Why did they fly directly near Mingdu before landing?
The reason is simple: as the capital of the continent's strongest nation, and having once suffered the humiliation of an army at its gates, Mingdu's defense system is absolutely second to none on the continent.
If they didn't want to be treated as invaders and suffer an overwhelming barrage of spirit tools, then they had to land within a hundred kilometers of Mingdu, because any further would put them within the attack range of Mingdu's defense system.
"Everyone, listen up! We're entering Mingdu's territory.
Be humble in your actions, but impactful in your deeds.
Understand?" Zhu Ziyang said after the Shrek Team landed.
"Understood!" everyone immediately responded loudly.
"Very good, let's go!" Zhu Ziyang was satisfied with their response and said with a smile.
Subsequently, the Shrek Academy team, led by Zhu Ziyang and Ma Xiaotao, rapidly advanced towards Mingdu.
Before long, they arrived in Mingdu—the capital of the Sun Moon Empire, the continent's largest city!
Mingdu truly lived up to its reputation as the continent's premier city and the most developed in spirit tool technology.
Its spirit tool mechanization was incredibly high, and its urban planning was exceptionally perfect.
Between the dense skyscrapers were metal pillars supporting spirit tool lines, and almost every building had spirit power-driven equipment.
This was something no city in the original Douluo Three Kingdoms could compare to, not even Shrek Academy.
"Indeed, developing spirit tool technology is the general trend!" Zhu Ziyang exclaimed with emotion.
Most of the Shrek Academy team members were traditional Spirit Masters, and their aversion to spirit tools varied from slight to strong.
But at this moment, they all had to marvel at the power of the Sun Moon Empire's spirit tool technology, and their beliefs wavered to some extent.
"Let's go to the hotel!" Zhu Ziyang said with a smile.
According to regulations, teams participating in the competition were required to register at the Mingdu City Defense Department immediately upon arrival in Mingdu to confirm their eligibility.
Afterward, the Sun Moon Empire's official government would provide the best and free accommodation and meals for each team.
However, the Shrek Academy team did not need to follow this procedure.
As the champions of the previous competition, they enjoyed special privileges, allowing them to go directly to the hotel upon arrival in Mingdu, without needing to worry about registration or other trivial matters.
In fact, the moment the Shrek Academy members entered Mingdu, their movements had already been noticed by interested parties and reported to someone's desk in the imperial palace.
The hotel used by the Sun Moon Empire to host the participating teams was called Mingyue Hotel.
It was an eight-story building in the heart of Mingdu, entirely silver-white, displaying a special metallic texture.
This was one of Mingdu's top-tier hotels, indicating the Sun Moon Empire's significant emphasis on this competition.
Zhu Ziyang and Ma Xiaotao led the way, bringing over a dozen Shrek students into the hotel lobby.
The group of more than ten people immediately attracted the attention of everyone in the lobby.
At this time, the hotel lobby was already filled with many participating teams, numbering over a hundred.
When Zhu Ziyang and his group entered, everyone stopped what they were doing and their gazes collectively fell upon them.
The previously noisy lobby instantly fell silent.
Envy, awe, fanaticism, hostility—a variety of complex emotions appeared in the eyes of various people.
Everyone recognized their identity: Shrek Academy!
Zhu Ziyang and his group ignored these gazes.
They had no intention of concealing their identity, so everyone wore the iconic Shrek Academy uniform, which seemed to contradict Zhu Ziyang's earlier statement about being humble in their actions.
A young woman in a golden dress immediately came forward.
She was tall and slender, exceptionally beautiful, and her silver dress fit perfectly, reaching past her calves, making her appear elegant and noble.
Her pretty face carried a faint smile, easily giving people a friendly impression.
"Esteemed guests from Shrek Academy, welcome to Mingyue Hotel.
I am the head usher of Mingyue Hotel; you may call me Yan'er.
From today onwards, all matters concerning your stay at Mingyue Hotel will be under my care.
Please follow me!" This welcoming young woman named Yan'er was the head usher of Mingyue Hotel.
Not only was she exceptionally beautiful, but her voice was also very pleasant to listen to.
"Lead the way," Zhu Ziyang said indifferently.
Subsequently, the young woman Yan'er led Zhu Ziyang and his group upstairs.
After the Shrek Academy members left, the quiet lobby erupted into a clamor, with everyone expressing their thoughts.
"Are those the people from Shrek Academy? They all seem so powerful!"
"Will that legendary Zhu Ziyang be among them? Does he really have six 100,000-year spirit rings, as the legends say?"
"Heh heh! I don't believe it, he's just a commoner from an academy.
My grandson Fu from Overlord Sect will definitely let him know what true Spirit Master orthodoxy is!"
"Shrek Academy! Heh heh!"
"That leader from Shrek Academy is so handsome! I feel like he's stolen my heart!"
"Oh my god! Are these the girls from Shrek Academy? Fiery older sister types, proud young women, baby-faced beauties, wow ka ka, I wish I could spend a night with them!"
"..."
Among this group of academies with various reactions, in a team from a regular Spirit Master Academy, a delicate and pretty young woman also saw the Shrek Academy members.
Her pretty face immediately showed excitement and eagerness, and she was about to shout: "..."
However, before the young woman could speak, her mouth was covered by a beautiful woman of about twenty years old behind her.
The woman gently said, "Zhenzhen, don't shout! You'll become the target of everyone!"
This young woman was none other than Yang Zhenzhen, and this team was naturally the Falan City Advanced Spirit Master Academy team.
"Oh oh!" Yang Zhenzhen immediately nodded in understanding upon hearing this, and then the pretty woman released her hand.
She said, "Zhenzhen, I know your brother and sister are on the Shrek Academy team.
We can go find them later, instead of shouting in this lobby; it's too attention-grabbing!"
"Mm-hmm, I know!" Yang Zhenzhen scratched her head sheepishly and said, "I was just too excited, hehe!"
Let's put aside the matters in the lobby for now.
Zhu Ziyang and his group followed Yan'er directly to the top floor of Mingyue Hotel.
The top floor had only two suites, both of the highest specification, Emperor Suites.
One of these two exclusive Emperor Suites naturally belonged to the Shrek Academy team.
The Emperor Suite was very large and could easily accommodate all the Shrek Academy members, with even several rooms to spare.
The other Emperor Suite, without a doubt, belonged to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.
As Zhu Ziyang and his group followed Yan'er upstairs, they happened to encounter the members of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy coming down.
Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, the siblings who had returned to the Sun Moon Empire after their exchange at Shrek Academy, were the captain and vice-captain of this current Sun Moon Team.
When they met, they only exchanged cold glances, but fortunately, no conflict erupted.
However, from Meng Hongchen's reluctant expression as she looked at Zhu Ziyang, it was clear that she was not happy to leave immediately; she still wanted to talk to Zhu Ziyang.
Upon arriving at the Emperor Suite belonging to Shrek Academy, Ma Xiaotao, as the nominal leader and actual deputy, immediately began arranging rooms.
The suite had ten bedrooms; besides the master bedroom which had one extra-large bed, the other nine bedrooms each had two large beds.
Therefore, the room arrangement for the Shrek Academy members was very easy.
The master bedroom naturally belonged to Zhu Ziyang.
The remaining people were paired up, sharing one room.
Ma Xiaotao and Fifth Huan'er shared a room, Jiang Nannan and Qian Lingyi shared a room, Ning Tian and Wu Feng shared a room, Chu Hua and Zhu Lu shared a room, the sisters Lan Luoluo and Lan Susu shared a room, Dai Huabing and Zhou Tianhe shared a room, Xie Huanyue and Cao Jinxuan shared a room—and so on.