soul land: Huo Yuhao Inheriting Centipede Immortal

As promised, Huo Yuhao attended the "final bachelor party" before the Sea God's Fate event.

Unfortunately, the bachelor party was held separately for men and women.

"Separated like this, can you still call it a bachelor party? Aren't bachelor parties supposed to be one last night of wild indulgence, followed by a leaked video, a furious groom-to-be, entertained friends and family, and then the wedding gets canceled... cough cough."

Oh, right. This is Douluo Continent. Never mind, then.

Mainly because the "leaked video" part probably isn't feasible here.

But Huo Yuhao considered himself a rather traditional kind of guy.

So he just came to the party for the gathering—nothing more.

Huo Yuhao reverted to his old, innocent appearance and entered the party venue. The venue, provided by the academy, was quite luxurious—free alcohol and food of all kinds.

The attendees were all students from the inner court.

Unfortunately, Huo Yuhao wasn't familiar with most of them. Their relationship could best be described as: "We've fought."

Back when Huo Yuhao had first entered the inner court, many of its students had challenged him—or more accurately, had been used by Xuan Zi as sparring partners for Huo Yuhao.

Naturally, Huo Yuhao had no choice but to crush them decisively—and reap a generous share of their luck and fortune in the process.

But this time at the bachelor party, besides the veteran students, Huo Yuhao also saw a few familiar new faces: Xie Huanyue, Huang Chutian, Luo Tianba, and Luo Tianlong. They had all broken through the level-50 bottleneck and successfully entered the inner court. Xie Huanyue had even surpassed level 55.

"Brother Xie, Brother Huang, Luo brothers—long time no see." Huo Yuhao walked up with a warm smile and greeted them kindly.

He used these terms of address because Xie Huanyue was a bit older, while the others were around his age.

"Hahaha, I knew it! Yuhao hasn't changed at all—he's still the same Yuhao we knew," Xie Huanyue said with a laugh to the others.

Huang Chutian, Luo Tianba, and Luo Tianlong all looked delighted. The distance created by time and status between them and Huo Yuhao vanished in an instant.

Truthfully, given Huo Yuhao's early admission to the inner court, his status as a disciple of one of its top figures, and now his position as the Sea God Pavilion's heir, they had long felt nervous at the thought of seeing him again.

They had hoped that getting into the inner court might narrow the gap. But once inside, they'd learned even more about Huo Yuhao's power and status—making the gulf between them feel wider than ever.

Yet here he was now, smiling like the spring breeze and easing all their anxieties.

"Yuhao, if you still call me a brother, then I'll be your brother for life!" Huang Chutian said, touched.

"We're the same," added the Luo brothers quickly.

"Let's not say such formal things. Come on, let's enjoy the party together," Huo Yuhao replied with a smile.

They quickly began chatting like old friends—about cultivation, women, the gap between the inner and outer courts, and major national affairs.

According to Xie Huanyue and the others, the inner court's training intensity was nowhere near that of the outer court—they were still adjusting to it.

Xie Huanyue even ordered a table full of fruit and wine, though Huo Yuhao still stuck to drinking milk.

Huo Yuhao could instantly see through the strength and conditions of these four.

"Spirit King-level strength, solid foundations—they're real talents," he nodded with satisfaction.

In the original timeline, none of them were this strong. Only Xie Huanyue had made it into the inner court by skipping grades. Now, all four had.

Clearly, the competitive pressure in the outer court had changed everything. These four were just the tip of the iceberg.

Other classes had students who advanced early into the inner court as well.

On the other hand, three students who should've made it early—Dai Huabin, Ning Tian, and Wu Feng—were nowhere to be seen. They'd gone their separate ways.

Previously, the outer court's training was strict but still allowed for some leisure, with only a few geniuses competing fiercely.

But now? If you didn't train hard, someone else would surpass you. And if you got surpassed, you risked being eliminated. That's because the outer court's selection wasn't based on level—but on ranking. If you didn't make the rankings, no matter how talented you were, you'd be cut.

Entertainment? Screw entertainment!

If you're not dead, keep training like hell!

Back then, Zhou Yi's method of pushing students to their physical limits was risky—but Shrek Academy didn't only have that kind of training. They also had abundant normal training resources and environments.

Shrek became the continent's number one academy not just because of the number of strong people—but because of how rich their resources were.

Strength brings status and more resources.

As long as you had talent and were willing to work, you'd eventually rise.

