After Wu Huan'er defeated all seven members of the Heavenly Dragon Gate by herself, Shrek Academy officially advanced to the semifinals.
Following a brief rest at noon, the afternoon matches began. The third quarterfinal featured the Snow Demon Sect against the Proud Sword Sect.
As its name suggested, the Proud Sword Sect's members all possessed sword-type martial souls. Their seven main fighters were among the most talented of their generation—two Soul Emperors and five Soul Kings. Under ordinary circumstances, such a lineup would have been formidable.
Unfortunately for them, their opponent was the Snow Demon Sect—a front for the Body Sect in disguise.
The match ended swiftly. The Snow Demon Sect crushed their opponents with absolute dominance, sweeping the three individual rounds before flattening them in the team battle.
Just as Zhu Ziyang had predicted, the Snow Demon Sect advanced effortlessly to the semifinals.
And now, it was time for the final match of the day—Tang Sect versus Mingdu Soul Engineering Academy.
The atmosphere in the arena grew electric. Because the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy had surrendered earlier that morning, the vast majority of Sun Moon citizens now pinned their last hopes on Mingdu Academy. It was the first time the academy had received such overwhelming support, and its competitors were visibly moved.
By contrast, Tang Sect's members were calm and composed.
At Zheng Zhan's signal, Bei Bei led the team into the waiting area, followed by Xu Sanshi, He Caitou, Tang Ya, Xiao Xiao, Huo Yuhao, and Wang Dong'er. Anyone who had watched the previous Star Luo City Tournament would have recognized them immediately—this was the exact same lineup as Shrek Academy's preparatory team from that year.
Both teams took the stage and reported their names.
"Tang Sect, He Caitou."
"Mingdu Soul Engineering Academy, Lu Jun."
The contrast between the two was striking.
He Caitou, with his dark skin and bald head, looked intimidating and unrefined—hardly the type to win favor from a crowd. Lu Jun, on the other hand, was tall and handsome, his features refined and his bearing proud—a perfect example of the elegant nobility of the Sun Moon Empire. His appearance alone earned loud cheers from the audience.
But this was no beauty contest—it was a battle of strength.
He Caitou remained unfazed, focused solely on how best to help his team secure a clean victory.
At Zheng Zhan's signal, the match began.
Both contestants released their soul tools simultaneously. Lu Jun activated his flight system, soaring into the sky to maintain distance. He Caitou, meanwhile, transformed into a stationary artillery platform—his favorite combat mode. Dozens of cannon barrels, both large and small, extended from his armor, surrounding his body until he resembled a metallic fortress.
Seeing Lu Jun hovering above, He Caitou smirked and bit down on a cigar. His fingers flew across the control panels at his sides.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Shells of varying size and color erupted from his cannons, streaking through the air like a meteor shower. Trails of flame arced across the sky as they converged on Lu Jun from every direction.
Lu Jun's face tightened. Quickly, additional cannon barrels extended from his shoulders, arms, and legs. He fired laser beams in rapid succession, intercepting the oncoming barrage while accelerating backward, trying to create more distance.
But that was exactly what He Caitou wanted.
He inhaled one final puff of his cigar and exhaled slowly.
Then, from his chest armor, a silver cannon barrel—only ten centimeters wide—extended forward.
A deep hum filled the air as He Caitou channeled his soul power directly into it. A blinding white sphere condensed at the barrel's mouth, growing brighter by the second.
Bzzz!
The next instant, a silver beam shot forth.
Its speed was astonishing—faster than sound, faster than sight. Every projectile in its path—both Lu Jun's lasers and He Caitou's own shells—was cleanly sliced in half.
Lu Jun's expression changed drastically. He realized the danger instantly, but by then it was far too late.
With a panicked cry, he activated his Invincible Barrier, a sixth-level defensive soul tool.
It lasted less than a heartbeat.
The silver beam punched through the barrier as if it were paper, grazing Lu Jun's abdomen and leaving a smoking hole. He screamed, his body spinning out of control as he plummeted toward the ground.
