In the boundless depths of the clouds, within an ancient and rustic castle...
Two middle-aged men exchanged glances, eyes filled with confusion, clearly clueless about the divine decree that had just descended.
"Big Brother, what does he mean? I didn't understand a single word," the short-haired burly man asked, his face full of doubt.
"How should I know?" the long-haired man waved his hand, equally bewildered. "What does he mean by 'a newly risen powerhouse'? Since when do strong individuals just suddenly pop up?"
"So, what do we do now?" the short-haired man scratched his head.
"Wait," the long-haired man spread his hands. "I think he'll give us more instructions later. He wouldn't just leave us with something so vague and expect us to act on it."
——
The next morning, Zhu Ziyang awoke from his dreams, feeling as if everything had changed overnight.
The first Death God Trial required him to eliminate someone who had wrongfully taken on the title of Death God, and who possessed power equivalent to or beyond six soul rings. That meant any soul master or soul beast with "Death God" in their title could be a valid target. Such individuals weren't hard to find, especially considering how rampant evil soul masters were across the continent — and that name carried an enticing weight among them.
Zhu Ziyang decided he would begin his journey across the continent after the Soul Master Tournament ended, using the opportunity to complete his divine trial.
In the Inner Court's dining hall, the Shrek main team had gathered.
"Ziyang, Nannan said you broke through to Soul Emperor?" Ma Xiaotao's eyes were filled with shock and joy.
"Mmhm," Zhu Ziyang smiled and nodded. "I just absorbed my sixth soul ring yesterday. My soul power is now at Rank 63."
"Rank 63!" Dai Yueheng was visibly shocked, tension flashing across his handsome face. "Ziyang, you're insane. How are us older folks supposed to keep living?"
"Hehe, Yueheng, are you scared? Afraid Ziyang will steal your thunder?" Gongyang Mo teased in his usual gentle and sarcastic tone.
"Shut up!" Dai Yueheng's face darkened. He snapped, "Say one more word like that and I'll shave every inch of wool off your body!"
Gongyang Mo flinched from Dai Yueheng's pressure and instinctively leaned closer to Ma Xiaotao. "Xiaotao, look at Yueheng — he's threatening me!"
"Ugh..." Ma Xiaotao's expression turned sour, but as the team captain, she had to tolerate everyone's personalities. She said, "Gongyang Mo, rein it in. Don't make me lose my patience with you too."
"Alright..." Gongyang Mo quickly withdrew his flamboyant gestures and sat upright.
"With Ziyang joining, we now have three Soul Emperors," Ling Luochen commented in her usual cold tone. However, everyone noticed something different in her voice today. "Shouldn't we rethink our strategy?"
"Rethink what?" Ma Xiaotao rejected her suggestion flatly. "Ziyang, Yueheng, and I will still lead the offense. Zifeng and Nannan will support. You and Gongyang Mo stay in the control and support roles. Nothing needs to change."
"I agree with Xiaotao," Dai Yueheng echoed.
Ling Luochen's face remained blank, but a flicker of dissatisfaction flashed in her eyes. She didn't argue further.
Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan silently observed the interaction. Both felt somewhat helpless. Even though they held high positions in the Inner Court, they didn't have much authority within the team — mainly due to their age and the fact that they weren't part of the original roster. They were technically "late additions."
Chen Zifeng remained his usual silent self. Like his martial soul, he was like a sword — quiet, cold, and filled with killing intent. He always obeyed Ma Xiaotao's commands.
"I think it's too early to discuss tactics right now," Zhu Ziyang finally spoke, breaking the heavy atmosphere. "The final say isn't even ours, but in the hands of the supervising teacher."
"Ziyang's right. Talking about this now is kind of jumping the gun," Gongyang Mo chimed in. "Xiaotao, you're the captain — do we know which teacher will be leading us this year?"
"No news yet," Ma Xiaotao replied, her tone softening. "But it's probably one of the usual teachers. It's not impossible that Sister Lexuan might lead us either."
