"That's how it is..."
Su Wen sat on the floor, explaining leisurely.
"By the way, the Emperor of the Star Luo Empire asked me to say hello to you."
Snow Empress: "..."
The ice beauty turned into a wisp of white air, floating ghost-like beside Su Wen, her eyes flickering as if deep in thought.
Though she was now in a human embryo form, her strength remained. With the abundant life force in Azure Luan's Pokéball, she could stabilize her condition. The only problem was she was in a dilemma.
Being interrupted in the middle of transformation was no small matter. The process required a single effort; if interrupted, the success rate afterward was less than a tenth.
But returning to her pre-transformation state was also impossible.
"Soul Ancestor peak? Just one step from Soul King," Snow Empress suddenly looked at Su Wen, saying something he didn't understand.
"Can I sacrifice myself to you?"
The Snow Empress's cold eyes gazed at Su Wen. Her voice was calm, but a trace of embarrassment flashed through. As the master of the Extreme North, submitting to a human was something she never imagined.
But now, it seemed the best choice...
"Huh?" Su Wen was taken aback.
"But in this form, can you even be chosen by a Pokéball... Hmm, never tried, but it's worth a shot!"
Su Wen's eyes lit up.
Snow Empress's origin was the Snow Empress, born of heaven and earth, definitely in the top tier of soul beasts. Plus, she'd taught him three moves before—a benefit that, in the original, she only gave Huo Yuhao after losing her memory, but here, she'd given them to him without hesitation...
Naturally, he wouldn't refuse Snow Empress's request.
Even though she was in the embryo stage, he didn't know the Pokéball's limits. As long as the soul beast's years matched, the rest was up to the Pokéball.
And if it didn't work out, he had a backup plan—ask Elder Yi to help make Snow Empress into a soul spirit.
"Of course."
Su Wen grinned. "But it's not called a sacrifice; it's a contract partnership..."
"A contract partner?" Snow Empress said complicatedly.
"Of course, if you're willing to call me master, I won't refuse—ow, ow, ow." Su Wen grimaced, as his ear was pinched red by a slender, fair hand.
"Hmph~"
Snow Empress snorted and let go.
But her cold eyes on Su Wen grew even more complex. Her fate, it seemed, was now bound with this human youth. The future was a mist, impossible to see.
"How long until you advance to Soul King?" Snow Empress asked softly.
"Five days!"
Su Wen pondered.
The recent increase in cultivation speed meant, especially if he cultivated with Wang Dong'er's martial soul fusion, he could break through to Soul King within five days.
"Okay..."
Snow Empress nodded slightly.
Her usual imperial bearing was now tinged with a gentle femininity. "I'll wait."
——
The next day, the competition began as scheduled.
Star Luo Square was packed. If the early elimination rounds were just a warm-up, then from the top sixteen onward, it was a real showdown.
To make it through the elimination and group stages—166 teams down to 16—the skill level was obvious.
Even the three major empires and countless forces were watching these rising stars. As soon as the event ended—or even before—offers would pour in.
A Soul Ancestor or Soul King under twenty would have no problem reaching Soul Sage, maybe even Soul Douluo, and there was even a chance to become a Titled Douluo.
The plaza was a sea of people—over a million, by rough count. From the sky, they looked like tides surging in from all directions.
"That must be a fortune. When can Shrek Academy host one like this?" Bei Bei sighed.
"Impossible. Shrek Academy isn't an empire, and its city's income far exceeds what you imagine. This kind of opportunity only comes up every few decades—not worth competing with the other three countries," Wang Yan shook his head.
Besides, if Shrek ever did host, things would change...
The group entered through the team tunnel. As soon as they reached the plaza, they saw waves of passionate fans shouting out each team's names.
"The sooner it ends, the sooner I can go back to cultivation," Su Wen exhaled, bored.
"For the team battle, who's going up?" Wang Yan pondered.
"Me," Su Wen said.
"I know you're going, but I mean, who else for the other six spots?" Wang Yan asked.
"I mean, for the team battle, just me," Su Wen replied.
Wang Yan: "..."
He twitched.
"This isn't the group stage; there's no room for error," he said gently.
"I know," Su Wen nodded. "I'm confident..."
"The top sixteen to eight takes four days. We have at least two rounds, today's team battle and tomorrow's individual knockouts. My time is tight. I'd rather end it in today's team battle, then go back to cultivate."
Su Wen thought aloud.
Wang Yan: "..."
Is cultivation that important?
Su Wen nodded solemnly.
It was, extremely so.
Snow Empress was in human embryo form—though stable for now, it was risky, and could go out of control at any time.
So he had to hurry.
With the group stage over, the rest area was much emptier.
The Dou Ling Empire Royal Team approached. Their captain, Gu Zhujian, was tall and thin with piercing eyes, staring at Su Wen and Ma Xiaotao.
"Royal Academy Captain of Dou Ling Empire, Gu Zhujian. I've long admired your reputation. Today it's our turn in the finals..."
He smiled and held out his hand.
"Su Wen."
Su Wen shook his hand.
"This year's Shrek Academy is struggling; the main team isn't even complete, only a few substitutes holding the line. If it were last tournament, we might have surrendered, but this year..."
Gu Zhujian's thin face forced a smile. "We've done our homework. We must see if Shrek Academy lives up to its legend."
"You won't be disappointed," Su Wen smiled brightly.
"Really?" Gu Zhujian was stunned, a cold glint in his eyes as he led his team away.
"Just you alone?" Wang Yan worried.
"Yes," Su Wen nodded.
On the other side—
Gu Zhujian's vice-captain Qian Yuan, a 2.5-meter-tall giant, asked quietly, "Captain, what do you think?"
