Chapter 39: Reserve Team Selection — Secure Second, Strive for First
Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, a week had gone by.
At the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, inside the Soul Fighting Arena, the atmosphere was electric.
Because this concerned the selection for the Continentals Advanced Soul Master Tournament, the entire teaching department had been summoned.
After several days of preliminary elimination, thirty students had finally been chosen for the decisive battles. The final stage would be carried out through a combination of individual duels and 3v3 team battles, each carrying equal weight in the final evaluation. Students were free to choose their own teammates for the 3v3 matches, and scores from both formats would be combined.
In the end, a maximum of seven students would be selected to join the reserve team and follow the official squad to the grand tournament.
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"Ah, what a fine day. Even the air feels fresher."
Xiao Hongchen stood lazily at the center of the arena, stretching with satisfaction. Beside him were the calm-faced Huo Yuhao and his embarrassed younger sister, Meng Hongchen.
"Yuhao, later you just open your Spiritual Detection Sharing and watch me perform. This time, we're going to enter the reserve team with nothing less than a flawless record."
Huo Yuhao smiled faintly, while Meng Hongchen stuck out her pink tongue in annoyance.
"Arrogant fool! There are plenty of powerful sixth-year students competing this time. If you keep showing off, you'll just make us a target for everyone else."
"Tch. Since when did you start sounding like Yuhao, being so cautious? Don't forget, we're Soul Kings—both Level 5 Soul Engineers too. Even if the other twenty-seven finalists joined forces, they still wouldn't be able to withstand our Martial Soul Fusion Skill. What's there to fear?"
Meng Hongchen promptly smacked her brother on the back of the head.
"Idiot! I'm not worried about you; I'm worried about Yuhao! Don't you know there are several sixth-year students with Level 5 Soul Engineer strength?"
Xiao Hongchen gave an awkward laugh. All right, all right—before the battles even began, his own sister's loyalties were already tilting toward an outsider. How was he supposed to live with that?
Huo Yuhao simply raised a hand to quiet them. Already, countless gazes were fixed in their direction.
After all, these three weren't just anyone. Two of them were the Empire's brightest Soul Engineer prodigies, and the other had become the most talked-about genius in the entire Academy. They were already seen as rivals and obstacles by many, and being so high-profile before the matches even began would only make things more difficult.
"Don't worry about me," Yuhao said calmly. "Even if I face those with Level 5 Soul Engineer strength, I can handle it."
He glanced at the Hongchen siblings with a faint smile. "The real question is whether the two of you can keep up."
Meng Hongchen grinned brightly, while Xiao Hongchen clenched his fists, fighting spirit blazing.
"Relax, Yuhao. As long as we get through the singles battles, the three of us together will sweep the 3v3 rounds. You focus on your part—we'll do the rest."
Yuhao suppressed the urge to smack him. Xiao Hongchen, you really have guts. His gaze shifted upward to the stands.
There, standing together, were Teaching Department Director Lin Jiayi, the homeroom teachers of each grade whose students had advanced, and even the usually overworked Dean Jing Hongchen himself. All of them were watching the thirty finalists below with keen eyes.
Also present were the seven students already confirmed as official team members: Captain Ma Rulong, along with Lin Xi, Xiao Xiafeng, Mika, Chen Fei, Li Yan, and Chen An. Leading them was their instructor, Elder Ma.
Some teachers and official team members whispered among themselves.
"Tsk tsk… who would've thought that this year, even a first-year student would make it into the finals? Shocking."
"Shi Xuan's class produced such a prodigy. He's bound to be heavily promoted next year. Truly enviable."
"Not even twelve years old, already a Level 3 Soul Engineer, and widely hailed across the Empire as the number one genius. I can't wait to see that child's performance."
The official team members, however, had mixed reactions.
Captain Ma Rulong looked toward the Hongchen siblings' side with a faint smirk.
"Tell me, why is that kid only competing in the reserve selection? With his ability, he should already qualify for the official team."
Lin Xi shrugged.
"Captain, even though the Academy has equipped you with a powerful trump card, our overall goal remains the same: secure second place, but aim for first. See that boy with the ice-blue hair? That's Huo Yuhao—a peerless talent, one I can't help but admire. I believe the Academy's real strategy is to prepare him for the next tournament in Mingdu, where the Empire will host. That's when we'll take the championship."
Indeed, while Xiao Hongchen could already stand among the main team, he was still only at Soul King level, a Level 5 Soul Engineer. Strong, yes, but not enough to change the outcome against Shrek Academy. It was still too soon. But five years from now? When Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, and Huo Yuhao had all fully matured, competing on their home ground in Mingdu—that would be the moment to seize the crown and erase the Empire's humiliation.
If not for the current age restriction of under twenty years old, instead of the old twenty-five, the Hongchen siblings and Huo Yuhao could have dominated not one, but two consecutive tournaments.
They were in no rush. Time was on their side.
Mika slung an arm around Lin Xi's shoulder and clicked his tongue.
"Even so, this year we must go all out. We'll fight with everything we have and strive for the championship. Shrek Academy calls itself neutral, yet they've hogged the glory for far too long. What right do they have?"
Ma Rulong and the others nodded solemnly. At that moment, Elder Ma spoke up.
"Enough. Shrek's strength isn't what it used to be, but its foundation is still deep. When the time comes, be careful in the tournament. The championship is only an external honor. Your safety comes first. Some of those old foxes may very well strike with killing intent."
Elder Ma thought far ahead. After all, the tournament would be held on foreign soil. If things escalated, given Shrek's usual arrogance, who knew what underhanded tactics they might pull? Culture or not, one still needed to be wary.
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Back in the arena, Director Lin Jiayi stepped forward, hands clasped behind his back. His voice boomed across the field.
"Silence!"
"I trust you all know what this selection means. I won't waste words. You have only one task: fight with all your strength! In the end, only seven of you will remain. I wish you luck!"
The referee then entered to announce the rules.
In addition to the individual and 3v3 battles, there were strict prohibitions: no killing blows, no using soul guidance devices more than two ranks above your own level, and no soul power recovery items such as soul power milk bottles.
As for Shrek's "Great Chaotic Melee"? Forget it. The Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy was not so brain-dead. What could be learned from a ruleless brawl where people could kill at will? Nothing of value.
Unlike Shrek, they had no Sea God's protection to ensure that the last seven standing were truly elites. Right, isn't that so, "smartest man alive"—Chicken Leg Douluo, Elder Xuan of the Holy Spirit Cult?
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(End of Chapter)