"Heh, I don't believe Shrek Academy can be that impressive!"
In the Heaven Dou Soul Arena, a young man with fiery red hair sneered, his tone dripping with disdain.
Four Soul Kings?
Shrek Academy dares claim such prowess?
"Yan, the intel should be accurate. Don't underestimate them," cautioned Xie Yue, a tall, lean young man with a perpetually grim expression. His very demeanor suggested he wasn't someone to be trifled with.
"Xie Yue, that Dugu Yan might be an exception, but the rest? They're only fourteen or fifteen years old. Could anyone at that age possibly break through to the Soul King level?"
Yan's voice carried obvious resentment.
The three of them were considered the strongest among the Spirit Hall's Golden Generation, recognized as peerless geniuses of the century. Even for them, achieving Soul King status had taken considerable effort, well beyond their early teenage years.
At fourteen or fifteen, they were still struggling as Soul Elders.
Examining Shrek Academy's dossier had been a shock. Either the information was falsified, or this team was terrifyingly extraordinary.
"Caution is wise. We cannot afford to lose!"
Xie Yue, though not particularly talkative, held one belief steadfast: Victory. They had to bring glory back to Spirit Hall.
More importantly, there was the championship reward to consider. Losing was simply not an option—failure carried consequences they dared not imagine.
Xie Yue's gaze shifted to Hu Liena. For her future, he would not allow them to lose.
The prize of a 50,000-year-old spirit bone, coupled with the championship title, could significantly bolster Hu Liena's prospects. With a few additional contributions to Spirit Hall, Hu Liena might even be named the next Saintess.
If she ascended to that position, she would be a prime candidate for the next Pope.
Little did Xie Yue know, regardless of Hu Liena's standing, she was never destined to be the next Pope.
"Yes, we cannot lose!"
Hu Liena, with her golden hair, wasn't conventionally stunning, but her allure ran bone-deep. Every move she made exuded a seductive charm.
"Our victory is assured. The power of our Martial Soul Fusion isn't something their numbers can overcome!" Xie Yue declared firmly.
Their Martial Soul Fusion technique was their ultimate trump card, one of the reasons why Spirit Hall placed such high importance on them.
Unlike innate full soul power, Martial Soul Fusions couldn't simply be cultivated. Even among the titled elders of Spirit Hall, duos like Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo, who could perform such fusions, were revered. Their synergy elevated their status to just below the Pope and the Worship Hall's offerings.
For Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan, their Fusion Technique made them invaluable assets.
Behind them stood the other four members of the Golden Generation, positioned tens of meters away. They appeared tense and anxious.
Victory? Expected—they wouldn't be rewarded.
Defeat? The punishment would fall on all of them, with no way to escape.
All members of the Golden Generation had soul power above Level 45, making them geniuses among geniuses. Most captains of other teams couldn't even match the average strength of a Golden Generation member.
Now, their only hope was that the trio before them would lead them to victory and spare them from punishment.
Feeling the pressure of their comrades' gaze, Yan snorted. Ordinarily, he might have reprimanded them, but these were unusual circumstances.
For now, he held his tongue. Their fighting strength would be needed in the upcoming battles.
"The Shrek Academy team isn't here today, but they'll likely come to watch us the day after tomorrow," someone noted.
Each round of the tournament was followed by a day of rest, making tomorrow an off day for all teams.
"Fine, then. Let's give them a proper show!"
"For now, let's keep our Martial Soul Fusion a secret. We'll save it as a surprise!"
To the Golden Generation, Shrek Academy was the only real threat in the entire tournament. The other teams were little more than cannon fodder.
This assumption wasn't entirely incorrect. Aside from Star Luo Royal Academy and the Heaven Dou Empire's seed team, the captains of other squads, like Yu Tianheng, barely matched the average strength of a Golden Generation member.
If Canghui Academy's Seven-in-One Fusion Technique had resurfaced, they might have been a challenge.
Unfortunately, after the preliminary rounds of the tournament, Ning Fengzhi had ensured the eradication of this potential threat.
No one wanted to leave loose ends, especially after Dustheart (Chen Xin) had killed their teacher. Letting those students grow stronger was a risk no one was willing to take.
On the Douluo Continent, talent was abundant, but only those who survived to maturity could be considered true geniuses.
Many prodigies had perished at the claws of soul beasts or the hands of the powerful. They were but fleeting glimmers of brilliance.
"Let's go. With Shrek Academy absent today, these matches are meaningless," Hu Liena remarked dismissively, waving her hand as she walked toward the exit of the Soul Arena.
"To understand your opponent, they must first be worthy of being called one. These others? They're not."
"Understood, Nana!"
Yan quickly followed, his earlier dissatisfaction vanishing. He was eager to please Hu Liena.
Xie Yue watched the interaction, shaking his head. Yan's feelings for Hu Liena were painfully obvious to everyone. While Xie Yue didn't oppose the idea of the two of them pairing up, he knew Hu Liena didn't reciprocate. She saw Yan as nothing more than a brother.
Caught between his sister and his best friend, Xie Yue had given up intervening, leaving the matter to resolve itself.
In moments like these, Xie Yue would either gaze at the sky or study the floor, avoiding the scene altogether.
Yan, despite his impressive looks and powerful Martial Soul, had no shortage of admirers within Spirit Hall. However, his devotion to Hu Liena left him indifferent to other suitors, whom he rejected outright.
Xie Yue shook his head again, silently lamenting Yan's bleak romantic prospects. Perhaps time would eventually soften Hu Liena's heart.
Following the duo, Xie Yue quietly trailed behind them.
The remaining members of the Golden Generation weren't as bold. They stayed behind, silently watching the matches.
The Spirit Arena wasn't far from the Pope's Palace. With her power, Bibi Dong could easily observe the proceedings below.
From her lofty vantage point atop the Sacred Mountain, Bibi Dong had an unobstructed view of Spirit City and the matches taking place.
Bibi Dong was currently...
(End of Chapter)