Chapter 176: Reunion with Zhu Zhuqing
"It's true!"
Before Su Mo could answer, Bibi Dong's figure materialized in front of Qian Renxue after confirming no outsiders were present.
"Mom!"
Qian Renxue cried out joyfully, throwing herself into Bibi Dong's embrace.
What followed was Bibi Dong recounting Su Mo's recent achievements to her daughter.
"You broke through to Soul Sage too?"
"And obtained two hundred-thousand-year soul rings?"
Qian Renxue's reaction mirrored others'—utter astonishment.
She couldn't help comparing herself: born with innate full soul power of 20 levels, possessing a divine-grade martial soul. Yet now, a full decade older than Su Mo, she remained merely a Soul Sage. A dreadful suspicion took root—she might no longer be Su Mo's match.
His soul ring configuration already surpassed hers. Add to that his twin martial souls and that terrifying spacetime ability she'd personally experienced when he'd taken her soul through time...
"Mmm." Su Mo responded with a light smile.
"..."
"Then why are you competing in the tournament? Isn't that just bullying?" Qian Renxue gave him an exasperated look.
"Mainly to prevent Yu Xiaogang from gaining prestige. If I don't participate, his Shrek Academy team will undoubtedly win."
"Including Tang San, their team now boasts four Soul Kings."
Knowing Bibi Dong's history with Yu Xiaogang, Su Mo saw no need for concealment.
"True, we can't let him grow too complacent." Qian Renxue nodded in agreement.
Having monitored Shrek's team composition, she knew Su Mo spoke truthfully. Without him, Shrek would easily claim this year's championship with their four Soul Kings—surpassing even last tournament's Spirit Hall team. This year's Spirit Hall representatives only had Zhu Zhuqing as their sole Soul King.
After the reunion satisfied Bibi Dong's maternal longing, Su Mo returned to Sea God Island.
As Heaven Dou's team automatically advanced to finals, Su Mo had months before needing to appear. The tournament's preliminary and advancement rounds would consume several months first.
Back on Sea God Island, Su Mo calmly undertook the Second Trial—crossing the Ringed Sea without harming marine life.
For him, simplicity itself. A single teleportation would suffice.
Yet Su Mo chose direct confrontation.
Not even the formidable Demon Spirit Great White Sharks could hinder him.
Eventually, the Great White Shark King Xiao Bai emerged to obstruct him. Su Mo used this opportunity to study sea soul beasts' attack patterns, preparing for future hunts of the Evil Soul Orca King and Deep Sea Demon Whale King.
...
"Tang Hao attacked Su Mo in Slaughter City over the Soul Weapon Fusion and Soul-Refining techniques?"
"So that's why Su Mo publicized the secrets!"
Inside Spirit Hall's papal chambers, Pope Bibi Dong digested the intelligence Qian Renxue had conveyed.
Now she understood Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Su Mo's motives—retaliation against Clear Sky Clan.
"That girl... implying she's more confident about subduing Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect now..."
Setting down the report, the Pope realized Qian Renxue's underlying message. Had they previously discussed her plans to eliminate both Seven Treasure and Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon sects, she might have suspected her daughter was subtly advising against targeting the former.
"It seems the Soul Hunting Operation needn't include Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
"Destroying Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan alone will sufficiently intimidate the soul master world."
"Additionally... it avenges Xiaogang. How dare they expel him all those years ago, forcing him into such hardship! Unforgivable!"
Tapping her jade-like fingers, Bibi Dong finalized her decision—Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would be spared.
Originally hesitant due to Qian Renxue's counsel, this new intelligence cemented her resolution.
"Su Mo... a 19-year-old Soul Sage..."
Finally, the Pope turned her attention to Su Mo.
Qian Renxue's report omitted his Sea God Island trials and inheritance, only mentioning his current rank and soul rings—information inevitably revealed during the tournament anyway.
Such extraordinary talent left even the Pope awestruck. Never had she heard of such rapid cultivation speed.
Moreover, Su Mo's intellect in discovering and publicizing tool soul evolution methods had earned him immense prestige across both soul master society and Spirit Hall. Recruiting him became imperative; acting against him would only breed discontent.
"Such a pity for Xiaogang though... With Su Mo participating, Shrek Academy stands no chance at the championship."
"Even with four Soul Kings including Tang San, they'll be powerless against Su Mo."
Her heart ached for Yu Xiaogang. Having closely followed Shrek's progress—especially as his team—she knew their exact lineup. She'd so hoped this tournament might finally validate his theories.
"Is there any way... to prevent Su Mo from competing?"
Her fingers resumed their rhythmic tapping as she contemplated covert assistance for Yu Xiaogang.
...
After Su Mo's return to Sea God Island, the tournament commenced as scheduled.
When Shrek Academy unveiled their strength on stage, the entire Heaven Dou division reeled in shock.
"Four Soul Kings!"
"Heavens above!"
"Since when is Shrek this powerful? Four Soul Kings!"
"Incredible! This year's championship is undoubtedly theirs!"
The crowd's exclamations echoed across the stadium.
