Chapter 57: Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, God-Tier Martial Soul vs. God-Tier Soul Beast, Too

The next day, Shrek Academy, Class Zero classroom.

A golden-haired girl with a high ponytail sat at her desk, her features exquisite, bearing a rare air of martial vigor, her spine straight as a sword, intently studying a treatise on mecha construction.

The rotund boy pressed his footsteps low, shuffling like a clumsy bear to the golden-haired girl’s side, whispering carefully: “Xinglan-jie, have you eaten breakfast?”

“No, I’m studying mecha construction,” Ye Xinglan replied coolly.

The boy’s eyes lit up instantly; after saying “I have a big meat bun,” he produced two plump, white Soul-Replenishing Meat Buns, pressing them eagerly toward her: “I’ve got buns—Xinglan-jie, eat some to replenish your nutrition!”

“No, go back to your seat.”

“Oh, okay.”

Hearing Ye Xinglan’s refusal, Xu Lizi hurriedly agreed, daring not to urge further, and darted back to his seat, then turned his head at an angle, his lingering gaze fixed on Ye Xinglan’s pale profile.

Though the silver-haired girl in the same class was unquestionably more beautiful, Xu Lizi was Pianpian drawn to that stern, coldly handsome face—just gazing at her from afar filled his heart with profound satisfaction.

While secretly observing his goddess, Xu Lizi noticed two empty desks to Ye Xinglan’s left. With twenty minutes left until class, and knowing Na’er’s routine, he knew she would step into Class Zero precisely five minutes from now—meaning he would have five final minutes alone with Ye Xinglan.

For a year, Xu Lizi had no worries; his desires were few—Ye Xinglan’s glance or a simple word was enough to make him happy.

Of course, the prerequisite was that Ye Xinglan had not given anyone else more attention than him.

Xu Lizi knew well: Ye Xinglan was a textbook Douluo Soul Master, wholly devoted to the Sword Dao, subconsciously admiring the strong.

Once a peer genius surpassed her in every aspect, Ye Xinglan, who revered strength above all, would inevitably turn her gaze toward them.

As luck would have it, Class Zero harbored two such monsters—Xu Lizi knew Ye Xinglan had already set them as her goals, especially the unparalleled prodigy who had topped the Young Genius Rankings at age ten.

What filled Xu Lizi with immense fortune was that the unparalleled prodigy had soon departed to the Golden Tree to seek Dao, and had never returned to Class Zero.

During that time, Xu Lizi lived in constant dread, unable to imagine what would happen if, in Ye Xinglan’s relentless pursuit of strength, they sparked some pink romance—where would he be then?

Thus, deep in his heart, Xu Lizi silently wished: let that person’s seclusion last longer… even longer…

“Squeak—”

The classroom door was pushed open from outside; Xu Lizi instinctively looked up, his fat body trembling for an instant, his pupils dilating sharply.

The silver-haired girl revealed a radiant smile, linking arms with the black-haired boy, who, as always, had a refined, gentle face and a demeanor as composed as a virtuous scholar, showing not a trace of the ferocity he displayed in battle.

When Ye Xinglan saw the black-haired boy, her blue eyes flickered with barely perceptible ripples, then she spoke softly: “Congratulations on your emergence.”

“Thank you.”

Zhao Xuanzhen smiled in reply; after a year apart, Ye Xinglan had grown more beautiful with time, blossoming into a graceful young lady. Xu Lizi, meanwhile, had gone from a little chubby boy to a medium-sized one, heading steadily toward becoming a large one.

For some reason, Zhao Xuanzhen caught on Xu Lizi’s chubby face a look of bitter helplessness—an unmistakable sense of helplessly watching his goddess slip away.

Fifteen minutes passed swiftly; Shen Yi stepped into Class Zero as the bell rang, unsurprised by Zhao Xuanzhen’s appearance. Her teacher, the Crimson Dragon Douluo Zhuo Shi, was an elder of the Sea God Pavilion and had witnessed the Golden Tree’s spirit supporting Zhao Xuanzhen the day before—he had already informed his young disciple of Zhao’s return.

“Class begins. Today we cover Doukai.”

Shen Yi diligently taught the knowledge of Doukai; beneath her, the four students’ thoughts diverged.

Ye Xinglan listened with utmost focus, afraid to miss a single point. Zhao Xuanzhen’s soul power had indeed advanced greatly, but his second profession had lain dormant for a year; if he were to craft a two-character Doukai now, he would need a solid foundation in his second profession—this lesson was a review of past knowledge.

With her childhood friend safely emerging from seclusion, Na’er’s mood had cleared from cloudy to sunny; like a top scholar, she listened to the lecture while diverting part of her attention to observe every move Zhao Xuanzhen made.

