Chapter 266: Shrek's Helplessness and Crumbling Pride
In one of the eight most luxurious suites at Mingdu Hotel, the Shrek Academy team sat in silence, the air thick with frustration and despair. Each of their expressions was taut, brows furrowed, eyes filled with doubt.
"Tell me—how can we make Shrek lose less embarrassingly this time?" Beibei, the team captain, finally broke the silence. His voice was heavy, and the question hung in the air like a dark cloud.
Xu Sanshi shrugged, leaning back in his seat. Unlike the original timeline, this version of events offered no bonds formed during the last All-Continent High-Level Soul Master Competition. No emotional ties, no shared glories. Xu Sanshi was only here because of the spirit bones given by Shrek. His indifference showed in his blunt reply.
"There's nothing we can do. We can only hope to get lucky in the matchups. If we avoid them, we might still walk away with decent results. But if we face them… we'll be crushed."
"Brother Sanshi, don't say that!" Huo Yuhao protested with passion. "This is about Shrek's honor. We can't just throw in the towel and let ourselves be humiliated!"
Because Moon had never emotionally coerced Xu Sanshi and Jiang Nannan like in the original timeline, neither had joined the Tang Sect. Thus, Huo Yuhao addressed them not as seniors, but as simple peers.
Xu Sanshi glanced at Huo Yuhao and sighed. "Yuhao, I'm not saying I don't care. I'm saying we're outmatched. Xiao Qiang is one thing, but his brother Xiao Sheng is just as terrifying. Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen probably reached the seven-ring Soul Saint level by now, and I wouldn't be surprised if they each had hundred-thousand-year soul rings and bones."
He paused, grimacing. "I won't even mention those monsters. I'll tell you straight: I can't beat the beautiful girl who fought today."
Beibei turned to him, brow raised. "Are you serious? You really can't beat her?"
"Not a chance," Xu Sanshi replied grimly. "Beibei, you saw it yourself—that twenty-thousand-year-old human-faced demon spider. Even a Soul Sage might not walk away from a fight with that thing. And the girl riding it? She's only a five-ring Soul King, sure, maybe even ten levels below me in cultivation. But her soul ring configuration—three purple, two black—and the spirit bones she's using? I wouldn't even know where to start."
He continued, scanning the room. "Don't even talk to me about dragging the fight out. We don't know if that soul beast can regenerate its combat power. And its poison? One touch could be lethal. I can't guarantee I'd survive, let alone win."
"Beibei, you might stand a chance. As for Yuhao, your spirit ring ratio—one yellow, two purple, one white, one black, one purple—it's nowhere near enough to face her. Vina would struggle too. Her soul ring setup looks solid, but up against that kind of opponent? If she gets caught, she's done for."
"Let's not forget, that girl only used one ten-thousand-year soul skill and one soul bone technique. We have no idea what else she's hiding."
He turned toward the rest of the group. "Ning Tian's pure support. Gu Tong's eye martial soul is decent, and his awakened silver-level body spirit helps, but he's only at the five-ring level. Even without the spider, I don't think he can beat her."
"Wang Dong'er's probably our best shot. Her one yellow, two purple, two black setup, combined with the Goddess of Light Butterfly martial soul, gives her enough air superiority to have a chance. But that's still a maybe. And don't forget—we don't even know where that girl ranks in the Sun Moon Empire's lineup. She might not even be a core member."
That last sentence hung in the air like a death knell. Everyone's expression darkened. The implications were clear.
"Damn it!" Wang Dong'er clenched her fists. "If I'd trained harder, if I'd become a Soul Emperor by now, maybe we'd stand a better chance!"
Her regret cut deep. She had both the talent and the resources, but without a strong drive—without the desire to protect Huo Yuhao like in the original story—her cultivation had stagnated at level 55.
"Dong'er, it's not your fault," Huo Yuhao said fiercely. "It's those damn Sun Moon Empire schemers! They're using soul spirits to boost their team! It's cheating, plain and simple. Just because the tournament is being held here doesn't mean they can do whatever they want!"
In the original story, Huo Yuhao and his companions had used soul tools to uphold Shrek's so-called glory. It never occurred to them that using externally sourced weapons was an unfair advantage.
Now, when others were using soul spirits—tools that technically came from within their system—Huo Yuhao still called it cheating. To him, Shrek's methods were just, but any advantage held by the Sun Moon Empire was a violation. In his heart, that truth was immutable.
Vina glanced at Huo Yuhao, a faint twitch in her eye.
When Mu Xue died, she had sympathized with Huo Yuhao. His grief had seemed genuine. It had moved her.
But then came the drama. Wang Dong'er tried to comfort him, only for Huo Yuhao to push her away dramatically, saying he could never forget Mu Xue. Moved by his 'devotion,' Wang Dong'er began to believe he was the same Huo Yuhao from before.
And soon after, despite Mu Xue's death still being fresh, the two of them became a couple. Vina could hardly believe her eyes.
"Bastards," she thought coldly.
Just then, someone knocked at the suite door. It swung open to reveal Princess Jiujiu, entering with an impatient look.
"Huo Yuhao, what the hell is going on with this soul guide you gave me?" she asked, eyes narrowed.
Everyone turned to look at him. The brief moment of peace shattered.
Reality was knocking—and it brought more trouble with it.