"The third match: Shrek Academy vs. Balak Team. Let's welcome both teams to the arena," the host announced through the microphone.
The Balak team members were eager to compete, clearly not taking Shrek Academy seriously. What kind of top-tier spirit masters could a backwater academy like Shrek produce?
"Watch closely! I'll show you how to trample Shrek Academy underfoot," boasted a tall, muscular young man with wheat-colored skin and a fierce look—definitely someone who wasn't to be messed with.
Balak's team had already sent their first contestant into the arena. Now it was Shrek's turn.
"Chen, you're up," said Flender, pinning his hopes on this young man.
Chen Xuan was momentarily stunned, not quite processing what was happening.
What's going on? He'd been on the bench for more than half a month, and now, suddenly, he was getting a chance to fight? They weren't holding him back anymore?
"Dean, you don't love me anymore!" Fatty (Ma Hongjun) complained loudly, feeling quite wronged—he wanted to go out there too.
"Listen to the master's arrangements," Flender said. He couldn't reveal the truth, which was that he had received a task the day before. The royal side wanted Shrek Academy to give Chen Xuan more opportunities to compete.
"No," a stern voice suddenly interrupted, stopping Chen Xuan from stepping forward.
Master (Yu Xiaogang), with a stoic expression and hands behind his back, walked into the crowd and said, "For the first match, I already have someone in mind."
Flender frowned but said nothing.
In fact, Yu Xiaogang didn't give Flender a chance to argue, firmly insisting that Xiao Wu would be the one to fight.
"Ah, me?" Xiao Wu was surprised, not having been informed beforehand.
"Go ahead, Xiao Wu," Liu Erlong smiled gently at her, filled with love. She had already come to regard Xiao Wu as her own daughter.
"Okay," Xiao Wu responded. With a light step, she leaped into the arena, agile and graceful, vaulting over the railing.
Only then did Liu Erlong turn to Flender and say, "Big Brother Flender, Xiaogang has been teaching these children all along, and he knows them well. He definitely has his own plans."
"Little Sister Erlong, it's not that I don't trust Xiaogang, it's just..." Flender sighed, pulling her aside and informing her and Yu Xiaogang of the royal orders.
Liu Erlong didn't take it too seriously. "So what if it's the emperor's request? This tournament is important, not a game. Outsiders shouldn't interfere."
Yu Xiaogang's response was vague, neither agreeing nor refusing: "Since it's the emperor's wish, I'll take it into serious consideration."
In truth, the All-Continent Spirit Master Tournament wasn't just about the competition—it was a way for the major powers to identify and recruit elites.
Yu Xiaogang understood this well. Chen Xuan had already caught the attention of various parties, though it wasn't clear whether it was the emperor himself or certain sects using the emperor's name.
Regardless, this was something Yu Xiaogang didn't want to see.
He was baffled—Chen Xuan had only competed in two matches, so why was he drawing so much attention? A ten-thousand-year spirit ring shouldn't be enough to attract Emperor Xue Ye's notice.
In the Arena
In just a minute or two, the small match had already been decided.
Next, Balak sent another fighter, only to be beaten down again.
The Balak team came in with great momentum but left just as quickly. Despite one fighter being a four-ring spirit master, he couldn't last three minutes against a young girl who hadn't even obtained her fourth ring yet.
In less than half an hour, Balak had lost five fighters, all to the same girl.
This match was a huge embarrassment for the Balak Academy, making them the laughingstock of the other academies. Once word got out, the Balak Kingdom would find it hard to hold its head high in front of other nations.
In Xiao Wu's final match before stepping down, she faced a four-ring Spirit Elder, someone a whole level above her. Yet, the outcome was decided almost instantly, with the "Yearning Heartbroken Red" ability suppressing all plant-based martial spirits.
This scene, with a sea of blood and massive spirit power fluctuations, raised suspicions among all the powerful figures in attendance, including Emperor Xue Ye, Ning Fengzhi, and the white-clad bishop Salas. It didn't quite seem like a spirit bone ability, but nothing else seemed to explain it.
"What on earth is Tang San up to?" Chen Xuan glanced at Tang San, wondering if he was just carefree or overly confident in his own judgment.
Wasn't he afraid that the Yearning Heartbroken Red might cause problems or reveal Xiao Wu's identity as a spirit beast?
From this battle, Chen Xuan deduced that Xiao Wu was still in love with Tang San, with the Yearning Heartbroken Red being the best proof.
"No, he must have already discovered Xiao Wu's true identity," Chen Xuan muttered to himself.
Tang San, having cultivated the Purple Demon Eyes to the third or fourth level, should be able to see through most illusions and tricks. Perhaps he had long since figured out Xiao Wu's secret.
Chen Xuan shook his head. He couldn't fathom what was going on in Tang San's mind—those who played with hidden weapons often had dark hearts.
The last two members of the Balak team were left to Tang San to handle. By the time all seven opponents were defeated, Chen Xuan hadn't had a chance to fight, and he retreated to the rest area.
After the match, the Shrek team left the arena and returned to their camp to rest.
The Next Day
In the second round of the qualifiers, Shrek Academy drew an all-female team from another zone, the Plant Academy.
The Plant Academy had a uniform look: everyone wore green clothes, and their martial spirits and attributes were all quite similar. They were all control-type spirit masters.
That day, Master changed the lineup, making some adjustments.
"Tyrone, Huang Yuan, Jing Ling, I'm leaving the first three matches to you," Yu Xiaogang ordered firmly, leaving no room for debate.
"Yes, Master," Tyrone said, cracking his knuckles, excited that it was finally his turn to fight.
Not long after the match began, all the academies watching were shocked. Despite Plant Academy only sending one contestant, that single fighter defeated three Shrek Academy members in a row, accomplishing an incredible one-vs-three feat.
Tyrone, Huang Yuan, and Jing Ling all lost to the same girl, a scene eerily reminiscent of yesterday.
"Shrek's not so great, huh? They can't even beat a girl," some onlookers jeered, especially those who had grievances with Shrek Academy.
In individual battles, control-type fighters have a clear advantage over strong attackers and agile fighters. The three from Shrek were never a match for their opponent.
Chen Xuan couldn't help but sigh. Yu Xiaogang, self-proclaimed as a master of theory, surely understood the dynamics of control vs. attack types, yet he still sent Tyrone and the others out. The result had been decided before the match even began.
If Yu Xiaogang didn't have an ulterior motive, Chen Xuan wouldn't believe it.
The fact that Tyrone, Huang Yuan, and Jing Ling all lost to the same girl was humiliating beyond measure. Their morale was shattered, and it was unlikely they would see much more action in future matches.
"Shrek's really not that great. Just a bunch of nobodies," the girl from Plant Academy taunted from the stage, her words dripping with sarcasm.
Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun couldn't stand it any longer. How could the prestigious Shrek Academy allow others to insult them?
"Damn it! I can't take this anymore. Watch me deal with them!" Ma Hongjun, red-faced with anger, was about to charge into the arena.
"Fatty, come back. Let Chen handle them," Flender called, stopping him.
Chen Xuan stood still, showing no intention of stepping forward.
At that moment, Master, hands behind his back, calmly walked over and said coldly, "No, let Ma Hongjun go."
"Master, are you deliberately contradicting me?" Flender frowned, clearly unhappy at being overridden twice in a row.
Yu Xiaogang stood tall, exuding an air of superiority. "If I'm not mistaken, Chen Xuan is an agility-type spirit master, correct? Plant Academy's control-type fighters are the perfect counter. Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire Phoenix, with its fire element, is the best way to deal with plant spirits."
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