Chapter 39: Seven-as-One Combined Technique: Tyrant Emperor Thunder Realm vs

Yu Yuanheng gasped heavily, his expression no longer proud, but instead filled with a dazed, self-doubting confusion.

Relying on the dragon clan’s physical prowess and potent lightning affinity, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon was hailed two ten thousand years ago as the number one beast martial soul in the world.

Now, the two abilities Yu Yuanheng prided himself on had been shattered head-on by Zhao Xuanzhen—he had lost precisely where he was strongest, and a crushing sense of helplessness pressed upon his heart like a mountain.

“Stepping stone…”

Yu Yuanheng lowered his head, staring at his twisted left arm and shattered dragon scales, a bitter, self-mocking smile tugging at his lips.

He had never heard of Zhao Xuanzhen’s name before—this battle was the other’s debut. Yu Yuanheng bore countless accolades: fifth on the Young Genius Rankings, elite disciple of Shrek Academy, heir to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon… yet he had lost.

If one wished to become famous across the land, the simplest, most brutal method was to defeat someone already famous—Zhao Xuanzhen had already stood atop Yu Yuanheng’s head.

“Big Brother Yuanheng, eat this big meat bun!”

Xu Li frantically conjured over a dozen big meat buns; Yu Yuanheng chewed mechanically, his injuries slowly healing—barely better than nothing. After all, the big meat bun was only a hundred-year soul skill, insufficient to purge the wounds left by Zhao Xuanzhen.

Yu Yuanheng was not the only one crushed—other Shrek disciples fared just as badly on their respective battlefields.

Icy flashes erupted; the Silver Dragon Spear struck like a coiling dragon, forcing the Star God Sword to barely fend off the relentless assault. The battle reached fever pitch; blood began to seep across Ye Xinglan’s body, her chest narrowly grazing the silver spear tip time and again—so thrilling and perilous the referee trembled, ready to intervene at any moment.

Ye Xinglan gritted her teeth, forcing every last ounce of potential from her body. Both were weapon martial souls, yet the Silver Dragon Spear far surpassed the Star God Sword in quality; the Silver Dragon’s intent crushed the unity of man and sword. Ye Xinglan’s close-combat skills paled in comparison to Na’er’s four years of brutal training on the Ascension Platform and in real illusions.

This was a complete domination. Ye Xinglan had held on this long only because of the 40% boost from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile’s three attributes!

“Silver Dragon Slash!”

Na’er cried out sharply; the Silver Dragon Spear unleashed a blazing dragon-shaped spear tip. Ye Xinglan’s pupils shrank violently—she activated her first soul skill, Star God Sword, infusing it with starlight to intercept the hurtling spear tip!

“Boom—”

Reality cruelly shattered illusion; Ye Xinglan flew spinning through the air, spear and all, crashing over fifty meters into the soul-tool barrier before slamming hard onto the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

“Sister Xinglan!!!”

Xu Li cried out in anguish; as a food-type Soul Master with near-zero combat power, he could do nothing but watch helplessly as Na’er battered Ye Xinglan, then later, heartbroken, offered her more big meat buns to heal her wounds.

At this moment, Ye Xinglan propped herself up with the Star God Sword, staring at the triumphant Na’er—her talent surpassed even Yu Yuanheng’s; she had been admitted as a probationary disciple of Shrek’s Inner Academy.

Thus, her pride ran deeper—and the backlash of its shattering cut sharper. Her teeth sank deep into her crimson lips, drawing blood; the metallic tang of iron filled her mouth, making Xu Li’s heart ache as he kept conjuring more big meat buns.

“Boom—”

Another figure was flung backward—Ghost King Vine Yao Yue!

Golden-patterned Blue Silver Grass was the natural counter to Ghost King Vine; Tang Wulin and Xie Xie seized the opening and pummeled him mercilessly, their faces twisted in cruel grins, until Tang Wulin finally blasted Yao Yue away with a Golden Dragon Ascending Fist!

Seeing this, Flame Lord Chu Yan and Golden Wolf Emperor Chen Feng made identical decisions instantly: they endured one attack from Gu Yue and Jiutian, broke out of their battles, and retreated to the Shrek team.

Both possessed thick-skinned beast martial souls; though their snarling expressions were far from elegant, at least they weren’t as horrifically mangled as their three teammates.

The Shrek team regrouped, staring at each other’s battered forms—seven lost, bewildered children.

Wasn’t the Tianhai Alliance a bunch of amateurs? What kind of team was this “Donghai Academy”? Their soul power levels were indeed low due to youth, yet their martial souls were each fiercer than the last!

Golden-awakened body martial souls, super-spear-intent weapon Soul Masters, elemental heart masters, plant-type counters, metal-type overlords… each one was a hero capable of riding horses on their arms!

The Shrek team couldn’t believe the truth of their utter defeat—fury at impending loss mingled with a faint, creeping fear.

Before entering Shrek Academy, all seven had been monsters in their own stories, fighting above their level as easily as breathing. Today, they had become the backdrop to a new generation of monsters—helpless and helpless, just as their former opponents had once been.

