As Dai Mubai unleashed the Nether White Tiger Transformation, far beyond the power of the White Tiger Vajra Transformation—
With just a straight punch, Oslo was instantly sent flying.
But only moments later, the flung Oslo slowly dissolved into an afterimage, vanishing before Dai Mubai's eyes.
"It was a fake!"
By the time Dai Mubai realized the truth, Oslo had already pressed his claws against Ma Hongjun's neck.
And immediately after, countless yellow gales descended from the sky.
The endless yellow winds left Dai Mubai powerless to protect Oscar. He could only shut his eyes tight and summon the White Tiger Protective Barrier before him, a shield of light to guard himself.
But the Wind Manipulation's yellow gusts were too overwhelming. The golden glow of Dai Mubai's shield was blown apart in an instant.
The violent wind even pierced into Dai Mubai's body, pressing against him with suffocating force.
"Ugh!"
Suddenly, Dai Mubai's eyes widened as a mouthful of blood sprayed out.
The intense pain left him unable to maintain his transformation.
By the time Dai Mubai reacted, Oscar behind him had already been easily subdued by Zhu Zhuqing.
This battle was clearly a crushing defeat for Shrek.
Had the Emperor Team not recruited Zhu Zhuqing, Yu Feng and Oslo would have still defeated the Shrek members in no time.
At the root, the gap in soul power and combat experience between the two sides was simply too vast.
Aside from Dai Mubai showing some resistance, Oscar and Ma Hongjun were nothing but moving targets.
"Emperor Team wins!"
With Qin Ming announcing the result, Flender's previously excited mood instantly turned cold.
Yu Xiaogang only now grasped what had just happened.
The fight had ended in a blink.
Yu Xiaogang cursed inwardly—how could Dai Mubai fail to properly protect Oscar and Ma Hongjun?
And Ma Hongjun's combat experience was appallingly poor.
He had the nerve to be distracted on the stage!
As the match ended, Yu Feng and Oslo flashed to Qin Ming's side.
"Dean Flender, you've seen it yourself. Your Shrek team cannot join our Emperor Team."
Hearing Qin Ming's words, Flender grew anxious.
"Qin Ming, give us another chance! You should have seen Hongjun's potential too!"
Flender panicked—joining the Emperor Team was Ma Hongjun's only hope of recovery.
If they went to Blue Tyrant Academy instead, what future would Ma Hongjun have?
"Dean Flender, it's not that I won't give you a chance, but don't you think your Shrek team's combat experience is ridiculously poor?"
"I was originally very interested in your Seven-in-One Fusion Skill, yet with only three members left, you didn't even manage to use it."
"In two years' time at the Grand Competition, what then? Should the enemy just wait around on the stage for half the day until you're ready to use it?"
Qin Ming's words left Flender speechless. But for Ma Hongjun's future, Flender pressed on.
"Qin Ming, Hongjun and the others are still young. Once they reach Yu Feng and the others' age, their strength will surely be greater. Can't they compete again seven years later?"
What Flender said wasn't wrong.
Qin Ming also recognized their talent and potential. But with Xiao Lin and his five companions already there, Qin Ming felt no need for Ma Hongjun and the rest.
"The Emperor Team won't lack members seven years from now. Even just pulling in two extras will suffice."
As he spoke, Qin Ming swept his gaze over Shrek's younger students.
Aside from Zhu Zhuqing, whom he favored, only Oscar, the innate full-soul-power food-type spirit master, was suitable.
Seeing Qin Ming's scrutinizing look, Flender's heart sank.
He couldn't understand why Qin Ming rated Zhu Zhuqing higher.
Oscar, with innate full soul power, indeed had qualifications. But what did Zhu Zhuqing have that made her better than Hongjun?
"Qin Ming, if you say you're short two people, aren't Hongjun and Oscar the most suitable?"
For Ma Hongjun's future, Flender quickly pressed.
"Forget it. I still think this junior Zhu Zhuqing is the better choice."
Qin Ming shook his head, unwilling to continue the topic.
He had the authority to let Ma Hongjun join, but as a teacher of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, he had to consider the academy's interests.
Recruiting someone who would consume enormous resources just to heal his evil fire was clearly a poor bargain.
As for Zhu Zhuqing, Qin Ming knew something of her.
Rumor had it she was the first girl to perform extreme absorption of a spirit ring after Master Xiao Yan's paper was published.
Despite low innate soul power, she trained diligently, continually pushing herself to absorb higher rings. Compared to Ma Hongjun, who had started with innate level 9, she was no worse.
Wasn't that even better?
"Qin Ming, have you truly forgotten Shrek's teachings?"
Hearing Qin Ming's answer, Flender felt both disappointed and compelled to ask.
To not even open this small back door—what had all those years of his cultivation amounted to?
His heart chilled, and his words nearly burst forth.
But before he could continue, Qin Ming's expression darkened.
"Dean Flender, I've always respected you, but for you to say such things…"
Though Flender hadn't spoken his thoughts aloud, Qin Ming wasn't a fool. He caught the implication.
Anger welled up inside him, his Fiery Wolf spirit flickering in and out.
The near-extreme heat forced Flender and the others to retreat a few steps, staring in shock at Qin Ming.
"Dean Flender, do you think I don't know what Shrek Academy really is?"
"You think all my achievements came from your academy's training?"
"I had many classmates, even juniors. Why did they all vanish without a trace later?"
"I saw with my own eyes many of them fall ill from Soul Duel matches. What did you do then?"
"Flender, you profited from those duel wagers—did you ever spend that money to treat them?"
"The only reason I'm still speaking politely now is out of respect for teachers like Zhao Wuji."
"They were the ones who took me to hunt spirit rings. I am grateful for that."
"But before graduation, were my spirit rings' years that high? Were their qualities that good?"
"I became the second youngest Soul Emperor in history—wasn't that because I later chose higher-quality rings myself?"
"If not for the earlier rings being too weak, my fifth ring should have been a ten-thousand-year ring."
"If not for Master Xiao Yan's theories five years ago, I would still be following Yu Xiaogang's worthless theories in choosing rings."
Qin Ming showed no mercy now, unleashing the aura of someone near the Soul Sage level.
From soul power alone, he was no weaker than some true Soul Sages.
Staring at Qin Ming's fury, Flender was stunned, then shouted angrily:
"Rebellion! Qin Ming, we are your teachers!"
"Not anymore."
Qin Ming said coldly, glancing at Flender before turning to Zhao Wuji and the others.
"Teacher Zhao Wuji, Teacher Shao Xin, Teacher Li Yusong, Teacher Lu Qibin—this matter has nothing to do with you."
"Oscar, Zhu Zhuqing—if you are willing to become substitutes for the Emperor Team, I welcome you."
Then, Qin Ming continued coldly toward Flender and Yu Xiaogang:
"As for you two, if you leave now, it's not too late. The Emperor Team does not welcome you."
(End of chapter)