The second round of the round-robin tournament began, with Shrek Academy once again scheduled for the opening match.
Everyone arrived at the competition grounds. Star Luo Plaza was still packed to capacity. Up in the imperial viewing tower, Emperor Xu Jiawei arrived as promised, waiting for Shrek Academy's match to begin.
Inside the waiting area, the group sat relaxed on the sofas, waiting for Beibei to draw their opponent.
For today's match, Wang Yan and the seven reserve team members had made thorough preparations. Before the match, Xu Sanshi had even boldly claimed that they didn't need Zhu Ziyang and the other three core members to take the field — the reserve team alone could win.
The draw was announced: Shrek Academy vs Thousand Spirits Academy — Team Battle!
Wang Yan let out a sigh of relief. Compared to individual or paired matches, a team battle would give the reserve team their best chance to perform while also keeping some of their abilities hidden.
Still… after this match, the aura of mystery and intimidation that Huo Yuhao had built up would likely fade. Wang Yan felt a bit conflicted about this, but it was also a kind of opportunity. After all, with Huo Yuhao acting all mysterious beforehand, when Zhu Ziyang finally appeared, it would cause an even more shocking and unexpected effect.
"Beibei, Yuhao — it's up to you two now. Good luck!" Wang Yan shook off his thoughts and spoke solemnly.
"Don't worry, Teacher Wang. With Beibei and me here, there's no problem at all!" Xu Sanshi slung his arm around Beibei's shoulder, beaming with confidence.
"That's right, Teacher Wang. Just wait for our good news!" Beibei added.
"I believe in you!" Wang Yan nodded. "Go!"
The seven reserve team members headed to the stage, leaving Wang Yan and the three core team members — including Zhu Ziyang — behind in the rest area.
"I mean, if they're not going to need us, why are we even here? Just to cheer them on?" Ma Xiaotao grumbled, clearly dissatisfied.
"Sister Xiaotao, do you want to fight that badly?" Zhu Ziyang laughed. "I didn't know you had such a strong urge to perform."
"Ugh! I just want to fight! Watching all these academy battles for days has made me itch to jump in!" Ma Xiaotao's eyes were filled with burning desire.
"Xiaotao, don't be impatient," Wang Yan said helplessly. "You were part of the reserve team last year. You know what I'm trying to do. These weaker teams aren't worth the core members' time. Letting the reserve team get some experience and feel the pressure of the tournament — that's part of their mission."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. Stop lecturing me!" Ma Xiaotao waved her hand dismissively. "I'm just complaining a little. What, I can't even do that?"
"Fine, fine." Wang Yan gave a resigned smile. "Don't worry. When we face Righteous Heaven Academy next, I'll arrange for you to go up. In the round-robin stage, they're the only team worth sending our core members against."
"You better keep your word!" Ma Xiaotao's face lit up with excitement.
While they chatted, Beibei led the reserve team onto the stage. The moment Huo Yuhao appeared, the crowd erupted with deafening cheers. Just how many people had come just to witness this youth rumored to have five hundred-thousand-year soul rings? No one could say for sure, but one thing was certain — they were all going to be disappointed today.
"Brother, it's that Huo Yuhao!" In the Sun Moon Academy's rest area, Meng Hongchen pointed at Huo Yuhao and called out to Xiao Hongchen.
"Yeah, I see him!" Xiao Hongchen nodded, eyes locked onto Huo Yuhao. "Let's see if he's real or just a fake."
It wasn't just the Sun Moon Academy. Other top-tier academies like Dou Spirit Empire's Dou Spirit Academy, Star Luo Empire's Star Luo Academy, and Heaven Soul Empire's Di'ao Academy were all watching closely. In the first match, everything happened too suddenly — no one had the chance to thoroughly examine Huo Yuhao. This time, they wouldn't miss the chance.
If Shrek Academy truly had a twelve-year-old prodigy with five hundred-thousand-year soul rings, then the four royal academies — and the powers behind them — would be in deep trouble.
A talent like that? If he couldn't be used, he had to be destroyed.
Everyone was ready. As soon as Huo Yuhao revealed his soul rings, they would launch their highest-level contingency plans.
But they were destined for disappointment. Shrek had already decided to fold that card. Huo Yuhao's secret was no longer in play.
Onstage, both teams took formation.
Thousand Spirits Academy adopted a 4-1-2 formation — four shield-bearing Soul Ancestors in front, their team captain and Soul King Shen Ce in the center, and two control-type Soul Ancestors at the rear. This was their strongest formation: Four Shields Unite as Iron Fortress, Ice and Fire Dual Control Thousand-Piercing Spear.
Shrek's formation, on the other hand, looked bizarre. Beibei stood in front, flanked by Tang Ya and He Caitou. Behind Tang Ya stood Wang Dong, and behind He Caitou was Xiao Xiao. Huo Yuhao took the rearmost position, while Xu Sanshi stood dead center.
This strange arrangement left the audience — and Thousand Spirits Academy — scratching their heads. There was just too little information about Beibei, Huo Yuhao, and the others. Most didn't even realize that Xu Sanshi was a defense-type soul master.
This lineup was built around one idea: catch them completely off guard.
Once the referee signaled the start, both sides released their martial souls. Thousand Spirits Academy's front four deployed their shields, steady as mountains. In the center, Shen Ce wielded a glowing spear. Behind him, the ice-type soul master An Lengye and fire-type Fei Yuyan summoned an ice bear and a flaming tiger.
It was a textbook-perfect formation — but all eyes were still on Shrek.
Beibei, Tang Ya, He Caitou, and Xu Sanshi revealed standard Soul Ancestor ring combinations — impressive, but not shocking. They looked young, so no one suspected they were core team members. But when the remaining three revealed their rings, the audience was stunned.
Wang Dong: One yellow, two purple rings — a Soul Elder at his age!?
Xiao Xiao: Two yellow rings — a Soul Grandmaster?
And Huo Yuhao — the legendary genius with five hundred-thousand-year soul rings — now had only two white rings!?
This gap was too massive!
The audience felt completely cheated. Other academies felt mocked.
As for the Thousand Spirits team, they were furious. Shen Ce was just about to lash out when a faint black glow enveloped him. He froze — and in the blink of an eye, he was standing inside Shrek's formation.
Everyone froze. Shen Ce had no idea how he had suddenly appeared in the enemy camp. His teammates were even more confused — why had their powerful captain suddenly turned into a grinning, cigar-chomping blackened weirdo?
While the others gawked, Shrek had already sprung the trap. As Shen Ce swapped places with Xu Sanshi, every member of Shrek unleashed their full firepower on him: Beibei's third skill, Wang Dong's third skill, He Caitou's soul tools, Tang Ya's first skill, Xiao Xiao's soul skill — everything slammed into him at once.
With no time to defend, Shen Ce was instantly knocked out. And with him gone, Thousand Spirits Academy's entire formation collapsed.
Their remaining six — four defense-type and two control-type — had little offensive power. They couldn't even get past Xu Sanshi, let alone turn the tide. After Shen Ce was down, Beibei, He Caitou, and Wang Dong quickly pressed the attack. The outcome was never in doubt.
Without their main attacker, Thousand Spirits crumbled. The Shrek reserve team secured another flawless win.
The battle ended like a firecracker doused in water — loud at the start, then nothing. The audience was still dazed when the Shrek team left the stage. Then someone shouted… and the entire arena exploded in outrage.
Boos. Jeers. Angry yelling. It was chaos.
"Well… that was certainly unexpected." Emperor Xu Jiawei forced a dry laugh, unable to find any proper words. All he could do was sigh.
(End of Chapter)
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