Inside the luxurious yet tranquil suite of the Star Emperor Hotel, Zhou Sicheng sat quietly by the window. He wore a simple yet elegant golden robe, his gaze fixed beyond the sheer curtains at the glittering city that, under the cloak of night, was gradually quieting down.
Time passed slowly. The entire hotel was steeped in silence, broken only by the rhythmic tick-tock of the wall clock, counting down like the prelude to a secret meeting.
At last, when the night was at its deepest and all was still, a shadow flickered into Zhou Sicheng's room like a ghost.
The figure was tall and imposing, his body shrouded in darkness, yet the steady, overwhelming aura radiating from him made his identity clear.
Sensing the familiar presence, Zhou Sicheng's lips curved into a faint smile. His voice was calm, confident:
"Elder Xuan, did you bring it?"
With a wave of his hand, Xuan Zi—one of Shrek Academy's true powerhouses—summoned two golden metallic rings. They traced graceful arcs through the air before landing steadily in Zhou Sicheng's palms.
Xuan Zi's deep, commanding voice broke the silence:
"These two seventh-tier Concealment Rings must be returned afterward. Xu Jiawei agreed to modify Ye Guyi's and Xiao Tao's records, concealing their true cultivation levels."
Zhou Sicheng turned the rings over in his hands, admiration flashing in his eyes. His smile widened, as if everything had unfolded exactly as he foresaw.
"As expected, His Majesty is a wise man. Cooperating with us brings him nothing but benefit."
Xuan Zi frowned slightly, worry flashing across his face. He shot Zhou Sicheng a sideways look.
"But the Sun Moon Empire's spies likely already received the earlier records. Isn't it too late to change them now? If they've prepared countermeasures…"
Zhou Sicheng had anticipated this concern. With unshaken composure, he waved it off, confidence gleaming in his gaze.
"It's not too late. Aside from the Sun Moon Empire, no other academy has the means to obtain first-hand data. Even if Sun Moon knows the truth, without solid evidence no one will believe them. To the rest, it would look like nothing more than Sun Moon's attempt to sow discord."
He weighed the two seventh-tier Concealment Rings in his hands, feeling the formidable energy pulsing within.
"With these, even a Titled Douluo won't see through their true cultivation, nor will they detect the soul rings they carry. This means in the next matches, Sister Guyi and Xiao Tao can finally take the stage. Their strength will astonish everyone."
Xuan Zi had long trusted Zhou Sicheng's wisdom and foresight. He never questioned the boy's decisions.
At this moment, he simply nodded, his eyes steady and resolute.
"No matter what you plan, as long as I'm here, you don't need to worry. Leave the rest to me."
Zhou Sicheng's face softened with gratitude and respect. He raised a thumb in admiration.
"Elder Xuan, truly domineering! With you as our shield, we have the strongest support possible."
A trace of smug pride flickered across Xuan Zi's face, though he masked it quickly with a haughty snort.
Then, like a shadow dissolving into the night, he vanished from the room.
His voice lingered as he left:
"I won't disturb you further. Xu Jiawei had a table of fine dishes prepared for me—I'd be a fool to let them go to waste."
Hearing this, Zhou Sicheng couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head.
Straightening his robe, he left the room and walked slowly to Ye Guyi's door. Lifting his hand, he knocked gently.
Time flew swiftly, and the tournament advanced to the Top Sixteen into Top Eight stage.
The rules had shifted once again. Each day, four matches would be held across four days.
In the first two days, each matchup began with a team battle—the victor would earn five points.
Afterward, the two academies would proceed to one-on-one duels. Each individual victory added one point.
Once both the team battle and all one-on-one fights concluded, the academy with the higher total score would advance to the quarterfinals.
Unsurprisingly, last year's champion—Shrek Academy—was once again at the center of attention. They would be the very first to take the stage, facing a formidable opponent: Dou Ling Royal Advanced Soul Master Academy, armed with five Soul Kings.
This academy was the pride of the Dou Ling Empire, and their strength was unquestionable.
But this time, things were different. Shrek would not be fielding their reserve team. Instead, the long-hidden main team members—who had yet to show themselves in the tournament—would finally make their debut.