In the nick of time, Zheng Zhan intervened, catching Lu Jun and halting He Caitou's next shot.
"Winner—He Caitou of Tang Sect!"
He Caitou cast Zheng Zhan a cold, indifferent glance. There was no reverence in his eyes—only mockery.
Zheng Zhan frowned slightly. The man's soul power aura felt strangely familiar, though he couldn't quite place it.
Thanks to Zheng Zhan's quick response, Lu Jun's life was saved—though his abdomen now bore a deep wound, and he was in no condition to continue fighting.
Mingdu Soul Engineering Academy sent out two more Soul Kings in succession. Both fell to He Caitou's relentless firepower.
By now, Mingdu Academy's team looked pale with humiliation.
If they had lost through pure Soul Master combat, they could have accepted it—but being defeated through soul tool warfare? That was a disgrace.
After all, Mingdu was the second-ranked soul engineering academy of the Sun Moon Empire. To be outclassed at their own specialty by a sect outsider was an insult of the highest order. Even the Sun Moon citizens in the stands grew uneasy.
So, when He Caitou finally prepared to step down and the team battle was about to begin, Mingdu's team captain suddenly leapt onto the stage—violating the rules outright.
"Hey, big guy! Hold it right there!" she shouted.
Zheng Zhan's eyebrow twitched. He recognized her but, for fairness' sake, still said, "You're breaking the rules. Step down immediately and prepare for the team battle."
"No!" the captain retorted.
Though dressed as a man, anyone with eyes could see she was a woman. Her voice rang out firm and clear. "I can't let him walk off like that. Otherwise, what happens to our academy's honor?"
He Caitou stopped, turning to face her. His expression was sharp but curious. "You need something from me?"
"Of course." The young woman smiled faintly. "Big guy, how about we make a deal?"
He Caitou blinked. Below the stage, Tang Sect's members exchanged surprised looks. Clearly, none of them had expected this turn of events.
"Let's have another individual match," she proposed confidently. "If you beat me, Mingdu Soul Engineering Academy will concede right here and now—no team battle. But if I win, then we'll proceed to the team match. How about it?"
He Caitou stared for a moment, taken aback. The offer made little sense—no matter what, it benefited Tang Sect. Why would she risk this?
"Is that really necessary?" he asked.
"It is!" she declared, her tone firm and unyielding.
He Caitou hesitated briefly, then glanced toward Bei Bei and Huo Yuhao below. Both nodded in approval.
"Alright," he said at last. "I'll accept."
The young woman exhaled softly, relief flashing across her eyes. "Good. Then let's begin."
She turned toward Zheng Zhan.
The referee sighed, shaking his head helplessly. "Very well," he said, raising his voice for the audience.
"Due to the request of Mingdu Soul Engineering Academy's captain, a fourth individual elimination round will be held. If Tang Sect wins, the match ends in their victory. If Mingdu wins, we'll proceed to the team battle."
The crowd erupted in noise—part shock, part admiration.
Everyone understood what the young woman was doing. She was staking everything on one final match to defend Mingdu Academy's honor.
"Tsk, tsk," Ma Xiaotao commented with a smirk. "That little girl from Mingdu has guts—but not much sense."
"Still," Zhu Ziyang said thoughtfully, "for a soul engineering academy to lose three times in a row to soul tool combat… this is their best chance to save face." His gaze darkened slightly. "Besides, it might just turn into a battle between siblings."
On the royal platform, Princess Juzi turned to Emperor Xu Tianran, her eyes glinting. "Your Majesty, that girl's quite courageous, isn't she?"
Xu Tianran's expression was unreadable, but Juzi couldn't shake the feeling that something about his gaze seemed… off. There was warmth there—a tenderness that didn't belong in the emperor's cold eyes.
Could it be… affection?
"Courageous?" Xu Tianran replied softly, a faint smile touching his lips. "Perhaps. After all, she's already nineteen… a grown young lady."
Juzi froze.
In that instant, she realized who the girl truly was.
Princess Xu Tianzhen—the only daughter of the Sun Moon royal family.
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