Shrek was now thoroughly on the defensive; the spectator stands erupted in uproar. The crowd exchanged glances—they had assumed the soul power gap was so vast that Donghai Academy wouldn’t last a minute. Who could have imagined Shrek would fall this pitifully?

“Donghai! Donghai! Donghai!”

The crowd finally remembered Donghai Academy was part of the Tianhai Alliance. Shrek Academy’s undefeated aura had lasted far too long; their own academy had exposed the gods’ health bars, and now the spectators turned, cheering for Donghai Academy instead.

On the Tianhai Alliance Grand Tournament podium, Zhen Hua and Mu Ye wore radiant smiles like blooming chrysanthemums. Neither feared Shrek’s reputation—this was a fair, just, and open battle. Zhao Xuanzhen, Jiutian, and the others had overcome the soul power gap and defeated Shrek Academy with pure, righteous strength!

Long Hengxu, Donghai Academy’s head of instruction, wore a complex expression. He had established Class Zero, spared no cost to nurture the F4, and entered the Tianhai Alliance Grand Tournament—all to attract gifted disciples to Donghai Academy.

Judging by today’s performance, regardless of the exhibition match’s outcome, Donghai Academy’s name was now guaranteed to ring out across the land.

In contrast, Wu Changkong looked dimmed. He had poured everything into Class Zero to atone for the Academy, hoping the F4 would one day enter Shrek and shine within its Inner Academy.

Shrek’s first public defeat would inevitably strike at its two-ten-thousand-year legacy of glory—something Wu Changkong never wished for.

Shen Yi watched the arena with tense eyes, stunned that Wu Changkong’s prophecy had come true: Shrek Academy had truly stepped into its one-percent failure rate.

“No… bearing the Academy’s glory, we cannot lose…”

His eyes reflected his listless companions; Yu Yuanheng’s eyes burned red, his aura bordering on madness as he roared:

“Use Master Shen’s combined technique!”

“Yuanheng, your body can’t hold out…” Ning Qian hesitated.

“It doesn’t matter! Honor is above all!” Yu Yuanheng snapped. “I can die on this battlefield to defend the supreme glory of our Academy and family!”

“I understand.”

Ning Qian slowly nodded; her soul power surged, and her two yellow, one purple soul rings instantly merged into one.

Secret Technique: Soul Ring Fusion—maximizing soul power output. Intense soul power rippled, following a unique rhythm, violently converging into her palms.

In this process, the Shrek disciples lined up in formation: Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Ning Qian, Bun-maker Xu Li, Star God Sword Ye Xinglan, Flame Lord Chu Yan, Golden Wolf Emperor Chen Feng, Ghost King Vine Yao Yue, Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Yu Yuanheng!

“Fat boy, catch!”

The massive fused soul power surged into Xu Li; his fat face trembled as he channeled every ounce of his soul power forward to Ye Xinglan!

“Oh? Seven as one?”

Na’er skipped lightly to Zhao Xuanzhen’s side, holding the Silver Dragon Spear, frowning: “So arrogant, you’re treating us like nothing.”

“Should I throw the spear, or you summon a heavenly thunderstorm—how would they handle that?”

“What’s the fun in that?” Zhao Xuanzhen smiled lightly. “We must break their Dao hearts, extinguish their last hope.”

“You’re such a pure evil! But I won’t let you hog all the spotlight!” Na’er protested.

“...Then let’s also perform a thrilling combined technique?”

The golden light of Zhao Xuanzhen’s True Self Second Awakening blazed brighter; he raised his palms, ten dark-gold claw blades extending from his fingertips.

“Xuanzhen, let me help you.”

Gu Yue, watching silently nearby, guessed his intent and moved ahead of Na’er, drawing upon space elements as much as possible. Instantly, countless specks of silver light surged toward the Dark Gold Dread Claws.

“What are you doing?!”

Na’er shot Gu Yue an annoyed glare and released a stream of silver light from the tip of her Silver Dragon Spear.

Though she hadn’t inherited the Silver Dragon King’s mastery of all seven elements, her innate elemental affinity remained strong—choosing the path of space for her Silver Dragon Spear, her spatial abilities had skyrocketed.

Two streams of spatial power rushed toward Zhao Xuanzhen—and the next instant, Gu Yue and Na’er were stunned: their soul powers began merging mid-air!

“Huh?!”

“What’s going on?”

The two girls exclaimed in unison, their soul powers interwoven, entwined, fusing into a stronger spatial force that clung to Zhao Xuanzhen’s Dark Gold Dread Claws!

Shrek’s Seven-as-One fusion technique progressed step by step: Star God Sword shimmered with starlight, Flame Lord burned with fire, Golden Wolf Emperor radiated piercing sharpness, Ghost King Vine shrieked like a vengeful ghost—each disciple added a new element as the power passed through them.

The orb of condensed soul power from the six others hovered before Yu Yuanheng; he seized it, lightning surging wildly through his body, his pupils transforming into the cold, vertical slits of a dragon.

