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"Flender, I hope you can give me a reasonable explanation!"
In just a moment, Education Committee Member Meng's voice, suppressing his anger, rang out from behind him.
Flender's expression remained unchanged as he turned and bowed to Education Committee Member Meng before saying, "Education Committee Member Meng, I apologize. This matter was indeed abrupt of me, but they are the last group of students from Shrek Academy. As the Dean, I truly hope that in the end, they can help me spread the name of Shrek."
"Flender, we have already agreed to let you change the Heaven Dou Second Team to the Shrek Team and embroider the Shrek Academy emblem on their uniforms to highlight the name of your Shrek Academy. But is this how you repay my trust in you?
Do you understand how much your unauthorized alteration of the uniform affects the face of the entire Empire? They are now not only Shrek's people but also people of my Heaven Dou Royal Academy! When they stand here today, besides representing your Shrek, they also represent the Heaven Dou Royal Academy and the Heaven Dou Imperial Family!
Yet, you privately changed the uniform into such an odd and mismatched appearance, making them a joke. How am I to explain this to His Majesty, and how will the Spirit Masters of this world view His Majesty?"
Upon hearing this, Flender immediately furrowed his brows. "Education Committee Member Meng, aren't your words a bit too serious? The Spirit Master Tournament relies on strength, not a piece of clothing. As long as the Shrek Team demonstrates sufficient strength, their uniforms will only become their emblem."
"Nonsense!" Education Committee Member Meng angrily shook his head. "Since you say the Spirit Master Tournament relies on strength, why do you still engage in these flashy things? If they show enough strength, everyone will naturally notice Shrek on their uniforms. But your action directly made everyone treat Shrek as a joke, not to mention that a slight misstep could also harm the reputation of the entire Empire."
Flender helplessly waved his hand and said, "I believe in Xiao San and the others. Let alone the preliminaries, they can easily handle the promotion rounds. The Shrek Team will definitely make it to the final championship. Besides, the uniforms have already been worn; it's too late to change them now."
Education Committee Member Meng looked at Flender's petulant demeanor and couldn't help but shake his head. "Flender, this matter is not that simple. Your action has completely pushed all of Shrek to a dead end. I'm telling you, if your performance is even slightly problematic, or if His Majesty is dissatisfied, His Majesty will directly cancel your team's participation qualification. Forget the promotion rounds; whether the Shrek Team can even finish the preliminaries is a question!"
Upon hearing this, a hint of panic finally appeared in Flender's calm eyes. "It's just a piece of clothing. Is it really such a big deal?"
"A piece of clothing?" Education Committee Member Meng was furious. "Even now, you still don't realize how big of a mistake you've made. This concerns the face of an Empire, and you tell me it's just a piece of clothing? Flender, you've truly disappointed me too much."
"Education Committee, it's all Junior's fault. Junior should have reminded Teacher Flender and the others immediately," Qin Ming quickly said, taking the blame upon himself.
Education Committee Member Meng looked at Qin Ming and sternly rebuked him, "Qin Ming, it's good that you know! You've been at Heaven Dou Royal Academy for quite some time now. Don't you clearly understand what the Academy represents? And as the leader of Shrek, instead of setting an example by wearing the original uniform yourself, you let the students wear these messy uniforms. How exactly are you leading? Or is it as Shi Quan said, that in your heart, there is only Shrek and no Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"
Hearing Education Committee Member Meng's rebuke, Qin Ming couldn't help but hang his head.
"This is Heaven Dou City, this is Heaven Dou Royal Academy! It's not Shrek! Since you've joined, you must abide by the Academy's rules. Have I been too lenient with you usually, making you forget what kind of place this is!?"
Flender and the others clenched their fists. They had never been reprimanded like this, but when under someone else's roof, one must bow their head.
Yu Xiaogang also spoke at this moment, "Education Committee Member Meng, Flender indeed went too far in this matter. The most pressing task is how to salvage the Empire's reputation. Further arguing won't solve the problem, will it?"
Education Committee Member Meng gave Yu Xiaogang a cold glance. "In the exhibition match later, you'd best make Shrek perform well and win with an overwhelming force to achieve a stunning effect. Otherwise, His Majesty is very likely to directly revoke the Shrek Team's participation qualification, and all of you will receive severe punishment from His Majesty."
"Education Committee, rest assured, Shrek will definitely not disappoint you."
"Heh heh." Education Committee Member Meng sneered. "It's about not disappointing His Majesty. You'd better hope His Majesty is satisfied, otherwise, you could be disqualified at any time."
With that, Education Committee Member Meng angrily turned and left.
Leaving Flender and the others behind.
"Xiaogang, I only wanted to make our Shrek's name a bit more famous. I didn't expect the consequences to be so severe." Flender looked at Yu Xiaogang with a troubled expression.
