After receiving meticulous treatment from the healing-type soul masters, Bo Xi quickly recovered his condition.
He returned to the stands and found that the gazes of the other Heavenly Kings from Monster Academy—including Long Yue, who had just regained some strength, and Dai Yueyan—had changed significantly.
The previous hostility and scrutiny had faded, replaced by a complex sense of recognition, even tinged with a hint of… solidarity?
After all, they had all been defeated by Shrek Academy.
Bo Xi's strength was something they had witnessed firsthand, and even Long Yue felt inferior. Losing to Gu La, another monstrous genius, was far from being a disgrace—it almost felt like one of their own had been bullied by outsiders.
Especially under the subtle guidance of Star Luo's upper echelons, Bo Xi's "narrow defeat" added a tragic hero's aura, bringing them closer together.
"How do you feel, Brother Bo Xi?" Dai Yueyan approached him first, his tone filled with concern.
"No problem," Bo Xi calmly responded, glancing at everyone before slightly nodding.
Long Yue also walked over. Though still somewhat pale, the despair in his eyes had been replaced by a new, more restrained fighting spirit.
He looked deeply at Bo Xi and said gravely, "The gap between you and him isn't large. The outcome depends on performance."
This simple statement represented a form of acknowledgment, as well as an indirect challenge. After all, Long Yue believed the gap between himself and Bo Xi wasn't significant either. Once he gained control over his martial soul, he could unleash the true power of the Mountain Dragon King.
The other Heavenly Kings also nodded, their gazes toward Bo Xi now carrying a bit more warmth. Bo Xi keenly noticed this shift and understood its significance.
This was exactly what he needed. Operating alone in the Star Luo Empire, he required his own support network and allies. These Heavenly Kings from Monster Academy were excellent candidates.
"Mm." Bo Xi responded succinctly, accepting this invisible olive branch.
At this moment, a crisp yet awkward voice rang out: "Hey… are you… are you alright?"
Dai Yun'er had somehow sneaked over, her head held high but her eyes darting nervously. She quickly blurted out these words without waiting for Bo Xi's response, then turned and ran off like a startled rabbit, leaving behind a flustered figure.
Bo Xi watched her retreating back, his expression unchanged. He shared the same thoughts as Gu La, with identical aesthetic preferences—he simply liked beautiful things. Dai Yun'er, inheriting the royal family's millennia of excellent genes, undoubtedly fell into this category. His attitude was clear: not proactive, but not rejecting either.
Dai Yun'er ran back to her chambers in the palace, locked the door, and threw herself onto the soft bed, covering her head with the blanket.
Her father, Emperor Dai Tianling, had recently made seemingly casual inquiries, subtly hinting at something she clearly understood. Her father wanted her… to marry Bo Xi!
This realization left her mind in turmoil. Not long ago, her father had hinted at pairing her with Long Yue, though she only saw Long Yue as a brother-like figure.
But Bo Xi's appearance was like a boulder crashing into a calm lake.
Bo Xi… stronger than Long Yue, without the risk of losing control, tall and imposing. If he trimmed his strange wavy blue hair shorter, he would surely be quite handsome… From a rational and imperial perspective, this seemed like a better choice.
But!
Dai Yun'er suddenly threw off the blanket and sat up, her golden hair somewhat disheveled.
She was the only princess of the Star Luo Empire, the cherished gem of her parents. The future husband she envisioned should be a towering hero who could make her fall head over heels and fill her heart with joy.
Not… not someone cold and stone-like, who had embarrassed her upon their first meeting.
She clutched her smooth golden hair, twirling the strands with her fingertips, her heart feeling like a jumble of mixed emotions.
Bitter tears unconsciously slid down the corners of her eyes. As a princess, arranged marriage was an unavoidable destiny.
Her father's decision was something she couldn't resist. But how could a young girl's heart, full of springtime dreams, not be filled with aspirations and fantasies?
