"Two versus one?"
"Holy, this will be a show! That Gu Yuena girl isn't simple, actually planning to take on both! Senior Sister's the Vice Dean of Martial Soul, not just by status and connections."
"And Sister Xiaotao—is basically number one in the inner court. Since Lexuan graduated, she's been champion, and even many inner court teachers can't last three rounds against her."
"I just love watching women fight."
"This isn't hair-pulling or neck-scratching. If they really go all out, the whole Sea God Lake might get boiled dry."
"To have goddesses fighting for me, I could die happy."
"Envy Little Lord's life every day."
"Ow, ow..."
"Whose life do you envy?"
"My own! That I get to date a goddess like you," Chu Qingtian pouted, gritting his teeth from pain as Wu Ming let him go.
"Hmph!" Wu Ming snorted, then looked ahead and cheered, "Senpai! Go for it!"
"You're pretty popular in the inner court," Gu Yuena said quietly.
"It's nothing," Zhang Lexuan answered, though her eyes grew more serious, standing across from Ma Xiaotao.
The academy granted permission for the duel and started clearing the area. The Sea God's Fate event had sped through the boys' reverse selection and now left the lake empty for the trio.
While most had gotten their love interests, all stood watching at the shore waiting for the battle.
After all, spring nights are precious, but watching three top beauties—young, gifted—was a visual feast.
At this moment, the three stopped hiding their power.
BOOM!
With a roar of fire, blazing wings sprouted from Ma Xiaotao's back, a mighty fire phoenix materializing behind her. Flames curled all around, the lake boiling and bubbling from the heat.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, red.
A Soul Douluo's power, vividly on display.
But even more terrifying was her top-tier Phoenix Martial Soul.
"Ultimate Fire!" someone gasped.
"Xiaotao can completely suppress her evil fire now?"
"She's been able to since the last tournament, thanks to Little Lord's Ultimate Ice helping her clear it. More shocking, though, is that her Phoenix seems to have evolved again."
"Same fire attribute—I used to be evenly matched. Now, I feel suppressed by her soul—like I want to kneel! Her fire is the fire of kings."
Zhang Lexuan grew serious, as the night seemed to brighten all at once.
As if the moon itself bent to her.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, red, red.
Nine soul rings lifted from her feet.
Especially the two eerily red hundred-thousand-year soul rings, which made all the inner court students' pupils shrink.
Silvery moonlight bathed her white skirt and gentle face; like a fairy in the moonlight, she had a unique charm that made all the men sigh.
No wonder Lexuan was the heartthrob of the inner court.
Su Wen's eyes on her were soft as well.
Ever since sacrificing the Yearning Heartbroken Red for her ninth ring, Senior Sister had only grown even more graceful and serene.
"Not bad—this is interesting." Gu Yuena smiled, but unlike before, didn't summon her Silver Dragon true form. Her purple gaze flickered at Su Wen, lips curving, "Wash up and wait for me tonight…"
Su Wen: "..."
A terrifying aura suddenly erupted.
Black, black, black, black, black, red, red, red, red.
Nine soul rings lifted from the floor.
But these were truly intimidating.
The inner court students stared, slack-jawed.
"Are you… cheating?" Ma Xiaotao's mouth twitched, stunned.
Even if her power was capped at Titled Douluo, those soul rings were another matter.
She was really going all out to win, no matter the cost.
"Heh. Don't say I'm bullying you. In the future, even if you become a god, you'll be a mere Fire God—first-class, nothing more. But I? I climb to Dragon God—perhaps even higher.
Then too, you'll be at my mercy.
So really, this is the fairest fight you'll ever get. Victory is closer than you'll ever have again."
Gu Yuena spoke plainly.
All her Silver Dragon pride was bare—this was her true nature. Other than Su Wen, she treated everyone—especially rivals—with cold arrogance.
"Fine, then let's fight," Ma Xiaotao took a deep breath.
"Senpai, I'm going in!"
With that, she soared skyward, her great wings fanning endless fire, charging straight at Gu Yuena.
"Seventh Soul Skill—Silver Moon True Form!"
"Eighth Soul Skill—Blood Moon!"
"Sixth Soul Skill—Falling Moon!"
Zhang Lexuan followed close behind, as if she'd entered the full moon. The moonlight fell on Ma Xiaotao, boosting her, as the moon in the sky turned blood red.
Heaven and earth changed color; beams of blood-red radiance rained down on Gu Yuena.
"Not bad..."
Gu Yuena grinned, "Now this is a real rival!"
Her purple eyes tracked Ma Xiaotao advancing on the waves of fire, and Zhang Lexuan amplifying her from the sky.
"Let's play, then."
The delicate girl smiled, lifting a pale hand.
"Water!"
As soon as the word fell—
Her first jet-black soul ring flashed underfoot.
The entire lake churned, transforming into a roaring water dragon which blocked Ma Xiaotao's path.
BOOM!!!
A huge blast shook the lake.
The moment they clashed, Ma Xiaotao's face froze in shock, "No… this is… Ultimate Water!"
"Elemental control—this is nuts!"