Teachers knew instantly who was paying attention; Shen Yi was surprised—the student zoning out today was Xu Lizi. The little chubby boy had always been diligent, like a hardworking, tireless ox—yet now he was drifting in thought.

The morning Doukai lesson ended quickly; Shen Yi dismissed class, keeping Zhao Xuanzhen behind alone.

Everyone understood why; Na’er gave a fist-pump gesture of encouragement and returned first to the Sea God Island.

“Xuanzhen, you missed last semester’s final exam—you must take a makeup test this afternoon,” Shen Yi said gently.

“Mm.” Zhao Xuanzhen nodded slightly. “Thank you, Teacher Shen.”

“It’s nothing.”

As Class Zero’s homeroom teacher, Shen Yi naturally accompanied Zhao Xuanzhen to the final exam site.

The two left the classroom building and walked all the way to the outer campus, where the Life-and-Death Arena unveiled itself—a sealed ancient cage, its grayish stone walls crawling with crimson vines, their surfaces covered in dense protrusions like countless dormant veins pulsing faintly.

“This was once the academy’s beast arena, housing many hundred- and thousand-year soul beasts,” Shen Yi explained.

“Ten thousand years ago, when soul spirits emerged, the relationship between humans and soul beasts improved dramatically. To demonstrate sincere eternal peace between the two races, the academy voluntarily released all soul beasts from the arena, which was then abandoned.”

“As eras advanced, soul technology progressed rapidly, and one after another, top-tier soul tech facilities emerged—the Spirit Transmission Tower’s Ascension Platform, the Tang Men Hall of Heroes, and our academy’s Gate of Glory.”

“After deliberation by a certain session of the Sea God Pavilion, the abandoned beast arena was revived and transformed into the Life-and-Death Arena, serving as one of the venues to test students’ combat abilities.”

Shen Yi’s tone grew solemn: “The danger level of the Life-and-Death Arena far exceeds that of the Gate of Glory. A Soul Master’s exceptional talent is not an advantage—it may even become a liability.”

“Remember: do not show mercy. Only one death ends the life-or-death battle and releases you from the space.”

“I understand.”

Zhao Xuanzhen stepped through the ancient stone gate of the Life-and-Death Arena, his body slowly swallowed by gray mist.

The Life-and-Death Arena was a simple, vast circular arena, devoid of any decoration, stretching as if boundless, the mist obscuring the sky—no sun, no moon, only endless darkness.

“Identity verified. Welcome to the Life-and-Death Arena.” A twisted, alien voice echoed suddenly.

“Class Zero, Zhao Xuanzhen. Soul power level forty-one. Martial Soul: True Self. Talent grade: Gold.”

“Life-and-Death Arena is matching you with an equally matched opponent…”

Zhao Xuanzhen stood still, watching with interest the wildly churning gray mist several hundred meters away.

The Life-and-Death Arena was a simulated combat space—death here affected no reality; it merely matched the student with a soul beast according to talent for a life-or-death duel.

Ye Xinglan’s was the Death Spider Empress, Na’er’s the Ice Snow Maiden; Zhao Xuanzhen was curious—what soul beast would his gold-tier talent summon?

“Match successful. Zero-class soul beast deploying.”

The mist parted; a massive, jet-black tiger strode forward with a lordly gait. Its blood-red eyes brimmed with murderous aura; the black king-character on its forehead loomed like storm clouds; its upright tail, composed of countless bony segments, ended in a grotesque barbed hook glowing with chilling Youguang .

“Dark Demon Evil God Tiger?”

Zhao Xuanzhen’s gaze darkened slightly—this matching system had truly summoned a worthy opponent!

The Supreme King of Douluo Season 1, a god-tier soul beast matched to god-tier martial souls, a descendant of the Evil God—Dark Demon Evil God Tiger!

The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger’s feats need no elaboration: at sixty-thousand years of cultivation, it overcame the Titled Douluo Tang San, nearly dragging him down with its ultimate trump card, and its posthumous Evil God Core even helped forge another Divine King of the Great God Circle.

God-tier martial soul True Self versus god-tier soul beast Dark Demon Evil God Tiger—Zhao Xuanzhen could not determine whether this creature was stronger or weaker than the true Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, but he was certain: even if it could not replicate the Evil God bloodline, Shrek Academy had certainly compensated with godlike stats!

Black, black, black, gold—four soul rings erupted instantly; the dazzling golden hue of the third ring mingled with its deep radiance. Without hesitation, Zhao Xuanzhen activated Golden Awakening and the Wuji Dao at the very start!

With both enhancement soul skills imbued, True Self’s aura surged upward; waves of energy rippled outward in relentless tides—yet the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger felt no fear; instead, Zhao Xuanzhen’s power ignited in it a ferocious, ravenous killing intent!

