NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 182: The Grand Tournament!
This year's Soul Master Tournament is more magnificent than ever before!
The reason lies in a major change in the tournament's format. Not only academy forces can now participate—sect forces and family forces are also permitted to send teams. In the original canon, only sects were newly added.
Accordingly, the tournament's name changed from "Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Battle Tournament" to "Continental Youth Soul Master Battle Tournament," abbreviated as the "Youth Soul Tournament."
There was no need to consult other factions for the format change, as the tournament rotates among the four great empires, and these empires—being the continent's strongest—naturally arrange all aspects of the event as they see fit.
That said, tradition is usually upheld to avoid seeming unfair.
The Sun-Moon Empire didn't alter the core rules; it merely expanded the types of eligible participants and added a few new contest rounds. Overall, the changes were well-received, especially by sects and families.
After all, academies, sects, and noble families have always had a mix of cooperation and rivalry, often clashing with one another.
Many sect and family disciples had long resented academy students dominating the tournament. They never believed themselves inferior. Now, given the chance to stand on the same stage and compete, they were naturally thrilled.
In the past, these forces had to send their disciples to academies or even go so far as to establish their own just to compete.
Now, with the ability to participate under their own banners—no middleman needed—the joy was understandable.
Of course, this also delivers a blow to many academies, as they're bound to lose some top-tier students. Naturally, discontent is rising.
But what can they do?
Even without Mingde Hall, the Sun-Moon Empire remains the most powerful nation. And now that its crown prince is rising in influence, who dares challenge him?
This tournament has attracted over a quarter of all powerful soul masters on the continent—meaning those at Soul Saint level and above (over level 70).
Though Soul Saints may not seem special in Shrek Academy or Mingdu, they're immensely influential in most places—capable of shaking entire cities with a stomp.
Of course, these powerful figures didn't just come to spectate; many are here to protect their genius disciples.
And those are just the visible strong ones. Who knows how many more are lurking in the shadows?
Even with the increased number of competitors, spectators, merchants, and soul masters entering Mingdu, the city remains perfectly orderly.
Compared to the overcrowding during the last tournament in the Star Luo Empire, Mingdu felt... prosperous.
This is partly due to the city's vast size and its capacity to absorb large populations, and partly due to the tight security. Many soul engineer regiments are stationed outside the city, clearly visible. Even Title Douluo-level experts patrol the skies.
Only a fool would cause trouble here. Getting disqualified would be the least of their worries—getting killed on the spot would leave no one to complain to.
The Sun-Moon Empire hasn't restricted the movement of outsiders. As long as they don't approach confidential areas, people can come and go freely.
As a result, arriving teams and experts quickly gathered extensive intel about the Sun-Moon Empire—including the major recent events and the impressive figure of the soon-to-be-crowned Third Prince.
Barely in his twenties, he already commands the entire military, saved the empire from collapse, and is now ascending to the throne.
He's outshone 99% of his peers. Naturally, he's sparked romantic interest.
Many young women attending the tournament—either as contestants or spectators—came with one goal: to find a heroic young husband. The Third Prince being a prime candidate fro all.
More enticing is the rumor that he's a bit of a womanizer and hasn't taken a single wife—not even a concubine.
Compared to that gossip, the fact that he's a Title Douluo is almost overlooked.
Even those who know don't care much—everyone knows how "shallow" Sun-Moon Empire's soul masters are.
It's not that they look down on the prince specifically—they equally look down on all Sun-Moon soul masters. In their view, they're nothing but medicine-reliant husks.
And to achieve Title Douluo status so young must mean he's burned through all his potential. He has no room for growth left.
If the prince's personal competence is the thumb on a hand, then his soul master ability is the pinky toe—useful only when boosted by soul tools.
But then again... he's about to become emperor. Power trumps power levels.
—
A night has passed since Shrek Academy arrived in Mingdu.
At the hotel, several of Shrek's team members—Xian Lin'er, Cai Mei'er, Zhang Lexuan, Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luochen, Wu Ming, Hua Yao, Huo Yuhao, and Xu Sanshi—held a meeting to discuss local intelligence and formulate their plans.
Given their previous experience here, none dared to act carelessly on Sun-Moon territory.
"This Third Prince is quite the figure," said Cai Mei'er, frowning after learning the intelligence. "But whether such a man ascending the throne is good or bad for the stability of the continent is hard to say."
Xian Lin'er had gathered the intel herself. Despite her differences with Cai Mei'er, no one doubted her skill or accuracy.
Even in the original Douluo Three Kingdoms, an emperor couldn't always fully control the military.
