Chapter 209: Su Yu – Got a Bit Carried Away - 2

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And Su Yu didn't care whether they believed him or not.

Because this information was true.

The only inaccuracy was that it had supposedly come from Martial God Douluo Xian Lin'er.

But Su Yu didn't need them to know the real source. He only needed a plausible explanation to spread the truth.

As for the revelation that Xian Lin'er was being held in Sun-Moon Hall—would that provoke Shrek into retaliation?

Previously, that information had been deliberately concealed.

But now?

Now, there was no need to hide it.

In just a few short years, the balance of power had shifted completely. The fear that Shrek would risk everything to storm Sun-Moon Hall was long gone.

Shrek's strongest fighter was now Xuan Zi. Meanwhile, although Sun-Moon Hall had only seen one major breakthrough—Jing Hongchen's power had surged to new heights—it was more than enough to deter any assault.

In just five years, Sun-Moon Hall had undergone a seismic transformation.

And this was merely the beginning.

After the Soul Dueling Tournament, both the Universal Cultivation Method and the Soul Armor System would no longer be restricted—they would be spread far and wide. A new era of unprecedented growth was about to begin, one where Sun-Moon Hall's strength would surge at a pace that left all other factions in the dust.

And Yan Shaozhe…

His great-grandfather was none other than the Supreme Cult Leader and Chief Worshipper of the Holy Spirit Cult.

His grandfather's half-brother—same mother, different fathers—was the current Holy Spirit Cult Leader.

His former lover was the Vice Cult Leader.

And even his disciple was a Saintess of the Holy Spirit Cult.

By all rights, this man was the most legitimate heir to the Holy Spirit Cult's throne!

And yet, here he was—not only thriving in Shrek Academy but climbing the ranks to become the Dean of the Martial Soul Department, even standing on the cusp of becoming the next Pavilion Master of Sea God's Pavilion.

This…

Yan Shaozhe, you hid yourself well.

Most bystanders wouldn't waste time debating whether Yan Shaozhe had known the truth all along.

They would simply jump to conclusions based on their own biases.

And those who did stop to think?

They were silent.

Their perception of both Yan Shaozhe and Shrek Academy had already shifted dramatically.

And the scariest part?

Yan Shaozhe wasn't the only one.

Yan Shaozhe was merely the spark Su Yu had thrown out.

Those who thought deeper, who dared to reflect, would naturally begin questioning Shrek Academy itself.

Was Mu En truly a good man?

A foolishly good man.

Those ancient powerhouses who had lived through those years and knew the hidden truths would all give the same answer.

And beyond Mu En?

Shrek's other top experts—each had a dark past.

In fact, when one pieced everything together, it became apparent:

Shrek Academy's doctrine and practices had made them far too many enemies.

Throughout the Three Douluo Nations, the vast majority of factions had, at some point, suffered oppression at the hands of Shrek's powerful figures.

As long as Shrek remained dominant, no one dared to speak out.

But should Shrek decline…

None of these factions would hesitate to trample them underfoot.

The mere fact that many of them had chosen to ignore this scandal could already be considered an act of great restraint.

"In the end, it's nothing more than an academy with a warped ideology."

Training "monsters"?

That was never the role of an academy.

It was the mindset of an underground organization, not an institution meant to nurture the next generation.

Truly abnormal factions never grew into such a colossus; they operated from the shadows, wielding influence through half-secluded dominance.

 "Well, I've said everything I needed to say."

Su Yu's voice was casual, yet it carried a sense of finality.

"You're all free to leave."

"However… the Soul Dueling Tournament isn't over yet. Are you all forfeiting?"

Du Bushi's mouth twitched.

Forfeit?

What was the point of even pretending to compete?

Did Su Yu really not have any self-awareness?

In this tournament, anything but first place was meaningless.

And first place was already decided.

Staying in the competition would only make them a laughingstock.

In fact, forget the Youth Soul Master Elite Tournament. Even if this were a middle-aged division, or even an open category up to fifty or sixty years old, Sun Moon Empire's Royal Battle Team would still have a 60% chance of taking the championship.

Without hesitation, Du Bushi let out a cold snort and led his Body Sect team away.

They weren't the only ones.

Many of the mid-sized and smaller factions from the Three Douluo Nations chose to withdraw as well.

