Night had grown deep over Star Luo Imperial City.
Lanterns gradually lit up along both sides of the streets. As the largest city on the continent, Star Luo City remained lively and prosperous even at night—especially during the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament, when the entire city seemed to be swept up in a grand carnival.
The Star Emperor Grand Hotel, the most luxurious hotel in Star Luo City, was exceptionally bustling tonight.
Inside the most prestigious private room on the top floor, the sound of clinking glasses rang out nonstop.
"Cheers—!!!"
With a crisp chime, more than a dozen wine glasses met in midair.
The members of Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy were immersed in a joy they had never experienced before.
Hall Master Jing Hongchen sat in the seat of honor. His usually stern face was already flushed red from drinking. He waved his broad hand boldly.
"Drink! Everyone drink as much as you like! I spent a fortune on tonight's banquet! If anyone dares to hold back to save me money, they're disrespecting me!"
"The Hall Master is mighty!"
The students roared with laughter, and the atmosphere instantly reached a fever pitch.
After three rounds of drinks and five courses of dishes, the initial restraint faded under the influence of alcohol.
Even Xiao Hongchen, who normally carried himself with obvious arrogance, had his arm hooked around Ma Rulong's shoulder, the two whispering like sworn brothers.
As the absolute centerpiece of the night, Liu Yuan naturally drew the most attention.
Though he tried to refuse, he couldn't withstand everyone's enthusiasm. After several rounds, even with his tolerance, a faint flush appeared on his face.
"Just drinking is boring!"
Suddenly, a team member stood up, waving an empty wine bottle.
"Let's play a game! How about… Truth or Dare?!"
"Good idea!"
"Who's afraid of who—let's go!"
These were all young Soul Masters in their prime. Even in another world, they had no resistance to a game that involved gossip and teasing teammates.
An empty wine bottle was placed at the center of the large round table.
After several rounds, one person had been forced to sing children's songs, while another was made to confess about wetting the bed as a kid. The room was filled with laughter, and even Jing Hongchen, watching from the side, laughed heartily.
"Next round! Spin it!"
With an excited shout, the bottle spun rapidly across the tabletop.
Everyone stared intently at its mouth, nervous and expectant.
The bottle slowed.
Finally, it came to a stop—pointing squarely at the person seated next to Liu Yuan.
Meng Hongchen.
"Ooooh—!!!"
The room instantly erupted.
Meng Hongchen had clearly drunk quite a bit. Her fair, jade-like face was tinged with a rosy blush, and her misty eyes made her look both adorable and enchanting.
"Mengmeng, truth or dare?"
"Hmph… this young lady isn't scared!" Meng Hongchen patted her chest, hiccupped, and declared boldly, "Truth!"
"Good!"
The female teammate asking the question grinned mischievously.
"Then listen carefully! Among everyone of the opposite sex here—do you have someone you like? If so, who is it?!"
The moment the question was asked, the private room fell silent.
Even Xiao Hongchen froze mid-drink, his ears practically standing on end.
Liu Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly. Just as he reached for his glass of water, he felt a burning gaze lock onto him.
Meng Hongchen turned her head unsteadily. Her eyes, now shimmering as if filled with starlight, stared straight at Liu Yuan.
"There is… of course there is…"
She giggled foolishly, swaying as she leaned closer. Her slender finger poked Liu Yuan's chest.
"The one I like… is Brother Liu Yuan!"
"Hehe…"
Boom—!!!
The impact of that sentence was even more devastating than a Buddha's Fury Fire Lotus.
After a split second of stunned silence, the room exploded in deafening cheers.
"She confessed!"
"She actually confessed!"
"Get together! Get together!"
Xiao Hongchen's face instantly darkened.
His eyes widened as he stared at his sister, who looked ready to cling onto Liu Yuan. The corners of his mouth twitched violently.
"This girl… confessing in public while drunk. I really want to see her face when she wakes up tomorrow."
Faced with the cheers and Meng Hongchen's overly direct confession, Liu Yuan rubbed his forehead helplessly.
Just as he was about to say something to smooth things over—
"Zzz…"
In the next instant, Meng Hongchen tilted her head and collapsed straight onto Liu Yuan's shoulder.
Steady, even breathing followed.
