Suotuo Arena, the luxurious lounge prepared for the Grand Martial Academy team. The door was pushed open, and Yang Bojun strode in quickly, holding a copy of the opponent's information he'd grabbed from the Soul Battle Hall, a look of ease and disdain on his face.
"Young Sect Master," he said, addressing Chen Yi, who sat in the center of the sofa, eyes closed as he recovered.
Chen Yi slowly opened his eyes, the purple-gold light fading from his pupils, leaving them calm and unruffled. He nodded lightly, but said little.
Jiang Hongfei, moving his wrist, quickly stood up and took the information booklet from Yang Bojun, opening it directly. The others also gathered around, looking at the paper with interest.
The information was not thick, but clearly listed the basic profiles of the seven main members of the Shrek Team.
Captain: Dai Mubai, code name "Evil Eyes White Tiger."
Martial Spirit: White Tiger.
Power Attack System, Soul Elder, Rank 39.
Soul Rings: Yellow, Yellow, Purple.
Vice Captain: Tang Yin, code name "Thousand Hands Asura."
Martial Spirit: Blue Silver King.
Control System, Soul Elder, Rank 39.
Soul Rings: Yellow, Yellow, Purple.
Member: Yu Tianheng, code name "Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon."
Martial Spirit: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.
Power Attack System, Soul Elder, Rank 39.
Soul Rings: Yellow, Yellow, Purple.
(Note: New information updated)
Member: Oscar, code name "Sausage Monopoly."
Martial Spirit: Sausage.
Auxiliary System, Soul Elder, Rank 33.
Soul Rings: Yellow, Yellow, Purple.
Member: Ma Hongjun, code name "Evil Fire Phoenix."
Martial Spirit: Fire Phoenix.
Power Attack System, Soul Master, Rank 29.
Soul Rings: Yellow, Yellow.
Member: Zhu Zhuqing, code name "Nether Spirit Cat."
Martial Spirit: Nether Spirit Cat.
Sensitive Attack System, Soul Master, Rank 28.
Soul Rings: Yellow, Yellow.
Member: Ning Rongrong, code name "Seven Treasures."
Martial Spirit: Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Auxiliary System, Soul Master, Rank 29.
Soul Rings: Yellow, Yellow.
"Ha!"
Jiang Hongfei skimmed through it with a glance, then scoffed and tossed the booklet onto the coffee table.
"Four Soul Elders, three Soul Grandmasters... With this level, they actually managed to beat the Empire's Battle Team that the Heaven Dou Royal Academy carefully cultivated."
"The Heaven Dou Royal Academy really is regressing more and more these days."
His comment resonated, and Huang Bin leaned lazily against the wall with a smirk.
"Yeah, I was looking forward to this, thought I'd get to move my muscles and bones a bit."
Shui Yue'er leaned over to Shui Bing'er, pointing at Ma Hongjun's info column, teasing,
"Bing'er, look, there's actually a 'Fire Phoenix' martial spirit! Just a mutated martial spirit, but the name is quite bluffing. If fire and ice ever match, it'll be yours."
Shui Bing'er, fixing her icy blue hair, didn't even look up at that. Instead, a cold voice sounded,
"Just a Rank 29 Soul Grandmaster. Whether he can get my Ice Ring is a problem."
The lounge had a relaxed, somewhat bored atmosphere. Whether it was Jiang Hongfei and Huang Bin from the inner sect, or Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu from the outer sect, all of them wore similar looks of contempt at this moment. The huge difference in strength made it hard for them to truly take the upcoming match seriously.
Chen Yi watched everyone's reaction, then slowly stood up and walked to the center of the room, calmly looking around at each teammate.
"As you can see, the overall strength of this team is just as described."
"However, there's one person you must be careful of."
He extended his finger, lightly tapping the info on the coffee table.
"This Tang Yin is ranked third on the Hidden Dragon List. You should have heard his name."
Chen Yi continued,
"His soul power isn't high, and his martial spirit looks like a mutated Blue Silver Grass, but... when it comes to strange and underhanded techniques, he's quite adept—almost unique."
"Especially his hidden weapons."
"Hidden weapons?"
Shui Bing'er frowned slightly.
"You must've seen the records about hidden weapons in the prologue of the 'The Innate Secret Method'."
"According to reliable information, this person's achievements in hidden weapons may be unmatched worldwide, with many of his merits linked to this."
"So don't underestimate the enemy just because of his level. Always stay alert, especially for any small, inconspicuous metallic object."
With those words, the atmosphere in the lounge grew a notch more serious. The relaxed expressions vanished. As body sect elites, once they gained authority they had access to the "The Innate Secret Method" and studied various combat systems and partial methods from around the land. They never looked down on hidden weapons—they weren't focused on pure martial spirit cultivation, but on ambush and surprise. Used correctly, they could indeed cause trouble.
