"Let them in."
A clear voice resonated from within the great hall, slowly reaching the entrance.
Hearing this familiar voice, Xu Jiujiu's eyes glimmered with brilliance, and Yan Shaozhe's expression grew slightly more serious.
The usually cold and indifferent Ling Luochen's beautiful face softened slightly, while Zhang Lexuan's clear gaze brightened, her lips curving into a faint smile.
"Understood, Young Master," Shui Lingguang replied, her soft voice echoing as she extended her delicate hand. "Everyone, please come in."
Under Shui Lingguang's guidance, the group stepped into the grand hall.
The hall was spacious and empty, with luminous pearls embedded in the walls, casting a faint and serene glow.
On either side of the hall, tables and desks were neatly arranged in an orderly fashion.
Xu Jiujiu and the others glanced around briefly before directing their gaze to the front of the hall.
There, at the very center, stood an icy-blue throne.
Before the throne, Su Yu stood with his back to the crowd, his hands clasped behind him.
Beside Su Yu were four figures standing respectfully. These four were unfamiliar to the visitors, but the crimson marks on their foreheads and the oppressive aura of Titled Douluo-level strength left everyone deeply shocked.
Those marked with crimson seals were individuals destined to one day break through to the rank of Super Douluo.
Currently, apart from the nine guardians, the Ice Palace only had four Super Douluo.
However, this did not mean that only four people had received top-tier assessments. Within the Ice Palace, there were at least a dozen or more individuals, both from the older and younger generations, who had achieved this highest level of qualification.
The four Titled Douluo standing beside Su Yu were among them.
Each of them had reached level 94, with all possessing a 100,000-year ninth spirit ring.
In terms of power, each of them was on par with or even stronger than Xian Lin'er.
Xu Jiujiu stared at the four for a moment before shifting her gaze to Su Yu himself.
However, the expression of the old woman standing behind her, Man Yi, grew heavy.
Even leaving Shui Lingguang and Lu Yuan aside, any one of these four would be someone she couldn't defeat.
Man Yi sighed inwardly. Ever since entering the Ice God Palace, it seemed that every Titled Douluo she encountered was beyond her ability to handle.
Had she truly grown old?
Unlike Man Yi, Yan Shaozhe's expression was more peculiar.
Even though he was a level 98 Super Douluo, he could clearly discern the potential of these four individuals.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, all four of them would likely become Super Douluo in the future.
Such was the foundation of the Ice God Palace—it was truly enviable.
Thinking about how his academy had lost several Super Douluo, Yan Shaozhe couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.
It was only in comparison that the disparity became so glaring. With its unparalleled strength and resources, the Ice God Palace left him practically drooling with envy.
While Yan Shaozhe and the others were still examining the hall, Su Yu, who had been standing with his back to them, slowly turned around.
He had taken the time to change into an icy-blue robe embroidered with frost patterns, the cuffs adorned with icy sword motifs. A white jade pendant shaped like an ice dragon hung from his waist, exuding an aura of cold elegance and nobility.
Xu Jiujiu stared blankly at this figure, her gaze flickering with emotion.
It had been three years since the conclusion of the All-Continent Elite Soul Master Academy Battle Competition.
In those three years, the once slightly immature youth had grown into someone far more composed and refined.
He stood tall, over 1.85 meters, with sharp, sword-like eyebrows that extended toward his temples. His snow-white hair flowed over his shoulders, and his icy blue eyes sparkled with brilliance—piercing and sharp, as though they could see through one's soul.
His demeanor remained cold and aloof, possessing a pride that set him apart from ordinary men, like a star in the sky or the moon reflected on water—distant and unattainable.
A faintly glowing, icy-blue golden spear-shaped mark on his forehead added an air of sacred majesty to his already noble presence.
Already a strikingly handsome man, he now seemed even more magnetic.
Xu Jiujiu couldn't tear her gaze away after just one glance.
"Greetings, Young Master Su Yu!"
Yan Shaozhe cupped his hands in salute, snapping Xu Jiujiu out of her daze. She quickly followed suit, bowing respectfully and offering her greeting.
"It has been a while. Princess Jiujiu, your grace remains as dazzling as ever, and Pavilion Master Yan is as vigorous as always."
"Please, take your seats."
Su Yu gestured casually to the tables on either side.
Yan Shaozhe and Xu Jiujiu bowed again before taking their seats.
Zhang Lexuan and Ling Luochen hesitated briefly, preparing to stand behind Yan Shaozhe.
Noticing this, Su Yu gave Shui Lingguang a subtle look. Understanding his intentions, Shui Lingguang led the two women to their seats as well.
With his hands still clasped behind him, Su Yu smiled faintly and said, "People rarely visit without reason. May I ask what brings the two of you here today?"
Su Yu wasted no time on formalities, getting straight to the point.