"As the Silver Dragon, I am the incarnation of the Dragon God, master of the oldest elemental authority. Even the so-called Elemental Gods above are 'false gods'—once I reclaim my seat as Dragon God, their paltry power will be stripped away!" Gu Yuena said coldly.
It explained everything.
Silver Dragon, lord of elements. Pulling off Ultimate Water was just basic.
In the next instant—
Ma Xiaotao stood motionless in the air.
"Second Soul Skill—Fire!"
Gu Yuena opened her red lips, and flames erupted in the sky—an ascending fire dragon, casting red light bright as dawn.
On the other side was Ma Xiaotao's Phoenix Flame.
Dragon and Phoenix,
wrestling in the air.
And this fire... was also Ultimate Fire, the world's purest flame, with a touch of draconic might. It fought Ma Xiaotao's fully evolved Phoenix, blow for blow.
"So monstrous…" a student gawked.
"She's only seventeen?!!"
"Are you an idiot? Anyone can tell she's abnormal. This aura's like a true dragon snuck in. Shouldn't the academy deal with that?"
"For what? Little Lord's here! Let him handle a real dragon romance."
"Never heard of a human being chased by a dragon before this."
"Plays need logic—real life doesn't."
While everyone gawked at Gu Yuena's unrivaled strength, Su Wen sighed.
"Who do you think will win?" Yan Shaozhe appeared next to him.
"Without a doubt," Su Wen said.
"Gu Yuena."
"No suspense?" Yan Shaozhe asked, brows raised.
"None!" Su Wen was definite.
"The Silver Dragon King is way beyond standard. Even capped at Titled Douluo, or even Soul Douluo, Lexuan and Xiaotao have little hope."
"That overpowered?" Yan Shaozhe was shocked, but trusted Su Wen's word.
"God-level…" Su Wen nodded.
In the original story, Gu Yuena (and Na'er) was Silver Dragon King in human form. Although her blood carried the dragon's power, she was nothing like this current form.
Now Gu Yuena kept her dragon body, human in shape but technically still a dragon, like Ditian.
She truly was a god.
Gods at Titled Douluo level—could humans even compare?
Her command of elemental rules—her understanding and skill—were all at god stage.
"Hmm." Yan Shaozhe's expression turned odd.
He glanced at Su Wen.
That's the Silver Dragon King.
A mythical being from legend.
You actually wooed her—and now she's fighting for you in Shrek Academy, obeying the rules you set up.
Even a romantic like me is jealous.
"Moon—Arrow of the Goddess of Love!"
Finally, Zhang Lexuan grew utterly serious. She wasn't about to be sidelined in this fight for her man. God or not, she wouldn't back down.
Her last crimson soul ring blazed.
Lexuan raised a silver-white bow—like a sliver of moonlight itself. This was her ninth skill: the hundred-thousand-year soul ring granted by the sacrifice of the Yearning Heartbroken Red.
She drew back her fingers, a pinkish arrow forming between them, leveling it at Gu Yuena.
"Oh?" Gu Yuena's brows arched, surprise flashing in her eyes.
"There's a trace of Goddess of Love's divine power. Is this the Yearning Heartbroken Red's effect?"
"That one may have fallen, but even now, her divine power still influences this land."
"But…"
A smile played on her lips.
"It has no effect on me."
"You don't know till you try!" Lexuan shouted, letting fly.
The arrow—a streak of silver and pink—whistled at Gu Yuena, leaving a tail ribbon behind.
"So powerful!"
"This is Senior Sister's true strength?"
"No wonder the Academy made her Martial Soul Vice Dean—she's near the power of the elders."
At Sea God Lake's edge, the inner court buzzed.
And within the boats on the lake, the elders watched intently.
"Think you could block this attack?" Elder Song narrowed his eyes at Elder Lin.
"I'm not even a Super Douluo—how would I block it?" Elder Lin cackled.
"Shouldn't you answer instead?"
"I could block it, but it'd hurt—and this move can lock on, so I'd have to take it head on." Song answered honestly.
"Time to think about making Lexuan a Sea God Pavilion member."
"Shrek honors the strong. Little Wen joined the Pavilion—why not Lexuan?"
"Hahaha, are we playing favorites?"
"Yunzhi's right." Mu En finally spoke, pride shining in his gaze as he watched the glorious duel.
"Shrek Academy… never lacking in talent."
"Heh." Gu Yuena smiled faintly.
The love arrow's shrieking power was immense, but she simply raised a hand.
Before everyone's eyes.
As the arrow exploded forward, she snapped her fingers.
Suddenly, the space in front of her seemed to cave in—shattering.
Deep black cracks opened, as if space itself was broken. The arrow flew into the rift and disappeared.
Snap! The Silver Dragon King snapped again.
The cracks faded and vanished.
Everything seemed unchanged.
Seeing everyone stunned, Gu Yuena smiled.
"Seventh soul ring: Space."
At the same time—
Snap!
Su Wen covered his face. "Dead. I'm dead. I'm gonna be sucked dry…"
….
"Tang Monk's flesh" is a reference to Journey to the West, meaning "extremely coveted."