Of course, the reason Xie Huanyue and the others managed to break through to level 50 and enter the inner court early wasn't that their talent exceeded that of Ma Xiaotao or Xu Sanshi. It was because they had given it everything they had.

In contrast, Ma Xiaotao was hindered by her evil fire, Xu Sanshi by emotional issues—neither could train at full capacity. Even training steadily already put them on par with what Xie Huanyue's group had achieved with all-out effort.

Even Bei Bei—who had no major issues—still frequently went out on dates with Tang Ya. Who knows how much time that wasted?

That's the unbridgeable chasm that talent creates when it comes to potential and ultimate power.

"Mmm... it's all thanks to me. I'm such a great guy~" Huo Yuhao couldn't help but sigh.

But what was the price of all this?

The cost was that these recent student cohorts were overwhelmingly single—men and women alike. Most were still unattached. Only those girls who'd joined the Huo Alliance didn't need to worry about finding a partner.

"Yuhao, among us, you're the only one with a girlfriend—and not just one. Can you teach us how to get a girlfriend too?" Huang Chutian asked shyly. "I've been cultivating non-stop for years. I barely even know how to talk to a girl anymore."

Xie Huanyue, Luo Tianlong, and Luo Tianba all nodded eagerly. They felt the same.

Huo Yuhao didn't refuse. He replied seriously:

 "It's simple. Be bold, be attentive, and be shameless—then you'll definitely succeed!"

"Really? Yuhao?" Luo Tianlong's eyes lit up.

"Would I lie to my brothers? That's how Wei Na and Sister Luo Chen fell for me in the first place," Huo Yuhao declared confidently.

The four: "..."

Luo Tianba's face stiffened. He could only mutter, "Yuhao's always been popular with girls. We're... not the same."

"Alright, let's change the subject," Xie Huanyue quickly said, ending the topic.

Huo Yuhao nodded and shifted gears.

 "Brother Xie, you called this the final bachelor party, but what makes you think you'll stop being single after Sea God's Fate? You'll still be single, right? Will you attend the next bachelor party too?"

Immediately, the four fell silent.

And Huo Yuhao admitted—he had raised his voice a bit.

So the entire party... fell into silence.

No one spoke for a long, long time.

Lies don't hurt people—truth is the sharpest blade.

Once upon a time, it was only inner court students who neglected romantic matters due to rigorous cultivation. Now, even the outer court has succumbed, and the situation is even worse.

It's not just about lacking time to find a partner—now the pool of potential partners has drastically shrunk.

Thankfully, Xie Huanyue quickly collected himself, forcing a smile to comfort his peers, "It's okay, we're still young. We'll find someone in the future!"

"Yeah, yeah!"

"That's right!"

Huang Chutian and the Luo brothers nodded earnestly.

As genius soul masters, they wouldn't lack women in the future. But what they desired was a soulmate—someone to entrust their soul and emotions to.

They still believed in love.

But for the older inner court seniors, things were more frustrating. Many had attended the Sea God Fate matchmaking event multiple times. They weren't young anymore.

If they failed again this time, they might have to settle for a decent partner and hurry to pass on their martial soul while they were still young.

Otherwise, it'd be too late to have children.

BANG!

 A sudden loud noise drew everyone's attention. Turning toward the sound, they saw Xu Sanshi rise abruptly at a table in the corner, slamming his fist down and knocking over the drinks.

Empty bottles were stacked around him—it was clear he had been drinking heavily.

And he was drinking alone.

But Xu Sanshi hadn't stood up in anger at something Huo Yuhao said. He rose to declare his intent, loudly proclaiming,

 "I, Xu Sanshi, swear: at this Sea God Fate, I will win Nannan back! If I fail, I will never marry, devote myself solely to cultivation, and never again think of men and women!"

His vow stunned many. The looks sent his way were filled with admiration.

"Isn't that Junior Brother Xu Sanshi? He's serious about this vow? Now that's a real man!"

"I don't agree with it, but I respect it."

"He's a role model for us all!"

"No, I want to be like him too—I swear, if I can't win her over…"

"I swear too…"

A wave of oaths echoed through the party.

Of course, none were as drastic as Xu Sanshi's lifetime celibacy pledge. Most opted for self-punishments like "no foot baths for three months" instead.

Xie Huanyue and his group were fired up watching the scene and wanted to join in—but when they opened their mouths, they remembered: they didn't even have a crush. A sad story, indeed.

Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao silently watched Xu Sanshi. The latter had sat back down, drinking again in solitude.

Without Bei Bei to bridge them, Huo Yuhao and Xu Sanshi's relationship was distant at best—and now even more so.

Xu Sanshi had changed a lot since the old days.

White strands streaked his hair, his aura reeked of defeat and neglect, and he looked more like a drunkard now.

Seeing Huo Yuhao staring, Xie Huanyue mistook it for curiosity and explained,

 "Yuhao, that's Senior Brother Xu Sanshi, once one of the Outer Court's Twin Stars—a real icon. Sadly, after his clan fell, he became like this. Now he barely has any friends in the Inner Court."

"I heard he still has feelings for a senior named Jiang Nannan, but she never reciprocated. People call him the most devoted man in Shrek," Huang Chutian added.

Huo Yuhao nodded silently.

The destruction of the Xu family of the Xuanming Sect had devastated Xu Sanshi—especially with the culprit, "Merciful Demon," still at large.

With his family in ruins and love unfulfilled, Xu Sanshi became addicted to alcohol. But thankfully, he hadn't given up on revenge and trained harder than ever. Now he was a Soul Emperor, and his Xuanwu bloodline had awakened further.

He was just one woman away from full awakening.

Thanks to Shrek Academy's resources—extended to him in his lowest moments—Xu Sanshi had remained loyal. The academy would one day receive the Xuanwu Martial Soul inheritance in return.

Xu Sanshi was now completely in Shrek's hands.

Ironically, the resources given to him were originally meant for Bei Bei's Light Holy Dragon awakening.

In the past, Xu Sanshi had been heir to the Xuanming Sect first and a Shrek student second. Now, Shrek was his only option—and so the Academy could invest in him without worry.

The party went on until midnight.

After seeing the drunk Xie Huanyue and others home, Huo Yuhao returned to his villa, where he ran into Cui Yajie and the other girls, also back from the singles' party.

From their stories, the girls' party had been more harmonious—no dramatic vow-making incidents. Still, many Inner Court senior girls were also anxious, unsure whether they'd find a partner.

"If it really doesn't work out, I'll talk to the Elders and have Yuhao take all the senior sisters in!" Ma Xiaotao said domineeringly. "His martial soul can be passed down through blood. A few extreme-element soul masters would be great for Shrek's future!"

"Xiaotao, saying stuff like that might get the Elders to beat you first," Ling Luochen giggled behind her hand.

Wei Na mused thoughtfully, "Unlikely, but if that did happen, it'd give Yuhao even more influence over the Sea God Pavilion and the Academy."

As for Huo Yuhao?

 The girls had already dragged him into bed.

 The senior sisters were single—but they certainly weren't.

Somehow, the boys' oath-making at the party got leaked—each vow clearly listed.

It caused a stir across the Inner Court.

Xu Sanshi's "vow of no marriage" had everyone calling him Shrek's most devoted man without dispute.

Curious girls even went to probe Jiang Nannan's thoughts, but she just brushed them off.

She did pity Xu Sanshi, but pity wasn't love.

Still, his vow did stir her emotions. She decided to give him a chance at the Sea God Fate.

And so, the grand matchmaking event arrived as scheduled.

A senior couple from the Inner Court hosted the event. The Elders and teachers observed secretly.

Among the girls, a breathtaking beauty had snuck in—Wang Dong!

"Heh heh, Huo Yuhao—tonight I'll stun you with my charm. I bet you, you shameless pervert, won't be able to resist! Then I'll ruthlessly reject you and slap that smug face of yours! Kekekeke!" Wang Dong let out a villain's laugh.

Just imagining Yuhao swooning over her, then getting brutally rejected and left heartbroken—she was thrilled!

But when she took the stage and scanned the crowd for him…

Huo Yuhao wasn't there.

Not only him—Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luochen, Wei Na, and Cui Yajie were all absent too.

"Sigh… If only Yuhao had come—it would've been a fun night," said Qian Duoduo with a chuckle from the shadows.

Only to receive a death glare from Xian Lin'er.

He promptly shut up and straightened his posture.

The Sea God Fate event concluded relatively smoothly.

Some were successfully paired, others not so much. In the end, failures outnumbered successes, and only a few couples managed to pair up.

Many people's fates diverged from the original story. For example, the girls Wu Ming and Hua Yao—whose boyfriends Chu Qingtian and Gu Fan originally ended up with them—lost their partners due to a tragic mission. The two men died on their return journey to Shrek Academy.

