In his eyes, behind the white-clad youth stood the vague phantom of a pitch-black dragon with its bloody maw wide open. If he so much as moved another finger, he would be torn to pieces!

Large beads of cold sweat rolled down the teacher's forehead, soaking a broad patch of his dark green academy uniform.

The foot he had raised into the air stopped there stiffly. No matter what, he did not dare bring it down.

"Y-you..." The Soul Douluo teacher's lips trembled, hoarse sounds escaping his throat. For a long while, he could not force out a complete sentence.

Wang Yan also sensed that something was wrong. He hurried over, grabbed the teacher's arm, and urgently whispered, "Teacher Li! Don't act rashly! Save Yuhao first! The tournament is about to begin. We can't stir up more trouble here!"

Given this way out, the Soul Douluo locked onto by the deathly aura reluctantly withdrew his foot. He looked as though he had just been dragged out of water, his back drenched in cold sweat.

Yu Chen did not even spare Huo Yuhao, lying amid the broken wood, a glance. With a casual sweep of his folding fan, he led Ma Xiaotao and Wang Dong'er straight past the Shrek Team at an unhurried pace.

The Soul Masters and civilians watching from both sides of the street instinctively retreated, opening up a passage at least twenty feet wide. The disdain in their eyes when they looked at Yu Chen's group had vanished, replaced by endless shock and reverence.

The Heavenly Dragon Gate Team swaggered down the main street and entered the grandest Star Luo Grand Hotel ahead.

Meanwhile, on the top-floor balcony of an opulent five-story teahouse beside White Tiger Street—

Star Luo Empire Emperor Xu Jiawei stood with his hands behind his back before a white jade railing, holding a glass cup filled with amber fruit wine.

He had witnessed everything that happened on the street. His normally gentle face was now full of gravity, and the glass cup in his hand creaked softly as he squeezed it.

"One word shattered Shrek's captain's defenses, and even an eight-ringed Soul Douluo was frightened silent by his aura..."

Xu Jiawei murmured softly, staring in the direction Yu Chen had left. His brows twisted into a knot. "What exactly is the background of that white-clad youth? When did Heavenly Dragon Gate produce such a monster?"

A black-robed imperial retainer standing behind Xu Jiawei lowered his head. His voice was somewhat hoarse. "Your Majesty, shall this old servant send someone to investigate his background?"

"Investigate. Use every covert channel we have." Xu Jiawei drained the wine in his cup. "This tournament... Shrek may have finally kicked an iron plate."

In a luxurious suite on the top floor of the Star Luo Grand Hotel, Yu Hai and several other disciples were busy carrying their luggage inside. These young people, who had always held their heads high in the sect, had seen their young master casually shatter Shrek's captain on the street. Now, they worked at remarkable speed and barely dared breathe loudly.

Wang Dong'er casually tossed her coat onto a leather sofa and sank into a soft chair, idly playing with a trinket she had bought from a street stall.

"Yu Chen, did you hold back with that shout just now?" Wang Dong'er tilted her head, blinking her large eyes. "That layer of red light around Huo Yuhao was very strange. It definitely wasn't his own Soul Power. It felt more like the mess that old bastard from the God Realm left behind down here."

Yu Chen leaned back in a carved wooden chair by the window, holding a cup of freshly brewed tea as white steam rose from it.

"He's just a puppet ripened by drugs." Yu Chen took a sip of tea, his tone lazy. "A defective seed cast down from the God Realm isn't worthy of making me get serious. Let him live for now. When the main tournament begins, stripping that layer of skin from him before everyone will be far more interesting."

Ma Xiaotao stood by the doorframe with her arms crossed, her red dress accentuating her tall figure. She let out a derisive laugh. "Those old fossils in Sea God's Pavilion have lost their minds too. For the so-called continental destiny, they forcibly shoved someone with such mediocre talent into the core circle. If Evil Fire hadn't backlashed against me back then, how could it have been those pieces of trash's turn to point fingers around the academy?"

Yu Chen put down his teacup and lifted his eyelids slightly. "That Evil Fire has already been completely refined away by my Yang Thunder. How you walk the path ahead depends entirely on you."

Ma Xiaotao's expression shifted slightly. She answered quietly, "My life was given to me by Young Master. Wherever Heavenly Dragon Gate points, my fire will burn."

As they spoke, a measured knock suddenly sounded outside the door, accompanied by the rhythmic sound of boots stepping across the carpet.

"Is Young Master Yu Chen of Heavenly Dragon Gate within? Xu Jiujiu of the Star Luo Empire has come to pay a visit."

The woman's voice outside was clear and melodious, her final syllables drawn out slightly with the poised affectation unique to royalty.

