Chapter 79 Pre-Match Mobilization.
Upon hearing Wang Yan's explanation, Huo Yuhao, Bei Bei, and the others' expressions became noticeably serious.
"Bang!" Wu Xuan slammed his hand on the table, drawing the attention of everyone listening to Wang Yan's tactical instructions.
Wu Xuan stared intently at Wang Yan, his voice calm: "Teacher Wang, let me and the reserve team handle the first elimination match. Let Sister Xiao Tao and Senior Yue Heng recover properly. It's just one match; it's not worth forcing them to fight and damage their foundations."
Wang Yan's eyes widened. "You're being too frivolous! The first match is an elimination match. If we lose, not only will Shrek Academy's reputation be ruined, but none of us can bear that responsibility. Besides, Xiao Tao and the others aren't seriously injured." Seeing Wu Xuan's unwavering gaze, Wang Yan's voice trailed off.
"Junior Brother Wu! Teacher Wang's arrangement is indeed the safest," Dai Yue Heng advised.
"Yes! For the honor of the academy, we are willing to pay the price," Ma Xiao Tao echoed.
"Shut up! I said no, and that's final." Wu Xuan glared at the two.
"Teacher Wang, you can be sure, I can tell you clearly, I have a trump card. Even if all seven opponents are Soul Kings, and Shrek Academy only has me fighting, they still won't be a match for me. Is that enough?" After saying that, Wu Xuan scanned the entire room, stood up, and slammed the door shut as he left. Xiao Xiao quickly chased after him.
"Wu Xuan... what kind of person are you?!" Ma Xiaotao murmured softly, the scene of Wu Xuan slamming the door so domineeringly seemed to be completely etched in her mind.
"Haha!" Wang Yan suddenly laughed, a hearty laugh.
"I'm getting old, really old. I'm always hesitant in everything I do. It was my mistake to overlook the strength of your reserve team. Since Wu Xuan has said so, then the elimination rounds will be left to your reserve team." Wang Yan sighed and announced.
"Teacher Wang, are we really going to play in the first elimination round? Wu Xuan might really have a trump card, but wouldn't killing someone at the start of the competition have a bad influence?" Huo Yuhao still hesitated.
"Yuhao! It's normal for teams to suffer casualties in the first round of the elimination tournament; it happens every year. Besides, as the defending champions, Shrek Academy will be the first to appear in the opening match of the tournament the day after tomorrow. The audience and referees won't care about the opponent's injuries or deaths," Wang Yan said seriously.
Hearing that blood might be involved, Huo Yuhao and the others' faces immediately tightened. If they hesitated now, it would be a huge joke if Shrek Academy were to be eliminated in the first round of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Battle Tournament.
Wang Yan looked at the six of them, including Bei Bei, who looked tense, and said, "You guys should learn from Wu Xuan. Don't be so nervous. Once the competition starts, you'll find that your opponents are much weaker than you imagined. You've forgotten one thing: you are all elite students selected from Shrek Academy. Even though you're in the reserve team and there's an age gap, being able to represent Shrek Academy here already proves that you possess sufficient strength."
Bei Bei and the others were slightly taken aback. Indeed, not everyone was as outstanding as them. Among their peers, few students from other academies could compare to those from Shrek Academy; only a few academies had such geniuses.
Wang Yan leaned back in his chair and said casually, "Alright, go back and rest now, and prepare for tomorrow's competition."
"Yes!" everyone responded and got up to go back to their rooms to rest.
Outside the Star Emperor Hotel, Xiao Xiao walked up to Wu Xuan, still a little nervous, and asked, "Wu Xuan, isn't it a bit much to come out like this? And is the elimination round really as easy as you say?"
Wu Xuan ruffled Xiao Xiao's hair and smiled, "Whether it is or not, with me here, we definitely won't lose. Don't think about tomorrow's elimination round; I've got you covered."
"Okay!" Xiao Xiao looked at Wu Xuan with a hint of admiration and nodded emphatically.