According to intelligence reports, they perished in the Star Luo Empire at the hands of an evil soul master. One of the elders from the Sea God Pavilion immediately departed for the Star Luo Empire to investigate the situation.

To take down two Soul Saints in one strike, the perpetrator must also possess at least Soul Saint-level strength. Such a powerful evil soul master likely hails from the Holy Spirit Cult—something not to be taken lightly.

Death God's Envoy: I really didn't mean to. They came looking for me shouting things like "justice," "friendship," and "bonds," and attacked. What could I do?

Huo Yuhao: I swear this wasn't intentional. You have to believe me!

Wu Ming was somewhat indifferent—she wasn't close to Chu Qingtian to begin with. But Hua Yao was heartbroken because she secretly loved Gu Fan.

She had never dared confess her feelings while he was alive. Now that he was gone, her sorrow was indescribable.

She participated in the Sea God Fate only because of the promise Gu Fan made to her before he left.

But in the end, Hua Yao couldn't make it to the end of the event. Overwhelmed with grief, she fled before it concluded. Wu Ming, being a good friend, left with her. Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luochen, who were spectating on the shore, were also summoned to comfort Hua Yao. Their relationship was solid.

Hua Yao's incident cast a shadow over the entire Sea God Fate. Many participants couldn't fully express their feelings.

Still, Wang Yan and Han Ruoruo successfully paired up, becoming the only confirmed couple.

As for Xu Sanshi and Jiang Nannan, they ended up in the water together like in the original story. However, this didn't mean Jiang Nannan accepted Xu Sanshi—she merely agreed to give him a chance.

Xu Sanshi had once entered her heart, and if she didn't marry him, she might be alone forever. At the very least, she couldn't move past the emotional hurdle. Of course, it would still take her a long time to truly accept him.

Even so, Xu Sanshi was overjoyed.

Jiang Nannan gave Xu Sanshi three challenges. The first was to quit drinking and pull himself together. Only after he passed the first test would she reveal the others.

Xu Sanshi eagerly agreed, grinning from ear to ear. Since the destruction of his sect, he hadn't smiled like that in a long time.

Wang Dong's appearance was dazzling and amazed everyone—but the target of her attention wasn't there, so she angrily withdrew from the event.

The Headmaster and elders watching in secret weren't particularly satisfied with the results of this year's Sea God Fate.

Too few successful pairings.

And then there was the whole Huo Yuhao situation.

What went wrong?

Oh—that's right. Huo Yuhao attracted too many top female students. Well, that explains it.

Even the little princess of the Clear Sky Sect was drawn to him—what could they say?

As for Wang Dong, the higher-ups already understood her situation and were content to let her be—as long as she didn't kill or start fires, she had considerable leeway.

The only thing that comforted the elders was that Jiang Nannan had successfully "hooked" Xu Sanshi. Jiang Nannan was from a commoner background and was guaranteed to stay in the Sea God Pavilion. With her around, they could better tie Xu Sanshi to Shrek.

Xu Sanshi was currently loyal to Shrek, but the future was uncertain. After all, the Dou Ling Empire had secretly contacted him, offering him protection and support.

Xu Sanshi's mother was a princess of Dou Ling, giving him royal blood. As a Title Douluo candidate, the Dou Ling Empire would inevitably try to win him over.

After the Sea God Fate ended...

Wang Dong quietly returned to the Winter Alliance's base. She had snuck out to attend the event, behind Xiao Xiao and Lan Yin's backs, skipping evening training.

Unfortunately, she was caught red-handed upon her return.

"Wang Dong, you didn't go to the Sea God Fate, did you?" Xiao Xiao questioned her suspiciously, fists clenched, visibly tense.

"I didn't—I wasn't there—don't talk nonsense!" Wang Dong hurriedly denied it three times in a row.

But with a woman's intuition, Xiao Xiao still felt Wang Dong was lying.

Luckily, Lan Yin spoke up to defend her: "Alright, Xiao Xiao. My informants told me Wang Dong wasn't among the boys."

Wang Dong: ???

She really wanted to ask Lan Yin—where did you get informants!?

Lady Lan truly had eyes and ears everywhere.

"Oh, is that so? That's great," Xiao Xiao said with a big smile, finally relieved. She had stuck with Wang Dong for years in the Winter Alliance, not just for her charm but for her looks and body. If Wang Dong had gone chasing wild flowers elsewhere, all her years of waiting would have been in vain.

