After wandering through Nine Treasures Pavilion the entire night, Wang Yan and the others didn't leave empty-handed. Almost everyone purchased one or two suitable soul guidance devices—just in case they were needed mid-battle.
Even Ma Xiaotao and the others had secretly planned a little surprise for the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy—something to make them blink in awe.
Meanwhile, Chen Junting and Ning Tian emerged from the tea chamber after finalizing arrangements with Tai Yu. On their way out, they happened to encounter Wang Dong, who had been separated from the group. Seeing his gloomy expression, Ning Tian dismissed the staff and gently asked what was wrong.
Faced with Ning Tian's tenderness and Chen Junting's quiet concern…
Wang Dong's bottled-up frustration finally spilled over.
He spoke of his inexplicable aversion to soul guidance devices—how he wanted to use them, yet somehow his own mind would reflexively block him.
The strange, contradictory behavior left Ning Tian bewildered.
Had she not known he was serious, she'd have assumed this was just a childish tantrum disguised as whimsy.
"Xiao Tian, do you think… I'm sick?" Wang Dong asked, voice trembling, eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"Enough," Ning Tian said softly, handing him a silk handkerchief. "Look at you—you're going to turn into a teary-eyed panda."
"Xiao Tian, I'm a boy."
Wang Dong took the handkerchief, blushing furiously as he protested.
But Ning Tian only smiled, saying nothing. Her gaze drifted to Chen Junting, puzzled by his silence. Unbeknownst to her, Chen Junting had just been consulting Electrolux within his Spirit Sea, seeking insight into Wang Dong's condition. He could guess it was Tang San's doing—but the precise mechanism remained unclear.
Besides, Wang Dong could use some soul guidance devices—storage and flight devices, for instance. So why did he freeze up around others?
Then came the answer—utterly baffling.
Tang San's divine consciousness had subtly implanted this directive into Wang Dong's psyche: You may use soul guidance devices… but you must not accept their common usage.
And yet, this influence was not immutable.
Like someone genetically predisposed to hate cilantro—though they recoil at the smell, they can force themselves to eat it. It's painful at first, but change is possible.
So Chen Junting told Wang Dong:
"You have Wang Dong Syndrome."
"What kind of ridiculous name is that?!"
Wang Dong's sadness vanished instantly.
All he could do was protest against the absurdity of the term.
"Protest denied."
Chen Junting ignored his sullen glare and calmly explained: "Since your condition is the first of its kind on the continent, it's only fitting to name it after you."
"How… unflattering."
Wang Dong muttered under his breath. He loathed this whole situation.
It felt like he was isolating himself—cutting off a part of his own potential.
His gaze hardened, resolute, as if a quiet light had ignited within him.
"So, Brother Junting—is there really a cure?" He looked up, earnest. "I don't want to be the only one standing there with bare hands while everyone else fights with soul guidance devices. I don't want to fall behind. You all just said it—true strength comes from combining soul masters with soul guidance devices, right?!"
"Since you've decided yourself, then let it be as you wish."
Seeing that Wang Dong came to him himself, Dust Lord Pavilion didn't mind tripping up Tang San a little. After all, given Tang Wutong's situation in the future, the less Wang Dong was influenced by Tang San, the more successful he would be.
"Your condition is psychological. To overcome it, here's my method: Sleep with a soul guidance device. Every night. Hold it. Feel it. Let it become part of your dreams."
…
The next morning, the Shrek Team arrived at Star Luo Plaza. The second round of the round-robin was about to begin—and their opponent? Qianling Senior Soul Master Academy.
Today, they would face their first Soul King.
Shen Ce.
His martial soul—the Thousand Strike Spear—was every bit as formidable as Chen Zifeng's Soulchasing Sword.
Meanwhile, as referee Cheng Gang announced the draw for the two academies, Chen Junting walked calmly onto the dueling platform and met Shen Ce face-to-face. Their aura—sharp, focused, unwavering—felt almost identical.
Soon, the draw results were revealed.
Under the eyes of the entire crowd, Cheng Gang lifted a red ball.
"Group One, Second Round—Team Battle."
The moment "Team Battle" echoed through the arena, Shen Ce's expression darkened. Their team strategy was powerful—but its weaknesses were glaring. And in the eyes of the Shrek Team, those weaknesses wouldn't just be obvious—they'd be exploited to the extreme.
But Chen Junting remained calm.
This silence, however, sent a thrill through the Inner Academy members who had yet to step onto the field. Today was their turn.
"True," Chen Junting mused, glancing over the four senior students, "but according to the rules, only one of you can fight."
"Then it's me," Chen Zifeng stepped forward without hesitation.
The next second, Gongyang Mo shoved him aside. "Get lost. If you're going, it's better if Little Brother Chen goes himself—you can't even beat him. Little Brother Chen, how about you consider me?"
He turned to the Outer Academy students with a grin. "Look—just add me and Ning Tian as support, and your remaining five? We'd crush them. Isn't that tempting?"
…
Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi exchanged glances.
To be honest…
It was tempting.
"Hey! Do you two even know what 'ladies first' means?!"
Xi Xi shoved Gongyang Mo aside with a scowl. "Besides, there'll be more chances later. Why fight over this one?"
But Chen Zifeng fired back instantly.
"Then why are you fighting for it?"
"Because I want to fight now!"
Her answer was so bold, it left Chen Zifeng momentarily speechless. Beside her, Ling Luocheng said nothing—but her gaze burned with quiet determination.
"Teacher Wang—what do you think?"
Seeing the argument stall, all four turned to Wang Yan.
But he simply shifted his gaze—toward Chen Junting.
If it were about strategy, he'd have no trouble.
But this? This was a battlefield of egos—and he was utterly lost.
Chen Junting, however, handled it with effortless efficiency.
"Fine," he announced. "We draw lots. Luck decides who fights."
And so, when referee Cheng Gang called, "Both academies, take the field…"
"Everyone—I'll fight for all of you."
With a serene smile, Xi Xi stepped forward onto the dueling platform.
The final lineup?
Inner Academy: One—Xi Xi.
Outer Academy: Six—Chen Junting, Ning Tian, Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, and Huo Yuhao.
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