Soul Land: Xiao Yan Reincarnates as Huo Yuhao

Sea God Pavilion, Shrek Academy

The grand hall of the Sea God Pavilion was silent. In the center of the hall sat a frail, hunched old man on a reclining chair. Standing before him was a stunningly beautiful woman.

"Elder Mu, are you sure we won't send reinforcements? Tomorrow, our students face the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy," Cai Meier, the deputy dean of the Martial Soul Department, asked softly.

Elder Mu raised his head, a faint smile on his lips. "Are you asking this, or is Yan Shaozhe behind it?"

"It's… Dean Yan's idea," Cai Meier admitted, lowering her head after a brief pause.

With a deep sigh, Elder Mu's tone grew heavier. "I knew it. He's unwilling to accept it. For years, Shrek Academy has been shackled by its reputation for invincibility. Losing isn't the worst thing—it's complacency. Some believe the Martial Soul Department is unbeatable, but perhaps it's time for a wake-up call."

He paused, his wise eyes gleaming with conviction. "In recent decades, the Sun Moon Empire's soul tool development has advanced at an astonishing pace, far surpassing ours. Times are changing, and so should our thinking. Clinging to outdated beliefs will only lead to our downfall."

"Even if we send reinforcements, do you think they'd outperform these children? A loss in this tournament may be what Shrek Academy needs to spark reflection and growth."

Cai Meier hesitated, her face conflicted. After a moment, she finally said, "But Elder Mu, in the thousands of years of Shrek Academy's history, we've never lost to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. If it happens now…"

Elder Mu interrupted her with a firmer tone. "Recently, one of our Sea God Pavilion elders died in the Sun Moon Empire. Strictly speaking, our actions were inappropriate. We went to their academy to capture someone, even if they were an evil soul master. This competition is not the place for revenge. After the tournament, I will personally lead a delegation to the Mingde Hall to resolve this matter."

"Mingde Hall's head, Jing Hongchen, has long sought to collaborate with our Martial Soul Department. If we can establish an exchange program, it could benefit both sides. However, they must first compensate us—either with a ninth-grade soul tool or…"

"Or what?" Cai Meier's face turned pale, shocked at Elder Mu's openness to collaboration. She muttered, "Elder Mu, isn't it too soon to discuss exchanging students after one of our elders just died in the Sun Moon Empire?"

Elder Mu waved her off, his cloudy eyes shining with clarity. "I recently visited the Sun Moon Empire and saw things that shocked me. Their soul tool advancements are beyond imagination. I even saw large-scale soul tools requiring multiple operators—devices capable of threatening my life and altering the course of a war."

"What's done is done. If we escalate this into a war against Mingde Hall and the Sun Moon Empire, we will bear the brunt of the consequences. Still, I will ensure they pay a price befitting their actions. Go prepare; once the tournament concludes, we will visit Mingde Hall to discuss cooperation."

"Yes, Elder Mu," Cai Meier replied, bowing before leaving.

---

The Morning of the Match

At the break of dawn, Shrek Academy's team gathered in the meeting room. After a day of rest, the students appeared refreshed but tense. The upcoming match against the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy loomed heavily over them.

Facing opponents with a Soul Emperor and several Soul Kings, while their own team lacked even one Soul King, the odds seemed insurmountable unless their stronger teammates, like Ma Xiaotao or Dai Yaoheng, stepped in early.

Wang Yan glanced at the seated team members—Bei Bei, He Caitou, Xu Sanshi—and then scanned the room. Frowning, he muttered, "Where's Elder Xuan? Why isn't he here today?"

"Not sure. Elder Xuan went out last night," Ma Xiaotao said lazily, stretching.

"Could he be researching that carving knife? But Elder Xuan has never been interested in soul tools…" Wang Yan murmured, recalling how Elder Xuan had spent a fortune to acquire the Soul Devouring Knife at the auction. He shook his head. "Never mind. The match is about to start, and with Elder Xuan's strength, I doubt anything could happen to him."

Turning to the students, Wang Yan's tone softened. "This is a critical match for Shrek Academy. But remember, even if you lose, there's no shame in it. You're all under fourteen, and no other academy can produce students as exceptional as you at this age."

"My only request is that you prioritize your safety. No match is worth risking injury or death. The arena is your stage, but it's also just another challenge. Face it with confidence, but don't push yourselves too far."

---

The Sun Moon Team

As the sky brightened, Star Luo City bustled to life. The Star Luo Plaza was teeming with people, eager for the anticipated showdown. The arena was packed, with crowds stretching beyond sight.

