The next morning, sunlight spilled across the city.
Liu Yuan changed into a neat set of black martial attire and left the Duke's Mansion in high spirits, heading straight for the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy.
This visit was no longer about soul tool theory lectures or routine coursework.
His identity had changed—he was now the captain of the Sun Moon Empire's representative team for this All-Continent High-Rank Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament.
The tournament's regulations were extremely strict. The maximum age limit of twenty years old was absolute and could not be exceeded under any circumstances.
Although this session introduced several changes—such as allowing certain hidden sects to form teams and register—the age restriction remained untouched.
This meant that veterans like Ma Rulong, who had achieved outstanding results in the previous tournament, were no longer eligible to compete, no matter how powerful they were.
As captain, Liu Yuan's first and most important task was to assemble a brand-new team capable of representing the highest standard of the Sun Moon Empire from among the academy's current students.
He went straight to Jing Hongchen's office.
The dean was clearly prepared. When Liu Yuan pushed the door open, a thick stack of student files was already neatly arranged on the desk.
Jing Hongchen gestured for him to sit and make his selections at leisure.
Liu Yuan picked up the files, his gaze sweeping swiftly across the names and cultivation ranks.
His standards for choosing teammates were extremely strict. He didn't focus solely on cultivation level; instead, he placed greater emphasis on the uniqueness of each martial soul and the potential for teamwork and synergy.
After nearly an hour of careful screening, Liu Yuan finalized several core candidates in addition to Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen.
Once the list was complete, he bid farewell to Jing Hongchen and headed directly for the advanced class classroom.
As soon as Liu Yuan pushed open the classroom door, the usual noise inside came to an abrupt halt.
Every gaze turned toward him.
Ignoring the attention, Liu Yuan walked straight to the back of the classroom and stopped in front of a golden-haired girl.
Wang Qiuer had been quietly flipping through a book. When she looked up and saw Liu Yuan, her heterochromatic eyes instantly brightened.
Before Liu Yuan could speak, she had already set the book aside and stood up.
Using the Eye of Destiny, she carefully sensed his condition. When she realized that the once-violent spirit power in his dantian had become deep, stable, and perfectly cyclical, a sincere smile appeared on her face.
"You really succeeded," Wang Qiuer said softly, her tone filled with joy. "I knew that method would suit you."
Liu Yuan looked at her seriously and bowed slightly.
"My success was entirely thanks to the technique you passed on in time," he said earnestly. "Wang Qiuer, thank you."
Wang Qiuer waved her hand casually, smiling slyly. "No need to be so formal between friends. That said, judging by your aura now, your improvement isn't just a little."
Liu Yuan straightened, his expression turning solemn once more.
"Expressing thanks is one thing," he said, "but I actually came today for something more important."
He met her gaze and extended a formal invitation.
"I want to invite you to join the Sun Moon Royal Team and represent the academy in the upcoming All-Continent High-Rank Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament. Are you willing?"
Wang Qiuer paused, then tilted her head curiously.
"The Soul Master Tournament? What's that? Is it fun?"
Liu Yuan nodded and began explaining in detail—its scale, its intensity, and the way it gathered elite geniuses from across the entire continent.
He also subtly mentioned that, for a soul master, such a competition was the best possible stage to temper combat ability and gain recognition.
Wang Qiuer listened with increasing interest. When she heard that she would be able to fight experts from all paths, a clear spark of battle intent flashed through her eyes.
"Sounds pretty good," she said. "Since you came to invite me personally…"
She nodded without hesitation.
"I'm in."
Seeing her agree so readily, Liu Yuan's mood lifted.
With Wang Qiuer joining, the final shortcoming of the Sun Moon Team was completely filled.
"Good," Liu Yuan said with satisfaction. "From today onward, you're officially a member of our team. In the coming days, I'll organize tactical drills. Just cooperate when the time comes."
Wang Qiuer smiled and nodded, then returned to her seat.
Thus, the core members of the new-generation Sun Moon Team were finalized:
Captain Liu Yuan, with Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, and Wang Qiuer as the main members.
The remaining three positions would be decided later.
…
Meanwhile, far across the sea, within Shrek Academy.
The Shrek representative team had also completed its final selection.
Since this Soul Master Tournament was being held in the Sun Moon Empire's capital, Mingdu, the journey was long and required complicated procedures. As a result, the team needed to set out half a month in advance.
At the grand main gate of Shrek Academy, seven young figures stood side by side, radiating vitality.
Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, He Caitou, Xiao Xiao, Jiang Nannan, Wang Donger—
and at the very front, his eyes deep and focused, Huo Yuhao.
These seven were the new generation of the "Shrek Seven Devils," cultivated with the academy's full efforts.
Ever since their crushing defeat at Liu Yuan's hands five years ago, Shrek Academy had regarded that loss as the greatest humiliation in its ten-thousand-year history.
Determined to reclaim their honor, the academy had poured nearly all its top-tier resources into these seven over the past five years.
Their growth had been nothing short of terrifying.
Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, and the others had all crossed the Rank 60 threshold, becoming Six-Ring Soul Emperors. Among soul masters under twenty, they stood firmly at the pinnacle.
Although Huo Yuhao's cultivation was slightly lower—currently at the Five-Ring Spirit King level—his possession of Extreme Ice and a mental-type twin martial soul meant his true combat strength was no weaker than that of an ordinary Soul Emperor.
Yan Shaozhe stood on the steps, looking at the youthful team before him, his voice heavy with meaning.
"Children, this mission will not be easy."
"Although the opponent who once brought us great pressure—Liu Yuan—still stands in the Sun Moon Empire, your five years of sweat have not been shed in vain. Your improvement has been comprehensive."
"Do not be shackled by the shadows of the past. Each of you is the pride of Shrek. If you work together, there is no reason you cannot create your own miracle in Mingdu."
At the rear of the group stood Elder Xuan, still dressed in his grey robes, his expression unusually solemn.
Beside him was Ma Xiaotao, clad in red, flames of fervent battle spirit flickering in her eyes.
This time, Elder Xuan—the Super Douluo—would personally oversee the journey, with Ma Xiaotao serving as the team's instructor.
"Set out once you're ready," Elder Xuan said after taking a swig of wine, his voice low but resolute.
"This time, we're not just participating in a tournament. We're reclaiming the ten-thousand-year glory that belongs to Shrek."
"We will wash away our humiliation and let the entire continent know—Shrek remains invincible!"
"Wash away our humiliation! Victory is certain!"
The seven shouted in unison, their voices echoing into the sky.
With Elder Xuan's command, the Shrek representative team transformed into streaks of light and shot northward, vanishing into the distance.