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"This morning, you will have three teams of seven players each competing in the individual elimination rounds. The last remaining team will take the lead and advance directly to the championship match tomorrow. The two losing teams will compete for the other final spot in the afternoon. Now, you may send your first player into the ring."
After announcing the rules, Bibi Dong sat down on the throne. Golden Crocodile Douluo and the others also took seats on both sides of her, their eyes all cast towards the arena in the center of the square.
Due to Xuan Ming's existence, the Spirit Hall has kept even the final championship reward secret at this moment, which has aroused everyone's curiosity even more.
"In the first match, Shrek Academy will face Spirit Hall Academy. Both teams, please send out your first player." The referee announced loudly.
The individual elimination tournament format means each team must send out seven players to take turns competing until all seven players on one side are defeated. This not only tests individual strength, but also tests the team's deployment and sustained combat capabilities.
On the side of the Spirit Hall Academy team, Xie Yue took the lead and stepped out, appearing in the center of the arena in a flash.
As the captain of the team, he was the first to appear on the field, obviously wanting to win the first victory with thunderous momentum and boost morale.
At Shrek Academy, Yu Xiaogang frowned.
Facing a strong enemy like Xie Yue, it is extremely difficult to send anyone into battle.
Moreover, in terms of individual strength and overall strength, Shrek Academy is inferior to these two strong teams.
The only way to have even a glimmer of hope of winning...
"We're giving up the individual elimination rounds."
Yu Xiaogang's voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard throughout the square that had suddenly become quiet, with a determination that was almost humiliating.
In an instant, all eyes were focused on the people from Shrek Academy.
Surprise, confusion, ridicule, contempt...all kinds of emotions intertwined in the air.
"Give up?" The referee was stunned.
"Shrek Academy, are you sure you want to give up the individual elimination round? This means you will directly enter the loser's bracket finals this afternoon to compete for another spot in the finals."
"We are sure." Yu Xiaogang had no expression on his face and his voice was dry.
Flanders beside him had a pale face, and Liu Erlong clenched his fists, his eyes full of unwillingness, but he did not refute in the end.
Tang San, Dai Mubai and the others also lowered their heads, clenched their fists, and their nails almost dug into their palms.
The humiliation of retreating without a fight burned their pride like fire.
There was an uproar in the stands.
"Just give up?"
"Isn't this too cowardly?"
"Knowing you can't win, why not just save your strength for a fight this afternoon? That's smart."
"Hehe, even if we win the loser's bracket this afternoon, we'll still get decimated in the finals tomorrow. What difference does it make?"
"At least I can struggle a little longer and get second place?"
Various discussions were heard without any concealment.
On the side of the Spirit Hall Academy team, Xie Yue snorted coldly and retracted his steps, with an undisguised look of contempt on his face.
Yan sneered, "Trash is trash. He doesn't even have the courage to fight."
On the Royal Fighting Team's side, Xiao Wu's eyes widened in disbelief: "They... just gave up like that? This..."
Ning Rongrong shook her head: "It's not giving up, it's choosing."
"They have no chance of winning the individual elimination rounds. Whether facing us or the Spirit Hall Academy, their seven members will be defeated one by one, and they might even be injured, losing their chance to compete for the second spot in the afternoon. Giving up directly, while humiliating, does preserve their full combat power for the afternoon match."
"Besides, when two tigers fight, one is bound to be injured. No matter what the result of this elimination match, both of our teams will inevitably suffer injuries. The losing team will face the peak Shrek team in the afternoon. This will undoubtedly greatly increase their chances of reaching the finals."
Dugu Yan curled her lips and said, "So what if I make it to the finals? I'll still get beaten up."
On the high platform, Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo Chenxin looked at each other and shook their heads slightly.
They could naturally see Shrek's helplessness, but this kind of cowardly behavior before the battle was ultimately inferior, especially when it happened to Tang San, who was highly expected, which was bound to make people a little disappointed.
Ning Fengzhi sighed inwardly. Yu Xiaogang's strategy sometimes pursued the optimal solution in theory too much, but ignored the sharpness that a soul master should have.
"Since Shrek Academy has chosen to give up the individual elimination round," the referee announced loudly, breaking the whispers in the audience.
"Then, the morning's individual elimination match will be between the Royal Fighting Team and the Spirit Hall Academy Team!"
"The winner will directly advance to the championship finals tomorrow, and the loser will compete against Shrek Academy in the loser's bracket finals this afternoon to compete for the other final spot!"
"Please, Royal Fighting Team and Spirit Hall Academy Team, send out your first members!"
Everyone's attention was immediately drawn to the upcoming showdown between the two strongest teams.
Shrek Academy silently retreated to the edge of the square, as if it were a forgotten corner, enduring those gazes, whether obvious or subtle, waiting for the battle in the afternoon that would determine whether they could struggle to enter the finals.
At this moment, it seems that their good luck can only be continued in this frustrating way.
"The Spirit Hall Academy team also forgoes the individual elimination round."
A cold voice with a hint of unique charm sounded, not from the team leader, but from Hu Liena of the Spirit Hall team.
As soon as she said this, the entire square in front of the Pope's Palace fell into deathly silence.
If Shrek Academy's giving up was surprising and despised, then the Spirit Hall Academy team's giving up was completely beyond everyone's comprehension!
Countless eyes instantly focused on Hu Liena, full of disbelief.
Even the members of the Spirit Hall Academy team, Xie Yue, Yan and others, had expressions of surprise and confusion on their faces. They suddenly looked up at Hu Liena, and then subconsciously looked at the Pope on the throne.
