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"The preliminaries use a point system, not single elimination. As long as our final score is among the top five, we'll advance," Yu Xiaogang stated clearly. "If we use our full main lineup and push hard in this first match, even if Shrek Academy is lucky enough to win, it would be a Pyrrhic victory. Plus, all our trump cards, tactics, and Spirit Ability combinations would be completely exposed to every other academy!"
"That means for the rest of the preliminaries, we would become the prime target. All our opponents would study us, counter us, and we'd have no secrets left. The situation would be extremely unfavorable," he explained, his brow furrowed.
"Forfeiting this match, preserving our main force, and hiding our strength to ensure we gain points in more crucial later matches with the smallest possible costâthat is the most logical choice right now."
After hearing Yu Xiaogang's analysis, everyone fell into deep contemplation.
Just as they were pondering Yu Xiaogang's suggestion, Flender suddenly stood up. His face was a mix of heartbreak and conflict. He rubbed his hands nervously, his voice almost tearful as he said, "For⊠forfeit? Xiaogang, this⊠this probably won't work!"
He pointed to the conspicuous 'GG' logo on the team members' uniforms. "We signed a contract! If we forfeit this first match, the exposure will be drastically reduced. How am I supposed to explain this to the sponsor? My GG fees⊠Ahem, and what about our academy's reputation?"
Before he could finish, Liu Erlong, who was standing beside him, glared fiercely. Her beautiful eyes were practically spitting fire as she sternly interrupted, "Old Man Flender! What time is it?! Is your measly GG fee more important than the children's futures and the academy's success in the tournament?! Do you really only care about money?"
Screamed at by Liu Erlong, Flender immediately shrank his neck, nodding repeatedly in embarrassment. He sheepishly mumbled, "Right, right⊠Second Dragon Girl, you're absolutely right, the competition is what's important, the competition is important!" He paused, then asked, "Since that's the case, then⊠should we actually forfeit?"
Hearing this, Tang San and Dai Mubai exchanged glances but remained silent.
"Why don't we just all go out there? Why should we be scared of them?" Ma Hongjun, who was not far away, couldn't help but complain. "The last time in Soto City, if it wasn't for that Tang Chen playing tricks and pretending to be a woman to suddenly ambush us, would we have even lost?"
Yu Xiaogang looked at Tang San, and after a moment of silence, he asked, "Little San, you're back now. As the Soul and main controller of the Shrek Team, the final decision should be yours."
"Teacher, we fight!" A faint gleam flashed in Tang San's eyes as he spoke with a cold, determined shout.
"Little San, have you thought this through completely? Tianxing Academy is certainly not an ordinary opponent. Since Tang Chen and Dugu Bo dared to scheme like this, they must have something reliable to back them up," Yu Xiaogang looked at Tang San, confirming his stance one more time.
Tang San met Yu Xiaogang's steady gaze and said in a deep voice, "Teacher, since I dared to take on this match, I naturally have great confidence." He took a breath. "You just don't know that in these past three months, besides my fourth Spirit Ring reaching the ten-thousand-year level, my father personally hunted countless top-tier ten-thousand-year spider-type Spirit Beasts for me, helping me acquire a perfectly matched thirty-thousand-year right arm Spirit Bone!"
"It was the immense boost from this Spirit Bone that caused a massive qualitative leap in my Physique and Spirit Power, allowing me to withstand the energy impact of a ten-thousand-year Spirit Ring and successfully absorb it." Speaking of this, he looked toward Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing, who were standing nearby. "I now have a ten-thousand-year fourth ring and two Spirit Bones. Coupled with Mubai and Zhuqing's Martial Soul Fusion Skill, which is enough to turn the tide of battle, we definitely can fight Tianxing Academy!"
Tang San's voice grew colder. "Tianxing Academy's strongest members are merely my brother and that golden-haired woman. As long as we formulate tactics in advance and focus all our strength on eliminating those two core points at the start of the match, we will have a great chance of winning this match!"
Upon hearing this, Yu Xiaogang's breathing suddenly caught. His eyes instantly widened, and he almost let out a cry of surprise. He gripped the armrests of his wheelchair tightly, saying with extreme excitement, "What did you just say? Little San! You⊠you obtained another Spirit Bone? And a thirty-thousand-year one?!"
