Clouds drifted over the distant peaks, veiling an ancient castle nestled within. Inside its stone walls, two middle-aged men sat across from each other, exchanging puzzled glances.
"Big brother… what do you think he meant?" asked the short-haired, broad-shouldered man with confusion written all over his face.
"Don't ask me," the long-haired man replied, just as bewildered. "What does 'a suddenly rising powerhouse' even mean? Who suddenly rises to power?"
"So… what should we do?" the first man scratched his head awkwardly.
"We wait," the other shrugged. "I think another decree will come. No way they'd just leave us guessing like this…"
The next morning, Zhu Ziyang awoke from a deep slumber, feeling as if he had just returned from another world.
The first trial of the God of Death required him to eliminate someone—or something—who had usurped the name of Death and possessed power beyond six rings. That meant any soul master or soul beast with "Death" in their title could be a valid target. Such beings weren't hard to find, especially with the rise of evil soul masters, who were often drawn to titles like "Reaper" or "Death Lord" for intimidation.
Ziyang had already decided: once the Soul Master Tournament concluded, he would set off across the continent, both to train and to fulfill his god inheritance.
At the Inner Court cafeteria, the entire Shrek Main Team had gathered for breakfast.
"Ziyang! Nan Nan told me you broke through to Soul Emperor?"
Ma Xiaotao looked at him with wide eyes, her voice filled with both surprise and joy.
"Mhm."
Ziyang nodded, smiling.
"I just absorbed my sixth ring yesterday. I'm at rank 63 now."
"Rank 63?!"
Dai Yueheng's handsome face twisted in shock.
"Ziyang, seriously? That's insane! You're making us older folks look bad!"
"Heh! Yueheng, are you nervous?"
Gongyang Mo said with a sly smile, his tone as teasing as ever.
"Worried Ziyang might steal your spotlight?"
"Shut it!"
Dai Yueheng's expression darkened.
"Say that again, and I swear I'll shave your sheep fur clean off!"
Gongyang Mo shrank back a little, intimidated by Yueheng's glare. He instinctively moved closer to Ma Xiaotao for protection.
"Xiaotao, look—he's bullying me!"
Ma Xiaotao's face twitched. As captain, she had to tolerate her teammates' quirks, but sometimes Gongyang Mo truly tested her patience.
"Gongyang Mo, tone it down. I'm this close to smacking you too."
"Okay, okay!"
He immediately straightened up, dropping the act and sitting stiffly.
"With Ziyang's breakthrough, that makes three Soul Emperors on the team,"
said Ling Luochen, her voice cold and emotionless as always.
"But with this change, maybe we should reconsider our tactics?"
"What's there to change?"
Ma Xiaotao shut the idea down immediately.
"Me, Ziyang, and Dai Yueheng will still take point in battle. Zifeng and Nan Nan provide support. You and Gongyang Mo handle control and assistance. Nothing changes."
"I agree with Xiaotao,"
Dai Yueheng added.
Ling Luochen didn't argue, but a subtle flash of dissatisfaction flickered in her eyes.
Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan noticed the exchange and exchanged knowing glances. Though both of them held high status within the Inner Court, their say in team decisions was limited. They hadn't been part of the team's original core, after all, and were still considered "mid-season additions."
Chen Zifeng, as always, remained silent. Much like his martial soul—a sword—he said little, yet radiated a constant killing intent. He only took orders from Ma Xiaotao.
After a moment of tense silence, Ziyang finally broke the ice.
"Don't you think it's a little early to be discussing strategy?"
He smiled.
"Ultimately, our supervising teacher will make the final call."
"Ziyang's right,"
Gongyang Mo chimed in with a grin.
"We're just getting ahead of ourselves. Speaking of which, Xiaotao, do you know who our accompanying teacher will be this year?"
"No word yet,"
Ma Xiaotao said, her tone softening.
"But it's not hard to guess. The Inner Court only has so many teachers. Even Senior Sister Lexuan isn't out of the question."
"That's true,"
Ling Luochen added without emotion.
"She won't be coming with us,"
Jiang Nannan spoke up.
"Senior Lexuan left the academy early this morning. She won't return for at least three or four months."
"What? Why?"
Ziyang was surprised.
"She didn't say," Nannan replied, her voice laced with helplessness.
"But judging by her expression when she left, it looked like she was taking on a difficult mission."
Once again, silence fell over the table. Everyone resumed eating, and shortly after, they each went their separate ways.
Walking side by side, Nannan let out a small sigh.
"Brother," she said, her face shadowed with worry, "don't you think our team… isn't as united as Lexuan said it would be?"
Ziyang paused.
"We're supposed to fight as one, but there's so much tension. Can we really win like this? Especially when the Sun Moon Empire has that rumored powerhouse in their lineup…"
"Hmph!"
Ziyang reached out and pinched her cheek playfully.
"You don't believe in the rest of the team, fine. But don't you believe in your big brother?"
"Ah—stop that!"
Nannan huffed, cheeks puffed.
"You know that's not what I meant!"
"I know, I know."
Ziyang chuckled.
"Look, everyone's got their own thoughts, their own pride. We can't control them, and we don't need to. We just do our part—and when the time comes, we'll see where things stand. Like they say, the boat will straighten itself when it reaches the bridge."
"…Fine."
Nannan sighed again.
Their current Shrek Main Team was one of the strongest in the school's history:
Ma Xiaotao, Fire Phoenix, level 69 Soul Emperor (Captain)
Dai Yueheng, White Tiger, level 65 Soul Emperor (Vice-Captain)
Zhu Ziyang, level 63 Soul Emperor
Gongyang Mo, level 59 Soul King
Chen Zifeng, level 59 Soul King
Ling Luochen, level 57 Soul King
Jiang Nannan, level 55 Soul King
An elite force, boasting an average above rank 60.
But their internal bonds were frail.
The captain and vice-captain were divided.
The captain clashed with several members.
The team was fractured—kept together only by the reputation of the Inner Court.
Ziyang had no intention of fixing the mess.
After all, most of these seniors were graduating after this tournament.
Next year, it would be up to him to form a new team—one entirely under his control.
Why waste time trying to fix a ship that was already drifting toward shore?
Only three months left.
Then it would be over.
Later that day, the pair arrived at the Golden Ancient Tree, only to stumble upon a surprising scene.
Cai Meier and Xian Lin'er—both Deans of Shrek Academy, both Super Douluo—were arguing loudly.
When they noticed Ziyang and Nannan, they briefly paused, but neither backed down.
"Senior Sister! Little Sister! What's going on?"
Ziyang asked cautiously, genuinely surprised.
"You came at the perfect time, Little Brother!"
Xian Lin'er stomped her foot, arms akimbo.
"Tell me—does anyone conduct business the way Meier does?!"
"I don't care if even the Dean herself shows up today,"
Cai Meier snapped, glaring coldly.
"Your Soul Tool Department must hand over thirty more fixed-mounted soul cannons, or I'm not letting anyone through!"
Ziyang instantly understood the situation.
It had to do with Huo Yuhao's second martial soul.
Clearly, Meier now felt like she'd made a bad deal—and wanted compensation.
"Thirty more?! You greedy little—!"
Xian Lin'er cried out in disbelief.
"You've lost your mind!"
"I've been more than fair!"
Meier countered.
"That boy is a twin martial soul user, and from what I hear, he's the focus of your Extreme Soldier Program!
This price is more than reasonable!"
Seeing the argument escalating again, Ziyang and Nannan exchanged a look—then carefully tiptoed away.
When two women fight, it's best to run.
High up in a nearby tree, Qian Duoduo sat silently, hiding in the branches like a seasoned survivor.
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