Bonus Chapter. Enjoy!
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With Huo Yuhao around, even though they were just preparatory team members, they didn't feel the slightest bit of nervousness at this moment.
Instead, they felt more excitement. Being able to stand on such a stage and represent Shrek Academy was an honor in itself.
Huo Yuhao walked at the very front with steady steps and a calm expression. Behind him, Wang Dong, Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, and He Caitou followed closely. The five of them slowly ascended the arena stage! The surrounding cheers gradually died down.
The spectators who had been shouting "Shrek" now stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with confusion.
The team Shrek had sent out truly left them baffled. The entry requirement for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament was to be a Spirit Master under the age of twenty. Under this requirement, naturally, the closer a Spirit Master was to twenty, the higher their Spirit Power and the stronger their strength generally were. Thus, most academies sent out Students aged eighteen or nineteen, whose physiques were already no different from adults.
At this moment, the average age of the seven members from Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy on the field was nineteen.
But the Shrek Team standing opposite them had not only sent up just five people, but their ages also looked much younger!
It wasn't just the spectators; a wave of discussion also broke out in the preparation areas of the various academies.
On the city wall, the Star Luo Emperor, Emperor Xu Jiawei, tilted his head slightly to look at someone beside him.
"Prime Minister," his voice wasn't loud, yet it carried a hint of doubt, "do you know what the situation is?"
The elder addressed as the Prime Minister shook his head. He was over seventy years old with white hair and beard, but his eyes still shone with shrewdness and wisdom.
He spoke slowly: "The specifics are still unclear, but I've heard that Shrek Academy's participant count this time is much lower than in previous years."
Emperor Xu Jiawei's gaze fell upon the arena below, his brow furrowing slightly. He truly couldn't understand what Shrek Academy was up to.
Meanwhile, in the preparation area of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.
A handsome youth leaned back in his chair, his face wearing an undisguised arrogance.
"Shrek Academy really is arrogant," he sneered. "They even dare to send only preparatory team members for the Knockout rounds."
Hearing this, the others didn't refute him. Clearly, they had also judged from their ages that Huo Yuhao and the others were all preparatory team members.
A tall, short-haired elder spoke in a deep voice: "According to the information we have, Shrek Academy only has a total of eight participants this time!"
"If these five are all preparatory team members, then their Main Team Members only number three!"
Beside him, an elder with a face as red as a date also spoke up. "Don't be careless. Don't forget, as the champions, Shrek Academy has certain privileges."
The short-haired man snorted upon hearing this. "No matter who they send onto the field, we only have one goal this time..."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. "And that is the championship!"
This time, the Sun Moon Empire's Royal Soul Engineer Academy team was the strongest in three thousand years!
On the arena, the members of the Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy clearly realized at this moment that their opponents were all Shrek's preparatory team members.
In that instant, a surge of indignation couldn't help but rise in their hearts.
Reserve team members?
Was Shrek looking down on them?
Using a few children to brush them off?
But soon after, they quickly calmed down.
Even if they were preparatory team members, they were still preparatory team members of Shrek Academy.
Shrek's reputation, inherited for Ten Thousand Years, caused their newly risen aura to fall silent once again.
Before that anger could even begin to burn, it was extinguished by reason. They didn't dare to take them lightly.
"The match... begins!" The referee's voice echoed throughout the venue, announcing the official start of this duel!
On Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy's side, all seven members underwent Spirit Body Enhancement simultaneously! Three Spirit Ancestors and four Spirit Elders—this was their full strength.
On Shrek Academy's side, four spirit rings appeared beneath the feet of Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, and He Caitou; they were all at the Spirit Ancestor level.
Wang Dong's Light Goddess Butterfly spread its magnificent wings, with three spirit rings slowly rotating beneath his feet; he was a Spirit Elder.
These could be easily seen through Spirit Body Enhancement.
And when Huo Yuhao, standing at the very back, revealed his spirit rings... It was as if the pause button had been pressed all around the arena!
Everyone's gaze was fixed intently on him!
Two purple, three black!
Five spirit rings hovered quietly beneath his feet!
That light struck everyone's eyes like a clap of thunder!
Spirit King!
This youth, who looked even younger, was actually a Spirit King!
Moreover, his spirit ring configuration was actually so "overpowered"!
In the stands, the spectators who were previously buzzing with discussion now had their mouths agape and eyes wide.
In the preparation areas, the teams that were previously mocking Shrek's arrogance now had stiff expressions, unable to speak a word.
Even Emperor Xu Jiawei on the city wall had his pupils contract slightly. He turned to look at the Prime Minister, his voice carrying a hint of disbelief: "This youth... what is his background?"
Before the Star Luo Prime Minister could reply, Emperor Xu Jiawei immediately gave an order. "Investigate all information about this youth as quickly as possible."
His voice was low and decisive, brooking no argument. As the Star Luo Emperor, his intuition told him that this youth was by no means simple.
The Prime Minister nodded in agreement and turned to make the arrangements.
On the arena, the duel had also officially begun.
On Huo Yuhao, the light from the purple and black spirit rings intertwined and flashed, making the hearts of the Tianling Team members pound and their palms sweat.
Yet they didn't feel any powerful spirit abilities being released against them at all. Because in this match, Huo Yuhao still did not intend to strike directly, appearing only as a support.
Mental Detection Sharing !
Mental Resonance!
Soul Lash !
The three spirit abilities were completed almost at the same instant.
Invisible mental force poured out like a tide, enveloping Wang Dong and the other three, instantly elevating their perception to the limit. Combined with the Cigar boost He Caitou had already prepared, the combat power of Wang Dong and the others surged instantly!
When they were fighting against the Inner Court Students, these boosts didn't seem to have much effect. After all, those opponents were all at the Spirit King or Spirit Emperor level. But now... the opponents were just a group of Spirit Ancestors and Spirit Elders.
Wang Dong flapped his wings and soared high, the Light Goddess Butterfly's wings shimmering with brilliant golden light in the sun as he was the first to charge toward the opposition!
Xu Sanshi held his Xuanming Tortoise Shell Shield and followed closely with long strides.
Jiang Nannan's movement was agile, like a phantom, as she rapidly advanced from the side.
He Caitou stood in place, a Cigar in his mouth, leisurely shouldering a two-meter-long massive cannon. The cannon's dark muzzle was aimed at the crowd opposite him.
The moment the two sides clashed, Shrek Academy gained the upper hand! The members of the Tianling Team were simply unable to withstand a single blow!
Wang Dong's Butterfly Goddess's Light exploded, and a Spirit Elder instantly fell to the ground, unable to get up!
Xu Sanshi's Xuanming Tortoise Shell Shield slammed down, causing another Spirit Ancestor to cough up blood as he was knocked out of the arena!
Jiang Nannan's Soft Bones Rabbit close-quarters combat sent a Spirit Elder spinning!
He Caitou's Soul cannon roared, and a beam of light shot out, directly eliminating two opponents who were trying to group together for defense!
From the start of the match to the end, it only took a few breaths!
As it turned out, the combat power of Shrek Academy's Spirit Ancestors was truly on a different level compared to the Spirit Ancestors of other academies!
After just a few breaths, the outcome of this duel was already presented before everyone's eyes. After the referee announced Shrek's victory, the spectator stands, which had just quieted down, erupted once more in fervent cheers!
"Shrek! Shrek! Shrek!..."
The sound was deafening, like mountains crumbling and seas surging, submerging the entire Star Luo Plaza within it!
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A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
2 Reviews = 1 Extra Chapter
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.