Douluo: Starting with an Engagement to Zhu Zhuqing

Chapter 192: The Final Battle, Shrek

The next day, the fiery sun rose over the horizon, its warm light casting a glow across the land.

In his room, Dai Yao opened his eyes, instantly clear-headed. After a quick morning routine, he opened the door to find his teammates already prepared and waiting. He smiled slightly and said, "Let's go."

The carriage moved at a steady pace until they reached the arena. As he stepped out, Dai Yao gazed out at the familiar street scenes and the towering Heavenly Dou Great Soul Arena. A strange mix of emotions swirled within him—anticipation and tension. No other match had ever stirred these feelings, and he couldn't quite relax.

"Tang San," he murmured to himself, his dark eyes flickering. "A showdown between us is inevitable."

At the Heavenly Dou Great Soul Arena.

Today marked the final round of the qualifiers, the last match before the playoffs. Even with tickets being sold at exorbitant prices, the arena, which held up to 80,000 spectators, was packed to capacity.

Twenty-seven matches were scheduled for today, and though some teams were already guaranteed elimination, they fought with everything they had, leaving it all on the battlefield. For them, today's match would also mark their graduation, the close of their youthful journey.

As for the teams still vying for a spot in the playoffs, nerves were on edge. Even a single mistake could mean the end of their journey. This tension made for thrilling matches that captivated the crowd, with underdog victories eliciting roars of excitement from the stands.

Dai Yao stood outside the ancient arena, sensing the echoes of countless battles, victories, and regrets. With closed eyes, he felt a flood of memories: countless young soul masters spilling their blood and spirit here, their talents honed through hardship. Today's generation, much like those before them, would continue to test themselves, pushing their limits in this storied arena.

"Welcome to the final round of the qualifiers!" boomed the announcer. "Today, the Heavenly Dou City arena becomes the focal point of the entire continent. The Elite Competition of Advanced Soul Master Academies gathers teams from deserts, jungles, cities, and seas across the land. Today, we'll see which teams emerge victorious in this last stand!"

"And now, introducing our last match: Shrek Academy versus Auckland Academy!"

The crowd cheered as the announcer's voice echoed. The two surprise standout teams were about to clash head-on, and it was anybody's guess which dark horse would prevail.

With the crowd roaring, Dai Yao took a deep breath and opened his eyes. Glancing back at his teammates, he stepped forward confidently, striding down the tunnel toward the arena and the overwhelming cheers of the crowd.

When his foot touched the battleground, Dai Yao felt a strange silence settle over him, as if the noise around him had faded away. He was filled with a sense of solemnity as he thought back on his 15 years in this world, from the naive boy who first stepped foot in Douluo, carrying the weight of a bloody vendetta, to the warrior who had journeyed from Xingluo to Tiandou, facing trials and training through unimaginable pain.

Today, facing the Child of Destiny, Tang San, he felt that a victory would finally allow him to fully emerge from his cocoon.

His gaze pierced the distance, cutting through the crowd and spanning across the field to lock onto a seemingly unassuming figure.

"Tang San..." He barely whispered the name, his voice laced with a hint of emotion.

The Soul Arena was packed with spectators eager to witness this final match, many of whom had paid a hefty price to be here. A glance around the stands revealed an unusual number of distinguished figures.

The Snow Night Emperor, Ning Fengzhi with Sword Douluo, Platinum Bishop Salas, and the renowned Poison Douluo Dugu Bo were all present. Even high-level soul masters at the Contra level filled the VIP section.

Looking out over the arena, the Snow Night Emperor smiled and remarked, "What a spectacle, drawing such a large audience."

Ning Fengzhi nodded. "A testament to the empire's strength and unity."

The Snow Night Emperor's gaze shifted to the two teams about to face off: Auckland and Shrek. "The future of the empire lies in the hands of these young people. This generation of soul masters is exceptionally gifted, even surpassing recent generations. When they grow to their full potential, the empire will rise to new heights."

Hearing the emperor's confident words, a glint of coldness flashed in Salas' eyes, though he said nothing.

"Teams, salute!"

The referee called the teams to attention, and both lined up. As vice-captains, Dai Yao and Tang San faced each other across the stage.

A low hum filled the air as an intense wave of energy surged from Dai Yao, billowing his robes. This oppressive aura made the crowd hold their breath.

