Under the watchful eyes of the entire audience, the atmosphere at Star Luo Plaza reached its first true climax.
Both teams officially entered the arena.
On the left passage, the seven members of Heavenly Spirit High-Rank Soul Master Academy stepped onto the field.
Though they were qualified to represent their academy and were considered geniuses in their region, standing on the highest-level battle stage of the entire continent—while facing a sea of roaring spectators—made the seven youths look noticeably pale.
On the right passage, however, the atmosphere was completely different.
Led by Liu Yuan, Ma Rulong, Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, and the others followed closely behind.
The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy team advanced in perfect formation, their expressions calm and confident—forming a sharp, almost brutal contrast to the tension written all over the faces of the Heavenly Spirit team.
"Sun Moon! Sun Moon! Sun Moon!"
No one knew who shouted first, but in the next instant, thunderous cheers erupted from the stands.
Although this region originally belonged to the Three Douluo Empires, strength was respected everywhere.
Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, consistently ranked second in every major tournament, was undeniably a powerhouse. Combined with their unique combat style, they naturally had an enormous fan base.
And more importantly—
This was the opening match!
Would the established powerhouse dominate from the start?
Could an unknown academy pull off a miracle upset?
Or would the two sides clash evenly?
Just thinking about it sent the crowd's adrenaline soaring.
---
However, in the front row of the rest area, Xuan Zi and the Inner Court students of Shrek Academy were in anything but a good mood.
Hearing so many spectators cheering for the Sun Moon team felt like fingernails scraping against a blackboard—ear-splittingly irritating.
"Hmph, a bunch of ignorant bumpkins," Dai Yueheng said coldly, arms crossed as he stared at the arena.
"They're just people who rely on external tools. Are they really worthy of this kind of applause?"
"Once Shrek takes the stage and shows its true strength, they'll understand what a real champion team is."
Ma Xiaotao, standing beside him, said nothing, but a cold, arrogant gleam flashed through her beautiful eyes.
In her view, this honor belonged only to Shrek. Other academies—especially Sun Moon Royal—weren't qualified to enjoy it.
Xuan Zi bit down hard on the chicken bone in his mouth, his eyes dark and gloomy.
"Go on, shout," he thought maliciously.
"The louder you cheer now, the harder you'll cry when you're eliminated later."
He sneered inwardly.
"I want to see what tricks Liu Yuan, this so-called 'genius,' can pull off with a group of people who only know how to play with scrap metal."
Xuan Zi refused to believe that Liu Yuan had any real ability. Even more so, he refused to believe Liu Yuan could be strong without Shrek's training.
He secretly hoped Heavenly Spirit Academy could at least cause some trouble—preferably humiliating Liu Yuan in public.
---
At that moment, the Chief Referee finished checking both teams' lineups. After confirming everything was in order, he raised his right hand high.
"Match—"
"Begin!"
The command was like cold water poured onto blazing oil.
Boom!
On the Heavenly Spirit High-Rank Soul Master Academy side, all seven members instinctively released their martial souls.
"Brothers, let's fight them!"
The captain roared, trying to drive away the fear in his heart.
Spirit rings flared to life around them, and the roars of Beast Spirits mixed with the humming of Tool Spirits, creating a rather imposing scene.
However—
Just as Heavenly Spirit Academy finished releasing their martial souls and prepared to form up and charge—
Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy moved.
And what they did shocked everyone.
Aside from Ma Rulong and Xiao Hongchen at the very front, the remaining five—Liu Yuan and Meng Hongchen included—didn't even lift their feet.
They stood there quietly, not even releasing their martial souls, as if this weren't a fierce team battle at all, but merely a performance they were watching.
"Arrogant!"
Seeing this, Xuan Zi sneered coldly.
"Facing seven Spirit Ancestors and daring to act like this? You're simply courting death!"
But before his words even finished—
His expression froze.
The instant the referee's command ended, Ma Rulong and Xiao Hongchen's eyes flashed sharply.
"Do it!"
Ma Rulong let out a low shout.
No flourish. No wasted words.
Buzz—
A dark light flashed across Ma Rulong's body, and an enormous metal cannon barrel materialized on his shoulder.
The barrel was as thick as a thigh, pitch-black in color, covered with intricate, precise dark-red core formations.
A terrifying surge of spirit power gathered at the muzzle, cold and overwhelming.
At the same time—
Xiao Hongchen's display was even more extreme.
He snapped his folding fan shut, compressing the entire Martial Soul Possession process to the limit. Countless metal tubes exploded from behind him like a peacock spreading its tail, while rows of soul tool cannons unfolded in front of him, gleaming with chilling metallic light.
