Chu Zhao's Reserve Team

"Since we'd already fought through all the Soul Arenas in Fasinuo Province, we figured we'd switch to a new one. Who knew we'd run into you here, Boss? What a coincidence!"

The moment they saw Chu Zhao, Wang Sheng and the other six immediately lit up.

"Looks like you've all improved quite a bit in the months I've been gone. Sit down first and tell me your current Soul Power levels."

As she spoke, Chu Zhao pointed to the sofa across from her.

Once all seven were seated, Xiao Chenyu, the oldest among them, was the first to report his Soul Power. His martial soul was the Silver Wolf, and his Innate Soul Power had only been rank two. He was not yet eighteen this year.

"I'm only rank thirty-five now. My cultivation's been a little slow."

He spoke with some embarrassment, scratching his head.

"I'm rank thirty-five too!"

Wang Sheng spoke as he thumped his chest. His martial soul was the Battle Tiger. He was younger than Xiao Chenyu, and his Innate Soul Power had only been rank one. Yet his Soul Power was now equal to Xiao Chenyu's, showing just how much effort he had put in.

The third to speak was a girl in green, only around fourteen or fifteen. Her features were delicate and lovely.

Her name was Jin Qianqian, one of the talents Chu Zhao had gathered a few years ago. Her martial soul was the Mandarin Duck Vine, and her Innate Soul Power was among the highest of the seven, at rank three.

"I broke through to rank thirty-six not long ago. I haven't let down your training, Boss."

The fourth to speak was another girl, roughly the same age as Jin Qianqian. She wore a full set of fitted black clothes, and though she had been wearing a brilliant smile, her lips suddenly drooped when it was her turn to speak, as though she were about to cry.

"I'm only rank thirty-four. Boss, do you think I'm too useless?"

"Of course not. Your Innate Soul Power was only rank two, and you aren't even fifteen yet. Reaching this level is already impressive."

Though she knew Wu Yun was most likely putting on an act, Chu Zhao still fell for it and hurriedly comforted her.

Wu Yun had the most tragic background among the seven. She had been an orphan since childhood, having lost both parents. She struggled to survive until she was six, believing things would get better once she awakened her martial soul.

However, the martial soul she awakened was a crow. The villagers believed it to be an omen of misfortune that would bring calamity, and they made things difficult for her in every possible way. After one natural disaster, they had even wanted to burn Wu Yun alive as a sacrifice to heaven.

It was Chu Zhao, who had once passed through the area, who saved and took her away, taught her how to cultivate, and allowed her to grow into who she was today.

The fifth to speak was a boy of about fourteen. His martial soul was a metal staff in silver and black, and he was strikingly handsome.

"I'm still rank thirty-four. It hasn't increased."

The boy was named Lin Cheng. He lowered his head as he spoke, looking thoroughly dejected. One glance was enough to tell that he had learned that act from Wu Yun.

"That's already very good. Many people your age don't have your strength."

Chu Zhao, who was rather susceptible to this sort of cutesy behavior, resigned herself to comforting him.

The remaining two were fraternal twins, Shu Han and Shu Che. Both were fourteen this year, and both had rank thirty-three Soul Power. Their martial souls were both Wordless Books, though one followed the support path while the other followed the control path.

These seven shared one trait: none of them had high Innate Soul Power. Even the highest among them had only reached rank three.

In many people's eyes, they were classified as mediocre, or even talentless.

Yet they had never given up on themselves. The Soul Elder realm was only their beginning.

"You're all doing well. You've made great progress. In less than two years, the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament will begin. While I don't believe Soul Power alone determines strength, I still hope that by then, at least four of you will break through to the Soul Ancestor realm. That way, our lineup will look a little better."

Though Chu Zhao's tone was calm, her ambition could still be heard beneath it.

What she wanted was the championship of the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament.

"Boss, does that mean we can participate in that tournament too? Has Prince Xue Qinghe's approval come through?"

Xiao Chenyu's voice was filled with excitement. Just hearing this news made him incomparably thrilled.

The All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament!

There was no one on Douluo Continent who had not heard of that grand event!

Xiao Chenyu had heard of it countless times, but he had never imagined that he would one day qualify to take part.

The Elite Tournament was naturally for elites.

Had he unknowingly become one of those elites?

"It's come through. Our Cloud Peak Academy has successfully been upgraded into an advanced Soul Master Academy."

Chu Zhao had only received Prince Xue Qinghe's approval today. Still, she felt that his reply carried a faint air of watching a show unfold.

Her temporary ally seemed to be looking forward to her stirring up the waters of the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament.

That was precisely what she intended to do.

Just as Chu Zhao had expected, the people from Shrek arrived at the Soto Soul Arena that night to compete.

And her good luck worked once again. Using the name Zhao Zhao and the title of a two-ring Soul Grandmaster, she was matched against Tang San as she had wished.

"Next, we will have the first one-on-one Soul Battle in our Fourteenth Soul Arena. The competitors are two Soul Grand Masters. One is Tang San, a Soul Grandmaster with the Blue Silver Grass martial soul. The other is Zhao Zhao, a Soul Grandmaster with the scythe martial soul. Both are newcomers to the Soul Arena. Who will claim victory tonight?"

In Shrek Academy's waiting area, everyone was greatly surprised when they heard Tang San's opponent.

"Could it really be Zhao Zhao? The name is the same, and so is the martial soul."

Tang San could not help thinking to himself.

The others had the same suspicion.

When the two appeared one after another in the Fourteenth Soul Arena, they knew they had guessed correctly.

Zhao Zhao was Chu Zhao. She was still dressed in black, though her clothing now bore blood-red patterns that gave her an enchanting, sinister air.

"Zhao Zhao, you haven't left yet? That's wonderful!"

After entering the arena, the two did not attack immediately. Instead, they exchanged pleasantries first.

"I'll probably be staying here for another month or two. Is something wrong? You can just tell me."

Seeing Tang San's unusual excitement, and how he clearly had something to say but hesitated, Chu Zhao asked directly.

"Dean Flender said that you would bring danger to Shrek Academy. Later, I tried asking around, and it seemed that a group of very powerful people wanted to hunt you down. You need to be careful, Zhao Zhao."

Using close-range hand-to-hand combat as cover, Tang San lowered his voice. When he had learned of this matter, his first thought had been to warn Chu Zhao so she could protect herself.

His strength was inferior to Chu Zhao's. Even if he wanted to protect her, he was powerless to do so.

"Thank you for the warning."

Chu Zhao was somewhat surprised to learn this from Tang San. Those capable of making even a Soul Saint wary could only be Soul Douluo or Titled Douluo.

She had never expected herself to have such a powerful hidden threat.

At the same time, she felt a little reluctant to bring down her blade on him.

But Chu Zhao quickly realized that something was wrong.

How did Flender know about this?