Douluo Continent: I, Long Aotian, will not be a supporting character.

Star Luo Empire, Star Luo Imperial City Square.

The afternoon sun shone on the magnificent Xingluo Square, but it could not dispel the suffocating heaviness and fervor in the air.

The final battle of the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament is about to begin, and the square is already packed with hundreds of thousands of spectators.

The crowd roared, cheers and shouts merging into a deafening ocean, each surge carrying with it an infinite longing for the upcoming showdown.

On the VIP seats of the city gate tower, Emperor Xu Jiayin of the Star Luo Empire, dressed in magnificent robes, sat regally in the center, his gaze fixed intently on the arena below. Beside him, high-ranking officials and dignitaries of the Star Luo Empire, as well as representatives from various factions, were gathered. All eyes were fixed on the battlefield about to be engulfed by a storm of soul power.

"They're here! They're here!"

Someone shouted, and the previously noisy square fell silent for a moment, before erupting into an even more frenzied roar.

Two lines of people slowly entered the arena from opposite ends.

On the right was the Tianhun Empire's Imperial Academy team. Captain Jiang Peng walked at the front with steady steps; Shi Kun, Wei Huang, Ye Bilin, Long Aotian, Jin Ni, and Vina walked side by side, their expressions resolute. They still carried the chilling aura of the morning's fierce battle, but more than anything, they exuded an unwavering determination.

On the left is the Shrek Academy team, dressed in dark green school uniforms. Ma Xiaotao is still leading the team; clearly, Xuanzi must have asked Wang Xian'er to help Ma Xiaotao and temporarily restore her condition.

Having experienced the morning's events and emergency treatment, Ma Xiaotao's face was slightly pale, but the fighting spirit burning in her beautiful eyes was more intense than ever before.

Dai Yueheng, Ling Luochen, Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, Huo Yuhao, and Wang Dong followed closely behind.

When the fourteen students from both sides stood on opposite sides of the battle arena, facing each other from a distance of 100 meters, an invisible and terrifying aura instantly collided and rubbed wildly in the air.

On one side, the seven members of the Imperial Academy formed a unified and rock-solid aura, like an unshakeable and majestic mountain, steady and profound; on the other side, the Shrek Academy displayed an indomitable spirit, like a peerless blade drawn from its sheath, its sharpness fully revealed.

The wind seemed to stop flowing at that moment. Even the clouds above the square seemed to be affected by the immense pressure of the soul force, slowly solidifying.

Referee Tian Sha Douluo landed between the two teams, took a deep breath, and his soul power surged within him. His voice, amplified by his soul power, clearly resounded throughout every corner of the plaza: "The Continental Elite Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament, Final Battle, Team Battle! Di'ao Academy vs. Shrek Academy!"

"Both sides, release your Martial Souls and prepare for battle!"

With a command from Tian Sha Douluo, the team members from both sides, who had been poised to attack, released their martial souls almost simultaneously.

"boom--!"

The dazzling light of the spirit rings instantly illuminated the entire arena. On the side of Di'ao Academy, the ferocity of the Heaven-Shaking Axe, the solidity of the Earth-Covering Shield, the unpredictability of the Azure Phosphorous Poison Flower, and the strange, subtly resonant fluctuations emanating from Long Aotian, Jin Ni, and Vina intertwined to form an impenetrable battle net.

On Shrek Academy's side, the ferocity of the Evil Fire Phoenix, the domineering power of the Evil-Eyed White Tiger, the chill brought by the ice element, the thunder of the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex, the profoundness of the Xuanming Tortoise Shell Shield, and the phantom of the Dark Goddess Butterfly appearing behind Huo Yuhao's deep spiritual eyes and the Goddess of Light Butterfly appearing behind Wang Dong all interacted with each other.

Fourteen powerful soul energy fluctuations were frantically compressed in the air, emitting a deep hum, like two torrents about to burst their banks, just one command away from completely erupting and devouring everything in front of them.

The Heavenly Fiend Douluo's gaze swept over both sides like lightning, and his arm swung down like a guillotine: "The match begins!"

With a command from referee Tian Sha Douluo, two completely different soul power storms erupted instantly on the main stage in the center of Xingluo Square.

"Heaven-Shaking Axe, rise!" Jiang Peng, the captain of Di'ao Academy, roared, and his fifth spirit ring suddenly shone brightly.

He slammed his Heaven-Shaking Axe into the ground, sending ripples of dark golden soul power spreading outwards. Shi Kun and Wei Huang beside him instantly stepped forward, one side a massive, earth-shattering shield, the other radiating a bronze-metallic luster—the Heavenly Martial Battle Soul. The three, having worked together for a long time with perfect coordination, charged towards the Shrek Academy team as one.

Following closely behind were Long Aotian and Jin Ni. Long Aotian wielded the Heaven-Destroying Axe and the Heaven-Covering Shield, while Jin Ni wielded the Golden Dragon Spear and the Golden Dragon Shield. The two of them also merged their auras as if they were one, and charged towards each other.

"Azure Phosphorus Maze!" Ye Bilin's figure disappeared behind the crowd, her third and fourth spirit rings flashing alternately. Countless pale purple petals appeared out of thin air, instantly transforming into a thick poisonous mist that enveloped half of the Imperial Academy's arena. This poisonous mist not only had a strong paralyzing and corrosive effect, but it could also obscure the Shrek Academy team's six senses.

The seven students from Di'ao Academy had already taken the antidote pills provided by Ye Bilin. The poisonous mist of Bilin's maze would not only not harm Long Aotian and the others, but would also become a protective barrier for them.

Vina stood behind Ye Bilin, holding the Staff of Eternal Life and the Shield of Life Reflection, always ready to assist everyone.

On Shrek Academy's side, Ma Xiaotao could no longer contain herself. Her eyes were bloodshot, and her first and third spirit rings lit up simultaneously: "Phoenix Fire Line!" A blazing, dark red pillar of fire, carrying a destructive aura, roared towards the group from Di'ao Academy.

At the same time, Dai Yueheng's evil eyes flashed with a sharp light, and his fourth soul skill, "White Tiger Meteor Shower," was activated. Countless white light orbs poured down like meteorites, forming a perfect crossfire with the Phoenix Fire Line.

Faced with this overwhelming offensive, the Imperial Academy's defense system was activated instantly.

Shi Kun's Earth-Covering Shield, Long Aotian's Sky-Covering Shield, and Jin Ni's Golden Dragon Shield instantly transformed into three enormous light shields, firmly protecting everyone behind them.

Vina's third spirit ring flashed, and her third spirit skill—Crystal White Lotus—was activated. The skill's effect was Crystal Protection, enhancing the defense of her teammates. Countless crystal-clear white lotuses appeared out of thin air, gracefully floating into the three light shields. In an instant, the aura of the three light shields grew even stronger, and a layer of holy white light flowed across their surfaces.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Violent explosions rang out one after another on the three light shields, stirring up ripples of soul power, but the three shields remained as steady as Mount Tai, refusing to yield and completely neutralizing Shrek Academy's first wave of fierce attacks.

At this point, the two teams were not far apart, and close-quarters combat was imminent.