Douluo Dalu 3 - Qiang Ming's Journey

The soft rumble of the Soul Train beneath his feet was almost therapeutic.

Qiang Ming sat casually in one of the train's carriages, opposite Wu Zhangkong, the two of them halfway through a card game. Most of the other members of the Shrek Delegation were scattered nearby, either watching or engaged in quiet conversation. The sun was high in the sky, bathing the countryside beyond the windows in golden light. The seats were plush, the food served onboard was surprisingly good, and—for once—life was calm.

For a while, at least.

Qiang Ming yawned lazily and turned his head to look out the wide window beside him. His golden-purple eyes narrowed.

In the distance—still a speck but growing fast—he saw the unmistakable outlines of several mechas streaking across the horizon. Sleek. Heavy. Fast.

Their armor was painted green, with a jagged skull insignia emblazoned across their chassis.

Qiang Ming's eyes snapped wide. His body moved on instinct, shooting up from his seat with such force that the small table between him and Wu Zhangkong groaned and nearly broke from the sudden jolt. The icy teacher raised an eyebrow, already sensing something was wrong.

But Qiang Ming didn't wait.

"Enemy attack! A large force of mechas is approaching the train!"

His voice rang not through the carriage, but inside the minds of every person onboard. A wide-range mental message.

Panic was instantaneous. The civilians began to stir with frightened whispers, but well-trained conductors and military personnel rushed to take control. Soul Masters from both Shrek and the Star Luo military began standing from their seats and preparing for battle. Pressure filled the air.

From a private carriage at the front of the train, Elder Cai's soul power surged like a silver tidal wave. The atmosphere grew heavy as the Hyper Douluo rose from her meditation, already commanding the train's defense forces into position.

Qiang Ming didn't waste time. With his Blackstone Abyss Hammer in hand, he leapt up and emerged through a ceiling hatch onto the roof of the train, the wind immediately whipping through his long purple-golden hair. His Third Eye opened, casting a bloody glow across the speeding landscape.

Wu Zhangkong appeared beside him only moments later, blade drawn, his own aura like a frozen glacier.

Other Soul Masters and fighters followed, forming a defensive line along the roof of the train. Tension crackled in the air.

"Two minutes," Qiang Ming said grimly. "Maybe less."

Dozens of mechas sped toward the train, black smoke and fire trailing behind them. Their designs were military-grade—fast, reinforced, armed. A dark green wave of steel death.

But before they could enter artillery range, salvation came.

From the opposite side of the valley, the Star Luo Empire's military mechas descended in full force. Larger. Sleeker. Cleaner. Within moments, a skirmish broke out in the skies above the train, the sky itself trembling with blasts of light and sonic explosions.

Laser fire rained down. Explosions bloomed like deadly flowers.

And just as quickly as the chaos had come… it ended.

The dark green mechas, identifying themselves now clearly as a Dark Soul Master Mecha Battalion, realized their ambush had failed. Facing overwhelming firepower and tactical superiority, they executed a rapid retreat, vanishing into the distance like shadows in the sun.

Qiang Ming exhaled deeply, lowering his hammer. Around him, others did the same. The battle had been averted—but just barely.

Everyone returned to their places inside the train. The once quiet ride had been shattered by a brush with disaster, and though no one said it aloud, the tension lingered like a bruise.

Still, the rest of the journey passed without incident.

Eventually, the Soul Train pulled into the Star Luo Capital Station, its chrome frame gleaming in the morning light. The capital itself—Star Luo City—unfurled around them like a tapestry of wealth and tradition.

As a show of apology for the security failure, the Star Luo government had arranged for the Douluo Delegation to be housed in a massive, luxurious hotel near the center of the city. The rooms were opulent. The food exquisite. The bathhouses divine.

After a filling dinner and a short rest, Qiang Ming received a message from Elder Cai requesting his presence in the hotel lobby. Naturally, he complied.

Arriving at the grand lounge, he found the rest of the Shrek group already assembled—Elder Cai, Wu Zhangkong, and the full lineup of Tang Wulin's team: Gu Yue, Xie Xie, Xu Xiaoyan, Yue Zhengyu, Yuanen Yehui, Xu Lizhi, and Ye Xinglan.

Elder Cai sat in an ornate armchair, her posture regal and commanding. Her gaze swept over them all.

"Now that you're all here, I'll make this brief," she said. "Each of you has been selected to participate in the Continental Young Elites Tournament, hosted here in Star Luo City. The format includes 1v1s, 2v2s, and team battles. The winners of this tournament may very well earn the title of this generation's Shrek Seven Monsters."

The room went still.

"What if I don't want to compete?" Gu Yue asked flatly, arms crossed.

That sparked a bit of chaos—Tang Wulin immediately stepped in to calm her, promising to partner with her in the 2v2s, while the rest of the group tried to smooth over the mood.

Qiang Ming stood apart from it all, silent and composed.

He wasn't part of their little dance. He wasn't fighting for a position among the Seven Monsters. He had already gone far beyond.

After the rest had filed out, he lingered behind, catching Elder Cai's gaze.

"What about me?" he asked.

She stared at him for a long moment, then her soul power fluctuated subtly, wrapping them in a soundproof barrier.

"A title doesn't mean much to you anymore. You're already Inner Court. I can't threaten your future, and I doubt you care about prize money or fame." She leaned back slightly. "But this is your chance. To prove that your master made the right choice in naming you his heir. And more importantly—your chance to remind the Star Luo Federation why Shrek stands at the pinnacle."

Qiang Ming's eyes narrowed.

"Elaborate."

"They created a so-called 'Monster Academy' here, a direct imitation of Shrek. While we publicly remain neutral… their ambitions are clear. They want to take our place. And so, the Pavilion asks you to show them why they're still number two."

Qiang Ming raised an eyebrow.

"Isn't that the opposite of diplomacy? You want me to embarrass them on their own soil?"

"Just don't kill anyone and there won't be a problem."

A smirk tugged at Qiang Ming's lips.

"Understood. I'll break them."

With that, he turned and left the room.

Elder Cai remained seated for a while, sipping from her porcelain teacup. After a few moments, she glanced to the chair beside her and spoke to the empty air.

"This might be a problem. You may need to intervene."

"Don't worry about it," a calm voice answered.

From the shadows, a dark-haired man in a deep green Shrek uniform emerged as if from nothing, settling into the chair beside her.

"Last time you said that, you disappeared for two years with one of my best students," she replied coldly.

"Don't. Worry. About it." the man repeated, smiling slightly before vanishing into the ether once more.

Elder Cai sighed and shook her head.

"Damn old man and his cryptic ways…"

She rose, still grumbling, and headed toward her quarters.