Currently, Star Luo Empire's army is co-governed by the royal family and the White Tiger Duke's house. The Heaven Soul Empire's marshal is a royal prince, but he only commands, not controls. As for the Douling Empire, their royal family relies on alliances with great noble houses to gain military leverage.
And yet... the Sun-Moon Empire's Third Prince has achieved full military control.
"Maybe it's just that heroes are made by troubled times," suggested the impatient Wu Ming, sounding like she could do it too.
"It's not that simple," Xian Lin'er replied. "After Mingde Hall's fall and the White Lotus rebellion, the elders believed the Sun-Moon Empire would lie dormant for a while. But now, a formidable ruler has emerged, and the continent's future will surely grow more turbulent."
The prince himself wasn't the issue. The real question was—what will the prince do with the Sun-Moon Empire?
Zhang Lexuan added, "The White Lotus Cult hasn't been eradicated, only confined to the southern provinces. And they have ways to rapidly produce high-level soul masters. If the Sun-Moon Empire could ally with the Holy Spirit Cult, who's to say they won't ally with White Lotus next? That could fully compensate for their lack of high-tier soul masters."
Her words darkened everyone's expression.
Huo Yuhao silently agreed—Zhang Lexuan was sharp. The White Lotus hadn't been eliminated precisely because the Third Prince preserved them as a talent pool, even regularly supplying them with resources.
"Maybe Elder Xuan Zi should just... take care of it now?" Ma Xiaotao whispered, drawing a finger across her neck to make the suggestion clear.
Eliminate the threat in the cradle.
But Xian Lin'er shook her head. "Breaking into the Sun-Moon Imperial Palace isn't so easy. And Shrek Academy shouldn't meddle in the internal affairs of other empires. If we're caught, other nations will grow suspicious of us."
"For now, let's focus on the tournament. If the Sun-Moon Empire disturbs the continent's peace later, the Sea God Pavilion and all major forces will act together to suppress them."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Huo Yuhao, however, felt a bit disappointed.
If Elder Xuan Zi had acted, he'd have walked right into a massive surprise—giving Huo Yuhao the perfect excuse to smear Shrek Academy and trigger a whole new era on the continent.
"We should still talk about the new rules," Xian Lin'er said, shifting focus. "This year includes a Soul Tool Competition… but unfortunately, we don't have any soul engineering students with us."
"Tch, just a self-congratulatory show from the Sun-Moon Empire," Cai Mei'er sneered.
There were still a few days left before the official start of the grand tournament.
Most of the participants were staying in their hotels to rest and conserve their energy, avoiding any unnecessary complications or schemes. After all, many factions had longstanding rivalries—even blood feuds—so caution was essential.
Not to mention the precedent set during the last Soul Master Tournament involving Shrek Academy.
At that time, the leading mentor had been killed in the street, nearly causing a complete break between Shrek Academy and the Star Luo Empire.
The hotel where everyone was currently staying was truly luxurious—far surpassing even the Star Emperor Grand Hotel of the Star Luo Empire.
Most notably, the hotel was equipped with a variety of daily-use soul tools, which amazed the "country bumpkins" from the other three nations. It was a firsthand display of the wondrous soul tool technology.
Even soul masters who disdained or disliked soul tools had to admit these everyday tools greatly improved quality of life.
At most, they could only sneer and call them "flashy tricks"—but even that seemed hollow.
Xian Lin'er, in particular, was itching to disassemble every soul tool she saw to uncover their secrets, hoping to boost Shrek Academy's own soul tool development.
Fortunately, her discipline and concern for appearances prevented her from doing anything too outrageous.
At this moment, Huo Yuhao stood on the balcony of the hotel's top floor, gazing toward Mingdu. He could take in nearly the entire city at a glance—but what he focused on was the flow of its fate and fortune.
Although many strong soul masters had left their martial soul projections within Mingdu's aura, the most dominant projection was that of a blazing sun within the imperial palace. Within this sun, the silhouette of the Purple Radiance Dragon of Annihilation lay coiled and dormant.
The fate of all Mingdu—and indeed, the entire Sun Moon Empire—was converging toward this radiant sun and circulating around it.
The only projections able to rival it were the Gourmet Bull Deity and the Dark Holy Dragon.
This confirmed that both Xuan Zi and Long Xiaoyao were currently in Mingdu!
There was no sign of the Blood Soul Puppet martial soul projection. Clearly, Ye Yueshui herself wasn't in Mingdu, likely still pulling strings from the shadows while her blood soul forces acted on her behalf.
As for Huo Yuhao's own fate projection, he had hidden it—not to avoid the eyes of those within Mingdu, but to guard against the prying gaze of the God King Tang San.
