Chapter 199: Preliminary Matches

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Since their decisive victory over Tian Dou Imperial Academy, Shrek Academy had been on an unstoppable winning streak, leaving a trail of sparks and thunder in their wake.

The second match was against Xiang Jia Academy. Li Luochen's suggestion was simple: "Just send in the 'meat cleaver squad' to crush them."

It would be an all-out melee battle with close-range attackers—a true test of raw power.

The soul power levels of Shrek Academy's team were universally higher than their opponents, and their spirits were no less formidable than the Diamond Mammoth. In fact, some were even stronger.

Take, for instance, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. While Xiang Jia Academy's members were as sturdy as walls of flesh, Yu Tianxin's dragon claws could easily pierce through their defenses.

The secret techniques of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan truly had their merits.

This time, Xiang Jia Academy only fielded three Soul Ancestors, clearly indicating they didn't want to provoke a major conflict with Shrek Academy.

Even Tian Xiang Hu Yan Zhen bowed deeply to Flender, addressing him as "Your Grace."

Even veteran Title Douluo Gu Douluo regarded Flender as an equal.

After all, a Title Douluo with a hundred-thousand-year soul ring was someone Gu Douluo knew he couldn't defeat. Moreover, Flender was a flying-type Title Douluo—completely out of his reach.

After seeing Flender release his soul rings that day, Shi Nian was so terrified that he nearly fled on the spot. No wonder he couldn't fathom Flender's strength and felt an underlying sense of dread.

Shi Nian's inner thoughts: 'We're from the same generation! How did you become a Title Douluo? This is completely unfair—it's not about soul power at all!'

From then on, whenever Shi Nian encountered Shrek Academy, he kept his distance, fearing that Flender might find an excuse to eliminate him!

Thanks to Li Luochen's presence, Salas refrained from secretly manipulating matches against Shrek Academy. On the contrary, he frequently visited Li Luochen to curry favor, knowing this was his only chance to ingratiate himself with an elder.

After defeating Xiang Jia Academy, Shrek Academy faced opponents who were either surrendering or merely going through the motions. What hope did teams with average Soul Ancestors have against a team like Shrek?

Shrek Academy continued their undefeated streak until they faced Chi Huo Academy. Chi Huo Academy specialized in fire attributes, and their members were notoriously hot-tempered and stubborn.

Their captain, Huo Wu Shuang, and vice-captain, Huo Wu, directly deployed their strongest lineup to face Shrek Academy.

For this match, Ma Hongjun could hardly contain his excitement—he was ready to step onto the battlefield. Initially, Qin Ming had opposed this, wanting to keep Ma Hongjun as a trump card.

However, Li Luochen interjected:

"Senior Qin, Hongjun is already at the Soul Emperor level. What's there to fear in a team of average Soul Ancestors? His top-tier Fire Phoenix spirit is more than enough to deal with anyone who dares to resist.

Our only real challenge will be the Spirit Hall Academy team. So let Hongjun have some fun—he's been itching for a fight."

Qin Ming agreed. With a Soul Emperor-level member, they were already leagues ahead. Thus, they deployed their strongest lineup against Chi Huo Academy:

Ma Hongjun, Oscar, Yu Tianxin, Niu Dun, Yang Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong.

All members were above level 47, showing respect for their opponents.

At the start of the match, Ma Hongjun was the first to release his soul rings:

Yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black.

A six-ring Soul Emperor! And what kind of soul ring configuration was this? It exceeded the imagination of every soul master present.

While Oscar also practiced over-limit absorption, the concept of a thousand-year second soul ring wasn't entirely new—Li Luochen had done it before, so people could accept it.

But Ma Hongjun's ten-thousand-year fourth soul ring? How was this possible? It defied everyone's understanding.

If a certain "master" were here, he would surely shout, "It must be the forbidden techniques of evil soul masters! It has to be!"

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VIP Box

"Your Grace Flender, your students are truly exceptional. To reach the Soul Emperor level at such a young age, and with such soul ring absorption methods—what secrets do you hold?"