Wang Dong sighed with relief: Phew, I didn't get exposed!

Indeed, she hadn't appeared among the boys—she had shown up among the girls, but luckily no one noticed.

In any case, the deception worked.

Thinking of that, Wang Dong stood taller.

Then, the next second, Lan Yin dragged her toward the training field. "Alright, no matter what you were doing, you're back now—spar with me!"

"Wait, isn't training time already over?" Wang Dong was shocked.

"That's why I postponed it just for you. I even changed the method—we're sparring now! Don't worry, Leader. I'll help you improve your strength as quickly as possible!" Lan Yin said with a "sincere" smile.

If Xiao Xiao was attracted to Wang Dong's appearance, Lan Yin was drawn by her martial soul and strength.

Lan Yin was a pure swordswoman. Though not as obsessed with swordsmanship as Ji Juechen, cultivation and swordplay still ranked above all else in her heart—love and feelings came second.

She had no romantic interest in Wang Dong—she just wanted to spar with someone strong. With Wang Dong's top-tier martial soul, the Clear Sky Hammer, training with her helped Lan Yin forge her swordsmanship.

"Xiao Xiao, save me!" Wang Dong cried out for help.

But Xiao Xiao just stuck her tongue out at her and joined in.

As for Huo Yuhao—he hadn't participated in the Sea God Fate, nor had he watched from the shadows. He didn't even train with the "cauldrons" tonight.

So where did he go?

He quietly went to the Beast Garden.

There, he found the three hundred-thousand-year-old Beast Kings who had been captured and kept in the garden. They had not been mistreated; in fact, they were well cared for, their injuries mostly healed. Rumor had it that inner court disciples even took turns tending to them.

Obviously, Shrek Academy wasn't being purely kind.

Their intent was simple: to sway these three Beast Kings emotionally, so they could later benefit Shrek disciples needing soul rings—or to divide them from the Great Star Dou Forest.

Even now, the Beast Kings served as sparring partners for inner court students.

In any scenario, Shrek would benefit. Deceiving hundred-thousand-year soul beasts had practically become a family tradition at the academy.

Unfortunately, the Beast Kings had not yet realized the seriousness of the situation and were already being subtly corrupted by Shrek's arrangements.

Their vigilance had waned significantly.

They weren't even wary of external threats.

To Huo Yuhao, these Beast Kings weren't terribly useful themselves—but by manipulating them, he could gain control over at least three high-ranking members of Shrek in the future.

Outside their chambers, Huo Yuhao released his spiritual aura and sent a message into their minds:

"Beast Kings, open your eyes. I am your future master!"

The three slumbering Beast Kings opened their eyes in confusion. Before they could react, a golden light shone into their pupils.

Gradually, the three Beast Kings knelt before the figure in front of them.

After the Sea God Fate event, another special activity took place in the inner courtyard—the selection tournament for the next generation of the Shrek Seven Devils!

This was the selection for the official team members of the next Soul Master Tournament.

While the reserve team members had already been confirmed, there were still vacancies in the official lineup—so much so that a re-selection was necessary.

This situation was unprecedented in the history of Shrek Academy, but there was no helping it.

Too many unexpected events had occurred during the last Soul Master Tournament. In fact, Shrek had barely managed to pull together seven members for that competition, combining both the official and reserve members.

If not for Huo Yuhao's heroic efforts, Shrek's honor would have been lost, leaving behind deep disgrace.

Thus, the weight and significance of Huo Yuhao's past championship continue to rise!

When the news of this selection event spread, many people came to witness it. The tournament was held on Sea God Island.

In attendance were the Spirit Department's Dean and Vice-Dean, Yan Shaozhe and Cai Mei'er; the Soul Tool Department's Dean and Vice-Dean, Qian Duoduo and Xian Lin'er; the Sea God Pavilion Elders; and all current inner courtyard students.

Even the seven members of the reserve team, known as the Seven Jades, were specially invited to observe. After all, it was only a matter of time before they entered the inner courtyard.

In fact, with their current strength, the Seven Jades already qualified to pass the trials and join the inner courtyard—and even had the potential to become official team members.

But they chose not to.

The Elders could tell that the Seven Jades had their own plans. They likely aimed for future official and reserve teams to be composed entirely of members of the Hao Alliance, for generations to come.

Given their talent, that future was not impossible. And with Huo Yuhao, the true leader of the Hao Alliance, being the heir to the Sea God Pavilion, the Alliance would never betray Shrek Academy.

