Chapter 122 Zhu Zhuqing Appears
"boom!"
Tens of thousands of Soul Masters in the arena stood up almost simultaneously, their shouts erupting like a tsunami:
"Greetings, Your Holiness the Pope!"
At the highest point of the papal palace, which is the focus of everyone's attention, the huge gilded doors slowly opened to both sides.
Three figures slowly walked out.
In the center stands a figure draped in a gleaming golden papal robe, wearing a nine-curved purple-gold crown, his scepter gleaming with a light so intense it is almost blinding.
She possessed a near-perfectly beautiful face, seemingly untouched by time. Yet, her aloof and cold demeanor, as if she regarded all living beings as mere ants, made it difficult for people to even breathe.
Bibi Dong is the current Pope of the Spirit Hall.
And on her left and right sides behind her.
On the left is Ju Douluo Yue Guan, dressed in a bewitching golden armor, with a feminine face and eyes that reveal a sinister aura that regards human life as worthless.
On the right, Ghost Douluo was shrouded in a layer of black will-o'-the-wisps, his face obscured, only a sinister chill spreading outwards.
Bibi Dong slowly walked to the edge of the platform, looking down at the arena below, her gaze particularly fixed on Xiao Wu in the direction of the Shrek team.
Weiwei felt a little strange. The power that the opponent showed when defeating the New Divine Wind Team far exceeded that of a Soul Master, and he was also the strongest in the Shrek Team.
And she felt that he looked somewhat familiar, but she couldn't quite place him, but she didn't think much of it.
There aren't many things in this world that she can take to heart.
"The Grand Final of the Continental Elite Tournament for Advanced Soul Master Academies".
The scepter in his hand slammed down heavily, producing a muffled thud that shook the very soul.
"start."
As those two words were uttered, the powder keg, which had been on the verge of exploding, was finally ignited, and the atmosphere in the square was instantly pushed to its climax.
The referee, the cardinal, raised his right hand, signaling for both teams to enter the field.
"First to enter is the biggest dark horse of this competition, the Shrek Academy team, who fought their way through all the rounds to reach the finals!"
Seven figures filed out from the passageway.
After a long period of adjustment, the Shrek team has shed its initial immaturity and developed a distinctive tactical system.
Leading the way were two muscular giants, as tall as iron towers—Dai Mubai and Tai Long.
Since Zhu Zhuqing left the team, Tai Long has firmly secured his position as a key player in the front row thanks to the abnormal resilience of the Lili clan.
He was shirtless, his muscles bulging, and every step he took on the ring made a dull thud.
This "dual offensive, heavy force" configuration turned Shrek into a rampaging heavy war machine, crushing countless opponents along the way.
With Xiao Wu's power surge and Tang San's strength enhanced by the support of both, they became unmatched.
The group remained calm, clearly confident in their lineup.
"Next to enter is the defending champion of this competition, known as the 'Golden Generation'—the Spirit Hall Academy team!"
Amidst deafening cheers, seven figures emerged slowly from the shadows of the side entrance to the Papal Palace, exuding a suffocating sense of oppression.
Walking in the center are still the alluring Hu Liena, Xie Yue wielding a moon blade, and Yan, exuding a fiery aura.
They walked out with their heads held high, enjoying the cheers of the crowd, exuding the arrogance of kings.
Tang San, who possessed the Purple Demon Eye and had eyesight far exceeding that of ordinary people, suddenly frowned as his gaze swept over the flank of the Spirit Hall team.
Beside that radiant golden generation stood a figure dressed in the black special forces uniform of the Spirit Hall.
She had her head down, seemingly adjusting her wristband. Her cold demeanor seemed somewhat out of place, yet strangely harmonious, with her teammates surrounded by glittering gold.
"Hmm? That person..."
A strange sense of familiarity rose in Tang San's heart.
Just then, the girl in black seemed to sense the gaze and slowly raised her head.
In that instant, Tang San's pupils contracted sharply.
Not only Tang San, but Dai Mubai, who was standing at the front row and was about to say something harsh, froze on the spot as if struck by lightning the moment he saw that face.
The fighting spirit that had been building up turned into pure astonishment in that instant.
