Chapter 53: On the Eve of the Finals

The next day.

Xingluo City, as the capital of the Star Net Empire and the empire's largest city, has been experiencing crowding for several consecutive days.

By "crowding" it means that on every street the heads of people are jostling.

Both semifinal rounds of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Duel Tournament have already concluded, and from the moment the semifinals ended, queues began forming outside Star Net Square. Some people have been waiting for two days and two nights. Their purpose is to witness the grandeur of the tournament's final match with their own eyes. Perhaps this will become a lifelong story they cherish.

Moreover, although the final will be divided into team battles, individual elimination bouts, and a 2‑2‑3 format, all will be completed within a single day! What a spectacular era this is; even if it is arduous, it is worth it.

To maintain order in the imperial capital, the Star Net Empire hastily dispatched ten thousand elite soldiers into the city, and all shops extended their hours. To supply the sudden surge of outsiders, resources were also requisitioned from surrounding megacities. In an instant, Xingluo City's prosperity reached unprecedented levels.

With the influx of people, revenue multiplied; each Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy tournament brings not honor but monetary profit to the state! Undoubtedly, this year's tournament's economic benefit to the Star Net Empire is incalculable. No wonder the great empires vie to host the event, yet must compromise, each edition being organized by a nation.

The two finalists, Shrek Academy and the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Mentor Academy, undoubtedly represent the continent's strongest forces. The anticipation for this final is obvious.

However, because Shrek Academy's lineup is incomplete, the odds in the underground market heavily favor the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Mentor Academy, at 6.5 to 3.5, firmly suppressing Shrek Academy.

Nevertheless, no one thinks Shrek Academy is an easy win, not even the members of the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Mentor Academy. After all, every Shrek Academy trainee is a highly promising individual. How much combat power they will display in the match, and whether they have any tricks left, remains unknown.

In earlier matches they have already staged several upset challenges. In the ultimate final, to uphold Shrek Academy's honor, they will surely give their all, so the outcome remains uncertain.

Today's weather is poor, with overcast clouds and a faint mist shrouding Xingluo City; occasional fine raindrops drift from the sky, lending the grand metropolis a chill.

Yet, no matter how strong the chill, it cannot dampen the enthusiasm of the crowds from all directions in Xingluo City. The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Duel Tournament final is about to begin. A pinnacle showdown will take place today.

At this moment, the two teams about to clash walk toward Star Net Square. Along the way, soldiers line the route, blocking the crowds shouting their names. Many who cannot enter the square gather on both sides of the passage, watching the teams up close.

Ling Luochen walks in the middle of the Shrek team, occasionally looking up, a hint of joy flashing on her pretty face. As a controller of ice elements, the humid, rain‑ready weather is undoubtedly to her advantage! Moreover, she has Huo Yuhao's assistance.

Yesterday, Wang Yan planned a day's strategy and tactics, and this morning, adjustments were made for the weather. Everyone is a bit overly nervous about the upcoming final, but that is unavoidable.

It's not only Shrek Academy that's nervous; the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Mentor Academy members are even more anxious. This is the closest their academy has ever been to the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy championship.

Their side's strength is unprecedented, while the Shrek team's lineup is incomplete. Describing this as a once‑in‑a‑millennium chance is no exaggeration. Because the championship is so near, they become even more nervous.

Proud as Xiao Hongchen, his face is taut at this moment. Occasionally glancing at the Shrek Academy members walking beside him on the red carpet laid just last night, battle fervor and desire blaze in their eyes.

The closer the match, the more nervous the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Mentor Academy members become, yet Meng Hongchen's infatuated gaze never leaves Chen Qiye. Others might not achieve this effect, but the reason is simple: Meng Hongchen is a veteran member of the Appearance Association.

At the same time, Chen Qiye scans the city wall and sees a disgruntled Xu Jiujiu, as well as the order‑keeping White Tiger Duke Dai Hao.

At this moment, Xuan Lao, carrying a wine jar and chicken leg, sits at the side of the arena; clearly, this elder has come to calm the scene.

However, in the current human world, few can outmatch Xuan Lao.

After the contradictory speech from Ren Tiansha Douluo urging everyone to give their all while advising restraint, the two sides' participants entered.

On the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Mentor Academy side, leading the line is their captain Ma Rulong. Directly behind Ma Rulong are Xiao Hongchen, then Meng Hongchen. Following are the fifth‑rank Soul Mentors they met in the semifinals: Mi Jia, and three others also of fifth rank—Xiao Xiafeng, Chen Fei, and Lin Xi—whom the Shrek team can identify by appearance. Except for Meng Hongchen, all are male.