Bibi Dong was still sitting upright, her face shrouded in golden light, making it impossible to see her expression clearly, but she neither spoke out to stop it nor expressed anything, as if she tacitly agreed to Hu Liena's declaration.
The referee stood on the stage, speechless for a long time.
The final of this competition was extremely weird.
Finally, he could only swallow hard and loudly announce, his voice a little erratic: "Since... both the Shrek Academy and Spirit Hall Academy teams have given up the individual elimination rounds... according to the rules, the Royal Fighting Team wins directly and advances to tomorrow's championship finals!"
"In the afternoon, the Shrek Academy team will compete against the Spirit Hall Academy team in the loser's bracket finals. The winner will receive another spot in the finals!"
As the referee's announcement fell, the eerie silence in the square was broken by all kinds of suppressed discussions.
Everyone's eyes flickered back and forth with complicated expressions between the Royal Fighter who advanced directly, the Spirit Hall who voluntarily gave up, and the Shrek who was forced to be "abandoned".
Yu Xiaogang stood stiffly, the muscles on his face twitching slightly.
The composure he had managed to maintain by coming up with the "optimal solution" was completely shattered at this moment, leaving only disbelief and a hint of embarrassment at having his plan seen through.
He had planned everything.
In the individual elimination round, the two strongest teams, Huang Dou and Wuhun Hall, will compete with each other. No matter who wins or loses, it will inevitably be a brutal war of attrition.
The winner will advance to the finals, but will also be severely damaged and may even suffer a loss of players.
The loser will have to face the well-rested and fully intact Shrek in the afternoon, tired and injured.
This is the only ray of hope he can get for Shrek to enter the finals - while the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman gains.
He had even figured out how to deploy his troops and how to use Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer and Oscar's recovery sausage to fight for a spot in the finals when facing the exhausted Spirit Hall team in the afternoon.
But...the Spirit Hall actually gave up?!
How dare they? How could they?!
They are the biggest favorites to win the championship and are the face of the Spirit Hall!
Don't they have any shame? Don't they fear being laughed at by the world?
"Nana, why?"
After walking down the square, Xie Yue couldn't help but ask.
They haven't seen Xuan Ming since he left Wuhun City. Although they have often heard news about him over the years, they have always wanted to experience Xuan Ming's strength for themselves.
Now this knockout match is the best opportunity!
Even if they are not opponents, how can they, as the face of the Spirit Hall, just give up?
"This is what the teacher meant." Hu Liena said softly.
"Your Holiness the Pope?" Xie Yue was stunned.
"Why?"
"For the afternoon competition, I will be the only one on stage," said Hu Liena.
"Rest well and prepare for tomorrow's game."
In the afternoon, the sun was still scorching, but it seemed unable to dispel the solemn atmosphere in the square in front of the Pope's Palace.
After the two strange consecutive withdrawals in the morning, everyone's curiosity was piqued to the extreme.
Everyone from Shrek Academy had already stood on one side of the arena, and everyone's expression was extremely solemn.
Yu Xiaogang frowned and repeatedly reminded the tactical officers, but the uneasiness deep in his eyes was hard to conceal.
The Spirit Hall's voluntary abandonment disrupted all his plans.
Now, it all depends on whether this final seven-in-one fusion skill can gain the upper hand.
Tang San stood at the front of the team, his eyes calm, but his clenched fists showed his inner restlessness.
He knew that the battle in the afternoon would be countless times more difficult than expected.
At this moment, a figure slowly walked out from the direction of the Spirit Hall Academy team.
It was Hu Liena.
She was still wearing the white team uniform that outlined her slim figure, and her beautiful face had a hint of laziness and indifference, as if what was about to take place was not a crucial match to determine a place in the finals, but an insignificant game.
She walked onto the wide stage alone and stood opposite the Shrek team.
"What? She's the only one there?"
"This is completely disregarding Shrek!"
The stands were in an uproar, with exclamations and questions rising one after another.
Even the Royal Fighting Team showed a look of astonishment.
"She's alone?" Dugu Yan looked at Xuan Ming in disbelief.
Even if the strength of other members of the Shrek team is average, Tang San, Dai Mubai, and Yu Tianheng, these three main players are extraordinary!
At least she didn't have the ability to face the siege of these people alone.
Xuan Ming's eyes flickered slightly, "More than enough."
The referee was also stunned for a moment, then confirmed, "Spirit Hall Academy team, you...are only sending one person?"
Hu Liena nodded slightly, her eyes sweeping across at the Shrek team facing a formidable enemy. Her red lips parted slightly, her voice tinged with seductive charm: "I alone am enough to deal with you."
"Arrogant!" Dai Mubai roared, anger burning in his evil eyes.
Being looked down upon by a woman like this is the greatest insult to them!
Tang San's heart suddenly sank, and a feeling of extreme danger instantly enveloped him.
He subconsciously shouted, "Everyone be careful! Stay calm!"
However, it was too late.
Hu Liena didn't give them any time to react or arrange their tactics.
On her body, two yellow, two purple and one black, five soul rings with the best ratio rose up instantly, especially the pitch-black ten thousand year soul ring, which emitted a heart-pounding fluctuation.
But all of this was nothing compared to the shadow that quietly emerged behind her.
It was no longer the form of her previous fox spirit, but a giant fox that was more noble, more mysterious, and more charming to all living beings!
Its entire body seemed to be shrouded in a hazy halo, with nine huge fox tail shadows swaying gently behind it, and every hair seemed to be sparkling with a dreamy luster. Its pair of fox eyes were as deep as the starry sky, as if they could devour people's souls.
It is the evolved top-level martial soul - the Nine-tailed Sky Fox!