"The first match of the semifinals, team battle—Shrek Academy defeats the Star Luo National Academy." The cold, lifeless voice of Heavenly Fiend Douluo echoed throughout the vast arena, carrying with it an invisible pressure that silenced the entire audience. His words marked the official end of the first semifinal. Yet the crowd was still immersed in the thrilling performance Shrek Academy had just delivered—the breathtaking exchanges, the overwhelming teamwork, and the display of absolute power that seemed to replay again and again in their minds. "Next up—the second semifinal! Team battle: Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy versus Dio Academy!" Huang Jinxu’s powerful voice shattered the brief silence. His tone was full of vigor and energy, infused with the kind of magnetic presence that instantly reignited the crowd’s enthusiasm. All eyes turned back to the stage. With that announcement, both academies’ teams entered the arena in an orderly fashion. The seven main members of Dio Academy walked in unison, each step steady and confident. Determination burned in their eyes—their faces filled with the desire and will to win. They wore matching academy uniforms, the emblems on their chests gleaming proudly under the sunlight—a mark of honor and proof of the strength they had earned through unrelenting effort. But over on the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy’s side, something had finally changed. Until now, they had always sent in their reserve lineup, maintaining an air of deep mystery. They were like a blade hidden in the dark—unseen, unreadable. This time, however, all seven official team members stepped onto the stage. The Hongchen siblings—Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen—had been substituted out for the first-string team. The audience immediately erupted into thunderous cheers, the noise crashing over the arena like tidal waves. The ground itself seemed to tremble under the excitement. Since the start of the competition, Sun Moon had never once fielded its main team. They had kept them hidden, sharpening them in silence, waiting for the right moment to strike. Now, in the semifinals, they had finally drawn their full blade—how could the audience not be excited? After witnessing Shrek Academy’s display of overwhelming might earlier, everyone was filled with anticipation. They were eager to see what kind of power Sun Moon’s official lineup truly possessed. After all, at this stage, only the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy could possibly stand on equal footing with Shrek. This match was undoubtedly a preview of a future clash between the two titans—a battle that would decide supremacy. Unfortunately, just as Sun Moon’s official lineup appeared, the Shrek Academy team had already left the arena. Their steps were calm and composed, as if victory had been long within their expectations. Even at this crucial semifinal stage, they showed no interest in staying behind to observe their potential rivals. The audience’s eyes followed Shrek’s departing figures with regret—they had hoped to witness the expressions on their faces when they saw Sun Moon’s main team revealed. That might’ve given them clues about how the final confrontation could unfold. But now, all they could do was redirect their attention to the second match. Yet, as the next battle began, every spectator’s expression shifted into a strange mix of disappointment and surprise. Because when both teams took their positions, the audience could clearly see the cultivation levels of the seven official members of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy through the Soul Power Detection Array. And what they saw... disappointed them. Sun Moon’s lineup, from a purely soul power standpoint, was far weaker than Shrek’s. Among their seven, only their captain, Ma Rulong, was a Soul Emperor. The other six were all five-ring Soul Kings. While a lineup of one Soul Emperor and six Soul Kings was still considered elite—especially when compared to Dio Academy’s similar composition, or Star Luo’s earlier team that didn’t even have a single Soul Emperor—it still paled in comparison to Shrek’s three-Soul-Emperor lineup. By raw numbers alone, Shrek was leagues ahead, and that realization caused the audience’s anticipation to wane considerably. However, once the match began, that disappointment swiftly turned to astonishment. Normally, a match between two teams with