It was an awkward moment, a silence unlike any other.
Both of them were so embarrassed that their faces were turning red. The situation was beyond awkward—this was truly a cringe-worthy moment!
People passed by, walking around them, but it was strangely quiet in this spot. They could even hear each other's breathing.
It's natural for two people who aren't familiar with each other to experience awkward silences.
"What the heck?" Chen Xuan thought, feeling like his brain was about to short-circuit. Why did she even ask for his name? Was he that insignificant? It stung a little.
In fact, when she asked the question, Xiao Wu's face turned bright red, and her mind almost went blank.
Honestly, she hadn't really remembered Chen Xuan's name. Others either called him "Little Chen," "Old Chen," or "Xuanzi"—nothing that really stuck.
"Uh... let's start over," Chen Xuan said first, extending his hand. "Hi, I'm Chen Xuan."
"I'm Xiao Wu, 'Wu' as in dancing. I'll definitely remember your name this time," Xiao Wu said quickly, shaking his hand to show her apology.
Chen Xuan then took out two carrots from his pocket and said, "Tang San mentioned that you really like these. I hope you enjoy them."
These were just ordinary carrots, not the crystal-clear one he had received as a system reward.
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up. She was so excited that she snatched them right away.
She carefully put the carrots into her small, delicate bag, treating them like something precious.
Chen Xuan's mouth twitched slightly. It seemed that no matter where they were, carrots were always a rabbit's favorite.
He didn't like eating carrots alone, but they were quite tasty when mixed with other fruits for juice.
"Thank you, Chen Xuan, you're really a nice guy," Xiao Wu said with a sweet smile, looking genuinely happy.
A few days ago, after Chen Xuan had a falling out with Yu Xiaogang, her third brother had warned her that Chen Xuan wasn't a good person and that she should stay away from him. But now, it didn't seem like her brother's words were entirely accurate.
"If you like them, I have plenty more in my storage soul guide," Chen Xuan laughed. These things weren't expensive, and he had bought quite a few recently. If he could gain favor with just these carrots, it was definitely worth it.
Xiao Wu shook her head but didn't completely refuse, saying, "That's enough for now. I'll ask you if I want more later."
Soon after, the opening ceremony began. All the academies, teams, and nobles gathered outside the Great Spirit Arena.
On a towering pillar, an elderly man with white hair took his seat.
He wore a crown on his head and a yellow robe adorned with various expensive gemstones that sparkled brightly.
This was the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, known as Emperor Xue Ye.
To his left was Ning Fengzhi, the leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and Ning Rongrong's father.
On his right was the Platinum Bishop Salas from the Spirit Hall, another elderly figure whose strength was unfathomable. He had reached the level of a Spirit Douluo years ago.
After all the teams and academies took their places, Emperor Xue Ye nodded in satisfaction and gave an official speech, followed by remarks from Ning Fengzhi and Bishop Salas.
Then came the performance segment: soldiers showcased the empire's military prowess with weapon demonstrations, and later, women took the stage to dance, sing, and play instruments.
These performances were dull and sleepy, causing Ma Hongjun and Oscar from the Shrek team to doze off.
After the opening ceremony, the academies returned to their respective competition zones.
The Shrek team followed the crowd into the Great Spirit Arena and took their seats. The first round of the All-Continent Elite Tournament was about to begin.
On the VIP platform, Emperor Xue Ye spoke in a somewhat weak voice, "I wonder... which team does Ning Sect Leader favor?"
His hair was white, his face aged, and he wore a golden-red robe with a crown on his head, giving off an air of extreme nobility.
Ning Fengzhi, dressed in a white robe and wearing a Seven Treasure Purple Gold Crown, had a gentle and refined demeanor.
He smiled lightly and replied, "I do have a team in mind. My daughter is also part of it. They once defeated a team from the Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Perhaps they can bring the championship back to the empire."
"Oh? Which team is Sect Leader Ning referring to?" Emperor Xue Ye asked, slightly surprised. Which academy could have earned such high praise from a clan leader like Ning Fengzhi?
He was usually occupied with state affairs and rarely concerned himself with such matters. Until now, he had no idea which team had defeated the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
"Your Majesty, if I may keep it a secret for now, you will find out during the preliminary rounds," Ning Fengzhi replied with a warm and elegant smile.
Emperor Xue Ye didn't press further, though he was somewhat intrigued by the team Ning Fengzhi mentioned. However, he didn't dwell on it. Bringing the championship back to the empire was a nearly impossible feat.
For the past ten years, when had the Heaven Dou Empire ever won a championship? With the terrifying Spirit Hall team participating, it was almost impossible to dream of victory in the Spirit Master Tournament.
Soon after, the first round of preliminaries began, with Bishop Salas from the Spirit Hall overseeing the draw.
"Old pervert!" That was the first impression Ma Hongjun and Oscar had when they saw this old man.
Below the stage, two female staff members held badges. Salas, this old man, was extremely lecherous, extending his bony hand to shamelessly grope the short-haired beauty, displaying despicable behavior.
"Ugh, this disgusting old man is so gross!" Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu shuddered in disgust. The thought of being groped by this old man was simply unimaginable.
Witnessing the whole scene, Chen Xuan also felt uncomfortable. He had to admit that this person truly tarnished the reputation of the Spirit Hall.
"Damn old pervert!" was his assessment.
"Ahem..." Just then, a cough interrupted everyone. It was Flender and Yu Xiaogang approaching.
"Little monsters, the draw is done. Your opponent in the first round is the Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Get ready."
"Heaven Dou Royal Academy?" The Shrek team was surprised.
"Is it the team of Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan?" Ma Hongjun asked, confused.
Flender shook his head and said, "Don't worry, it's just their second team. The first team is already pre-qualified, so you won't face them."
"Hmph!" Dai Mubai snorted disdainfully, "Second team or not, even if the first team were here, Shrek would still remain undefeated. Fatty, if you're scared, go back to sleep. Shrek's motto is that a Spirit Master who dares not cause trouble is a mediocre one."
"No, no, no, Boss Dai, Shrek is united. There's no reason to break us apart," Ma Hongjun quickly backed down.
He patted his large belly and continued, "I still want to show my skills. When my Fire Phoenix appears, I'll defeat all opponents and win over all those little fan girls."
"Fan girls? You, Fatty, dreaming of fans? Keep dreaming!" Xiao Wu teased, giving him no face at all.
"Ahem..." The Master cleared his throat and said, "Hongjun, I don't plan to let you participate in the preliminary rounds this time. You'll be replaced by a substitute."
Hearing this, Ma Hongjun felt as if he had been struck by lightning. The Master's words crushed his dreams of fan girls and romance.