The sun hung high above the Great Spirit Arena as the opening ceremonies faded, replaced by the real reason the crowds had gathered—the preliminary matches. One by one, teams were called onto the battlefield, their names announced by the officiators, banners fluttering in the wind.
Max, Mu Qing, and Lan Xue sat quietly in the shaded upper stands, blending in with the sea of Spirit Masters, merchants, and nobility. Their plain traveler's attire, coupled with Max's carefully masked aura, ensured they were just three more faces among thousands.
But their eyes missed nothing.
Max's gaze swept the arena floor as the familiar, unmistakable sight of Shrek Academy finally appeared.
"Ah… there they are," Mu Qing muttered under her breath, arms crossed, the corner of her mouth twitching in irritation.
Down below, dressed in those garish, overly bright green uniforms, the Shrek team entered with their usual air of quiet confidence. Their appearance drew a mix of curious glances, whispers, and faint sneers from the surrounding teams.
For all their power, it was hard to look threatening when you resembled a walking vegetable patch.
"There's Tang San," Lan Xue pointed out casually, eyes sharp as they lingered on the blue-haired young man at the group's center.
Max hummed in acknowledgment, golden eyes narrowing ever so slightly as he examined the group.
Tang San, Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Ma Hongjun, Ning Rongrong, Oscar—each of them stood as expected, sharp-eyed, battle-hardened despite their young age.
"They've improved," Mu Qing admitted grudgingly, though her fingers flexed at her side as if itching for a fight.
"They had to," Max replied calmly, watching Tang San with a faint smirk. "After last time… I doubt Tang San sleeps easy without plotting his next dozen hidden weapons."
Lan Xue giggled quietly.
As the preliminaries began, teams were called up at random to face off in short, high-paced battles. Spirit skills flashed. Martial Spirits roared. Some matches were over in seconds, others dragged into drawn-out brawls.
They watched as Thunderclap Academy crushed a weaker opponent with ease. Elephant Armored Academy's brute strength overwhelmed another. Ghidorah Academy's silver-clad team stepped into the ring and—true to their reputation—obliterated their opponents with terrifying precision, their unique Spirit combinations leaving the crowd murmuring.
Max sipped his tea lazily, never taking his eyes off the ring.
Then came Shrek's turn.
The crowd leaned forward, eager whispers filling the air. Despite their ridiculous uniforms, rumors of Shrek Academy's strength had spread like wildfire.
Their opponents? A mid-tier noble academy—respectable, but clearly outclassed.
As expected, the match was over quickly.
Tang San's control, Dai Mubai's raw power, Zhu Zhuqing's speed—it was clinical, efficient, and brutal in its simplicity. The crowd cheered. Spirit Masters nodded in approval.
Mu Qing huffed beside Max, unimpressed. "Show-offs."
Max only smiled faintly, his gaze thoughtful. "They'll do well. But pride comes before the fall."
Lan Xue tilted her head, curious. "Are we going to intervene?"
"We're not even participating. How do you plan to intervene?" Max asked with a roll of his eyes as she pouted, puffing her cheeks slightly.
Seeing her expression, Max shook his head, a faint smile curling at his lips. "Then how about… we join the next academy that's going to fight them?" he offered casually.
Both Lan Xue's and Mu Qing's eyes lit up at the suggestion. After all, all three of them were below the age of 25 — well within the eligibility for this Spirit Master Tournament. And with their current strength and hidden potential, slipping into another academy's team would be as easy as breathing.
Especially for Max, whose influence and hidden network had quietly expanded over the last two years.
Not to mention, after two years of traveling together, Max hadn't been idle. His companions, Lan Xue and Mu Qing, had both benefited significantly from his resources and guidance.
Lan Xue's Lightning Rabbit Martial Spirit had evolved into the Celestial Lightning Rabbit, now considered a super top-grade Martial Spirit — just half a level below the elusive god-grade category. Its speed, agility, and lightning abilities had reached terrifying new heights.
Mu Qing's Sky Poison Ivy had similarly transformed into Heavenbane Ivy, its toxins now so potent that, if properly administered, even a Titled Douluo could meet their end without realizing what had struck them.
With that level of power hidden beneath their seemingly ordinary appearances, joining any academy's team would be a simple matter.
Max leaned back, golden eyes watching the next match begin in the arena below. His fingers tapped lightly against the wooden railing as his mind worked through the possibilities.
"Alright then," Max said, rising from his seat. "Let's find ourselves a team."
Lan Xue grinned brightly, practically bouncing in excitement. Mu Qing cracked her knuckles, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Finally… I've been waiting for this," Mu Qing muttered, her voice low and filled with restrained eagerness.
The three slipped away from the stands, melting into the crowd.
The trio moved swiftly through the crowded streets, their steps light but purposeful as they headed toward the designated resting quarters of Barak Academy — one of the strong contenders in the tournament, known for their solid combat foundation and military-style discipline.
Max had done his research. Barak Academy's current team wasn't particularly impressive compared to monsters like Shrek, but they weren't pushovers either. More importantly, they had room for… improvement.
And with Max's identity hidden under the name Feng, a 19-year-old Spirit Ancestor with the Twilight Scepter, it was the perfect opening.
When they arrived, they found the Barak Academy team in the middle of training.
The so-called "Captain" of the squad, a fiery-tempered young man with short red hair, was leading drills. His name was Zhao Hai, only 16 years old, already a Level 35 Spirit Elder, his Martial Spirit — the Flame Sword, a classic, aggressive close-combat spirit.
Talented? Yes.
Impressive? Somewhat.
Compared to Max? Laughable.
It didn't take long for their arrival to spark attention. A few students whispered, eyeing Lan Xue and Mu Qing, while others watched Max with guarded curiosity.
"We're looking for your team instructor," Max stated calmly, his golden eyes locking onto Zhao Hai.
***
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