Arrival in Star Luo City

Star Luo City.

The capital of the Star Luo Empire, the largest city in the entire empire, and the nation's political, military, economic, and cultural center, it bore the title of the Imperial Capital That Never Fell. In ten thousand years, it had never once been breached by foreign enemies.

This city lay in the southeastern part of Douluo Continent, bordering the Great Star Dou Forest to the north. It was a core frontline city against the Sun Moon Empire.

When it was first built, Star Luo City had been said to hold over ten million people, making it one of the world's greatest megacities. Recently, however, it had become exceptionally crowded. Every hotel was fully booked, yet countless people were still pouring in.

There was only one reason: the once-every-five-years grand event, the All-Continent Soul Master Academy Tournament, was about to be held in Star Luo City.

At the same time, after clearing out the remaining Evil Soul Masters and traveling through the night, the Shrek group descended from the sky and arrived before Star Luo City's gates.

"Wow... This is the first time I've seen so many people rushing toward the same place." Wang Dong watched the crowds flowing through the gates and sighed. "It really is the famous All-Continent Soul Master Academy Tournament."

"Yeah, yeah, it's my first time seeing this too," Xiao Xiao chimed in from the side.

The others nodded and joined in the discussion as well.

Yan Jingzhe walked at the back, watching this chattering group of young people and the "two girls," unable to stop himself from sighing inwardly.

What a pair of country bumpkins.

In his previous life, any random global event would bring population flows in the tens of millions outside the venue, with supporting services, derivative spending, and surrounding industries spreading everywhere. But this world? It only had this All-Continent Soul Master Academy Tournament, held once every five years. An event of such high standing did not even have a proper promotional system, relying entirely on word of mouth and an imperial decree. If Soul Masters themselves were not inherently interesting to watch, this tournament's popularity probably would not even compare to a regional sports league from his previous life.

Forget it. He could not blame them either. This Douluo world had developed for tens of thousands of years, yet it had only managed to come up with a competition that was half entertainment and half military.

"Ahem, enough. Now that we're in Star Luo City, let's check in first and get some proper rest. If there are no further arrangements afterward, you may go out and look around, but only on the condition that you ensure your own safety. Understood?" Yan Jingzhe coughed twice, drawing everyone's attention before speaking.

"Understood, Dean Yan."

"Yes, Master."

The group answered over one another and followed him into the city.

The Star Luo Grand Hotel stood directly north of Star Luo Square. It was a seven-story building, with gray-white stone walls, dark-red tiled roofs, and two rows of gold-painted pillars at the entrance. A gilded signboard hung above the doors. As a reception hotel specially built by the royal family for participating teams, everything from its exterior to its interior exuded an air of extravagant wealth.

As the top team that had held the championship for ten thousand years, Shrek Academy's competitors were assigned luxurious rooms on the top floor. Each person had their own bedroom, along with a dedicated conference room for their use.

At this moment, all fourteen team members, along with their accompanying teacher Wang Yan, sat in the conference room, waiting for the pre-match meeting Yan Jingzhe had called.

"Wang Yan has already completed the registration. Tomorrow, the All-Continent Soul Master Academy Tournament officially begins!" Yan Jingzhe sat at the head of the hotel conference room, his gaze sweeping across everyone as he spoke. "I have only one demand for you: crush everyone in your path and seize the championship with overwhelming force!"

"From what I've learned, the strongest competitors from the other academies this year, including the Sun Moon Academy team, are merely Soul Emperors. Meanwhile, you have one Soul Saint, one Soul Emperor, and five Soul Kings. This lineup would be considered the absolute peak in any previous tournament."

"It can be said that you're absurdly strong. If you still can't win with such a lineup, then once the tournament ends, every last one of you will undergo a year of personal special training under me!"

The expressions of the main team members changed at once. Ma Xiaotao's lips twitched, Dai Yueheng's gaze drifted away for a moment, and Chen Zifeng's Adam's apple bobbed. It was as though some unpleasant memories had been dredged up. After exchanging glances, they all spoke at once to make their promises.

"Don't worry, Dean Yan. The championship will definitely be ours!"

"We guarantee we'll complete the mission!"

"We absolutely won't give you the chance to train us!"

"Mm, not bad." Yan Jingzhe's lips curved upward as he nodded. "Wang Yan, you'll be responsible for the tactical arrangements from here on. While ensuring victory, you may let the little ones from the reserve team take the field and gain some experience. Understood?"

"Understood, Dean Yan," Wang Yan answered respectfully.

At the same time, in another conference room on the same floor.

The Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy team was also holding a meeting. The room's decor was much the same as Shrek's, but the atmosphere was entirely different. Shrek's side had been relaxed, though tinged with nervousness from the threat hanging over them. Here, there was only a taut, poised silence.

Because they had placed second in nearly every tournament, the treatment they received at the Star Luo Grand Hotel was almost no different from Shrek Academy's. They, too, had only one goal: strive for first place.

Inside the conference room, an elderly man sat at the head of the table, while fourteen students sat on either side. The students on the left were clearly older, while those on the right were somewhat younger. Evidently, the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy had also sent a main team and a reserve team preparing for five years later.

The elderly man seated at the head had a straight nose, square mouth, and dignified features. His face was dark red, and his broad shoulders and steady posture gave others a deeply reassuring feeling. He said in a low voice, "Our opponent this year is still the Shrek Academy team. I hear they have two high-level Soul Emperors and five Soul Kings, roughly the same strength as before. But this time is our best chance to defeat them. Do you know why?"

The fourteen students on both sides looked somewhat puzzled. What did he mean by saying this was their best chance to win?

The old man spoke in a deep voice, "Ma Rulong, do you remember the Judgment Sword I gave you?"

"I remember, but Elder Ma, does this have anything to do with defeating Shrek Academy?" A male student seated at the head of the main team stood and asked.

"It does. Of course it does." Elder Ma laughed loudly. "According to our intelligence, this year's Shrek Academy captain is named Ma Xiaotao, and her martial soul is the Evil Fire Phoenix. The Judgment Sword I gave you is a peak eighth-grade melee Soul Guidance Device. Its core possesses both light and darkness attributes and can switch freely between them. During the competition, strike her with it and use the power of darkness to forcibly detonate her evil fire. Make her martial soul mutate, make her lose her mind, and cause Shrek to collapse without a fight."

He leaned back, his smile deepening. "Not only will this give us a chance at the championship, but we can also get rid of a future Titled Douluo openly and legitimately. Killing two birds with one stone—why wouldn't we do it?"

Ma Rulong fell silent for a while. Though it felt somewhat dishonorable, for the championship and for his country, he slowly nodded. "I understand."

Elder Ma nodded in satisfaction and said nothing further, quietly waiting for that moment to arrive.