After the end of the first match, the Shrek Academy team left Star Luo Plaza immediately. Yet the shock and awe they left behind lingered long after their departure.
"Who was that boy? Why have I never heard of him before? Investigate him—his name, his background—I don't care what it takes!"
Xu Jiawei's voice was resolute as he watched the Shrek Academy group walk away until they vanished from view. He turned and barked the order at his chief minister.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" the minister replied swiftly, fully understanding the Emperor's agitation.
Due to Shrek Academy's abrupt exit after their match, the entire tournament was paused for several minutes. Their departure had drawn away the attention of every spectator, leaving only one thought behind: reverence.
So this is Shrek Academy... the number one academy in the world—mythic, untouchable. Their strength was nothing short of godlike.
The ones most shaken were the students from the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy. Their expressions were grim, especially Xiao Hongchen, who usually carried an air of arrogance. Now, his face was pale and tense, his fists clenched tightly.
Their instructors, Elder Ma and another teacher, wore similarly dark expressions. Though they, too, had been shocked, they were sharp enough to sense something off. They didn't want to believe what they'd seen. No—more than that, they refused to believe it. They were convinced Shrek Academy had pulled off some kind of trick.
After exchanging glances, they made a decision: they would activate their agents and investigate that young man's identity at any cost. As for the girl who had dealt the finishing blow, they weren't as concerned—though powerful, her strength was within a tolerable range. But the boy was another matter entirely.
At the Star Sovereign Hotel, inside Shrek Academy's suite, everyone was in high spirits thanks to their successful advancement to the second stage of the tournament.
"First of all, congratulations! We've made it through the elimination round. You've earned a proper two-day break," said Wang Yan with a smile.
"Woohoo!"
Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya both cheered, and the others couldn't help but smile as well.
"I won't ramble too much," Wang Yan continued with a grin. "Once the second stage begins, we'll regroup to work out our battle strategies. Alright, that's it for now—dismissed!"
"I'm going back to recover. I'll try to be ready for the next match," said Ma Xiaotao, standing up immediately.
"No need to push yourself, Xiaotao-jie," said Zhu Ziyang kindly. "With all of us here, even if you don't fight in the second round, we'll manage."
"Pfft, please. I came here to compete, not to be a spectator!" Ma Xiaotao laughed, swearing playfully. "Alright, enough chatter. I'm off."
Once Ma Xiaotao had left, only Zhu Ziyang, Jiang Nannan, and the seven pre-selection team members remained. They were all similar in age, which made their atmosphere relaxed and easygoing.
"Ahhh, I'm so glad we passed the elimination round," sighed Xiao Xiao, her youthful face lighting up with genuine relief. "I was so worried these past few days."
"Right? If we hadn't even made it into the main tournament, we'd have gone down in history as the disgrace of Shrek Academy," Wang Dong added. "Shrek's worst result in the academy's history was probably second place."
"Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, I've got to scold you both!" said Tang Ya with mock indignation. "How could you have so little faith in our Nan Nan? Did you not see that epic flying kick she pulled off today?"
She grinned teasingly and hugged Jiang Nannan's arm. "If Nan Nan were a guy, I'd have fallen for her on the spot!"
"Well then," Jiang Nannan smirked, pulling her arm free and wrapping it around Tang Ya's waist. "Guess I'm claiming you as my bride now!"
The room burst into laughter.
"Sigh!" said Bei Bei, putting on a solemn face. "Looks like I need to learn a flying kick soul skill too—or one day our Tang Sect Sect Master might get stolen away."
"Mhm, Senior Brother Bei Bei is right!" said Huo Yuhao, joining in with a grin.
"What?! Is that really how you all see me?" Tang Ya cried, mock heartbroken. She gave them a dramatic, wounded look.
But then the final blow came: aside from Zhu Ziyang, Jiang Nannan, Xu Sanshi, and He Caitou, everyone else nodded in agreement.
"Ahhh! Nan Nan, what do I do? Bei Bei's stealing all my authority! The Tang Sect is going to be ruled by a power-hungry minister!" Tang Ya clung to Jiang Nannan, pretending to cry.
"Teacher Tang," Xiao Xiao said with a mischievous grin, "why don't you just hand over the sect master position to Senior Brother Bei Bei and become the Grand Elder instead? Yuhao, Wang Dong, and I will carry the torch and **restore the Tang Sect to glory! Roar!" She even flexed her tiny arms like a bodybuilder.
Her adorable antics sent the entire room into fits of laughter. Xu Sanshi and He Caitou, the classic instigators, even began chanting "Bei Bei for Sect Master!" and "Down with the old regime!" as if staging a mock rebellion. The meeting room filled with warmth and joy.
After their cheerful banter, everyone gradually returned to their rooms to rest.
But Zhu Ziyang didn't go to sleep immediately. Sitting on the edge of his bed, he stared into space, lost in thought.
"That place… I hope it has what I'm looking for."
His eyes glinted with a strange, unreadable light.
Time passed quickly.
On the evening of the tournament's third day, Wang Yan called everyone together for another strategy meeting.
"I have some good news," he announced. "Elder Lin is on his way, and thanks to help from the inner court elders, Gongyang Mo and Ling Luocheng have almost fully recovered. They'll be joining us soon."
"That really is good news!" The group smiled, their spirits lifted.
"But there's also bad news," Wang Yan continued seriously. "Our opponents this year are very strong. Even the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy took ten minutes to win their match. Many other teams only advanced after intense, bloody battles. This year's competition is no joke."
"Xiaotao, how's your condition?" he asked.
"I've fully recovered. I can definitely fight!" Ma Xiaotao replied confidently, looking energized.
"Excellent! That gives us three core fighters—makes planning a lot easier," Wang Yan said, clearly relieved. Then he turned to Bei Bei and the six reserve team members.
"But don't relax. Until Gongyang Mo and Ling Luocheng arrive, you'll still need to step up. Don't think you're off the hook."
"Yes!" Bei Bei and the others responded firmly.
"For better strategic planning," Wang Yan continued, "Bei Bei, Tang Ya, Xu Sanshi, and He Caitou—I need a detailed breakdown of your martial spirits and soul skills."
The four didn't hesitate. In front of trusted comrades and teammates, they shared everything openly. After all, these were the people they'd go into battle with—people they'd trust with their lives.
And what surprised everyone the most… was He Caitou.
This quiet, unassuming student turned out to be a food-type soul master, with a shocking soul power of level 44! At his age, that kind of strength meant he had to have been born with at least innate level 7 soul power. For someone from a rare support class like his, that made him a true genius, no weaker than Ma Xiaotao had been before her martial spirit evolved.
But what intrigued Zhu Ziyang even more was He Caitou's martial spirit—a cigar.
That's right, a cigar, an extremely rare martial spirit unique to the Sun Moon Empire. Even within the empire, spirits like that were exceedingly scarce.
Does that mean He Caitou has Sun Moon blood in his veins?
No wonder his talent with soul tools was so extraordinary.
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