At the Soul Master Arena Plaza in Heaven Dou City, the day of the finals arrived as scheduled.
Compared with the frenzy of the semifinals, the arena's atmosphere felt graver and more solemn today, the air thick with drawn swords and strung bows. The ultimate showdown of the Continental Elite Soul Master Academy Tournament had finally arrived—the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team versus the Shrek Academy Team. The champion's glory would soon find its owner.
The stands were more crowded than ever. The emperors of both great empires attended in person. Though Spirit Hall's Supreme Pontiff Bibi Dong was absent, she had dispatched several Titled Douluo envoys to oversee proceedings. Experts from secluded sects and Soul Master clans gathered, their gazes fixed on the arena. No one wanted to miss this final battle.
On one side stood Lin Chen, who had burst onto the scene, defied the heavens to overcome opponents above his rank, and defeated the Spirit Hall Golden Generation. Leading the Heaven Dou Royal Team ever onward in triumph, he had forged a legend in the Soul Master World.
On the other stood the Shrek Seven Devils, whose humble origins belied their extraordinary gifts. Through flawless teamwork, they had toppled countless powerful opponents and charged into the finals as dark horses. Their fighting strength could not be underestimated.
This showdown was more than a contest between academies for the championship. It was a head-on clash between sworn rivals, Lin Chen and Tang San, two peerless geniuses—a battle destined for the annals of the Soul Master World.
In the Heaven Dou Royal Team's preparation area, Lin Chen had already finished his secluded cultivation. After a night spent healing and regulating his breathing, his Soul Power had fully recovered and every injury had healed. His aura was even steadier and more substantial than before.
The harmony between his iceheart domain and life Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul had improved again during his battle with Xie Yue and Hu Liena. His Soul Skill control had grown increasingly precise and subtle, and the barrier holding him at rank thirty-three Soul Elder had loosened completely. He was only a step away from rank thirty-four.
Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi stood on either side of him, their Soul Power fluctuations stable. Tempered by numerous tournament battles, both women had gained considerable combat experience. Su Qingyuan's close-range restraint with her soft bone Martial Soul had become more agile, while Yue Huaxi's support with her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had grown more practiced. They had become Lin Chen's most dependable right and left hands.
"The Shrek Seven Devils work together with remarkable coordination. Tang San's Blue Silver Grass control, his Clear Sky Hammer trump card, his hidden weapon techniques, Oscar's sausage support, Dai Mubai's assault, Zhu Zhuqing's ambushes—every link is indispensable. Their tactical system will be difficult to break." Lin Chen studied the intelligence on the Shrek Team in his hands and cautioned everyone solemnly.
He had crossed paths with Tang San for a long time and knew his patience and hidden cards well. Beneath this seemingly gentle young man's appearance lay fierce competitiveness and secrets. Twin Martial Souls, the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record, the Purple Demon Eye—each was a heaven-defying asset. Ordinary Soul Masters could never compare to him.
"Rest assured, Captain. We'll keep the other Shrek members pinned down and give them no chance to coordinate," the Heaven Dou Royal Team members replied in unison. Tempered by many tournament battles, they had long shed their inexperience and become steady and decisive. Their trust in Lin Chen was absolute.
Yue Huaxi nodded gently, faint light swirling around the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in her palm. "I'll maintain maximum amplification throughout, prioritizing your domain control while adding defensive boosts to the whole team to withstand Tang San's hidden weapon attacks."
Su Qingyuan clenched her soft fists as well, determination filling her eyes. "I'll tie down Zhu Zhuqing and keep her from interfering with you. Tang San will be entirely in your hands."
Lin Chen inclined his head slightly and looked toward Shrek's preparation area opposite them, just as Tang San's gaze met his across the distance.
Tang San's eyes were cold and sharp, resentment and fighting spirit churning in the depths of his Purple Demon Eye. Ever since entering the Soul Master World, he had remained overshadowed by Lin Chen. Whether in talent, opportunities, or combat strength, Lin Chen had surpassed him completely. This final was his only chance to prove himself and overtake Lin Chen.
"Little San, you must give this battle everything you have. Lin Chen's domain is extremely powerful. Remember not to clash with him recklessly—use teamwork to break the deadlock." Yu Xiaogang stood beside Tang San and cautioned him gravely. He had studied Lin Chen's fighting style for a long time, yet still had not found a perfect way to counter his iceheart domain.
Flender, Zhao Wuji, and the others also wore solemn expressions. The Shrek Seven Devils reaching the finals had already exceeded their expectations, but against Lin Chen, whose momentum blazed like the midday sun, their chances of victory were vanishingly small.
"Rest assured, Teacher. I won't lose," Tang San said in a low voice, his fingertips quietly brushing the Twenty-Four Bridges Bright Moon Night at his waist. Inside were his last-resort hidden weapons. If necessary, he would defeat Lin Chen at any cost.
Dai Mubai, Oscar, and the others focused and adjusted their condition as well. They bore Lin Chen no grudge, but as the Shrek Seven Devils, they had to give their all for their academy's honor and their team's convictions.
"Both teams, enter the arena!"
The referee's loud announcement broke the arena's stillness. The entire venue instantly fell silent, hundreds of thousands of gazes converging on the preparation areas on either side.