When Xiao Yan and Jing Hongchen arrived, the sheer number of spectators stunned them.

"Let's take a private route," Jing Hongchen said, leading Xiao Yan through a guarded side entrance.

Once inside, Xiao Yan spoke, his tone resolute. "Elder, after today's match, I plan to withdraw from the competition. These matches hold little meaning for me."

Jing Hongchen halted, surprised. "You're giving up on the soul treasure prize?"

Xiao Yan chuckled lightly. "I recently obtained a treasure capable of restoring soul power. I no longer need what you're offering. Still, I'm not ungrateful for your support. To repay your kindness, I'll ensure Shrek Academy cannot advance further in this tournament."

Jing Hongchen sighed, continuing forward. "Very well. You've always resisted these competitions. If you feel it's meaningless, then leave after today. But keep your promise to help us secure victory against Shrek."

"Of course." Xiao Yan nodded firmly. "After this, I'll head to the Star Dou Forest for life-or-death training. Only through such trials can I truly grow. I'll visit the academy when I can."

---

Match Day

The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy and Shrek Academy teams entered the arena to thunderous applause. Shrek fielded the same seven-person lineup as before, with Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yaoheng joining their reserve area.

The referee stepped forward, his voice amplified by a soul tool.

"Round Three of the qualifiers: Shrek Academy versus Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. Match format: Single Elimination."

At Shrek's side, Wang Yan assigned the order. "Xu Sanshi, you're up first. Wang Dong, you'll follow…"

Meanwhile, Xiao Yan stood at the forefront of the Sun Moon team, volunteering to go first. With Yao Lao's soul restored, he had no need to remain in the competition. Today's match was simply a way to settle his debt to Mingde Hall.

The clash between two titans was about to begin. The stakes had never been higher.

In the spacious arena, two figures faced off from opposite ends of the stage—one clad in black, the other in yellow. Against the neutral backdrop, their presence stood out strikingly.

The referee stepped forward, gesturing for Xiao Yan and Xu Sanshi to approach. His voice carried authority as he explained, "The rules for the single-elimination match are as follows: Once a competitor loses, they must leave the stage immediately. The winning side can choose to continue with the same contestant or swap in another. Each team will field seven contestants, and the match continues until one side is completely eliminated. Do you both understand?"

"Understood," Xu Sanshi responded briskly.

"Got it," Xiao Yan nodded curtly.

The referee continued, "Both sides, please note: high-lethality fixed soul tools that rely on external materials for decisive victory are not permitted. Now, take your positions and await my signal to start."

With that, he stepped back to the edge of the arena, leaving the two contestants alone in the ring.

Xu Sanshi's gaze was cold and conflicted as he studied Xiao Yan. After a moment of hesitation, he asked, "Xiao Yan, why did you choose this path? We were good friends once, but today, we stand as enemies."

Xiao Yan furrowed his brow, his tone laced with annoyance. "What path are you talking about? I've explained it countless times—killing Dai Huabin was vengeance for my mother. It was justice. Would you have me spare the one who ruined her life?"

Xu Sanshi's voice was calm but firm. "The academy's senior leadership spread word that you've become an irredeemable evil soul master. Elder Xuan claimed to have seen you... consuming… Forget it. I don't want to say any more. Let's fight."

By now, the referee had reached the edge of the arena. With a loud, commanding voice, he declared, "Match, begin!"

---

Soul Rings Activate

As the referee's voice fell, Xu Sanshi's aura shifted. Four soul rings—two yellow and two purple—rose in sequence from beneath him, circling his body in a rhythmic glow. A modest-looking black Mysterious Underworld Turtle Shield materialized in his hand.

Around the stage, 108 soul tool columns lit up simultaneously, activating the protective barrier. The barrier wasn't flush with the stage's edges but stood about three meters away, leaving a narrow gap between the platform and the shield. This setup ensured that falling off the stage still resulted in a loss.

At the other end of the stage, Xiao Yan's golden eyes glimmered faintly. With a subtle motion of his hand, the massive Heavy Xuan Ruler appeared, radiating an imposing presence. He swung it lightly, and a powerful gust of wind formed at his feet, scattering dust in all directions.

---

The Observers React

From the spectator stands, two men watched with intense interest. Both had unassuming appearances, but their physiques were strikingly unusual—one had an abnormally muscular right arm, while the other was small and thin, with an oversized head that made him resemble a caricatured doll.

"That… Is his martial soul his eyes?" the larger man asked, his voice tinged with astonishment.

The smaller man nodded, his gaze locked onto Xiao Yan as he murmured, "It seems like it. And that weapon—what kind of martial soul manifests such a thing?"

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