A deathly silence lingered for several seconds.
Across the entire Star Luo Plaza, over a hundred thousand spectators seemed to have simultaneously lost the ability to speak.
"Gulp…"
Someone swallowed hard, the sound abnormally clear in the absolute quiet.
Then, the referee's high-pitched voice—trembling slightly as he struggled to maintain professional composure—finally shattered the frozen air.
"Chiyan Academy, entire team eliminated!"
The referee took a deep breath, raised his right hand, and pointed toward Liu Yuan. His voice, amplified by a spirit tool, echoed throughout the plaza:
"The winner of this individual elimination match—Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, Liu Yuan!"
"A one-vs-seven sweep! This is the first one-vs-seven sweep since the All-Continent High-Rank Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament began!!!"
Boom—!!!
The moment those words fell, the long-suppressed Star Luo Plaza exploded like a lit powder keg!
"He won?! He really won?!"
"A one-vs-seven! My god! This is the first time in my life I've seen such crushing dominance!"
"Too strong! This is beyond ridiculous! That was a team with top-eight potential, and they were wiped out just like that?!"
Countless spectators leapt to their feet, arms waving wildly as they vented the shock they could no longer contain.
Before this, many had still harbored doubts about Liu Yuan. But now, in the face of absolute strength, all skepticism had been obliterated, replaced by pure awe.
In the world of Spirit Masters, strength was supreme.
Liu Yuan had conquered the hearts of the vast majority with the simplest—and most brutal—method.
"So handsome! No fancy Spirit Abilities, just raw speed and power!" A young female Spirit Master clasped her hands to her chest, eyes sparkling. "So Soul Engineers can fight like this too?"
"I'm a fan now! From today onward, I'm a die-hard Liu Yuan fan!" A burly man nearby flushed with excitement. "Who cares which academy he's from? It's just a competition—nothing wrong with admiring someone strong!"
Voices rose one after another, and without anyone realizing it, the tide of public opinion quietly began to shift.
"Hey… with Liu Yuan this terrifying, do you think the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy might actually have a shot at the championship?"
"Yeah. Shrek may have ruled for ten thousand years, but the Sun Moon Team this time is seriously shocking. Especially Liu Yuan—he's unfathomable."
"Maybe not. Shrek's foundation runs deep. I heard their main lineup this year is full of Spirit Emperors and even Soul Sages. The rank gap is still there."
"That may be true, but why do I feel like… something big is about to happen in this tournament?"
Although most spectators still instinctively believed in Shrek Academy's invincibility, a seed of doubt had already been planted.
They had begun to look forward to the possibility—wondering whether Liu Yuan and the Sun Moon Team could create an even greater miracle.
…
In stark contrast to the feverish excitement of the crowd, the atmosphere in Shrek Academy's rest area felt like an arctic storm had passed through—bone-chillingly cold.
Beneath Elder Xuan's disheveled white hair, his cloudy old eyes were filled with gloom as he stared fixedly at the figure on the arena basking in thunderous cheers.
"Damn it… damn it!!"
Elder Xuan cursed under his breath, chest heaving violently.
This was the last thing he wanted to see.
In his original plan, Liu Yuan and the Sun Moon Team were supposed to lose to Chiyan Academy here—after which Shrek would step in and send them packing.
But now?
Liu Yuan hadn't just won—he'd won magnificently!
A one-vs-seven sweep had instantly elevated the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy's reputation to an unprecedented height!
Watching the fanatical gazes of the audience and listening to the deafening chants of "Liu Yuan," Elder Xuan felt as sick as if he'd swallowed a fly.
"A bunch of blind fools!" he snarled through clenched teeth. "They only beat Chiyan Academy—what's there to celebrate?"
Yet deep down, he knew this wasn't just about winning a match.
It was momentum.
Liu Yuan had built momentum for the Sun Moon Team—and for Shrek Academy, that was absolutely bad news.
What unsettled Elder Xuan even more was the memory of Mu En's last message, already laced with dissatisfaction.
"If news of this little beast Liu Yuan's one-vs-seven sweep reaches Shrek again today…"
Mu En's face surfaced in Elder Xuan's mind, sending a shiver down his spine.
"Damn it… am I really going to get scolded again?"
