Tang Feng didn't want to continue on this topic and instead asked, "Let's not talk about this. Brother Jian, how's your cultivation going lately? Have you adapted to your new Soul Bone? The sect is about to leave the mountain, and there will be many tough battles to fight in the future."
When cultivation and sects were mentioned, Tang Jian's expression turned serious, and a fighting spirit ignited in his eyes. "Don't worry! I won't let anything interfere with my cultivation! When the time comes, we brothers will work together to make the name of the Clear Sky Hammer resound throughout the continent once again!"
"Good!" Tang Feng, also inspired by Tang Jian's heroic spirit, nodded vigorously. "Brothers united, their strength can break metal!"
Meanwhile, on the border of the Heaven Dou Empire.
On a wide official road cleared and heavily guarded by the Royal Guard, a large and imposing procession was proceeding in an orderly fashion.
These are the teams representing the Heaven Dou Empire region who have qualified to go to Spirit City for the finals. They include the fifteen teams that emerged from the qualifiers, as well as one seeded team from the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Sixteen teams, comprising over a hundred young and talented Soul Master, represent the highest level of the younger generation in the Heaven Dou Empire.
To ensure the safety of these rising stars of the empire, the Heaven Dou Empire Imperial Family dispatched five hundred elite Royal Knights to escort them throughout the journey.
This impressive team naturally includes the Shrek Academy members who shone brightly and ultimately won the championship in the recently concluded Heaven Dou Empire promotion tournament.
Shrek's carriage was positioned in the very center of the procession, signifying his championship glory.
In the qualifying rounds, Shrek Academy's lineup was considered luxurious in the Heaven Dou Division.
Shrek Academy already possessed three powerful Battle Soul Ancestor: Dai Mubai, Tang San, and Meng Yiran. With three Soul Ancestor, this was a configuration that many academies could only dream of.
With the return of Oscar and Zhu Zhuqing, the addition of two new Soul Ancestor brings the Shrek Team Soul Ancestor team to five!
Looking across the entire Heaven Dou Division, apart from the Heaven Dou Royal Academy main team, which is a seeded team with a deep foundation, other academies can hardly match it.
Even Thunder Academy, the veteran powerhouse that won the qualifiers, only had three or four Soul Ancestor.
In the one-on-one qualifying rounds, Oscar and Zhu Zhuqing's performances were truly dazzling, completely overturning everyone's conventional understanding of Food System Soul Master Agility Attack System Soul Master.
Oscar, the Food System Soul Master who once needed strict protection, actually stepped onto the one-on-one arena during the qualifying rounds.
When Oscar swallowed the Heaven and Earth Creation Sausage " he had created in front of a huge audience, and then conjured a golden, heavy " Golden Cudgel " out of thin air in his hand, the whole audience was in an uproar!
With Oscar's " Sea-Calming Staff Technique," which he had diligently practiced for over two years, combined with the enhancements and skills provided by his first three Soul Skill, such as recovery, detoxification, and flight, he displayed a formidable combat power no less than that of an ordinary Power Attack System Battle Soul Ancestor!
What's even more astonishing is that Oscar's Soul Power consumption seems to be less than expected, and his endurance is extremely strong. He often fights continuously, taking on two or even three opponents at once! The title of " Food System Battle Soul Ancestor " spread like wildfire and became one of the biggest talking points in the qualifying rounds.
In contrast to Oscar's "novelty," Zhu Zhuqing brought a shock of pure speed and lethality. Her figure on the ring was like a true phantom, and her opponents could often only catch a faint shadow and the cold, sharp aura left in the air.
Her claws, enhanced by both the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear Soul Ring and Soul Bone, combined with the " Nether Dreadclaw " Soul Skill, granted her a terrifying ability to break through defenses at the Soul Ancestor level.
Defense System Martial Soul, which Agility Attack System Soul Master used to have to avoid at all costs, appeared exceptionally vulnerable in her presence.
Tearing through armor, causing continuous bleeding, and even weakening defense... she is like a highly efficient harvesting machine, often resolving battles in the blink of an eye. She has also accomplished the feat of fighting multiple opponents single-handedly on numerous occasions. Her efficiency and deterrent power have even made many opponents fearful before the battle even begins.