"…."
Liu Yuan looked at the girl who had fallen asleep in seconds, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. He spread his hands and shrugged helplessly.
"Looks like her 'truth' lasted about three seconds."
"Tsk—"
A chorus of disappointed groans followed, though laughter still echoed throughout the room.
The night grew late.
Amid laughter and cheers, the celebratory banquet finally came to an end.
Jing Hongchen arranged for attendants to escort the drunk students back to their rooms. Liu Yuan handed the unconscious Meng Hongchen over to Xiao Hongchen and returned to his own room alone.
For the members of Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy, this was a night destined to be filled with sweet dreams.
…
However—
Joy and sorrow are never shared equally.
While the Sun Moon team reveled in victory, far away at Shrek Academy, the atmosphere was so heavy it felt suffocating.
Sea God Island. Sea God's Pavilion.
This ancient pavilion—symbolizing the highest authority of Shrek Academy and revered as a sacred land by Soul Masters across the continent—was bathed in a faint golden glow.
Yet even the gentle aura of the Golden Tree could not smooth the tense expressions of the elders gathered inside.
Seated along both sides of the long table were Shrek Academy's true core leaders.
Though separated from Star Luo City by vast distances, Sea God's Pavilion possessed its own intelligence channels.
"Judging by the timing, the results should arrive soon."
An elderly woman broke the silence, glancing toward Mu En, who sat at the head of the table with his eyes closed.
"I wonder how things are on Elder Xuan's side."
"What else could happen?"
Yan Shaozhe, Dean of the Martial Soul Department, replied calmly as he lifted his teacup.
"This is an individual elimination match. That format is inherently unfavorable for the Sun Moon team, which relies heavily on spirit tool coordination."
"And their opponent is Chiyan Academy."
"Chiyan Academy isn't weak—especially their captain, Chi Xiao. His Martial Soul, the Crimson Chain Fire Python, has terrifying explosive power."
Yan Shaozhe blew gently on the tea leaves.
"In my opinion, the Sun Moon team is bound to stumble badly this round. If things go poorly, they might even be eliminated outright."
"Heh. Dean Yan may be a bit too confident."
A cold voice interjected.
The speaker was Xian Liner, a sharp-looking middle-aged woman dressed in green—the Dean of Shrek's Soul Tool Department.
She shot Yan Shaozhe a glance and snorted.
"The Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy has advanced rapidly in spirit tool innovation. They've developed many single-target spirit tools capable of instantaneous activation and immense power."
"Individual matches limit coordination, but they also allow spirit tools to shine in single-point breakthroughs."
"It won't be so easy for Chiyan Academy."
"Hmph. Mere tricks."
Another elder scoffed.
"No matter how strong spirit tools are, they're external aids."
"Against a truly powerful Soul Master, once distance is closed, they're lambs awaiting slaughter. I don't believe Sun Moon can withstand Chiyan Academy's close-range assaults."
"You—!" Xian Liner's brows shot up.
"Enough."
A gentle yet authoritative voice cut through the dispute.
Mu En slowly opened his eyes. Though cloudy with age, they seemed to contain boundless depth.
"What are you arguing for?"
He glanced around, then looked toward the entrance.
"Since you want the result—listen."
"Come in."
The doors of Sea God's Pavilion opened quietly.
An intelligence officer in black, a green Shrek emblem embroidered on his chest, entered swiftly and knelt on one knee.
"Pavilion Master. Elders."
"Urgent report from Star Luo City."
Yan Shaozhe smiled faintly.
"Did the Sun Moon team lose? How badly?"
Most of the elders leaned forward in anticipation.
The intelligence officer inhaled deeply before speaking with difficulty.
"Reporting to Dean Yan… the Sun Moon team… won."
"Won?" Yan Shaozhe froze briefly, then smiled again. "Chiyan Academy's foundation isn't perfect, so that's not surprising. What was the score? A hard-fought battle? What about Sun Moon's casualties?"
In his mind, even victory must have come at a cost.
But the next words struck like a thunderbolt.
"There were no casualties."
"The score was… seven to zero."
The officer lowered his head, his voice trembling.
"The Sun Moon team sent out only one member."
"Captain Liu Yuan—one versus seven."
"A complete victory for Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy."