Chapter 271: The Round-Robin Clash Begins—Shrek vs. Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy
The round-robin tournament of the All-Continent Senior Soul Master Competition had officially begun.
Ordinarily, round-robin matches wouldn't attract too much attention, but this particular match was an exception. The competition hadn't even started yet, but the stands were already packed to capacity. Ticket prices had surged, some seats fetching prices dozens of times higher than normal. The Sun Moon Empire even made a rare move—issuing standing-room-only tickets at the outermost perimeter—and even those were almost impossible to obtain.
The reason was simple: this wasn't just any match. It was a showdown between Shrek Academy, long hailed by the Douluo Three Kingdoms as the No. 1 soul master academy, and the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, which the Sun Moon Empire claimed was the strongest among its own soul master academies.
In previous years, such a claim would have been laughable. The Sun Moon Empire had always excelled in soul tools, not traditional soul masters. Even its own citizens had viewed the Royal Soul Master Academy as inferior to Shrek.
But things were different now.
Ever since the introduction of soul spirits, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy had begun dominating their matches. With soul spirits aiding them in battle—often resulting in one-versus-seven victories—the academy's reputation skyrocketed. Public perception shifted. Many spectators now believed that this could be the year the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy finally defeated Shrek.
Adding fuel to the fire, the Sun Moon team boasted strikingly beautiful female soul masters. Their charisma only heightened the event's spectacle. Many fans believed this match might be more thrilling than the finals themselves. After all, recent tournament finals had always been between Shrek and the Sun Moon Empire's official team—but this one had narrative, rivalry, and beauty on its side.
In the crowd, Nan Qiuqiu and Yu Tianlong sat together, having secured two hard-won tickets.
"Yu Tianlong, what do you think the result will be?" Nan Qiuqiu asked casually.
Yu Tianlong responded with a solemn expression. "In past years, I would've said Shrek without hesitation. But this time? The soul spirits have changed everything. A Five-ring Soul King from Sun Moon was able to summon a 20,000-year-old soul beast to fight alongside him. That's equivalent to a Soul Emperor. Some of those beasts are so strong that even Soul Sages wouldn't dare claim an easy win."
He added, "These soul spirits fight fearlessly and even cooperate with the soul master's combat style. With that kind of synergy, I wouldn't dare guarantee victory against one of their Five-ring Soul Kings."
Nan Qiuqiu smirked and nudged him playfully. "So, even Dragon City's top genius is nervous against the younger generation?"
Yu Tianlong gave a helpless chuckle. "My lady, please have mercy. I never thought I'd say this, but after seeing those two that day—Xiao Qiang and Mu Qingxue—I can't be so confident anymore."
Then, his expression turned serious. "I've spoken with my mother. I plan to study at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy for a while. Will you come with me?"
Nan Qiuqiu blinked in surprise. "Are you serious? That's the enemy nation! Wouldn't that be considered treason? What about Aunt Nan?"
"She agreed. I've already submitted the application. Honestly, even she sees it—the soul technology of the Sun Moon Empire is the future. Soul spirits have completely outclassed conventional cultivation. Everyone saw it during this competition. We can't afford to fall behind."
Yu Tianlong furrowed his brow. "Even I see it? What's that supposed to mean?"
Nan Qiuqiu ignored the jab and gestured toward the stands. "Look around. It's not just us. Many sects and academies stayed behind—even ones that have already been eliminated, like the Dragon Slaying Sect. They can't stay in the Sun Moon Empire's hotels for free anymore, and the living costs here are sky-high. Yet they stayed. Why? Because they know the future is here."
Yu Tianlong fell silent. She wasn't wrong. The benefits of soul spirits—higher soul ring absorption, compatibility, and combat assistance—were undeniable. But what unsettled him most was that this revolution hadn't come from Shrek… it had come from their enemy.
"Let's watch the match," he said finally. "Shrek is still Shrek. Maybe they have their own countermeasures. They've been the top academy for centuries. Surely they've prepared something."
Back at the arena, the match was ready to begin.
"Shrek Academy, Xu Sanshi."
"Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, Nana."
"The match begins!"
With the referee's signal, the first match between Shrek Academy and the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy officially commenced.
Xu Sanshi wasted no time, releasing his martial soul immediately. His first three soul rings lit up in quick succession, activating his strongest defensive combination. He braced himself, cautious of any instant movement or sneak attack from his opponent. Against a school known for unpredictability and overwhelming force, Xu Sanshi dared not let his guard down.
"You must hold on, Sanshi…" Beibei murmured from the sidelines, eyes fixed on the stage.
Beibei had chosen Xu Sanshi as the opening combatant for a reason. As a defense-type Soul Emperor with the Xuanwu Turtle martial soul, Xu Sanshi was as sturdy as they came. Even a seven-ring Soul Sage would struggle to break his defenses in a short time. The hope was that even if he couldn't win, he would at least prevent an embarrassing defeat for Shrek right from the start.
That logic would have held—if his opponent had been anyone else.
But Nana wasn't just any opponent.
She was one of the original soul masters who had followed Xiao Qiang since the early days, her combat ability polished through countless battles.
As she closed the distance, Xu Sanshi instinctively tried to speak, likely to taunt or stall her—only to suddenly gasp in pain.
Without warning, a sensation like a blade slicing through his organs erupted from within. Something had pierced him—intangible, invisible, but devastating.
Within seconds, Xu Sanshi collapsed, unconscious, his vitality rapidly fading.
The first match: Shrek Academy's Xu Sanshi—defeated instantly.
Result: Instant Kill.