“Roar—”

The tiger’s roar shook heaven and earth; its claw-blades ripped through the air, its paws gleaming with metallic hardness, as if forged from molten metal.

A stench-laden wind rushed at Zhao Xuanzhen; his body swayed like a willow fluff. His first soul skill, Qi Follows Heart, clung to his palms; he swept his hands in the Bird-Catching Motion, deflecting the tiger’s claw, redirecting its thousand-jin force into the ground!

The earth cracked under the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger’s brute strength; Zhao Xuanzhen unfolded the Eight Trigrams Gate, and the Water position of Kan surged violently—torrential waves seeped from the arena floor. The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger roared, unleashing its evil power; gray light shattered the waves outright.

Clouds follow the dragon, wind follows the tiger—gales erupted from all directions, howling like wailing ghosts. The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, a supreme soul beast embodying evil, wind, and thunder, accelerated its assault; its claws lunged again, aiming straight for Zhao Xuanzhen’s skull!

“Xun character—Wind Shackles.”

The wind ceased to be the tiger’s ally; it became chains binding its limbs. The tiger’s evil eyes blazed with fury; ignoring its suspended body, its tail’s Evil God Hook shot out like a venomous snake’s tongue, extending three zhang in an instant, a shadow lashing toward Zhao Xuanzhen’s back!

Li character—Fire Dragon roared from empty space; its claw clashed violently with the Evil God Hook; evil energy and blazing flame entwined, staining half the arena a chaotic gray-red.

“Kun character—Earthquake!”

Zhao Xuanzhen’s assault did not end there; the ground trembled. Giant earth serpents, each crowned with a single horn, surged upward. In the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger’s stunned gaze, the serpents mimicked the hook’s attack—horn first, they drove straight toward the tiger’s softer belly!

“Boom!!!”

The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger crashed to the ground, forming a massive crater. After a furious roar, its mighty body stomped back onto the arena, cracking the entire platform with countless fissures spreading like spiderwebs until they reached Zhao Xuanzhen’s feet.

The giant tiger gnashed its rows of icy fangs, its body bearing several deep wounds that bared bone—the Kun character technique had penetrated everywhere, ravaging its flesh.

Its tail’s Evil God Hook trembled—this was the sign of the tiger’s killing lust reaching its peak; its beast eyes locked unblinkingly on the tiny human.

Zhao Xuanzhen’s expression grew grave. The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger deserved its god-tier soul beast title; among Douluo Continent soul masters or soul beasts of the same cultivation level, few could match him in combat. This creature had nearly tanked a Kun character Dao technique and still showed no major damage—its power had reached what level?

Both human and beast were accustomed to fighting across levels; rarely did they face opponents of equal cultivation. Now, for both, this was a novel experience.

The two combatants faced each other as mortal foes; outside, the sole spectator, Shen Yi, was utterly stunned. That was the legendary Dark Demon Evil God Tiger—the zero-class soul beast never triggered by any student!

The Shrek pioneers who created the Life-and-Death Arena had established six tiers, matching soul ring colors: white, yellow, purple, black, red, gold.

White meant the student had the talent of a Soul Sage; yellow, a Soul Douluo; purple, a Titled Douluo; black, a Super Douluo; red, a Limit Douluo, standing atop the Douluo Continent; gold was a prophecy left by the Shrek ancestors.

If the Life-and-Death Arena ever welcomed a student with the potential to ascend to godhood, the zero-class soul beast, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, would be his most difficult opponent in life.

Even Tang San’s ancestor had relied on soul power advantage—the creators of the Life-and-Death Arena could not believe that anyone could defeat the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger at equal cultivation!

Inside the Life-and-Death Arena, the life-or-death battle raged on; the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger seemed to inherit its creator’s will—refusing to believe any being of equal cultivation could surpass it!

Gray mist churned like a living thing, swallowing all color; the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger’s innate domain expanded—the Dark Demon Domain enveloped all, its evil aura twisting into writhing ghostly shadows, forming a grotesque, brutal painting.

The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger sneered at the human—this was the talent granted by the Evil God’s power! Under the Dark Demon Domain, it was the master of all things!

“Hum—”

The golden soul ring granted by the Golden Tree blazed fiercely; the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger’s sneer froze—because a second domain had appeared in the Life-and-Death Arena!

Ancient trigram runes hovered around Zhao Xuanzhen; his soul power flowed through every meridian; black-and-white qi currents, like clouds veiling the heavens, covered the entire arena—including the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger’s prized Dark Demon Domain!

Yin-Yang qi surged through; the writhing ghostly shadows of the Dark Demon Domain shattered into countless dust particles; even the endless gray mist of the Life-and-Death Arena screamed in terror as it was swept away by the Yin-Yang tide!

Fourth Soul Skill: Taiji Domain!

(End of Chapter)