Star Luo City, Tang Ya's Transformation

At last, the earth-shattering battle between Qian Jue and Chen Hai came to an end.

In the blink of an eye, several days had passed.

Yet the continent had not returned to peace because of this. The highly anticipated, tense, and thrilling Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament was about to begin in the capital of the Star Luo Empire.

Countless people outside still held high hopes for Shrek Academy, believing that this legendary team would surely create another miracle and claim this year's championship trophy without suspense.

But no one knew that Shrek's current representative team was practically crippled.

The main team members were either dead or injured.

First came the Death God Envoy's self-detonation attack, then Qian Jue's near one-sided slaughter.

Dai Yueheng had died in battle, while Ma Xiaotao was suffering a fate worse than death.

The Inner Court's foremost genius had been forcibly reduced to a mere twenty-ninth-level Soul Grandmaster.

Now, the only person left on Shrek Academy's entire team who could barely hold things together was Ling Luochen.

If the other participating academies learned of Shrek's current miserable state, they would surely cry out in excitement: this was absolutely their best chance to win the championship!

Just as gloom hung heavily over them, a figure stumbled into the Shrek representative team's lounge.

It was Xu Sanshi.

"Everyone! Great news! Great news! I've received tremendous news!" Xu Sanshi shouted excitedly, unable to conceal the wild joy on his face.

"..."

The spacious lounge was deathly silent. No one responded.

Shrek's atmosphere had sunk into an unprecedented low.

No matter how good the news was, they could not muster even the slightest interest.

Unless Xu Sanshi was about to tell them that Qian Jue had dropped dead on the spot.

"Sanshi, what good news?" Seeing that no one paid him any attention, Bei Bei could only force a smile as he stepped forward and patted Xu Sanshi on the shoulder.

"A tremendous opportunity for Shrek! This news might even completely heal Sister Xiaotao and Elder Xuan's injuries!" Xu Sanshi cleared his throat and declared loudly.

The moment those words fell, they caused an enormous stir.

Everyone's eyes instantly focused on Xu Sanshi.

Even Xuan Zi, who was covered head to toe in bandages and slumped in a corner, abruptly rose to his feet. His clouded eyes, visible through the gaps in the bandages, stared fixedly at Xu Sanshi.

"Sanshi, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't just say whatever you want..."

Xuan Zi's voice was hoarse. Whenever he thought of Ma Xiaotao's miserable state, agonizing grief seized his heart.

Xiaotao was Shrek's hope for the future!

With her talent, breaking through to Ultimate Douluo in the future had practically been guaranteed.

But now... it was all ruined!

It was all that heretic Qian Jue's fault!

Not only had he crippled Xiaotao into a Soul Grandmaster, but he had also left Xuan Zi himself with an utterly terrifying hidden injury.

On the surface, he was still the glorious ninety-eighth-level Super Douluo, but only he knew that Qian Jue's strike had left indelible Demonic Power within his body.

His true combat strength could now display, at most, the level of a Soul Douluo!

If this matter got out, Shrek's ten-thousand-year reputation would be destroyed in a single stroke. The consequences would be unthinkable!

That was why Xuan Zi had been so dispirited and dejected these past few days.

"Sanshi, what exactly is going on? Hurry up and tell us!" Bei Bei urged anxiously.

Seeing how impatient everyone looked, Xu Sanshi smiled mysteriously and stepped aside. "Don't rush. You'll find out soon enough."

As everyone waited in confusion, the lounge door was gently pushed open, and a slender figure slowly walked inside.

The instant Bei Bei recognized the newcomer, he cried out in shock and hurried forward.

"Xiaoya!"

That's right—the newcomer was Tang Ya.

At that moment, Tang Ya seemed as though she had been completely reborn.

Not only had she grown taller and more well-proportioned, but her temperament had also transformed completely. She had lost some of her former youthful innocence and gained an indescribable air of mystery and depth.

More importantly, there were the Soul Power fluctuations emanating from her.

Tang Ya was now astonishingly a thirty-eighth-level Soul Elder!

"Everyone, long time no see."

Tang Ya greeted everyone with a smile. Her gaze swept across the room, but a barely noticeable darkness flickered deep within her eyes.

"Sanshi, what does the good news you mentioned have to do with Tang Ya?" Xuan Zi frowned and asked in a deep voice.

"Don't worry, Elder Xuan. You'll know soon enough." Xu Sanshi kept them in suspense.

Seeing this, no one spoke further. Their eyes all settled on Tang Ya.

Once she had everyone's attention, Tang Ya finally spoke slowly.

"Earlier, I ran into Sanshi outside, and I heard about Shrek's current situation.

"I feel deeply saddened by the misfortunes everyone has suffered, especially after hearing about Sister Xiaotao and you, Elder Xuan..."

At that point, Tang Ya abruptly changed her tone, her voice becoming resolute.

"However, I have a way to help Sister Xiaotao recover her cultivation.

"Not only that, I may even be able to raise her cultivation to an even higher level and completely remove the Evil Fire from her body."

The moment those words were spoken, Ma Xiaotao, whose eyes had been lifeless and who had even begun to wish for death, was struck as if by lightning. She froze completely.

"My... my cultivation can still recover?" Her lips trembled as she muttered to herself.

She had not even dared to dream of such a thing!

Seeing the shock and doubt in everyone's eyes, Tang Ya gave a radiant smile. "If you don't believe me, then watch."

Immediately afterward, Tang Ya released her martial soul and Soul Power.

The pressure of a thirty-eighth-level Soul Elder spread outward.

If that had been all, it would not have been enough to leave everyone stunned.

What truly made them suck in a breath of cold air was the configuration of Soul Rings slowly rising beneath Tang Ya's feet.

Purple, purple, purple.

"Three thousand-year Soul Rings?! How is that possible?!"

Xuan Zi was instantly dumbfounded, his eyes nearly bulging from their sockets.

A useless martial soul like Blue Silver Grass could never withstand the impact of a thousand-year Soul Ring as its first ring. Even Tang San, the ancestor from ten thousand years ago, absolutely could not have done such a thing before awakening the Blue Silver Emperor!

"Xiaoya, your Soul Rings..." Bei Bei was also filled with disbelief.

He clearly remembered that Xiaoya's first and second Soul Rings had been hundred-year yellow rings. How had they all turned into thousand-year purple rings in the blink of an eye?!

Seeing that the fish had completely taken the bait, Tang Ya slowly withdrew her Soul Rings, a meaningful smile curling across her lips.

"This is the good news I was talking about."

She looked around at everyone, her voice soft yet carrying a deadly temptation.

"Some time ago, I accidentally entered a hidden secret realm.

"Inside that secret realm, I accidentally consumed a strange herb.

"But when I woke up, I discovered that not only had my Soul Power increased drastically, but even my original Soul Ring configuration had undergone a transformation."

"?!"

"A secret realm?!"