identical lineups—one Soul Emperor and six Soul Kings—should’ve been evenly matched, with fierce exchanges, tactical plays, and dazzling back-and-forth combat. But the battle was nothing like that. The moment the match began, Sun Moon unleashed pure firepower dominance. Ma Rulong, though only a six-ring Soul Emperor, displayed terrifying strength. Alone, he projected the firepower of an entire squad. He held in each hand a uniquely designed, glowing pair of Grade-7 Soul Tools—their surfaces pulsing with intricate runes. The two soul cannons roared to life, launching brilliant energy beams in rapid succession. Ma Rulong’s movements were swift and precise, weaving through the battlefield with the grace of a veteran. His control was flawless—his soul power surged through the twin cannons, bringing out every ounce of their destructive might. Under his command, the two Grade-7 Soul Tools operated like extensions of his own body. He singlehandedly overwhelmed Dio Academy with sheer firepower. Before the match, the fact that Sun Moon had only one Soul Emperor had lowered expectations. Many had assumed they’d kept their main lineup hidden only because they couldn’t match Shrek’s might. But Ma Rulong’s explosive performance immediately reignited everyone’s excitement. Even though Shrek’s Ye Guyi and Ma Xiaotao also wielded Grade-7 Soul Tools, Ma Rulong’s ability to handle two of them at once—and use them with such effortless mastery—was a completely different level of skill. His strength wasn’t just in soul power; it was in precision, intellect, and unparalleled command over Soul Tool combat. With Ma Rulong’s devastating covering fire, the other six members of Sun Moon barely needed to use complex tactics. They simply formed a horizontal line and deployed Soul Cannon Turret Formation—a direct, overwhelming barrage tactic. And under Ma Rulong’s suppressive fire, this "simple" strategy became terrifyingly effective. Two Grade-7 Soul Tools providing suppressive fire, combined with six turret-style Soul Cannons firing in perfect coordination—the entire stage became a storm of blinding energy beams and explosions. For more chapters visıt 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹✦𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖✦𝓷𝓮𝓽 In an instant, the battlefield turned into a sea of light and destruction. The air burned from the intensity, crackling with thunderous roars as shockwaves rippled outward. Flags and banners around the arena flapped violently in the wind stirred by the unleashed energy. The spectators were left in utter awe, mouths agape at the sight. The Dio Academy team hadn’t expected Sun Moon to employ such a brutal, one-sided strategy. Their carefully designed tactics crumbled before they could even be executed. Jiang Peng, wielding his Heavenshaking Axe, had been eager to showcase his strength—to use his "Eighteen Dragon-Slaying Strikes" and crush Sun Moon’s arrogance. But reality was cruel. Before he could even take a proper stance, he was caught in the overwhelming crossfire. The relentless barrage pinned him down mercilessly—he didn’t even have the chance to unleash his martial skill. He swung his axe desperately, trying to cut through the incoming blasts, but his efforts were in vain. Moments later, the entire Dio Academy team was blasted out of the ring. They stood outside the arena, dazed and dejected, staring at the still-rumbling battlefield. The defeat was bitter—they hadn’t even had the chance to use the strategies they had spent days perfecting. For Jiang Peng, however, this crushing defeat became a moment of awakening. He stared at his Heavenshaking Axe, recalling how powerless he had felt under the might of Sun Moon’s Soul Tools. For the first time, he truly understood their significance. He realized that in this new era, relying solely on one’s Martial Soul was no longer enough. Soul Tools had changed the nature of battle itself—they were the future. And so, after the match ended, Jiang Peng wasted no time. He rushed to the top floor of the hotel and knocked on Zhou Sicheng’s door. Inside, Zhou Sicheng was chatting with Ye Guyi and Ma Xiaotao, casually discussing where to go after the tournament for some relaxation. Hearing the knock, Zhou Sicheng stood up and opened the door. Seeing Jiang Peng at the door, he was slightly surprised. They barely knew each other—only familiar faces from the tournament. "Brother Jiang, your match with Sun Moon ended already?" Zhou