Hiding one's martial soul projection was effectively hiding one's fate signature—a means of concealing one's presence and avoiding others' diWei Nations or investigations.
He had once been so frightened he didn't dare run—but now, Huo Yuhao had begun to quietly resist.
The hatred and resentment that had been festering would one day be repaid in full.
If the roles were reversed, Tang San would learn the true meaning of cruelty.
As for the current state of the Sun Moon Empire, Huo Yuhao was generally satisfied. Whether the continent fell into chaos or not was now, to a great extent, up to him.
The only imperfection was that the third prince lacked a treasure to stabilize his fate. The aura around him remained scattered—but still dense enough to be useful if activated.
All the fate in Mingdu revolved around that great sun projection, though there were a few other clear points of fate convergence.
The foremost, of course, was the imperial palace.
The next was the central district of Mingdu—destined to be the site of the Soul Master Tournament, and drawing immense public attention. It was this widespread focus and collective will that amassed a tremendous amount of fate there.
The ultimate winner of the tournament would be blessed by this fate and receive its gifts.
Huo Yuhao once yearned for this fate—but no longer.
It wasn't that fate no longer appealed to him, or that he had become reckless, but because he now clearly understood:
This fate was already in the palm of his hand!
The members of Shrek Academy weren't holed up in the hotel all the time. Though still wary of Mingdu and the Sun Moon Empire, they didn't let that stop them from sightseeing or gathering intel.
After all, they had a powerful backer this time.
Naturally, many came visiting of their own accord.
Some were former Shrek students, coming to visit Vice Deans Xian Lin'er and Cai Mei'er. Others were young friends of Huo Yuhao and his teammates, seeking to interact and bond further. Still others were representatives of various powers, hoping to build ties with Shrek Academy and secure future cooperation.
Huo Yuhao met many familiar faces.
For example, disciples from various sects who had befriended him arrived to pay their respects. They had come alongside their sects' teams. Though some had been beaten by Huo Yuhao in the past, they still respected him—especially for his noble and upright conduct.
Nanshui Shui also visited with Nan Qiuqiu on behalf of the Earth Dragon Sect, which had its own team participating. In recent years, the Earth Dragon Sect had maintained a good relationship with Shrek Academy. Nanshui Shui had once helped Huo Yuhao obtain a 100,000-year spirit ring, earning the favor of Shrek's leadership. Xian Lin'er personally received her.
Nanshui Shui behaved with grace and dignity, naturally commanding respect. Nan Qiuqiu, on the other hand, looked at Huo Yuhao with bold affection in her eyes.
Xian Lin'er's brow twitched at this. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of discomfort.
Still, she admired Nanshui Shui. They communicated as equals. Though Nanshui Shui had only recently become a Title Douluo, Xian Lin'er sensed her strength wasn't inferior. It was likely due to the power boost from her 100,000-year ninth spirit ring.
Unfortunately, neither Xian Lin'er nor Cai Mei'er had such a ninth ring. Theirs were only ten-thousand-year level.
Without a 100,000-year ninth ring, reaching Super Douluo status required either exceptional talent or rare fortune.
Hard training might lead to a breakthrough—but opportunities were few and far between.
Representatives from the three great empires also visited, and all were received by Huo Yuhao personally.
The Star Luo Empire sent Princess Xu Jiujiu, who also served as the coach for their royal team. In front of Huo Yuhao, she always felt somewhat inferior.
Still, her visit aimed to strengthen ties with Huo Yuhao and Shrek Academy, in hopes of increased future cooperation.
Clearly, the rise of a new powerful ruler in the Sun Moon Empire had made Xu Jiujiu and her empire feel the looming threat.
Border conflicts between the Sun Moon and Star Luo Empires remained unresolved with no end in sight.
The Heaven Dou Empire sent a prince, officially to visit Princess Wei Na—but in reality, to confirm her current relationship with Huo Yuhao.
Seeing their deep closeness, the envoy from the Heaven Dou Empire was reassured.
Everything was going according to plan!
The most interesting visitor was the representative of the Dou Ling Empire: Tu Xijun.
She was now not only the coach of Dou Ling Royal Academy's team, but also a diplomat for the empire.
Tu Xijun had refused the position of crown princess. The royal family couldn't retaliate against her, especially since her family held great influence. To maintain ties, they gave her a high-ranking position—hence, the diplomat role.
Tu Xijun's family had initially opposed her decision. After all, becoming empress would have greatly empowered them.
But when Tu Xijun revealed her newly evolved and mutated martial soul—and her enhanced strength—every objection disappeared.
