At this moment, the eyes of everyone in the arena were fixed on the black-haired boy at the forefront of the Shrek Academy team.
And then, an indescribably terrifying aura erupted on the competition stage.
A blood-red light illuminated the entire stage, and a cold, oppressive force instantly spread out.
Six—yes, six—blood-red soul rings appeared around the black-haired boy, who looked no older than twelve.
In that instant, the entire Star Luo Plaza fell into dead silence. The same was true for the audience watching through the soul screens.
"This is impossible!"
Inside the Pope's Hall, Yue Guan dropped the flower he was holding, his face filled with disbelief.
Pope Bibi Dong also tightened her grip on the papal scepter.
She couldn't help but think of how she had gone to great lengths to hunt a 100,000-year soul beast for a single 100,000-year soul ring, yet in that other world, a mere boy possessed six of them.
'It seems our assessment of that world was still too low,' Bibi Dong thought, her heart sinking.
Was cooperating with the forces of that world a good idea? Were they inviting a wolf into their home?
But it didn't matter anymore.
The appearance of six 100,000-year soul rings overshadowed the shock of the black-haired boy being a six-ringed Soul Emperor at just twelve years old.
Only a few noticed this detail, such as Hu Liena and the other members of the Golden Generation.
They stared wide-eyed at the screen, unable to believe the scene bathed in red light.
"This is impossible. This defies all logic. How could he withstand the violent soul power impact of six 100,000-year soul rings? Even if he has twin spirits, it's impossible. How old is he?" Yu Xiaogang paced back and forth, his face a picture of doubt, questioning the theoretical knowledge he had always prided himself on.
The others were too absorbed in their shock to pay him any attention.
Only Xiao Wu showed a hint of sadness. With so many 100,000-year soul rings, how many 100,000-year soul beasts had been hunted in that world?
After a brief silence, the plaza erupted into a deafening uproar.
The exclamations of hundreds of thousands of people shook the entire Star Luo Plaza.
This sudden turn of events also stunned the members of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy.
"This can't be real!"
Xiao Hongchen's eyes widened in disbelief.
He refused to believe that Shrek Academy could have someone even more monstrous than Liuxing and Liuying.
Liuxing and Liuying's soul ring configurations were already freakish, but this boy from Shrek Academy was on a whole other level!
Liuxing's mouth twitched. Although he had long known that the protagonist of this world was a cheater, this level of cheating was just too much!
"Wait, something's off."
Liuying suddenly spoke up.
Hearing this, Liuxing turned to Liuying and noticed that her eyes were burning with golden flames, fixed intently on the black-haired boy.
Liuxing suddenly understood. The Solar Golden Wing Flame, known for its terrifying destructive power and high temperature, also had the ability to see through illusions.
Although not as proficient as Liuying, Liuxing also activated a trace of the Solar Golden Wing Flame.
His blue-pink eyes instantly turned golden, with a flicker of golden flame dancing within them.
Liuxing felt a burning sensation in his eyes, a sharp pain that told him this state, which he and Liuying called "Flame Eye," couldn't be maintained for long, or it would risk blinding them.
Fortunately, both of them possessed the Life Domain, and their powerful life force automatically repaired any damage to their eyes.
Otherwise, they wouldn't dare use this ability so casually.
Liuxing quickly turned his gaze to the black-haired boy on the stage.
In his eyes, there was no blood-red light, no 100,000-year soul rings.
Instead, there was only one golden and one purple soul ring around the boy.
Liuxing's mouth twitched again. While the six 100,000-year soul rings were fake, that golden soul ring, how could he not recognize it?
It was a million-year soul ring!
Compared to a million-year first soul ring, six 100,000-year soul rings seemed almost insignificant.
Thinking about it, this cheat was even bigger!
This protagonist had it ten thousand times better than the previous one.
Was he the Child of Fortune?
"So, what did you see?" Gu Yuena asked.
She also sensed something was off, but without using her hidden powers, she couldn't see through the boy's disguise.
Xue Nu also looked over. She felt a familiar aura from the black-haired boy, somewhat similar to Bing Bing, but she couldn't be sure.
She was growing anxious. Although she believed that with Bing Bing's strength, no one in the Far North could harm her, what if something had happened?
"The 100,000-year soul rings are fake. It's probably a simulation soul skill. His actual cultivation is only two rings, with one golden and one purple soul ring," Liuxing explained truthfully.
Since the boy wasn't one of their own, there was no need to keep his secrets.
"So he's just bluffing!" Xiao Hongchen patted his chest, relieved.
"Wait, what did you say? One golden and one purple? What's a golden soul ring?" Xiao Hongchen suddenly realized.
A purple second soul ring was something he could accept, after all, there were people like that around him, and more than one. But a golden soul ring? He had never even heard of such a thing.
A million-year soul ring was something only a very few knew about.
To most people, even some Title Douluos, the red 100,000-year soul ring was the limit.
