CHAPTER 83: Chaos in Xingluo City

Chapter 83: Chaos in Xingluo City

As Xiao Qiang finished speaking, the ice storm released by An Lengye of Qianling Academy instantly lost control. The blizzard that had originally been aimed at Xiao Qiang suddenly turned on her own teammates, engulfing the other students of Qianling Academy and completely crushing their already fragile morale.

The entire stadium fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone had expected that Qianling High-Level Soul Master Academy would lose to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy. However, no one had anticipated that the defeat would come in such an overwhelming and humiliating fashion.

From the moment Qianling Academy's captain made a move to the moment their entire team collapsed, it had taken no more than ten seconds. To defeat a Soul Sect team led by a Five-Ring Soul King in under ten seconds was far beyond the capabilities of an ordinary Soul King. Even an average Soul Emperor would struggle to accomplish such a feat. In other words—

"Soul Emperor! And he even possesses a hundred-thousand-year soul ring!"

An audience member suddenly exclaimed, breaking the silence and setting off an uproar in the square.

The entire arena boiled over in shock and excitement. Xiao Qiang's near-unstoppable strength, crushing an entire team of Soul Kings with a single hand, firmly cemented the belief in everyone's mind that he was a Soul Emperor, and one with a hundred-thousand-year soul ring no less.

"The sixth soul ring is fused with a hundred-thousand-year soul ring. It seems even Shrek Academy has never accomplished this!"

"It's not 'seems,' it's definite! I've watched several All-Continent High-Level Soul Master Competitions, and this is the first time I've ever seen a soul master achieve a hundred-thousand-year-level soul ring at the sixth ring!"

"But… hasn't the martial spirit quality of Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy always been inferior? How could it be that Shrek's students haven't reached a hundred-thousand-year soul ring by the sixth ring, but the Sun Moon Academy produced someone who did? This…"

After a brief pause, the crowd broke into chaotic discussions. Some were amazed by Xiao Qiang's overwhelming strength; others were curious about what it felt like to have a hundred-thousand-year soul ring so early. But more and more spectators began to question Shrek Academy's reputation.

On one hand, Shrek had failed for generations to produce someone who fused a hundred-thousand-year soul ring at the sixth ring. On the other hand, Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy — historically seen as inferior — had now accomplished this feat.

Subtly, Xiao Qiang had also planted psychological hints that fueled the audience's doubts.

Once suspicion was raised, combined with Shrek's recent decline in prestige, the foundations of their reputation began to tremble.

Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, Xuan Lao, who had just finished drinking two full pots of wine, stood up from the audience seats.

"Quiet!"

Xuan Lao floated into the sky, and the aura of a Super Douluo swept across the stadium, instantly silencing the crowd. Having learned from the last time, he carefully targeted only ordinary spectators with his pressure this time, avoiding unnecessary incidents.

Zhang Lexuan, watching Xuan Lao guzzle wine and eat meat so casually, nearly fainted. It was obvious — Xuan Lao was drunk again.

Sure enough, when Xuan Lao opened his mouth, his drunken and unrestrained nature was immediately revealed.

"It's just a petty trick, you bunch of fools actually believe it! Fusing a hundred-thousand-year soul ring at the sixth ring? Ha! Even in ten thousand years of history, only Shrek's Tang San has achieved that! Who does this brat think he is, compared to our ancestor Tang San?"

Xuan Lao's words conveyed two messages:

First, achieving a hundred-thousand-year sixth soul ring, though extremely rare, had precedent.

Second, he made it clear that Shrek Academy held the spectators in contempt, treating them as gullible fools.

"Humph, you claim there's precedent for a sixth soul ring absorbing a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast — but why is it valid only for Shrek and not for others? What about the possibility of the Sun Moon Academy achieving it too, Supreme Elder of the Evil Soul Masters?"

Just as Xuan Lao finished speaking, a sharp voice cut through the silence — it was the Medical Immortal Douluo, voicing the doubts many others dared not express.

Xuan Lao immediately glared at the Medical Immortal Douluo. Without regard for occasion, he directly barked back:

"Why, you dare to provoke me again and again? Do you really think the Star Luo Empire can protect you?"

"Elder Xuan!"

Zhang Lexuan hurriedly flew into the sky, bowing deeply toward the Emperor of the Star Luo Empire and the Titled Douluos present.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty. Elder Xuan drank too much and lost control of his words. I sincerely ask for your forgiveness."

"Forgive? How dare I?"

The Star Luo Empire's emperor responded coldly, his fists clenched tightly, before turning away without another word, heading back to the palace.

Sensing the gravity of the situation, Xuan Lao clumsily scratched his head.

"Alas, I tend to speak recklessly when drunk. But I was truly angered by her slander just now, accusing me of being an elder of the evil soul masters. Out of rage, I slipped up. I apologize."

With that, he staggered away, clutching his wine pot.

Whether the emperor would accept the apology or not was no longer Xuan Lao's concern — after all, he had formally apologized. If the Star Luo Empire pursued the matter further, it would reflect badly on them instead.

Zhang Lexuan could only sigh helplessly. If she had any choice, she wouldn't want to work alongside Xuan Lao, an unreliable Titled Douluo who caused more trouble than he solved.

But in the current situation, there was no better option.

Besides, how could she — who had once almost been killed by Xuan Lao — not know his nature?

With no other choice, Zhang Lexuan had to smile and flatter the offended parties, offering small gestures of goodwill to soothe tensions.

Of course, Shrek's truly valuable treasures couldn't be given away so easily. The Star Luo Emperor was clearly trying to use this incident to pressure Shrek into siding with them against the Sun Moon Empire.

However, Zhang Lexuan made it clear that she had no authority to make such a commitment, skillfully avoiding any real promises.

As a result, the negotiations ended unpleasantly.

Fortunately, before matters escalated further, Yan Shaozhe finally arrived at Xingluo City, relieving Zhang Lexuan of the burden of cleaning up Xuan Lao's mess.

Yet, when Yan Shaozhe learned what Xuan Lao had done, he was completely dumbfounded.

Over the years, Shrek Academy had indeed grown used to acting superior over the Three Kingdoms of the Douluo Continent. But even so, they had at least maintained a facade of diplomacy.

This time, Xuan Lao had simply trampled over everything — after a few pots of wine.

"Xuan Lao…" Yan Shaozhe could only mutter helplessly.

Xuan Lao replied with a drunken shrug.

"Shaozhe, what could I do? She called me the great elder of the evil soul masters! If I'm the great elder of evil soul masters, doesn't that make you the holy son of the evil soul masters too?"

Yan Shaozhe forced a bitter smile.

Now he fully understood Zhang Lexuan's earlier helplessness.

Dealing with a reckless and headstrong Titled Douluo like Xuan Lao — who acted as he pleased and still had the final say — even Yan Shaozhe could only feel powerless.