Champion, Shrek Academy

On the finals stage.

The brother and sister of the Sun Moon Team held hands, their gold and silver Soul Power surging skyward and merging into a five-meter-tall phantom of a crimson-gold three-legged giant toad. Its entire body gleamed with a metallic luster, its eyes black as an abyss.

Martial Soul Fusion Technique—Red Dust Longing.

Ma Xiaotao stood opposite that mass of dark metallic light. Several wounds from taking the Judgment Sword head-on still marked her body, and the burns left by soul tool rays on her shoulder were still smoking.

Then, her seventh Soul Ring rose.

The black Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring beneath her feet abruptly expanded. Ma Xiaotao's body was enveloped in crimson-gold flames, blurring for an instant before becoming clear again. A Phoenix wreathed entirely in crimson-gold fire stood at the center of the stage.

The Phoenix was not large, far more compact than the phantom she usually summoned, yet every feather was solid like real metal. The flames flowing along their edges were no longer scarlet, but a nearly incandescent golden radiance carrying the heat of the sun's core. Through the flames, her eyes fixed upon the massive toad phantom opposite her. Her wings slowly spread for a moment, then drew back in.

The Golden Toad Vermilion Frog moved first. All three of its legs exerted force at once, and its enormous body crashed toward the Phoenix like a small mountain. At the same time, the purple poison sacs on its back burst open, pouring down a blanket of dense purple venomous mist.

Ma Xiaotao did not retreat. Her fifth soul skill lit up—Phoenix Piercing Strike.

She lowered her body, then snapped her wings open. She became a golden meteor and charged headfirst into the purple poison mist. The instant the mist touched the golden-white flames around her, it began to evaporate, break down, and disperse faster than it could be released. The golden Phoenix pierced through the mist, tracing a beautiful arc through the air before diving down and slamming headlong into the Golden Toad Vermilion Frog's back.

Boom—!!

The dark-gold toad phantom began to crack from its back. The fissures spread outward like a spiderweb. Purple poison sacs exploded one after another, yet achieved nothing; before the venom could spread, the ultimate flames burned it clean away. After holding on for three breaths, the phantom completely collapsed. Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen fell from the shattered light, their faces deathly pale as they hit the stage floor, without even the strength to raise their hands.

Ma Xiaotao transformed back into human form from the golden Fire Phoenix. She staggered when she landed, her knees buckling before she managed to steady herself. The flames around her still flickered, but they had dimmed considerably. Standing at the center of the stage, she gasped heavily, sweat covering her forehead. Blood still seeped from her shoulder wound, but she did not fall.

She turned to look behind her.

Dai Yueheng was half-kneeling on the ground, barely managing not to collapse. Ling Luochan leaned against the edge of the stage, the frost around her slowly melting away. Xi Xi had already fainted. Gongyang Mo sat against the wall, pale as paper but still conscious. Chen Zifeng lay flat on his back, the rise and fall of his chest proving that he was still alive.

Of the seven, only she remained standing.

But that was enough.

The stands fell silent for a moment. Then, that familiar, earthshaking roar surged up once more. Some shouted her name, some pounded the railings until their hands turned red, and some leaped up and waved their flags so wildly that the flagpoles bent.

The figure of the referee, Heavenly Fiend Douluo, appeared at the center of the stage. He glanced at Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, who lay on the ground unable to move, then at Ma Xiaotao, who was still standing. His voice was projected outward through Soul Power.

"The team battle has ended. The victors are Shrek Academy."

In the stands.

"As expected of an ultimate Martial Soul. That child Xiaotao has limitless potential ahead of her." A crisp voice sounded beside Yan Jingzhe.

"Yes, she will become Shrek's future leading figure." Yan Jingzhe nodded in affirmation. "Still, I didn't expect the Academy to send you as support, Ling'er."

A woman who appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six stood beside Yan Jingzhe. Her long, straight black hair fell smoothly to her waist, parted down the middle to accentuate her slender, snow-white neck. Her features were exquisitely beautiful, yet she possessed not the slightest trace of seductiveness. Her narrow black eyes were calm and indifferent, as if nothing in the world could stir her emotions. Her back was straight, her steps composed. She wore a simple yet elegant pale dress, her black hair contrasting sharply with her cool white skin, giving her an aloof and solitary air.

"I applied to come here myself, Brother Jingzhe." Feng Ling smiled faintly, stepped forward, and wrapped her arms around Yan Jingzhe's right arm as she complained, "After all, you love running all over the place. If I weren't proactive, who knows how long it would be before I saw you again."

"Haha, my fault, my fault." Feeling the softness pressed against his right arm, Yan Jingzhe knew he would not be getting away tonight. He gave an awkward smile. "Ling'er, do you know what your mission is this time?"

"Yes. The information Wang Yan sent back said it was about a Soul Beast embryo. They feared someone might intercept it on the way and attack the Academy's children." A trace of certainty appeared on Feng Ling's cool face. "But with your strength, Brother Jingzhe, I truly cannot imagine who on the continent, aside from the Beast God Di Tian, could harm the students under your protection."

"Uh... it's just in case." Yan Jingzhe spoke helplessly. Could he really say that her man's strength was not invincible beneath the heavens? If those two from the Holy Spirit Cult acted together, he could only protect himself at best. If he also had to protect others, it would be difficult.

"Enough of that. Since you're here, Ling'er, you can take them to the royal family later to select suitable Soul Bones. With Xiaotao in the upcoming individual matches, there won't be any surprises." Yan Jingzhe continued with a grave expression. "Once the match is over, I'll return to the hotel first to adjust my condition and prepare for the battle that may break out next."

"Mm, all right, Brother Jingzhe." Feng Ling nodded obediently. Though she did not believe anyone would dare intercept a Limit Douluo, as long as Yan Jingzhe said it, she only needed to carry it out obediently. She did not need to concern herself with anything else.

Then, the two turned their eyes toward the competition stage.

The one-on-one matches had already begun. Just as Yan Jingzhe had expected, Ma Xiaotao alone defeated five members of the opposing team, including Soul Emperor Ma Rulong and four Soul Kings. The remaining two could not stir up much trouble at all and were directly knocked off the arena by Shrek's next fighter, Dai Yueheng.

"The one-on-one match has ended. The victors are Shrek Academy." Heavenly Fiend Douluo took a deep breath, calming his thoughts before announcing loudly, "As the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy has lost two consecutive rounds, the final champions of this All-Continent Soul Master Academy Tournament are Shrek Academy!"

The cheers rose to their peak with his proclamation. All of Star Luo Square boiled over, and even many of the princes and ministers of the Star Luo Empire atop the imperial city walls could not help shouting aloud.

"Shrek! Shrek!" The mountain-collapsing, sea-roaring cheers fully erupted at that instant, every spectator flushed red with excitement.

The fervent atmosphere throughout Star Luo Square lasted for several hours before gradually fading.

Next, Emperor Xu Jiawei gave a speech and offered some encouragement. Then Feng Ling led the Shrek Seven Monsters to the Star Luo Vault, accompanied by Princess Xu Jiujiu, where they selected three suitable Soul Bones.

After returning to the hotel, everyone fell into celebration...