Douluo Continent: The Holy Evil Emperor

By pitting Shrek Academy against Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy in advance, it will not affect Star Luo Royal Academy's runner-up position regardless of which team advances to the finals.

Even setting up two strong teams to face off early would allow Xu Jiujiu to see some of their hidden cards, which would help her develop specific tactics for the finals.

Even if they lose, it's not a loss. After all, both Shrek Academy and Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy have defeated Star Luo Royal Academy more than once. This time, being able to secure at least the runner-up position is already a worthy achievement for hosting this major tournament on home soil.

Thinking back to the Spirit City Tournament five years ago, the Spirit Royal Academy didn't even make it into the top eight, watching helplessly as teams from other factions fought fiercely on their own empire's home turf. That was truly frustrating and humiliating...

Fortunately, the Douling Empire had gotten used to it, after all, they were experts in internal wars but incompetent in external ones.

This is similar to the Chinese national football team, which has become so used to losing that even if they lose 0-7, the people of the Douling Empire are already numb to it.

After thinking these thoughts through his mind, Ye Qing smiled to himself: Brother-in-law, it seems that you can only aim for second place and compete for the championship. With me around, you have no chance of winning the championship!

Of course, Ye Qing wasn't the only one who saw through Xu Jiawei's plan. Others from Shrek Academy, including members of the Sun Moon Team and the Imperial Team, could also see it, because the plan was, to put it bluntly, an open scheme with no attempt to conceal it.

But what can you do?

Regardless, this is Xingluo City, the home ground of Xingluo Royal Academy. No matter what Xu Jiawei does, as long as he doesn't openly break the rules, they can only tolerate it.

This caused great frustration for both the Sun and Moon team and the Di'ao team.

Especially the Sun and Moon Team, they couldn't even keep their perennial second place this time. If they returned to the Sun and Moon Empire with the title of a top four team, they would probably be hung on a street lamp by some extreme citizens of the Sun and Moon Empire the next day.

They don't care what the reason was for you falling to the semifinals; they'll only think you're a disgrace to the country.

Under the spotlight.

The semi-finals have finally begun.

Unlike the previous knockout and round-robin tournaments, the semifinals will not be decided by a single battle; instead, all three types of battles will be required.

First comes the team battle, then the individual battle, and finally the best-of-three series.

Moreover, the semi-final schedule is extremely tight, with three matches played in a single day to determine the winner between the two teams. This means that injuries or fatalities during the matches will greatly affect subsequent battles.

The original Shrek Academy was ruthless. To ensure victory, they were incredibly powerful in the team battles and individual battles, killing several members of the Sun and Moon team. As a result, in the final 223 battle, the Sun and Moon team had almost no one left to use.

Of course, if it were Ye Qing, there would be absolutely no need to play it this way.

Dai Yueheng had barely proposed the idea when it was rejected by him.

"Brother Ye, do you think we should do something dirty in the competition and leave a few of the Sun Moon Empire's people in Star Luo City?" In the rest area, Dai Yueheng looked at the Sun Moon team's rest area a few hundred meters away, his narrowed eyes filled with a hint of murderous intent.

Interestingly, after Dai Yueheng said those words, not a single person in the entire Shrek rest area objected.

While the others did not agree, they also did not object.

"What...do you guys take this competition for?" Ye Qing finally asked after a long while.

This question stumped Dai Yaoheng.

"The arena... is like a battlefield," Dai Yueheng replied.

"Awesome." Ye Qing couldn't help but give a thumbs up. He already considered himself ruthless and cold-blooded enough, but compared to Shrek's special education, he was still far inferior.

Although the Sun and Moon team wasn't much better, and often resorted to dirty tricks during the competition, they only managed to avoid trouble because of the protagonist's halo at Shrek Academy. But we guys came to the competition to win, while you guys came to the competition to risk your lives!

"There's no need. A competition is a competition. If it really comes down to war, I don't care how you use underhanded tricks or how ruthless and unscrupulous you are, but let's leave it at that here." Ye Qing twitched the corner of his mouth.

