Why didn't they fly directly into Mingdu, but instead landed a hundred kilometers away?
The reason was simple. Mingdu, the capital of the Sun Moon Empire, was not only the strongest nation on the continent but also a city that had once suffered the humiliation of a foreign army pressing at its gates. Its defensive system was unmatched—if anyone approached recklessly, they would be mistaken for invaders and bombarded by waves of soul tool firepower. Thus, the only safe way was to land a hundred kilometers away. Any closer, and they would enter the range of Mingdu's defensive network.
"Everyone, attention! We've entered Mingdu's sphere. Remember—act low-key, but do things high-profile. Understand?" Zhu Ziyang instructed as the Shrek team touched down.
"Understood!" the group shouted back in unison.
"Good. Let's go!" Zhu Ziyang smiled, satisfied with their response.
With Zhu Ziyang and Ma Xiaotao at the lead, the Shrek Academy team advanced swiftly toward Mingdu.
Before long, they reached it—the Sun Moon Empire's capital, the largest city on the continent.
Mingdu was worthy of its reputation. As the center of soul tool development, it was a dazzlingly modern city, its planning precise and its infrastructure impeccable. Rows of tall buildings were interlinked by metallic towers carrying soul power circuits. Almost every building was equipped with soul power-driven devices. None of the three former Douluo empires could compare to such technological advancement—not even Shrek Academy itself.
"As expected, developing soul tools is the trend of the future," Zhu Ziyang sighed with emotion.
Most of the Shrek students were traditional soul masters, and their views on soul tools ranged from mild skepticism to outright rejection. Yet here, faced with the Sun Moon Empire's thriving technology, they couldn't help but feel shaken in their beliefs.
"Come on, to the hotel," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile.
According to the rules, all participating teams had to report to Mingdu's city defense office upon arrival to confirm their registration. The Sun Moon Empire would then provide food and lodging, free of charge, for all teams.
But Shrek Academy was different. As the reigning champions, they enjoyed privileges. They could bypass the formalities and go straight to their accommodations.
In truth, the moment Shrek's group entered Mingdu, their presence had already been noted by sharp-eyed observers and reported directly to a desk in the Imperial Palace.
The hotel arranged by the Sun Moon Empire to host the tournament participants was called the Mingyue Hotel. Located in the very center of Mingdu, it was an eight-story building of pure silver-white metal, gleaming with a unique texture. It was one of the city's finest establishments—proof of how seriously the empire treated the tournament.
Zhu Ziyang and Ma Xiaotao led their team of over a dozen students into the hotel lobby. The moment they stepped inside, all eyes turned toward them.
The lobby was crowded with more than a hundred people from other competing teams. When the Shrek group appeared, conversations halted, and the room fell into silence.
Gazes filled with admiration, awe, hostility, or burning curiosity locked onto them. Everyone immediately recognized them—Shrek Academy!
The Shrek team ignored the stares. They had long since decided not to hide their identity, and each of them wore the academy's signature uniform. It might have seemed contradictory to Zhu Ziyang's earlier instruction to "stay low-key," but Shrek never concealed its pride.
At that moment, a tall young woman in a silver gown approached them. Her figure was elegant, her features striking, and her demeanor graceful. With a warm smile, she radiated charm and refinement.
"Honored guests from Shrek Academy, welcome to the Mingyue Hotel," she said, her voice melodious. "I am Yan'er, the floor supervisor. From today onward, I'll be responsible for your stay. Please, follow me."
"Lead the way," Zhu Ziyang replied calmly.
Yan'er guided them upstairs. As soon as the Shrek group disappeared, the silence in the lobby shattered, replaced by a storm of chatter.
"So that's the Shrek team? They all look terrifyingly strong!"
"Could one of them be the legendary Zhu Ziyang? Is it true he has six hundred-thousand-year soul rings?"
"Hah! I don't believe it. He's just a commoner from an academy. I, Sun Zifu of the Overlord Sect, will show him what a true soul master is!"
"Shrek Academy… hmph!"
"That team leader was so handsome! I think he just stole my heart…"
"Damn, are those Shrek girls real? A fiery queen, a proud beauty, a doll-faced cutie—ahh, I'd sell my soul to spend a night with them!"
In one corner, among the teams from ordinary academies, a delicate young girl spotted the Shrek students. Her face lit up with excitement, and she was about to shout when a woman in her twenties covered her mouth quickly.
"Zhenzhen, don't shout!" the woman whispered. "You'll draw too much attention!"
The girl was Yang Zhenzhen, and the team was none other than the Frand City Advanced Soul Master Academy squad.
"O-okay!" Yang Zhenzhen nodded sheepishly once her senior released her.
The young woman added, "I know your brother and sister are in Shrek's team, but we can find them later. Don't make a scene here in the lobby."
"Hehe, I know. I was just too excited," Yang Zhenzhen admitted, rubbing the back of her head.
While the lobby bustled with gossip and excitement, Zhu Ziyang's group followed Yan'er to the top floor of the hotel.
The top floor had only two suites—the Imperial Suites, the finest rooms in the entire hotel. One of them was reserved for Shrek Academy's team. The other, naturally, belonged to the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy's representatives.
As Zhu Ziyang's team arrived, they happened to cross paths with the Sun Moon Academy's delegation coming downstairs.
Among them were the siblings Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, the team's captain and vice-captain. When the two groups encountered each other, they exchanged only cold, hostile looks. Fortunately, no conflict erupted.
Still, from the way Meng Hongchen glanced at Zhu Ziyang, reluctant to look away, it was clear she wasn't eager to leave. She clearly wanted to say something to him.
Finally, the Shrek team entered their Imperial Suite. As the acting leader, Ma Xiaotao immediately began arranging the rooms. The suite had ten bedrooms in total—one master room with an oversized bed and nine others with two large beds each.
The assignments were straightforward:
Zhu Ziyang took the master bedroom.
Ma Xiaotao shared with Wu Huan'er.
Jiang Nannan with Qian Lingyi.
Ning Tian with Wu Feng.
Chu Hua with Zhu Lu.
The Lan sisters, Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo, together.
Dai Huabin with Zhou Tianhe.
Xie Huanyue with Cao Jinxuan.
Everyone settled in without complaint.
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Here are the chapters for today (づ￣3￣)づ╭～
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