Chapter 45: Shrek vs. Heaven Dou Royal Academy Again

As the Shrek team prepared for the upcoming team battle, Nian Yun, wanting to avoid standing around idly, decided to sign up for a solo match in the Soul Arena.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to today's soul duel! Let's give a warm round of applause to the undefeated champion of the solo battles, who has secured twenty-one consecutive wins and repeatedly knocked out his opponents in a single blow—"

"Lord Yunyan!!"

"Woohoo! Lord Yunyan, Lord Yunyan!"

...

"Next up, Lord Yunyan's challenger is a newcomer who has just stepped into this arena: Lu Zong, the Shadow Youth."

Upon hearing the name, the audience seats erupted into murmurs of disdain. "What a joke, some newbie actually dares to challenge our Lord Yunyan. I bet it's going to be another one-hit match. How boring."

"Yeah, another quick match."

"Hahahaha."

Nian Yun remained utterly fearless, thinking to himself, "Once I finish this match, I should be able to reach Gold Soul rank. What should I have for dinner tonight?"

That man slowly walked onto the stage, raising his right arm as a black crow landed upon it.

The appearance of that black crow instantly hooked Nian Yun's interest. He raised his head to look closer. "Lu Zong, Lust? Well, well, what a coincidence. Perfect timing to return the frustration I suffered from that old codger."

"Let the soul duel begin!"

With the referee's declaration, Lu Zong swiftly tossed the black crow from his hand. "First Soul Skill: Shadow Kill."

The black crow vanished from sight halfway across the arena. Nian Yun still kept his hands in his pockets, his eyes closed.

*Swish.*

A disturbance brushed past his ear, yet Nian Yun deftly evaded the attack precisely as the crow struck.

In the distance, Lu Zong manipulated the black crow, launching assaults from every conceivable angle, yet none of them could touch Nian Yun. Seeing that masked fellow who showed him not a shred of respect, anger surged within Lu Zong's heart.

His second and third soul rings rose simultaneously, and countless black crows materialized. "Go!"

"First Soul Skill: Jade Stone Rock Shield."

*Clang! Clang!*

Encircled and attacked by the black crows, Nian Yun listened to the endless clatter and felt a rising wave of irritation. "So noisy. Let's finish this in one move."

Just as Nian Yun raised his left hand to wipe out those annoying crows, a familiar wave of soul power suddenly surged fiercely from behind him.

*Bang!*

With a crisp sound, right as Nian Yun spun around, a black crow burst out from behind and instantly shattered the rock shield on him.

Without time to care, Nian Yun slammed both palms against the ground, raising a mound of earth to protect himself just as the flock of crows descended. "Lust!"

Up in the spectator stands, an extremely familiar figure was watching this soul duel.

Simultaneously activating two soul rings placed a tremendous burden on his soul power. Realizing he could not breach Nian Yun's shield, Lu Zong recalled the crows, sending them soaring into the air to merge into a giant black crow.

*Whoosh—*

"Second Soul Skill: Precipitous Rock Judgment."

The earthen mound exploded, and the scattered stones around rapidly condensed onto Nian Yun's left hand.

His third soul ring rose at that moment. "O rock, let the universe forge thy bones!"

With a single palm strike, towering pillars of stone erupted from the ground all around. "Falling Rock Rain."

Six stone pillars continuously converged toward the center, forming a massive stone spear. With a wave of Nian Yun's hand, the stone spear shot toward the giant crow.

*Boom!*

A deafening roar echoed through the arena as countless black feathers rained down. The stone spear soared up to the center, and with a flick of Nian Yun's finger, that colossal stone spear transformed into a barrage of countless smaller stone spears that rained down upon Lu Zong.

*Boom, boom, boom—*

Both the arena and the spectator stands were swept by a violent whirlwind of dust and sand. Lu Zong lay flat on his face, pinned to the ground and completely unconscious.

Nian Yun cracked a smile and left the soul arena.

Before long, Nian Yun arrived at the exchange counter holding his silver soul token.