"It must be some kind of special soul ring. But sending out a two-ringed Great Soul Master to put on a show, it seems Shrek Academy is truly at their wit's end. Could they really be eliminated in the first round?" Meng Hongchen said, one hand on her hip.
At that moment, on the competition stage, one of the six 100,000-year soul rings shone brightly, and an invisible shockwave burst forth.
The members of the Heavenly Spirit Advanced Soul Master Academy all grunted simultaneously.
Already overwhelmed by the sight of the six 100,000-year soul rings, they were caught completely off guard.
Facing Shrek Academy, they were already on edge, and the visual impact of the 100,000-year soul rings, combined with the mental attack from the soul skill, left them like startled birds, frozen in fear.
At the same time, a pair of enormous blue-golden wings unfurled behind the black-haired boy.
The perfect blend of blue and gold radiated a dazzling golden flame, capturing everyone's attention.
The black-haired boy's figure overlapped with that of a blue-pink-haired boy behind him, and in an instant, they merged.
The blood-red soul rings disappeared, replaced by a massive golden vertical eye.
A brilliant beam of blue, purple, and gold light spanned a hundred meters, instantly striking the seven members of the Heavenly Spirit Advanced Soul Master Academy.
The entire competition stage was split apart by the dazzling light.
Faced with the colossal tri-colored beam, none of the Heavenly Spirit Academy members could react in time.
They were instantly engulfed. When the light faded, a hundred-meter-long golden scar was left on the stage.
In the spot where Heavenly Spirit Academy had stood, seven golden statues now stood, their faces frozen in expressions of terror and confusion.
The golden vertical eye vanished, and the six blood-red soul rings reappeared.
Beside the black-haired boy stood a blue-haired boy with dazzling butterfly wings, his six soul rings, two yellow, two purple, and two black, shining brightly.
Silence. A deathly silence fell over the audience, both in the plaza and those watching through the soul screens.
Especially for the audience from the other world, their hearts were in turmoil.
Even among the students of Shrek Academy's outer court, the black-haired boy's classmates blinked in confusion, their faces filled with bewilderment.
The black-haired boy stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes filled with arrogance as he coolly addressed the stunned referee. "Referee, it's time to announce the result."
"Huh?"
The referee shuddered, snapping out of his daze.
On the other side, the Heavenly Spirit Academy's instructor and reserve team were already carrying their golden statues off the stage. Clearly, the match was over.
"Tch, what a show-off!" Xiao Hongchen sneered, unimpressed now that he knew the truth.
Meng Hongchen nudged her chin toward the silent members of the Star Luo royal family and high officials on the imperial city walls, smiling. "If it weren't for Liuxing, you'd be just like them right now."
Xiao Hongchen's mouth twitched. This sister of his was always undermining him. Definitely a real sister.
"A sealing-type Spirit Fusion Skill," Liuxing muttered as the golden flames in his eyes gradually extinguished, returning to their blue-pink hue. He rubbed his sore eyes.
"To seal seven soul masters in an instant, including five Soul Ancestors and two Soul Elders, this Spirit Fusion Skill is not to be underestimated," Elder Ma said, puffing on his pipe.
Although it was a sneak attack, the ability to end the battle in an instant was still a remarkable feat.
"Teacher!" In the Pope's Hall, Hu Liena turned to her teacher, her usual arrogance nowhere to be seen.
"It's a Spirit Fusion Skill," Bibi Dong said gravely, though a hint of doubt lingered in her heart.
If the boy truly had six 100,000-year soul rings and his cultivation level far surpassed his opponents, why would he use a Spirit Fusion Skill, a trump card typically reserved for two Soul Emperors?
With such a trump card, he could easily take on a Soul Sage.
Using it against a group of Soul Ancestors and Soul Elders was like using a cannon to kill a mosquito.
Bibi Dong wasn't the only one with such doubts. Many clever individuals had similar suspicions.
"He overacted," Liuxing said, glancing at the Shrek Academy team.
"But it was their only choice. They didn't need to fool everyone, just their opponents. At least they won," Gu Yuena said with a smile.
The black-haired boy slowly turned to face the entire Star Luo Plaza and the audience watching through the soul screens. In a deep voice, he declared, "Remember, we are from Shrek Academy, and we are from, the Tang Sect!"
With that, he retracted his soul rings and, without waiting for the referee to announce the result, walked off the stage with an air of supreme arrogance, leaving the entire audience in awe.
Shrek Academy, Outer Court.
A beautiful girl with a black ponytail, wearing the outer court uniform, tightly covered her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes.
In another part of Shrek Academy, a much more dilapidated section, Tang San stood as if struck by lightning. What had he just heard? The Tang Sect?
He desperately wanted to rush up to the black-haired boy and ask about the Tang Sect.
From the moment the two teams stepped onto the stage to the defeat of Heavenly Spirit Advanced Soul Master Academy, less than five minutes had passed.
Shrek Academy had defeated their opponents in an unprecedented manner, shocking the entire Douluo Continent.