Emperor Xue Ye spoke with a hearty smile, humbling himself before a Title Douluo.

Ning Fengzhi perked up his ears as well, while Salas remained asleep. As the Platinum Bishop, Sa La Si was privy to the knowledge of over-limit soul ring absorption.

Li Luochen had long since "submitted" this knowledge to the Pope (back when he feared Bi Bi Dong might go berserk).

Even with the method for over-limit absorption, achieving a thousand-year second soul ring was relatively easier, but a ten-thousand-year fourth soul ring was still incredibly difficult.

Still, being able to extend the lifespan of soul rings by several centuries was already a monumental achievement.

"Hohoho, these methods were all independently researched by our academy's Director Li Luochen. He used himself as a test subject, personally practicing the theory of over-limit soul ring absorption.

Ma Hongjun and Oscar are among Li Luochen's most accomplished disciples, and Director Li has invested heavily in their development.

As the principal, I simply support him. Beyond that, I know nothing."

The wily Flender was a master of diplomatic speech. After saying so much, he essentially conveyed one key point: Li Luochen understood the theory of over-limit soul ring absorption, and everything else was beyond him.

Meanwhile, Ning Fengzhi was deep in thought. His daughter, Ning Rongrong, had been practicing over-limit absorption since her third soul ring.

Her third soul ring was two thousand years, and her fourth soul ring was eight thousand years—already surpassing the greatest ancestor in the history of the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda Sect.

Moreover, Ning Rongrong now wielded the Nine-Treasure Glazed Pagoda, destined to become the first Limit Douluo among auxiliary-type soul masters.

Ning Fengzhi now viewed Li Luochen in a different light. He fully understood Flender's earlier words.

The theory of over-limit soul ring absorption was something this young soul master had researched, pondered, and experimented with on his own.

Such a bold innovator truly deserved the title of "master."

Look at Yu Xiaogang—none of his theories were original. They were either plagiarized or baseless nonsense. Yet he still dared to call himself a "master"?

Ning Fengzhi had no interest in dealing with such a clown. Since last year, after successfully breaking through to the Soul Douluo level, Sword Bone Douluo had personally hunted down a seventy-thousand-year gemstone-type soul beast, the Crystal Rock Giant, for him.

Ning Fengzhi gained an excellent defensive soul skill, and the Crystal Rock Giant dropped a soul bone. He planned to save this soul bone as a gift for his daughter.

Once she won the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, he would present it to Ning Rongrong.

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As for Shrek Academy's match against Chi Huo Academy, the outcome was inevitable: Chi Huo Academy lost. Even under the fiery rain amplification, Huo Wu's Fusion Ring technique, "Blazing Sun Dance," was ultimately defeated by Ma Hongjun. His sixth soul skill, "Phoenix Cloud-Piercing Strike," shattered the Blazing Sun Dance. Huo Wu's technique was indeed impressive.

Ma Hongjun had never seen anyone besides Li Luochen use the Fusion Ring technique. 

Fusion Ring wasn't a skill but a technique. Li Luochen's understanding of it involved using spiritual power to fuse soul rings together.

There were two keys to breaking through to Title Douluo: reaching level 90 in soul power and achieving Title Douluo-level spiritual power.

Many Soul Douluos stuck at level 89 were unable to break through due to insufficient spiritual power.

Huo Wu's ability to use Fusion Ring at such a young age indicated she was destined to become a Title Douluo.

Ma Hongjun held Huo Wu in high regard—not just for her fiery temperament but also for her fiery figure. However, he had already found his true love.

Otherwise, he might have pursued her.

After defeating Chi Huo Academy, Shrek Academy encountered no other formidable opponents. Even Canghui Academy surrendered without a fight.

Jokingly speaking, their seven-in-one fusion technique would likely be useless against a Soul Emperor. So why bother fighting?

For unknown reasons, they were supposed to face Tian Shui Academy but never did. Thus, Shrek Academy advanced to the main rounds with a perfect record, having breezed through the preliminary matches.

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