Her original martial soul had been the Three-Eyed Enchanting Fox. After several "friendly visits" to Huo Yuhao, it had evolved into a super martial soul: the Jade-Faced Enchantress Fox, retaining its unique third eye.
Not only had her martial soul's strength increased dramatically, but she had also awakened a powerful innate ability: Jade Will—which could absorb and consume all spiritual power within a certain radius to replenish and enhance her own. Though not a domain, its power was comparable.
With a super martial soul, Tu Xijun's family no longer wanted her to marry out. Instead, they insisted she marry into the family—so the super martial soul could be passed down.
A single empress might uplift the family for decades—but a super martial soul meant continuous growth for generations.
Tu Xijun came as a representative of the Douling Empire, officially for diplomatic business. After all, in the current situation on the Douluo Continent, the Douling Empire was the least affected.
If the Star Luo Empire and the Heaven Soul Empire hadn't already visited, the Douling Empire likely wouldn't have bothered to visit Shrek Academy either.
But since the Star Luo and Heaven Soul Empires had done so, the Douling Empire couldn't afford to fall behind.
After all, Shrek Academy was located right at the border of all three empires. If any incident occurred, Shrek wouldn't be able to stay out of it. At that point, the Douling Empire would still have to look to Shrek's reaction.
They didn't need to curry excessive favor with Shrek, but they absolutely couldn't afford to offend it either.
Important figures may not always remember who brought gifts—but they definitely notice who didn't show up at all.
Taylor came along as Tu Xijun's follower. She had always closely followed Tu Xijun's footsteps, and because of this, her martial soul had evolved—from a Golden Saber-Toothed Tiger into a Golden Tyrant Tiger. Still within the top-tier martial soul category, her golden bloodline had been significantly strengthened, and the power of her martial soul more than doubled. Taylor herself had become a formidable warrior, no weaker than disciples of the Body Sect.
Then, during the farewell, Tu Xijun suddenly slipped Huo Yuhao a note—with a hotel room number written on it.
Curious, Huo Yuhao went to check it out—and ended up staying for half a day.
After going over some spear techniques with Tu Xijun and Taylor, and thoroughly "overpowering" them, Huo Yuhao leisurely made his way back to the academy.
Unexpectedly, just as he exited the hotel, he ran into a few familiar faces.
Very warming familiar faces—Dai Huabin!
Dai Huabin had brought a team, seemingly to participate in the Soul Master Tournament as well, and he was the team captain.
But calling them a team of soul masters was a stretch—they looked more like a squad of soldiers.
All male soul masters, exuding a strong aura of iron-blooded discipline.
Zhu Lu was not among the team.
The current Dai Huabin was very different from before. Now grown, his appearance and build resembled that of the former Dai Yaoheng—handsome, tall, broad-shouldered, and strong.
But temperament-wise, they were complete opposites.
Dai Yaoheng had always exuded noble grace like a gentleman of a noble house, though not lacking the masculine might of a tiger king. The current Dai Huabin, however, had eyes sharp and fierce like a bloodthirsty beast on the hunt.
Years of military training had molded him into who he was. His skin was bronzed, with a scar running across his nose bridge—not hideous, but rather highlighting his unruly and wild presence.
Perhaps due to his sharpened senses from military life, Dai Huabin instantly noticed Huo Yuhao's gaze. He turned sharply—and saw that familiar yet changed face.
Even though Huo Yuhao had grown a lot and his appearance had changed, Dai Huabin would never mistake him!
In that instant, Dai Huabin's eyes turned sharp and bloodthirsty. His teammates also picked up on his shift in mood, and immediately turned to look at Huo Yuhao, releasing killing intent and hostility without hesitation, following Dai Huabin's lead.
It was as if, with a single command from Dai Huabin, they would charge and strike down Huo Yuhao.
Clearly, these men—more like soldiers—were not ordinary. Likely not only from the army, but also raised in the White Tiger Duke's estate. These were now Dai Huabin's personal guards.
Their behavior instantly drew attention. The sudden killing aura startled many of the regular academy students.
"Where did this murderous bunch come from?!" someone cursed under their breath, not daring to intervene for fear of getting involved.
And yet, the target of their hostility, Huo Yuhao, simply smiled warmly and gently—like a friend reunited after many years.
Dai Huabin raised his hand to stop his men. Once they withdrew their killing intent, he neither approached Huo Yuhao nor uttered any harsh words. Instead, he turned around and led his team into the hotel to complete their tournament and lodging registration.
Only when he was leaving did he glance deeply at Huo Yuhao, clearly not planning to let him off so easily.
Compared to the past, Dai Huabin had matured on a whole new level.
