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Huo Yu'er pursed her lips, her heart trembling as she met Ye Wen's serious and resolute gaze. Finally, she slowly nodded.
That's right—she was no longer the once infinitely weak Dai Yu'er. She was now Huo Yu'er, the senior disciple of Tian Xing Academy, the chosen one destined to bring change to this continent.
Though it was just a small decision, Huo Yu'er felt as if her entire being had been elevated.
The current Soul Master Tournament was far more frenzied than its counterpart from ten thousand years ago.
Its intensity even rivaled the 2005 Olympics that Ye Wen remembered from Earth.
After all, back then, the tournament wouldn't have drawn crowds blocking entire streets—it was more of an internal game among high-ranking powers.
Though Ye Wen couldn't quite understand how these struggling commoners found the leisure to watch battles involving a group of heaven's chosen ones who had nothing to do with them, as a Supreme Douluo, he naturally enjoyed certain privileges. At this moment, he sat beside Xu Jiawei, the emperor of Star Luo.
Hmm…
Ye Wen wanted to comment on how the name of the emperor of such a powerful nation, second only to the Sun Moon Empire, was so… ordinary. Was that really appropriate?
But compared to his unremarkable name, Xu Jiawei possessed qualities that Ye Wen admired. As an extraordinary emperor, Xu Jiawei's cultivation and methods were top-notch.
"Lord Tian Xing seems quite confident. I wonder what kind of prodigies you've brought this time?" Emperor Xu asked with a smile.
Recognizing Xu Jiawei's value as a frontline buffer against the Sun Moon Empire, Ye Wen didn't put on airs.
"Hehe, Your Majesty will see for yourself in due time. I guarantee you'll be astonished."
The two exchanged casual banter, but Xu Jiawei clearly sensed Ye Wen's emotional distance. He inwardly sighed, realizing there was no way to win over this supreme powerhouse.
As befitting the grandeur of the Soul Master Tournament, the competition stage was anything but shabby. It stood five meters tall and spanned a hundred meters in both length and width.
Surrounding the stage were 108 metal pillars. These weren't mere decorations—they were genuine protective soul-guiding devices. Once the match began, 108 soul masters would activate these pillars to form a protective barrier, preventing any attacks from spilling out and damaging the imperial city or harming bystanders.
Due to the random draw determining opponents, Tian Xing Academy's luck wasn't great—their match was scheduled toward the latter half of the lineup.
However, anyone with access to intelligence had already begun paying attention to this team.
When most factions received the information, their eyes betrayed disbelief.
Captain: Huo Yu'er, 32nd-level Soul Honored.
Vice Captain: Jiang Nannan, 45th-level Soul Ancestor.
Member: Xiao Xiao, 38th-level Soul Honored.
Member: Tang Ya, 42nd-level Soul Ancestor.
Member: Wei Na, 48th-level Soul Ancestor.
Member: Long Yue, 58th-level Soul King.
Member: Long Can, 56th-level Soul King.
For an academy backed by a Supreme Douluo, having their strongest member at the Soul King level could be attributed to their relatively short history and shallow foundation. But appointing a young girl with the lowest soul power as the captain? That decision was baffling.
Still, those in high positions in this era weren't fools. They knew Huo Yu'er was Ye Wen's first disciple, and anyone chosen and trained by a Supreme Douluo couldn't possibly be simple.
However, the tournament didn't register participants' martial souls, so it took considerable effort for various factions to uncover detailed information about Huo Yu'er.
When everyone learned that Huo Yuer's martial soul was Spiritual Eyes, their pupils contracted in shock.
True experts—unlike someone like Zhou Yi, whose methods were crude and brutal—understood how to evaluate the worth of Body Martial Souls.
The more critical the body part, the greater the value of the Body Martial Soul.
Without a doubt, the Spiritual Pupil was one of the few Body Martial Souls at the pinnacle.
"So that's how it is. No wonder she became captain despite her shallow cultivation."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. As expected of a Supreme Douluo. By the way, didn't he also subdue the Body Sect? Having such a senior disciple makes sense."
"Hoho, it's truly intriguing. What kind of monster is this Supreme Douluo's senior disciple?"
Meanwhile, Huo Yu'er on the competition grounds remained oblivious to the undercurrents swirling among the major factions. Though she had resolved to follow Ye Wen's instructions, she couldn't help but feel uneasy—after all, she was only a 13-year-old girl.
Having experienced much but returning to her cheerful self, Tang Ya playfully patted Huo Yu'er's shoulder.
"Don't worry, Little Yu'er. Your strength has earned the recognition of all your sisters. Just go up there and knock the enemies down—all at once. Don't overthink it."
"Mm, I understand, Sister Xiaoya," Huo Yu'er said with a firm nod, beginning to mentally prepare herself.
The relatively calmer Jiang Nannan spoke up at this point.
"It's our turn. Let's go."
Though Jiang Nannan wouldn't need to fight in this match, her nervousness was still evident. This stage had once seemed impossibly distant for those who came from Shrek.
But now, with Ye Wen's help, they could finally shine in their own right.
Huo Yu'er's team faced an obscure advanced academy called Baiye Academy—a school seemingly filled with plant-based soul masters.
At a glance, though they weren't a bunch of "green-haired" individuals, their emerald-green uniforms made Ye Wen feel as if they were wearing something akin to Shrek's uniform.
When Huo Yu'er and the girls stepped onto the competition stage, the vast arena fell into an eerie silence.
Seeing this, Ye Wen smiled in satisfaction.
This was exactly the idol-group effect he had envisioned.
The next moment, the audience erupted into thunderous cheers.
Beautiful things always moved hearts. Aside from the two members from the Body Sect who were there to fill numbers, Huo Yu'er and the other five girls had undergone transformations via Ye Wen's immortal herbs, exuding a unique aura from head to toe.
In the contestant area reserved for Shrek, Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi watched the figures they longed for day and night, their breathing heavy.
Even Ma Xiaotao, who usually had a tomboyish demeanor, was momentarily captivated but quickly grew disheartened.
"His disciples are all so beautiful… Looks like I don't stand a chance."
As for Baiye Academy, though they were momentarily distracted upon seeing their opponents were a group of beauties, they soon grew solemn. Despite knowing Tian Xing Academy's reputation, they didn't want to suffer a humiliating loss in their first match—especially not as a group of men.
"Both sides, prepare!" the referee shouted.
Instantly, Baiye Academy's members activated their martial souls, entering their battle-ready states. However, Huo Yuer's team showed no reaction.
This bizarre scene left the audience stunned and caused the referee to frown.
"Tian Xing Academy team, what are you doing? Hurry up and prepare! I'm about to announce the start of the match."
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