Chapter 51: Gate of Splendor: Zhao Xuanzhen vs. Tang San, Punished by the System

The next day, Shrek Academy.

Zhao Xuanzhen and Xiang Naer entered Shrek Academy, walking along a shaded path toward the classroom building.

A rustling came from the bushes; a girl of fifteen or sixteen jumped out, her sweet face glowing with excitement, holding a soul tool communicator:

“Brother Xuanzhen, I was utterly conquered by your battle yesterday afternoon—can I add you as a soul tool contact?”

“Sorry, sister, it’s not convenient.”

After Zhao Xuanzhen refused, the girl did not give up; instead, she gazed upward at the rising sun at a forty-five-degree angle, her face bathed in light, radiating the glory of self-sacrifice:

“I’m number twenty-seven on the Young Genius List, my martial soul is Lingyuan. As everyone knows, the Spirit Transmission Tower is the organization with the best benefits on the Douluo Continent. I want to join the Spirit Transmission Tower and become a sacred tower official—could you possibly recommend me?”

“The Spirit Transmission Tower welcomes you.”

“Hehe, thanks, brother! Let’s keep in touch!”

Having successfully added Zhao Xuanzhen as a contact, the Lingyuan girl departed, thoroughly satisfied.

“How many now?”

Watching the growing number of chat windows on Zhao Xuanzhen’s soul tool communicator, Na’er pouted her lips so high they could hang a bottle of oil.

“The fifth on the way,” Zhao Xuanzhen nodded. “But she’s the first ranked genius.”

“Leng Yaoju must have instructed the lower ranks,” Na’er muttered. “Otherwise the Young Genius List wouldn’t have been updated overnight!”

The Young Genius List was published by the Spirit Transmission Tower; that morning, the weekly ranking suddenly changed—Taiji Zhao Xuanzhen rose to the top, his name bolded and highlighted in red: a core disciple of the Spirit Transmission Tower!

In a sense, the Young Genius List represented the future order; Zhao Xuanzhen, at only ten years old, had shattered the soul master world’s perception, proving his achievements were limitless.

Soul master families who had sent their young ones to Shrek Academy moved swiftly; the bold ones placed early bets, instructing their juniors to align with Zhao Xuanzhen and join the Spirit Transmission Tower, seeking a chance to leap from carp to dragon.

Shrek Academy admitted new students every three years, each one a genius selected from a thousand. For a genius to voluntarily join the Spirit Transmission Tower, Zhao Xuanzhen had no reason to refuse—those who followed his path were effectively his own officials.

Leng Yaoju revealed Zhao Xuanzhen’s background to subtly hint that he should gather some Shrek students as a future core team.

Though the Xuan Gu Na Sanzha Trishield was powerful, three people could not control the entire Spirit Transmission Tower; the eighteen Pillar Towers and other key branches still required their respective tower masters to hold their posts—Shrek geniuses were ideal candidates.

“Zhao Xuanzhen, you must be extremely cautious from now on,” Na’er said solemnly. “They’re not just after the Spirit Transmission Tower—they’re plotting against you personally.”

“Really? I’m only ten. I can’t be that monstrous.”

“Idiot Zhao Xuanzhen, we’re soul masters!” Na’er exploded. “At this age, some soul masters have already visited brothels. Ten is the perfect time to lay foundations—youthful boys love being taught what a woman’s big sister is!”

“What?”

Zhao Xuanzhen’s eyelid twitched as he scrutinized the silver-haired girl with a pineapple-shaped head.

Under his righteous gaze, Na’er felt a flicker of guilt; her cheeks flushed slightly as she defended herself: “Don’t focus on the details—my point is, women outside are calculating, desperate to devour you whole and fill their own and their families’ interests.

Unlike me, Leng Yaoju, Da Bai, or Xiao Bai—we’re the only ones around you who treat you without expecting anything in return!”

“I understand the logic—but why are you sweating?” Zhao Xuanzhen frowned suspiciously.