"It's all because of that little animal Liu Yuan. If I'd known he'd cause me this much trouble, I should've found a chance to kill him after expelling him!"
…
Meanwhile, atop the imperial viewing platform.
The Star Luo Emperor, Xu Jiawei, sat upright upon his broad dragon throne.
Unlike the ordinary spectators, he hadn't lost his composure. Yet within his deep eyes flickered a gravity never seen before.
"A one-vs-seven sweep…"
Xu Jiawei's fingers tapped lightly against the armrest, producing a steady rhythm.
As an emperor, he saw far more than others.
The Sun Moon Empire had always been the greatest threat to the original three nations of the Douluo Continent. Their overwhelming advantage in soul tool technology alone was enough to cause sleepless nights.
And now, such a monster had emerged even in individual combat?
That speed. That power. That calm, ruthless decisiveness in battle.
This was not something that could be cultivated by soul tools alone.
"This isn't just a genius," Xu Jiawei murmured. "This is a potential strategic-level threat."
He turned slightly and addressed the guard behind him.
"The investigation I ordered earlier—how is it progressing?"
"Regarding Liu Yuan. His origins, his Spirit, his background. I want everything."
A black-clad figure emerged soundlessly, kneeling on one knee.
"Reporting to Your Majesty. We've mobilized all intelligence networks within the Sun Moon Empire."
"We've already obtained preliminary clues and are conducting final verification."
"The complete report will be delivered to Your Majesty shortly."
"Very good." Xu Jiawei nodded faintly, his gaze returning to the figure leaving the arena, a glint of cold light flashing in his eyes. "I want to know exactly what kind of past forged your current strength."
It wasn't just the Star Luo Imperial Family.
At that moment, within the contestant viewing areas, representatives from the Heaven Dou Empire's Royal Academy, the Douling Empire, and even scouts from hidden sects all silently elevated the name "Liu Yuan" to their highest-priority watchlist.
Transmission runes lit up in the shadows.
Messenger pigeons took flight in every direction.
With this single battle, Liu Yuan hadn't just crushed Chiyan Academy—he had awakened the attention of the entire continent.
…
Of course, Liu Yuan himself cared nothing for the undercurrents and schemes unfolding behind the scenes.
Below the stage, the moment he stepped out of the competition tunnel, he was met with thunderous cheers from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy crowd—loud enough to lift the roof.
"Brother Liu Yuan! That was insane!"
"A one-vs-seven! An actual one-vs-seven sweep!"
"Hahaha! Did you see that old man Xuan Zi's face? It practically turned green! So satisfying!"
The team members were ecstatic. Though Liu Yuan alone had taken the spotlight, they were even more excited than he was.
Liu Yuan smiled faintly and waved his hand, his expression calm, as if the earth-shaking battle just now had nothing to do with him.
"Alright, alright. Everyone calm down."
At that moment, a slightly plump yet dignified middle-aged man approached—it was Jing Hongchen.
Though he spoke of calm, the smile on Jing Hongchen's face, blooming like a chrysanthemum, completely betrayed his elation.
This victory wasn't just about pride—it had tangible value.
Jing Hongchen knew exactly how much this would boost morale.
More importantly, the dominance Liu Yuan displayed filled him with unprecedented confidence in claiming the championship trophy.
"Little Yuan, well done."
Jing Hongchen patted Liu Yuan heavily on the shoulder, admiration filling his eyes.
"You didn't disappoint me. This battle has displayed the prestige of our Sun Moon Empire!"
He turned to the excited students and waved his hand grandly.
"Although the round-robin stage isn't over yet, this battle was beautifully fought and deserves a reward!"
"We don't have a match tomorrow. According to the schedule, it's Shrek Academy versus Chiyan Academy."
"So there's no need to worry. We'll just sit back and watch the tigers fight."
"Tonight, I'm treating!"
"Everyone—best restaurant in Star Luo City!"
"Eat whatever you want, drink whatever you want—this meal is on me!"
"Long live the Hall Master!"
"Long live Brother Liu Yuan!"
Cheers erupted once more.
Amid laughter and celebration, Liu Yuan was swept along with the crowd as they left the rest area.
A one-vs-seven sweep was only the beginning.
The real spectacle was yet to come.
But tonight—
Tonight was for enjoying victory.
-------------Author---------------
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