"So," Chen Yi concluded,
"You can look down on them tactically, but in actual combat—especially against Tang Yin—you must stay vigilant. Don't give him any opportunity or space to use his hidden weapons."
"Besides, this is just a Soul Battle Arena match, but given the delicate relations between our Body Sect and the top three sects... plus some old grudges—"
He paused, eyes glancing indifferently at the "Tang Yin" name on the info, voice calm but tinged with coldness.
"If the other side keeps provoking in the match, or the fight drags on and we can't end it quickly... Don't worry too much."
"If you need to, hit hard."
"If absolutely necessary, lethal means are allowed."
"If anything happens, the sect will take responsibility."
With these final words, confidence filled the room.
"Understood!"
Jiang Hongfei, Huang Bin, and the others responded in unison, eyes shining. They feared strong opponents, but hated being restrained even more; the young sect master's words let them act without holding back.
"Alright, it's almost time."
Chen Yi straightened his clothes.
"Let's go, to the match. Let's see the so-called third-ranked Hidden Dragon and his... magical team."
With that, Chen Yi led the way out of the lounge, the rest of Grand Martial Team following. Their faces lost all previous ease, replaced by the predatory sharpness and indifference of hunters.
…
Arriving at the public waiting room underground in the Soul Battle Arena, the Shrek Academy group and the Emperor Battle Team came in from the other corridor, facing each other at either end of the spacious room.
The atmosphere was instantly tense and subtle. On Grand Martial's side, everyone exchanged casual glances, their eyes calm, as if evaluating a herd of livestock from above. On Shrek's side, reactions were much more complex.
Yu Tianheng stood quietly at the end of the Shrek team, eyelids lowered, deliberately avoiding the stares of his former Emperor Battle Team comrades. Osler, Yu Feng, and the others glared at him like he was a stranger, their eyes openly hostile. When they chose to leave the box and Yu Tianheng didn't follow, everything was clear.
Tang San's gaze, the moment the Grand Martial Team appeared, locked onto the purple-clad youth standing at their front. In an instant, a nearly tangible, volcanic killing intent erupted from Tang San's body. The temperature around him seemed to drop several degrees; Ma Hongjun and Oscar, standing nearby, shivered and glanced at him in confusion. Zhao Wuji and Flender both frowned at once, Flender exchanging a questioning look with Yu Xiaogang.
Did Tang Yin have some old grudge with that young sect master Chen Yi? Yu Xiaogang's face darkened instantly, eyes coldly fixed on the opposite side. Flender sighed inwardly, knowing the tense silence must be broken.
"Alright, calm down," he urged.
"The match is about to begin."
Tang San took a deep breath, chest heaving violently as he forcibly suppressed the hatred that nearly broke through reason. In a hoarse voice, he spat out,
"Get ready. Let's play."
But just as the Shrek group was about to head to the entrance tunnel, Flender couldn't help but ask in a low voice,
"Tang Yin... do you really think so? The lineup on the other side is too luxurious."
Tang San turned to look at Flender, but his face had returned to its usual gloomy calm. He spoke lightly,
"Dean, don't worry. Since I dared to answer, I must confirm it for myself."
"And, you know the true strength of a body martial spirit lies in its second awakening."
"According to all available information, the two body soul masters on the other side—Jiang Hongfei and Huang Bin—at their current age and cultivation, could never have completed a second awakening."
"So for now, they're no different from regular soul masters. We still have a chance."
"That's true,"
Yu Xiaogang immediately chimed in, regaining his confidence as a master of theory.
"I've also heard of the body sect's secret second awakening method. It can transform the rotten into the magical, but the threshold is extremely high, requiring both robust health and mental strength."
"Those two juniors absolutely can't master it at this stage."
When the words "second awakening secret method" came up, Yu Xiaogang's eyes gleamed with barely restrained desire. If only... If only he could obtain this second awakening secret method... That thought swelled violently in his heart:
With my astounding wisdom, and this supreme secret technique to draw out the potential of martial spirits... I, Yu Xiaogang, could break the shackles of my martial spirit, rise late yet strong, and finally wash away years of humiliation...
The thought left him a bit breathless. He seemed to see himself using the second awakening secret to push the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial spirit to unprecedented heights, earning the acclaim of thousands.
Perhaps driven by emotion, or perhaps by unconscious greed and desire, he blurted out,
"It's such a pity... This body sect only cares for itself, hiding such a superb secret deep within the sect, treating it as forbidden flesh, refusing to share it with the world for the benefit of all soul masters."
"If only the mystery of this secret method could be spread, what a blessing it would be for the world of soul masters, birthing countless talents!"
Yu Xiaogang spoke with such emotion, as if he truly regretted that great techniques could not be popularized. Tang San immediately sneered, mixing contempt for the body sect with respect for Yu Xiaogang.
"Teacher, you speak the truth. The so-called great sects are just a few people who cherish themselves, content with the status quo, never thinking of benefiting the world of soul masters—even a little."
