Ye Guyi and Ma Xiaotao did not immediately unleash any soul skills. Instead, each tightly gripped the soul tool in her hands. The two soul tools were of unique design, their surfaces engraved with intricate, mysterious runes that shimmered faintly under the sunlight. As their soul power surged into the weapons, the Angel’s holy radiance and the Phoenix’s blazing flames magnified under the soul tools’ amplification, glowing brighter and more dazzling, like twin suns slowly rising in their palms. As they closed in on the tightly formed ranks of the Star Luo Academy, their fierce assault, which had seemed like a split two-pronged attack, suddenly shifted. Their gazes met, a tacit understanding flowing between them. In the next instant, their trajectories changed sharply, converging like twin butterflies spiraling into one point. In that moment, the angel’s brilliant golden light intertwined with the phoenix’s scorching flames, fusing into a wave of overwhelming energy. The energy surged forward like a tidal wave, crashing straight toward Xu Jiujiu, as though it would swallow her whole and drown her within its furious torrent. Yet, at that critical instant, the other Star Luo team members displayed an almost baffling calm. They showed no panic at seeing their captain targeted by two Soul Emperors in full force. Instead, they moved with practiced coordination, each retrieving a peculiar disk-shaped soul tool—resembling a turtle shell—from their storage devices and strapping it securely to their backs. The surface of these disks was etched with strange patterns, glimmering with a faint metallic sheen, hinting at hidden, potent power. At the very rear of the formation, Xu Jiujiu—who was about to bear the brunt of the twin Soul Emperors’ devastating strike—wore not fear, but a confident, mysterious smile. Her clear eyes sparkled with wisdom, as though everything was already within her grasp. Calmly, she raised her left hand. In her palm bloomed a radiant orb of golden light. This light was no ordinary soul skill’s glow. Pure and condensed, it trembled faintly in her grasp, brimming with seemingly limitless power. With a flick of her wrist, that golden radiance revealed the outline of a soul tool within, before streaking forth like a shooting star, colliding head-on with the combined strike of Ye Guyi and Ma Xiaotao. What followed was a scene both eerie and awe-inspiring. A golden barrier descended from above without warning. Like a massive celestial canopy, it swept downward, impossibly enclosing the terrifying combined attack within its shimmering embrace. But it did not stop there. The golden shield rippled like a tidal surge, sweeping downward again and enveloping Ye Guyi and Ma Xiaotao as well. The two felt an immense, crushing pressure descend from above, as if Mount Tai itself were pressing down upon them, suffocating and irresistible. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵※𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮※𝓷𝓮𝓽 Startled, they instinctively attempted evasive maneuvers, wings and soul power surging to break free of the entrapment. But the golden shield pursued relentlessly, as though it were alive, tracking them unerringly. In the blink of an eye, it solidified into a massive golden cage in midair, airtight and unyielding, trapping them within. High above the glowing barrier floated a peculiar bead the size of a fist. Its surface radiated dazzling light, with one hundred and eight intricately cut facets, each facet resembling a mysterious rune brimming with unfathomable secrets. The bead spun rapidly, driving the golden barrier to quiver as waves of powerful and mysterious energy pulsed outward. Trapped within the prison, Ye Guyi and Ma Xiaotao immediately counterattacked without hesitation. Through the translucent barrier, their shadows could be seen fighting desperately. Behind Ye Guyi, angelic wings beat furiously, every feather shimmering with sacred brilliance. She gripped her soul tool tightly, pouring her soul power into it without reserve. Blades of angelic light shot out one after another, sharp and radiant, stabbing at the golden cage. Ma Xiaotao burned with the fierce flames of the Phoenix. A piercing cry rang from her lips, as though a phoenix’s song echoed through the air. The soul tool in her hands erupted in torrents of fire, surging forth like an enraged fire dragon that smashed ferociously against the golden walls. Yet their desperate assault was like stones cast into the sea, leaving only ripples across the surface of the cage. Those golden ripples seemed fragile, yet were in truth like an impregnable fortress, firmly blocking every strike. Not a trace of damage appeared upon the barrier. This sudden and shocking reversal exploded across the audience like a bombshell. The stadium fell into a stunned silence before erupting into deafening cries of shock and exclamations. Countless eyes widened, filled with disbelief, as they stared at the impossible scene unfolding upon the platform. Everyone knew the strength behind the combined strike of Shrek Academy’s two Soul Emperors. Even without deploying soul skills, under Gongyang Mo’s top-tier support, and wielding two seventh-tier soul tools, their combined power was comparable to the all-out attack of a Soul Sage. In the audience’s eyes, such a blow was unstoppable. And yet, it had been suppressed so effortlessly. The sight was difficult to accept, leaving shock and confusion flooding every heart. Among the academy contingents in the crowd, those who were themselves soul engineers were