Douluo Continent: Starting from the Fusion of My Martial Soul with Xiao Xiao

As dawn broke, the pale golden morning light pierced through the clouds and spilled into every corner of Shrek Academy's outer courtyard.

The lush ancient trees stretched out their branches, and dewdrops slid down the leaves, dripping onto the bluestone path and shattering into a crystal-clear mess.

What should have been a tranquil morning was completely shattered by the noise, and the entire outer courtyard was filled with a tense atmosphere.

The annual freshman assessment, which determines whether new students stay or leave, has officially begun amidst great anticipation and trepidation.

For every freshman entering Shrek Academy, this competition is not just a simple exchange of skills, but a selection process.

The academy clearly publicized the competition format and rules through the Soul Guidance Announcement.

A total of 310 teams from the college participated in this year's competition, with three people in each team, totaling 930 freshmen.

The competition adopts a regional round-robin system. The outer academy has opened up fifty independent Soul Fighting Assessment Zones, with six to seven teams in each zone. Each team must complete a full ten battles. In the end, based on the comprehensive evaluation of wins and losses, actual combat performance, and Soul Power potential, only one hundred and fifty teams can successfully advance and officially become Shrek Academy's first-year students. The remaining half will be directly eliminated and leave this holy land of Soul Masters forever.

The competition started simultaneously in fifty assessment zones, with all round-robin matches completed within two days. The time was tight, the pace was fast, and the elimination rate was as high as 50%. The fierce competition far exceeded the expectations of all the new students.

Those who can get into Shrek Academy are all geniuses selected from among thousands across the continent. But here, geniuses are also divided into different levels, and a slight mistake can lead to failure.

It is precisely this extreme cruelty and fairness that has allowed Shrek Academy to thrive for thousands of years, constantly refining the continent's top soul master talents through layers of selection.

Outside the arena, a large crowd of senior students and mentors from the School of Foreign Languages ​​had already gathered to watch the competition. The sounds of discussion rose and fell, and everyone's eyes were focused on the four figures.

From the moment the tournament roster was announced, these four teams were widely recognized as the top contenders for the championship, the pinnacle of this year's freshman tournament, and the most dazzling focus of the entire event.

On the west side of the crowd, Huo Yuxi stood quietly, her ultimate mental barrier completely isolating her from the surrounding noise.

Her martial soul, the Divine Eye, is a quasi-god-king level martial soul. In its normal state, it is still an ice-blue spiritual eye, and within her body is... an extremely powerful million-year-old soul beast.

Huo Yuxi possesses the mental strength of a Title Douluo. This level of mental strength is unmatched, not to mention freshmen, even many senior instructors in the inner academy can only look up to her. With just a glance, she can perceive the surrounding soul power fluctuations and control the entire battle.

At this moment, she was wearing a simple white freshman school uniform, her long black hair was tied into a high ponytail, and her face was beautiful and refined.

Xie Huanyue stood half a step to her side, his figure as upright as a pine tree, his martial spirit being the Pipi Elephant, and he was a special recruit of the academy.

A level 32 offensive Soul Master, with a powerful physique and astonishing explosive power, he ranks among the top new defensive Soul Masters.

Zhu Lu gently took Huo Yuxi's arm, her figure graceful and her eyes gentle. She had shed her former arrogance and looked at Huo Yuxi with tenderness and dependence.

She was originally Dai Huabin's fiancée, but after Huo Yuxi used some methods, she wholeheartedly stayed by Huo Yuxi's side and became her female friend.

Being by the side of someone who possesses the mental strength of a Title Douluo at the age of twelve and is destined to become a Limit Douluo is undoubtedly much better than being in a vegetative state.

Of course, they had at least met, and the person in the vegetative state recovered, though he was quite humiliated and voluntarily dropped out of school.

Zhu Lu herself is a level 27 agility-type Soul Master, with speed as fast as a ghost and ruthless and precise attacks. Together with Huo Yuxi's mental control and Xie Huanyue's frontal attacks, she forms a perfect offensive and defensive system.

Huo Yuxi only sought out the two of them to make up the numbers.

If it really comes down to it, she can handle it all herself.

This is the first favorite to win the championship, Huo Yuxi's team.

