As the referee announced the verdict, tsunami-like cheers and roars completely ignited the square of the Papal Hall. Countless gazes followed that black figure slowly descending from the arena, filled with fanaticism, worship, shock, and indescribably complex emotions.
Marco paid no heed to the deafening clamor around him, calmly walking back to the contestant preparation area of the Heaven Dou Empire zone. However, the moment he stepped into the area, he was instantly surrounded by a surging crowd.
Not only did Ye Lingling, Li Qiuyao, Osler, and others from the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy's second team excitedly come forward to greet him, but even members from the nearby Divine Wind Academy, Blazing Academy, and Heaven Water Academy also gathered around in unison. Due to Marco's "guidance" and invisible connections during the Promotion Tournament, the relationships among these Elemental Academies were no longer merely competitive as they had been initially. Instead, there was now a subtle sense of belonging to the same Heaven Dou Competition Zone and facing powerful enemies together, leading to much more frequent exchanges among them.
"Senior Marco! So awesome! One kick each, it was like kicking sandbags!" Yu Feng was the first to rush up, excitedly waving his arms, his eyes full of stars. Although he was of the Swift Attack Type, the incredibly fast and powerfully beautiful Martial Art Marco had just displayed had completely captivated him.
"Those guys from the War Academy looked fierce, but in front of Senior, they were simply no match!" Osler also couldn't hide his excitement. Although their Royal Fight Team (second team) had also successfully advanced, they knew that against the War Academy's iron-blooded fighting style, they could never have won so easily and effortlessly.
Although Ye Lingling didn't speak, her watery blue eyes sparkled as she looked at Marco, a faint smile on her lips. Li Qiuyao chattered beside her, imitating Marco's earlier movements, making several girls giggle lightly.
"Marco, congratulations." Feng Xiaotian walked over, a sincere smile on his face as he patted Marco's shoulder (within the distance permitted by the other). "Your strength is becoming more and more unfathomable. Those guys from the War Academy are no pushovers. If I went up, even if I could win, I'd lose a layer of skin." His words were frank and voiced the thoughts of many around him.
Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu, the brother and sister, also approached. Huo Wushuang said solemnly, "Impressive. Their Combined Attack Formation was very powerful, especially that relentless momentum. I never expected you to dismantle it so easily in that way." As a power attack type, he could better appreciate the danger contained in that brief exchange and the terrifying ease with which Marco handled it.
Huo Wu pursed her lips, looking at Marco with complex emotions in her eyes. There was a time when she had regarded him as a rival she must surpass, even resorting to the Ring Fusion Secret Technique, only to suffer a crushing defeat. Now, looking at him again, it seemed he had reached a height where she could barely even see his back anymore. That sense of frustration still existed, but more than that, there was a feeling of helplessness as if facing a towering mountain, and a trace of... admiration she herself was unwilling to admit. In the end, she just turned her face away and snorted, "Fine, you're amazing."
Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu also arrived together. Shui Bing'er's demeanor was cool and detached, her voice as clear as ice and snow: "Congratulations. Your speed, strength, and timing were all impeccable. War Academy's coordination indeed seemed too straightforward in front of you." Her evaluation was concise and objective, carrying her usual calmness. In her eyes was a rational acknowledgment of a strong opponent's strength, without excessive enthusiasm.
Xue Wu smiled and nodded at Marco, also expressing her congratulations.
Marco gave a slight nod to the group in response to their well-wishes, his tone still calm: "Their coordination was decent, but there was a gap in individual strength, and their tactics were too straightforward."
His understated evaluation left everyone speechless once again. War Academy's ferocious, intricately linked combat formation was merely described as "decent" and "too straightforward" in his words?
But upon second thought, given Marco's strength and insight, it seemed... not entirely wrong?
Seizing this opportunity, the young geniuses from several Elemental Academies naturally gathered in a corner of the Heaven Dou area, conversing in low voices. The topic naturally revolved around the recent match and their observations of other strong teams.
"Did you notice? Even though War Academy lost, their Support Type Soul Master's Battle Banner Spirit had a unique enhancement effect. It seemed to lean more toward mental fortitude and battlefield survivability, quite different from our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda or Nine Heart Begonia," analyzed a vice-captain from Divine Wind Academy.
"Indeed, their fighting style was too brutal, completely military in nature. It seems that in Star Luo, Soul Master training leans more toward practical combat and military service," remarked a member of Blazing Academy with lingering fear.
"Here in Heaven Dou, academies like ours are still the mainstream. However, after this tournament, I'm afraid all major academies will have to reflect on their training methods," sighed a senior student from Heaven Water Academy.
"What's there to fear? We have Senior Marco!" Yu Feng declared proudly, chest puffed out.
This drew a round of good-natured chuckles, and the atmosphere became quite harmonious. Marco simply sat to the side, eyes closed in meditation, not participating in the discussion. Yet, his very presence served as the "link" and confidence that allowed these academies to communicate so harmoniously.
Meanwhile, inside the VIP box in the Star Luo Empire area, the atmosphere was starkly different from the relaxed and amicable one in Heaven Dou—it was icy cold, almost freezing.
Bang—!
An exquisite glazed wine cup was violently smashed onto the floor, shattering into pieces. The deep red wine splattered across the expensive carpet like blood.
"Trash! A bunch of useless trash!"
A low roar, suppressed with furious rage, rang out. The speaker was an exceptionally tall young man with flowing golden hair, handsome features, yet carrying a sinister and domineering aura reminiscent of a hawk's gaze and a wolf's watchfulness. He was dressed in luxurious dark gold imperial robes—none other than the Crown Prince of the Star Luo Empire and the captain of the Star Luo Royal Academy team, Davis!
His face was livid with anger, his chest heaving slightly from rage. His eyes were sharp as blades, fixed intently on the direction of the arena below, as if he could pierce through space and tear apart the black-haired youth who had so effortlessly defeated War Academy.
"Your Highness, please calm your anger." A voice both alluring and cool sounded beside him. A tall, curvaceous woman with stunning features and an aura of detachment and danger gently placed a hand on Davis's back. This was his fiancée, also the vice-captain of the Star Luo Royal Academy team, Zhu Zhuqing.
Her voice seemed to carry a soothing magic: "War Academy did their best. They fought with our style and managed to probe some information. It's just that Marco Lee... his strength truly exceeded expectations. It seems the intelligence from Heaven Dou wasn't exaggerated much."
"Their best? Probing?" Davis whirled around, glaring at Zhu Zhuqing, his anger unabated. "What I wanted was for him to be injured! To force out his trump cards! Not for them to be kicked off the stage like sandbags, without even forcing out a single one of his Spirit Abilities! What kind of probing is that? It's a disgrace! They've completely shamed the Star Luo military!"
He grew more agitated as he spoke: "All the good fortune goes to Heaven Dou! First, they get a Twin Spirits user with the Clear Sky Hammer, and now this monster appears! Could it be that the Mandate of Heaven truly favors Heaven Dou?"