Huo Yuhao's gentle smile remained unchanged.
"A Soul Emperor, huh? Tsk tsk, seems like he's been training hard."
He was far stronger than Dai Yaoheng had ever been.
After that, Huo Yuhao returned to the hotel and back to Shrek Academy's suite.
Everyone who had gone out for leisure had also returned.
They gathered in the luxurious lounge, chatting and sharing the interesting things they'd encountered that day.
Mostly, the girls had gone shopping and seemed to have had a great time. They were eagerly discussing the shops they had visited and comparing the differences between the Sun Moon Empire and the other three nations.
Naturally, Wang Dong had gone with them. Though still disguised as a boy, her true identity hadn't been exposed. However, she often forgot her pretense, and her interests aligned perfectly with the other girls.
As a result, she sometimes came off as rather effeminate—and thus, the girls simply treated her as one of their own.
Probably only Xiao Xiao harbored non-sisterly thoughts toward her.
Xu Sanshi had tagged along too, but his goal was clearly to carry Jiang Nannan's bags.
Unfortunately, Jiang Nannan didn't buy much due to budget constraints, and she had a storage-type soul tool, so she didn't need help with bags.
Still, Xu Sanshi was very happy. Even if he couldn't help her, just getting close and smelling the fragrance on her was enough to make him feel content.
Cao Jinxuan had also gone out—not for shopping, but to reconnect with some old classmates.
Some of the outer courtyard students who had failed their assessments in the past had joined the tournament as representatives of their clans or sects. Cao Jinxuan's former classmates were among them.
Wandering around, he naturally ran into a few familiar faces.
But no one expected Cao Jinxuan to return shouting like he had uncovered some big secret.
Naturally, that drew everyone's attention.
"Cao, calm down and tell us slowly!" Xu Sanshi smacked him on the back, finally getting him to settle.
Holding back his excitement, Cao Jinxuan began with great expression, "You guys won't believe what I found out. The Zhu Clan of the Star Luo Empire has also sent a team to this tournament—and guess who's leading them? Zhu Lu!"
"The Zhu Clan is a major family—what's strange about them sending a team?" Wang Dong asked instinctively, a bit slow on the uptake.
Fortunately, someone else quickly caught on.
"Wei Na gasped, "What did you say? Zhu Lu's leading the team? What about Dai Huabin? Weren't they always a pair?"
Only upon hearing Dai Huabin's name did everyone realize—the Nether White Tiger duo isn't together anymore?!
Normally, with the White Tiger taking the lead, Dai Huabin should have been the captain.
"I saw Dai Huabin downstairs earlier," Huo Yuhao chimed in. "Looked like he also brought a separate team."
Everyone looked surprised.
"Did the White Tiger Duke's house and the Zhu Clan have a falling out?" Xiao Xiao boldly guessed.
"That's what we're guessing too! Who would've thought—a couple with a spirit fusion technique could break up?!" Cao Jinxuan slapped his thigh, looking thoroughly entertained.
"That seems unlikely… but if they really aren't on the same team, that's one less major threat for us," Xu Sanshi said calmly.
Back when they were discussing opponents, Xian Lin'er and Cai Mei'er had specifically mentioned the Nether White Tiger duo. Huo Yuhao already had conflict with Dai Huabin, and the White Tiger Duke's family had friction with Shrek. If they had to face them, they couldn't let their guard down.
But now, it seemed that duo might no longer exist.
Cao Jinxuan brought back a fair amount of intel, though he was clearly more enthusiastic about the gossip.
For example, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had a team with Nanmen Yuner in it—possibly recruited as outside support. The team captain was Ning Tian.
Also, the Body Sect had sent a team—very mysterious.
Even more intriguingly, the Sun Moon Empire's most talented princess would also participate—but not on behalf of any academy. She'd be competing under the name of the imperial Xu family.
As they say—more people, more gossip.
The Soul Master Tournament had officially begun!
A salvo of 108 ceremonial cannon blasts erupted in the skies above Mingdu, announcing the grand opening of the competition and igniting the city's fervent atmosphere.
Compared to the former Star Luo City, Mingdu was far more bustling and vibrant—yet also more orderly.
Thanks to its spacious layout and the use of soul-screen technology, viewing arrangements had been made well in advance. Every resident of Mingdu was guaranteed access to a live broadcast of the Soul Master Tournament!
Moreover, two of the Beast King Legions—the Terrorclaw Soul Engineer Legion and the Evil Monarch Soul Engineer Legion—descended together, tasked with supporting the city's defense forces in maintaining order.
Who would dare stir up trouble under such conditions?
