As the enormous ship sailed into the Star Luo Empire's port.
The two emperors of the Star Luo Empire, who had been staring at the sky screen, finally breathed sighs of relief.
They had finally fucking arrived!
After the grand welcoming ceremony ended, the two delegations finally parted ways.
The delegation from the Star Luo Continent disbanded on the spot and went on leave.
The Douluo Continent delegation's visit, however, had only just begun.
"This is our itinerary for the coming days. First, we'll travel to Star Luo City, the capital of the Star Luo Empire. Our primary exchange partners will be the Star Luo Royal Academy team. After that, we'll head to..."
Pan Wen, secretary-general of the Douluo Continent delegation visiting the Star Luo Empire, was arranging the upcoming itinerary with Cai Yue'er and the others.
Afterward, under the Star Luo Empire's arrangements, Luo Chen and the others rested for a night in the coastal city, then boarded a dedicated Soul Guidance Train bound for the empire's capital, Star Luo City.
Aboard the luxurious Soul Guidance Train,
Gu Yue linked her arm through Luo Chen's, rested her head against his shoulder, and closed her eyes to rest.
The heroines watching through the sky screen saw this scene.
Qian Renxue: Luo Chen, didn't you say I was the only one allowed to rest my head on your shoulder?
Hu Liena: Just who is this Gu Yue girl?
Wang Dong'er: Luo Chen, where do you think your hand is going?!
Across from Luo Chen, the Star Luo Empire's official representative, Foreign Minister Sima Lanxiao, was speaking with Cai Yue'er.
"Greetings, Elder Cai. We've just received word that a grand youth Soul Master Tournament is being held in our empire's capital."
"The students you've brought from Shrek Academy are also outstanding members of the younger generation. Would they be interested in participating in our youth Soul Master Tournament?"
At this point, Sima Lanxiao paused before adding, "They may be at something of a disadvantage in terms of age, but this is unquestionably the grandest tournament for the younger generation on our Star Luo Continent."
Cai Yue'er smiled faintly. "We're only here for an exchange. There's no need to enter the tournament."
Seeing that Cai Yue'er intended to politely decline, Sima Lanxiao feared missing this opportunity to put Shrek in its place and hurriedly said, "Elder Cai, there's no need for all that trouble. Given the abilities of Shrek's students, they can skip the preliminary rounds and enter directly at the elimination stage."
"That isn't what concerns me," Cai Yue'er said coolly, cutting straight to the point.
"If you insist on having Shrek Academy compete, the championship prize must be a Soul Bone."
Sima Lanxiao smiled slightly. To undermine Shrek Academy's reputation as the continent's number-one academy, the Star Luo Empire had offered plenty of prizes this time.
The ultimate prize for the individual competition was a Soul Bone.
For the two-on-two competition, it was a ten-thousand-year spiritual treasure.
For the seven-person team competition, each member would receive a piece of soul-forged metal.
There was also a mecha competition.
However, Tang Wulin and the others would not be entering the mecha competition, so Sima Lanxiao did not explain it in detail.
Only after hearing this did Cai Yue'er give a slight nod, indicating that Shrek Academy's students would participate.
At that moment, Luo Chen suddenly interjected.
"Can I enter this tournament?"
Sima Lanxiao froze briefly. He did not know why Luo Chen was allowed to stay in their exclusive carriage.
But judging by the attitudes of the Douluo Continent delegation's representatives toward Luo Chen, Sima Lanxiao assumed he must be the son of some important figure.
"Of course. Anyone under twenty can enter. There are no other restrictions."
Luo Chen nodded and continued asking.
"Then can I enter the seven-person team competition alone?"
At his words, Cai Yue'er remained calm. She had already learned how formidable Luo Chen was back at Shrek Academy.
He was someone who had wanted to challenge their entire academy single-handedly.
Sima Lanxiao, on the other hand, was utterly bewildered.
What did he mean, entering a team competition alone?
One person fighting seven?
Sima Lanxiao studied Luo Chen carefully.
He looked about fifteen. How could he say something so ignorant?
"The rules don't require teams to field all seven members, but are you really going to enter alone? Our tournament requires contestants to sign a life-and-death waiver! This isn't children playing house," Sima Lanxiao emphasized.
But what happened next was completely unexpected.