Wang Yan approached the black-haired boy and scolded, "You went too far!"
"I held back. It was just a seal. Otherwise, they wouldn't have left the stage alive."
His voice was loud, and many from other academies heard it, including the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy.
The instructor seemed somewhat helpless and said in a low voice, "Do you want to stay and watch the matches?"
The black-haired boy struck a cool pose and arrogantly replied, "Watch what? There's nothing worth watching. Let's go."
With that, he strode out of the competition area, exuding an air of invincible arrogance, like a king.
People from other academies instinctively stepped aside, intimidated by the imposing presence of Shrek Academy.
Only the members of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy remained expressionless as they watched their retreating figures.
Knowing the truth, they quietly observed Shrek Academy's performance, as if watching a group of clowns.
Watching the black-haired youth swagger away, Liuxing couldn't help but laugh. "He's just putting on a show, isn't he?"
"Pfft!"
Several girls in the team burst into laughter, and even Xue Nu, who was usually as cold as ice, couldn't help but smile.
A two-ringed Soul Master had first used a deceptive soul skill, then instantly defeated five Soul Ancestors and two Soul Elders with a martial soul fusion skill.
Now, he was probably struggling just to walk.
They had no intention of exposing Shrek Academy.
In this situation, anything the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy said would be wrong.
The best course of action was to remain silent.
On the contrary, the more dazzling Shrek Academy appeared, the more valuable their victory would be when they eventually won.
Seeing Shrek Academy in such a desperate state, Ma Rulong and the others grew increasingly confident in their chances of winning.
They even began to entertain the illusion that if Shrek Academy was this weakened, they could take them on themselves.
But the circumstances didn't allow it. They couldn't face Shrek Academy's weakened team, not because they couldn't win, but because it wasn't their place to do so.
Although Shrek Academy's team had already left the stage, they had left a significant impact on the entire Star Luo Plaza.
Both the live audience and those watching through soul projector screens were abuzz with discussions about the recent battle.
...
"On the first day of the elimination round, the fourth match features the Os Advanced Soul Master Academy from the Heaven Spirit Empire against the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy from the Sun Moon Empire!"
Compared to Shrek Academy or the previous matches involving other academies, the cheers from the audience were noticeably subdued.
This was to be expected. The Sun Moon Empire was widely regarded as an enemy by the three original Douluo nations.
In the eyes of the people from these nations, the Sun Moon Empire was no different from a natural disaster or a harbinger of war and destruction. As a result, there was little goodwill toward a team from a hostile nation.
This kind of reception was nothing new for Elder Ma and the other two instructors leading the team.
Ma Rulong and the others had experienced similar situations during the previous tournament.
Playing on hostile ground was an unavoidable challenge.
For the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy's first match, and following Shrek Academy's stunning performance, Elder Ma decided to field Ma Rulong, Michael, and others right away, showing no intention of hiding their strength.
After all, they wouldn't necessarily need to play against Shrek Academy or the other top teams, so there was no need to conceal their power. Moreover, this approach could confuse other academies and Shrek Academy, making it difficult for them to gauge the true strength of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.
Although it wasn't as shocking as Shrek Academy's display, the appearance of one Soul Emperor and six Soul Kings still drew gasps of amazement from the crowd.
In the two matches that followed Shrek Academy's, the strongest participants were only Soul Ancestors, with Soul Kings being a rare sight, let alone a Soul Emperor.
Ma Rulong and the others showcased the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy's prowess, utterly overwhelming the seven members of the Os Advanced Soul Master Academy in a landslide victory.
Facing Ma Rulong's soul cannon barrage, the opposing team didn't even have time to unleash their soul skills before being blasted off the stage by a torrent of energy projectiles.
Ma Rulong and his team demonstrated the unparalleled dominance of soul engineers in group battles.
"All members of the Os Advanced Soul Master Academy have lost their combat ability. I declare the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy the winner!"
The referee raised his right hand, announcing the victory of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.
"The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy is still strong! They might even take second place this year."
"True. With one Soul Emperor and six Soul Kings, aside from Shrek Academy, only the top four teams from previous tournaments could rival them."
Although the audience praised the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy's strength, no one believed they could defeat Shrek Academy.
After all, how could an ordinary Soul Emperor compare to one with six 100,000-year soul rings?
Moreover, Shrek Academy had more than one Soul Emperor, and their main team hadn't even taken the field yet. Who knew how strong they truly were?
Inside the Pope's Hall, Hu Liena and the others were in a state of despair. Compared to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, what did their so-called "Golden Generation" even amount to?
Watching Ma Rulong and the others crush their opponents with overwhelming force on the screen, Bibi Dong lightly tapped the armrest of her chair.
While others saw the impressive soul power of Ma Rulong's team, she saw the formidable power of their soul tools.
"The Sun Moon Empire..."
Bibi Dong murmured softly, recalling a secret message she had received.
The proposal of an alliance mentioned in that message caused her to lower her gaze in deep thought. She didn't even immediately comfort her beloved disciples.