Chapter 174: Shockwaves Across the Continent
When the news broke from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Instructor Academy, Shrek Academy was in utter disbelief. Even an elder from the Sea God Pavilion—an old man named Cao—stormed out of seclusion, his face red with fury as he roared:
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
He slammed his cane on the ground, his voice echoing through the pavilion.
"Fan Yu is an eight-ringed Soul Douluo from Shrek! Eight rings!"
"Even among ordinary eight-ringed Soul Douluo, few could be taken down by a child under seventeen!"
But no matter how loudly Elder Cao protested, the truth was irrefutable. In his rage, he passed out cold, his body trembling with disbelief.
The academy was thrown into chaos.
There was no denying the credibility of the source. The message came from Ye Xiaosheng, a student of Shrek who had witnessed everything firsthand. His family had no ties to the Sun Moon Empire, and he had undergone a full investigation by Shrek's internal security team. No hidden agendas, no mind control, no threats—he had no reason to lie.
What's more, the Sun Moon Academy had provided soul guide video footage as proof. Every frame confirmed the shocking truth. The Sun Moon Royal Soul Instructor Academy wasn't lying.
And if they weren't lying…
Then what Xiao Qiang had done was terrifying.
At under seventeen years old, Xiao Qiang had defeated Fan Yu—an eight-ringed Soul Douluo with a powerful martial soul and an optimal ring combination: two yellow, two purple, four black. His soul power was at the eighty-sixth level.
Even Yan Shaozhe couldn't do that at the same age.
Xuan Lao, one of the strongest martial soul holders in Shrek with the legendary Taotie Divine Bull, couldn't do it either at that age.
Even Yan Shaozhe's own teacher—Xuan Lao's uncle, Moon En—who now bore the weight of Shrek's future on his shoulders, had only been a six-ringed Soul Emperor at seventeen. While incredibly gifted, even he would have stood no chance against a Soul Douluo like Fan Yu in direct combat back then.
But Xiao Qiang did it.
He crushed Fan Yu head-on.
And now, the reality loomed heavy: as long as Xiao Qiang existed, Shrek had no hope of winning the next All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament. If he could already take down a Soul Douluo now, what level would he reach in three more years? Would even a Title Douluo be able to stop him?
Could Shrek train a Title Douluo under the age of twenty?
The Sea God Pavilion elders pondered this grimly. After careful analysis, they concluded it was impossible. Shrek had always relied on nurturing waves of genius-level students—but none of them came close to Xiao Qiang.
The more sobering thought: Shrek had already lost once.
One defeat could be dismissed as a fluke. But two defeats in a row?
Could Shrek still call itself the top academy on the continent?
If not, could it still attract the best young talents?
Shrek's strength had always depended on its ability to recruit the most gifted children from across the land. Without a steady influx of new talent, the academy's cycle of excellence would falter. Like the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect before them, without future generations, decline was inevitable.
And Xiao Qiang? He would become the pride and weapon of the Sun Moon Empire—a sword aimed straight at Shrek's heart.
When Yan Shaozhe questioned the validity of the report, Mu En sat him down and laid out his analysis calmly.
"Ye Xiaosheng saw the entire battle. Fan Yu acted alone—it wasn't a planned duel. But Xiao Qiang's power was real. I suspect a second awakening of the main martial soul. Possibly twin martial souls fused with an evolved self-created martial soul. A fusion of innate talent and sudden explosive power. A genius the likes of which I've never seen."
Yan Shaozhe slumped in his seat, his voice weak.
"Why… why didn't someone like him come to Shrek? That kind of genius belongs here, not with them… What a waste."
Mu En shook his head.
"Forget Xiao Qiang for now. We can only try to recruit him if the opportunity arises. Right now, there's a more pressing matter—Fan Yu, He Caitou, and Huo Yuhao."
The room fell silent.
"The three were captured by the Sun Moon Empire. Caught red-handed. The Sun Moon Empire wants to execute them in accordance with their laws. If we want to save them… they demand three 100,000-year soul bones in exchange."
Yan Shaozhe leapt to his feet.
"A hundred thousand year soul bones?! That's robbery!"
Mu En's voice was cold and firm.
"They are robbing us. But they have the upper hand. We're the ones in the wrong this time."
Shaozhe clenched his fists. "No! We can't pay that price. Fan Yu is a strong asset—maybe worth it. But Huo Yuhao and He Caitou? Their lives aren't worth a 100,000-year soul bone."
Dean Xian Lin'er of the Soul Guidance Department slammed the table in fury.
"What did you just say?! They gave everything for Shrek! Maybe they aren't prodigies, but they worked hard! You want to abandon them now? Are you even human?"
Shaozhe gritted his teeth.
"I didn't say we won't try to save them. But three hundred thousand-year soul bones? We don't even have that many! The Martial Soul Department certainly doesn't!"
"You—!" Xian Lin'er's face flushed with anger.
At that moment, Elder Song interjected.
"Enough, Lin'er. I understand how you feel. They're good kids, but Shaozhe is right. Even Fan Yu isn't worth that price. One of those soul bones is my inheritance from your grandfather. If you trade it away, I won't allow it. We can't let emotion blind us."
"Two soldiers who failed their very first mission. Shrek can try to save them using minimal resources, but they're not worth more than that. Spending a 100,000-year soul bone on someone with poor talent? I'll be the first to oppose it."
"Mom…" Xian Lin'er whispered, but her voice trembled.
Elder Song's gaze hardened.
"This matter is settled. If you can't accept it—don't call me mother."
In the Sea God Pavilion, opinions were largely aligned. Aside from Xian Lin'er, who insisted on saving her students, the other elders agreed. At most, Shrek could bargain for Fan Yu. He Caitou and Huo Yuhao were deemed expendable.
Meanwhile, at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Instructor Academy, Jing Hongchen exploded in rage upon reading Shrek's response.
"Another excuse—'personal behavior'?! And they only want Fan Yu back?! Even with a 100,000-year soul bone in return?!"
A loyal retainer of the Hongchen family stepped forward nervously.
"Master, please calm yourself. The young master is still enrolled at Shrek. We can't afford to act rashly. At least the soul bone compensates us somewhat."
Jing Hongchen's eyes burned with fury. But after a deep breath, he relented.
"You're right. But I won't let this slide."
His voice dropped to a sinister tone.
"Let He Caitou and Huo Yuhao live, but only just. Get me soul-damaging medicine—cripple their foundations. Once they need new spirit rings, give them ten-year spirit beasts. Let them rot in mediocrity."
"Yes, Master."
"And when they're done, ship them off to the cotton fields. If Shrek won't protect them, let them live like dogs—eating scraps and working until they die."
He paused, a cruel smile forming.
"Especially that Huo Yuhao… double his whipping quota."
"Understood, Master."
————-
Pump up the power stone