"What powerful fighting spirit." Tang San tensed, surprised at the intensity of Dai Yao's presence. Though he didn't know why Dai Yao's resolve was so fierce, he couldn't help but feel an unshakable determination of his own rise within him. This was a battle he had to win, or the consequences could be disastrous.

Tang San returned Dai Yao's gaze with equal resolve, gripping his left hand tightly as dark energy flickered within it.

The tension between them was electric, fueling the crowd's excitement. All they wanted was an intense, unforgettable final match.

In the VIP section, Ning Fengzhi watched the two youths in amazement.

"Why are they so fired up right from the start? This looks to be a thrilling match," he mused.

Behind him, Sword Douluo nodded slightly. Knowing both Dai Yao's hidden abilities and Tang San's secret of twin spirits, he remarked, "Two exceptional young talents like this will undoubtedly clash many times in the future. Such competition is beneficial, but if it turns hostile, they may become lifelong enemies."

"If nothing unexpected occurs, these two are destined to become legends in the world of soul masters."

Salas, observing Dai Yao's aggressive stance, looked intrigued. "It seems Dai Yao is especially eager to dominate today. Looks like Shrek is in for a rough time!"

In his mind, the match was sure to be a one-sided affair. While Shrek had performed admirably thus far, Salas saw them as no match for Auckland.

"Auckland vice-captain, Dai Yao, Level 44 Assault-type Battle Soul Master." Dai Yao spoke in a firm voice, his gaze unwavering as he looked at Tang San.

"Shrek vice-captain, Tang San, Level 43 Control-type Battle Soul Master." Tang San's response was steady and unyielding.

The two locked eyes, tension crackling between them. All other voices fell silent as the two teams' members held their breath, sensing the gravity of the moment.

"Prepare for battle!"

The referee's voice signaled both teams to retreat to their positions, each team falling into formation.

As the lead Assault-type soul masters, Dai Yao and Dai Mubai squared off, their gazes meeting with a flash of recognition.

"He's changed," murmured Dai Mubai, taken aback.

The Dai Yao before him now was imposing, exuding confidence and authority—a far cry from the hesitant youth he'd faced back in Xingluo. Today, Dai Yao was transformed, his once-boyish face now radiating strength and maturity.

"Martial Soul Possession!"

With a soft shout, Dai Yao activated his Holy White Tiger Martial Soul, his muscles tensing as four awe-inspiring spirit rings appeared, fluctuating with a terrifying power. The atmosphere of an ancient beast burst forth, accompanied by intense gusts that made all seven Shrek members instinctively tense.

Dai Mubai pushed his strength to its peak, only to realize, to his dismay, that he still couldn't withstand Dai Yao's pressure.

"Stay calm," Tang San said, releasing his Martial Soul with his yellow-yellow-purple-purple spirit rings rising and falling. Sensing Dai Yao's intimidating aura, he quickly activated his first skill, six strands of Blue Silver Grass coiling around his teammates' waists, and spoke to steady them. Auckland's strength far surpassed theirs; any sign of confusion would only lead to certain defeat.

Both sides unleashed their Martial Souls almost simultaneously, and the extent of their power became clear.

Dai Mubai and Tang San were both taken aback; Auckland Academy's strength was even greater than they'd anticipated.

"One, two, three… Four? Auckland has a fourth Spirit Elder?"

A spectator rubbed his eyes in disbelief. A regular attendee of the competition, he knew Auckland's lineup well, and until now, they had only revealed three Spirit Elders—Feng Qianli, Dai Yao, and Zhu Zhuqing. The sudden appearance of a fourth Spirit Elder left the audience buzzing with shock and speculation.

In the arena, nearly every gaze converged on the newly revealed Spirit Elder. She was tall, her figure both alluring and dangerous, with a snake-like gaze exuding both allure and a touch of menace. Her attire was not overtly revealing, yet her presence radiated intense allure.

The audience's breath quickened at the sight of her seductive form, unable to look away. She was like Medusa—enticing yet deadly.

Dugu Yan stretched out her slender, fair hand, her green snake-like eyes coolly fixed on Tang San. Moving gracefully, a green-scaled snake appeared behind her, as her yellow-yellow-purple-purple rings shone with a deadly aura that permeated the arena.

Thud!