Huo Yuxi's gaze pierced through the crowded throng and landed imperceptibly on the center of the arena, a slight tremor rising in her heart.

Following her gaze, in the very center of the arena stood the second favorite to win the championship, the Xue Qingwu team.

Xue Qingwu stood at the core of the group, wearing a plain white dress, surrounded by a faint halo of ice and snow. Her skin was as white as snow, and her eyes were clear and aloof, exuding an aura of otherworldly innocence.

Her martial soul, the Ice and Snow Goddess, controls the ice of a demigod. Without deliberately releasing her pressure, the spiritual energy within a ten-meter radius around her is frozen and slightly stagnant. Ordinary newcomers who approach her will have their soul power suppressed by the power of ice and snow, making them not even have the courage to look up at her directly.

To her left, Wu Feng was surrounded by blazing crimson soul power, with a faint dragon's might emanating from him. His martial soul was a demigod-level crimson dragon, and with his dragon blood boiling, his attack and defense power increased exponentially. He had a dashing and fierce personality and a ruthless fighting style.

On the right, Ning Tian held the radiant and warm Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. As a level 33 support-type Soul Master, his martial soul, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, was the number one support martial soul on the continent. Its amplification effect was flawless, able to enhance Xue Qingwu and Wu Feng's combat power to the extreme. The three elements of offense, defense, and support were perfectly coordinated and could be described as invincible.

This team is strong enough to overwhelm most of the participating teams and is one of the strongest contenders for the championship.

On the south side of the arena, surrounded by the gazes of countless students, was the team that had the highest popularity in this competition.

Xue Yuheng's team.

Xue Yuheng wore a simple white school uniform, stood tall and straight, and had a calm and peaceful expression. There was no outward fluctuation of soul power around him, and he looked like an ordinary two-ring Great Soul Master.

However, the surrounding freshmen subconsciously kept a distance of several meters from him, their eyes filled with awe, and no one dared to approach him easily.

His martial soul is a divine wordless book. He claims to be a support-type battle soul master who can amplify the attributes of his teammates in all aspects. He also possesses the physical strength of a titled Douluo. With only two rings of cultivation, he can easily crush a level 56 Soul King. His strength is unfathomable. He ranked last on the Heavenly Ranking at the age of twelve.

Xiao Xiao stood beside him, her light green dress accentuating her graceful and gentle demeanor. She was the top student on the outer academy's Heavenly Ranking and also a holder of twin martial souls.

As for her battle record... some people have seen this female tyrant in her true form in the Soul Arena, but those are all upperclassmen and upperclasswomen.

Among the participants in this freshman competition, not many knew Xiao Xiao's strength.

Ignorance is bliss.

Wang Dong stood on the other side, his short, light blue hair neat and energetic, his eyes bright and sparkling. He also possessed twin martial souls. With Xue Yuheng's help, he successfully absorbed the nine-thousand-year-old starry sky unicorn soul ring and is now a level thirty-four Soul Master. He has successfully climbed to over seven hundredth place on the Earth Ranking. He is skilled in both melee and ranged combat and has astonishing explosive power.

In the eyes of all the freshmen, this team was already the shoo-in for the championship, and their only challengers were the other three teams, or rather, the other three individuals.

Huo Yuxi's gaze lingered on Xue Yuheng for a long time, never looking away.

She longed to go up to him and say something, even just a word of encouragement for the competition, but in the end she stopped and could only watch from afar, keeping her feelings of longing hidden in her heart.

The last favorite to win the championship is Xue Xiaoxiao's team on the east side of the field.

Xue Xiaoxiao is petite and cute, with lively eyes and brows. She looks like Xiao Xiao's twin sister. She is surrounded by golden light and auspicious energy. She is the transformed form of the Emperor Beast Three-Eyed Golden Lion. Her martial soul is the supreme Golden Dragon. She wields the Golden Dragon Spear and has the aura of an auspicious beast that can suppress all beast martial souls.

The twin sisters Lan Ruoruo and Lan Susu stood on either side, and both of them had their martial souls evolved with the help of Xue Yuheng.

Its original martial soul, hair, evolved into a quasi-god-level cellular organism.

As for what kind of miraculous effects it would have, Xue Yuheng didn't know, nor did he want to know. Before his talent was transformed into strength, none of that mattered.

They are all secondary.