Sicheng asked with a mild smile, feigning curiosity. Jiang Peng laughed awkwardly and rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah. When I saw their lineup—only one Soul Emperor—I thought we had it in the bag. Same number of rings, right? I figured this was our chance to show what Dio Academy could do!" Zhou Sicheng chuckled softly, as if he had already expected it. "But you didn’t expect that one Soul Emperor lineup to unleash such terrifying power, did you? You were crushed under their Soul Tool barrage." Jiang Peng’s eyes widened in disbelief. "You watched the match? How did you know that so accurately otherwise?" Zhou Sicheng shook his head calmly. "I didn’t have to. Sun Moon has always fought traditional Soul Master academies like that. Their firepower tactics are predictable once you understand their philosophy—they use advanced Soul Tools to compensate for weaker cultivation." Jiang Peng gave a thumbs up, eyes full of admiration. "As expected of Shrek’s captain—wise beyond his years! No wonder your team dominates even among Soul Emperors." Zhou Sicheng smiled warmly. "Come in, Brother Jiang. I doubt you came just to flatter me." Jiang Peng grinned sheepishly. "Heh, Brother Zhou really understands people. Yeah, I came to ask you for some advice." Zhou Sicheng welcomed him in, and the moment Jiang Peng stepped inside, he froze slightly. Two stunning beauties sat on the sofa. Ye Guyi—serene and elegant like a snow lotus. Ma Xiaotao—fiery and radiant, her smile dazzling as sunlight. Caught between the two, Jiang Peng instantly grew stiff, his usual bravado melting away. Noticing his nervousness, Zhou Sicheng chuckled. "No need to be so tense, Brother Jiang. We were just discussing tactics. You came at a good time—perhaps you can offer some fresh insight." Ye Guyi smiled gently. "Nice to meet you. I’m Ye Guyi." Ma Xiaotao, ever playful, winked at him. "And I’m Ma Xiaotao. You look so nervous, Senior Jiang. Don’t tell me you’re shy just because there are two beautiful women here?" Jiang Peng scratched his head awkwardly, cheeks slightly red. "Haha, I’m just not great at talking to girls. I actually came to ask Brother Zhou about Soul Tools. After fighting Sun Moon, I’ve realized just how powerful those things are. I was wondering if Shrek Academy has any experience or insights you could share about using and developing Soul Tools." He didn’t bother lowering his voice—everyone in the room was an elite from Shrek, after all. These were people far beyond his level in talent and vision. Talking to them might open his eyes even further. Zhou Sicheng raised an eyebrow, amused. "So Brother Jiang has started taking an interest in Soul Tools?" Jiang Peng nodded earnestly. "Yes. Dio Academy has always been a traditional Soul Master academy. We focus on cultivation and combat techniques. But after seeing how Shrek seamlessly integrates Soul Tools into battle, and after experiencing Sun Moon’s firepower firsthand... I can’t ignore it anymore. Soul Tools are the future." Zhou Sicheng smiled gently, his tone full of encouragement. "That’s a good mindset. We’re all the younger generation of Soul Masters—sharing knowledge helps us all grow stronger." Jiang Peng’s expression brightened with genuine excitement. "Haha, I knew coming to you was the right choice! You’re as straightforward as you are wise, Brother Zhou." Zhou Sicheng waved modestly. "But tell me—why come to me? I’m only a five-ring Soul King. If you’re planning to use Soul Tools in the individual matches tomorrow, shouldn’t you be visiting the Starlight Auction House instead? You might find something useful there." Jiang Peng straightened his back. "Brother Zhou, you’re far too modest. Everyone knows you’re not just a five-ring Soul King—you’re the strategist who led Shrek’s team to victory against overwhelming odds. The way I see it, you’re hiding something. Despite all your teammates using Soul Tools in battle, you haven’t shown yours even once. That means you’ve got some kind of trump card, right?" Ye Guyi and Ma Xiaotao couldn’t help but laugh at that, their voices ringing like silver bells. Jiang Peng blinked, confused and flustered, his face reddening further. He scratched his head again, utterly lost as to what he had said that amused them so much. He was, after all, an honest man—straightforward, simple, and painfully sincere. If you want to support me or read advanced Chapters (21+), consider checking out my pat. patr*on.com/Salsita2k