Yu Tianheng, seated nearby, slammed his hand against the railing. Seeing Dugu Yan, his eyes turned red with fury, his hands trembling. He couldn't shake his anger at seeing her with Dai Yao. He didn't truly believe Dugu Yan had done anything wrong, yet every sight of Dai Yao only stirred his resentment. Why was Dai Yao better than him? Why did Dugu Yan choose him over him?

Behind him, his teammates from Heaven Dou Royal Academy fell silent, unable to quell their own anxiety.

Feng Xiaotian watched Auckland's lineup with a cold expression. "So Auckland has been hiding their true strength all along, even during our match. What a move."

Although he had lost to Dai Yao, the pride of the Heaven Dou elite lingered. Seeing a fourth Spirit Elder now only magnified his discontent.

Meanwhile, in Shrek's viewing area, Grandmaster recognized Dugu Yan's snake-like Martial Soul and his expression turned dark.

"What is it, Xiaogang?" Liu Erlong asked with concern.

"It's the Jade Phosphor Serpent Martial Soul. I didn't expect Auckland to hide her until now! They've saved this trump card just for us," Grandmaster replied, his voice tense, clenching his fists.

Liu Erlong and Flender exchanged uneasy glances. Both were familiar with the venomous reputation of the Jade Phosphor Serpent. Its poison could turn a body to pus within minutes! Anxiety for their team weighed heavily on them.

In the VIP stands, Ning Fengzhi paused, only to realize the connection. Turning to Dugu Bo, he remarked, "I see now why you've come today, Senior Jade Phosphor. It seems Auckland has a direct descendant of yours in the competition."

Dugu Bo's pale hair fluttered as he replied with a raspy voice, "Sect Leader Ning, you flatter me. My granddaughter hasn't been on the field since the competition began, but since Dai Yao insisted Shrek was strong, she decided to participate today, so I came to watch."

Understanding, Ning Fengzhi nodded without pressing further.

Dugu Bo's eyes darted between Dai Yao and Tang San, a flicker of worry in his gaze. Both youths possessed exceptional potential. Dai Yao, with his ten-thousand-year fourth spirit ring and two external spirit bones, was matched by Tang San's twin spirits—a combination too powerful to ignore. Tang San's dual Martial Souls, in particular, made him nearly unbeatable among his peers.

Dugu Bo sensed that Dai Yao, despite his current lead, would eventually be outstripped by Tang San. Additionally, he foresaw their paths diverging—Tang San, heir of the Clear Sky Clan, and Dai Yao, destined for Spirit Hall. The looming conflict between the two prodigies would only grow fiercer with time.

As Dugu Bo sighed, his thoughts settled. "Let them sort it out themselves. I won't meddle."

On the battlefield, Tang San took in Dugu Yan's dangerous gaze and felt a chill. "So Auckland has indeed been hiding a Spirit Elder. Four Spirit Elders—this must be Auckland's true strength," he thought, startled by her jade-green Martial Soul.

"The Jade Phosphor Serpent? Then, this must be the granddaughter of that old monster, Jade Phosphor Douluo."

Tang San's gaze shifted to the foremost figure in Auckland's formation, and his heart sank further.

"Dai Yao, I see… You're taking our Shrek team seriously enough to bring out your full hidden power. It seems you and I both sense it—that unavoidable pull of fated rivals."

Auckland's formidable lineup made Tang San's heart race. The strategies he'd carefully prepared against Dai Yao fell apart with Dugu Yan's sudden appearance.

He looked to his teammates, who were visibly shaken by Dugu Yan's arrival, and spoke in a steady voice. "Everyone, stay calm. If I'm not mistaken, their new member has the Jade Phosphor Serpent Martial Soul."

"Jade Phosphor? You mean the same Martial Soul as Senior Jade Phosphor Douluo?" Dai Mubai asked, glancing back in surprise.

"Yes," Tang San confirmed.

Ma Hongjun and Oscar gulped, exchanging uneasy glances.

"Don't worry. If it's the Jade Phosphor Serpent, I have a way to counter it. However, our original plan against Dai Yao won't work anymore, so we'll need to adapt."

"Trust me, we can still win."

The referee, glancing between both sides, announced, "The match begins!"

With the call to start, Dai Yao's third and fourth spirit rings flared up, casting a dazzling light over the battlefield.

(End of Chapter)

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