After a fierce battle at the Sun and Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy, where they triumphed over the Di'ao Academy and advanced to the Grand Finals, the team wasted no time. Knowing how little time they had left, they returned to their hotel immediately, without a moment's rest.
Once back, every team member threw themselves completely into intense preparation.
Some chose to enter closed-door cultivation, focusing on restoring the soul power they had spent during the grueling match and healing their wounds as quickly as possible.
Others buried themselves in the study and creation of soul tools, racing to design more powerful ones and master their operation in hopes of maximizing their effectiveness during the finals.
After all, in just three short days, the final battle that would decide everything would begin.
To them, this match meant everything. None of them dared to waste even a second. Rest was a luxury they couldn't afford — every heartbeat counted in their race to be ready.
On the other hand, the situation at Shrek Academy was quite different.
After the Xingluo Imperial Academy forfeited their individual matches, Shrek was given an unusually long rest period.
This imbalance sharply increased the pressure on the Sun and Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy.
From the perspective of raw strength, there was still a considerable gap between the two academies.
As soon as the two semifinals of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament concluded, crowds began to line up outside Xingluo Plaza.
Some people had been waiting there for two full days and nights.
They endured hunger, exhaustion, and discomfort, all for one reason — to witness with their own eyes the climactic final battle of the tournament.
For many, this would be an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime memory.
What made this even more exciting was the structure of the final match. Although it would include a team battle, an individual elimination round, and a two-two-three formation round, all of it would take place within a single day.
Such an intense and compact schedule promised an explosion of excitement — a spectacle unlike any other.
For countless soul master enthusiasts, the long wait was worth it.
To maintain order during the event, the Xingluo Empire mobilized ten thousand elite soldiers to patrol the capital.
Shops throughout the city extended their business hours, meeting the influx of visitors' every need.
Supplies and food were urgently transported from neighboring cities to handle the sudden surge in population.
For a time, Xingluo City had never been more vibrant — streets packed with people, noise and laughter echoing from every corner.
There was no doubt — this year's Soul Dueling Tournament brought unprecedented economic prosperity to the Xingluo Empire.
No wonder each empire vied so fiercely for the honor of hosting the tournament, even though they eventually had to take turns, one nation per cycle.
Now, the two finalists — Shrek Academy and Sun and Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy — represented the absolute peak of the continent's current power.
Shrek Academy, the shining jewel of the soul master world, possessed profound heritage and had produced generations of extraordinary talents. With three Soul Emperors in their lineup, their strength was beyond question.
Meanwhile, the Sun and Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy was a rising power that had surged forward in recent millennia. Their deep understanding and integration of soul tools had reshaped the balance of power in the modern era.
This clash of titans drew enormous anticipation. Experts and amateurs alike eagerly awaited the decisive confrontation.
Thanks to secret propaganda efforts by the Xingluo royal family, who were covertly supporting the Sun and Moon Academy, the underground betting markets showed equal odds between both academies.
This, of course, encouraged many gamblers to bet on the underdog Sun and Moon side, hoping for a shocking upset.
Even the students of Shrek Academy joined in the fun, placing safe bets on themselves. It wasn't about the money — just a lighthearted way to ease the tension before the finals.
At that moment, Zhou Sicheng sat in a quiet corner of an underground casino beside Jiang Peng, who had mostly recovered from his injuries.
Jiang Peng said indignantly, "Brother Zhou, I've done all I could. The rest is up to your Shrek Academy. The Sun and Moon Academy's ambitions are huge, but that championship will never belong to them!"
Zhou Sicheng smiled calmly, his tone firm. "Don't worry. The championship belongs to Shrek."
Seeing Zhou Sicheng's composed expression, Jiang Peng couldn't help but recall what he had witnessed that night — Zhou controlling a seventh-tier soul tool, despite only being a five-ring Soul King.
That was shocking enough, but what truly defied belief was that Zhou wasn't just a soul engineer — he possessed a top-tier beast martial soul, and his innate talent as a soul master surpassed even his engineering ability.
Had he not seen it himself, Jiang Peng would never have believed that such a monster could exist.
By now, he completely admired Zhou Sicheng and genuinely regarded him as a brother.
Seeing Jiang Peng's fan-like expression, Zhou patted his shoulder and asked with a slight smile, "Your injuries are alright now?"
Jiang Peng shook his head, grinning. "I'm fine. Just a scratch. It'll take more than that to put me down!"
Then, his tone grew cold. "Brother Zhou, make sure to crush the Sun and Moon Academy in the finals. Don't just defeat them — cripple them if you can. If those bastards return home unscathed, they'll be the biggest threat the original Douluo Continent will face in the future!"
Zhou glanced at him, amused. "Didn't expect you to have such a dark side, Jiang Peng."
Jiang Peng just chuckled. "If I were stronger, I'd have saved you the trouble. I'd have chopped every last one of them myself."
Zhou raised his glass and said jokingly, "You've got talent. Keep training, use your soul tools wisely, and I believe one day you'll become a top-tier powerhouse yourself. Then you can take your axe and pay them a personal visit."
Jiang Peng nodded earnestly. "I'll do it! When I'm strong enough, I won't let you down, Brother Zhou!"
Zhou chuckled at his seriousness.
But suddenly, his eyes narrowed slightly. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed two cloaked middle-aged men standing in a dim corner of the room.
Disguises weren't unusual in an underground casino like this, but something about these two felt off.