Meanwhile, Zhongli Wu had once again cloaked himself in a black robe, standing beside Xu Tiannan.

But even through the fabric, his unstable soul power fluctuations were undeniable.

As for Long Xiaoyao…

Vanished.

He had disappeared without a trace, nowhere to be seen in the Grand Soul Arena.

Kong Deming also left the scene quietly.

 "We deeply apologize for the unexpected chaos that occurred during this tournament."

Xu Tiannan finally spoke up, offering a formal apology for the disruption.

However, not a single voice of complaint arose.

Because that battle…

That battle was even more exhilarating than the tournament itself.

And on top of that?

They had just feasted on one of the biggest scandals in history.

 "For those Titled Douluo who engaged in combat earlier, we ask that your respective teams cooperate with the investigation."

Xu Tiannan's tone was polite, yet firm.

"The Sun Moon Empire does not wrongly accuse the innocent."

"But we also do not let those with ill intentions escape accountability."

Xu Tiannan's tone remained polite, yet it was firm and unyielding, leaving no room for negotiation in his words.

As soon as his statement ended, a large number of soldiers from the Royal Soul Master Corps poured into the rest area, detaining the members of various teams.

Confronted by the elite and heavily equipped Royal Soul Masters, none of the teams resisted.

However, Shrek Academy, along with the Tang Sect, twenty-eight members, and Fan Yu, stood their ground, staring down the Royal Soul Masters in a tense standoff.

"Furthermore, due to this incident, the Soul Dueling Tournament will unfortunately come to an end."

It was no surprise that the tournament was abruptly terminated.

However, there was no question who the champions were. Even though the competition had been cut short, the Sun Moon Royal Battle Team had already been unanimously acknowledged as the victors.

Xu Tiannan delivered a speech that lasted for over ten minutes.

Soon after, the audience in the Grand Soul Arena began to leave in an orderly manner.

On the VIP stand, Xu Tiannan listened to a report from a Level 5 Soul Master.

"Your Majesty, Xuanzi and his group are heading west. It seems they intend to enter the sea from the western coast and escape there."

The eastern borders of the Sun Moon Empire were heavily guarded, with many military forces stationed along the frontier with the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire, making it extremely difficult for Xuanzi's group to flee.

Thus, they were heading west, planning to enter the sea from the Sun Moon Empire's less guarded western coast and eventually find their way to the coastlines of the Three Douluo Nations.

"Continue the pursuit. Send orders to Aoke City in the north and the troops on the outskirts of the Evil Spirit Forest to surround them with three thousand men from both the south and north."

"Understood!"

Su Yu walked into the now empty rest area.

Most of the teams had already left, and those who hadn't were either captured by the Royal Soul Master Corps and had their soul power sealed or were being imprisoned in special cells.

Only the Shrek team still had a significant presence in their designated area.

"I think it's best if you don't resist now," Su Yu said to Fan Yu. "If you do, there's no turning back."

He then turned toward the Royal Soul Masters and said, "These people are from Shrek Academy; let Sun-Moon Tang take over."

"Last time, your Qian Duoduo was redeemed from Shrek using thirty high-quality soul bones. I'm sure you can exchange them for a considerable amount of soul bones as well."

Of course, Su Yu was merely speaking offhandedly, not yet deciding if these people should be exchanged for soul bones or imprisoned, or what should be done.

After all, someone like Wang Dong would be difficult to handle.

If they handed him over to the Royal Soul Master Corps, there was a chance Xu Tiannan would transfer him into the hands of the Evil Soul Masters, which could lead to unforeseen consequences for Wang Dong.

That was why Su Yu wanted Sun-Moon Tang to take care of them instead.

"This..."

The captain of the Royal Soul Master Corps hesitated slightly before speaking, "My lord, we need to consult His Majesty."

"Go ahead."

Soon, the Royal Soul Master Corps withdrew, and members of the Sun-Moon Tang guard arrived.

"Everyone, please."

Fan Yu took a deep breath, his mood somber.

They had just managed to escape, only to now be forced back.

The night was deep, yet the black market Soul Tool Tournament continued without pause.

Despite the massive upheaval earlier in the day, the tournament had reached its final rounds across its three arenas—each now deciding their strongest contestant.

