NOVEL NEXT Chapter 163: [DD2]: 162
Credits: Huboor Abdulla
After drawing lots, Ma Rulong returned to the rest area, feeling quite satisfied with the outcome. After all, in his opinion, among the remaining four academies, Star Luo Academy seemed to be the weakest. However, when Su Yu mentioned that Xu Jiujiu possessed the Star Crown Martial Soul, Ma Rulong immediately grew serious. If Su Yu's claim was true, then Star Luo Academy might be more challenging than Heavenly Soul Academy.
"Su Yu, are you sure?" Ma Rulong asked, his expression serious as he looked directly at Su Yu.
"I'm certain. Xu Jiujiu's martial soul is indeed the Star Crown—a highly unique martial soul. If we're not careful, it could cause some trouble," Su Yu confirmed confidently.
"In that case, we'll need to reveal some of our strategies. Let's swap Li Yan and Chen An out, and let Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen take their place," Ma Rulong suggested firmly. Even a lion uses its full strength to catch a rabbit. To secure victory, Ma Rulong preferred to err on the side of caution. Letting Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen team up would ensure a decisive win, as their Martial Soul Fusion Skill could overturn any unexpected challenges. Adding himself to this lineup would create a formidable combination, capable of securing victory against any opposition. However, this approach might reveal too many of their secrets to Shrek Academy.
Still, with the tournament progressing, keeping techniques hidden was becoming increasingly difficult. Fortunately, their team had plenty of cards to play, so it wasn't a major concern.
"There's no need for that. I'll go up for this match alone. Keep the rest of the lineup unchanged. I'll secure the win," Su Yu said casually. The Star Crown Martial Soul, a legendary soul that he had only ever heard about, intrigued him. He wanted to experience its power firsthand and see just how extraordinary it truly was.
"You want to go alone?" Ma Rulong frowned. It wasn't that Su Yu wasn't capable—Su Yu had previously defeated both him and Xiao Hongchen in a two-on-one battle. In terms of strength, Su Yu was undeniably superior to him. If Su Yu participated, victory was almost assured. However, Ma Rulong was worried that Su Yu might reveal some of his trump cards too soon. Su Yu was their ace against Shrek Academy, and Ma Rulong didn't want his capabilities exposed prematurely.
"Senior Ma, I understand your concern, but there's no need to worry. I have plenty of cards up my sleeve; it's impossible to reveal everything," Su Yu assured him with a smile. "At the very least, my soul skills won't be exposed. You can rest easy."
Hearing Su Yu's confidence, Ma Rulong suddenly recalled how Su Yu often seemed calm and composed, even after intense sparring sessions. A thought struck him.
"You… you've been holding back on us during training, haven't you?" Ma Rulong exclaimed, his eyes widening. Judging by how effortlessly Su Yu had won in the past, Ma Rulong couldn't help but feel that something was amiss. Su Yu simply smiled without confirming or denying it.
"Alright, you sly fox! You've been hiding your true strength from us all this time!" Ma Rulong laughed, shaking his head. "Fine, you're up. Do what you need to do." If even their teammates didn't know Su Yu's full capabilities, there was no way Star Luo Academy could uncover his limits. With the lineup decided, the semifinals were about to begin.
The rules for the semifinals differed slightly from the previous rounds. While still spread over two days, with the team battle on the first day and individual matches on the second, advancing to the finals now required victories in both events. If the team battle and individual matches ended in a tie, a tiebreaker match would determine the winner. The tiebreaker would follow a "2-2-3" format, emphasizing the importance of strategy and individual skill.
As the drawing ceremony concluded, Xu Jiawei, the Star Luo Emperor, addressed the crowd with a smile. "I wish all four teams the best of luck in their upcoming matches. With the draw complete, please proceed with your preparations," he said. "The first team battle today will be between Shrek Academy and Heavenly Soul Academy, followed by the Sun-Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy versus Star Luo Academy."
Roughly ten minutes later, the voice of the Skyfiend Douluo rang out. "Shrek Academy, Heavenly Soul Academy, send your teams to the stage." With that, both teams stood up and entered the arena. Leading Shrek Academy was Ma Xiaotao, accompanied by Ling Luocheng, Chu He, Chen Yun, Zhang Tu, Shi Yue, and Xu Sanshi. Dai Yaoheng was notably absent from this match, likely to conceal his strength. Heavenly Soul Academy's captain, Jiang Peng, was a Soul Emperor with a soul power level of 62 and a powerful Tremor Axe Martial Soul.
Despite their impressive lineup, Ma Xiaotao's overwhelming strength—boasting a soul power of 67—shone through. Her explosive power alone dominated the match, dragging out one Soul Emperor and two Soul Kings, leaving them struggling to respond. Unsurprisingly, Shrek Academy claimed victory in the team battle. However, their members, especially Ma Xiaotao, expended considerable energy and revealed much of their capabilities.