“Don’t underestimate the wisdom of our ancestor Yu Xiaogang!

Here it is—our Seven-as-One fusion technique!”

Centered on Yu Yuanheng’s position, thunder surged like a tidal wave, exploding outward in Cengcengdiedie layers; the battlefield erupted into giant waves of rock, which were crushed into dust before they even fell—floating dust shot sparks within the lightning, turning heaven and earth into a thunderous hell!

Tyrant Emperor, Thunder Realm!

The Tyrant Emperor Thunder Realm surpassed Tang Wulin and the others’ limits—they could only watch as the thunderous hell engulfed them. Beneath the blue-purple lightning, faintly visible was Zhao Xuanzhen’s handsome face.

An ancient roar echoed from deep within the bones of the Dark Gold Dread Claws; the claw tips were engraved with spiral silver space runes, silver light flowing along the dark-gold blades, air cracking like glass, claws tearing through the heavens!

Ten claw marks spilled like a galaxy falling; the ground silently collapsed into spiderweb fissures, shattered rock layers vanishing to ash, space itself appearing to fracture, filled with thick, serpentine, twisted silver-white lines!

Ancient records tell of one of the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts of the Douluo Continent—the Dark Gold Dread Claw Bear King, Xiong Jun, who mastered spatial power and evolved his Dark Gold Dread Claws into the Sky-Tearing Claw, powerful enough to wound the Beast God, Emperor Tian!

Now, Zhao Xuanzhen’s Dark Gold Dread Claws, infused with Gu Yue and Na’er’s spatial attributes, echoed the same principle as the Sky-Tearing Claw!

Dark Gold Dread Claw, Sky-Tearing Claw!

The arena echoed with the shrieks of the two fused soul techniques—Sky-Tearing Claw and Tyrant Emperor Thunder Realm—clashing in ultimate power; the soul-tool defense barrier operated at full capacity to prevent any residual energy from escaping.

Through the dazzling light of the techniques, the two teams’ gazes met—this final strike would decide victory, defeat, and honor!

The Tyrant Emperor Thunder Realm rippled like a blue-purple mirror reflecting countless winding cracks—the Sky-Tearing Claw was violently tearing through the thunder!

Dust settled; all brilliance vanished, all noise ceased, every eye fixed on the battlefield.

“Boom—”

Yu Yuanheng lost control of his body, collapsing like a toppled mountain, eyes shut, left arm grotesquely twisted. His right arm, chest, and legs were torn open, blood soaking half his body; residual Dark Gold Dread Claw energy continued to corrode him.

Another figure stood in stark contrast: the Golden Awakening faded; a gentle breeze stirred his black hair, revealing a peerless, sublime presence that made others feel ashamed.

The outcome was clear: the entire Shrek team had exhausted their soul power. Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, and Xu Xiaoyan slapped hands in celebration—Shrek Academy was not the invincible demon the world claimed. Like any ordinary academy, they could lose, they could fail!

Donghai Academy, for the first time ever, had defeated Shrek Academy publicly—each of their seven names would spread across the Douluo Continent at lightning speed!

“Heh, Shrek isn’t that strong!”

Xie Xie retracted his Light-Dark Dragon Daggers, smugly grinning.

“Exactly!” Xu Xiaoyan clapped her hands in agreement: “Let them bully others—serves them right!

We stood united—Shrek is nothing!”

At these words, six pairs of eyes instantly turned into searchlights. The five of Xuan, Yue, Tian, Lin, and Nan needed no explanation—they each had their shining moments.

Xie Xie had done his best, assisting Tang Wulin in suppressing Ghost King Vine Yao Yue. Only Xu Xiaoyan, with her low soul power, had seemed to be just… slacking off…

Xu Xiaoyan’s cheeks flushed: “We’re a team… a team!

Teams have roles—some chop through melons, some unleash full power, and someone’s job is to shout ‘You guys are so cool!’ and thank you for carrying me!”

Donghai Academy slaughtered mercilessly—Xu Xiaoyan was still a team member; even without merit, she had endured hardship!

Laughter and occasional mockery drifted from the opposing seven. An hour ago, Shrek would have considered such talk a death sentence—only fools dared provoke them. Now, they all fell silent.

Ye Xinglan, Xu Li, Ning Qian… aside from unconscious Yu Yuanheng, their bodies trembled, eyes hollow, like walking corpses.

They had defiled Shrek’s two-ten-thousand-year glory, shattered the aura of invincibility.

Below the competition stage, countless soul-tool cameras focused on Shrek Academy, capturing the fading gray-white with professional precision.

They were reporters covering the Heaven-Sea Alliance Grand Tournament, affiliated with the Dayue Federation. The Federation’s high command had long despised Shrek Academy and would not miss this golden opportunity to strike it—they would launch a flood of propaganda about this battle.

Among them, a reporter from the Dayue Evening Post scribbled furiously, his headline blazing in glaring red letters:

THE MYTH IS BROKEN!

(End of Chapter)