The thrilling battle between Shrek Academy and Blazing Academy was like a massive rock thrown into a calm lake, sending ripples throughout the Soul Master Realm of Heaven Dou City. The glory of victory and discussions of tactics fermented in every street and alley, yet in some unknown corners, deeper undercurrents were surging.
Within the study of Platinum Bishop Salas at the Spirit Hall.
The atmosphere was as oppressive as the calm before a storm. Salas stood with his hands behind his back before the window, facing away from a black-clad attendant who stood with bowed head in respectful silence. Outside the window was the bustling nightscape of Heaven Dou City, ablaze with brilliant lights, yet his face was shrouded in an impenetrable gloom.
"Worthless!"
The icy voice abruptly shattered the silence, like shattering ice. Salas slowly turned around, his usually deep and calm eyes now burning with suppressed fury, their sharp gaze seemingly capable of piercing through hearts.
"That fool Shinian! A dignified Soul Saint, having immersed himself in illusion techniques for decades, actually failed to capture even a Soul Emperor! Instead, he got himself killed, leaving not even a trace of his bones! This is utterly humiliating!" Salas's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling coldness that made one's heart tremble. He had paid no small price to secretly persuade Shinian to make a move, even tacitly allowing him to employ some unconventional methods. He had thought it was a sure thing, expecting to at least force Marco Lee to reveal his trump cards. Never did he anticipate such an outcome!
The black-clad attendant trembled almost imperceptibly, bowing his head even lower, his voice filled with trepidation: "Your Excellency, please calm your anger! According to our post-event investigation of the scene, we found no traces of a fierce battle. Shinian's aura was erased extremely cleanly, as if... as if he evaporated into thin air. That Marco returned home looking completely normal, without any signs of abnormality. This matter... is deeply strange."
"Strange?" Salas snorted coldly, the icy light in his eyes intensifying, "What does that indicate? It means either Shinian was an utter fool, instantly countered by his opponent without even putting up a decent fight! Or... Marco's strength far exceeds our estimation! The ruthlessness of his methods and the meticulousness of his mind are anything but ordinary for a youth!"
He paced to his desk, lightly tapping the smooth surface with his fingers, producing dull thuds. "It's fine that Shinian is dead; a Soul Saint who merely attached himself to us isn't worth making a fuss over. But the fact that he died so inexplicably has caused a huge deviation in our assessment of the target! That is the most troublesome part!"
Salas fell silent for a moment, his gaze growing increasingly dangerous and profound: "Pass down the order: suspend all direct actions against Marco. Increase surveillance personnel, monitor him closely, but remember, do not alert the enemy. I want to know his every move each day, every person he contacts, and even... keep a close watch on his father, that 'Godly Spear' Douluo Li Zhaoyan!"
"Yes, Your Excellency!" the black-clad attendant promptly responded.
"Never mind, Titled Douluo are beyond your ability to monitor," Salas added. "As for Shrek Academy, especially that Tang San... focus your attention there. The surname Tang... do not act rashly, but record all intelligence, no matter how trivial, and report it promptly to the Papal Hall."
"Understood, sir!"
"Dismissed." Salas waved his hand.
The black-clad attendant withdrew from the study as if granted amnesty, bowing as he retreated.
The study returned to silence, leaving only Salas alone. He walked to the window and once again gazed at the brilliant lights outside, yet his eyes seemed to pierce through the void, settling on the distant direction of the Papal Hall. He murmured to himself, his voice carrying a barely perceptible gravity: "Your Holiness... the waters of Heaven Dou City run deeper than we imagined. This Marco... I fear... will become one of the greatest variables in the future."
In stark contrast to Salas's anger and scheming, the scene at the Li Mansion's detached courtyard was entirely different.
Marco sat leisurely on a stone stool in the courtyard, idly twirling a verdant leaf between his fingers, his gaze calm as if the turmoil stirred by him in the outside world had nothing to do with him. Shinian's attack was, to him, merely an insignificant interlude—like brushing a speck of dust from his sleeve—leaving hardly any trace in his heart. He could guess some of Salas's reactions, but he paid them no mind. In the face of absolute power, schemes and intrigues were nothing but the clumsy performances of clowns.
His thoughts had already drifted toward the upcoming matches and the more distant future.