Tang San met Yu Xiaogang's fervent gaze and nodded affirmatively.
At the same time, there was a collective gasp of cold air from the surrounding Shrek members.
Dai Mubai, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, and the others all looked at Tang San with shock and undisguised envy. Spirit Bones! They were the treasures every Spirit Master dreamed of, and Tang San actually possessed two of them alone!
Slowly exhaling a breath he had been holding, the hesitation and solemnity in Yu Xiaogang's eyes were instantly replaced by a gleam called ambition. He slammed a hand on the armrest of his wheelchair and said decisively, "Good! Since that's the case, then for this match, we'll go head-to-head with Tianxing Academy!"
At that moment, his back seemed to straighten a bit, regaining the confidence and arrogance of a theory Grandmaster. "I refuse to believe that Shrek Academy, with you Little Monsters and under my full guidance, will always lose to them!"
"If⊠if we unfortunately lose this time, it's not a big deal. The preliminaries have only just begun," he reassured them.
His gaze swept over everyone, and Yu Xiaogang put forth an even more astonishing idea.
"The Royal Fight Team has disbanded. At worst, I'll humble myself later and personally go talk to Tian Heng! I'll ask him to join our Shrek Team as well! He's already the nephew of Erlong and me, and also the most outstanding junior of our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!" He declared, his voice filled with newfound confidence.
"By then, our Shrek will have gathered the Clear Sky Hammer and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, bringing together two top Spirits from the Upper Three Sects! I refuse to believe that such a lineup won't make a resounding name for itself in this All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament!"
...Half an hour later, the atmosphere within the magnificent Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena had reached its peak.
Beneath the enormous dome, several sub-Douhun Stages simultaneously lit up with dazzling Spirit tool lights, illuminating the central main Douhun Stage and several surrounding auxiliary Douhun Stages as if it were midday.
Team uniforms of different colors began to surge from various entrances. These represented the twenty-eight elite academy teams from various provinces and kingdoms of the Heaven Dou Empire. They entered in sequence, heading to their designated Douhun Stages according to the draw results.
In the stands, tens of thousands of spectators erupted in thunderous cheers and shouts. The sound waves almost seemed powerful enough to overturn the entire venue.
The air was thick with excitement, tension, and fervent Battle Intent.
The arena had already undergone changes; in just that short half-hour, the previously prepared fighting platform had been erected.
The fighting platform was ten meters high, circular, and had a diameter of over thirty meters.
The area was quite vast.
Of course, this was just one fighting platform.
Each team had to face twenty-seven opponents.
Winning a match earned one point, while the loser received no points.
After twenty-eight rounds, the top five teams in points would advance to the knockout stage.
This month-long preliminary round was a grueling test for any academy team; twenty-eight consecutive days of matches were enough to wear down teams with poor endurance.
Soon, the host next to the central main Douhun Stage received instructions. He channeled his Spirit Power, and his high-pitched voice instantly overpowered the clamor from the other sub-arenas, saying, "Next up, Preliminary Round One, Tianxing Academy versus Shrek Academy!"
"Please, both teams, take the stage!"
As soon as his voice fell, all eyes instantly focused on the central main Douhun Stage.
On both sides of the aisle, Tang Chen and Tang San, each leading their respective team members, walked onto the fighting platform with determined steps, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.
However, to everyone's astonishment, from Tianxing Academy's side, only two people walked onto the fighting platform: Tang Chen and a tall, cold-faced golden-haired woman.
On Shrek Academy's side, however, there was a full lineup of seven people: Tang San, Dai Mubai, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Oscar, Jiang Zhu, and Tai Long.
As soon as he stepped onto the stage, Dai Mubai suddenly took a step forward. A cold light flickered in his evil eyes as he stared intently at the only two people opposite him. He shouted in a cold voice, "Brothers, activate your Spirits!"
"White Tiger, possess!"
Along with the falling words, Dai Mubai was the first to erupt. His muscles bulged, and black and white fur instantly covered his body. A distinct 'King' character appeared on his forehead, and a fierce aura swept out.
Two yellow, two purple, four optimally matched Spirit Rings rose from beneath his feet. The dazzling light and surging Spirit Power fluctuations immediately drew gasps from the stands!