First impressions were too important… Dai Yun'er found it hard to imagine what life would be like with that taciturn man whose eyes were as unreadable as the deep sea.
As for Tang Wulin, it must be said that as a soul master, Tang Wulin's brilliance had been overshadowed. Female soul masters, like most women, were attracted to strength. Since the start of the competition, Dai Yun'er hadn't paid much attention to Tang Wulin.
Her mind was filled with images of Bo Xi. Dai Yun'er growled softly, "So annoying."
She buried herself in the blanket again, leaving behind a room full of gloom and a faint trace of a young girl's melancholy.
---
The next day, the tournament continued. The individual eight-finals concluded, and the top four competitors emerged.
Due to the relatively lower importance placed on two-on-two matches in the Star Luo Empire, combined with the dominance of several pairs from Shrek Academy, the matches proceeded swiftly. Today was the final championship battle.
Both teams were from Shrek Academy: the duo of Gu La and Ye Xinglan versus Gu Yue and Xu Xiaoyan.
The pairings of Bai Yuan and Wu Sido, as well as Tang Wulin and Xu Lizhi, had failed to advance past these formidable opponents, ending their run in disappointment.
As for the teams from the Star Luo Empire, they were completely eliminated early in the two-on-two matches, with few even making it to the quarterfinals.
On the final stage, the atmosphere was tense yet strangely subdued. It was an internal battle within Shrek Academy, where teammates became opponents, but there was no tension in the air.
Xu Xiaoyan bounced onto the stage, her face adorned with a mischievous smile, waving her small fist at Gu La:
"Big Brother Gu La, I won't hold back later, Xiaoyan is very strong!" Behind her, Gu Yue remained as cool as ever, her silver eyes calmly gazing at Gu La and Ye Xinglan.
After the evolution of her martial soul, Xu Xiaoyan's Star Staff had stabilized, granting her absolute control over starlight. This allowed her to forcibly restrain any opponent of the same or even higher rank for at least one second.
This brief second, combined with Gu Yue's devastating elemental control that required short preparation time, was a perfect match.
They had advanced through the competition with overwhelming victories. Xu Xiaoyan controlled the battlefield while Gu Yue delivered the finishing blows, their coordination seamless.
Gu La looked at the lively Xu Xiaoyan and revealed a gentle smile: "Xiaoyan, go ahead and give it your all; don't hold back."
He shifted his tone, adding a deeper meaning: "However, the absolute control of celestial martial souls might not remain unshakable when faced with greater celestial forces."
Before his words faded, Gu La made a virtual grip, and the dazzling diamond sword infused with stellar energy reappeared.
The moment the Diamond Stellar Sword appeared, a vast, ancient, and sharp sword intent, as if bearing the will of the universe's stars, spread out.
This sword intent wasn't aimed at anyone specifically, but Xu Xiaoyan, holding her Star Staff, clearly felt a slight tremor, as if suppressed by a superior force.
Her proud starlight seemed less absolute in the face of that pure stellar sword intent.
Gu La's participation in the competition wasn't just for fun. Witnessing various martial souls and techniques broadened his understanding, filling gaps in his foundational comprehension of sword intent due to his use of wave-guiding powers.
Xu Xiaoyan's cheerful smile faltered slightly, then she puffed up her cheeks and tightened her grip on the Star Staff: "Hmph! Big Brother Gu La is trying to scare me, here's my move."
On the other side, Ye Xinglan and Gu Yue, both possessing similarly aloof and proud demeanors, exchanged a brief glance in the air.
Without words, their eyes burned with undisguised fighting spirit. They wouldn't show mercy just because their opponents were teammates. Giving their all was the greatest respect they could offer each other.
"The match begins!" The referee's voice ignited the fuse.
"Star Wheel Chains!"
Xu Xiaoyan reacted fastest, her Star Staff glowing brightly. Two chains of pure starlight, imbued with absolute binding power, shot out, targeting Gu La and Ye Xinglan.