Yu Xiaogang shook his head helplessly. "This matter was indeed ill-considered, but since it has come to this, saying more is useless. We can only go all out, and I also believe in Xiao San and the others. Their performance will definitely satisfy everyone."
Qin Ming also comforted him, "That's right, Dean, don't you know Junior Brother's strength? These ordinary teams pose no threat to them at all. Xiao San and the others will definitely win easily."
"It's just that you've been wronged, Qin Ming." Flender sighed and patted Qin Ming's shoulder.
"It's nothing, Dean, this is what I should do," Qin Ming replied with a smile.
In the square, teams entered one after another. After the emcee finished introducing the last team, his gaze fell on Emperor Xue Ye, who was in the center of the VIP seating.
"Next, please welcome His Majesty, the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, to announce the opening of this tournament."
Loud cheers immediately erupted inside and outside the arena, until Emperor Xue Ye stood up, raised his right hand, and gently waved it towards the audience and contestants, then pressed it down slightly, and silence fell.
"I, Xue Ye, Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire…" Xue Ye's rich voice quickly spread throughout the venue via a spirit tool.
After that was Ning Fengzhi. After a small interlude where the emcee asked him questions, Platinum Bishop Salas stood up.
"Preliminaries, first round!"
"Blue Sunshine Academy versus Purple Star Academy… Auckland Academy versus Fiery Radiance Academy."
"Heaven Dou Royal Academy Shrek Team, versus Blue Tyrant Academy."
"It couldn't be that coincidental, could it?" As soon as Salas's voice fell, Flender couldn't help but murmur.
Others might not know Blue Tyrant Academy, but he knew its origins. He subconsciously looked towards Blue Tyrant Academy's position but didn't see that familiar figure.
Some time ago, Flender had thought about coaxing Yu Xiaogang out for a stroll to create a chance encounter, but Yu Xiaogang was immersed in planning various Cultivation schemes all day and simply wouldn't bother with him, so he had no way to arrange their meeting.
As he pondered, the drawing of lots concluded. Salas's gaze swept across the venue, and he said indifferently, "This Seat swears by the honor of Spirit Hall, there is absolutely no falsehood in this drawing of lots. At the same time, this Seat hereby announces that any participating student from any academy present. All who can advance to the final stage will be exceptionally permitted by Spirit Hall to directly join the Martial Spirit Holy Temple."
As his words fell, there was an uproar outside the venue, and Emperor Xue Ye, sitting in the main seat behind him, instantly turned gloomy.
"Your Majesty." Ning Fengzhi, beside him, quietly reminded him, shaking his head slightly, and only then did Xue Ye's expression soften a bit.
At this moment, Salas turned and returned to his seat. The emcee stepped forward and spoke, "Then, what will follow is the first match of the first round of the preliminaries, between the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Shrek Team and Blue Tyrant Academy. Now, please have all participating teams orderly exit under the guidance of the staff. The two academies participating shortly after exiting, please be prepared. The match will officially begin in half an hour."
"Those who just mocked us, we must make sure they witness our strength later!" Ignoring the scornful and disdainful gazes around him, Ma Hongjun turned to Tang San, rubbing his fists and eager to try.
His face was full of confidence.
Tang San didn't reply immediately but said, "Let's discuss it when we get back."
He had just noticed Education Committee Member Meng going to where Flender and the others were. The distance was too far for him to hear exactly what they said, but from everyone's expressions, something must have happened.
So he planned to go back and ask about the specific situation before making detailed arrangements.
"Good thing we're the second to leave, otherwise if we kept being stared at like this, I really wouldn't be able to hold back." Dai Mubai released his tightly clenched fists and let out a long breath.
"No need to be angry, later we'll use our strength and victory to shut these vulgar people up," Tang San said in a low voice, comforting him.
Dai Mubai nodded and said nothing more.
Because today was the opening ceremony, there was only one match, which was between their Shrek Team and the Blue Tyrant Academy Team. This meant that other academies had no matches that day. When they left the arena, Shi Quan and the others in front had already been led by staff directly to the designated spectator area to watch the match.
The large resting area was left with only their team. They originally thought they wouldn't be mocked once they reached the resting area, but every team that left the arena had to pass through the resting area before going to the spectator area. Sitting in the resting area, they felt like a group of clowns, scrutinized by every team that passed by.
Even with their thick skin, being scrutinized by so many people, and with quite a few beautiful Spirit Masters covering their mouths and chuckling, they only felt more embarrassed.
Seeing Flender, Yu Xiaogang, Qin Ming, and others walking quickly towards them, everyone couldn't help but show a resentful expression.
Upon arriving, Yu Xiaogang didn't arrange any tactics but first recounted everything that had happened with Education Committee Member Meng.
Upon hearing this, everyone was speechless. After all that, it turned out their ugly uniforms were privately changed by the Dean, and now it had caused so much trouble. Knowing Flender was in a bad mood, they didn't dare to say much. After a brief deliberation, the conversation directly returned to tactical arrangements.