Upon hearing about the life-and-death waiver, Luo Chen showed no fear whatsoever. Instead, he grew even more excited.
So they could sign life-and-death waivers! I was worried about what would happen if I failed to hold back and killed someone on the opposing side.
"As long as I can enter!"
Luo Chen breathed a sigh of relief. He had genuinely feared that the Star Luo Empire would know his background and bar him from competing. Back in the Sun Moon Federation, Chen Xinjie would not let Luo Chen enter any competitions!
Clearly, however, the Star Luo Empire's intelligence was somewhat behind the times. They did not even know who Luo Chen was.
As for why Luo Chen wanted to enter this tournament, that was naturally Chen Xinjie's idea. His goal was to demonstrate the Sun Moon Federation's strength to the Star Luo Empire.
In exchange, all the trouble Luo Chen had previously caused would be wiped from the slate. That included accidentally blowing up a Tang Sect branch while pursuing Evil Soul Masters a few days earlier, absorbing some of the energy from Shrek Academy's Golden Tree, and so on.
So that he could continue invoking the War God Temple's name whenever he caused trouble in the future, Luo Chen could only agree.
At this point, Luo Chen also had another objective: Dragon Valley, a special minor plane.
Within it, the divine consciousness Tang San had left on Tang Wulin would be suppressed, giving him an excellent opportunity to seize Tang Wulin's Golden Dragon King bloodline.
Outside the sky screen, the two Star Luo Empire emperors from different eras were already growing frantic.
"Seriously, why would you let him compete?"
At that moment, a eunuch beside Xu Jiawei thought of a possibility and eagerly stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, could our Star Luo Empire ten thousand years from now have produced someone even more gifted than Luo Chen? Judging by the behavior of that official representative, Foreign Minister Sima Lanxiao, he seems very confident about defeating Shrek Academy!"
Xu Jiawei seemed to have a sudden realization.
"That's entirely possible! If the Douluo Continent can produce a Luo Chen, then our Star Luo Continent might have an equally gifted genius!"
"Could our Star Luo Continent be about to rise?"
"I just wonder whether the current emperor of the Star Luo Empire belongs to our Xu family, or... the Dai Family."
Meanwhile, within the sky screen.
Having achieved his objective, Sima Lanxiao prepared to take his leave and return to his own carriage.
After Sima Lanxiao left, Pan Wen approached Cai Yue'er and voiced his concerns.
"Elder Cai, although I have faith in Shrek Academy's strength, Tang Wulin and the others are only fourteen or fifteen. They'll be facing students under twenty from across the entire Star Luo Empire. With such an enormous age gap, I'm afraid..."
"If they lose, I fear it will have a very negative impact on the people of the Douluo Continent!"
In Pan Wen's view, Shrek Academy had absolutely no reason to agree to their request. The two sides could simply find Soul Masters of the same age to compete against one another.
Cai Yue'er glanced at him and said coolly, "Shrek Academy only accepts monsters, not ordinary people. Defeating older opponents is as routine as an everyday meal for Shrek. Besides, if they lose, they lose. It isn't necessarily a bad thing."
"But if they lose, the effect on the Federation..." Pan Wen still wanted to persuade her, but Cai Yue'er interrupted him.
"What does the effect on the Federation have to do with Shrek?"
Pan Wen suddenly found himself at a loss for words. If Shrek did not care, what could he possibly say?
Given Shrek's standing, the Federation truly would not dare openly take action against it. Moreover, there was the Tang Sect, which maintained close ties with Shrek.
At that moment, Luo Chen looked at the speechless Pan Wen and spoke slowly.
"Pan Wen, with me competing, does the Star Luo Empire have any chance of winning?"
Pan Wen froze, then was overjoyed.
Of course!
How had he forgotten Luo Chen?!
This was someone who could challenge all of Shrek single-handedly!
Then Luo Chen turned toward Cai Yue'er and demanded.
"Shrek uses the Federation's resources to train its students, yet repeatedly opposes the Federation's proposals to unify the Douluo Continent. It even completely disregards the Federation's dignity."
At this point, Luo Chen paused, and his gaze grew sharp.
"I wonder whether today's Shrek belongs to the Sun Moon Federation, or whether it's a terrorist organization that refuses to submit to any law whatsoever!"
Before you continue