"In this world, not everyone is as selfless as you, showing their wisdom and theory for all to see."
Master and disciple sang in perfect harmony, not bothering to lower their voices. In this quiet waiting room, their blunt words rang out clearly.
"Tsk—"
The moment those words left their mouths, the nearby members of the Emperor Battle Team almost simultaneously gasped, then suddenly took several steps back, as if avoiding a plague god, putting clear distance between themselves and the Shrek team.
Osler openly cursed,
"Where did those two idiots come from? Got their heads stuck in the door or something?!"
"The foundation of a sect, built on generations of suffering, resources, even lives—yet publicly shared with the world for the soul master world's blessing? Ridiculous! Are you alive or dead?"
Even the usually calm Shi Mò, now angry, spoke coldly, glaring at Yu Xiaogang,
"Yu Xiaogang, Blue Lightning Marquis. Think carefully—coveting another sect's core secret techniques is a taboo in the soul master world!"
"Do you want to bring catastrophe upon the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan?"
He was born of the Black Tortoise bloodline, his hidden world sect boasting deep heritage—he didn't fear the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan at all.
The usual roguish smile was gone, replaced by a madman's expression as he sneered at Tang San,
"Anyone coveting the body sect's second awakening secret method, throughout Douluo Continent, from the two empires to Spirit Hall, from hidden sects to idle strongmen—who doesn't want it?"
"But who dares say it in public like you? Truly disgusting!"
Tang San suddenly turned, cold eyes locked on the Emperor Battle Team, killing intent nearly tangible. This swarm of ants had mocked him and his teacher again and again—they already had a way to die!
Yu Feng caught the killing intent in Tang San's eyes, but instead of fear, he sneered and spoke up,
"What? Angry just because you got called out? Want to try? Please—let's see just how strong the so-called 'third-ranked Hidden Dragon' really is, blocked by the three great sects."
"Mind you, words have consequences. And the body sect people are just watching from the other side."
Yu Xiaogang, scolded by several people and ruthlessly exposed, blushed, speechless, wanting to argue but realizing that before the harsh reality of sect rules, his "righteousness" seemed so thin and laughable... Idiot.
"Enough!"
A sharp, angry cry rang out. Ning Rongrong stood up, her beautiful face cold as she swept her gaze over Yu Xiaogang and Tang San, eyes filled with warning and disgust.
"Sometimes, it's better to have some self-awareness."
She stared at Yu Xiaogang, enunciating each word.
"Grandmaster, Blue Lightning Marquis. Please remember your identity, and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan behind you."
"Whatever you say, you must bear the consequences."
At this moment, Ning Rongrong's heart was full of stupid disgust. She really couldn't understand why her father would support such foolish, oblivious people. Didn't they know that even a careless remark, if it reached the body sect's ears, would give them ample reason to declare war on the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan?
What was a sect's secret? It was the foundation for survival, more important than life itself. Even if it was a small, unpublished secret from a minor sect, once leaked, it must be traced to the end, even at the cost of silence, and the core of the world's number one sect must be rooted out.
Comparing the body sect's world-famous second awakening to Yu Xiaogang's mistaken theory, and calling Tang Yin selfless—utterly ridiculous! Her father's previous praise of his "outstanding wisdom" was just muddled nonsense! When she got back, she'd have to get her father to change his foolish evaluation of this guy immediately!
Even Yu Xiaogang's longtime friends, and Yu Tianheng who had just joined Shrek, now looked pale, rarely speaking in rebuttal. Flender understood the gravity of the situation and broke out in a cold sweat. Yu Tianheng was shocked in his heart; he knew the terror of the body sect better than most present. His uncle's words were like making the whole clan dance on a cliff.
The staff member leading the Shrek group to the arena was even more frightened, back drenched in cold sweat. Fearing that these two "plague gods" would make even more shocking comments, he hurried over, forced a bright smile, and his voice trembled,
"Honored guests... The competition is about to begin, very soon. This way, please, this way!"
He nearly bowed in half, stretching out his arm to guide them to the field, hoping to send these plague gods to the arena quickly and get them out of this minefield.
Seeing this, Tang San suppressed the swirling killing intent in his heart and fixed a cold stare on a few of the Emperor Battle Team members, as if wanting to engrave their faces in his memory. Then, without another word, he led the way toward the entrance tunnel.
The Shrek group followed, each with a different expression. Only the members of the Emperor Battle Team remained in the waiting room, the air thick with shock, fear, and mocking ridicule.
Osler watched the retreating backs of Shrek and sneered,
"Hmph! I really hope those cold-hearted people from Grand Martial Academy will give them a proper lesson, so they finally know how high the sky is and how thick the earth is!"
Yu Feng shrugged, a sarcastic look back on his face.
"Just watch, this soul fight will be far more wonderful than we imagined... and a lot more entertaining."
...
Bonus chapter at 300 pS