Xian Lin'er stroked her chin thoughtfully before picking up several soul tools and attaching them onto Bei Bei's body one by one. As she equipped him, she carefully explained how each soul tool should be used.
These were soul tools specially modified for Bei Bei by Xian Lin'er herself, designed to help him activate the bloodline of the Radiant Holy Dragon more easily.
Starting with Bei Bei, Xian Lin'er proceeded to equip every member of the team with soul tools one after another.
In truth, she and Qian Duoduo had long since been developing specialized soul tools tailored for Shrek Academy's inner courtyard disciples.
The couple had always believed that combining a Spirit Master with soul tools would unleash astonishing combat power.
And the facts had proven them right.
Because of this, they had already begun crafting custom soul tools based on the profiles of certain core Shrek disciples, such as Bei Bei and Ma Xiaotao.
Now, with the addition of the two deans, the entire Shrek Academy team was armed to the teeth.
This was an extremely radical experiment.
A direct clash between Shrek Academy's soul tools and the soul tools of the Sun Moon Empire.
Su Yunlin donned his battle armor, and the moment it covered his body, he immediately felt much more secure.
"Dad, when are we going to complete the second-rank battle armor? Oh right, I already left the production method for battle armor back at the academy."
"What?!"
Su Jinming instantly grabbed his son by the shoulders and began shaking him furiously.
"I spent years painstakingly researching that technology, and you just handed it over like that? You little prodigal son! At the very least, you should've squeezed out more treasures from them first!"
His final sentence was spoken very softly.
Unfortunately for him, there were several Title Douluo present in the room. Even the slightest sound could not escape their hearing.
Elder Xuan coughed lightly.
"Ahem, Jinming boy. The battle armor production method counts as Su Yunlin's personal contribution. Elder Mu has already approved the highest-tier reward through a Sea God Pavilion meeting.
"As for what the reward is, it's inconvenient to say directly. But regarding the little issue between us from over ten years ago… whatever answer Elder Mu gave your family back then, this reward will be exactly that.
"Oh, and double the amount, by the way."
The moment Su Jinming heard this, he instantly felt much better.
Su Tianxuan and Xu Yunyue also immediately understood.
They knew perfectly well what that "little issue" referred to.
And what was Elder Mu's previous answer?
A hundred-thousand-year Spirit Bone.
Double the compensation meant two hundred-thousand-year Spirit Bones.
A huge profit.
Only the Title Douluo present and Su Yunlin understood what was being discussed. The other Shrek students had no idea what it meant.
All they knew was that Su Yunlin had contributed something valuable enough to alarm the entire Sea God Pavilion and warrant Elder Mu personally granting a reward.
Ma Xiaotao let out a sigh as she looked at the various soul tools attached all over her body.
"I never thought there'd come a day when I, Ma Xiaotao, would use soul tools in a competition."
Xian Lin'er rubbed Ma Xiaotao's head affectionately.
"Enough already. That old bastard Yan Shaozhe has completely led you astray. That stubborn and outdated fool doesn't know a damn thing.
"Just you wait. Once I forge my own battle armor—the same thing Su Yunlin is wearing—I'll kick that old bastard around like a ball!"
"Wife! Count me in too!" Qian Duoduo immediately chimed in. "I never got along with him in the first place. Just because he has a good Martial Soul, he acts so arrogant! I'm gonna pluck all his feathers out!"
"Add me too!" Su Jinming instantly felt like he had found kindred spirits. So there were actually people inside Shrek Academy who disliked Yan Shaozhe as much as he did.
"And me!" Xu Yunyue also raised her hand seriously.
Off to the side, Elder Song's mouth twitched slightly.
Just how hated was Yan Shaozhe?
So many people wanted to beat him up.
Meanwhile, Elder Xuan simply continued gulping down alcohol without a care in the world.
Fortunately, aside from drinking, eating, and fighting people, he had never offended that many individuals.
Sometimes, being lazy really did have its advantages.
...
Back at Shrek Academy—
Yan Shaozhe, who was currently being lectured by Elder Mu, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
"Your heart still hasn't settled! Even now, you're still stuck at Rank 95! After this Continental Spirit Master Tournament ends, go cultivate beneath the Golden Tree for me. If you don't break through, then don't come out!"
Elder Mu's stern voice rang out sharply.
Ever since his physical condition had recovered somewhat, Elder Mu had completely abandoned his former gentle demeanor. Toward Yan Shaozhe, his eldest disciple, he had become especially strict.
Yan Shaozhe's talent was unquestionably exceptional.
If he had devoted himself properly to cultivation, he absolutely could have inherited Elder Mu's position and continued protecting Shrek.
But what about Yan Shaozhe?
From childhood, he had already been flirtatious and overly sentimental. After growing older, he became deeply calculating and scheming.
The Radiant Phoenix Martial Soul possessed an inherently upright, open, and free-spirited nature.
