Because they were probing the Elephant Carapace team's defense, Zhu Zhuqing deliberately targeted their weakest member—a 37-level Soul Lord. Before the enemy could react, Zhu Zhuqing's Ghostly Hundred Claws struck swiftly, raking countless scratches across his torso. The wounds were purple-black, but thanks to their early use of the Bronze-Wall Iron Defense along with soul spirit protection, the slashes remained superficial.
"Third Soul Skill: Ghostly Slash!" Zhu Zhuqing activated her thousand-year skill. With hands clasped and a heavy strike to his back, his ribs splintered, and he collapsed in a heap.
"Ah Hao!" the Carapace team captain bellowed in fury.
"Nicely done, Zhu Qing!" Oscar cheered from the air.
"Zhu Qing, fall back!" Tang San warned as the rest began converging on her.
Without prolonging the fight, Zhu Zhuqing pulled back using Oscar's soul boost and returned to the team.
"Hitting my teammate and running away?" the captain roared.
"Third Soul Skill: Suppressive Crush!"
He locked onto Zhu Qing and unleashed his thousand-year skill, shrouding her in crushing gravity. Zhu Qing was forced to crouch on the ring floor, trapped.
"If that's a gravity skill—just like hers—it's deadly to agile fighters," Zhao Wuji warned Flender and the others. "Zhu Qing is in danger!"
"Entangle!" Tang San immediately tried to yank Zhu Qing out with Blue Silver Grass, but it shattered under the gravity.
"Third Soul Skill: Teleport!"
"First Soul Skill: Waist Bow!" Xiao Wu leapt in, using teleport to approach and Waist Bow to interrupt the captain's attack.
"First: Power, third: Soul." Ning Rongrong boosted both Zhu Qing's strength and spirit power. Thanks to her help, Zhu Qing escaped the gravitational field.
"Xiao Wu, fall back!" Tang San called.
"Got it!" With a final strike, Xiao Wu felled the captain, and Tang San pulled her to safety.
"Damn! All Shrek Team does is run?" the captain shouted.
"Heh, come and catch us if you can," Ma Hongjun taunted.
"It's because you forced me—this was my ace card against the Windforce Academy. Now, experience the might of Carapace Academy!" the captain snarled.
"Body Cannon! Activate!" he commanded.
The remaining five formed a unique formation around one spinning member who slammed into Tang San's group like a cannonball.
"Dai Mubai, block!" Tang San shouted.
"White Tiger Guardian Shield!" Dai Mubai braced in front but was hit hard as the shield shattered in seconds. He was hurled into Tang San's Blue Silver entanglement, tearing it apart. He crashed to the floor, clutching his chest, blood spattering the ring.
His body trembled violently.
"Body Cannon: Rolling Juggernaut!" the captain roared again.
"Mystic Jade Palm!" Tang San's hands paled as he attempted to intercept—it nearly crippled him.
Though Jade Palm was powerful, the strength gap, plus the lack of medicinal herb training, left him overpowered. His strike failed.
With Dai Mubai injured, Zhu Qing drained, and Xiao Wu unable to reverse the damage, Oscar's Flying Sausage offered no help. In the Carapace team's relentless assault, Shrek Academy lost again.
"Ah! I thought they only had strong defense, but turns out they also have combo skills," Yu Xiaogang sighed.
Lin Fan gave a slight, amused smile—but no comment.
"Congratulations to Elephant Carapace Academy—2 points!" announced the hostess.
Shrek Academy, after consecutive defeats, remained at zero.
Tang San helped Dai Mubai into the rest area; the rest looked downcast, morale shattered.
"Jiangzhu, quickly!" Liu Erlong called for the healer.
"We lost," Xiao Wu said quietly.
"It's okay—you did great. One loss won't keep us from advancing," Flender comforted.
"Don't underestimate the Elemental Academies. Losing once is fine—as long as we beat others and match the remaining Four-Element Academies, we'll advance," Yu Xiaogang tried to reassure.
But after losing again, and then yet another match, Shrek Academy had suffered three losses.
Yu Xiaogang could no longer stay calm.
"Xiaogang, the draw is out: next match is against the Ignite Fire Academy. If we lose again, chances to qualify are slim," Flender informed Xiaogang. Only five teams advance, and losing five means elimination.
If Lin Xuan isn't fielded, Tang San's team won't be able to defeat Ignite Fire—they'd certainly lose a fourth match.
"Lin Xuan, you lead the next match," Yu Xiaogang reluctantly said.
"Fine. Put me in already," Lin Xuan calmly replied.
Tang San and Dai Mubai shot stunned glances.
"Lin Xuan, why so casual? We're your teachers—and aren't you supposed to complete your family's trial?" Yu Xiaogang challenged.
"If Shrek Academy doesn't qualify, you think I'll abandon family duty? I'll just join another team. Every academy wants me for their roster," Lin Xuan responded coldly.
"Why now all of a sudden..." Yu Xiaogang's face darkened in anger as he backed away.
Lin Xuan said nothing more. He valued pride and strength over everything. If losing meant losing a system reward, so be it.
Even as a Soul Lord, he refused to show arrogance. A big Soul Master was trying to show off—he wouldn't be bullied.
The rest area fell silent under the tense atmosphere.
The next match was approaching; Flender pulled Yu Xiaogang away from the room.