They were concealing their auras far too deliberately — and yet, they kept glancing in his direction, as if observing him.
That wasn't normal. Zhou's instincts immediately sharpened.
Inside his spiritual sea, Tianmeng Iceworm's voice echoed, full of alert excitement.
"Sicheng, those two are special. The big-headed one's spiritual power is immense — close to that of a Titled Douluo, even though he's only at the eight-ring level. The other one's physical strength is terrifying — look at that massive arm! If I'm not mistaken, they're from the Body Sect."
Zhou's eyes flickered. So it was them.
The big-headed one was Lang Ya, whose martial soul was literally his oversized head.
The one with the thick arm was Yu Tao, whose martial soul was his giant right arm.
Both were members of the Body Sect, traveling the continent in search of promising individuals with pure Body-type martial souls.
But Zhou was puzzled — he had never revealed his Main Body Martial Soul. How could they possibly have noticed him?
Could it be because he was currently using Elder Mu's Bright Saint Dragon martial soul?
It made sense that the Body Sect would take interest in such a rare martial soul — after all, their previous sect master had died after a fierce battle with Elder Mu himself.
For them to now see a young Bright Saint Dragon… of course, it would stir their curiosity, maybe even their greed.
Still, Zhou wasn't certain — it was only a suspicion.
The moment Zhou noticed them, both men tensed visibly.
Lang Ya murmured, incredulous, "He noticed me?"
Yu Tao frowned. "Impossible. With your spiritual concealment, how could a mere five-ring Soul King detect us?"
Before they could discuss further, Zhou suddenly stood up.
Jiang Peng blinked in confusion. "Brother Zhou, what are you doing?"
Zhou patted his shoulder and said calmly, "Stay here. I'm just going to buy some oranges."
Jiang Peng looked puzzled, but nodded and went back to his drink.
Across the room, Lang Ya grew nervous. "He's moving — he's coming this way! Did he really sense us? What kind of monster is this kid!?"
Yu Tao whispered telepathically, "Should we back off?"
Lang Ya shook his head. "No. The Body Sect never runs. If he's really what I think he is, we'll test him directly."
Yu Tao nodded, resolute. "Fine, I'm with you."
Zhou approached with slow, steady steps — each one deliberate, unhurried, but filled with calm confidence.
When he stopped just two meters away, he smiled faintly and said in a relaxed tone:
"August 8th, fortune's fate — welcome home, Holy Son."
The words weren't loud, but both men heard them clearly.
"...?"
Yu Tao and Lang Ya froze, their faces blank with confusion.
What the hell did that mean?
They exchanged bewildered looks — Zhou's words made absolutely no sense.
To them, the Body Sect was already eccentric enough… but this? This kid was on another level of strange.
Yu Tao, impatient by nature, couldn't stand it any longer.
Without warning, his massive right arm lunged forward like a striking beast, the air whistling as his hand shot toward Zhou, aiming to seize him.
But just as that huge hand was about to close around him—
Zhou's right eye changed.
The bright color darkened into pitch black, and his pupil ignited with a crimson flame that pulsed ominously.
Spirit Eye — Activate!
A ripple of nearly invisible soul power burst forth, spreading through the air like waves across still water.
Yu Tao's massive arm froze midair — time itself seemed to stop for a heartbeat.
That heartbeat was all Zhou needed.
The next instant, he was gone.
Yu Tao blinked — and Zhou was already behind him, walking away as though nothing had happened.
Lang Ya, who had been observing quietly, watched the entire exchange unfold.
He hadn't been attacked directly, so he saw everything clearly.
Zhou hadn't said another word, but the calm defiance in his movements said enough. He was mocking them. Or perhaps, he was simply confident beyond reason — confident enough to treat two Body Sect members as nothing.
Even Lang Ya, with his powerful spiritual senses, hadn't been able to perceive what Zhou did.
For a moment, he'd felt his very soul tremble — a deep, primal fear — before it vanished as quickly as it came.
It was the first time in his life he had felt cautious before someone with only five rings.
He wasn't afraid of the elders secretly guarding Shrek's students; the Body Sect had its own powerful backers. But this youth… this youth unsettled him.
By the time Lang Ya came to, Zhou was already walking away.
Yu Tao, still dazed, muttered, "Huh? Where'd he go? I swear I caught him…"
Lang Ya sighed. "He's not one of us. That Bright Saint Dragon martial soul — it's unique to Shrek's inner circle. Best we don't provoke them. Our sect has only just resurfaced. There's no need to stir trouble."
Yu Tao scowled. "So that's it? We just let him go? That brat's got some freakish tricks. What if—"
Lang Ya cut him off with a wave. "Then go after him yourself. Just don't drag me into it when the Sect Master asks what happened."
Yu Tao hesitated, then scratched his head awkwardly. "Fine, fine… maybe I'll just place a bet on Shrek instead. With that weird kid around, they're bound to win us a little fortune."
Lang Ya ignored him. His eyes remained fixed on Zhou Sicheng's retreating figure, a frown creasing his face.
Zhou had likely already figured out who they were.
But that line he spoke…
"Welcome home, Holy Son?"
Lang Ya murmured to himself, puzzled.
"But… isn't Long Aotian still in the sect?"
Zhou's words echoed in his mind, like a fog he couldn't disperse — lingering, inexplicable, and deeply unsettling.
****
If you want to support me or read advanced chapters (21+), consider checking out my pat.
patr*on.com/Salsita2k