"Teacher, you're not coming with us?"
Heaven Dou City, atop a high tower, the Heaven Dou team chattered about the tournament. Only Ye Lingling came up quietly to ask.
"Of course I'm going—just in the spectators' area." Su Wen smiled.
Lately, having gotten familiar with Ditian, he asked him to keep an eye on the Dark Devilgod Tiger. The latter wasn't stupid, and likely figured out some of the truth. In Su Wen's eyes, Ditian would be in a Poké Ball eventually—even in the original, he was calm and steady, so Su Wen hadn't hidden much.
"I'll do my best," Ye Lingling promised.
"Mmm..." Su Wen was a bit surprised, but smiled and nodded. "Of course I believe in you all."
"After all, you're my personally trained elite troops!"
"W-well..." Behind her black veil, no one could see Ye Lingling blush.
"So lively today!" Dugu Yan came over giggling.
Centering around the city's Grand Spirit Arena, countless people were flooding in—a dense black mass.
The Heaven Dou Royal Team entered with the other teams.
…
"The preliminary matches are set by royal draw..." The judge explained respectfully to Su Wen, who had come in person.
Most teachers hadn't seen Su Wen before—and he wasn't in any academy uniform—so they all glanced at him curiously, except Grandmaster, who squeezed into the crowd, face full of disdain, eager to see the draw and leave.
"What's the result?" Su Wen smiled.
"Heaven Dou Royal Team One will face... Shrek Academy," the judge announced.
Upon hearing that—
Grandmaster snorted, even hinting at excitement in his eyes.
The prelims were group battles, and if San crippled Dugu Yan, plus Yu Tianheng, the team would have a massive edge. Old enemies meeting, if they could get through this round, Shrek would really enter the spotlight.
He too could prove himself and become a renowned master.
"We'll see soon enough..."
He cast a cold glance at Su Wen and left quickly.
…
In the audience stands.
At the very heart of the area—
A young man in white robes appeared, looking youthful. Judging by his attire, nobody could tell which power he belonged to, but the warmth shown by both the Heaven Dou Emperor and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's master Ning Fengzhi revealed his extraordinary status.
Some sharp-eyed onlookers even noticed the Spirit Hall Platinum Pontiff, Salas, was a bit pale, unable to hide his terror toward this man.
This drew even more onlookers.
"Elder Su, I heard the Royal Team appears in the preliminaries?" Ning Fengzhi smiled, pretending not to know Su Wen well.
"Yes," Su Wen replied with a smile.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty. This team is sure to sweep its way into the finals. This year's Heaven Dou team will be something special," Ning Fengzhi remarked.
"Oh? Hahaha..."
The Heaven Dou Emperor laughed heartily.
…
On the field.
With everyone watching—
The Heaven Dou Royal Team entered. Hometown advantage drew wild cheers from the locals.
While Shrek Academy was, as usual, roasted for their uniforms and other issues.
"Brothers! Now's our time to hold our heads up high!" Tang San looked around, eyes full of determination.
"Crush them! Let the Emperor see if it was right or wrong to drive us out of the Royal Academy!"
"Charge!"
Everyone put their hands together, eyes blazing with fighting spirit.
Know your enemy to win every battle.
Teacher Qin Ming had already revealed the weaknesses of all six opponents, even their habits—they'd planned thoroughly this time.
"A bunch of losers,"
As the two teams entered, Dai Mubai swaggered to the front, glaring at the other side's seven members, then sneering.
"We trashed you last time, we'll do it again this time!"
His gaze especially lingered on Zhu Zhuqing. He resolved not to go easy on her—
If she betrayed him, he wouldn't hold back.
"Boss Dai, gonna show the girls some mercy?" Ma Hongjun grinned and sidled closer.
"No need!" Dai Mubai replied stiffly.
"Hehe, then I'll cut loose."
Yu Tianheng swept his eyes over everyone, face cold: "For the sake of old times, I'll make your defeat less painful."
"Hahahahaha..."
But his words only made Osler and Yu Feng burst out laughing.
"Yu Tianheng, you traitor, don't talk crap. You're just a Soul Ancestor, not a Soul King—what big talk!"
As soon as the teams lined up, the atmosphere turned icy.
Hatred burned on both sides.
"The match begins..."
As the referee spoke,
Yu Tianheng and the others all entered Spirit Possession—the dazzling line-up boasted one Soul Ancestor (four rings) and the rest were Soul Elders (three rings), causing quite a stir.
Even students from other teams looked over.
"Sis, what's up with this Shrek Academy? Never heard of them before," asked a girl with dark green hair and a cute face.
"No idea..." her pale-blue-haired, delicately featured sister shook her head, aloof as an iceberg.
"But that's the Royal Team they're fighting," Shui Yue'er observed with interest.
"Looks like there's a grudge match in progress..."
…
"Get lost!" Huo Wu glared furiously at Feng Xiaotian nearby, yelling.
He only smiled awkwardly, rubbing his hands, changing the topic: "Xiao Wu, look—the match is starting..."
"Hmph!" Huo Wu rolled her eyes.
"Bro, can't you get rid of him? So annoying."
"Just watch." The handsome young man beside her, who looked much like her, replied coolly.
"Oh..."
…
"That's it?"
Dugu Yan scoffed.
"Reveal your Spirits!"
"Roar!"
The Shi brothers roared, two Black Tortoise phantom forms appearing behind them. Where they'd once been an earth element brown, they were now entirely dark green. Behind them, a subtle new snake had appeared.
Black Tortoise Turtle, Xuanwu.
Just one word different, but worlds apart.
Yu Feng's Wind Bell Bird had changed too—now exuding a razor-sharp aura. With Osler's Black Leopard, earth and sky clashed, both like unsheathed blades.
Shrek's team members were especially shocked by Zhu Zhuqing's transformation: in just a few days, both her strength and Spirit had changed dramatically!
Such a foundational evolution—how could a Martial Spirit itself change?!
What had that man done?
Their discontent toward Grandmaster only brewed hotter—a sharp contrast with what had happened recently. Even if they stood with Grandmaster, they couldn't ignore reality any longer.
Was he wrong all along?