Now, the Lan sisters are both level 34 Soul Masters, with the Heavenly Net as their Martial Soul. One is offensive and the other is controlling, one is supportive and the other is defensive. Their teamwork is seamless. The Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Martial Soul Fusion Skill, evolved from the Heavenly Net, can restrict space over a large area, creating excellent opportunities for Xue Xiaoxiao to deal damage. The trio is agile and versatile, with extremely strong explosive power, and they also have the strength to compete for the championship.

Of course, this was especially true for Xue Yuheng and Xiao Xiao, who had grasped a trace of the fundamental power of spatial laws…

It doesn't seem to be of much use.

The four top teams, each with their own strengths, ignited the passion for this year's freshman competition and inspired awe in all ordinary freshmen, making them acutely aware of the gap between themselves and these teams.

The attention garnered by this competition has long since extended beyond the realm of freshmen and external faculty mentors, reaching the very top echelons of power at Shrek Academy.

On the observation deck of the highest teaching building in the School of Foreign Languages, the four deans stood side by side, looking down at the vast stadium below, each with a meaningful expression.

Yan Shaozhe, who was at the head of the group, was wearing a dark blue dean's robe. His gaze was solemn as he slowly spoke: "The overall talent of this year's freshmen far surpasses that of the previous ten years. In particular, the captains of those four teams are outstanding among the younger generation on the entire continent."

"Xue Yuheng is the most special child. My mother investigated him before and found that he has a Limit Douluo guard in his thirties or forties who is definitely not someone that the Douling royal family can cultivate. The power behind him is unfathomable. We must both win him over and be on guard at all times."

"I'm on the left," Xianlin'er said in a deep voice.

Everyone knows that Ms. Song is her mother.

"This competition is not only a selection of new students, but also the best opportunity to observe these talented individuals. Their growth will have the potential to influence the landscape of the Soul Master world on the continent. We must keep a close eye on them and ensure that no mistakes are made."

Cai Meier, who was making her first appearance on the right, added that her eyes were fixed on the four teams in the arena.

The four deans stood on high ground, their expressions solemn. They knew that these young men and women were the future of Shrek Academy and the future of the continent, and none of them could be lost.

Deep within the misty Sea God Pavilion, the ancient wooden building exudes the vicissitudes of time. Mu En, leaning on his cane, sits on a rattan chair, his cloudy eyes half-open and half-closed. His aura is peaceful, yet he possesses an air of majesty that overlooks the world.

Old Song walked slowly to his side, bowed slightly, and reported softly: "Old Mu, the freshman competition is ready. All 310 teams have assembled, and the children you are particularly concerned about have all arrived."

Mu En slowly opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them. His gaze pierced through the layers of mist and landed directly on the outer court arena. His voice was hoarse but steady: "I have seen it all. Xue Yuheng, Xue Qingwu, Xue Xiaoxiao, Huo Yuxi... these children are all hiding big secrets, especially Xue Yuheng, who is far beyond my expectations."

He tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of the wicker chair, pondered for a moment, and then slowly spoke: "Shrek has been dormant for many years, and finally, a time when geniuses emerge in abundance has arrived. We don't need to interfere too much in this competition; let them perform freely. The more brutal the competition, the more it can temper their character. However... there are too many variables surrounding Xue Yuheng. Continue to keep an eye on him secretly, and remember, do not disturb him or be negligent."

"I understand." Old Song nodded solemnly. She knew Mu En's concerns. Xue Yuheng's existence had long exceeded the scope of ordinary freshmen. His every move affected Shrek Academy's decision-making.

At this moment, from Elder Mu of the Sea God Pavilion and the four deans to the thousands of teachers and students of the outer academy, everyone's eyes were focused on this freshman competition. The atmosphere was becoming increasingly tense, and a great battle was about to break out.

Following the college's instructions, each team proceeded to their respective assessment area to assemble.

Xue Yuheng, Xiao Xiao, and Wang Dong were assigned to the 33rd assessment area. The six teams in the area arrived one after another. The boys and girls were full of trepidation, and they made no attempt to hide the hostility in their eyes when they looked at each other.

After all, only half of them can stay, and every battle is a fight for their future.

