CHAPTER 248: Bone Dragon and the Crumbling Legacy

Chapter 248: Bone Dragon and the Crumbling Legacy

  "That's it? I think the people of Shrek are just like that."

  At the Sun Moon Royal Soul Instructor Academy, Du Weilun's face was so dark it seemed like water might drip from it.

  After Xiao Hongchen obtained his sixth soul ring, the academy had proposed a sparring match with Shrek's exchange students. The rivalry between the Sun Moon Royal Soul Instructor Academy and the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy made it clear they intended to secure both first and second place in the next All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Competition. Even if Xiao Qiang couldn't be surpassed, Shrek needed to at least secure second place to avoid total humiliation.

  So, when a chance to assess Xiao Hongchen's true strength came up, Du Weilun agreed to the match without even seeking higher approval.

  The result was disastrous—Xiao Hongchen defeated all seven Shrek students in one overwhelming wave.

  Before the stunned eyes of the exchange students and the elite students of Sun Moon Academy, Xiao Hongchen crushed the Shrek representatives—who were all older than him. Even when Shrek sent out Soul Saints in desperation, they were still defeated. Worse yet, they didn't even manage to figure out Xiao Hongchen's sixth soul skill.

  The sight of the blood-red 100,000-year soul ring made Du Weilun's head throb even more. With nearly two years left until the tournament, Xiao Hongchen—already past level 66 and benefiting from a 100,000-year soul ring—was nearly guaranteed to become a Soul Saint. And based on the unique traits of soul spirits, his seventh soul ring would likely be 100,000 years as well. The terrifying ratio of five black and two red rings would become the new nightmare for Shrek.

  Du Weilun rubbed his temples. In addition to Xiao Hongchen, Sun Moon also had Meng Hongchen and the mysterious Soul Palace prodigies. Based on Xiao Qiang's influence and the rumors of another hundred-thousand-year soul spirit user in the Far North, Shrek was likely going to face not one, but three Soul Saints at the next tournament—each with multiple 100,000-year soul rings.

  "Ning Tian, Xiao Xiao, do you think Shrek can still take second place?" Du Weilun asked, his tone drained of hope.

  "It's going to be very difficult," Ning Tian responded frankly. "If Xiao Hongchen has a 100,000-year soul, then Meng Hongchen likely does too. And Xiao Xiao saw a five-ring Soul King in the Soul Palace younger than her with a 100,000-year soul ring. At this rate, we'll be facing three Soul Saints in the next competition, and none of them will be ordinary."

  Though she represented Shrek now, Ning Tian was also a member of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. She had considered forming an alliance with the Soul Palace—but Xiao Qiang had shown no interest. It wasn't about price negotiation—he simply had no desire to talk.

  Even when Ning Tian proposed offering part of her sect's sovereignty for a seat in the Soul Palace, Xiao Qiang didn't even glance at it.

  She understood why. The current Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was far weaker than the legendary Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect of old. Without any Titled Douluo to anchor them, they had nothing valuable to offer.

  Her only hope now was to slowly build goodwill with Xiao Qiang and wait for him to offer a deal—even a poor one—just to let her sect ride the coattails of the rising Soul Palace.

  Or perhaps she could wait for Shrek to finish their research into soul spirits and rekindle the sect's value through Shrek.

  But either path seemed bleak.

  Xiao Qiang had no use for the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, and Shrek had failed to unlock the secrets of soul spirits for millennia. Even if they did, the sect still lacked the strength to reclaim influence.

  Without powerful allies, the sect was reduced to a second-rate force—especially now, with no Titled Douluo in residence.

  Unless sword saints like Dustheart and Bone from ten thousand years ago were resurrected, there would be no negotiation with Xiao Qiang.

  "Second place is hard?" Du Weilun murmured bitterly. "What should we even aim for in the next tournament?"

  If Shrek dropped from second to third—or even worse—it would signal the complete end of their ten-thousand-year glory. And once this generation aged out, Shrek would be no better than the fallen Tang Sect.

  "I'm sorry," a voice cut in, startling Du Weilun.

  Xiao Qiang walked over with a faint smile, having overheard the conversation. "You're wrong. Shrek won't just lose second place—they won't even rank in the top four. Because next time, the sect category will include the Soul Palace and Mingde Hall. Do you think we're not considered sects?"

  Du Weilun's headache worsened.

  Before he could retort, Xiao Hongchen stepped forward, arms crossed and eyes sharp. "What are you doing here? I said I wanted to challenge a Soul Saint—not a Soul Douluo."

  While Xiao Hongchen believed he could hold his own against weaker Soul Douluo, he knew he stood no chance against Xiao Qiang, who defied all logic with his strength.

  "Didn't I hear you say that? I've brought your opponent." Xiao Qiang clapped Xiao Sheng on the shoulder. "Go on, little brother. You've got the strength of a true Soul Saint now."

  "Hmph, don't underestimate me! I can't beat you, but your brother? Bring it on. Just don't cry to me if he gets hurt."

  "Don't worry," Xiao Qiang smiled. "You can't win."

  "Yeah—wait, what?!"

  Before Xiao Hongchen could process Xiao Qiang's jab, Xiao Sheng calmly released his martial soul.

  A chilling aura filled the field.

  A colossal Bone Dragon emerged behind Xiao Sheng, its skeletal form radiating ancient, draconic might.

  Du Weilun stood up and pointed in shock. "Bone Dragon? Evil soul master! He's an evil soul master!"

  The room fell silent.

  Before Xiao Qiang or Xiao Sheng could react, Ning Tian jumped in angrily.

  "Wait a minute, Director Du! What did you say?! Bone Dragon equals evil soul master? Based on what?!"

  "What more proof do you need?" Du Weilun barked. "Bone Dragon is one of the most standard evil martial souls!"

  "But a Titled Douluo with a Bone Dragon martial soul fought beside Tang San ten thousand years ago! Are you calling one of Tang San's allies an evil soul master too?!"

  The air thickened with tension.

  Xiao Sheng's calm, silent presence and Ning Tian's fierce rebuttal left Du Weilun momentarily speechless.

  This was no ordinary confrontation.

  This was the collapse of old assumptions—and the rise of a new, unshakable force in the form of the Soul Palace.