Wang Dong'er curled her lips. "The imperial family moved quickly. We only just stepped inside, and they were already right behind us."

Ma Xiaotao took a long stride to the door and pulled the heavy redwood door open a crack.

Several palace guards dressed in brocade robes threaded with gold stood outside, each carrying a heavy rosewood chest. At the center stood a woman in a pale gold court gown, her golden hair pinned behind her head. Her skin was fair, and a flawlessly gentle smile rested on her face. She was none other than Star Luo Empire Princess Xu Jiujiu.

Xu Jiujiu glanced into the room and was just about to speak when Ma Xiaotao leaned against the doorframe, arms folded over her chest and chin slightly raised. "Taking a census? Blocking people's doors late at night—is the Star Luo imperial family really this lacking in manners?"

The smile on Xu Jiujiu's face stiffened for half a beat, but she soon regained her composure. In a soft voice, she said, "You jest, miss. Hearing that Heavenly Dragon Gate had arrived from afar, my imperial father specifically sent me to welcome you. We have heard that Young Master Yu Chen is a genius blessed by the heavens. These modest gifts are a small token from the imperial family. They include Deep Sea Sunk Silver and several Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Lotus plants to nourish the meridians. I hope Young Master will accept them."

Several guards stepped forward and lifted the chest lids open a crack. A rich medicinal fragrance immediately wafted out, along with the distinctive gleam of metal.

Yu Hai and the other disciples craned their necks for a look, secretly exchanging glances. Deep Sea Sunk Silver was sold by the gram on the market, yet the imperial family had produced two entire chests of it. Their generosity was immense.

Yet Yu Chen showed no intention of even standing. He remained seated by the window, gently scraping tea froth with the lid of his cup.

"Leave the things. You may go." Ma Xiaotao coldly tossed out the words and reached to close the door.

Xu Jiujiu's brows furrowed slightly. She took a light step forward, directly bypassed Ma Xiaotao's obstruction, and entered the sitting room. Looking at the white-clad youth by the window, she lowered her posture greatly, though her tone carried an undercurrent of probing. "Young Master Yu Chen, my imperial father has already learned of what happened on White Tiger Street during the day. Shrek Academy has always acted tyrannically and made many enemies across the continent over the years. If Heavenly Dragon Gate wishes to make a name for itself in the tournament, the Star Luo imperial family is willing to provide every convenience, including intelligence and cultivation resources during the tournament..."

"Are you finished?" Yu Chen interrupted her.

Xu Jiujiu froze, her prepared speech lodged in her throat.

Yu Chen set his teacup on the wooden table with a crisp tap. Turning his head, he fixed his deep, utterly placid eyes on Xu Jiujiu. The pressure in that gaze made the princess, accustomed to grand occasions, catch her breath.

"The Star Luo Empire wants to use me as a weapon against Shrek?" Yu Chen's tone was even, devoid of anger, yet filled with lofty contempt. "Are you worthy?"

The gentleness on Xu Jiujiu's face finally could not be maintained. Her fingers clenched the fabric of her skirt as she forced herself to say, "Young Master Yu, Shrek has deep foundations, and Sea God's Pavilion has several Titled Douluo overseeing it. Heavenly Dragon Gate is certainly powerful, but one more friend is better than one more..."

"Friend?" Yu Chen raised his hand to cut her off, casually tapping the tabletop with his folding fan. "Heavenly Dragon Gate needs no one's influence to do what it wishes, nor does it need to look at the face of any empire. Go back and tell Xu Jiawei to put away his petty schemes. Do not turn your attention toward me. Otherwise, you may not be able to guard the gates of Star Luo City yourselves."

The moment his words fell, the oppressive aura of a superior Dragon Clan silently spread through the room.

Xu Jiujiu felt her legs grow heavy, and a chill ran up her spine. Even the Star Crown Martial Soul within her began to tremble violently, as though it had encountered its natural predator. The palace guards behind her turned deathly pale, their hands shaking even as they carried the chests.

Xu Jiujiu bit her lower lip hard, not daring to speak another word of nonsense. She bowed and said quietly, "Jiujiu was presumptuous. Please rest well, Young Master Yu."

With that, she practically led the guards out of the suite at a quick pace, not even stopping to pick up the gold-threaded handkerchief she had dropped on the floor.

The door slammed shut with a bang.

Wang Dong'er came over and kicked one of the rosewood chests. "These imperial people have their abacuses clacking away. They want to sit back and watch the tigers fight."

Yu Chen did not respond. His gaze fell upon the tournament schedule an attendant had delivered, and his finger slid over the list of matchups for the first preliminary round.

"Tomorrow, the show begins."

The next morning, Star Luo Square.