Some Elders worried about the Academy being represented solely by female teams in the future—concerned about how the outside world might perceive Shrek.

But other Elders retorted that if the male students had what it took, they should prove themselves and earn the spots by outperforming the Hao Alliance members. Otherwise, they should just shut up.

After all, on the Douluo Continent, power still speaks louder than words!

Returning to the main topic...

The official team selection tournament officially began!

A combination of direct appointments and open competition was used.

That is, a few official members were directly appointed, while the remaining spots were up for grabs.

The only two directly appointed members were Huo Yuhao and Wei Na—and no one questioned their inclusion.

Huo Yuhao had already broken through to Soul Sage, and Wei Na could perform a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with him. Both had also performed excellently in the previous tournament.

Wei Na herself had now reached the Soul Emperor level and had outstanding support abilities. There was no doubt she deserved a spot.

The remaining five slots were to be determined through competition.

Xuan Zi personally acted as the judge.

Over a dozen contestants entered the selection, all young students who had been admitted to the inner courtyard over the past few years—some from the Spirit Department, others from the Soul Tool Department. Among them were several top contenders.

Leading the pack was Xu Sanshi, who had broken through to the Soul Emperor level. His Black Tortoise bloodline had further awakened, and though he lacked a Martial Soul True Body, his combat strength rivaled a typical Soul Sage.

Then there were Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao. Though both were still at level 60 and hadn't yet acquired their sixth soul rings, they possessed twin martial souls and excellent teamwork, with flexible and varied tactics.

Next came four outstanding girls: Cui Yajie, Lan Luoluo, Lan Susu, and Lulu—the vanguard of the first generation of the Seven Jades, whose strength couldn't be underestimated.

Finally, there was Jiang Nannan. She too was stuck at level 60. Though born with full innate soul power, her martial soul quality left her slightly weaker than the others in some areas.

As for the rest, like Xie Huanyue, they were only at the Soul King level and clearly understood they were just there to round out the numbers.

But participation was its own reward~

Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luochén, having aged out of the tournament's eligibility, were now retired and sat in the stands alongside Wu Ming, keeping Hua Yao company and hoping the competition would lift her spirits.

Xuan Zi scanned the contestants and nodded in satisfaction. Even after ten thousand years, Shrek Academy had never fought such a "wealthy" battle.

In the past, Jiang Nannan would have been a no-brainer as a main team member, possibly even team captain.

But now? Whether she could even secure a regular team spot was uncertain.

Not to mention, all reserve team members were Soul Kings.

If, after the break, those currently stuck at their bottlenecks returned with new soul rings, the lineup would be even more luxurious. However, temporary teams needed time to develop synergy, and this break would be their last chance to bond. That's why the selection was being held now.

Xuan Zi finally spoke:

 "This tournament will follow a battle royale format. No restrictions on methods—as long as you don't violate the Soul Master Tournament rules or endanger anyone's life. With me here, no one will come to harm!"

"The last five standing will become official team members—the new generation of the Shrek Seven Devils."

"I now declare: Let the selection begin!"

With that, Xuan Zi vanished from the arena, and the contestants immediately began forming teams.

Lan Luoluo, Lan Susu, Cui Yajie, and Lulu quickly grouped into a four-person squad.

Xu Sanshi immediately stepped up to protect Jiang Nannan, and Wang Dong pulled Xiao Xiao to their side. The four of them made another team.

They had participated together in the last tournament and still maintained solid relationships.

It was obvious to everyone that these two teams were the main contenders. Each had four members.

Xie Huanyue, eyes gleaming, jumped in front of Cui Yajie's group and shouted,

 "I'll help you guys!"

And just like that, they had five members!

Compared to Xu Sanshi's team, Cui Yajie's squad—all Soul Emperors—clearly had the upper hand.

They welcomed Xie Huanyue's inclusion—a frontline tank would help with their tactical deployment.

From the stands, Ma Xiaotao laughed,

 "That little fatty's got some brains~"

"Old Xie's got moves!" exclaimed Huang Chutian, shocked.

Weren't they all just here for the experience? Now someone's making a real play?

Xie Huanyue's move triggered a mad rush. Others tried to join Xu Sanshi's team—only to find it already full.

A new boy had joined their team, released his martial soul, and was already syncing with them.

"It's Old Cao!" Huang Chutian cursed. He was just a step too slow and stomped in frustration.