The current commanders and deputy commanders of these two legions were none other than Murong Qianjun, Duanmu Wanma, Ximen Baiwan, and Gongsun Xiongbing—the former four Elders of the Alto Commerce Guild.
Under Huo Yuhao's guidance, they had all successfully advanced to Title Douluo level and acquired powerful ninth soul rings—while not 100,000-year soul rings, they were each at the 90,000-year level and perfectly compatible with their martial souls.
With suitable cultivation techniques and battle skills, as well as fully equipped with Class 9 soul tools, their strength now far surpassed their predecessors—even without exclusive Class 9 equipment.
The Third Prince had also brought An Litong and the four Elders under his command to help him take full control of three of the four Beast King Legions, leaving only the Fire Phoenix Legion semi-independent.
Even so, the Fire Phoenix Legion had no choice but to fall in line once the others submitted.
The Third Prince hadn't neglected to plant insiders within the Fire Phoenix Legion either. The former leader of the Modest Alliance, Shangguan Weier, was now acting as a military advisor within the Fire Phoenix Legion.
Shangguan Weier was an astute and resourceful woman who naturally made herself useful.
At last, the arena opened.
The contestants began their entrance.
As the reigning champions, the Shrek Academy team led the procession.
Still led by Huo Yuhao, the main members walked in front, followed by the reserves.
The teacher-chaperones, Hua Yao and Wu Ming, followed the team from behind, while the rest had taken their seats in the VIP viewing area earlier.
All eyes were on them.
The spectators and other contestants looked at the Shrek team with a mix of admiration, envy, longing, and awe.
Yet Huo Yuhao and his teammates appeared calm and composed.
Whether their hearts were truly so serene was another matter—but as high-level soul masters, their self-control was beyond doubt.
Following Shrek's entry, the once-prestigious Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy was nowhere to be seen. In its place was the Mingdu Royal Soul Engineering Academy.
Now bearing the "Royal" title, it served as the official academy of the Sun Moon Empire and had gained elevated status.
And yet—the faces were still familiar.
Because the captain and vice-captain of the Mingdu Royal team were none other than Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen.
Both wore solemn expressions, staring intently at the backs of the Shrek team, lost in thought.
After returning to the Empire, they found their academy destroyed, and their family nearly exiled. It all felt like a dream.
Fortunately, the Third Prince reinstated Jing Hongchen, preserving the Hongchen family. Still, every time they saw Jing Hongchen's pale hair and deferential behavior before the prince, their hearts ached.
How had their former spiritual leader of soul engineers fallen so low?
Since then, the two siblings matured rapidly, cultivating diligently. They maintained their genius reputations and became the team's captain and vice-captain.
They even earned the favor of the Third Prince and were gifted valuable treasures.
"Meng, for the sake of His Highness, for our family, for the Sun Moon Empire, we must defeat Shrek!" Xiao Hongchen declared solemnly.
"Xiao, we will succeed!" Meng Hongchen nodded firmly.
Yet she couldn't help glancing wistfully at Huo Yuhao's figure up ahead.
Yes, he was handsome, and once made her heart flutter—but on the battlefield, she would show no mercy!
Following the academies came the sect teams.
First to appear was the Body Sect.
No other sect dared upstage them.
Even so, the Body Sect's disciples looked unenthusiastic, and their team leader, Long Aotian, wore a cold expression.
They all knew full well the sect's current state—and Huo Yuhao's overwhelming dominance.
Long Aotian could only sigh as he gazed at Huo Yuhao.
"We can only aim for second place... Is there even a point in competing?"
He had completely submitted to Huo Yuhao—not just because of cultivation methods, but also due to Huo Yuhao's last visit. During a tour across the continent to connect with followers, he visited the Body Sect and physically beat all resistance out of them, even publicly thrashing Du Busu.
Since then, no one dared challenge him.
Instead, Huo Yuhao had become their new "god."
He had defeated Du Busu using only battle skills, stunning every disciple and earning their wholehearted devotion.
Speaking of Du Busu—he had also reached the Limit Douluo stage, even surpassing Xuan Zi by two levels and stepping into the realm of demi-godhood.
Second among the sects was the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, led by Ning Tian, with Wu Feng and Nanmen Yuner following close behind.
Although the Nanmen Clan now boasted two Title Douluo, they had kept it hidden, choosing instead to quietly prosper. Nanmen Yuner joined the sect team as both a field experience opportunity and a favor to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
Having a Soul Sage-level external helper was indeed a valuable favor.
Third and fourth were the Heavenly Dragon Sect and the Earth Dragon Sect, entering side by side.
Only then did the rest of the sects follow.