utterly astonished. Their gazes locked onto the radiant golden barrier and the rotating bead above it, their expressions a mixture of shock, awe, and disbelief. "Th–That’s... an Absolute Defense Soul Tool?" A teacher from one of the academies could not help but cry out in shock, his voice trembling with disbelief. "Impossible! An Absolute Defense Soul Tool is at least of the seventh rank! Does that mean Princess Jiujjiu also possesses a seventh-rank Soul Tool? Could it be that she’s secretly a powerful Soul Engineer?" another academy teacher frowned, his tone filled with confusion. "This one is clearly a single-use Absolute Defense Soul Tool, but its value... it’s practically immeasurable," a senior Soul Engineer said gravely, his eyes narrowing in solemn recognition. "Don’t forget, she’s the princess of the Star Luo Empire. The one thing she doesn’t lack is money. Spending an astronomical sum to acquire a top-tier Soul Tool just to secure a good result in this tournament isn’t beyond possibility," someone else analyzed aloud from the crowd. "It seems today’s match might really take some unexpected turns. Shrek Academy’s two Soul Emperors being trapped so easily... they’ve definitely suffered a huge loss," the spectators discussed animatedly, curiosity and anticipation surging for how the battle would unfold. Meanwhile, in the rest area of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, Ma Rulong raised his brows slightly as a flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes. As a prodigy deeply knowledgeable in Soul Tools, he immediately recognized the extraordinary nature of what had just appeared. "This Absolute Defense Soul Tool is similar to an Invincible Barrier, but its application is reversed—it’s a special variant," Ma Rulong explained slowly, his voice steady and brimming with professional confidence. "Once deployed, for a full quarter of an hour, anyone trapped inside is sealed beneath a defense equivalent to that of an eighth-rank defensive-type Contra. In other words, breaking through this barrier is nearly impossible." "But Soul Tools of this level can currently only be produced in our Sun Moon Empire. The core array is an absolute secret. Star Luo’s National Academy doesn’t have even the slightest chance of manufacturing it. So how could it appear in this tournament?" Ma Rulong’s face showed deep puzzlement, his thoughts unable to find a logical answer. Beside him, Ma Lao’s brows were furrowed as well, his expression tinged with worry. His gaze drifted slowly toward Xiao Hongchen, clearly hoping for an explanation. Sensing their eyes on him, Xiao Hongchen gave a faint smile and replied unhurriedly, "You may not know this, but my grandfather made some trades with the Star Luo royal family not long ago. This Absolute Defense Soul Tool might very well have been part of that transaction." Neither Ma Lao nor Ma Rulong dared to pass judgment on the decisions of the Tang Sect Master Mingde, the head of the Hall of Illustrious Virtue. His standing was not only supreme in the field of Soul Tools, but also of immeasurable importance within the empire itself. Any choice he made would undoubtedly have deep strategic considerations behind it. Still, the value of this seventh-rank Absolute Defense Soul Tool was astronomical. Its sudden appearance was enough to shock everyone present. To trade something of such worth, the Star Luo royal family must have paid an equally staggering price. After all, this kind of Absolute Defense Barrier was worth millions of gold soul coins in the market. Owning one was akin to holding an extra life at the edge of death. Its defensive power far exceeded that of a one-use Invincible Barrier, which only lasted a few seconds. Once trapped inside, the Absolute Defense Barrier would hold its victims for at least a full quarter of an hour. On a battlefield where every second mattered, such a span of time was more than enough for the Star Luo team to launch countermeasures and execute tactics that could completely shift the tide of battle in their favor. Xiao Hongchen’s lips curved slightly as he turned his gaze back to the arena, an ambiguous smile playing across his face. "The Absolute Defense Barrier blocks equally from within and without. To destroy the core—the bead at its center—would require at least a Soul Saint of the seventh rank or higher. But tell me, how easy is that to achieve?" At his side, Meng Hongchen’s eyes lit up with excitement. "But even if Ye Guyi and Ma Xiaotao are only at the six-ring level, the combined might of their assault, enhanced by Shrek’s support members, should still be strong enough to break through a seventh-rank Absolute Defense Barrier eventually, right?" Xiao Hongchen nodded, his gaze flashing with expectation. "Exactly. Whether their strength is genuine or false will depend on how long it takes them to free themselves from that trap." As he spoke, Xiao Hongchen’s eyes fixed on Zhou Sichen, who was charging toward the Star Luo formation. "If Shrek Academy really is throwing the match, and that fact gets exposed, the backlash would be immense. This tournament concerns the honor and interests of countless powers—there’s no room for deceit." The members of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy fell silent at his words. Every one of their gazes was locked tightly on the stage, anticipation and tension hanging thick in the air as the atmosphere in the entire stadium reached a boiling point. If you want to support me or read advanced Chapters (21+), consider checking out my pat. patr*on.com/Salsita2k