Against Dou Ling's powerhouse lineup, the reserves were outmatched. Shrek's ambition was the championship itself, so they would not risk a single defeat.
The day of the match, anticipation reached its peak. Excitement crackled in the air, burning hotter and hotter, like a fire consuming the arena.
The Top Sixteen to Top Eight round was a knockout stage. One loss meant complete elimination from the tournament.
Every victory, however, brought an academy closer to glory.
The fierce competition left no room for holding back—every team had to fight with everything they had.
By now, the audience had grown savvy after watching so many matches. They knew the coming clashes would be true battles of dragons and tigers, collisions between the strongest of the strong.
And the most anticipated showdown was about to begin.
That morning, Star Luo Plaza was packed far beyond capacity. Tens of thousands of spectators had found ways to squeeze in—through connections, bribes, or sheer persistence.
Some were there to cheer for their favorite academies, others simply to witness a soul master battle of epic scale. Hearts pounded with excitement as they waited for the match to start.
"Top Sixteen into Top Eight, first match! Shrek Academy versus Dou Ling Royal Academy! Both teams, enter the waiting area and prepare for battle!"
The referee's booming voice resounded over the arena.
In the very next instant, the plaza erupted. The cheers surged like waves, crashing one after another, roaring so loud it seemed the heavens themselves might split apart.
The atmosphere soared to a fever pitch. The soldiers tasked with maintaining order had to go all out, straining to prevent any chaos from breaking out among the frenzied crowd.
And above it all, on the walls of the imperial city, Emperor Xu Jiawei of the Star Luo Empire had already taken his seat.
Whenever Shrek Academy competed, he would always appear in person.
At the emperor's side stood Xuan Zi, his tall figure a shadow following closely behind. Xu Jiawei looked down at the sea of spectators below, his face relaxed with a faint smile. Turning toward Xuan Zi, he chuckled lightly:
"Elder Xuan, facing Dou Ling Academy, Shrek's main team will finally be taking the stage, won't they? This match should be quite the spectacle."
The corners of Xuan Zi's lips lifted, and he let out a hearty laugh, brimming with confidence.
"With the seventh-tier Concealment Rings His Majesty provided, Sicheng will certainly arrange for all seven of the main team to appear. Today's battle will definitely broaden Your Majesty's horizons—you will witness Shrek Academy's true heritage and strength."
Xu Jiawei's thick brows rose, and a gleam of irrepressible anticipation flickered in the depths of his eyes.
As the Emperor of the Star Luo Empire, he had a clear understanding of the current balance of power within the soul master world. He knew just how terrifyingly strong this generation of the Shrek Seven Monsters truly was.
In his heart, Zhou Sicheng was an enigma, a young man whose hidden strength seemed bottomless, almost like a cheating existence.
And even setting Zhou Sicheng aside, with Ye Guyi and Ma Xiaotao alone—two Soul Sages—the championship already seemed firmly within Shrek's grasp.
This was why Xu Jiawei no longer placed much expectation on his own Star Luo National Academy in their matches against Shrek. In his mind, the victor was already clear.
Still, the emperor couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret. Today's battle would not reveal the full might of Shrek's Soul Sages, Ye Guyi and Ma Xiaotao.
But he understood well: Ye Guyi's Holy Angel martial soul and Ma Xiaotao's Fire Phoenix martial soul both carried immense power, each a natural nemesis of evil soul masters.
In this turbulent soul master world, if they revealed Soul Sage-level strength too early, it would undoubtedly arouse the deep vigilance and hostility of the Sun Moon Empire.
Thus, concealing their power for now was not only necessary, but wise.
Xu Jiawei shook his head lightly, a trace of acceptance softening his smile.
"What a pity we won't see Shrek's full strength today. It is somewhat regretful."
Xuan Zi waved dismissively, his eyes calm and assured, as though everything was under control.
"Your Majesty need not regret it. There will be opportunities. Shrek's heritage runs too deep. Even while concealing their strength, the matches ahead will certainly reveal battles worthy of your expectations."
The waiting area brimmed with quiet intensity.
Led by Zhou Sicheng, the seven main team members—Ye Guyi, Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, Gongyang Mo, Ling Luochen, Du Bushi's descendant Du Gu Xinmeng, and Zhou himself—stood or sat at ease, each exuding confidence.