Yan Shaozhe smiled wryly in his heart. Su Yu was still the same Su Yu—he had no patience for unnecessary small talk.
After carefully considering his words, Yan Shaozhe cupped his hands again and said, "We've come today to discuss two matters with Young Master Su Yu."
"Speak." Su Yu gestured for him to continue.
Taking a deep breath, Yan Shaozhe began, "The first matter concerns the Evil Soul Masters."
"To be honest, this may sound laughable to you, Young Master Su Yu. Some time ago, one of our academy's elders, Elder Xuan, accidentally fell into an inner demon and lost control, causing significant destruction."
"Afterward, we failed to keep him contained, and he escaped into the Tian Duan Mountain Range, where he was discovered by the Grand Guardian of your palace."
"At first, we thought the matter would end there. However, his escape eventually drew the attention of two Evil Soul Masters—Dragon Emperor Douluo and Death God Douluo, both of whom are Ultimate Douluo."
"Thankfully, your palace's Ice Emperor intervened in time, averting a disaster."
"And what is it you're trying to say, Pavilion Master Yan?" Su Yu asked calmly.
Yan Shaozhe straightened his posture and spoke with conviction. "The Evil Soul Masters are powerful and arrogant. Now that two Ultimate Douluo have appeared among them, they pose an even greater threat. If we don't act to stop them, countless innocent lives will suffer."
"Therefore, I believe we must establish an alliance—a defensive coalition—so we can better combat the Evil Soul Masters and eradicate them for the sake of the continent."
Narrowing his eyes slightly, Su Yu asked, "So, Pavilion Master Yan, are you suggesting that Shrek Academy form an alliance with our Ice God Palace?"
Yan Shaozhe immediately replied, "Exactly."
At this moment, Xu Jiujiu also spoke up. "Pavilion Master Yan's sentiments echo those of the Star Luo Empire."
"The Evil Soul Masters commit heinous acts, condemned by both heaven and earth, yet their strength is formidable."
"Even with two Ultimate Douluo, neither Shrek Academy nor the Star Luo Empire alone can stand against them."
"In today's world, only the Ice God Palace has the power to suppress them."
"However, Evil Soul Masters are scattered across the continent. Even the Ice God Palace may find it difficult to track them all."
"But the Star Luo Empire governs vast territories and millions of citizens. When it comes to gathering intelligence, we have unique advantages."
"If we work together, the eradication of Evil Soul Masters may soon be within reach."
"On behalf of the people of the continent, I implore Young Master Su Yu to rid the world of this great evil."
Su Yu chuckled softly. "So, Princess Jiujiu, are you trying to morally coerce me into agreeing?"
Xu Jiujiu quickly shook her head. "I wouldn't dare. What I say comes from the heart. An alliance between us would be mutually beneficial."
Su Yu stared at Xu Jiujiu for a long moment, his indifferent gaze exerting an almost unbearable pressure.
Unconsciously, cold sweat began to soak Xu Jiujiu's back.
Her heart trembled. The sheer force of Su Yu's gaze was terrifying—far beyond even her brother's.
Finally, Su Yu withdrew his gaze, a trace of amusement flashing in his eyes.
"So, Shrek Academy wishes to ally with us, and your empire does as well."
"However, the Ice God Palace can only form one alliance. Who do you think we should choose?"
Yan Shaozhe immediately spoke up. "Naturally, an alliance with Shrek Academy would be the better choice."
"The Star Luo Empire's internal situation is complicated, with various duchies and kingdoms vying for power. Even the royal family struggles to maintain order within its borders, let alone deal with the Evil Soul Masters."
"Additionally, the Star Luo Empire must contend with the threat of the Sun Moon Empire, leaving them with little capacity to combat the Evil Soul Masters."
"But Shrek Academy is different."
"Shrek Academy's graduates are spread across the continent, countless in number. Moreover, we are free from the constraints of other powers, allowing us to focus entirely on the fight against the Evil Soul Masters."
"For thousands of years, we have carried out monitoring and enforcement missions with remarkable success."
"An alliance between us would be a true union of strengths."
Yan Shaozhe had just finished speaking when Xu Jiujiu couldn't wait to retort:
"Dean Yan's words are utterly nonsensical."
"Our Star Lou Empire has vast territories and immense national strength."
"Shrek Academy has only a few thousand people. How could they possibly compare to our empire's million-strong army?"
"Moreover, Shrek Academy has suffered significant losses recently. Even if they wanted to face the Evil Soul Masters, I'm afraid they'd be unable to do so."
Yan Shaozhe's gaze sharpened as he stared at Xu Jiujiu, his expression darkening.
What did she mean by Shrek Academy has suffered significant losses?
What did she mean by being unable to face them even if they wanted to?
This little girl was outright provoking him!
Who gave her the courage to speak to this Pavilion Master in such a manner?
If they weren't in the Ice God Palace, Yan Shaozhe might have already lost his temper.