Wang Yan, the referee instructor for the assessment area, walked to the center of the field with a smile. He had an ordinary appearance and a gentle temperament, quite different from Zhou Yi's strictness in Class One. He spoke to everyone in a calm tone: "I am Wang Yan. For the next two days, I will be in charge of the assessment refereeing for this area. The assessment rules are very simple: round-robin matches, stop when you've made a point, and it is strictly forbidden to maliciously injure your opponent. Violators will be disqualified and reported to the academy for further action."

The freshmen quickly bowed and responded in unison. Even though Wang Yan's attitude was gentle, they knew the strictness of Shrek Academy's rules and no one dared to violate them.

Wang Yan raised his hand to look at the sky, and added with a smile, "Alright, the rules have all been explained. Everyone can prepare freely this morning, familiarize yourselves with the venue, and practice your tactics. At 2:00 PM sharp, the first match in District 33 will officially begin. Go back and get into good shape, and don't falter at the last minute."

As soon as the words were spoken, a collective sigh of relief rippled through the assessment area, only to be quickly drowned out by an even more heated discussion.

The boys and girls gathered in twos and threes. Some huddled in a corner to discuss tactics in hushed tones, some surrounded the referee to ask about details, and others took the time to sit cross-legged and meditate to adjust their soul power. The originally tense atmosphere eased slightly, but a lingering tension still remained.

Xue Yuheng and the other two turned and walked out of the assessment area. Xiao Xiao turned to look at Xue Yuheng and asked casually, "Xiao Xue, should we go to the Soul Arena for another practice session this morning, or go back to the dorm to meditate?"

Wang Dong nodded quickly, his eyes full of anticipation: "Let's practice the soul skill connection again. I'm always afraid I won't be able to keep up with your pace at crucial moments."

Xue Yuheng paused for a moment and said in a low voice, "I have some urgent business to attend to outside the academy. You two go back to your dorms and get ready. Go over your commonly used soul skills one last time. I'll definitely be back before 2 p.m. and won't miss the first match."

Xiao Xiao didn't ask any further questions, and nodded gently: "Okay, be careful on your way, no need to rush, we'll wait for you."

Although Wang Dong had some doubts, he didn't ask any more questions. He simply replied obediently, "I understand. Don't worry, Xiao Xiao and I will prepare well."

The two parted ways with Xue Yuheng at the fork in the road and headed towards the dormitory area.

Under the sycamore tree not far away, Huo Yuxi took in the whole scene.

With the competition just around the corner, the morning of preparation time was extremely precious. Yet Xue Yuheng chose to leave the school at this very moment, and her expression was so urgent. What could have happened?

She turned to Xie Huanyue and Zhu Lu beside her, her tone calm yet firm: "You two go back to the dorm to organize your equipment and familiarize yourselves with our tactics. I have some personal business to attend to and will be back on time before the start of the match this afternoon."

"Yu Xi, but..." Xie Huan Yue frowned, wanting to persuade her, but was stopped by a look from Zhu Lu beside her.

"Don't worry, it won't interfere with the competition." Huo Yuxi said, then circulated her soul power, completely suppressing her Title Douluo-level mental power, and her aura instantly became so faint that it was almost imperceptible.

She flashed into the bustling crowd and followed Xue Yuheng at a distance.

Xue Yuheng walked quickly without stopping, heading straight towards the south gate of Shrek City.

Huo Yuxi deliberately maintained a distance of about 100 meters, relying on her superhuman mental strength to keep a firm grip on Xue Yuheng's figure, while avoiding the attention of the guards at the city gate.

Looking at the boy's tall and straight back, she felt a mix of emotions.

There was curiosity, worry, and a touch of bitterness that even I didn't want to admit.

She didn't know who Xue Yuheng was going to see, nor why he was in such a hurry, but she just couldn't control her steps. As long as she could see him safe, even if she was just following him from afar, she would feel at ease.

The morning sun gradually grew hot, shining on the bluestone pavement of Shrek City and casting two figures, one in front of the other.

Xue Yuheng passed through the bustling city gate and stepped onto the official road outside the city, her pace not slowing down at all.

Huo Yuxi followed her out of the city gate. The wind outside the city carried the fragrance of grass and trees. She watched Xue Yuheng walk towards the dense forest ahead of the official road, gently bit her lower lip, and once again concealed her aura, silently following behind.