Cao Jin Xuan, full name, was one of their classmates. He wielded a rare Time-type martial soul, the Flowing Time Bell. Under the intense inner court competition, he'd made it in and was now at level 53.

His presence compensated for Xu Sanshi's team's lack of control-type abilities.

Cao Jin Xuan even threw a flirtatious wink at Huang Chutian, provoking him further.

While Xiao Xiao could fill a control role, her cultivation had guided her down the path of a support-type instead, due to her martial soul's traits—something difficult to change.

Cui Yajie's and Xu Sanshi's teams tactfully avoided direct conflict, instead eliminating the other contestants first—until only the two squads remained in a final standoff.

Worth noting: neither team included a soul tool user.

Huo Yuhao and Wei Na were also not soul tool users.

So, this generation's main lineup once again featured no soul engineers.

Qian Duoduo sighed deeply, while Xian Lin'er looked resigned.

She tried to comfort him,

 "It's okay, Duoduo. With Vice-Dean Xuan Ziwen on board, the Soul Tool Department will surely rise again!"

Qian Duoduo regained his confidence and nodded firmly, looking at her with affection.

 "I believe in you!"

However, Xian Lin'er dodged his gaze with a flash of guilt in her eyes.

Qian Duoduo was surprised—she didn't scold him this time. Could it be… she actually has feelings for me?

He felt inexplicably happy~

Today's turtle shell was shining extra bright~

The battle between the two teams was about to erupt.

Both defensive-type Soul Masters charged at the front. Xu Sanshi and Xie Huanyue clashed head-on, with the natural result being that Xie Huanyue was sent flying backward.

However, with his body full of fat, Xie Huanyue's shock absorption was excellent. He wasn't injured much and instead bounced back like a rubber ball, flying straight at Xu Sanshi again.

Xu Sanshi didn't lower his guard. He braced his body and raised his shield.

He had matured a lot by now, displaying the true fighting style of a defense-type Soul Master—steady and reliable!

Boom!

A loud bang rang out. Xu Sanshi sank slightly under the force. Feeling the heavy impact, he couldn't help but curse,

 "Junior, you really need to lose weight!"

"Heh, Senior, all my power lies in this body of mine!" Xie Huanyue retreated with a bounce. Although he was laughing, a flicker of disappointment flashed in his eyes.

That last attack didn't achieve much effect.

Right after the two clashed, their teammates also charged in and engaged.

Wang Dong, empowered by his Bright Goddess Butterfly Martial Soul, was the first to attack. Jiang Nannan, with her Soft Bone Charming Rabbit Martial Soul, followed closely to support him.

They were facing only one opponent—Cui Yajie. Yet Cui Yajie held her ground even against the two of them.

This was thanks to the special nature of her Martial Soul.

The Nine-Tailed Jade Fox Martial Soul possessed both powerful offense and spiritual abilities, making Cui Yajie's combat precise and graceful. The nine jade tails behind her moved as if they were part of her body, making her extremely adept at fending off coordinated attacks.

Additionally, Cui Yajie had trained in combat techniques that enhanced her close-range fighting capabilities.

In the back, Lulu was supporting Cui Yajie. Her Fairy Staff Martial Soul's support effects were now almost on par with that of a same-level Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda Soul Master.

However, Wang Dong and Jiang Nannan weren't lacking support either. From the rear, Xiao Xiao activated both her Three-Life Soul Suppressing Cauldron and Nine Phoenix Melody Flute powers.

Using a special technique, Xiao Xiao simultaneously activated both Martial Souls to support Wang Dong and Jiang Nannan, while also disrupting Cui Yajie.

The combined effect was far more powerful than just one plus one.

Cui Yajie immediately felt the pressure.

Wang Dong showed a cunning smile. Suddenly, he leaped into the air and dove down from above. In mid-air, he switched his Martial Soul—now wielding the Haotian Hammer, aiming a heavy blow straight down at Cui Yajie.

Ever seen a hammer strike from the heavens?

Cui Yajie, sensing imminent danger, tried to escape at once—only to realize her movement had significantly slowed down. Her face turned pale in shock.

It wasn't her speed that had decreased—her time had been disrupted. It was Cao Jinxuan, from the backline, who had taken action.

Cao Jinxuan used his Time-Elapsing Bell Martial Soul to manipulate time. It could accelerate allies like a fast-forward effect, or slow down enemies—giving a huge edge in battle.