Lin Chen rose, straightened his golden team uniform, and strode out first. The Heaven Dou Royal Team followed close behind, their steps orderly and their bearing composed. Across from them, Tang San led the Shrek Seven Devils into the arena at the same time. The seven took their positions in perfect coordination, their Soul Power interweaving into a unified fighting force.
The two teams faced each other across the center of the arena. Their invisible Soul Power pressure collided in midair, stirring gust after gust of fierce wind.
"Lin Chen, in today's final, I'll defeat you fair and square and prove that I'm the strongest." Tang San looked directly at Lin Chen. His voice was calm, but carried an unquestionable resolve.
Lin Chen smiled faintly, his gaze open and unflinching. "I've been waiting for this day. In the arena, we each rely on our own abilities. Only the victor deserves the champion's glory."
He understood Tang San's competitiveness, but would not show mercy because of it. From Spirit Hall's repeated attempts to hunt him down to the upheavals awaiting the Soul Master World, he had to claim this championship and its vast resource rewards, rapidly strengthening himself to face the greater crisis to come.
The boundless life aura he had previously sensed deep within the Star Dou Great Forest, the covert scrutiny of Spirit Hall's Titled Douluo, Bibi Dong's plots and schemes—each was a sword hanging above his head, forcing him to keep growing stronger.
"Begin!"
At the referee's command, the final battle officially erupted!
"Oscar, Flying Sausages! Recovery Sausages!" Dai Mubai roared at once. Oscar's hands moved rapidly, Soul Power blossoming as sausage after sausage took shape in an instant. All seven Shrek Devils consumed them, boosting both their speed and Soul Power recovery.
"Third Soul Skill, Hell Stab!" Zhu Zhuqing flickered into a black shadow and lunged straight toward Yue Huaxi at extreme speed. Her target was the Heaven Dou Royal Team's support core—she intended to cut off Lin Chen's amplification first.
"First Soul Skill, White Tiger Protection Barrier! Third Soul Skill, White Tiger Fierce Light Wave!" Dai Mubai activated Martial Soul Possession, the white tiger's savage aura spreading as he launched a frontal assault to draw attacks away from his teammates.
Tang San stood at the rear of the team, rapidly forming seals with both hands. His Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul quietly possessed him, three Soul Rings—two yellow and one purple—turning around him. His gaze locked firmly onto Lin Chen, his Purple Demon Eye operating at full strength as he searched for flaws in Lin Chen's domain. Meanwhile, he secretly readied his hidden weapons, prepared to deliver a lethal strike at any moment.
The Shrek Seven Devils' tactics were as coordinated as ever, offense and defense united without a single gap. In mere moments, they completed their battle deployment and launched an all-out offensive.
"Yue Huaxi, amplify the whole team! Qingyuan, intercept Zhu Zhuqing!" Unruffled by the danger, Lin Chen issued his orders immediately.
"Seven Treasure Glazed Tile, strength, speed, defense, all-attribute amplification!"
Yue Huaxi's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda blazed with light. Four layers of amplification halos enveloped the entire team, and the Heaven Dou Royal Team's strength surged instantly, allowing them to withstand the Shrek Seven Devils' opening offensive with ease.
Su Qingyuan darted out as nimbly as a flying swallow and tangled with Zhu Zhuqing. Her soft bone Soul Skills overcame hardness with softness, firmly disrupting her opponent's agile assault rhythm and preventing her from getting anywhere near Yue Huaxi.
"Lin Chen, watch me break your domain!"
Seizing his chance, Tang San planted both feet on the ground. His third Soul Skill, Blue Silver Cage, erupted with a thunderous burst. Dense masses of Blue Silver Grass broke through the earth, bristling with sharp spikes as they wound toward Lin Chen and the Heaven Dou Royal Team members. He intended to break control with control!
At the same time, he turned his palm over, and three Bone-Piercing Needles quietly appeared. Infused with deadly poison and Soul Power, they shot straight toward the major acupoints across Lin Chen's body. His hidden weapon technique was so fast that defending against it was nearly impossible!
Facing Shrek's full-force assault, Lin Chen's gaze remained calm and untroubled as his Soul Rings slowly rose around him.
It was time to settle things with Tang San.
He drew a deep breath. Within his dantian, his life Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul awakened completely, and a domain force vaster and more concentrated than before slowly spread outward.
Life Domain: Ice Heart Binding, fully activated!
Luminous white ice crystals intertwined with emerald life Soul Power, instantly covering the entire arena. The ultimate contest between two control-type geniuses and two elite teams reached a fever pitch!
Meanwhile, atop the arena's raised platform, a sinister glint flashed through the eyes of a Titled Douluo envoy from Spirit Hall. The envoy quietly stirred their Soul Power, and a concealed killing intent silently locked onto Lin Chen at the center of the arena.
The championship battle was not merely a clash within the arena. Beyond it, deadly danger had already descended unnoticed.
At the same time, in the heart of the Star Dou Great Forest ten thousand miles away, that boundless life aura stirred once more. An indistinct beastly silhouette slowly opened its eyes, its gaze piercing space and turning directly toward Heaven Dou City, as though watching Lin Chen. A staggering secret concerning the Martial Soul Origin, soul beasts, and the Soul Master World was slowly rising to the surface...
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