"Tomorrow, against the Thunder Academy..." Marco silently recited. The team led by Yu Tianxin, a member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's collateral branch, possessed considerable strength, particularly excelling in ferocious lightning attacks. Yet in Marco's view, this team had limited appearances in the original work, leaving no deep impression—he only recalled that Shrek had won with great difficulty. For tomorrow's match, he held little anticipation; it was merely another battle requiring his intervention to "clean up."
In contrast, his interest lay more with several other Elemental Academy teams.
"Shui Bing'er of the Heaven Water Academy... the Ice Phoenix Martial Soul." A flicker of interest passed through Marco's eyes. Top-tier Beast Spirits, especially mutated phoenix-type Martial Souls, held immense potential. What intrigued him more was the Heaven Water Academy's severely underestimated Martial Soul Fusion Skill—Ice and Snow Drifting. In the original work, this fusion skill demonstrated astonishing crowd control and destructive power. Had it not been for Tang San's protagonist halo protecting him, allowing him to break it through coincidence and clever tactics, Shrek would have stood no chance in a normal confrontation. "That is a truly powerful skill with the potential to challenge opponents beyond one's level. A pity it encountered the Child of Destiny." Marco shook his head slightly, feeling a trace of regret for Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu.
"Huo Wu of the Blazing Academy... the Fire Shadow Martial Soul." His thoughts then turned to that fiery-tempered, unyielding girl. "Is her Martial Soul a variant of an Elemental Martial Soul, or... the even rarer Body Soul Spirit?" Marco was well aware of the rarity and potential of Body Soul Spirits. If Huo Wu's Martial Soul truly was the Body Soul Spirit "Fire Shadow," then her value far surpassed that of an ordinary talented Soul Master. This was worth observing closely.
"And then there's Feng Xiaotian from Divine Wind Academy... Innate Full Spirit Power, yet he wasted his golden cultivation period by focusing on creating his own Spirit Ability." Thinking of Feng Xiaotian, Marco's lips curved into a faint arc—whether it was admiration or pity was unclear. The talent of Innate Full Spirit Power undoubtedly made him excellent material to impact the Titled Douluo realm. However, Feng Xiaotian stubbornly devoted himself to creating his own Spirit Ability, the "Gale Demon Wolf Thirty-Six Consecutive Slashes," consuming vast amounts of time and energy, which resulted in his slow progress in Soul Power levels. "He has talent and ideas, but... his priorities are misplaced. Perhaps, in his view, a unique self-created Spirit Ability is more important than mere Soul Power levels." It's hard to say whether such a choice is right or wrong, but in the harsh world of Soul Masters, strength and realm are the foundation.
After reviewing the information about these teams in his mind, Marco gradually formed a vague plan.
"Heavenly Water, Blazing Fire, Divine Wind... these three academies have profound foundations, with students of outstanding talent and distinct characteristics. Especially core members like Shui Bing'er, Huo Wu, and Feng Xiaotian—if they can be recruited and nurtured, they will undoubtedly become a force to be reckoned with in the future."
He knew well that with his arrival, the trajectory of this world had already begun to shift. The Spirit Hall's ambitions were growing, the conflicts between the two empires were intensifying, and the future turmoil on the continent would inevitably become more violent. Relying solely on his own strength or the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy might allow him to dominate for a time, but to confront the potential catastrophe that could sweep across the entire continent, establishing his own Domain Momentum and intelligence network was imperative. These young geniuses, not yet fully controlled by major powers and possessing immense potential, were the perfect targets.
"The tournament is an excellent platform for observation and contact." Marco set down the leaf in his hand, his gaze turning to the stars in the Night sky, deep and distant. "Perhaps it's time to extend some 'olive branches' at the right moment."
He was in no rush to achieve immediate results. Winning people over required timing, strength, and, most importantly, making them see the value in following him. What he needed to do now was to demonstrate power and vision on this continent-wide stage that would make all the geniuses look up to him and be convinced.
"Thunder Academy... let them serve as a warm-up." Marco stood up and walked slowly into the house. Tomorrow's match, for him, was still just a step toward a higher stage. His true focus had long been set on broader horizons and the various forces lurking beyond the arena, waiting to stir.
The Night breeze swept through the courtyard, rustling the leaves as if foretelling that a greater storm was quietly brewing.