Nearly all of Star Luo City had turned out. The broad square was packed tight early in the morning, and the stands, which seated one hundred thousand people, roared with noise. Flags of every color fluttered in the wind, while the fully armed Royal Knights formed orderly walls of people to maintain order.

In the central VIP section, Star Luo Emperor Xu Jiawei sat solemnly on his dragon throne in a golden robe embroidered with nine dragons. Xu Jiujiu stood quietly at his side, her gaze occasionally sweeping over the waiting area below.

"Jiujiu, did you make contact with him last night?" Xu Jiawei asked in a low voice as he lifted his teacup.

Xu Jiujiu gave a bitter smile and shook her head. "Father, he doesn't respond to such methods. He's extremely arrogant. Deep down, he simply doesn't regard the three great empires as worthy of notice."

Xu Jiawei's fingers tightened around his teacup. "Arrogance requires strength to support it. In today's first elimination round, let's see what ability he can show."

At this moment, within the waiting passage, teams from the various advanced Soul Master academies were entering one after another.

"Next to enter is the defending champion of the previous Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament—the Shrek Academy Team!"

With the commentator's impassioned cry, the entire Star Luo Square instantly erupted. The thunderous cheers nearly lifted off the roof.

"Shrek! Shrek!"

"Monster Team! Number one under heaven!"

The frenzied shouts of one hundred thousand spectators converged into a massive wave of sound. Amid showers of ribbons and cheers, the Shrek Team strode out from the passage.

Huo Yuhao led them.

After an entire night of treatment and divine power infusion, Huo Yuhao's chest wound seemed to have healed on the surface. However, his face remained sickly pale, his eye sockets deeply sunken and his eyes bloodshot. He wore Shrek's dark green team uniform, the golden Shrek emblem on his chest reflecting a dazzling glare beneath the sunlight.

Hearing the cheers filling the arena, Huo Yuhao stood with his chest straight, looking intensely excited. When he passed Heavenly Dragon Gate's waiting area, he stopped and glared viciously at Yu Chen. Raising his right hand, he made a throat-slitting gesture between his thumb and index finger, his lips moving silently.

"Consider yourself lucky you didn't face us today. In the finals, I'll take your life."

Wang Dong'er, standing beside Yu Chen, stamped her foot angrily and clenched her hands into little fists. "That bastard didn't learn his lesson from yesterday? I really want to go over there and tear his mouth apart!"

Dressed in white as pristine as snow, Yu Chen stood with his hands behind his back, completely calm. He did not even give Huo Yuhao a proper glance.

"Next to enter is a sect team from the Heaven Dou Empire—the Heavenly Dragon Gate Team!"

The commentator's voice rang out again, but compared to the fervor when he introduced Shrek, his tone was noticeably much flatter this time.

The cheers in the stands abruptly stopped.

"Heavenly Dragon Gate? What kind of no-name sect is that? Never heard of it."

"Probably another team here to make up the numbers. They'll be eliminated in the first round."

"Get off! We want to see Shrek!"

The scattered cheers were instantly drowned out by widespread boos. Some more extreme spectators even threw rotten vegetable leaves and empty water jugs toward the passage, only for the Royal Knights' shields to block them.

Wang Dong'er's brows knit together, her cheeks puffed out. "What did Shrek feed these blind idiots? Some kind of enchantment potion?"

Yu Chen instead slowly spread his arms, tilted his head back, and took a deep breath amid the overwhelming boos. His tone was immensely relaxed. "Listen to that. What wonderful booing. The higher they stand, the bigger the crater when they fall. When we shatter the idol they're so proud of later, their expressions will be even more wonderful."

Yu Hai and the other four disciples followed behind him. They had initially been made nervous by the boos from the entire arena, but after hearing their young master's words, their backs unconsciously straightened.

Once every team had taken its place, the chief referee leaped onto the vast central arena. His powerful Soul Power boomed across the entire venue through an amplification Soul Tool.

"The first round of eliminations for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament officially begins!"

"For the first match, a one-on-one or team elimination format will be used. The drawing results are as follows—"

"Heavenly Dragon Gate Team versus Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy Team!"

"Contestants from both sides, take the stage!"

At the command, seven members of the Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy Team immediately rose from the other side of the waiting area. Their leader was a tall assault-type Soul Ancestor. All seven cracked their knuckles and stared at Heavenly Dragon Gate with unfriendly eyes.

"Young Master, let me take the lead!" Yu Hai stepped forward, his Martial Soul already beginning to surge through his meridians.

"I'm going too. Let's show these ignorant fools what we're made of!" Another disciple joined in.

Yu Chen rolled his neck, his joints emitting soft cracks. He placed a hand on Yu Hai's shoulder and pushed him back into his seat, speaking as casually as if he were going to buy a bowl of water from a tea stall.

"You rest. I'll go alone."