She possessed the crucial talent of a control-type soul master: a good grasp of the overall situation and fine operational awareness. Under the pressure of the past year, she gradually developed her latent abilities and intuitively mastered multitasking.
Using her first soul skill twice, she immediately restricted both opponents, denying them the chance to unleash their full power.
However, just as the starlight chains were about to touch their targets.
"Sword God Net!"
Ye Xinglan shouted sharply, unsheathing her Star God Sword. Her second soul ring flashed, and the brilliant starlight sword qi didn't attack directly but instantly formed a rotating grid of sword qi resembling the constellations in front of her and Gu La.
The two absolutely controlling starlight chains crashed into this field constructed by stellar sword intent. Their trajectories subtly deviated, as if pulled by an invisible gravitational force, grazing past the two.
Though it didn't completely negate the effect of absolute control, Ye Xinglan's sword domain, imbued with preliminary celestial intent, managed to forcibly alter the trajectory of the starlight chains at the last moment, buying precious reaction time for both of them.
"Good."
A glimmer of approval flashed in Gu La's eyes. Ye Xinglan's talent in swordsmanship was indeed remarkable. No wonder she was a specially recruited student of Shrek. Under his tutelage, she had progressed rapidly.
He didn't waste the time difference Ye Xinglan had secured. The light of his Diamond Stellar Sword surged brilliantly.
"Stellar Break!"
A condensed beam of stellar sword qi, carrying the razor-sharp will to cut through everything, did not aim at Xu Xiaoyan but slashed through the space between Xu Xiaoyan and Gu Yue.
Wherever the sword qi passed, the air seemed frozen and sliced, forming a temporary vacuum barrier. He intended to sever the support path between Xu Xiaoyan and Gu Yue. He had to neutralize Xu Xiaoyan first, otherwise, even he wouldn't escape the influence of absolute control.
"I don't think so, Elemental Tide!"
Gu Yue snorted coldly. Di Tian was recently focused on locating the Dragon Valley, leaving her idle. Seeing Gu La's interest in the competition, she took a rare interest in the matches.
With a graceful flick of her hand, seven-colored light swirled around her. Earth, water, fire, wind, light, and darkness converged like a boiling tsunami in front of her.
She didn't choose to directly confront Gu La's stellar sword qi but manipulated the raging elemental tide, like a massive grinding wheel, colliding fiercely with Ye Xinglan. She knew Gu La's strength wouldn't allow him to be defeated immediately, even within the reasonable bounds of a Soul King, so Ye Xinglan became the softer target.
Ye Xinglan, unaware of this, had sharp, sword-like eyes. Facing the overwhelming elemental flood, she showed no retreat.
"Star God Fall!"
The Star God Sword in her hands transformed into a dense array of sword lights. Each strike precisely hit flames, ice spears, and rock spikes.
The flashing sword lights resembled the brightest stars in the night sky, tearing open a breach in the raging elemental tide. Her swordsmanship was exquisite, showcasing a new level of understanding of force.
"Starry Splendor!"
Seeing her control fail, Xu Xiaoyan immediately changed tactics. Pointing her Star Staff at Ye Xinglan, a more condensed and larger starlight cage instantly formed, aiming to completely immobilize Ye Xinglan who was resisting the elemental flood.
"Gravity Collapse!"
How could Gu La let her have her way? His first soul ring beneath his feet shone brightly, and a terrifying gravity immediately acted on Xu Xiaoyan.
Xu Xiaoyan felt her body suddenly weighed down, as if burdened by a mountain, causing her movements and soul power flow to lag momentarily. The brilliance of the absolute star cage dimmed slightly.
"Now, Xinglan," Gu La called out. He was curious to see if Ye Xinglan could defeat Gu Yue. Even the Silver Dragon King in human form intrigued him.
Ye Xinglan's eyes erupted with starlight. This was the opportunity she had been waiting for!
"Starfall Rain!"