None of them showed the slightest nervousness. To them, the upcoming match seemed less like a battle and more like a performance.
Zhou Sicheng tilted his head back slightly, eyes distant as though calculating strategies.
Ye Guyi stood tall and serene, her presence radiating an aloof, noble aura.
Ma Xiaotao stretched from time to time, her fiery eyes flashing with barely contained eagerness.
Meanwhile, in Shrek's rest area, the seven reserve team members quietly enjoyed the lavish dishes laid out before them.
The night before, Zhou Sicheng's sudden announcement had struck like a stone cast into still waters, stirring waves of emotion.
He had informed them that they would no longer be needed for the remaining matches.
The news was a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it relieved them of crushing pressure, leaving them free to enjoy the tournament's atmosphere.
On the other hand, it robbed them of their chance to shine. If they wished to make names for themselves, they would have to wait five more years for the next tournament.
Yet they understood. All of this was for Shrek's glory.
They had already given their all in the earlier rounds, and with no regrets in their hearts, they clinked their glasses together in mutual respect and celebration of their shared effort.
Not far away, in the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy's rest area, the Sun Moon competitors fixed their sharp gazes on Shrek's seven reserves. Frowns creased their brows.
There was no Sun Moon match scheduled today, but whenever Shrek competed, they always came to watch, treating it as crucial intelligence gathering.
Seeing all seven Shrek reserves sitting idle, with the main team nowhere in sight, they instantly understood—Shrek's true aces were finally about to take the field.
In that moment, Ma Rulong, Xiao Hongchen, and Meng Hongchen felt a strange anticipation stir in their hearts.
They had long since gathered detailed data on every Shrek student. They respected the opponent's strength, but what truly piqued their curiosity was seeing Shrek's terrifyingly strong main team in action.
After all, in their hearts, Shrek Academy was their only true rival.
And they weren't alone. Every participating academy, every teacher and student, and the countless spectators present shared the same eager expectation.
All eyes focused on Shrek's seven main players, waiting.
From the beginning of the tournament until now, Shrek's main team had hidden in the shadows. But today, they would finally take the stage.
How could the world not be excited?
"Both teams, enter the arena."
The referee's commanding voice rang out, carrying across the roaring plaza.
At the signal, Zhou Sicheng turned slightly, casting his teammates a steady, confident look before leading them toward the center of the stage.
Their dark green uniforms shimmered under the sun as if imbued with mysterious magic, instantly drawing the gaze of every eye.
That deep, solemn color symbolized Shrek Academy's long history and profound foundation.
On the opposite side, Dou Ling Academy's seven members entered as well, their steps measured, expressions grave.
Now, fourteen figures stood on the stage, facing each other. The atmosphere instantly turned razor sharp, tension crackling in the air.
Dou Ling's students were solemn. They had expected Shrek to field a few main members—but never all seven at once.
Normally, academies concealed their trump cards, waiting for the decisive moment to unleash them like predators lying in ambush.
But Shrek was different. Their reserves had been sent out earlier not to hide the main team, but to temper the younger generation. This realization left Dou Ling unprepared.
Their captain, Gu Zhu Jian, swept his gaze across the Shrek Seven Monsters. Each face before him was striking, calm, and unshaken. His heart wavered.
It wasn't just their expressions—the sheer presence they exuded carried crushing weight, pressing down like an invisible mountain.
Meeting Zhou Sicheng's eyes at close range, Gu Zhu Jian's chest tightened. Forcing composure, he strained a stiff smile onto his weathered face and said:
"I hope through this match, we can learn something from Shrek Academy."
Zhou Sicheng's calm expression warmed with a gentle smile, as radiant as spring sunlight yet impossible to read.
"You will."
Those two words carried infinite depth, both an answer and an unshakable certainty of victory.
A cold light flickered in Gu Zhu Jian's eyes. The near-dismissive response ignited anger within him, though he swallowed it back, keeping his strained smile intact.
So what if Shrek's main team is strong? he told himself bitterly. Dou Ling still holds cards we have yet to play. This match's outcome is far from decided.
****
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