The next day, the Continental Elite Soul Master Grand Competition continued in full swing.
On this day, Ning Rongrong and the others calmly watched the matches from their exclusive resting area.
Meanwhile, in Shrek Academy's resting room.
Tang Xiao, the Golden Iron Triangle, and others were discussing their plans.
"Xiao San, tomorrow's match will likely be the most difficult one in all the preliminaries, right? The participating team members have already been finalized—do you have anything to add?"
Tang Xiao turned his gaze to Tang San, wanting to hear his nephew's opinion.
"With Uncle, Grandmaster, and the other deans and teachers handling the planning, I have no objections to this lineup. However..." A trace of worry flickered across Tang San's brow. "Uncle, don't you think something's strange?"
"Dugu Yan's strength surpassing Shui Bing'er is inevitable, but the fact that Ning Rongrong is the captain of Glazed Academy's team—isn't that odd?"
"Moreover, their team leader and academy dean have basically never appeared on the competition grounds, let alone discussed strategies."
Of course, it was possible that the plans had been discussed in advance. But for the team leader to not show up during matches—no matter how you thought about it, it was strange!
"Didn't we already discuss this before?"
Grandmaster stroked his chin and explained, "Xiao San, you're overthinking things. Ning Rongrong has innate full soul power and possesses a domain that accelerates the formation of Spirit Fusion Skills. That alone solidifies her position as the captain of Glazed Academy's team."
"As for Dugu Yan joining the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, she is, after all, an outsider. Ning Fengzhi wanting his daughter to shine in the team and achieve good results isn't impossible."
"Perhaps he even intends to rename the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan."
In truth, after Ning Rongrong used the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, many teams noticed that the small pagoda emblem on Glazed Academy's uniforms wasn't the seven-story Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda but the nine-story Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
"That may be true," Tang San said tentatively. "But do you think there's a possibility that Ning Rongrong is actually the strongest in Glazed Academy's team—even stronger than Dugu Yan?"
"How could that be?" Before Tang Xiao and the other teachers could refute, Tang Long stepped forward and clapped Tang San on the shoulder a few times, making him grimace.
"Tang San, are you saying someone around your age could reach your level?"
"That's pure fantasy."
"Your spirit underwent a second awakening, and you passed the trials of Slaughter City. Think about it—how could the pampered young mistress of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, a support-type Soul Master, possibly be the strongest?"
"Did she start cultivating from the womb? Even then, it wouldn't be possible!"
Support-type Soul Masters were universally acknowledged to have slower cultivation speeds.
The girl named Xue Ke didn't count—she was practically armed to the teeth, lacking only an external spirit bone. Tang Long suspected her strength was artificially boosted by all those spirit bones.
"Ah, I still think we should be careful." Tang San couldn't come up with a counterargument, but he remembered what his father, Tang Hao, had told him before leaving Slaughter City—that the young master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was no simple figure.
He might not believe others, but he had to believe his own father.
Speaking of which...
Tang San looked up at Tang Xiao and asked, "Uncle, is my father really going to be alright?"
"Xiao San, just focus on the competition."
"Your father's talent far surpasses mine—he's just been slacking these past years." Tang Xiao seemed to recall past events and sighed. "The ancestor said that by the time the Soul Master Grand Competition ends, Hao should be reborn from the flames."
"As for your mother..." Tang Xiao sighed again. "Honestly, we still don't know for sure whether her spirit bone was taken by Spirit Hall."
"No, it must have been Spirit Hall!"
At the mention of his mother, Ah Yin, Tang San's face twisted with fury.
"Only the inherently evil Spirit Hall would cling to Mother's spirit bone like that."
"This hatred—I, Tang San, will never forget it for all eternity!"
Seeing Tang San's emotions spiraling, Tang Xiao sharply cut him off.
"Don't let your emotions cloud your judgment. It'll only hinder you." Tang Xiao sighed helplessly. He really shouldn't have brought up Ah Yin. Even after more than a month of cleansing, the aftereffects of Slaughter City hadn't completely faded.
It would likely take even longer to fully dissipate.
After being reprimanded, Tang San realized his own issue and clenched his fists tightly.
A gentleman's revenge is ten years not too late!
He took a deep breath. "Sorry, I got too worked up."
"Good, just remember this." Tang Xiao nodded. "You have a team you can trust behind you—they're your guides to success. Work hard!"
"The Continental Soul Master Grand Competition will be the best experience in your growth."
"Back then, your father and I..."
"Ah, never mind. They're just old stories—no point bringing them up now."
"Anyway, rest well today and prepare for tomorrow's match." After speaking, Tang Xiao glanced at the other Shrek Academy students. Under his gaze, they all nodded—especially Dai Mubai:
"Don't worry, if the opponents are girls, I won't make it too painful for them. I'm a gentleman, after all."
"As expected of Boss Dai! A true veteran of the battlefield, unlike me—I only know how to charge recklessly."
"Stop sucking up." Dai Mubai dodged Ma Hongjun's hand as it came down on his shoulder. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Zhu Zhuqing standing silently not far away.
"Zhuqing, don't worry, I was just—"
"What you do has nothing to do with me. Our Spirit Fusion Skill exists solely to defeat Zhu Zhuyun and the others." Zhu Zhuqing's expression remained indifferent.
"Zhuqing, you know I—"
"I saw all the absurd things you did in Slaughter City. I don't care about you, so don't bother me. The reason our Spirit Fusion Skill works isn't because our hearts are connected—it's because it was destined to succeed."
Zhu Zhuqing's words left Dai Mubai baffled.
His face darkened, but with so many people around, he couldn't afford to openly clash with his fiancée.
Still, he made a mental note—she'd pay for this later.
The teachers of Shrek Academy were long used to the bizarre dynamics among the team members after their time in Slaughter City.
Especially between Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing—somehow, despite having zero emotional connection, they could still perform a Spirit Fusion Skill. It was absurd.
But since this involved the Star Luo Imperial Family's internal affairs, the Shrek teachers couldn't interfere.
After a chaotic day passed, the long-awaited second day arrived.
The match between Shrek Academy and Glazed Academy was even scheduled as the first event of the day, highlighting its importance.
As members from both teams slowly walked onto the stage, thunderous cheers erupted from the audience.
Shrek Academy Team:
Tang San, Tang Long, Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, Ma Hongjun, Oscar.
Glazed Academy Team:
Ning Rongrong, Dugu Yan, Shui Bing'er, Shui Yue'er, Ye Lingling, Yu Hairou, Gu Qingbo.