Even in this situation, her idolized older brother remained so confident and assertive.
Unlike Shrek Academy, which ended its meeting early, almost all participating academies were currently engaged in mobilization efforts. The Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, which shared a floor with Shrek Academy, was no exception.
They consistently placed second in almost every major competition, so their treatment at the Star Emperor Hotel was nearly identical to that of Shrek Academy. Their goal was singular: to strive for first place.
Inside the meeting room, two elderly men sat at the head of the table, with fourteen students seated on either side. The students on the left were noticeably older, while those on the right were slightly younger. Clearly, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy had sent both a regular team and a reserve team for five years from now.
The elderly man at the head of the table had a straight nose, a square jaw, and a dignified appearance, with a face as red as a jujube. His broad shoulders gave him an air of solidity. He said in a deep voice, "According to our observations, Shrek Academy only sent eleven people this time, and only four of them look to be close to twenty years old."
"I've used my spies who have infiltrated the Star Luo Empire, and they've obtained accurate information. When they registered, only those four were nineteen years old; the other seven were under fifteen. That means Shrek Academy didn't send any of their seven regular team members to participate this time. Of the seven members in the reserve team from last year's competition, only three have come. That nineteen-year-old female student is also making her first appearance. Do you know what this means?"
The fourteen students on either side were somewhat puzzled.
He slammed his hand on the table, stood up, and said, "It means contempt, contempt for us. They completely look down on us. They think they can crush us by sending only a reserve team. This is a slap in the face, you know? This is the most direct slap in the face. According to the competition rules, registration closed today. They're going to use this lineup to compete with us. Ma Rulong."
"Here." A male student sitting at the head of the regular team suddenly stood up. His appearance was somewhat similar to the angry old man; he was tall and robust, with short hair, but lacked a bushy beard. His eyes gleamed, and his entire body seemed to radiate inexhaustible power.
"If we lose to a team like Shrek Academy in this competition, you, the captain, will be kicked out of Mingde Hall."
"Yes." Ma Rulong's reply was still just one word, but his booming voice was now filled with murderous intent.
"Old Ma, don't be hasty. I don't think things are that simple." Sitting opposite Ma Rulong, the reserve team captain, not yet fifteen years old, was a handsome young man with bright blue eyes and a tall, slender figure. His hands, resting on the table, were exceptionally white and long.
Old Ma frowned slightly and looked at him, saying, "What do you mean by 'not that simple'?"
The handsome young man continued to look at his fingers, saying, "Shrek Academy isn't stupid. Don't they know that sending four people is no match for us? I have a lot of confidence in Brother Rulong. I think they might have encountered an accident. Isn't Shrek Academy always very attentive to us? How could they be so careless?"
Old Ma's face flushed slightly at his words. Of course, he had the same thought in his mind, but his previous words were meant to encourage the students.
"That would be best, of course. Xiao Hongchen, you'd better focus your energy on the students under fifteen years old at Shrek Academy. They will be your opponents in the next competition."
The handsome young man, Xiao Hongchen, finally raised his head. With a slight smile, a smile that possessed an almost unparalleled beauty, he said, "Elder Ma, my only opponent is myself."
Ma Rulong's face darkened. "Xiao Hongchen, you better behave yourself."
Xiao Hongchen smiled brightly. "Brother Ma, I'm being very honest! You all need to do your best. Don't lose to a team like Shrek Academy. Elder Ma just said that if you do, you'll have to leave Mingde Hall. That would be such a pity, wouldn't it?"
"You…" A murderous glint flashed in Ma Rulong's eyes, but Elder Ma glared at him and said in a deep voice, "Sit down. Alright, I'll start arranging the first round of participants."
Although Xiao Hongchen was only the captain of the reserve team, it seemed that both the regular captain Ma Rulong and the two elders leading the team were somewhat wary of him. And while Xiao Hongchen always wore a smile on his face, the arrogance deep in his eyes seemed to give him a sense of superiority over everyone else.
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