Those cool, aloof eyes, that fiery figure, and that signature cat-ear hair accessory.
Zhu Zhuqing.
Zhu Zhuqing, who had long since left Shrek Academy and disappeared without a trace, was someone everyone assumed had returned to the Star Luo Empire or gone into seclusion.
At this moment, he was actually standing brazenly in the Spirit Hall's ranks!
"Holy crap?"
Oscar couldn't help but swear, rubbing his eyes hard: "Am I seeing things? Isn't that Zhu Qing?"
"How...how could she be on the other side?" Ma Hongjun's mouth dropped open in disbelief. "Didn't she drop out of school? How did she become a member of the Spirit Hall?"
Dai Mubai stared intently at the familiar figure opposite him, his throat dry.
He had imagined countless scenarios for their reunion, but never this one.
Despite the Shrek Academy students' expressions of shock, confusion, and even absurdity, Zhu Zhuqing remained calm.
She didn't avoid their gazes, but merely glanced coldly at her former teammates. Finally, her gaze lingered for a moment on Dai Mubai's astonished face, and a faint, cold smile curled at the corner of her lips.
There was no reminiscing, no explanation.
She simply revealed her claws silently, demonstrating her current stance to everyone through her actions:
enemy.
The two armies faced off, their swords drawn and bows ready to strike.
In that suffocating silence, Dai Mubai finally couldn't hold back any longer.
He took a deep breath, took a sudden step forward, ignored the referee's arm about to strike, his crimson, malevolent eyes fixed on Zhu Zhuqing, his voice hoarse, filled with a sense of heartbreak:
"Zhu Qing! How long are you going to keep being so willful?"
Dai Mubai pointed at the Spirit Hall members, his tone urgent:
"Do you even know where you're standing? That's the Spirit Hall! You've been bewitched! It's not too late to turn back now. As long as you come over, you'll still be Shrek Academy's seventh sister, and we'll all be together..."
"Repent and reform?"
Zhu Zhuqing tilted her head slightly, and in her clear, cold eyes, there was not wavering, but a mocking smile.
"Dai Mubai, put away your self-righteous sense of justice."
"What right do you have to interfere in my affairs?"
"you..."
Dai Mubai was speechless, then said urgently.
"But you are a citizen of the Star Luo Empire! Have you forgotten the family rules? Without me, without the Netherworld White Tiger, we will both die! Only by joining forces..."
"rule?"
Upon hearing those two words, Zhu Zhuqing felt no fear, but rather an unprecedented sense of relief and pride.
She didn't answer Dai Mubai, but subconsciously raised her head, her gaze passing over the crowd, looking towards the golden figure at the highest point of the Papal Palace.
Bibi Dong sat upright on her throne, her gaze sweeping over the entire audience with indifference.
When her gaze swept over Zhu Zhuqing, she didn't show the same indifference as she did when looking at others, but instead nodded almost imperceptibly.
At that moment, a warm feeling welled up in Zhu Zhuqing's heart.
Within the Spirit Hall team, she was the only Soul Master, and the lowest among all the members.
Normally, in a competition of this level, she wouldn't even be able to secure a spot on the bench.
However, Pope Bibidon defied all opposition and not only allowed her to join the team, but also directly listed her as a starter.
"Those who yearn for freedom should not be restrained. I admire you."
"I'm willing to give you a chance."
These are the words spoken to her very gently by the most powerful woman on the entire continent a long time ago.
They didn't treat her as a tool for a marriage alliance, nor as an accessory to a martial soul fusion skill, nor even as a pawn that could be sacrificed at any time.
The high and mighty pope seemed to see his former self reflected in her.
The same stubbornness, the same shackles of fate.
Therefore, she gave Zhu Zhuqing unprecedented attention and respect.
Under the wing of the most powerful empress on the continent, what about the Star Luo royal family, what about ironclad family rules, what about the death-defying competition of survival of the fittest...
It's all a joke.
Zhu Zhuqing withdrew her gaze and looked at Dai Mubai again.
She slowly raised her right hand, the black blade reflecting a chilling light in the sunlight, and mocked:
"You're the same as always, talking too much nonsense."
He waved, the meaning of which was very clear.
Enough talk, let's fight!
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[end of the chapter]