“It’s hot! It’s hot! Let’s go, we’ll be late!”

Before the first class of the semester ended, Shen Yi announced that today’s lesson would be combat training; the location was sent to the Soul Guide communicators of the four Zero Class members, with a note: “Meet here.”

When Zhao Xuanzhen and Na’er arrived, Shen Yi, Ye Xinglan, and Xu Li were already there; Shen Yi led the four students into a blood-red classroom building.

A massive alloy gate stood imposingly, its surface etched with intricate patterns; two statues floated on either side—one a blue-gold plant, the other a mysterious eye. Above the gate, four ancient seal script characters were carved, their strokes vigorous like coiling dragons and snakes, radiating a chilling aura.

Gate of Splendor.

“The Gate of Splendor is Shrek’s inner academy’s combat training ground. Considering your extraordinary talents, the Crimson Dragon Douluo deliberated and decided to make an exception and open it for you.”

Shen Yi smiled and released a pulse of soul power; as his energy touched the eye statue, countless threads of light wove into a phantom screen. His fingers danced as he input a sequence of encrypted symbols. The alloy gate rumbled lowly, wisps of white mist seeping from the crack, followed by a mechanical female voice:

“Identity confirmed: Instructor Shen Yi.

Students entering the Gate of Splendor must wear the Blue Spirit Ring.”

The blue-gold plant statue stirred; four metal rings floated out. Shen Yi turned and gestured for the students to put them on.

Na’er took the metal ring and pressed it against her wrist bone; it automatically contracted to fit, its surface glowing with a ring of blue-gold runes. Zhao Xuanzhen frowned slightly—the ring, once clasped, stimulated his blood qi, as if countless fine needles were moving through his meridians.

“It’s detecting soul power fluctuations?”

Shen Yi’s eyes flickered with approval: “The Blue Spirit Ring scans the wearer’s vital signs and cultivation data, transmitting them to the Gate of Splendor’s soul tool AI to determine the level of the trial overseer assigned to you.

The protruding button is a safety device—if you feel overwhelmed, pressing it will let you exit voluntarily. But the Gate of Splendor is extremely safe—even if a soul master dies here, there’s no real danger to life. I suggest you stay as long as possible.”

As he finished, the massive gate roared open, revealing a twisted blue-gold vortex within, its center faintly showing an endless starry sky—a devouring abyss.

The four stepped in together; the world spun violently. When they opened their eyes again, they stood in a vast, pure white realm, countless firefly-like light particles drifting and bathing the space in a hazy glow. Each was isolated in their own small space, yet could clearly see the others.

“Welcome to the Gate of Splendor. Individual trial initiated. Student Zhao Xuanzhen, age ten, trial difficulty: Advanced. Defeat your corresponding Splendor Shadow—no time limit.”

The distant horizon twisted violently; a figure emerged—waist-length blue hair, aged twelve or thirteen, bearing a face Zhao Xuanzhen recognized.

“Tang San?”

Zhao Xuanzhen let out a soft exclamation—the Splendor Shadow was Tang San!

He glanced at the other three: Na’er faced a stunning girl with a single scorpion braid trailing to her knees, her legs long and perfectly rounded.

Ye Xinglan’s opponent was a muscular brute with piercing, evil eyes. Xu Li’s Splendor Shadow was the most peculiar—a bearded man with hypnotic peach-blossom eyes.

The identities of the Splendor Shadows were obvious: the original Shrek Seven—Blue Silver Grass Tang San, Soft Bone Rabbit Xiao Wu, White Tiger Dai Mubai, Sausage Oscar!

“Battle begins.”

The mechanical voice triggered all four battles at once. Tang San’s palm sprouted a cluster of deep blue leaves, each slender and etched with twisted serpent patterns, covered in countless microscopic barbs.

Three soul rings—two yellow, one purple—spun around him. The first ring flared brightly; dozens of vines erupted from the ground, their tips hardened into venomous fangs, lashing from all directions with a whistling rush.