Wang Dong's eyes gleamed with joy. The Haotian Hammer was not something easily countered—especially not from a plunging attack like this.

If Cui Yajie took a hit like that, she'd either be eliminated or badly injured, tipping the battle.

Just then, a strange wave of energy swept across the field, instantly freeing Cui Yajie from her slowed state. She narrowly dodged Wang Dong's attack.

The hammer struck the ground, leaving a deep crater—but missed its target. Wang Dong was visibly disappointed, and reverted back to his Bright Goddess Butterfly Martial Soul, continuing the assault with Jiang Nannan.

Cui Yajie retreated to the distance, still shaken, her expression serious. Realizing the situation was tricky, she carefully resumed her defense against Wang Dong and Jiang Nannan's renewed assault.

Meanwhile, all the audience's attention was drawn to the back of Cui Yajie's team.

There floated Lulu's Fairy Staff, releasing a radiant glow that covered the entire field.

It was—Fairy Domain!

"Innate Domain Ability!"

"That's an innate domain?!"

Many inner courtyard students gasped. They were knowledgeable enough to know what it meant—but hadn't expected Lulu to possess such a power.

Only a few deans and elders remained unfazed. They already knew.

"This girl's Martial Soul is excellent—it hides some unusual powers. With time, she might even awaken a Super Martial Soul," Yan Shaozhe remarked with a smile.

"Martial Soul evolution and mutation aren't that simple," Cai Mei'er said, frowning. "But several students from the 'Huo League' already show signs of soul evolution or mutation."

Even though many members of the Huo League hid their Martial Souls, students who enrolled in the inner courtyard eventually exposed some details—and the similarities were too obvious to ignore.

Avoiding suspicion was impossible.

But—there was already an explanation.

Hearing Cai Mei'er's remark, Yan Shaozhe's face stiffened. However, seeing that they were alone, he confessed the secret:

"I used to wonder too. But I recently found out—it's all because of Yuhao. His physique is special... and has some, uh, remarkable properties. Women who are close to him benefit from it."

"This was reported by Lin—Xian Lin'er—to the Elders. Xiao Tao, Ling Luocheng, and Wei Na were the first to show results. Later, during a mission in the Sun Moon Empire, Le Xuan found out and told Xian Lin'er. She brought the report back to Sea God's Pavilion. I only learned the details from Elder Xuan."

"Yuhao? Remarkable properties?" Cai Mei'er pondered his words, and then suddenly her expression changed. Eyes widening in shock, she exclaimed, "You mean that kind of benefit?"

"Keep your voice down! Not a word of this can get out! Otherwise, Yuhao could be in danger!" Yan Shaozhe quickly warned.

Realizing the gravity, Cai Mei'er clammed up. But after a moment, she couldn't help but glance toward the field and muttered in disbelief,

 "Doesn't that mean... Xiao Tao and the others... have already... with Yuhao...?"

"Most likely," Yan Shaozhe nodded with a sigh. He didn't even know whether he was sighing in admiration—or jealousy.

"Hmph, just like you—another playboy! What does he think the academy is, his personal harem?" Cai Mei'er shot a look at Yan Shaozhe and huffed.

But this time, Yan Shaozhe boldly replied, "I'm not as good as Yuhao!"

"What are you so proud of?"

"Haha, I'm just being honest. With that kind of ability, even the Elders wouldn't object to him building a harem here. He can mass-produce top-tier Martial Souls—maybe even Super Martial Souls. Given time and resources, he could build a force to rival Shrek Academy itself!"

"And don't forget, Yuhao said his ultimate Martial Soul can be inherited by blood. If he has a dozen children with ultimate attributes... imagine that future..." Yan Shaozhe trailed off.

Cai Mei'er's eyes were already wide open, stunned by the terrifying future that was unfolding in her mind.

Such a boy was too dangerous... But—oh, Yuhao is one of our own? Then, never mind.

Honestly, if Cai Mei'er wasn't already married, she might've been tempted too.

Back in the arena, the battle had taken another turn.

With Lulu's Fairy Domain active, Cui Yajie's team now held the advantage over Xu Sanshi's. Even Xie Huanyue was able to hold his own against Xu Sanshi.

But then, Xu Sanshi suddenly locked onto Lulu.

His fourth soul ring lit up.

"Fourth Soul Skill: Xuanming Swap!"

In the blink of an eye, Xu Sanshi vanished—and Lulu appeared, surrounded by enemies.

Lulu: "...?"