"However, there's still too little spirituality."
Su Yu adjusted the array of the Soul-guiding Device to a higher level, while continuously converting life force through the potted plant, merging it into the roots of the Dead Spirit Holy Soul Grass.
...
In the blink of an eye, time passed.
Twenty days later.
The Douluo Tournament was about to be held in Mingdu of the Sun and Moon Empire, and some teams had already set off early.
The construction of the arena in Mingdu had long been completed, now it was in the final stages of cleaning.
Mingdu, originally prosperous, had begun to see an influx of more people, making it even more bustling.
Due to proper arrangements made early on, Mingdu did not experience any congestion despite the large number of outsiders.
Only the few largest hotels closest to the arena were fully booked.
Shrek Academy.
Inner Courtyard.
Yan Shaozhe looked at the array of faces before him, giving solemn instructions.
"Everyone, Shrek's honor lies with you."
His gaze fell on a woman with a cold demeanor, his expression softening considerably.
Su Tong, she was Shrek's confidence.
Not long ago, she finally broke through to Level 70 and, under his personal guidance, obtained a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring!
"Yes!"
Everyone present responded in unison.
They were well aware of the heavy responsibility on their shoulders.
The previous Soul Fighting Competition was a failure; Shrek's millennia-long glory was shattered. It was now up to them to reclaim Shrek's honor.
Of the twenty-eight here, at least ten had been training diligently for five years for the upcoming Soul Fighting Competition to win back the glory belonging to Shrek.
Falling isn't scary; when you fall, you must get up!
Yan Shaozhe showed a satisfied expression, moved by the mental state of the more than twenty students before him.
This is Shrek's spirit.
"For this tournament, the Sect can also send its own representative team. As Sect Leader, Tang Ya will naturally lead the Tang Sect team, and Beibei will be the strategist for this competition. The Shrek Team will be led by Su Tong," Yan Shaozhe explained the arrangements for the tournament to everyone.
Learning from last time's lesson, the team did not plan to seek trouble with Evil Soul Masters halfway through this time.
Yan Shaozhe would personally lead the team, and although Xuanzi would secretly accompany them, he would not be the main source of assurance.
After all, if he became the greatest assurance, it might backfire.
Besides Yan Shaozhe, there was another heavyweight figure accompanying the team, namely the two deans of the Soul Guide System.
After Xian Lin'er's "death," Qian Duoduo became the dean of the Soul Guide System, and upon returning to the Academy, Fan Yu became the vice dean.
The two of them would also accompany the team to Mingdu to study the Soul-guiding Devices there.
From visiting Mingdu last time, they gained a basic understanding of the Soul-guiding Device development in the Sun and Moon Empire, aware of the gap between the two sides.
To quickly make up for it, learning is the only way.
If not possible, then stealing knowledge.
"Old Qian, be careful this time. You've just been promoted to Ninth-level Soul Guide. Although we have kept the news hidden, there's no guarantee that Mingde Hall won't detain people without reason like last time." Yan Shaozhe cautioned Qian Duoduo.
The relationship between the two wasn't great, but it had improved a lot recently.
There was no choice; with the Soul-guiding Device equipment, the strength of many students from the Martial Soul System had qualitatively changed.
The only two Soul Kings in the team, after adapting to the set of Fifth-level Soul-guiding Devices on them, could unleash the strength equivalent to a Soul Emperor from Shrek.
Yan Shaozhe had to admit that Soul-guiding Devices greatly assisted the power of Soul Masters.
Especially now that Qian Duoduo had cracked the key to Ninth-level Soul-guiding Theory and promoted to Ninth-level Soul-guiding Device. Devices capable of affecting the level of a Titled Douluo were no longer exclusive to the Sun and Moon Empire; Yan Shaozhe was no longer resistant to Soul-guiding Devices.
In the end, it was because of their utility.
"Why not let Fan Yu stay? With your technology, as long as his Soul Power breaks through to Titled Douluo, breaking through Soul Guide's Ninth-level should not be an issue, which could serve as insurance."
Qian Duoduo shook his head, rejecting Yan Shaozhe's proposal.
"The gap between us and the Sun and Moon Empire is too wide. Fan Yu has extremely strong talent, even higher than mine, only together could he and I seize this opportunity to learn more."
As for the alleged danger?
