Douluo: In an extraordinary world, with unparallel understanding!

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******

It must be said, Jing Hongchen's talent for strategy is exceptional. 

The conflicts and risks associated with the sensitive Dou Armor technology were minimized under his meticulous planning. 

"Next!" 

Huo Yuhao's battle lasted a full half-hour. Including the earlier matches involving Shi Xing and Zhou Xinghao, it wasn't long after Huo Yuhao's fight ended that Xiao Ping completed his hour-long rest. 

"Xiao Ping versus Jing Ziyan." 

"." 

This tournament stretched over two full days. 

Xiao Ping and his two teammates took turns stepping onto the stage, thoroughly defeating every sixth-year student and even those who had extended their graduation period. 

Their abilities were showcased in every conceivable way. 

The results proved that Ji Juechen was a unique anomaly—he was the only one to secure a victory in the tournament, achieving a one-against-three win. 

Ultimately, there were no deductions from their rewards. After all, the three didn't hold back, fought to the best of their abilities, and no stipulations about deducting rewards were mentioned at the outset. 

The overwhelming power of Dou Armor left a deep impression on the minds of every teacher and student at Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy. 

*Dou Armor Masters.* 

Thanks to Jing Hongchen's arrangements, the concept of Dou Armor Masters began circulating among them. 

At the same time, Jing Hongchen skillfully controlled public opinion. Discussions about Dou Armor Masters as a future branch of soul engineers—a perfect fusion of the soul engineer and soul master systems—continued endlessly. 

"Do you know why I called you here?" 

The thirty students and three teachers exchanged glances. Even those harboring guilt feigned confusion, wearing expressions of complete innocence. 

"No idea, Hall Master," someone replied. 

Jing Hongchen looked at their performance and sneered coldly. 

"Who among you is a spy? Confess now. If the Sun-Moon Hall catches you, your fate will be far worse." 

"Of course, some of you may be wrongly accused. However, I'm certain there are many spies among you. Step forward voluntarily." 

"No one? Very well. For the time being, all of you will be confined to this area to rest and study. Bear with it until the end of the tournament." 

"I understand this may feel unfair to some of you. Rest assured, appropriate compensation will follow after the tournament." 

"." 

After the competition, Jing Hongchen gathered all the suspected spies to prevent the tournament lineup's abilities from being leaked. 

Some might slip through the cracks, but he planned to monitor everything strictly over the next month. 

Those who managed to avoid detection would undoubtedly be the most deeply hidden. However, any attempt to pass along information within this month would expose them. 

By isolating all suspects and planting enough informants throughout Sun Moon Royal Academy and even Sun-Moon Hall, Jing Hongchen returned to his office. 

Waiting for him there were the fourteen members of the main and reserve teams, who had already been standing by for some time.

"How was it? You must have gained something from the battles over the past two days, right?" Jing Hongchen asked.

His question wasn't directed solely at Xiao Ping and his two teammates but also included the seven members of the reserve team and Su Yu's group of four.

Xiao Ping and his teammates nodded repeatedly, clearly having learned a lot during the continuous battles of the past two days. 

The traditional combat methods of soul engineers seemed less compatible when applied to Dou Armor Masters. Instead, the battle techniques of soul masters proved to be a better fit. 

Of course, Zhou Xinghao was an exception—he seamlessly integrated the older system, functioning as a soul engineer artillery platform among Dou Armor Masters. Over the past two days, his biggest improvement was in his proficiency with soul cannons, gaining valuable combat experience.

Huo Yuhao also stepped onto the battlefield once, directly facing Ji Juechen. Their fight left him with significant insights. 

When it came to battle experience, Huo Yuhao wasn't lacking. Unlike others, he never held the belief that soul engineers were superior. His understanding of combat was never restricted by the limitations of soul engineering techniques. 

Su Yu, Xiao Hongchen, and Meng Hongchen all nodded as well, indicating that they had gained valuable experience. 

Jing Hongchen turned his attention to the seven members of the reserve team. 

"What about you? Summarize the areas where the three of them fell short during these two days and submit your analysis to me. Over the next month, I'll focus their training on those points. You seven won't be left behind either—you'll join the special training sessions." 

The transformation of soul engineers would start with the reserve team. 

For the next month, Xiao Ping and his teammates began a systematic training program. 

Su Yu's group of four had already surpassed the training benchmarks, making them unsuitable as models for large-scale replication. On the other hand, Xiao Ping's team provided valuable examples for future training programs. This special training would lay the foundation for Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy and Sun-Moon Hall to cultivate future Dou Armor Masters. 

Meanwhile, Su Yu returned to his workshop and resumed designing the core array of his Dou Armor. 

The battles over the past two days had allowed him to relax his tense thoughts. Returning to his research, inspiration surged, and he threw himself back into the design process. 

Ji Juechen stood in an open area, glancing around in confusion. 

"Where should I even start looking for Huo Yuhao?" 

