The first round of elimination matches of the competition was scheduled to last for three days. After the victory of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy.
Wang Lin did not appear in the rest area again. He remained in the hotel cultivating, waiting for the start of the round-robin tournament.
The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy team, however, stayed honestly in the rest area, watching the matches of the other academies.
During this waiting period, Wang Lin received an invitation to a small auction hosted by the Starlight Auction House. This auction was primarily arranged for the competition participants.
As the highest-ranking guest of the Starlight Auction House, holding a gold mask, Wang Lin received the list of items for this small auction in advance. It was similar to what Wang Lin had expected.
This auction was the one where Huo Yuhao stumbled upon and acquired the Soul Devouring Engraving Knife in the original work. However, the Soul Devouring Engraving Knife had long been purchased by him. The highlight item for the auction was a ten-thousand-year whale tendon.
Whale tendon could improve physical constitution. Due to the unique nature of his soul rings, Wang Lin needed heavenly treasures that could strengthen the physical body.
Wang Lin had originally planned to wait until the grand auction was over and then take a trip to the Eye of Ice and Fire to see if there were any immortal herbs that could strengthen his physical body.
Unexpectedly, he could gain something now. Wang Lin would not let that ten-thousand-year whale tendon slip away.
On the morning of the fourth day since the competition began, Wang Lin left the hotel early. Today was the first round of the round-robin tournament, and Shrek Academy was still the first team to compete.
Wang Lin naturally couldn't miss this good show. While reviewing the rule booklet and recalling the original work over the past two days, he suddenly realized that Shrek Academy's cheating didn't start with Huo Yuhao.
He wanted to see if Shrek Academy would act as they did in the original work today.
The round-robin tournament matches were divided into three types: team battle, individual elimination, and two-two-three battle.
The rules for the team battle were self-explanatory: the side whose members remained on the stage at the end won.
For the individual elimination match, both sides selected seven contestants. The loser stepped down, and the winner continued to fight until defeated and forced off the stage. Of course, players could concede or be substituted mid-match.
The match ended when all seven members of one side were eliminated.
Finally, the two-two-three battle involved two two-on-two matches first, followed by a three-on-three match. It was a best-of-three, and if one side won two matches prematurely, they won the whole contest.
Under the gray sky, teams from various sides entered the venue one after another. Wang Lin, who hadn't appeared for three days, suddenly appeared in the rest area of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, which didn't cause much of a stir.
Sitting down honestly in his spot, Wang Lin looked at the arena below. The Hongchen siblings, not far away, craned their necks to look at Wang Lin, seemingly wanting to say something.
But due to the distance, they couldn't speak out. Wang Lin also didn't interact with the Hongchen siblings. Instead, he took out the small booklet containing the competition rules.
Not far away, Wang Yan, the leading teacher of the Shrek Academy rest area, looked at the suddenly appearing Wang Lin. For some reason, he felt a sense of foreboding.
It felt as if the plan he had arranged for today was going to fail. But Wang Yan didn't dwell on it. Their opponent today was not the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy.
If they dared to play tricks, Wang Yan wouldn't mind using the rules to make the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy leave the competition early. That way, they would have one less formidable opponent.
Thinking this, Wang Yan became rather expectant, deep down hoping that the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy would try some tricks.
As spectators gradually entered the venue, the referee's voice below resonated throughout the entire stadium.
"Next, please welcome the representative team of Shrek Academy and their opponents, the representative team of the Star Luo Empire's Cloud Luo Advanced Soul Engineering Academy, to the waiting area. Also, please invite the captains of both teams to the stage to determine their match format."
Hearing this, Wang Yan looked at Ma Xiaotao next to him: "Xiao Tao, take the team down. Just follow my pre-match arrangements. I'll stay here, in case some people try any more tricks."
Wang Yan's voice was not lowered and was heard by almost everyone in the rest area. All the academies in the rest area looked toward the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy.
"Yes!" Ma Xiaotao understood Wang Yan's meaning. She glanced at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy provocatively and strode toward the waiting area with her team.
Wang Yan sat back down, occasionally looking toward the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy's side.
"Hall Master, Shrek Academy is being so..." Elder Ma, sitting next to Jing Hongchen, began to say, but was interrupted by Jing Hongchen.
"Don't worry about it. Just watch the match calmly."
Saying this, Jing Hongchen subtly glanced at Wang Lin nearby. Wang Lin was staring intently at the arena below, one hand constantly feeling the small booklet in his hand.
At this moment, the match format for both sides was determined: they drew the Individual Elimination format.
With the match format set, the referee did not waste words and immediately announced: "Shrek Academy versus Cloud Luo Academy will be conducted in the Individual Elimination format. Please send out the first contestant from both sides."
From Shrek Academy's side, Xu Sanshi, clad in a dark green uniform, walked onto the arena. Cloud Luo Academy sent out a small, short, chubby person.
"Both sides, step back and prepare to begin at my command." The referee announced.
The chubby person from Cloud Luo Academy obediently stood at the edge of the arena. Xu Sanshi, while standing on the opposite side of the arena, took out a thin cigar, put it in his mouth, and lit it with a soul tool lighter.
The referee frowned at Xu Sanshi but said nothing. He shouted loudly and clearly.
"Begin the match!"
Four soul rings—three yellow and one purple—floated up from beneath the chubby person's feet. Soul tools were taken out one by one by the chubby person, quickly arming himself.
Xu Sanshi summoned four soul rings—two yellow and two purple. A simple, inconspicuous black small shield appeared in his hand. He continued to puff on the cigar in his mouth, a confident smile on his face.
But at this moment, a mature and steady voice resounded across the stadium. Wang Lin had somehow stepped to the edge of the rest area, holding a sound amplification soul tool in his hand.
"Competition rules state that during the match, no medicinal substances or food produced by Food System or Healing System Soul Masters may be used."
"Only the Food System or Healing System Soul Masters who are currently on the stage have the right to replenish their team members. This is not only to prevent teams with Food System Soul Masters from cheating, but also to prevent cheating in individual matches."
"And now, Shrek Academy openly disregards this rule that has existed for ten thousand years and blatantly cheats on the playing field."
The voice was not loud, but as soon as these words were uttered, the entire stadium fell silent. Everyone's gaze fell upon the arena. Xu Sanshi, standing on the stage, subconsciously clamped down on the cigar in his mouth.
"Cheating is the referee's judgment, what does it have to do with your Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy? You openly interfered with the match. If there's any punishment, it should be levied against your Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy first."
Just as the entire stadium was silent, Ma Xiaotao immediately jumped up, loudly shouting and accusing.