Blue Silver Entanglement!

Watching the legendary first soul skill of the God-King with his own eyes, Zhao Xuanzhen couldn’t suppress the smile on his lips. His will shaped a Taiji diagram that fell downward; yin and yang energies surged outward. The Blue Silver Grass shattered instantly upon contact, no different from roadside weeds, fragments raining like dust.

“Boom—”

The black-and-white figure tore through the debris. Tang San’s face darkened; his palms glowed with pale-blue and white light as he slashed with Xuan Jade Palm. Zhao Xuanzhen’s yang hand gripped Tang San’s wrist, his force driving deep into the white glow of the Xuan Jade Palm, spraying a string of blood droplets.

Tang San gritted his teeth and used the Crane-Grabbing Technique to redirect force—but to his utter horror, the technique had zero effect; instead, Zhao Xuanzhen smashed him in the face with a brutal elbow strike, sending him flying backward, the crunch of his nasal bone mixing with spurting blood.

“Parasite!”

The creator had endowed the Splendor Shadow with high combat intelligence. Even mid-air and bleeding from the nose, Tang San forced his soul power outward, twisting his body mid-flight. The second soul ring flared, blue light exploding.

Blue Silver Grass erupted from beneath Zhao Xuanzhen’s feet, the serpent patterns on the stems writhing, frantically wrapping around his limbs and joints. These parasitic seeds had silently infiltrated the ground during Blue Silver Entanglement’s activation and now struck suddenly, exuding a lethal toxin blended from the three soul beasts: Mandrake Snake, Ghost Vine, and Human-Faced Demon Spider!

Yin-yang energy expanded. The third-ring Blue Silver Grass was fragile; the parasitic vines shattered and exploded. The overwhelming shockwave from Qi Moving Mountains and Rivers obliterated the battlefield into ruins.

Watching Zhao Xuanzhen’s phantom-like figure speed toward him, Tang San wiped blood from his lips and hurled a blue-green orb. It instantly expanded into a massive web, woven entirely from Blue Silver Grass, each loop tightly interlocked, shimmering with a violet glow under the light.

Third Soul Skill: Web Binding!

Simultaneously, a tearing sound erupted—eight deep-purple spider legs burst from Tang San’s back, fully extended to over three meters, like eight razor-sharp spears!

External Soul Bone: Eight Spider Spears!

The Eight Spider Spears plunged into the ground, supporting Tang San’s body. Their middle joints bent halfway, then snapped straight, launching him forward with powerful elasticity.

Now, Tang San resembled a monstrous Human-Faced Demon Spider—eight razor-sharp spear tips changed direction, piercing eight vital points: throat, heart, brain. The air hissed with smoke as the venom coating the spear edges corroded it.

“External Soul Bone? Funny—I have one too.”

Zhao Xuanzhen’s smile turned icy. Ten dark-gold blades extended from his fingertips. Before the claw shadows reached, a chilling killing intent froze Tang San’s breath. The Dark Gold Terror Claws interlocked, and the Web Binding shattered like paper beneath the blades.

Blue Silver Grass fragments fluttered in the air as the two passed each other. A single drop of blood fell from the claw tips into the ground. The Eight Spider Spears snapped one by one, their shards scattering like a celestial maiden’s blossoms. The last image in Tang San’s pupils was five golden threads slicing across his neck.

A thin line of blood slowly stretched and widened in slow motion; blood gushed, staining the ground. A head thudded onto the earth with a dull, heavy sound.

One strike—decapitation!

“Advanced trial passed. Time: one minute thirty-seven seconds.” The mechanical voice announced the end of battle.

Zhao Xuanzhen retracted his Dark Gold Terror Claws and turned to the other three battlefields.

Ye Xinglan fought the two-ring Dai Mubai; her Star God Sword’s piercing sword qi forced the White Tiger to raise his White Tiger Guard. Her spirit of sword and soul as one gave her a slight upper hand.