When the seven appear, Chen Qiye shows little reaction.

As the referee announces the start, Su Yu's formation quickly takes shape under his command: Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yaoheng at the front, Ling Luochen in the middle, Chen Qiye behind Ling Luochen, Huo Yuhao to Ling Luochen's right, while Xu Sanshi and Bei Bei stand side by side at the front.

On the other side, the Sun and Moon team remains stationary; for Soul Mentors, sufficient distance is most advantageous for deploying their power.

Lin Xi, at the front, immediately activates a soul conduit device—a shield that initially looks no larger than a common plate. A flash of light on the metal surface spreads into a yellow aura, forming a two‑meter‑diameter light shield that protects not only him but also the others behind the Sun and Moon team.

Anyone with eyes can see why the Sun and Moon team does this; the reason is simple—they are guarding against Xu Sanshi's Xuanming Transposition.

The Xuanming Transposition soul skill has played a crucial role countless times in Shrek team's group battles. If Xu Sanshi completes a transposition, his successive swaps will make the Shrek team's tactics wildly unpredictable; whoever he sends away or brings back is detrimental to the Sun and Moon team.

The Sun and Moon team, lined up, can only be seen by the Shrek team through the frontmost Lin Xi, whose tall stature almost completely blocks his teammates. Deploying the soul conduit shield now serves to block Xuanming Transposition. Even if he is transposed away, Lin Xi is already prepared.

When the Sun and Moon team sees Xu Sanshi charging to the front, they all smile knowingly. In their view, their plan is evidently perfect—at least Xu Sanshi's Xuanming Transposition cannot be executed.

Just as Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yaoheng close the distance to the Sun and Moon team, a massive burst of light spheres, like a peacock's fan, erupts from their formation, striking the Shrek members.

Dai Yaoheng leaps up, a surge of white‑hot light appears—fourth soul skill, White Tiger Meteor Shower.

Ma Xiaotao's instruction to Ling Luochen is to strike with full force, without any hesitation.

A torrent of icy mist erupts, beginning to corrode the Sun and Moon team's soul shield. Just as they are about to counterattack, a brilliant phoenix soars amid a resonant phoenix cry; following the White Tiger Meteor Shower, it links to Ma Xiaotao's ultimate soul skill, Phoenix Meteor Shower.

The raging flames cause the arena's temperature to soar; phoenix meteors at least five times larger than the White Tiger meteors rain down, dense and fierce. The air above the stage twists almost completely. The one hundred and eight positioned Soul Masters must summon all their soul power to sustain the shield.

It must be said, in terms of attack power, Ma Xiaotao is undeniably the top. At under twenty, her cultivation has reached Soul Saint, and with the mighty Evil‑Fire Phoenix, even against a Soul Saint, ordinary Soul Douluo would hardly match her.

The first wave of soul skills colliding with the light spheres already generated a violent impact; when Ma Xiaotao unleashed Phoenix Meteor Shower, Xu Sanshi could not stop to shield the others from the blast wave. While everyone was being suppressed by Ma Xiaotao alone, just as she intended to continue with Phoenix Sky‑Howl, Dai Yaoheng had already rushed to the front of the Sun and Moon team.

The clash between the sides ignites instantly; Lin Xi, bearing two layers of soul conduit shields, somehow endures Ma Xiaotao's terrifying strike.

The opposing members are not idle; instantly a multitude of soul conduit devices emerge from them, all targeting Ling Luochen, Su Yu and their allies.

But in the next instant, Dai Yaoheng, possessed by the evil White Tiger, slashes a claw onto the opponent's shield; if a ranged Soul Mentor is approached by a strong‑attack‑type Soul Emperor, it would be disastrous, and the opponent clearly realizes the gravity.

Mi Jia, clad in soul conduit heavy armor, leaps directly out of the shield; a great sword materializes, and two massive figures crash into each other.

Boom! Even Dai Yaoheng, who has activated White Tiger Vajra Transformation, is not as large as Mi Jia. His soul conduit heavy armor must absorb a great deal of impact; under such armor, perhaps only a super‑focused soul conduit cannon could breach the defense.

Dai Yaoheng realizes the target is not himself but Chen Qiye, but the opposite side gives him no chance; in a brief glance, Ma Rulong aims at Chen Qiye, and a burst of intense silver light instantly fills the entire arena.

(End of Chapter)