A noble Martial Soul of that level required an equally broad and magnanimous heart.
Yet Yan Shaozhe's personality stood completely opposite to the Radiant Phoenix.
And that was precisely why his cultivation had stagnated after reaching Rank 95, unable to advance another step.
…
Next came the semifinals.
The remaining four teams were:
Shrek Academy, Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy, Di'ao Academy, and Star Luo Royal Academy.
In the semifinals, Shrek Academy drew Star Luo Royal Academy as their opponent.
To their surprise, they discovered that Princess Xu Jiujiu—the top auctioneer from the Star Luo Auction House they had previously encountered—was actually present among the Star Luo Royal Academy team.
However, neither Ma Xiaotao nor Huo Yuhao could determine the depth of Princess Jiujiu's strength.
"She's at the Spirit King level," Su Yunlin suddenly said. "I can't determine her exact Spirit Power rank, but she's definitely a Spirit King."
Everyone was shocked.
Even Ma Xiaotao, who possessed the highest cultivation among them, and Huo Yuhao, whose Spiritual Eyes Martial Soul excelled at observation, had failed to see through Xu Jiujiu's cultivation.
Yet Su Yunlin had seen through it immediately.
From this alone, they could conclude that Princess Xu Jiujiu possessed the Starcrown Martial Soul and Spirit King-level cultivation.
Wang Yan immediately began making tactical arrangements.
The lineup would be:
Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, Chen Zifeng, Ling Luochen, Huo Yuhao, Su Yunlin, and Wang Dong.
Three major assault-type fighters, battlefield control through Huo Yuhao and Ling Luochen, and finally Su Yunlin and Wang Dong serving as the finishing trump cards.
Against Star Luo Royal Academy, they had to go all out.
If they had not been equipped with soul tools, Wang Yan would never have dared to take such a risk.
But now that they possessed additional trump cards, Wang Yan no longer minded being extravagant.
As the Shrek team stepped onto the stage, Su Yunlin noticed that the princess on the opposing side was staring at him with a provocative gaze.
"Tsk. Looks like we'll have to change tactics, everyone," Su Yunlin transmitted his voice to the others. "I'm going to use our Martial Soul Fusion Skill ahead of schedule."
Everyone immediately turned toward him in shock.
None of them had expected Su Yunlin to reveal the Martial Soul Fusion Skill here.
That move had always been one of their greatest hidden cards.
Using it against Star Luo Royal Academy felt somewhat wasteful.
After all, they had originally intended to save it for the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy.
"Did you all forget?" Su Yunlin continued calmly. "Xu Jiujiu is the top auctioneer of the Star Luo Auction House. Do you really think they wouldn't have soul tools?
"I'm guessing their entire team is equipped with them.
"If we assume the worst-case scenario, they probably possess soul tools above Class 7. In terms of soul tool strength, they're likely second only to the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy.
"If we fight them normally, the battle will probably drag on endlessly.
"And the longer it drags on, the more cards we'll be forced to reveal. We might even have to expose our own soul tools. Rather than that, I'd rather pay the price of exposing our Martial Soul Fusion Skill and eliminate Star Luo Royal Academy as quickly as possible."
After hearing Su Yunlin's analysis, everyone nodded in agreement.
When it came to Spirit Master tactics, Wang Yan indeed possessed unique insight.
But in terms of soul tools, his understanding was far weaker.
He often overlooked the possibility that opponents might carry powerful soul tools.
At that moment, the Heavenfiend Douluo Huang Jinxu saw both teams enter the arena and loudly announced:
"The match begins!"
"Sixth Spirit Ability—Phoenix Meteor Shower!"
"Fourth Spirit Ability—Frozen Mist of Nethercold!"
The instant the battle began, Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luochen unleashed their abilities simultaneously.
One soared into the sky and released Phoenix Meteor Shower.
The other spread freezing mist across the battlefield, obscuring Star Luo Royal Academy's vision.
At that exact moment, Su Yunlin took Wang Dong's hand, a gentle smile appearing on his face.
Wang Dong smiled back equally warmly.
The two embraced one another.
Neither Emperor Xu Jiawei of the Star Luo Empire nor the members of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy understood what Shrek's core member, Su Yunlin, was trying to do.
Then, in the next instant—
A shocking scene unfolded before everyone's eyes.
The two of them actually fused together into one body, transforming into a figure whose appearance could not be seen clearly.
"Martial Soul Fusion Skill!"
Xu Jiawei cried out in shock.
He had never imagined that Shrek Academy still possessed such a hidden trump card.
Thinking back carefully now, every single time Su Yunlin appeared on stage, Wang Dong had always been there beside him.
Especially during the battle against Zhengtian Academy—
Su Yunlin himself had possessed Soul King-level cultivation, while his teammate had merely been a Soul Elder.
At the time, everyone had been puzzled by that strange arrangement.
But now…
Everything finally made sense.
...
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