"Oh?"
As soon as Tang San finished speaking, the Shrek Seven Devils swarmed around him as if he were a lifesaver.
"Third Brother, hurry up and tell us! We're in dire straits and about to be eliminated!"
Seeing Tang San still hesitating, wanting to show off a bit before speaking, Ma Hongjun didn't humor him and urged him on.
This caused Tang San to frown slightly, his expression displeased, as he secretly sized up Ma Hongjun.
What was wrong with this Fatty in this life? He had opposed him three or four times, and even made him suffer unprecedented humiliation. He was practically courting death.
But for the sake of the bigger picture, and also to make Fatty quiet down, Tang San took a breath and said, "The competition rules don't say that after we're eliminated, we can't temporarily join other academies as reserve members and re-enter the competition."
"If we lose this time, we'll temporarily withdraw from Shrek Academy and join another Advanced Academy. Even if they find out then, they can't say anything, as we haven't violated any rules."
"But which academy should we go to?"
Dai Mubai blurted out. When they were in Heaven Dou City, they had already offended every team they could. Which team would be blind enough to want them?
"We naturally don't, but don't forget, my teacher and Teacher Liu Erlong are both from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and behind Thunder Academy is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."
Tang San spoke eloquently, then approached Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong, suppressing his internal discomfort, and pleaded, "Grandmaster, I just don't know if you can persuade Thunder Academy to accept us."
When asked this, Yu Xiaogang's eyes gradually became evasive, and he stammered, unsure of what to say.
After all, Thunder Academy was indeed founded by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, but he had now been expelled from the family lineage. If they turned hostile, he would be the one in trouble.
However, he then thought of Liu Erlong and said, "Erlong, your father is my second uncle after all. Why don't you come with me? I believe they will accept our Shrek Academy out of respect for my father and second uncle's Face."
"Okay."
Liu Erlong agreed without thinking, simply following Yu Xiaogang's wishes.
"No!"
Just as everyone agreed, a stern voice reprimanded them. Flender appeared before them with a resolute expression.
He absolutely refused to let the Shrek Seven Devils leave. Would such Shrek Seven Devils still belong to Shrek Academy?
Flender would never allow these people to withdraw from Shrek Academy; otherwise, his Shrek Academy would have almost no students left.
What good would a Shrek Academy that existed only in name be to him?
"Flender, this is not the time for you to act on impulse."
Yu Xiaogang said sharply. He was merciless towards his own people.
"If not, what if Little San and the others lose? What about their future?"
He also muttered to himself, "What about my Grandmaster dream?"
"Then what about my Shrek Academy?"
Flender decided he could no longer tolerate it. If he continued to yield, his Shrek Academy would be gone, and what would be the point of him continuing?
"Flender, Little San and the others are only temporarily joining Thunder Academy. Why are you so agitated? Do you want to ruin Little San and their future just for your own selfish desires?"
Yu Xiaogang continued to press, not believing that Flender, this coward, would dare to oppose him. He immediately chose to continue standing firm.
"Can one competition really ruin Little San and their lives? How old are Little San and the others? They can still participate six years from now."
Flender became increasingly agitated, spitting as he spoke, clearly unleashing the anger he had accumulated over the years.
Just then, Tang San suddenly spoke, "Dean Flender, this competition is really important to us."
A hint of determination flashed in Tang San's eyes. Would the rewards for the next competition be as good? And he also planned to become a god after the competition; what would a small-minded fellow like you understand?
Seeing Tang San undermining him, the already angry Flender felt as if a basin of cold water had been poured over him, and his heart sank halfway.
His figure was somewhat hunched, like an old man in his twilight years.
Finally, Ma Hongjun noticed Flender's emotional distress and directly proposed the method of "borrowing a chicken to lay eggs," which slightly eased Flender's expression.
Helplessly, Flender looked at the current Shrek Seven Devils with a defeated gaze, and said in a faint, weak voice, "Alright, you must remember, you are always people of Shrek Academy."
"We understand, Dean Flender."
The Shrek Seven Devils shouted in unison. In reality, their hearts had long since fallen apart from each other. Due to a lack of strong emotional foundation, the seven people formed three small groups.
After the competition, they would each go home and find their own mothers. Although the seven people couldn't produce two mothers, who cared about reuniting?
"Grandmaster, now it's up to you and Teacher Liu Erlong."
Seeing Flender agree, Tang San also regained his spirits and looked at Yu Xiaogang, secretly marveling at his own wisdom.
He hadn't expected this useless Yu Xiaogang to have such a wonderful use, truly saving him a lot of time.
Not long after, the referee's voice came in.
"Next, please welcome Heaven Dou Royal Team One to battle Shrek Academy."
As soon as the voice fell, the Shrek Seven Devils' expressions instantly turned ugly. Finally, led by Tang San, they slowly walked onto the arena.
However, after seeing their opponents for this match, the Shrek Seven Devils' expressions suddenly brightened.
At the Heaven Dou Royal Team One's position, only one person walked out, standing proudly on the Soul Dueling Stage.
With gray-blue hair and dark-blue pupils, seven spirit rings—five black and two red—appeared on her body, like a female war god.
The Shrek Seven Devils looked from afar and felt a powerful Spirit pressure, their mouths twitching involuntarily. They had never been personally dealt with by Dugu Yan.
"Oh! Heaven Dou Royal Team One actually only has their captain Dugu Yan participating! Could Dugu Yan be planning to solo the Shrek Seven Devils? What incredible confidence!"
The host, seeing that only one person from Heaven Dou Royal Team One had appeared, also shouted enthusiastically.
The surrounding spectators also focused their attention, looking on in unison.
Soloing a team, regardless of the Soul Master Competition, was a rare sight. Witnessing such a grand event now made them feel that their trip was worthwhile.
"How truly arrogant!"
Tang San was infuriated to see Dugu Yan looking down on him so much. In his previous life, Dugu Yan was merely his defeated opponent. When did she become worthy of opposing them?
Thinking this, the Shrek Seven Devils also simultaneously revealed their spirit rings. The only surprising thing was Tang San, who was a Spirit Saint.
But compared to Dugu Yan's spirit ring configuration, his was overshadowed. After all, how could a Spirit Saint with an ordinary spirit ring configuration compare to a Spirit Saint with five black and two red spirit rings?
It was simply the difference between a human and an animal; there was no comparison.