Xu Li’s battle with Oscar was bizarre: two weak food-type soul masters grappled, slapping each other, trading electric shocks, occasionally shouting food-type soul incantations.

“I have a big meat bun!”

“I’ve got a big sausage!”

Each ate some food to recover, then resumed fighting.

Zhao Xuanzhen turned to Na’er’s battle with Xiao Wu—and his eyes sharpened. Na’er’s soul rings were no longer two, but three—Soul Elder level! Three purple rings danced around her slender frame!

Na’er’s soul power was roughly level twenty-eight; overnight, she had broken into Soul Elder. Zhao Xuanzhen realized she had almost certainly absorbed the Ten-Thousand-Year Thorn Dragon Emperor’s left leg bone, propelling her past level thirty.

“Second individual trial initiated. Difficulty upgraded to Transcendent.”

The Gate of Splendor’s mechanical voice announced. A hundred meters away, Tang San’s figure slowly solidified, holding a massive black hammer. Black, black, black, black—four ten-thousand-year soul rings erupted violently!

“Good, good, good—cheating…” Zhao Xuanzhen’s temple twitched.

He’d read three and a half Douluo Continent novels—Tang San as a Soul Ancestor had no damn Clear Sky Hammer soul rings!

And four ten-thousand-year rings? That’s wrong too—where’s the Titan Ape’s ten-thousand-year ring? Since you’re already cheating, just throw everything on the table!

Boosting the ancestor’s stats, but too timid to go all out!

“Transcendent trial: the candidate must survive thirty seconds under the Splendor Shadow’s assault.”

“Thirty seconds… survive?”

Hearing this, Zhao Xuanzhen’s lips curled into a cold smile.

Perhaps retaining memories of his previous defeat, Tang San moved first. The four ten-thousand-year soul rings exploded instantly; dark-gold patterns spread along the Clear Sky Hammer’s handle.

The hammerhead swelled like a mountain; dark-gold light flowed, trembling the air. Spiderweb-like cracks radiated outward from Tang San.

Clear Sky Secret Skill: Ring Explosion!

Tang San roared, veins bulging on his arms. He raised the hammer overhead; its surface glowed blindingly. Dark-gold energy surged skyward, churning the pure white sky into a vortex.

Golden light blazed brilliantly as Zhao Xuanzhen transformed into his second awakening form. With the crisp sound of bones realigning, yin-yang energy converged in his fists.

Fist met hammer. Gold and dark-gold intertwined into a blinding sphere. The explosive light leveled the surroundings. Tang San’s face twisted; the Clear Sky Hammer’s patterns flickered wildly—but Zhao Xuanzhen’s fist, like a drill, pierced straight through the hammer’s core!

“Break!”

The third soul skill, Wuji Dao, surged. Zhao Xuanzhen’s fists tore violently outward, sending the Clear Sky Hammer flying. Cracks spiderwebbed across its surface. Before the shockwave faded, golden fist shadows pierced through the light barrier and slammed squarely into Tang San’s chest. His body dissolved under the yin-yang energy, vanishing into the wind.

Zhao Xuanzhen slowly retracted his fist, a faint streak of dark gold afterglow lingering behind him, proof that the once-greatest offensive weapon martial soul had once existed.

“Slain the Radiant Shadow in eight seconds. Ultimate Trial passed. Detected: combat proficiency severely violates natural law. Suspected concealment of true soul power. Triggering Radiant Gate annihilation mechanism. Difficulty upgraded to infinite level.”

The mechanical voice suddenly turned furious as Tang San appeared for the third time, a trident in his left hand and tendrils of Blue Silver Grass sprouting from his right, soul rings ascending slowly.

Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Black, Red, Red, Red, Red, Red!

Zhao Xuanzhen fell silent, locking eyes with Tang San in his Titled Douluo form for two and a half seconds, then sighed faintly:

“Sanctioned by the system? Interesting…”

(End of Chapter)