The Holy Spirit Cult had blended in inconspicuously. Tang Ya led the team, with Bei Bei as vice-captain. Both wore masks to conceal their identities.
After the sects came the family teams.
Leading the way was the Sun Moon Xu Clan—the imperial family.
Xu Tianzhen led the team.
Strangely, there were no other Xu family members. The remaining six team members wore cloaks, concealing their figures—shrouded in mystery.
Even more secretive than the Holy Spirit Cult.
Not just outsiders, but even the Holy Spirit Cult, Worship Hall, and royal relatives were curious about this team's composition.
Only the Third Prince supported them—no one knew whom he had placed within.
But no one dared ask.
Following them came the Star Luo Dai Clan and the Star Luo Zhu Clan.
The two clans' teams walked side by side—but showed no signs of friendliness. It was as though an invisible chasm lay between them, stirring gossip among the onlookers.
Dai Huabin glanced at Zhu Lu, who remained calm and composed, then clenched his fists, a flash of menace in his eyes.
His family had informed him that the Zhu Clan was slowly distancing itself from the White Tiger Duke's Mansion. Whether due to new confidence or a desire to sever past ties, it was clear their relationship had become strained.
Now, their connection was merely superficial.
"Is it because of family matters that Zhu Lu is pushing me away? No matter what, once I inherit the White Tiger Duke's title, the Zhu Clan will submit. Otherwise, don't blame me for discarding old feelings…" Dai Huabin thought darkly.
He still cared deeply for Zhu Lu. Though they hadn't seen each other in some time, they'd continued exchanging letters.
He didn't believe that the girl who had written him affectionate, tear-soaked letters could truly be so cold.
If given the chance, he was determined to talk things out and clear up the misunderstanding.
At last, all teams had entered and stood waiting on the field, facing the open platform.
Qingci Douluo and Moying Douluo appeared together, standing at the front of the arena and shouting in unison:
"His Highness the Third Prince arrives—kneel and show respect!"
Atop the high platform stood a single figure clad in luxurious robes. Though alone, he radiated like the brightest sun among stars—drawing every gaze, exuding overwhelming brilliance.
The Third Prince stood tall and commanding, his appearance stern and handsome. Even dressed simply in a golden robe, he couldn't hide his noble aura.
With hands clasped behind his back and a faint, unreadable smile on his lips, he looked down from above like a deity gazing upon the mortal world.
Then, he slowly sat on the sole ornate high-backed chair, head turned slightly, his posture calm and authoritative.
Boom!
Boom! Boom!
Every soldier maintaining order fell to one knee. The collective impact of their knees striking the ground rumbled like thunder.
The civil and military officials in the audience all left their seats to kneel in deference. The citizens of the Sun Moon Empire present followed suit.
What truly stunned the foreign visitors, however, was that even Title Douluo Mo Ying and Qing Ci, the heads and deputies of both the Terrorclaw Soul Engineer Regiment and Evil Sovereign Soul Engineer Regiment, and even Jing Hongchen—a Title Douluo and Class 9 Soul Engineer who served as the event's host—all knelt to the prince, pressing their foreheads to the floor in deep reverence.
All contestants from the Sun Moon Empire bowed with utmost respect.
Only then did the contestants from the other three nations realize what was happening and hurriedly followed suit.
Bowing to the emperor—or in this case, the imperial family—was a traditional and essential ritual at every Soul Master Tournament.
The shout of fealty came first from the Title Douluos:
"Greetings to His Highness the Third Prince!"
One after another, ministers, soldiers, audience members, and contestants echoed:
"Greetings to His Highness the Third Prince!"
"Greetings to His Highness the Third Prince!"
"Greetings to His Highness the Third Prince!"
Their cries surged like waves across the entire stadium, resonating throughout Mingdu, refusing to fade.
Every soul screen in Mingdu displayed the image of the Third Prince seated in solemn majesty, receiving the people's salute.
This moment clearly demonstrated what the Third Prince meant to the Sun Moon Empire.
Foreign contestants, dignitaries, and tourists were overwhelmed—with shock, disbelief, and a profound sense of unease.
This was true, unstoppable dominance.
In the shadows, Xuan Zi watched with narrowed eyes, sensing the growing threat of the Sun Moon Empire. Despite his concern, he made no move.
No matter his opinion of the Empire or the prince, he couldn't interfere. Shrek Academy had to maintain stability and wait for Huo Yuhao and the others to mature.
"But really, the ones who should be worried now are the Star Luo Empire and the Heavenly Soul Empire," Xuan Zi muttered with a hint of schadenfreude.
After all, they were the ones bordering the Sun Moon Empire.
