Crimson lines spread from deep within the alloy chest cavity. The black and white core engine let out a screech like tearing silk. One by one, 3,600 needle circuits lit up inside the spinal hydraulic tube, like the vertical pupils of ancient gods and demons opening.
The liquid energy pump trembled with a dragon-like roar. From the shoulders, dark-gold gun barrels rotated and extended outward. On the back, a pair of pitch-black folded wings unfolded with a thunderous boom. This was the latest technology from the Sun Moon Empire—bionic metal. Every flap of those wings was smooth and seamless.
It was also Elder Cheng's latest round of optimization: enhancing defense while increasing mobility.
A roar tore through the clouds. At the instant the black-and-white core fully awakened, the air within a hundred-zhang radius distorted into transparent ripples.
The twin blades crossed in front of the body.
"Cross Slash!"
Inside the trial arena—
Countless teachers and students stared at the scene, momentarily dazed.
Yu Tianlong's throat bobbed as he watched Xu Cheng in a mecha, fighting Mu En and holding his own without falling behind. His eyelids twitched violently. Just moments ago, he had been foolishly thinking of making Xu Cheng his goal.
Looking at it now...
Surpass him? What a joke!
To be in the same generation as this guy was practically a tragedy.
He suddenly recalled something his father had said over a year ago when he first heard of Xu Cheng:
"He's like an insurmountable mountain standing there. No matter how many geniuses try to climb it, he merely gazes down at them, indifferent."
Now, that metaphor felt frighteningly literal.
"He can battle a Limit Douluo... and he's only fifteen, right?" Nan Qiuqiu's voice trembled.
Watching the continuous sonic booms in the sky and the awe-inspiring spectacle, her emotions surged like a storm.
A master of strategy, everything under control.Perhaps this senior of theirs was the true foundation of the Sun Moon Empire.
"Strictly speaking, he'll turn sixteen in three months." Ye Wanwan replied calmly.
Everyone: "…"
"He seems destined to be the brightest star—no matter where he is, he shines."
Ning Yuan sighed softly.
"So... maybe we were never truly in danger," Ye Wanwan's beautiful eyes locked onto that mecha, gleaming with brilliance.
"Because he's here…"
"Watch me sneak attack!"
Xuanzi's body swelled several times in size, like a wild bull charging straight at Jing Hongchen.
His lips curled into a confident smirk.
"You little punk dared mock me earlier, saying you could beat me from ten thousand meters away? You're not even a Super Douluo! Thinking you could beat me with just soul tools? Dream on!"
But in the next moment—
A massive dark angel blocked his path.
Ye Cheng stared indifferently at Xuanzi.
"Your opponent... is me."
Ye Wanwan and the others showed an expression of "as expected."
"His Highness truly has endless trump cards." Yu Tianlong gazed at that massive mecha, utterly convinced now.
"He's really a hexagon warrior—strategy, strength, appearance—every stat maxed out. When the Creator made him, why was He so biased?" Ning Yuan sighed.
With the rise and fall of the fight, the once-chaotic trial arena now grew calmer.
Under the teachers' guidance, the students began spectating the epic battle as if through a first-person lens. A sense of pride welled up inside them:
They were students of the Sun Moon Empire Royal Academy, not some Shrek Academy where evil soul masters could barge in and kidnap people anytime they pleased…
"Damn it!!!"
Yan Shaozhe watched all this with a gloomy face.
Though his ancestor's strength sparked a strange pride in him, he was still on Shrek's side. And now, being toyed with by a mere youngster made this pampered Martial Soul Department Dean feel extremely irritated.
"You'd best focus on the fight, sir. A battle between Super Douluo isn't child's play! Hahahaha…" Yu Yanlong laughed heartily.
Some of Xu Cheng's trump cards were things even he had just learned about.
He had been worried for his son earlier—but now? Xu Cheng had prepared for everything!
Xu Cheng's performance had also greatly boosted everyone's morale.
"Heh, you think that's all? Then you're dead wrong!" Yan Shaozhe sneered."You think this ambush didn't include someone from the Body Sect?"
Yu Yanlong's expression changed.
A massive dark-green giant slowly materialized in the sky.
Without a word, fists clenched, it howled as it struck at Jing Hongchen.
"Boom!"
Thick fog exploded outward.
Jing Hongchen vanished in the haze, the entire trial arena trembling.
"The Body Sect... surely His Highness accounted for them too, right?" Hu Yannan swallowed hard, his face pale.
Everyone fell silent.
As omniscient as Xu Cheng might be, surely something had slipped through the cracks?
Over ten thousand teachers and students held their breath, eyes fixed on the sky.
A few seconds later, though the mist hadn't cleared, a sharp-eyed student suddenly shouted:
"It's ice!"
Everyone looked up.
The protective shield now had a thin layer of frost—crisscrossed with cracks like a spiderweb. Yet even after that giant's punch, it hadn't shattered. That already spoke volumes about the ice wielder's strength.
As the mist dispersed—
Yu Tianlong and the others widened their eyes.
In front of Jing Hongchen, a petite figure stood tall in the sky.
Her features were stunning, as if carved from jade. Hands clasped behind her back, her light blue eyes calmly faced the toxic giant, exuding the air of a supreme monarch. Snowflakes drifted around her—but steered clear of her body.
What truly shocked everyone was her outfit.
Red and black, contrasting brilliantly.Her chest badge bore eight bold characters:
"Sun Moon Empire Royal Academy"And next to that: Second-Year, First Place.
"Xue... Xue Ling'er?!!"
Yu Tianlong's pupils contracted sharply.
Someone tell him—was this really the same girl he competed against before?!
Second-year number one??
Glancing around to make sure no one was looking, he sheepishly pulled out his "Second-Year, Second Place" badge, which he had stuffed into his pocket in shame—and cautiously pinned it back on, straightening his posture.
Still...
"His Highness even accounted for this? Nearly every powerhouse here is within his plans…" Ye Wanwan said quietly.
"Flawless calculations. And… probably more to come," Nan Qiuqiu nodded.
"Right. If they came here, they must pay the price!" Ning Yuan added firmly.
"Your Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect..." Nan Qiuqiu looked toward him.
"Relax. Our Sect Master has turned us into one solid steel wall." Ning Yuan grinned.
Watching Ning Hao floating midair with a seven-tier pagoda, aiding every Super Douluo present, the crowd felt a strange emotion rise.
"If—just if—we were still part of the old order… what would happen?" Hu Yannan murmured.
"We'd die horribly. Best not even fantasize." Ye Wanwan said coldly.
"Got it." Hu Yannan slapped himself hard.
"I'm His Highness Xu Cheng's loyal dog! Hehehe... being this dog feels so safe…"
Everyone: "…"
"Don't gross us out," Ye Wanwan said in her crisp, oriole-like voice.
But her cheeks... had turned slightly red.
(End of chapter)