After this Soul Fighting Competition, the continent would soon enter into a true era of chaos.
With the pace of Soul-guiding Device development not keeping up, the Douluo Three Kingdoms really wouldn't stand a chance.
Yan Shaozhe remained silent, no longer insisting on keeping Fan Yu.
Yes, if we don't develop the technology early, there's no point in keeping Fan Yu.
There aren't many Titled Douluos; as a Super Douluo, he could disregard the Soul Guide due to his lack of customized Ninth-level Soul-guiding Devices, but those below Seven Rings couldn't.
The enhancement from Soul-guiding Devices was immense, as he had observed.
...
Celestial Soul Empire.
"Vina, this time you will compete with the Essence Sect. The Celestial Soul Royal Academy here will ensure your safety," the Emperor of the Celestial Soul Empire said.
"Yes!"
In this tournament, the Celestial Soul Empire revered the Essence Sect.
The relationship between the Essence Sect and the Celestial Soul Empire had started to make waves. Their achievements would also represent the Celestial Soul Empire.
With her Soul Emperor status, Twin Martial Souls, and Silver Level Body Martial Soul's second awakening, Vina's strength was an absolute core, even within the Essence Sect.
Thus, she must join the Essence Sect's team to increase their chances of winning the championship.
Shrek?
Their previous failure had led the Three Great Empires to start hedging their bets instead of putting all their eggs in Shrek's basket.
...
Douling Empire.
"Is the Profound Nether Sect not planning to participate?" the Emperor of the Douling Empire asked.
"Your Majesty, the Profound Nether Sect has taken a firm stance on seclusion, not just during the competition; apart from the sale of Profound Water Pills and what the sect needs for survival, they have completely cut off contact with the outside world," the minister responsible for liaising with the Profound Nether Sect replied with a wry smile.
This Profound Nether Sect had gone entirely into hiding.
The key issue is that they're neither sending any teams to the competition nor aiding the Douling Royal Advanced Academy, which is indeed quite uncomfortable.
The disciples of the Profound Nether Sect were of high quality, always serving as the backbone of the Royal Academy.
Sending three Soul Kings, this year's Douling Team would likely be composed entirely of Soul Kings.
What a pity.
...
Mingdu Mountain Range.
Shrek's thirty-member team marched on grandly.
"Halt, who goes there?"
A large squad from the military of the Xingluo Empire had spotted them and began inquiring about their identity.
"Shrek?"
After intercepting and approaching for observation, the squad leader noticed the Shrek uniforms and emblems, and regretted stopping the group.
"May I ask, are you participating in the competition in Mingdu?"
Yan Shaozhe nodded coldly.
The squad leader didn't conduct further checks. Under the pressure of the soul power of these people, he found it difficult to bear.
Best to avoid trouble.
He quickly let them pass.
Yan Shaozhe continued to lead the four teams from Shrek and the Tang Sect onward.
However, the Xingluo Empire border was easy to cross, while the Sun and Moon Empire's border was not as simple.
Feeling a vague sense of targeting, a strong sense of crisis kept throbbing in his heart. Yan Shaozhe endured it as he registered the entry of the Fire Phoenix Soul Guide Team at the Sun and Moon Empire's side.
The cumbersome procedures took half a day to complete.
"These people are doing this on purpose!" Yan Shaozhe felt an immense sense of frustration.
Disgusting indeed.
However, that threat...
He, after being injured last time, reached the threshold and broke through to Level 97 Super Douluo during closed cultivation.
Level 8 Fixed Soul-guided Cannon?
Previously, the Sun and Moon Empire had used Level 8 Fixed Soul-guided Cannons in the Celestial Soul Empire.
But could a Fixed Soul-guided Cannon of this level truly be so threatening?
Or was that just now a Level 9 Fixed Soul-guided Cannon?
Yan Shaozhe felt a heavy heart.
The team continued to move forward.
...
"Hmm?"
Yan Shaozhe's expression changed slightly.
Dammit, they weren't looking for trouble with the Evil Soul Masters, and yet the Evil Soul Masters came looking for them?
His gaze turned toward a certain direction, his brows frowning tightly.
The Bright Phoenix Martial Soul gave him a strong sense of detection toward Evil Soul Masters. Through a distance, he sensed the presence of Evil Soul Masters from that direction.
"Damn, to go or not to go?"