He couldn't afford to offend the Ice God Palace, but a mere Star Lou Empire princess? Did she think she could walk all over him? Did she think Yan Shaozhe was someone to be trifled with?
Yet, despite Yan Shaozhe's displeasure, Xu Jiujiu showed no fear.
Shrek Academy was no longer the Shrek of old.
They were now just a shadow of their former selves. Star Lou Empire had nothing to fear.
No matter how one looked at it, the Star Lou Empire was strong and prosperous. Their Worship Hall was full of experts.
Meanwhile, Shrek Academy was in decline, relying solely on Yan Shaozhe to hold the fort.
Besides, Yan Shaozhe wasn't some invincible Ultimate Douluo or an unbeatable peerless powerhouse.
Could their mighty Star Lou Empire's million-strong army not match up to Shrek Academy?
Even if every soldier spat once, they could drown Yan Shaozhe in his blood.
At this moment, Xu Jiujiu thought confidently: The advantage is on my side.
Yan Shaozhe took a deep breath and said, "Princess Jiujiu, your statement is quite unconvincing."
"Setting other things aside, your empire's most outstanding commander, the White Tiger Duke, has already suffered a major defeat."
"Without the White Tiger Duke, your armies are leaderless. Can they truly unleash their full potential?"
"In my opinion, that seems unlikely."
"Furthermore, when it comes to eliminating Evil Soul Masters, armies are secondary. What truly matters is the number of strong individuals. How many Soul Emperors or higher-ranked experts can your Star Lou Empire produce?"
Xu Jiujiu immediately countered, "Dean Yan, have you ever heard of the Soul Engineer Legion?"
"Even Evil Soul Masters can't withstand a single volley from the Soul Engineer Legion."
"Although our Star Lou Empire may have its shortcomings, soul tools have already been integrated into our army. Eliminating Evil Soul Masters is not a difficult task."
"Dean Yan, times have changed. Don't underestimate the power of the military."
"What's more, the Evil Soul Masters have now formed an organization. We still don't know how many members they have. Can Dean Yan guarantee that Shrek Academy's manpower won't fall short?"
"As for dealing with the top-tier powerhouses among Evil Soul Masters, I admit our Star Lou Empire is lacking. But that's precisely why we are seeking an alliance with the Ice God Palace."
"Doesn't Dean Yan have the same intention?"
"Or are you confident that Shrek Academy alone can handle the top-tier Evil Soul Masters?"
Yan Shaozhe's face turned alternately pale and green, his gaze growing increasingly hostile.
This damned little girl was so sharp-tongued!
If he could truly handle the top-tier Evil Soul Masters, would he even need to approach the Ice God Palace in the first place?
This little girl was simply courting death.
Yan Shaozhe was fuming, utterly silenced by the young girl's relentless arguments.
And then there was Su Yu.
Wasn't this all his plan—to provoke them into arguing while he sat back and enjoyed the show?
Su Yu had a wicked heart.
Yet Su Yu's scheme was laid bare for both Yan Shaozhe and Xu Jiujiu to see, and still, they had no choice but to bicker.
After all, their goals were never pure in the first place. Dealing with the Evil Soul Masters was only a secondary aim. Establishing a close connection with the Ice God Palace was their primary objective.
Naturally, neither of them wanted to see the other party build a relationship with the Ice God Palace.
Disputes and competition were inevitable.
Su Yu, smiling cheerfully, watched their debate unfold. Such a spectacle was a once-in-a-century event.
The Star Lou Empire had grown bold. In the past, they would never have dared to offend Shrek Academy like this.
Ultimately, it all came down to the Supreme Elder of the Holy Spirit Cult. With her immense strength, she had dealt a devastating blow to Shrek Academy.
Now, after suffering repeated setbacks, Shrek Academy no longer held the dominance it once did.
Even a young girl like Xu Jiujiu dared to challenge them.
Xu Jiujiu's relentless arguments left Yan Shaozhe speechless.
Riding the wave of her victory, Xu Jiujiu turned to Su Yu, her beautiful eyes sparkling like stars.
"Young Master Su Yu, what do you think?"
Su Yu took two steps back, sat down on the throne, and crossed his legs.
Leaning lazily against the armrest, he propped up his head with one hand and said indifferently:
"Eliminating Evil Soul Masters is, of course, a duty we cannot shirk."
"But…"
Xu Jiujiu, who had been about to celebrate, froze mid-smile at that single "but," her excitement was quickly replaced by frustration.
She looked at Su Yu, her beautiful eyes filled with grievance.
Unfazed by the beauty's reproachful gaze, Su Yu's expression remained unchanged. Narrowing his starry eyes slightly, he said in a calm voice:
"But our Ice God Palace has never had the habit of forming alliances with any faction."
"We've never done so in the past, and we won't in the future. It's a matter of principle."