The two didn't need any communication at all—their coordination was flawless, as if rehearsed countless times.
Summoning martial souls.
Deploying spirit tools.
Locking targets.
Every movement was smooth, precise, and blindingly fast.
Then—
They fired at the same time!
BOOM—!!!
Two beams of light tore through the air.
From Ma Rulong's cannon erupted a dark-red beam over a meter thick, carrying overwhelming heat and impact—like a roaring fire dragon.
From Xiao Hongchen's side, countless white beams converged into a raging metal torrent, shrieking as it swept across the arena.
Two long-range spirit tools unleashed twin beams, intertwining into a deadly killing net.
Fast.
Too fast!
From the referee's command to the beams firing, the entire process took less than one second.
The seven members of Heavenly Spirit Academy had just finished releasing their martial souls. They hadn't even taken a single step—
Their vision was already swallowed by that terrifying light.
"No—!"
The captain's eyes widened in horror, managing only a broken scream.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Heavy impacts sounded almost simultaneously.
There was no suspense. No resistance.
Against firepower comparable to a full-strength Spirit Emperor's attack, the Spirit Ancestor cultivation Heavenly Spirit Academy was so proud of was as fragile as paper.
All seven were blasted away like kites with snapped strings, slamming into the protective barrier at the edge of the arena before sliding down limply like dead dogs.
Black smoke rose.
The entire arena fell into deathly silence.
Even as the spatial distortions caused by the beams still trembled slightly—
The battle was already over.
Instantaneous.
A complete and absolute instant kill.
---
The audience was stunned.
The once-boisterous Star Luo Plaza became so quiet that a pin dropping could be heard.
Hundreds of thousands of spectators stared with wide eyes and gaping mouths at the two figures who had ended the fight with a single move.
This was absurd.
This was the All-Continent High-Rank Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament!
The opponents were a full Spirit Ancestor team!
And they didn't even last a second?!
"…Is this the strength of Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy?"
Someone finally spoke, their voice trembling.
"That's terrifying…"
"They're not even on the same level!"
"What kind of spirit tools were those?! How could they be so powerful?!"
In the next moment, explosive discussion erupted—far louder than before.
Everyone was utterly shaken by the overwhelming strength of the Sun Moon team.
---
On the arena, Liu Yuan's lips curled slightly, a satisfied glint flashing in his eyes.
"Well done."
He nodded faintly.
Ma Rulong and Xiao Hongchen's timing was perfect.
Though the display was spectacular, it relied purely on high-level spirit tools and their deep spirit power cultivation—no complex tactics at all.
They crushed the enemy swiftly and cleanly.
More importantly—
Liu Yuan glanced at the teammates behind him who hadn't even moved.
No one revealed anything.
Their true strength remained hidden.
This was exactly the result he wanted.
"Winner—"
The referee finally snapped out of his shock. After confirming that the Heavenly Spirit team members were unconscious but safe, he announced loudly:
"All members of Heavenly Spirit High-Rank Soul Master Academy are incapacitated!"
"Round One, Match One—Victory goes to!"
"Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy!"
Whoosh—!!!
Thunderous applause erupted like a tidal wave.
Xiao Hongchen retracted his cannons, opened his folding fan, and struck a pose of dramatic aloofness.
Ma Rulong calmly stored away his heavy cannon and nodded to Liu Yuan.
"Let's go," Liu Yuan said lightly, turning to lead his team off the stage.
From stepping onto the arena to leaving it, only a few minutes had passed. Not even a wrinkle marred his clothes.
They exited along the competitors' passageway.
Just as they were about to pass Shrek Academy's resting area—
Liu Yuan, who had remained calm the entire time, paused slightly.
He turned his head, his gaze sweeping across the crowd before locking precisely onto Xuan Zi in the front row.
Their eyes met.
At that moment, a meaningful smile appeared on Liu Yuan's lips.
There was no anger.
No hatred.
Only mockery.
The look one gives a clown.
Soon, Liu Yuan turned away and left without a second glance.
But that single look was deadlier than those two soul-guided laser beams.
Because Xuan Zi had a guilty conscience.
In that instant, Liu Yuan's glance made countless unspoken words echo in Xuan Zi's mind—
Regret it now, you old fool.
You were blind.
How much better things would have been if you hadn't made such a stupid mistake back then.
Words Xuan Zi himself knew—but refused to admit.
His teeth ground together violently, fury and madness surging in his chest.
In the end, he could only force out two words through clenched teeth:
"Damn it!"
-------------Author---------------
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