After tonight, the top winners from each arena would face off in a grand showdown, where the ultimate champion would claim the tournament's legendary prize—the Sun Moon Divine Needle!

---

As Su Yu arrived at the Aodu Merchant Association Arena, he was promptly greeted by the supervisor.

"My lord, you've arrived."

"Mm. Any unexpected developments in today's matches?" Su Yu inquired.

The supervisor sighed bitterly. "Quite a few competitors in the tournament were also participants in the Soul Dueling Tournament. However, those who've lasted until now are mostly Soul Engineers from our Sun Moon Empire, so they haven't been affected much. The only major absence was from the Xishui Alliance—one of their promising finalists never showed up tonight."

"I see. What's the final round's format? When does it start?"

The supervisor gave an awkward smile. "My lord… the final round has already begun."

The last stage required competitors to freely design and forge a Soul Tool of their choice. Their creations would then be evaluated by the panel of judges before being tested in combat—worn by a Soul Master in an actual battle. The combined results would determine the ultimate champion.

Su Yu wasn't particularly concerned about the timing.

He had never arrived on time for any of his matches in the tournament—always showing up halfway through.

Tonight was no different.

Strangely enough, his habitual lateness had become so routine that no one found it surprising anymore.

Over at the Pingfan Alliance Arena, there was another odd competitor who had a similar habit—always arriving after half the matches had already passed.

Yet, both of them were considered the strongest contenders in their respective arenas.

---

The final round had boiled down to four competitors—all of whom had previously crafted and presented high-tier Grade-7 Soul Tools.

Su Yu made a quick decision.

"For the final round… I'll craft an Grade-8 Soul Tool."

This choice ensured his absolute victory.

---

Meanwhile, far from the bustling tournament, in the Sun Moon Mountain Range, a shadowed valley concealed a secret gathering.

Several Titled Douluo were deep in discussion, plotting their next course of action.

The atmosphere was heavy as tensions soared among the gathered Titled Douluo in the hidden valley.

"Dean Yan, you shouldn't have acted so rashly. We were not ready at the hotel, and the coordination with the Empire hadn't even been finalized yet. Then you broke out into a battle in the Great Soul Arena. We managed to escape, but the Empire's seed candidates are still stuck on the arena," one of the Titled Douluo from the Star Luo Empire complained bitterly.

"We didn't expect Xu Tiannan to strike at Xuedi during the Top Eight matches."

"Still, you shouldn't have gone into battle with them. Now there's no room for de-escalation," another one added.

"Enough!" The Medicine Immortal Douluo, Wang Xian'er, interrupted, silencing the complaints. She turned her attention to Xuan Zi, who had been hesitant to speak.

"What exactly happened in the Great Soul Arena?"

Xuan Zi hesitated, unsure of how to even begin.

Yes, a battle had erupted, but how could he explain it?

Should he say how he and Dean Yan, two Super Douluo, had fought against Su Yu for three hundred rounds?

Seeing the hesitation in Xuan Zi's eyes, Wang Xian'er's expression darkened.

"What exactly happened?" she demanded, a frown deepening on her brow.

"Sigh..." Dean Yan sighed deeply, a bitter smile appearing on his face as he recounted the events briefly.

"Su Yu fought both you and Elder Xuan alone?" Wang Xian'er's voice held disbelief.

Even if Elder Xuan was injured, his combat strength was still higher than Dean Yan's. How could Su Yu fight against both of them alone?

Wang Xian'er looked between the two, noticing their silence. Her heart sank.

"He really stopped both Dean Yan and Elder Xuan alone?" She turned to the other participating Titled Douluo to confirm.

"Yes."

"Impossible!" Wang Xian'er's mind raced as she tried to process the impossible revelation.

How had Star Luo Empire missed such an extraordinary talent?

Her head spun.

The Star Luo Royal Team had not made it into the Top Eight, and today, thanks to the protection of Wang Xian'er and Xing Yun Douluo, they had barely managed to escape from Sun-Moon.

But now, instead of relief, Wang Xian'er felt an overwhelming sense of despair.

Even with the threat of the Soul Master Legion of the Sun Moon Empire chasing them down, trying to flee back to their own nations seemed a distant hope. Yet, the despair she felt now was greater than any danger they had faced before.

It's over.

(End of Chapter)