"She's a real handful. Even I would have trouble dealing with such explosive power," Ma Rulong admitted, his expression serious. He couldn't deny that, in terms of raw strength, Ma Xiaotao had the upper hand against him in a one-on-one fight. It seemed inevitable that Su Yu would need to step in for their eventual match against Shrek Academy. These two were opposites—ice and fire, naturally incompatible. However, Su Yu was confident his ice could suppress Ma Xiaotao's fire.
As the team battle between Shrek Academy and Heavenly Soul Academy concluded, the stage was set for the match between Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy and Star Luo Academy. On stage, the voice of Skyfiend Douluo echoed: "Star Luo National Academy, Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, team members, please enter the arena." Upon hearing the announcement, Su Yu immediately stood up.
"Mi Jia, Xiao Xiafeng, Chen Fei, Lin Xi, Li Yan, and Chen An, follow me." Su Yu took the lead, and the six others quickly stood and followed behind him. Despite Su Yu's young age, his authority was indisputable. None of them had escaped being defeated by him in practice matches. For a young man with only four soul rings yet stronger than even their captain Ma Rulong, they couldn't help but respect him.
As both teams stepped onto the stage, the audience was surprised to see Su Yu leading the Sun and Moon team. In the royal stands, Xu Jiawei narrowed his eyes slightly upon seeing Su Yu in the lead. "So, it's him. This confirms my suspicions." A reserve team leader commanding the formal team was no ordinary feat, requiring exceptional skill and charisma. "No wonder... As expected of someone from the Ice God Palace," Xu Jiawei thought. "This will be a tough fight for Jiujiu."
In the resting area, Yan Shaozhe appeared beside Wang Yan without warning. "So, that's Su Yu, the one you mentioned?" Yan Shaozhe asked, his tone calm but curious. Wang Yan nodded quickly. "Indeed. I didn't expect him to lead the team. His strength might be even greater than we anticipated." Yan Shaozhe snorted. "Strength? What use is strength when you align yourself with the Sun and Moon Academy? Talent or not, he's simply supporting the wrong side."
"Besides," he added dismissively, "no matter how strong he is, he's no match for Xiaotao and the others. He's not worth worrying about." Judging by Su Yu's soul power, which hadn't reached the Soul Emperor level, Yan Shaozhe was unimpressed. In his eyes, Ma Xiaotao, with her unparalleled talent, was leagues ahead. Standing nearby, Zhang Lexuan remained outwardly composed but felt increasingly dissatisfied. She disliked anyone who criticized Su Yu. Only she truly understood just how formidable Su Yu was. Ma Xiaotao might have extraordinary talent, comparable to her own, but against Su Yu? There was no contest.
Yan Shaozhe himself likely didn't know that the Ice God Palace heir he so admired was none other than Su Yu. Zhang Lexuan wondered how he'd react upon discovering this truth. Her time at Shrek Academy had gradually made her disillusioned with its lofty ideals. The institution, which claimed to represent justice and honor, seemed riddled with hypocrisy.
...
On stage, the two teams faced off, the tension palpable as an aura of impending battle filled the air. Xu Jiujiu, standing across from Su Yu, locked eyes with him, a faint smile playing on her lips. Her expression carried not only curiosity but also fierce determination. As a member of the Star Crown Clan, Xu Jiujiu felt a rare excitement. She wanted to test herself against the rumored Ice God Palace heir and see if he truly lived up to his reputation.
Skyfiend Douluo's voice cut through the silence: "Both sides, step back. Before I declare the match to begin, no one is permitted to release their martial souls." The teams stepped back, shifting into formation as they retreated. For the Sun and Moon team, Su Yu stood at the forefront, flanked by Lin Xi and Mi Jia. Chen An and Chen Fei took the wings, while Li Yan and Xiao Xiafeng anchored the rear. This time, Su Yu wouldn't be acting as a control-type soul master, so his position reflected his new role.
The Star Luo team adopted a peculiar triangular formation: one in the front, followed by two, then three, with Xu Jiujiu at the rear. This setup puzzled many onlookers. "Begin!" With Skyfiend Douluo's declaration, he vanished from the arena, leaving the two teams to clash. In an instant, both sides activated their martial souls. The Sun and Moon team members were quickly armed with soul tools, and Su Yu's Snow Sword—a white blade from the Ice and Snow Twin Swords—materialized in his hand. This was a genuine Level Seven soul tool.
Meanwhile, on the Star Luo side, their martial souls emerged as Xu Jiujiu became the center of attention. Golden light erupted from her forehead as a diamond-shaped gem floated upward. It emitted a dazzling brilliance, forming an elegant crown atop her head. The crown, seemingly composed of countless golden stars, was crowned by 18 larger ones that formed sharp, ornate points. This was the Star Crown Martial Soul—an exceptionally rare and powerful auxiliary-type martial soul. Simultaneously, five soul rings—two yellow, two purple, and one black—rose beneath Xu Jiujiu, their radiance showcasing her formidable strength.