On the competition stage.
The previously confident Heaven Dou second team members stood dumbfounded.
"A... All four of them are Soul Ancestors!" The second team captain's lips trembled.
He had considered that Ye Lingling might be a Soul Ancestor.
Two and a half years ago in the first team, Ye Lingling had been approaching Soul Ancestor rank.
After so long, it wasn't impossible for her to have broken through.
But Ye Lingling was just a support-type soul master with negligible combat ability. What difference did it make whether she was a Soul Elder or Soul Ancestor? Aside from slightly stronger healing, she remained combat-ineffective.
If they played their cards right, they could still force Ye Lingling off the stage.
But facing four Soul Ancestors made their scalps tingle.
A four-ring Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda user plus a four-ring Nine Heart Begonia user.
Buffing the remaining two battle-type Soul Ancestors—how were they supposed to fight that?
White mist began spreading across the arena.
The slight chill jolted the second team captain back to awareness.
"Ambush! The enemy's coming!"
Xue Qinghe's reforms over the past two years had improved Heaven Dou Royal Academy's standards, preventing the second team from collapsing immediately like complete incompetents.
"Coral Palm!"
A massive coral-shaped hand descended from above, its shadow darkening the ground as Soul Ancestor-level pressure weighed down.
"Don't underestimate us! We're Heaven Dou Royal Academy!"
A purple soul ring flashed as the captain activated his skill.
His martial soul was two circular rings. With precise control, they arced around the Coral Palm's attack range, striking directly at Yu Hairou in the rear.
"Even if we lose, we'll take a piece of you with us!"
Winning was impossible—what chance did Soul Elders have against four Soul Ancestors?
But as Heaven Dou's representatives, even the second team couldn't lose too disgracefully.
Xue Qinghe wasn't Xue Ye. The late emperor had often turned a blind eye to noble misconduct, but Xue Qinghe was different.
Despite his gentle demeanor, his ascension had been accompanied by purges of numerous noble families. No one dared hold back now.
Risk their families' futures?
Clang!
The glowing rings struck Yu Hairou's body.
Even with spirit power reinforcement, Yu Hairou cried out in pain.
Red marks appeared on her skin, tiny beads of blood welling up.
But the wounds vanished within seconds under visible healing.
"You—"
The captain was slammed to the ground, coughing blood. His struggles to rise proved futile. The rest of his team fared similarly.
Glazed Academy fought with reckless, suicidal aggression.
Heaven Dou Royal Academy had never faced such tactics—some members collapsed after one or two blows, others froze in terror.
In under thirty seconds, all second team members had been thrown from the stage.
As the mist cleared, Glazed Academy stood victorious at center stage.
"Go."
Ye Lingling directed her Nine Heart Begonia outward, scattering petals that emitted healing energy over the defeated opponents.
The match ended so abruptly that most spectators didn't process what happened.
The ice mist from Shui Yue'er's soul skill had also obscured visibility.
Aside from higher-level soul masters who discerned the events, most audience members only saw blurry movements before it was over.
Furious spectators began chanting:
"Refund! Refund!"
The uproar grew deafening.
"We paid to watch a match, not get scammed!"
"Outrageous ticket prices for fifteen seconds of action!"
"Couldn't even see the soul masters properly—over in a blink!"
"Even a Soft Bone Rabbit's tail lasts longer!"
"We want bloodshed! We want wardrobe malfunctions!"
VIP Platform
Ning Fengzhi massaged his temples. "Must Rongrong end matches so quickly? Couldn't let people enjoy the show."
"Your Majesty, we should probably address the crowd's anger."
"Quite troublesome indeed." Xue Qinghe chuckled without commenting on the match itself. "Who's scheduled next?"
"Shrek Academy versus Elephant Armor Academy. Normally tomorrow's match."
Ning Fengzhi calmly reviewed the tournament schedule.
"Shall I suppress them?" The previously silent Ten Thousand Demons Douluo spoke up.
"Ah, no need. I can handle this minor issue."
Xue Qinghe's lip twitched. Letting this man intervene would spell disaster—his "suppression" might become literal.
"Teacher, how about moving tomorrow's match to today?"
"The Clear Sky Sect has craved recognition for ages." Xue Qinghe mused thoughtfully.
"Is that appropriate?" Ning Fengzhi couldn't quite discern Xue Qinghe's intentions.
"Why not?" Xue Qinghe summoned Meng Shenji and Zhi Lin.
"Deans, please inform Shrek Academy and Elephant Armor Academy."
"I wish to reschedule their match for today. As compensation, their VIP lounges will be complimentary through the preliminaries."
These premium lounges with replay functions involved multiple soul tools—masterpieces from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's Soul Tool Pavilion.
Why build such luxurious facilities if not to profit?
"At once, Your Majesty."
The two deans departed for the respective academy lounges.
Shrek Academy Lounge
"What?" Flender exclaimed excitedly. "Free VIP access? Wonderful! Half an hour from now? No problem!"
"Dean Meng Shenji, rest assured—Shrek Academy will deliver a spectacular performance for His Majesty."
Elephant Armor Academy Lounge
The broad-shouldered Elephant Armor Sect Leader Hu Yanzhen frowned at Zhi Lin's message:
"These are His Majesty's direct orders?"
"Yes, Mammoth Douluo." Zhi Lin bowed slightly. The Elephant Armor Sect was formidable—Hu Yanzhen had recently broken through to Title Douluo rank, joining the continent's elite.
Though Title Douluo varied in strength, even rank 91 was a realm beyond Soul Douluo.
"I see..." Hu Yanzhen sighed. "Since it's the Emperor's command, the Elephant Armor Academy will showcase our magnificent prowess."
Noticing Zhi Lin lingering, Hu Yanzhen asked, "Does His Majesty have further instructions?"
"He advises caution. Their team includes three Clear Sky Sect members—not to be underestimated."
"Oh? The world's number one sect?" Hu Yanzhen fell silent.
"I admit the Elephant Armor Sect cannot compare to the Clear Sky Sect or Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan—not even the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."
"But among peers, our Diamond Mammoth martial soul won't lose to the Clear Sky Hammer!"
Thirty minutes later
Both teams stood on the competition stage.
"Is the Clear Sky Sect hiding their strength or just shameless?" Ning Rongrong mused from her VIP lounge, watching through soul tool projections.
"This lineup is practically designed to make their star players shine brighter."