The host looked at the only two people from Tianxing Academy, a look of surprise on his face. He quickly stepped forward a few paces and spoke to Tang Chen and Xiao Ruier with a puzzled expression, "Tianxing Academy, please note, this match is a seven-person team battle, not a two-on-two Fighting Soul. Your other team membersâŠ"
Before he could finish his advising words, Xiao Ruier stepped forward.
She didn't even glance at the host, her golden eyes indifferently swept over Shrek Academy's seven members, who were poised for battle, and her red lips parted slightly as she said, "Nonsense. Just assume the other five have already admitted defeat and stepped down."
Then, her eyes flickered with contempt. "Against an academy of this caliber, the two of us are more than enough."
As soon as these words were uttered, it was as if a ladle of cold water had been poured into a boiling oil pot. The entire Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena fell silent for a moment, then erupted with a deafening uproar!
"They're too arrogant!"
"Two people against seven? Who do they think they are?"
"Even though Shrek's uniforms are ugly, they still have Spirit Ancestors!"
"Who is this woman? How dare she speak such arrogant words!"
Countless questions, exclamations, and even curses surged from all directions of the stands. Everyone was shocked by Tianxing Academy's almost insulting arrogance.
Upon hearing this, Tang San's face instantly turned ashen.
The opponent's undisguised contempt and insult pierced his heart like a sharp thorn.
"Hmph, brother, dare to underestimate me, today I will make you pay the price!"
With a cold snort, he suddenly took a step forward, and the ground beneath Tang San's feet seemed to tremble slightly. Immediately after, a Spirit Power far more solid and majestic than Dai Mubai's suddenly erupted!
"Buzzââ!"
A shocking Spirit Ring configuration was revealed.
Two yellow, one purple, and a deep, heart-stopping jet-black Spirit Ring, a total of four Spirit Rings, spiraled up from beneath his feet, their light dazzling.
Especially that black ten-thousand-year Spirit Ring, it also emitted a suffocating pressure!
"What?!"
"That⊠that's a black Spirit Ring?!"
"A ten-thousand-year Spirit Ring?! How can the fourth Spirit Ring be ten-thousand-year?!"
"My heavens! Am I seeing things?!"
The exclamations from the stands, which had originally been denouncing Tianxing Academy's arrogance, were instantly replaced by even louder, incredulous shouts and screams of horror!
Everyone's eyes were fixed on Tang San. That fourth Spirit Ring, which defied all logic, plunged the entire Great Spirit Arena into a strange state of frenzy.
Even Emperor Xue Ye, in the VIP section, couldn't control his emotions and shouted, "What?! This⊠impossible, how can the fourth Spirit Ring be ten-thousand-year?"
Looking at the shocked and noisy crowd in the surrounding stands due to Tang San's ten-thousand-year fourth Spirit Ring, Tang Chen's lips immediately curled into a cold, undisguisedly sarcastic sneer.
The next second, he also took a step forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with the golden-haired woman beside him.
Without a word, an even more terrifying, more chilling Spirit Power pressure, as if substantial, suddenly spread out from him as its center!
"Buzzââ!"
An even more astonishing Spirit Ring configuration than Tang San's was revealed to everyone without reservation.
Two purple! Three black!
A full five Spirit Rings slowly rose from beneath his feet, then spiraled upwards!
The deep purple was already shocking, but the three subsequently appearing jet-black, ten-thousand-year Spirit Rings, as if capable of devouring light, brought an even more destructive visual and spiritual impact!
"Boom!!!"
The entire Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena seemed to have been muted. All exclamations, discussions, and commotions ceased abruptly at this moment, plunging into a deathly silence.
Everyone's pupils contracted violently, their faces filled with utter stupor and a sense of absurdity.
Two purple, three black? The third Spirit Ring is already ten-thousand-year?
This had completely exceeded their comprehension and overturned their ingrained perceptions!
In this absolute silence and horror, the five illogical Spirit Rings on Tang Chen's body emitted a light that brought despair to the Shrek members.
"Fake, it's absolutely fake! His Spirit Rings must be a Simulation!"
"Little San, don't be fooled by him!" Just then, Yu Xiaogang's voice came from not far away.