Heaven Dou Team 2's defeat was unavoidable.
Emperor Xue Ye had never expected Team 2 to achieve outstanding results, because the gap between them and Team 1 was obvious to everyone.
However, suffering such a crushing defeat in the very first match of the first round was a great humiliation for him.
After the match, when he saw Shrek treating their substitute players, Salas let out a small groan.
"Interesting…."
The sound wasn't loud, but it was loud enough for others to hear clearly.
Emperor Xue Ye's face turned pale.
Did the Heaven Dou Sect lack healing spirit masters?
Needless to say, this academy had the highest-level healing-type martial soul — the Nine Heart Flowering Apple — and Team 2 even had a complete rear support team.
Did Shrek really need to show off in front of everyone like this?
This wasn't a class. This was blatant humiliation.
He could accept defeat, but he would never accept humiliation that stripped away and trampled on one's dignity.
However, he was, after all, the emperor ruling the empire. No matter how dissatisfied he was, he couldn't show it at this moment.
He was certain that if Salas took any action against Shrek, Salas would immediately intervene to play the good cop.
Praise Shrek and win them over.
That way, he would become the fool who shot himself in the foot.
On the first day of the preliminaries, Lin Yang didn't rush to leave the venue. He stayed in the rest area and watched all the matches.
The final results were not much different from what he had expected, but he was surprised by the performance of the Five Elements Academies.
Both their overall strength and individual strength had become stronger than before.
The most obvious example was Feng Xiaotian. His cultivation level was no longer the level 44 he remembered, but level 46.
Even a difference of just two levels was enough to prove that Feng Xiaotian had begun to change.
Instead of focusing solely on refining his own spirit skills, he had begun to notice his innate spirit power talent.
This was getting interesting.
On one side was the weakened Shrek Academy, and on the other was the strengthened Five Elements Academies.
Winning the championship went without saying — even advancing to the next round would probably be a difficult path.
After the matches ended, Lin Yang led the team out of the Great Spirit Arena, but at that moment, he ran into Feng Xiaotian and his group, who were also preparing to leave.
In fact, it wasn't just people from God Wind Academy. There were also several familiar faces from Sky Water, Thunder, and Blazing Fire.
As if they had planned it in advance, everyone had gathered at the entrance.
"Hey~ Lin Yang, long time no see!"
Feng Xiaotian walked over with a bright smile and greeted him familiarly.
Lin Yang smiled and said, "Long time no see. You guys have gotten stronger."
"Hmph!"
Huo Wu snorted lightly, her eyes burning with fighting spirit.
"In these two years, we haven't been doing nothing. I'll definitely repay that kick sooner or later."
Before Lin Yang could open his mouth, Xiao Wu spoke first.
"Who gave you that confidence? Try beating me first, loser!"
The moment she heard the words "loser," Huo Wu exploded like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
"You damn rabbit, do you think I can't deal with you?"
Xiao Wu raised her eyebrows. "Want me to give you a handicap?"
"Lowly bastard…."
Huo Wu stomped her foot in anger, looking ready to start a fight over the slightest thing, but Huo Wushuang stopped her.
The others were already used to it.
After all, during their academy exchange period, these two had fought the most fiercely and frequently, and every time, Huo Wu suffered a crushing defeat.
If it had been anyone else, their Dao heart would have collapsed from the impact.
But Huo Wu didn't.
She was like a stubborn wild donkey. Rather than retreating, she chose to crash into herself, becoming braver with every setback.
Perhaps that was what made her special.
After all, what a core team member needed wasn't just the persuasive power to unite the team, but also the charisma to capture the hearts of the team members.
After watching the commotion for a while, Feng Xiaotian couldn't help but turn to Lin Yang.
"Aren't you going to persuade them?"
"Isn't that something you should do? Anyway, in the end, it's not my people who will suffer, and besides…" Lin Yang shrugged.
"They won't actually fight."
Feng Xiaotian was surprised. Looking at the two who were exchanging fierce words but refusing to back down, he asked with doubtful eyes,
"Are you serious?"
Lin Yang smiled lightly and said nothing.
However, just as he said, Xiao Wu and Huo Wu only exchanged fierce words and didn't actually fight.
One shouldn't be fooled by their fierce temperaments. They were by no means stupid.
What would they gain from fighting here other than becoming a laughingstock?
They were no longer little children. They could tell what was important and what wasn't.
To ease the tension, Lin Yang suggested they go eat together.
"Great!" Feng Xiaotian was the first to agree.
"Looks like I need to thoroughly defeat you today, rich bastard."
Lin Yang's wealth was well-known!
Lin Yang laughed loudly and said, "Alright, order whatever you want. It's my treat today."
"Nice!"
"Lord Lin is truly generous!"
"Even if we can't beat you, we'll eat up all your food expenses, right?"
Hearing this, Lin Yang turned his face and met Huo Wu's eyes.
This foolish girl.
If she could really order enough food to eat up all his belongings, that in itself could be considered a talent.
At that moment, Lin Yang felt a numbness in his waist. Dugu Yan was pinching his soft flesh with her small hand.
"You're really generous."
Lin Yang chuckled and said, "Aren't you and Lingling here to act as my bodyguards?"
"Whispering——"
Dugu Yan widened her eyes and said irritably,
"In that case, you might as well be forced to beg on the streets."
"I'd rather beg than be kept by a rich woman like you."
"Hmph! Shameless!"
...
Time flew by, and the second round of the preliminaries officially began.
Just like yesterday, Lin Yang led the Heaven Dou team to the rest area and watched the matches.
Compared to the appetizer of the first round, the intensity of the matches in the second round had risen to a whole new level.
If the first round had been about gathering information and observing, then the second round could be said to be the true decisive battle.
After watching the previous matches, they had finally arrived at today's grand finale.
Shrek Academy versus Elephant Armor Academy.
When Lin Yang saw the members of Shrek Academy appear on the stage, he raised his eyebrows.
With Shrek Academy's current team composition, the chances of defeating Team A were low. Even if they were lucky enough to win, both teams would likely suffer heavy losses.
Avoiding the competition was the wisest choice.
Surprisingly, they still stubbornly charged forward.
However, the moment he saw the team members' appearances, an understanding expression appeared on Lin Yang's face, and he muttered something.
"Is this a sign that they're taking it seriously?"
It was no wonder Lin Yang thought this way, because the members who took the stage this time were all members of the Shrek Seven Devils.
Yu Tianheng, Dai Mubai, Tang San, Zhu Zhuqing, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, Ning Rongrong.
In terms of spirit ring configuration, they were the same as the opposing Elephant Armor Academy.
However, in terms of soul power level, Shrek Academy was unbalanced.
The strongest, Yu Tianheng, had at least level 45 or higher soul power.
The weakest, Ma Hongjun and Ning Rongrong, were estimated to have soul power levels of only around 33.
Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Flame could handle spirit masters of the same level.
But in front of the Diamond Mammoth, known for its toughness and defense, how much of that power would remain?