Their dominant performance in the qualifying rounds was like two suddenly rising stars, their brilliance even subtly overshadowing Tang San, who was originally regarded as the team's absolute core, possessing Twin Martial Souls and Tang Sect's unique skills.
The focus of discussion among the audience and opponents was largely on these two prodigies, one in eating and the other in agility.
This change was naturally noticed by keen observers and stirred up subtle ripples within the Shrek Team.
For Yu Xiaogang, the academy's good results were a good thing, but this improvement was achieved after he broke away from his "theoretical guidance" and even, to some extent, "slapped in the face" of his "self-righteousness".
Watching Oscar and Zhu Zhuqing shine brightly, while Tang San, his carefully nurtured, exceptionally talented disciple who perfectly combined theory and practice, seemed to be overshadowed, this " Grandmaster " felt an indescribable sense of frustration, bitterness, and a hint of displeasure at having his authority challenged.
Yu Xiaogang became increasingly silent, his face often gloomy. Only when instructing Tang San would he reveal his usual focus and anticipation.
For Dai Mubai, every bit of Zhu Zhuqing's strength felt like a thorn in his heart. The more independent and dazzling Zhu Zhuqing became, the more it highlighted his own powerlessness and the absurdity of their marriage agreement.
Dai Mubai couldn't calmly cheer for his teammates' victory, especially when Zhu Zhuqing won; the complex and indescribable emotions almost made him lose control.
Inside the carriage, Oscar was excitedly gesturing to Ma Hongjun, while Ning Rongrong added with a smile.
Zhu Zhuqing sat quietly by the window, watching the scenery rushing past outside, occasionally responding to Ning Rongrong's words, her cool expression revealing little emotion.
Tang San and Meng Yiran closed their eyes to cultivate, their breathing steady. Dai Mubai leaned against the other side, his expression dark and unreadable.
Flender and Zhao Wuji sat in the front carriage, discussing their next tactics in hushed tones. Aside from Dai Mubai, the atmosphere was much more harmonious than usual. This was because the team was missing one person. " Grandmaster."
Even the Shrek students didn't know where he went. Grandmaster Yu didn't even tell Tang San, and quietly left alone the day after the promotion competition ended.
Today is the eleventh day of our journey, and we are only four or five days away from Spirit City.
Along the official road, the Heaven Dou Empire's participating teams wound their way forward. Having completed more than half their journey, they were drawing ever closer to Spirit City. The recent tranquility had inevitably eased their tense nerves, and the young Soul Master were now filled with anticipation and planning for the finals.
However, deadly crises always seem to bare their fangs at the safest of times.
When the group reached a valley with steep mountain walls on both sides and a relatively narrow road, the strange event occurred without warning!
"Boom!!!"
A deafening roar came from both sides of the mountainside! Countless boulders the size of millstones rolled down like a torrent! In an instant, they cut and scattered the once-continuous procession into several pieces! Shouts of alarm, the neighing of horses, and the booming of boulders hitting the ground mingled together, dust flew everywhere, and order was thrown into chaos!
Just as the Shrek Academy convoy was briefly thrown into chaos due to the obstruction of a boulder in the middle of the convoy, nearly a hundred fierce and incomparable killing intents suddenly erupted from behind the rocks on both sides of the hillside!
A series of figures dressed in uniform black outfits and with their faces covered in black cloths darted out like Gui Mei. They moved swiftly and coordinated perfectly, like a sophisticated killing machine, heading straight for the Shrek Academy carriages!
What's even more alarming is the strength of these attackers. A quick glance reveals that more than five of them are Soul Saint with seven Soul Ring gleaming beneath their feet!
The remaining men in black were at least Soul King or Soul Emperor! This luxurious and terrifying lineup was clearly designed for a fatal blow, leaving Shrek no chance of survival!
"Enemy attack!!! All units defend! Protect the cadets!!" The Royal Knights officer guarding the cadets roared furiously, his eyes bloodshot.
The well-trained knights quickly formed a tight formation using the carriages as cover, shields raised high and lances flying like a forest.
But the attackers were too well-prepared. Their ranged Soul Skill rained down like a storm, and several knights fell with screams in an instant, creating a fatal gap in the solid formation.
The teachers from each academy, their eyes red, unleashed their Martial Soul, desperately trying to protect their students. However, facing such an organized attack from so many opponents of the same or even higher level, the resistance proved extremely difficult.