Whether in the academy or Sun-Moon Hall, Ji Juechen knew few people who were familiar with Huo Yuhao, leaving him with no leads on his whereabouts. 

---

"Finally, the Saint Soul Grass is showing progress." 

As per his routine, Su Yu checked on the Saint Soul Grass and noticed some changes. 

Sure enough, under conditions that met its growth requirements, the condition of the Necromantic Saint Soul Grass had started to improve. 

Within the dense death energy, a faint yet vibrant glow of life began to emerge. 

Guided by the seventh-level soul tool planter, even this necromantic plant began to develop a semblance of vitality. 

"Still, this level of vitality is far too little." 

Su Yu adjusted the operation of the soul tool array to a higher level, allowing more life energy to flow through the planter and into the roots of the Saint Soul Grass. 

---

Time passed in the blink of an eye. 

Twenty days later. 

The Soul Master Tournament was about to be held in Sun-Moon, the capital of the Sun Moon Empire. Some teams had already set out early. 

The venue in Sun-Moon had long been completed, with only the final preparations and clean-up remaining. 

Sun-Moon, already a bustling metropolis, saw an influx of people, making it even livelier. 

Thanks to careful planning, the city didn't become overcrowded despite the massive influx of visitors. 

Only the largest hotels closest to the competition venue were fully booked. 

---

*Shrek Academy, Inner Court.*

Yan Shaozhe looked at the faces in front of him and gave a solemn reminder. 

"Everyone, the honor of Shrek rests on your shoulders." 

His gaze softened as it landed on a young woman with a cold yet elegant demeanor. 

Su Tong—she was Shrek's trump card. 

Not long ago, she had finally broken through to the seventieth rank and, under Yan Shaozhe's guidance, acquired a seventy-thousand-year soul ring. 

"Yes, sir!" 

The resounding reply echoed throughout the hall. Everyone present understood the weight of the responsibility they carried. 

The defeat in the last Soul Master Tournament had shattered Shrek's millennia-long glory. It was now up to them to reclaim it. 

Among the twenty-eight people present, at least ten had been training diligently for the past five years, all for this very moment—to restore Shrek's honor in the upcoming tournament. 

Falling wasn't the issue; what mattered was standing back up. 

Seeing their determined expressions, Yan Shaozhe's face revealed a satisfied smile. He was deeply moved by the spirit these students embodied. 

This was the essence of Shrek. 

---

"For this tournament, sects are also allowed to send their own teams. As the leader of the Tang Sect, Tang Ya will naturally head the Tang Sect team, with Bei Bei serving as the strategist. Shrek's team, on the other hand, will be led by Su Tong," Yan Shaozhe explained the arrangements for the upcoming tournament. 

Having learned from the previous failure, this time, the team would avoid unnecessary conflicts with evil soul masters during their journey. 

Yan Shaozhe himself would accompany the team, while Xuan Zi would follow in secret. However, he wouldn't act as their ultimate fallback. 

After all, relying on him as their trump card could end up backfiring. 

In addition to Yan Shaozhe, another heavyweight figure would be joining the delegation—the two deans of the Soul Engineering Department. 

After Xian Lin'er's "death," Qian Duoduo had taken over as the department's dean, while Fan Yu had been promoted to vice dean upon his return to the academy. 

Both of them would accompany the team to Sun-Moon, using the opportunity to study the advanced soul tools of the Sun Moon Empire. 

Their previous visit to Sun-Moon had given them a basic understanding of the Sun Moon Empire's soul tool advancements and the disparity between the two sides. 

To close the gap quickly, they knew they had to learn—if not openly, then by stealth. 

---

"Old Qian, you need to be cautious this time," Yan Shaozhe warned Qian Duoduo. "You've just been promoted to a rank-nine soul engineer. Although we've kept the news under wraps, we can't rule out the possibility that Sun-Moon Hall might try to detain you again, just like last time." 

The relationship between the two had never been good, but recently, it had eased considerably. 

There was no other choice. With the introduction of soul tools, the strength of many students from the Martial Soul Department had undergone a qualitative transformation. 

In the team, the only two Soul Kings, after adapting to their new set of fifth-level soul tools, could now unleash power comparable to Shrek's Soul Emperors. 

Even Yan Shaozhe had to admit that soul tools significantly boosted the strength of soul masters. 

Especially now that Qian Duoduo had unlocked the key to ninth-level soul tool theories and successfully crafted ninth-level soul tools, which were powerful enough to affect even Titled Douluos. This advancement meant such tools were no longer exclusive to the Sun Moon Empire. Yan Shaozhe, who had previously disdained soul tools, could no longer ignore their value. 

At the end of the day, it was all about utility. 

---

"How about leaving Fan Yu behind?" Yan Shaozhe suggested. "With your techniques, as long as his soul power breaks through to the Titled Douluo level, reaching the ninth-level soul engineer rank shouldn't be a problem. It would serve as an insurance policy." 