And indeed, not just those two, but representatives from all three foreign nations wore grim expressions.
This was no longer just the bearing of a future ruler—this Third Prince had become a true dragon, exuding utter confidence in both his strength and his empire's might.
Title Douluos bowing to an emperor—in the other three nations, that was unthinkable.
One of a Title Douluo's sacred privileges was that they were exempt from kneeling to royalty. No bows for emperors, no salutes to kings.
Yet here, in the Sun Moon Empire, even old, respected figures like Jing Hongchen, a Class 9 Soul Engineer, were kneeling—prostrating themselves.
Foreign emperors might feel envy, but more than that, fear. For this had happened in the Sun Moon Empire.
Even though the chant only addressed him as "Third Prince" and not "Regent," such formalities were now meaningless.
He himself had become the law and the principle of the Sun Moon Empire.
If he wished to go to war with another nation, a single command from him would suffice—and no one would oppose it.
That was what truly terrified the foreign delegations.
Despite the destruction of Mingde Hall and other recent upheavals, it was now abundantly clear—the Sun Moon Empire remained stronger than any of the other three.
They now all realized: for this tournament, they needed to form an alliance.
If the Sun Moon Empire claimed victory again, their imperial ambitions might never be curbed again.
"So that's the Third Prince…"
Even Long Xiaoyao was disturbed by the opening ceremony. His expression turned serious as he stared at the prince.
He began to doubt whether the Holy Spirit Church's cooperation with the Sun Moon Empire had been a wise decision.
He had originally assumed the Empire's only strength lay in its aging elders in the Hall of Worship. He had never imagined the Third Prince himself would be so powerful—and so ruthless.
There was a reason the prince stood alone on that high platform—it wasn't negligence, but rather because no one else was qualified to stand beside him.
If the partnership ever collapsed, the Holy Spirit Church would face a relentless purge from the Empire. Even during cooperation, there was no guarantee the Sun Moon Empire wouldn't seize the chance to devour them entirely.
While Xu Tiannan might accept the Church as a state religion, the Third Prince would only accept its submission. Anything less meant conflict.
And no one had warned them that the Third Prince was this kind of man.
The crowd's cheering lasted a full three minutes before the Third Prince raised his hand lightly, signaling them to stop. He spoke calmly:
"You may all rise."
His voice carried clearly to every corner of the stadium—without the use of any soul amplifiers.
Title Douluos, ministers, soldiers, and the audience all ceased cheering, stood up, and awaited his next words.
Beyond the stadium, cheers still echoed.
Huo Yuhao and the others also stood straight, staring toward the high platform.
"Man, what a show. No wonder I'm me," Huo Yuhao muttered to himself, his main consciousness just having withdrawn from the prince's body.
That moment had been utterly intoxicating.
And during the waves of adoration, Huo Yuhao had activated his Fate-Seizing Technique, effortlessly absorbing vast quantities of fate energy.
Some came from the scattered fate in Mingdu—but most came from the people bowing to him.
This harvest was massive.
Still seated, the Third Prince began to speak again. He hadn't used any amplification, but his voice reached every ear:
"I am not much older than most of the contestants, so I will not give a lengthy speech or lecture. I only hope each of you will shine on this stage, honor yourselves and those who support you, and achieve a performance you'll be proud of—so that years from now, you will not have regrets."
"Next, I will announce the rewards for this tournament."
"This time, we have added the Soul Engineer Tournament, open to all soul engineers under the age of twenty. There will be several categories of competition, each offering generous rewards—soul tool blueprints, high-grade soul tools, and even a chance to become the personal disciple of the Empire's Class 9 Soul Engineer, Jing Hongchen."
"However, these results will not impact the Soul Combat competition's standings. The top three teams in Soul Combat will receive the following rewards."
"Third place: 1 million gold soul coins."
"Second place: 2 million gold soul coins and one Class 9 soul tool."
"First place: 5 million gold soul coins, two Class 9 soul tools, and… one 100,000-year soul bone."
Whoa—!
The arena exploded with noise.
"Class 9 soul tools are being given as prizes now?!"
"Shouldn't we be more shocked by the 100,000-year soul bone?!"
"This has to be a joke!"
"The best we've seen in past years was a 50,000-year soul bone!"
In response, the Third Prince raised his hand.
A soul bone emitting powerful soul energy—clearly a left arm bone—appeared in his hand. He held it aloft for all to see.
"That soul energy—it really is 100,000 years!"
Countless eyes widened in disbelief—then turned greedy.
Instantly, every contestant's spirit surged.
"That's all," the prince said casually. "Hongchen, you're in charge of the competition now."
"As you command!"