"That guy is arrogant. When he said those words, he meant them—not just trash talk, but a matter of fact. Too wild..." Gu Zhujian gritted his teeth.
He felt insulted.
If Su Wen had shown emotion, he would have laughed it off, but this kind of "arrogance" annoyed him even more.
"Don't worry, Captain, watch how we crush them in the team battle," another thin youth sneered. "Their whole team is just Su Wen and Ma Xiaotao; the rest aren't even Soul Kings. Su Wen seems unbeatable, but in his two matches, not a single opponent was a Soul King."
"Anyone can enjoy a crushing victory."
"..."
Gu Zhujian pursed his lips, glancing at Shrek's rest area.
"All the same, be careful. Ma Xiaotao isn't simple. When I joined as a substitute last time, Dai Yaoheng was the sub-captain, and Ma Xiaotao wasn't even on the team. Judging by her age and some rumors, she's likely one of the main team's last two..."
"Soul Emperor?" Qian Yuan's eyes narrowed.
"Very likely! Just be careful," Gu Zhujian said.
"Yes!"
——
"Top 16 to 8, first match—Shrek Academy vs Dou Ling Royal Team! Contestants, please enter!"
Inside the arena.
An elder in light purple robes announced in a deep voice.
His voice, unaided by a soul tool, carried throughout the stadium—a sign of his great strength.
The words "Heavenfiend Douluo" were quickly recognized by those in the know.
Since the top 16 elimination, ordinary Soul Emperor referees weren't enough. Only such top experts could keep these geniuses in check.
"Wah!!!"
Thunderous cheers erupted.
Shrek Academy! Dou Ling Royal Academy!
The true showdown was about to begin...
"Let's go."
Gu Zhujian took a deep breath, nodded at his teammates, and led the main team into the arena. But the next moment—
"Captain, look at the other side!" Xiao Feng exclaimed.
"Hm?"
He looked up suspiciously—and the entire Dou Ling Academy team froze.
Facing them stood only one person!
That familiar figure—Su Wen!
"Captain, what's the meaning of this?!" Qian Yuan clenched his fists, face dark with anger. "Are they mocking us by sending just one guy to humiliate us?"
"Humph..." Gu Zhujian's eyes grew cold. He raised a hand to stop Qian Yuan.
"If Shrek wants to die, let them! Dou Ling, don't lose your composure. Remember our plan, follow it on stage, and as for Su Wen... hmph! I'll stomp him and see if he's still so arrogant!"
"Or maybe, knowing he can't beat us, he's using reverse psychology, hoping we'll send just one to decide the match." Gu Zhujian narrowed his eyes.
"If we win today, tomorrow's team battle will have Ma Xiaotao at her best. If we get provoked into a solo match, Shrek might actually succeed. Truly cunning."
"So that's it! Captain, you're wise!" Xiao Feng and the others nodded.
Shrek's challenge really did have a chance of baiting them into a solo match, since everyone wanted to beat Shrek, but even more to win "fair and square."
Gu Zhujian squinted.
Was this a trap within a trap!
The other side was clearly banking on his provocation, prepared in advance and using a calm tone to spark his anger, then...
"A true master is guiding him," Gu Zhujian took a deep breath.
"But too bad, your trick is seen through!"
He smirked and strode onto the field.
"...Just one from Shrek Academy?"
Huang Jinxu the Heavenfiend Douluo stared at the lone youth in the arena, frowning.
This wasn't an individual elimination.
He knew the youth was extraordinary, but Dou Ling Royal Team was a veteran squad, top four last time, far from what they seemed. Five Soul Kings and two Soul Ancestors—enough to take down even a Soul Sage!
The atmosphere was tense.
Countless eyes were on the youth, confused. Going solo in the elimination round was one thing, but this was the top 16!
Gu Zhujian jumped on stage, glancing at Su Wen, with his six main team members behind him.
Even if it wasn't "honorable," he wouldn't let Su Wen's scheme succeed. He'd just beat him up, then cripple him.
Killing him would make Shrek an enemy—too much trouble.
A few mocking glances swept over Su Wen, as they waited to see how long he could "hold out"—would he call in his teammates, or just get ganged up on?
But the next moment—
"Yes, just me."
Su Wen smiled. "Elder Huang, can we start quickly? I'm in a hurry..."
Huang Jinxu twitched. "Alright."
He knew Su Wen was strong, but being this arrogant was dangerous.
The elder sighed and waved his hand.
"If so, let's begin!"
"..."
Spectator area.
Huang Heyun frowned. "Your Highness, what is Shrek Academy thinking? Gambling everything? But if Dou Ling sends out the whole team, their plan is dead—why insist on this?"
Clearly, not only Dou Ling had seen through Shrek's "plan."
"No..."
Xu Jiujiu gazed at the arena.
After a moment, she said,
"I know Su Wen. He's not reckless. If he's on stage, he must be absolutely confident..."
Her thoughts drifted to last night.
She suddenly remembered the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion...
It was almost a ten-thousand-year-old soul beast, yet Su Wen had never used it as a trump card. Just that scorpion alone could rival a Soul Emperor, not to mention the white ape and the several-thousand-year-old Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear.
"Wait!" Xu Jiujiu's eyes suddenly widened.
She seemed to have realized something.
Beast Mastery! Martial Soul!
Each soul beast's years matched—several thousand to ten thousand.
What level was Su Wen?!!
She remembered it was above forty, but didn't know exactly.
Since he already had three soul beasts, could there be a fourth?
Meaning, with every soul ring, he could acquire a soul beast, all matching his own level...
Xu Jiujiu looked at the thin figure in the arena in shock.