Suddenly, a familiar female voice rang in his ear: "Registration for the Heaven Dou Imperial Team."

Nian Yun paused, casting a subtle glance sideways. It was none other than Dugu Yan. Fortunately, he was still wearing his mask. After receiving the gold soul token and a hefty pouch of gold soul coins from the attendant, he turned and prepared to leave.

To his dismay, just as he was about to depart, he ran head-on into the rest of the Imperial Team members.

Yu Tianheng, walking at the front, noticed the gold soul token in Nian Yun's hand and immediately turned his attention to him.

The moment their gazes intersected, the martial souls within their bodies trembled in unison.

Feeling the sensation transmitted from his dragon-clawed hands, Yu Tianheng quickly turned back and shouted, "Wait."

Following Yu Tianheng's gaze, the others also turned to look at Nian Yun. Dugu Yan walked over and asked, "Tianheng, what's wrong?"

Yu Tianheng shook his head without answering. Instead, he took a step forward and said, "Greetings. Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, Yu Tianheng."

He let out a long breath. Nian Yun slowly turned around and replied, "Greetings. Shrek Academy, Nian Yun."

Hearing the word "Shrek," the few behind him all grew intrigued. Although Shrek was not particularly famous, their teacher, Qin Ming, was an alumnus of that institution, which instantly piqued their curiosity.

"Is there something you need? If not, I'll be leaving." With that, Nian Yun turned and walked away.

The numbing sensation lingering in his dragon claws made Yu Tianheng increasingly suspicious of Nian Yun's identity. Although he had never known anyone named Nian Yun before, the powerful aura of a formidable rival was deeply branded into the palm of his hand.

"Wait, Nian—"

"Hey, what are you guys doing?"

A sudden voice from behind interrupted Yu Tianheng.

Everyone turned around. "Captain."

Nian Yun leisurely walked back into view. "Dugu Yan, please add my name to this soul duel roster."

The seven of them were stunned. Dugu Yan nodded and walked toward the registration desk. After snapping out of his daze, Oscar said, "Since the captain is participating, I'll sit out as a substitute."

Nian Yun did not object. Noticing that his fellow Shrek members had walked far ahead, he said, "If there's nothing else, let's go. The teacher has an announcement."

"Understood."

...

Nightfall.

Shrek Gathering.

*Knock, knock—*

*Clang—*

Nian Yun approached Yu Xiaogang and presented his gold soul token. "Grandmaster, I wish to participate in the upcoming team soul duel."

Yu Xiaogang took the token, examined it for a moment, and handed it back. "Just in time. The opponents in the next round are somewhat tricky for you lot. You'll replace Ma Hongjun."

"Got it."

The moment Nian Yun sat down, Ning Rongrong leaned over. "With Nian Yun here, I think our win rate is seventy percent."

"No. With Nian Yun here, your win rate barely reaches thirty percent," Yu Xiaogang immediately refuted Ning Rongrong.

*Knock, knock—*

A waiter walked in, handed over a roster booklet, and departed.

Yu Xiaogang tossed the booklet directly to them. "This is your opponent for this match: the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. Without any accidents, plus Nian Yun, your win rate would indeed reach seventy percent. However—"

Several of them took the booklet and flipped it open. The first thing that caught their eyes was the striking Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon: Yu Tianheng, rank 39, followed by the rank 38 Dugu Yan and her Azure Phosphorus Snake.

"They're all Soul Emperors—no, Soul Elders!" Ning Rongrong could hardly believe her eyes. But Yu Xiaogang's next words plunged the group into absolute despair.

"That's not the issue. If that's all you notice, you'll never stand a chance."

"Teacher, is it this Soul Ancestor, Yun Nian?" Tang San quickly flipped to the last page, his eyes locking onto a masked man of the forty-fifth rank.

"Indeed. Furthermore, he is the captain of this team. Prior to you, he has never participated in a soul duel alongside the others, which is why you still have a thirty percent win rate based on chemistry and teamwork."