That's what he said, but that's not what he really thought.

Because if a real fight breaks out, he will definitely be the main force, and he will probably be the one to do the dirty work, since with his strength he is best suited to create the illusion of an 'accidental death' without making a sound. He has no interest in being the scapegoat.

So, it seems Ye Qing hasn't killed anyone yet?

"I really don't know who will be so lucky as to be the first person to die by my hand."

……

On the other side, the people from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy were also doing pre-match pep talks. Although they were not very useful, it was better than nothing.

With Ye Qing's third move, the dark cloud hanging over everyone's heads finally descended upon the Sun and Moon Team, and they truly felt the oppressive feeling brought by this freak.

Simply outrageous.

When they were about to face Ye Qing, they felt a suffocating sense of despair, because they could not see any hope of winning from any angle.

"Will win!"

Ma Rulong looked at everyone and said firmly. Then he waved his hand and placed the Special Soul Tool Sacrifice Chapter on the conference table.

And that level-eight close-range soul tool—the Sword of Judgment.

“According to our intelligence, Ye Qing only has his fourth soul skill that is a lightning-attribute attack. He is still a light-attribute soul master. If his attribute were not light, we might have no hope of dealing with him. But since he is light-attribute, this gives us a glimmer of hope!” Ma Rulong looked at the Sword of Judgment on the table, his eyes filled with a hint of madness.

god?

Today, I, Ma Rulong, will defy the heavens and slay the gods!

“But Captain, if you forcibly activate the Sword of Judgment using the Chapter of Sacrifice, what will happen to your lifespan and potential…” Lin Xi looked at Ma Rulong, hesitant to speak, her expression full of reluctance.

Ma Rulong simply smiled nonchalantly and uttered the same words as Dai Yueheng: "The arena is like a battlefield!"

"If we can really defeat Shrek Academy, what does it matter if I lose my lifespan and potential, or even perish on the field?!"

Chapter 203 You are the real hero!

At this moment, Ma Rulong seemed to be shining, as strong as an invincible war god!

Everyone was moved by Ma Rulong's fearless spirit, and even Xiao Hongchen, who had always been nonchalant, sat up straight with a touch of emotion on his face.

“And you, my friend, you are a true hero!” Xiao Hongchen said earnestly. “Just for those words, I apologize for my previous disrespect towards you. You deserve my respect.”

Meng Hongchen blinked, glanced at her older brother who had changed his usual ways, and suddenly felt a sense of relief that her son had finally grown up.

"Very good, Xiao, you've finally grown up!" Meng Hongchen patted Xiao Hongchen's shoulder with a smile.

Xiao Hongchen's face darkened, and he slapped Meng Hongchen's hand off his shoulder.

"Don't be so nonchalant. Senior Ma has the mentality of sacrificing himself for others, so we can't let Grandpa down." Xiao Hongchen said, "No matter how strong Ye Qing is, we must do our best to fight. If even we ourselves don't think we can defeat him, then there really is no chance."

Meng Hongchen was slightly taken aback.

She truly hadn't expected her older brother to say such a thing. It seemed that Ye Qing's breathtaking strength had indeed changed Xiao Hongchen's arrogant personality.

The frog at the bottom of the well is unaware of the vastness of the world. Only when it truly sees the outside world can it undergo a transformation from within, no longer confined to the small well where it once lived, but yearning for the scenery at a higher level.

The changes in the mortal world were laughable, but they made Meng Hongchen have another idea.

'He truly lives up to my expectations; he can even make that arrogant guy like Xiao feel inferior. He's so cool!'

As the teacher in charge, Mr. Ma did not join in the conversation among the team members. He just watched silently. Teachers only need to play a guiding role, but these children had already figured it out on their own, so there was no need for him to say anything more.

However, there was a hint of sadness in his eyes when he looked at Ma Rulong. While his act of sacrificing himself for others was admirable, if the person who sacrificed himself for others was his own grandson, Old Ma would not be able to treat it with a normal heart.

