Chapter 15: Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team Two!However, Flender frowned slightly, his gaze still fixed in the direction where the Canghui Academy team had departed, and he muttered to himself:"I never expected that old fellow to have gone to Canghui Academy..." Ma Hongjun, who was usually closest to Flender, hurriedly stepped forward upon hearing this and asked:"Teacher, who was that old man just now? Do you know him?"Flender's expression turned somewhat grave as he said in a low voice:"That old fellow is called Shi Nian.His Spirit is extremely unique—a special, intangible and immaterial type that can generate all sorts of bizarre illusions, causing people to lose themselves within them.Given his current strength, he is fully capable of making an opponent trapped in his illusions self-harm to death while disoriented.We call his Spirit 'Remnant Dream.' This old fellow is utterly sinister and malicious. Don't be fooled by his calm exterior; he is actually someone who nurses the slightest grievance.All of you need to be careful. When I first knew him, his spirit power was already over level sixty. Now, I'm afraid... it must be above level seventy."Hearing this, the members of the Shrek Seven Devils couldn't help but feel a simultaneous shock.Illusions? There's actually a Spirit like that? Just hearing about it makes it sound eerie and hard to guard against.Meanwhile, Tang San, who was observing from the side, also felt a chill in his heart upon hearing this information:"Illusion techniques? There's actually a Spirit like this!"He immediately began to think rapidly in his mind: How should one deal with this type of Spirit Master if encountered in battle?This was a subconscious habit he had developed from his previous life to the present when facing unknown threats.Flender continued, "That Remnant Dream Spirit of his is indeed extremely troublesome to deal with. Even Spirit Masters stronger than him generally avoid fighting him lightly."He waved his hand, ending the topic. "Alright, the opening ceremony is about to begin. Get ready to enter.Mubai, Tang San, the two of you lead everyone in.I'll go ahead first and watch your heroic figures from the spectator stands!"With that, this Dean once again demonstrated the speed of an Agility Attack System Soul Master. He slipped away as if greasing the soles of his feet, disappearing into the crowd in the blink of an eye, as if fearing that staying even one second longer would implicate him in the dung-green team uniforms.Amid Tang San's ongoing thoughts, their group also followed the flow of people and entered the main competition arena.The moment everyone stepped into the arena, both the group in the simulation and Tang San as an observer were stunned by the magnificent and grand spectacle before them!Surrounding the vast and open plaza were countless cheering, shouting spectators, their roars crashing over them like a tidal wave.Directly ahead in the center of the field was a grandstand with a golden backdrop, luxurious and solemn.Behind the grandstand was the renovated VIP area.At this moment, the Announcer on the stage also began introducing the entering teams using an amplifying spirit tool:"...The last to enter is the participating team from Shrek Academy... See how distinctive their peculiar attire is..." Hearing the Announcer's clearly mocking words, combined with the Shrek team's extremely eye-catching "Seeking Sponsors" uniforms, the spectators in the stands immediately erupted into a wave of laughter.The hot-tempered Dai Mubai's face had already turned as dark as the bottom of a pot. He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white, and muttered through gritted teeth as he walked forward:"If it weren't for the tournament rules... I'd tear that guy's mouth apart!"At this moment, Tang San in the simulation could clearly feel the intense fluctuations of spirit power from Dai Mubai beside him, who seemed on the verge of exploding at any moment.He quickly reached out and placed a hand on Dai Mubai's solid arm, whispering, "Boss Dai, calm down!"Dai Mubai took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger. He understood that as the captain, if he acted irrationally in such a setting, how could he lead the team?Amid the surrounding spectators' clamor and pointing, the observing Tang San, while enduring the embarrassment, began calmly observing the environment around him.The first to catch his eye was the person sitting right in the center of the VIP stand.This person wore a golden-red robe and a crown studded with golden diamonds that seemed to reach for the sky. His face resembled an ancient moon. Though he appeared somewhat aged, sitting there, he naturally exuded an authoritative aura that could not be ignored, as if he were the focal point of all gazes."Is this... the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire?"Tang San, a six-year-old citizen from the Saint Spirit Village within the Heaven Dou Empire, was seeing the true face of the empire's supreme ruler for the first time in this "future" vision.The few people beside the emperor also possessed extraordinary bearing, but Tang San did not recognize them.However, by sensing the thoughts and emotional fluctuations of the simulated Tang San, the observing Tang San could detect that the simulated "self" should recognize some of them.At this moment, a gentle and refined middle-aged man sitting to the right of Emperor Xue Ye seemed to notice the simulated Tang San's gaze and turned his head just in time to meet Tang San's line of sight.Wearing a warm smile on his face, he gave a slight nod in Tang San's direction.The observing Tang San immediately realized that this person must be acquainted with the simulated "self."Moreover, judging by this person's facial features, there was some resemblance to Ning Rongrong between his eyebrows and eyes. He likely had a significant connection to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.Next, as the Announcer on the VIP stand declared loudly:"Now, let us invite His Majesty the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire to declare the opening of this tournament!"Emperor Xue Ye, seated in the very center of the VIP seats, rose to deliver the opening speech, which was filled with the usual official rhetoric encouraging the various academies and showcasing the prowess of the empire's Spirit Masters.Following Emperor Xue Ye's official and brief address, the Announcer's voice rang out again:"Next, let us invite the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, Mr. Ning Fengzhi, to deliver a speech for the tournament!"Under the gaze of the observing Tang San, that middle-aged man who had earlier exchanged glances with the simulated self and resembled Ning Rongrong—Ning Fengzhi—rose slowly with a smile on his face.Warm applause once again filled the venue.Ning Fengzhi gracefully gestured with both hands for silence. After the applause subsided slightly, he also delivered some official words encouraging young Spirit Masters and looking forward to the tournament's future.However, the Announcer wasn't ready to let him off easily and proceeded to ask:"Sect Master Ning, as the most powerful support-type Spirit Master on the continent, I ask on behalf of the spectators here today: Among the twenty-eight teams participating in the Heaven Dou City division preliminary rounds, which one do you favor the most?"Ning Fengzhi, still wearing that spring-like warm smile, replied calmly:"Aside from the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team One, which directly enters the finals as a seeded team, among these twenty-eight teams, I also have high hopes for another team."The Announcer feigned surprise and pressed further, "Oh? I wonder which team has earned Sect Master Ning's favor?"Ning Fengzhi, however, gave a mysterious slight smile and said:"As for which academy this team belongs to, I must beg your pardon and keep it a secret for now.But I can tell you all that I believe the final champion of this tournament will undoubtedly belong to the Empire!"After saying this, Ning Fengzhi politely gave a slight nod and returned to his seat.The Announcer had no choice but to say:"It's a pity we couldn't pry the name of the team Sect Master Ning favors from him.Next, let us invite the Hall Master of the Heaven Dou City Spirit Temple, His Excellency Bishop Salas of the Spirit Hall's Platinum Order, to conduct the draw for the first round of the preliminary matches!"As the Announcer's words fell, an elderly man in the front row of the VIP stand, to the right of Emperor Xue Ye, slowly rose to his feet. He wore grand red bishop robes and a pentagonal platinum crown, his expression indifferent.After Platinum Bishop Salas stood up, he was led by palace maids to the Announcer's side to begin the draw.Following the Announcer's words, it soon came to Shrek Academy's opponent."Preliminary round one, Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team Two, versus—Shrek Academy!"
