The Thunder Academy team wasn't weak—if they were, they wouldn't have made it this far.
Their captain, Yu Tianxin, was the leading figure of his generation in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. However, their opponents in this match had soul power levels that, even at their weakest, surpassed his.
This battle was over before it began.
"Captain, against those Spirit Hall monsters, do we even stand a chance?"
Hearing this, Yu Tianxin scoffed dismissively, turning to his teammates with a knowing expression.
"Do they make you feel more hopeless than Shrek Academy did?"
Silence fell among his team. They were, after all, survivors of that ordeal.
Shrek Academy had unleashed their strength against Thunder Academy at the worst possible time—during their direct clash. Despite being a 5v7 match (more accurately 4v7, since Dai Mubai hadn't even stepped in), Thunder Academy had been utterly crushed.
Shrek Academy had left them with a shred of dignity by holding back. But that "mercy" had been more humiliating than comforting, nearly shattering their confidence entirely.
"Exactly. Is Spirit Hall Academy as terrifying as Shrek Academy?"
Reframing the situation, the team suddenly found themselves less afraid.
"I envy Yu Tianheng and his group. They get to lose to the strongest opponents. Losing to Spirit Hall Academy makes us seem inferior. What bad luck…"
Yu Tianxin sighed, his tone oddly carefree. Once he had accepted the inevitable, it no longer weighed on him.
"Yeah. If Shrek Academy had been the ones to eliminate us, at least we could leave Spirit City with no regrets."
"Ah, fate isn't on our side."
Not far away, Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan overheard Thunder Academy's conversation. Their expressions turned dark.
What the hell? Losing to Spirit Hall Academy isn't an honor?
They didn't outright disrespect Spirit Hall Academy, but the comparison to Shrek Academy stung. How could Hu Liena and her companions not be furious?
"You'll pay for this!"
Unlike the more composed Hu Liena and Xie Yue, Yan's fiery temperament got the better of him. Pointing at Yu Tianxin and his team, he shouted angrily.
But Yu Tianxin and the others merely glanced at him dismissively.
"Pay? You'll see just how terrifying Shrek Academy is. A friendly warning: their captain, Dai Mubai, has never fought seriously in any match."
"We don't even know his full strength. Also, let me remind you, the Dai and Zhu families of the Star Luo Empire have always produced pairs capable of performing martial soul fusion skills."
"This isn't exactly a secret to Spirit Hall, is it? Shrek Academy's captain and vice-captain are one of those pairs in this generation."
"Two Soul Kings with a martial soul fusion skill—can you handle that?"
Yu Tianxin's words were filled with mockery, but they were based on well-researched facts.
Curious about Dai Mubai, he had asked his grandfather, Yu Luomian, to investigate. What he learned had been shocking. Dai Mubai was not only a runaway prince of the Star Luo Empire, but his fiancée and Shrek's vice-captain, Zhu Zhuqing, was also royalty—his designated princess consort.
The legendary Netherworld White Tiger was no secret, a martial soul fusion ability that had stood as a symbol of the Dai and Zhu families' dominance for generations.
Though the Heaven Dou Empire's royal family was weak, the Star Luo Empire's was anything but. The current Star Luo Emperor, a powerful Titled Douluo, was said to possess martial soul fusion abilities with the Empress—capable of unleashing destructive power unimaginable to ordinary soul masters.
Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan exchanged uneasy glances. This information wasn't in Shrek Academy's records. Yu Tianxin had no reason to lie, given his background as one of the brightest talents of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Thinking about it further, if Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing truly had a martial soul fusion skill, they wouldn't have needed to use it during the qualifiers. It made sense why such a trump card remained unseen.
"Don't worry, Nana, Xie Yue. When we face Shrek Academy, I'll hold Dai Mubai back and ensure they can't activate their martial soul fusion skill!" Yan declared confidently.
Martial soul fusion required time to prepare. If he could interrupt them or prevent them from synchronizing, their trump card would be rendered useless.
"For Nana, I'll stop Dai Mubai no matter the cost!" Yan vowed internally, his resolve unshakable.
He didn't care about the championship rewards, but Hu Liena had to get that soul bone. She was his driving force—the very reason he became a soul master and sought power.
Yan wasn't a sycophant; he was simply deeply devoted. (Or so he told himself.)
The match between Spirit Hall Academy and Thunder Academy began shortly after.
Under the watchful eyes of thousands, both teams took to the stage simultaneously.
No unnecessary words were exchanged. Everything that needed to be said had been said already.
Determined to end the battle quickly and clear the stage for Shrek Academy's match, Hu Liena and her team unleashed their full power right from the start.
The result? Total annihilation of Thunder Academy in less than a minute.
From the stands, Tang San observed Spirit Hall Academy with a pensive expression. Compared to their last match, they had been far more decisive this time, finishing their opponents with brutal efficiency.
"Three Soul Kings… such power…" Tang San muttered, calculating strategies to defeat them.
Ironically, while Tang San meticulously analyzed ways to beat Spirit Hall Academy, Hu Liena and her team were more concerned about defeating Shrek Academy.
Both sides were effectively fighting their own imaginations.
Meanwhile, those aware of Dai Mubai's true strength shook their heads, knowing the outcome was already a foregone conclusion.
In the distance, Qian Daoliu stepped out of the Worship Hall, a rare occurrence. As the guardian of the Angel God's inheritance, he seldom left his post.
Bibi Dong's eyes narrowed in confusion as she watched him.
"What is he up to now? Not guarding his beloved god anymore?"
"Grand Worshipper, is there something you need?" she asked, her tone wary.
"No, nothing at all," Qian Daoliu replied, shaking his head. "Just stepping out to observe the younger generation."
He paused, as if remembering something, and then continued, "…"
(End of Chapter)