He couldn't change his grandson's mind. Winning glory for the country was a good thing, and Ma Rulong was already an adult and should have his own thoughts and actions. All he could do was support him.

Moreover, Master Ma should have been mentally prepared for this long ago, ever since Ma Rulong received the Chapter of Sacrifice and the Sword of Judgment from Jing Hongchen.

The semi-finals begin immediately.

The weather today was not as bright as usual; instead, it was gloomy and dark, as if a downpour was imminent. The thick, dark clouds blocked out the sunlight, much like how Ye Qing appeared in the eyes of the Sun and Moon Team.

He is an insurmountable mountain, a dark cloud that obscures their hopes. Only by defeating Ye Qing can they let the light of glory shine on every inch of the Sun Moon Empire.

Stepping out of the hotel, Ma Rulong looked at the dim sky and murmured, "Only by clearing away the clouds can the light of the sun and moon shine upon the earth..."

"Let's go, let's face the greatest challenge of our lives together!"

The other members of the Sun and Moon team didn't speak, but nodded vigorously, their eyes filled with a determined light, like cannon fodder about to form a group to go into a dungeon to fight a BOSS. In their eyes, Ye Qing was indeed that invincible evil BOSS.

Unlike the somber atmosphere of the Sun and Moon team, the Shrek team was as relaxed and carefree as ever, chatting and laughing as they walked toward Star Luo Square.

All this confidence comes from the tall young man at the very front of the group.

Even the two teachers in charge, Zhang Lexuan and Han Ruoruo, did not walk in front of Ye Qing, but followed behind him on the left and right.

In this competition, Ye Qing's position is irreplaceable. He represents the soul of the Shrek Seven Devils and is a pillar that locks in victory with a single move.

"Those people from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy must be under immense pressure right now, right?" Xu Sanshi said with a smirk. "With Brother Ye Zi around, they probably won't even get second place this time."

"Isn't this great? We Shrek Academy and they have never gotten along. From four thousand years ago until today, when has their Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy not been outdone by us?" Bei Bei pouted.

Dai Yueheng, who had always looked down on the Sun Moon Team, shook his head at this moment: "Don't underestimate them. Although we all look down on soul tools, we have to admit the power of certain soul tools. Apart from our Shrek Academy, the strength of the Sun Moon Team is universally acknowledged."

"Even with Brother Yezi here, we cannot be careless or underestimate our enemies. The situation in battle can change in an instant, and it is very possible that each of you, including myself, could become the target of some special soul tool attack."

Upon hearing this, Ye Qing turned around and looked at Dai Yueheng with surprise: "You actually have this awareness? I thought that normal inner court disciples would look down on soul tools."

Dai Yueheng smiled helplessly: "Brother Ye Zi, I am the son of the White Tiger Duke. Although I have never actually been on the battlefield, I have had a lot of contact with soul tools. Although I am reluctant to admit it, the soul tools of the Sun Moon Empire have put a lot of pressure on our Star Luo Empire."

"..." Is it even appropriate to say that?

Especially coming from the mouth of the son of the White Tiger Duke? Aren't you afraid that Xu Jiawei will chop you up as a sacrifice to the flag?

However, on the other hand, Dai Yueheng and Ma Xiaotao are indeed different.

At least Dai Yueheng knew to buy a Tyrant Tiger Soul Refining Blade to enhance his combat power, which shows that he is not a traditional soul master who is stuck in the past and that his resistance to soul tools is not that serious.

Having seen many military personnel, Dai Yueheng certainly understands how much amplification a soul tool can provide to a soul master, so it's normal for him to have this idea.

As for everyone else…

Apart from Huo Yuhao and He Caitou, who were already trained in the Soul Guidance System, the others probably didn't think much of Soul Guidance Devices.

Oh right, except for Jiang Nannan. She simply can't afford it, not that she doesn't want to use it.