The Thunderclap Team, Divine Wind Team, Heavenly Water Team, Elephant Armor Team, and Blazing Fire Team—the five elemental academies that were regulars in the finals—were all stunned.
They had been eagerly preparing for this tournament, hoping to achieve outstanding results. But after witnessing Shrek Academy's performance, it felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over them, chilling them to the bone.
What was there to compete for? Their teams didn't even have a single Soul King.
"Hahaha, today we've completely stolen the spotlight!"
"The audience was completely shocked by us..."
Ma Hongjun and the others were naturally thrilled, feeling this was the treatment their Shrek Academy team deserved.
"The preliminary and advancement rounds won't be any challenge for Tang San and the others!"
"Now it all depends on their performance in the finals!"
"I wonder if the Spirit Hall team will produce any monsters this year!"
As the dean of Shrek Academy, Flender was also overjoyed, already fantasizing about what kind of results they might achieve in this tournament.
He could already imagine that after this competition, Shrek Academy would become increasingly popular, attracting more and more students.
That meant more money!
More importantly, through these two tournaments, he had finally succeeded in establishing the reputation of the Shrek Academy he founded. From now on, his academy would no longer be seen as some no-name institution but a truly renowned top-tier academy.
"That shouldn't be possible. Even Spirit Hall can't produce so many monstrous geniuses two tournaments in a row!" Yu Xiaogang chuckled confidently.
"Have you gathered any intel on the Heaven Dou Royal Academy team?" he then asked about their main competitors.
In this tournament, the only team that truly warranted his caution was Heaven Dou Royal Academy—or more precisely, Su Mo and Ning Rongrong.
What concerned him most was Su Mo and Ning Rongrong's martial soul fusion skill, which was far too powerful.
Tang San had mentioned that Su Mo might have already broken through to Soul Emperor. If that were true, then Su Mo and Ning Rongrong's fusion skill would undoubtedly reach Soul Sage-level combat power.
Their Shrek team only had four Soul Kings. While they could handle Soul Emperors, facing an opponent with Soul Sage-level strength would be extremely difficult.
"Yes, I've already looked into it!"
"For this tournament, Su Mo has returned to the Heaven Dou Royal team!"
Hearing Flender's words, Yu Xiaogang's expression tightened slightly before he asked curiously, "Really? Then why are you still smiling?"
"That's because this time, only Su Mo has returned to the team!"
"Ning Rongrong and that girl Ye Lingling couldn't make it back due to other commitments!"
"Don't you think that's something worth celebrating?"
"No matter how strong Su Mo is, even if he's reached Soul Emperor, he's just one person now. Without Ning Rongrong, Su Mo isn't nearly as fearsome!"
Flender quickly explained the reason for his optimism.
"You're certain?"
Sure enough, Yu Xiaogang's face lit up with delight upon hearing this.
If only Su Mo had returned, then the threat level dropped significantly. Tang San and the others still stood a very good chance of victory.
"Yes, I'm certain. Only Su Mo has rejoined the team!" Flender confirmed firmly.
"Hahaha, excellent! In that case, Heaven Dou Royal Academy isn't so intimidating anymore!"
Yu Xiaogang laughed heartily in relief.
"Teacher, Dean, are you saying Su Mo has returned to the Heaven Dou Royal team?"
At that moment, Tang San, who had just stepped off the stage, overheard their conversation from a distance. His sharp ears caught the crucial information, and he hurried over to press for details.
"Yes, that's right, Tang San. Su Mo has rejoined the Heaven Dou Royal team."
"But the good news is that he's the only one who returned. Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling aren't with the team this time."
Yu Xiaogang naturally didn't hide anything from Tang San and quickly shared the update with a smile.
"...Mmm."
Hearing this confirmation, Tang San clenched his fists tightly.
As expected, Su Mo had appeared in the tournament just as he'd anticipated.
This meant he would have his chance for revenge.
The fact that Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling hadn't returned boosted his confidence even further.
"Haha, so only Su Mo came back to the Heaven Dou Royal team?"
"Then they're nothing to worry about!"
"This tournament's championship definitely belongs to our Shrek team!"
Ma Hongjun and the others arrived just in time to hear Yu Xiaogang's explanation and immediately erupted in excitement.
They still held some apprehension toward Su Mo—but mainly toward Su Mo when combined with Ning Rongrong's fusion skill.
A Su Mo without Ning Rongrong? That was far less threatening.
Even if Su Mo had truly broken through to Soul Emperor as Tang San suspected, so what?
Their Shrek team now had four Soul Kings!
With this knowledge, the Shrek team's morale skyrocketed.
In the subsequent matches, whether in preliminaries or advancement rounds, Shrek Academy claimed first place every time.
Then, along with the other fourteen teams from the Heaven Dou Empire, they were escorted to Spirit City under the protection of Crown Prince Xue Qinghe's troops.
When all the teams gathered at Spirit Hall, the non-seeded teams finally got their first look at the three seeded teams' members.
"Zhu Zhuqing! That woman is actually on the Spirit Hall team?!"
Dai Mubai and the others paled upon spotting Zhu Zhuqing among the Spirit Hall team's ranks.
...
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