Qian Duoduo shook his head, rejecting the idea outright. 

"Our gap with the Sun Moon Empire is far too wide. Fan Yu's talent is exceptional—he's even more gifted than I am. With both of us together, we can take advantage of this opportunity to learn as much as possible." 

As for the so-called dangers? 

After this Soul Master Tournament, the continent would soon plunge into an era of true chaos. 

If the development of soul tools couldn't keep up, the three nations of Douluo would have no chance at all. 

Yan Shaozhe fell silent, no longer insisting on leaving Fan Yu behind. 

He understood. Without early advancements in technology, keeping Fan Yu back would mean little. 

There weren't many Titled Douluos to begin with. As a Hyper Douluo, Yan Shaozhe had once dismissed soul engineers for their inability to create custom ninth-level soul tools for him. But for soul masters below the seventh ring, it was an entirely different story. 

He had witnessed the immense enhancements soul tools could bring. 

---

*Heaven Dou Empire* 

"Vina, this time, you will participate with the Body Sect. The Heaven Dou Royal Academy will provide protection for you," the emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire declared. 

"Yes, Your Majesty!" 

For this tournament, the Heaven Dou Empire had chosen to prioritize the Body Sect. 

The growing relationship between the Body Sect and the Heaven Dou Empire had become public knowledge. Any honors the Body Sect achieved would also reflect positively on the Heaven Dou Empire. 

A Soul Emperor with twin martial souls, a silver-ranked body martial soul with a second awakening—Vina's strength was absolutely central, even within the Body Sect itself. 

By joining the Body Sect's team, their chances of winning the championship increased significantly. 

Shrek? 

Their defeat in the previous tournament had already caused the three empires to stop putting all their eggs in Shrek's basket. 

---

*Dou Ling Empire* 

"What about the Xuán Míng Sect? Are they not planning to participate?" the emperor of the Dou Ling Empire asked. 

"Your Majesty, the Xuán Míng Sect has been resolutely hidden from the world this time. It's not just the tournament; aside from the sale of Xuán Shui Pills and the needs of their sect, they've completely severed ties with the outside world," the official responsible for contacting the Xuán Míng Sect said with a wry smile.

The Xuán Míng Sect had truly chosen to remain hidden.

The problem was that they hadn't formed a team for the tournament, nor had they assisted the Dou Ling Royal Advanced Academy. This made things quite difficult.

The disciples of the Xuán Míng Sect were of high caliber and had always been a strong support for the Dou Ling Royal Advanced Academy.

If they had sent three Soul Kings, the Dou Ling team would have likely had an entire team of Soul Kings this year.

Unfortunately...

---

*Ming Dou Mountain Range* 

Shrek's thirty-person team marched forward with great momentum. 

"Stop! Who goes there?" 

A large military detachment from the Xing Luo Empire discovered their presence and began questioning them.

"Shrek?" 

After the initial intercept, the captain of the detachment got a closer look at their uniforms and emblems. He immediately regretted stopping them. 

"May I ask if you are heading to Sun-Moon to participate in the competition?" 

Yan Shaozhe nodded indifferently. 

The captain didn't continue to inspect further. The pressure of their soul power made him uncomfortable. 

He quickly stepped aside, muttering to himself, "I better not provoke them."

Yan Shaozhe led Shrek and the four Tang Sect teams onward. 

However, while the Xing Luo Empire's border was relatively easy, the border of the Sun Moon Empire proved far more complicated.

---

Sensing a mysterious presence that seemed to be locking onto them, an intense feeling of danger kept rising in Yan Shaozhe's chest. He forced himself to remain patient as he registered their entry with the Sun Moon Empire's Fire Phoenix Soul Master Group. 

The lengthy and complicated paperwork took half the day, and after a great deal of effort, they finally completed the process. 

"These people are doing this on purpose!" Yan Shaozhe thought, feeling frustrated. 

They were clearly trying to make things difficult. 

But that sense of threat... 

After being injured last time, he had touched the threshold of a breakthrough and had closed himself off to break through to the ninety-seven level of a Super Douluo.

---

*An Eight-Level Fixed Soul Tool Cannon?* 

The Sun Moon Empire had used an eight-level fixed soul cannon during their last conflict with the Heaven Dou Empire. 

But could such a cannon pose this much of a threat? 

Or was it... could it have been a ninth-level fixed soul cannon? 

Yan Shaozhe's mind became heavy with concern. 

---

The team continued forward. 

"Hm?" 

Yan Shaozhe's expression shifted slightly. 

Damn it, they weren't planning to look for trouble with evil soul masters, but now it seemed like the evil soul masters were looking for them. 

He turned his gaze toward a particular direction, his brow furrowing slightly. 

His Bright Phoenix martial soul granted him a strong sensitivity to the presence of evil soul masters. Even from a distance, he could feel their presence in that direction. 

"Damn it, should we go after them?" 

(End of Chapter)