Her fourth soul ring flashed as she merged with her sword, transforming into a dazzling streak slicing through the darkness. The Star God Sword concentrated all her essence and transformed sword intent, carrying an unwavering resolve, fiercely piercing the slightly dimmed absolute star cage.
"Crack!"
A crisp shattering sound rang out. The supposedly absolute control starlight cage was pierced through by Ye Xinglan's concentrated sword intent, creating a hole. Ye Xinglan's figure shot out like lightning, heading straight for Xu Xiaoyan.
"What?!" Xu Xiaoyan's face turned pale. Her absolute control had been broken head-on for the first time in a fight against a peer.
Although the opponent cleverly used gravity interference and instant bursts, it was still a star-phase martial soul hitting starlight, but a break was a break!
"Ice Wall."
Gu Yue reacted extremely quickly, instantly forming a thick wall of ice in front of Xu Xiaoyan.
"Break!" Ye Xinglan's sword momentum didn't diminish. The Star God Sword, carrying the light of dawn, fiercely struck the ice wall.
"Boom!" The ice wall exploded.
But the brief time Gu Yue bought was enough. Her silver eyes flashed, and she clasped her hands together.
"Elemental Fusion·Annihilation Spear!"
Light, fire, and earth elements compressed and fused crazily in her palm, forming a short spear only a foot long but emanating destructive waves.
She swung her arm, and the short spear turned into a beam of death, striking Ye Xinglan's back, rescuing Wei by besieging Zhao!
Feeling the lethal threat from behind, Ye Xinglan had no choice but to abandon pursuing Xu Xiaoyan and turned to block.
Clang——!!!
The Star God Sword collided with the Annihilation Spear, and violent energy exploded.
Ye Xinglan grunted, being violently thrown backward by the tremendous impact, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of her mouth. The brilliance of her Star God Sword also dimmed significantly. The power of Gu Yue's strike far exceeded her expectations.
"Xiaoyan, stick close to me," Gu Yue's cold voice carried an undeniable command. She recognized Gu La's mischief and was in a foul mood.
"Yes, Sister Gu Yue." Xu Xiaoyan was startled, enduring the discomfort of gravity, her Star Staff bursting with unprecedented brilliance.
This time, she didn't lock onto a specific target but applied a powerful, absolutely pulling starlight onto Gu La.
She intended to forcibly "pin" Gu La in place, buying time for Gu Yue to charge her ultimate move.
Gu La felt his body being pulled by an invisible, irresistible force, his movements becoming incredibly sluggish.
He tried to counter with his gravity domain, but the absolute properties of the Star Staff, under Xu Xiaoyan's full effort, temporarily suppressed the gravity interference!
"Elemental Storm!"
Gu Yue seized this fleeting opportunity. She floated upward, her silver hair wildly dancing, and a torrent of seven-colored elements swirled madly around her.
Fire fueled by wind, fire coalescing into earth and stone, earth generating frost, water nurturing all, concealing destruction… The seven elements weren't simply stacked but began deeper fusion and collision under her exquisite control.
A massive, seven-colored elemental vortex, exuding world-destroying energy and over ten meters in diameter, rapidly formed above her head. The elemental energy on the entire platform became turbulent.
This was the strongest area-of-effect attack Gu Yue could currently unleash. Once released, the entire platform would be annihilated.
Ye Xinglan's face turned pale as she struggled to stop it, but having been injured by the residual waves of the Annihilation Spear, she couldn't approach in time.
Gu La shook his head inwardly. Why was she refusing to play anymore?
As the terrifying elemental storm was about to form and descend—
No more waiting.
"Radiant Sun Domain, Activate!"
"Sun Elf·Descent!"
Blinding golden light erupted instantly. Behind Gu La, the colossal Sun Elf phantom reappeared, spreading infinite light and purifying power, attempting to dispel and purify Xu Xiaoyan's starlight pull.
Simultaneously, his Diamond Stellar Sword burst with unprecedented brilliance.
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