After a brief period of treatment, the injuries of the Shrek Academy members had stabilized, though Tang San had fallen unconscious once again. Yu Xiaogang and the others had no choice but to carry Tang San and the rest out of the arena with the help of the reserve team members.
Whoosh—
As the Shrek Academy team left the arena, the audience erupted into a frenzy of cheers. Some hurled insults at Shrek, others were in awe of Li Xun's strength, but most were filled with anticipation for whether the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy could claim the championship.
Ning Rongrong, seeing this, led Zhu Zhuqing into the arena with a skip in their step. Following closely behind them were Dugu Yan and the other members of the Heavenly Dou Team.
Although it was Li Xun alone who had defeated Shrek in this team battle, they too felt a sense of pride.
"Brother, I always wondered why you didn't join the team training. Now I see, you've become so powerful!" Ning Rongrong rushed forward and wrapped her arms around Li Xun's, pressing her entire face against it.
"Took you long enough to notice!" Li Xun chuckled, giving Ning Rongrong a light flick on the forehead.
If it had been in the past, Ning Rongrong would have immediately fought back, but today she just giggled and rubbed her head.
Zhu Zhuqing, seeing Ning Rongrong's fawning behavior, smiled and circled around Li Xun to inspect him. "Are you hurt? Any injuries?"
"Zhu Zhuqing is always the thoughtful one, unlike some heartless people." Feeling the warmth of Zhu Zhuqing's concern, Li Xun's heart softened. He raised their hands together to acknowledge the cheering crowd.
In front of so many people, such an intimate gesture made Zhu Zhuqing's ears turn red. She shot Li Xun a glare before lowering her head, as if trying to bury it in her chest.
"Who says I don't care about you? The moment I saw you, I noticed your clothes were the same as when you entered the arena. It's obvious you weren't hurt. Why even ask?" Ning Rongrong forced a smile for the audience while pinching Li Xun's waist with her other hand.
"Ouch! I'm sorry, Rongrong. Don't make a scene, there are tens of thousands of people watching," Li Xun whispered through a strained smile directed at the crowd.
This rare victory over Li Xun since childhood made Ning Rongrong's eyes light up. Her smile was impossible to contain, though she tried to mask it with a stern tone. "Hmph! Since you've admitted your mistake, I'll let you off this time."
"Thank you, Miss Rongrong!"
Dugu Yan and the others had by now gathered around Li Xun and burst into laughter upon hearing this.
"Well, well! I never knew Rongrong had such a shining moment!" Dugu Yan teased, looking at Ning Rongrong with a smirk.
Ning Rongrong, who had been basking in her joy, wrinkled her delicate nose. "Hmph! None of your business!"
"Yan-jie, Rongrong is finally happy for once. Don't ruin it for her," Zhu Zhuqing, standing on the other side of Li Xun, leaned over and smiled at Dugu Yan.
"Zhu Zhuqing! Even you're joining in to laugh at me!" Ning Rongrong immediately let go of Li Xun and lunged at the two of them, arms flailing.
"Brother Li, I feel like we can just sit back and let you carry us to victory in this Soul Master Competition," Yang Qianjun said, leading Shi Mo and Shi Feng to Li Xun's side while avoiding the trio of Zhu Zhuqing and the others.
"Yeah! You're so strong. I think we'll just stay at the back and protect Rongrong from now on," Shi Mo and Shi Feng nodded vigorously.
"Haha, if you think I'm that strong, why don't you join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School?" Li Xun laughed.
Hearing this, Shi Mo and Shi Feng rubbed their hands together eagerly. "We'll definitely join. We're just waiting for you to lead us to victory!"
"Since you two have joined, I'll leave the upcoming preliminary matches to you," Li Xun stretched lazily, waving to the three girls before turning to Yang Qianjun and the Shi brothers, Shi Mo and Shi Feng. "I don't want to tire myself out."
Li Xun's words left Yang Qianjun and the Shi brothers momentarily stunned. "Are you saying we'll handle the preliminary matches on our own?"
"Aren't the experts supposed to make their appearance last? Besides the strong teams, it's up to you."
"Now, I declare the winner of the first round of the preliminary matches—Heavenly Dou Royal Academy!"
As Li Xun and his team exited the stage, Qian Renxue, with a smile, dismissed the referee and stepped up to the spirit amplification device to announce the result.
She had indeed not misjudged him. Li Xun's talent now far exceeded her initial expectations. Not only had his strength grown rapidly, but he had also handled some administrative matters with remarkable efficiency, truly boosting her reputation.
Hmph! The so-called Golden Generation. She had heard that Bibidong had even prepared suitable Soul Bones specifically for them. Qian Renxue sneered coldly.
Unfortunately, all the plans you've laid out for them are about to fall apart.
Qian Renxue glanced at the three girls chatting and laughing with Li Xun below, her brow slightly raised.
Li Xun was excellent in every aspect, but his love life seemed a bit too complicated…
"Heavenly Dou! Heavenly Dou! Heavenly Dou!"
Just as Qian Renxue's thoughts began to wander, the 80,000 spectators in the stands suddenly erupted in a unified chant.
Qian Renxue was momentarily startled, then quickly shook off her scattered thoughts. Whatever.
Watching the 80,000-plus crowd below respond with cheers, she couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion. This was a feeling Qian Renxue had never experienced before. In the Spirit Hall, she was the Young Master; in the Heaven Dou Empire, she was the Crown Prince. Neither identity had ever granted her such overwhelming adoration and status.
Was this what true power felt like?
Qian Renxue listened to the deafening roar around her, slowly closing her eyes. Only when she truly experienced the feeling of being a real monarch did she realize that everything she had done before was nothing more than child's play.
And today, this was just a mere 80,000 people—a drop in the ocean compared to the entire Heaven Dou Empire, let alone the entire continent.
If the Spirit Hall were to unify the continent, what a magnificent sight that would be. The faith of the Angel Clan would shine with unparalleled brilliance.
At this thought, Qian Renxue suddenly opened her eyes, a faint glow flickering in their depths.
"Hmm? What's going on?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo narrowed his eyes as he watched Qian Renxue's back. He felt that her aura had undergone a subtle change since just moments ago.
From the calm and slightly sharp aura earlier, it had suddenly become broader and more profound. He had only felt this kind of heaviness from Pope Bibidong before.
However, Bibidong's aura was the opposite of Qian Renxue's. The Pope's was heavy yet filled with an endless, dark coldness, like a beast ready to pounce and devour at any moment.
This was one of the reasons they all feared Bibidong.
Chrysanthemum Douluo frowned in thought for a moment, then turned his gaze to the cheering crowd below, his confusion gradually clearing.
...…
The Shrek Academy team, like a group of defeated soldiers, walked through the wide passageway toward the exit.
In the preliminary rounds of the Soul Master Elite Competition, each team only had to compete once a day. After such a crushing defeat today, there was no need for them to stay here any longer.
Staying here would only invite either sympathy or endless mockery from others—neither of which Shrek Academy was willing to accept.
"Well, well, well! Isn't this the undefeated champion?"
As expected, a slightly provocative voice rang out in the ears of the Shrek Academy team.
(End of Chapter)