"That's true," Ling Luochen said blankly.
"That's not likely," Jiang Nannan shook her head. "Sister Lexuan left the academy this morning. She probably won't return for another three or four months."
"Huh? Why? Is she on a mission?" Zhu Ziyang asked, surprised.
"She didn't say," Jiang Nannan replied, her expression laced with helplessness. "But judging by her face when she left, it seemed serious."
The atmosphere turned cold again. Everyone quietly finished their meal and went their separate ways.
"Sigh... Brother, doesn't it feel like our main team isn't as united as Sister Lexuan claimed?" Jiang Nannan said, walking beside Zhu Ziyang, her face tinged with worry. "With our current state, can we really win the championship? Sister Lexuan said the Sun Moon Empire has a terrifying new figure this year!"
"Heh. Even if you don't trust the others, surely you trust me?" Zhu Ziyang grinned and pinched her cheek. "Your brother is a big deal too, you know!"
"Aiya! You know that's not what I meant!" Jiang Nannan huffed in frustration.
"Yes, yes, I know what you meant," Zhu Ziyang laughed. "But people are people — everyone has their own thoughts. You and I can't control how they think. We just have to take it one step at a time. As the saying goes, 'When the boat reaches the bridge, it'll naturally straighten.' We just have to do our part."
"Alright..." Jiang Nannan sighed and shrugged.
Their generation's Shrek main team was undoubtedly one of the strongest in the academy's history. Captain Ma Xiaotao, Fire Phoenix Martial Soul, Rank 69 Soul Emperor; Vice Captain Dai Yueheng, White Tiger Martial Soul, Rank 65 Soul Emperor; other members included Zhu Ziyang (Rank 63 Soul Emperor), Gongyang Mo (Rank 59 Soul King), Chen Zifeng (Rank 59 Soul King), Ling Luochen (Rank 57 Soul King), and Jiang Nannan (Rank 55 Soul King).
Despite such impressive strength, the team dynamic was fractured. Bonds between members were weak, the captain and vice captain barely got along, and there were clear conflicts between the captain and some members. Were it not for their status as Shrek Inner Court elites, the team would have fallen apart long ago.
Zhu Ziyang had no intention of trying to fix the team. Besides himself and Jiang Nannan, the others were only participating in this one and only tournament. Next year, he would rebuild the team from scratch — under his full control. Why waste energy mending something that's already broken?
At most, three more months. The team would dissolve, and everyone would be free. No need to stir up drama in these final days.
As the two approached the Golden Ancient Tree, they happened to run into Cai Meier and Xian Lin'er. The two deans of Shrek Academy — both Super Douluo-level powerhouses — were currently in a heated argument. When they noticed Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan's arrival, they calmed down a bit, but still refused to back down.
"Senior Sister, Junior Sister, what's going on?" Zhu Ziyang asked curiously.
"Junior Brother, you're just in time! Tell me, how is Meier doing business like this?!" Xian Lin'er exclaimed, hands on her hips, clearly angry.
"I don't care!" Cai Meier retorted without hesitation. "Even if the Headmaster shows up today, your Soul Tool Department must provide thirty more stationary soul cannon shells, or I'm not letting him go!"
Zhu Ziyang instantly understood. The cause of the argument must've been Huo Yuhao revealing his second martial soul — Cai Meier likely felt short-changed and was trying to make up for it.
"Thirty more?! Meier, don't be so greedy!" Xian Lin'er looked at her in disbelief.
"Lin'er, I'm already being reasonable!" Cai Meier said firmly. "That student has twin martial souls, and from what I know, he's also the target of your department's Ultimate Soldier Project. This price is already fair!"
Seeing the two about to explode again, Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan exchanged looks and quickly slipped past them, fleeing the scene as fast as they could. When women argued, it was best to stay far, far away.
Didn't they see Qian Duoduo hiding up in the tree branches as well?
(End of Chapter)
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