After the first match, the Shrek Academy group left Star Luo Plaza directly, but the shock and impact they left behind lingered for a long time.
"Who was that person? Why have I never heard his name before? Investigate! Investigate his name and background, at all costs!" Emperor Xu Jiawei watched the Shrek Academy group depart until they were out of sight before shouting at his chief minister.
"Yes!" The chief minister immediately replied, understanding the emperor's excitement.
Because Shrek Academy's immediate departure after the match caused the entire competition to be interrupted for several minutes, their exit took with it the attention of all spectators, and fanaticism gradually appeared in every audience member's eyes.
This was Shrek Academy, the number one academy in the world, existing like a god in their hearts! This was the strength of Shrek Academy.
The most shocked were the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy team members. At this moment, their faces were exceptionally grim. Even the once proud Xiao Hongchen was now ashen-faced, his fists clenched tightly.
The team leader, Elder Ma, and the other teacher also had tightly furrowed brows. Although they were also very surprised, they keenly noticed something was amiss. They were unwilling to believe this was real; they were more inclined to believe it was a trick played by Shrek Academy.
After exchanging glances, they made a decision: use their hidden agents to find out the identity of that young man! As for the young woman, they didn't find anything strange about her; although she was equally powerful, her level of power was still within an acceptable range.
—
In the Shrek Academy's room at the Star Emperor Hotel, inside the conference room, everyone was in good Spirits due to successfully entering the second phase.
"First, it's worth celebrating that we've successfully entered the second phase. For the next two days, you can all get some good rest," Wang Yan said with a smile.
"Yay!" Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya couldn't help but cheer, and the others also smiled.
"I won't say much more," Wang Yan said with a smile, "Once the second phase of the competition begins, we'll discuss tactics. All right, meeting adjourned!"
"I'm going back to recover. I'll try to be able to participate in the second phase," Ma Xiaotao said, standing up directly.
"Sister Xiaotao, there's no need to rush. With all of us here, it's fine even if you don't participate in the second phase!" Zhu Ziyang said to Ma Xiaotao.
"Bullshit! I came here to compete, not to be a spectator!" Ma Xiaotao cursed with a laugh, "Alright, you all chat. I'm going back to my room."
Ma Xiaotao left, leaving behind Zhu Ziyang, Jiang Nannan, and the seven members of the preliminary team. Their ages were similar, so they naturally felt more relaxed and casual when interacting.
"Oh my, we finally passed the elimination rounds. I've been so worried these past few days," the young girl Xiao Xiao said, a genuine smile appearing on her tender face.
"Exactly, exactly! If we didn't even make it to the main competition, then we would truly become the sinners of Shrek Academy," Wang Dong echoed, "Since Shrek Academy was established, its worst result was probably only second place."
"Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, I have to criticize you two. How can you be so lacking in confidence in our Nannan? Senior Sister Nannan's flying kick on the field today was so cool!" Tang Ya teased, her arms wrapped around Jiang Nannan's arm, a playful smile on her face, "It's a good thing Nannan isn't a boy, otherwise I would definitely fall in love with her!"
"Alright, I'll accept you as my bandit queen then!" Jiang Nannan said with a giggle, immediately pulling her arm free and wrapping it around Tang Ya's waist when she heard the teasing.
"Alas! It seems I need to learn a flying kick Spirit Ability, otherwise, who knows when our Tang Sect Master might be snatched away!" Bei Bei said, feigning seriousness, his expression grave, and his tone worried.
"Mhm mhm, I think Senior Brother is absolutely right," Huo Yuhao also said with a smile.
"Oh, really? Do you really think I'm that unreliable in your hearts?" Tang Ya asked, looking heartbroken when she heard Bei Bei and Huo Yuhao's synchronized remarks.
As a result, an even more crushing scene occurred: everyone present, except for Zhu Ziyang, Jiang Nannan, Xu Sanshi, and He Caitou, all nodded in agreement.
"It's over, it's over, Nannan, what do I do? I've been sidelined by Bei Bei, and a powerful minister has appeared in my Tang Sect!" Tang Ya cried out, hugging Jiang Nannan and feigning tears.
"Teacher Xiaoya, why don't you just hand over the Sect Master position to Senior Brother Bei Bei? You can just be the Supreme Sect Master, and the important task of revitalizing the Tang Sect can be left to me, Yu Hao, and Wang Dong! Roar roar!" Xiao Xiao said with a mischievous smile, even flexing her small arm to show strength, looking very adorable.
Xiao Xiao's words immediately drew a burst of laughter from the scene. Xu Sanshi and He Caitou, two people who loved to watch the excitement, even took the lead in egging them on, preparing to give Bei Bei a 'cold weather clothing' (a metaphor for usurping power) and overthrowing the hierarchy. The conference room was filled with a joyful atmosphere.
After playing around for a while, everyone returned to their rooms to rest.
Upon returning to his room, Zhu Ziyang did not rest immediately. Instead, he sat by the bed, planning something.
"That kind of place, I hope it has what I'm looking for!" he murmured, his eyes flickering with an inexplicable light.
—
Time flew by. On the evening of the third day of the competition, Wang Yan held a strategy meeting.
"The good news is that Elder Lin is already on his way, and Gongyang Mo and Ling Luochen have almost recovered due to the Inner Courtyard elders' treatment. They should be able to rejoin us soon," Wang Yan announced the good news first.
"That truly is good news!" Everyone smiled upon hearing this.
"The bad news is that this year's opponents are all very strong. Our old rivals, Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, took ten minutes just to defeat their opponent, and the other qualifying teams also went through fierce battles. Therefore, the overall strength of this year's participating academies should not be underestimated!" Wang Yan immediately followed up with bad news, saying, "Xiaotao, how are your injuries?"
"I've fully recovered. There will definitely be no problem fighting!" Ma Xiaotao said, looking energetic.
"That's great. This way, we'll have three main combatants, and tactical arrangements will be simpler." Wang Yan couldn't help but smile, then looked at Bei Bei and the other six, saying, "Don't relax either. Until Gongyang Mo and Ling Luochen arrive, you are still destined to be on the field, so don't be complacent!"
"Yes!" Bei Bei and the others immediately replied seriously.
"For better tactical arrangements, Bei Bei, Tang Ya, Xu Sanshi, and He Caitou, I need your Spirit and Spirit Ability information, the more detailed the better!" Wang Yan said.
The four of them didn't hide anything and openly revealed their Spirit Abilities. After all, everyone present could be considered comrades-in-arms, the kind they could entrust their backs to.
To everyone's surprise, He Caitou, who had always kept a low profile, turned out to be a food system Spirit Master, and his spirit power was as high as level 44. To reach such a level of spirit power at this age meant his innate spirit power was at least above level seven. Given the rarity of the food system, he was a super genius no weaker than Ma Xiaotao before her Spirit evolution!
However, what piqued Zhu Ziyang's curiosity was that He Caitou's Spirit was a cigar, a Spirit unique to the Sun Moon Empire and very rare even within the Empire. Did this He Caitou actually possess the bloodline of the Sun Moon Empire?
No wonder his Soul Engineer talent was so outstanding.