"Let us congratulate Shrek Academy for yet another victory!"
"Woo!"
The cheers of the audience erupted all around the arena.
After several matches, this once-unknown team had stirred immense interest.
These students were no weaker than the geniuses from the advanced academies. Their martial spirits and soul power levels were outstanding.
Every clean and decisive battle they fought had shocked the crowd with its intensity and spectacle.
Especially the leader of the Shrek Six Monsters, Tang San. Despite his martial spirit being Blue Silver Grass—something many regarded as weak—his soul power and spirit rings were terrifyingly strong.
He had pushed the potential of a control-type soul master to the very extreme.
After receiving indirect reinforcement from the Zerg Overmind, Tang San's strength had grown even greater.
Though, due to Lin Fan's interference, he had not obtained the Eight Spider Lances external spirit bone, the mental techniques taught by the Overmind for insect control had increased his power considerably.
In combat, Tang San could secretly manipulate poisonous insects to harass his opponents, releasing interference and weakening them.
While not instantly fatal, this was enough to lower the enemy's strength and effectiveness, making battles much easier for him and his team.
Under his leadership, Dai Mubai and the others secured another decisive victory.
Standing in the center of the arena, Tang San basked in the cheers and adulation of the crowd. Seeing his teammates rejoicing, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips, his eyes narrowing slightly in satisfaction.
"This feeling… it's not bad at all. Let me lead you all into the finals!"
Tang San silently resolved that no matter what conspiracies or powers plotted in the shadows, he would take Shrek Academy not only into the finals, but also to seize the ultimate championship!
Even if the sky fell, wasn't the Spirit Hall still there to bear the weight?
In his mind, no force on the continent would dare oppose Spirit Hall directly.
What danger could there possibly be for him?
Chuckling softly, Tang San shook his head, unaware of how naïve his assumption was.
High above in the stands, the gazes of the imperial families of both empires, the elders of the great sects, and the consecrated and elders of Spirit Hall were all fixed on the Shrek Six Monsters.
Many exchanged curious looks between Ning Fengzhi and the Star Luo Emperor.
It was obvious from their martial spirits that Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing were of royal lineage, while Ning Rongrong belonged to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
Considering the internal struggles within the Star Luo imperial family, their expressions grew even more peculiar.
It now seemed that the third prince's strength was far from the waste the rumors had painted him as. On the contrary, he was formidable.
So in the battle for succession, who would ultimately emerge victorious?
And yet, for members of such lineages to hide themselves in a minor, obscure academy… what did that say of the royal family's dignity?
The Star Luo Emperor appeared calm, though inwardly he sneered in disdain.
He knew his own family well.
Though Dai Mubai had displayed strength, Davis, after returning from his own training, had advanced by leaps and bounds.
Moreover, Davis had a peerless genius as a close friend.
These were powers hidden in the shadows, unknown to the wider world.
"Pitiful fools," the Emperor thought coldly. "They are all short-sighted mice."
There were many geniuses under the heavens, but only those who shone as the brightest stars of their era were worthy of investment.
Bibi Dong rested her chin on one hand, her beautiful eyes fixed deeply on Tang San.
If this boy had reached such strength without the backing of any hidden force, purely through his own cultivation, then his talent was indeed extraordinary.
But if he had no intention of joining Spirit Hall…
A glint of icy murder flickered in her gaze.
No one could obstruct the march of Spirit Hall!
Even the faintest spark of opposition had to be extinguished while still in the cradle.
The Shrek Six Monsters slowly left the stage, though they did not depart.
The next match was about to begin—Spirit Academy versus the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy team.
This would be Spirit Academy's first appearance, and all soul masters present, participants and spectators alike, were eager to witness their performance.
Even Bibi Dong's eyes narrowed slightly, her anticipation rising.
In the original history, a single Xie Yue had been enough to sweep Heaven Dou's so-called elites aside.
Now, after Lin Fan's special guidance and enhancement, how much stronger would they be?
Bibi Dong could not wait to see what kind of surprise her personally trained disciples would bring.
The host's booming announcement rang out:
"The Heaven Dou Imperial Academy team will take the stage first!"
The academy's students strode forward, drawing deep breaths and fixing their determined gazes on the entrance where Spirit Academy's team would soon emerge.
"Now, let us welcome the contestants of Spirit Academy!"
The host raised his voice further:
"Sixty-second rank, assault-type Battle Soul Emperor—Xie Yue!"
"Sixty-second rank, control-type Battle Soul Emperor—Hu Liena!"
"Sixty-second rank, assault-type Battle Soul Emperor—Yan!"
"Sixtieth rank, agility-type Battle Soul Emperor—Zhang Ping!"
"Sixtieth rank, assault-type Battle Soul Emperor—Li Kai!"
"Sixtieth rank, assault-type Battle Soul Emperor—Sun Chuantao!"
The announcer, Su Yuntao, spoke the names in one breath.
For a moment, silence fell across the arena.
Not a sound. Even the once-boisterous crowd froze, their cheers strangled in their throats.
They stared wide-eyed at the Spirit Academy students stepping onto the stage.
Even Bibi Dong sat up straighter, shock flashing in her beautiful eyes.
"This… impossible…"
Beside her, Golden Crocodile Douluo let out a bitter laugh, scratching his head as confusion filled his massive eyes.
"I watched these children grow up myself. How could they possibly have such overwhelming talent?"
No one answered him.
Every sect elder, every imperial noble, every member of Spirit Hall—all of them wanted to know: how had Spirit Academy achieved this?
Below, Flender trembled as he removed his golden-rimmed glasses, furiously rubbing the lenses with his sleeve—only to accidentally snap them in his shaking hands.
"Teacher, are you alright?" Ma Hongjun asked anxiously.
"I—I'm fine…" Flender shook his head, though his ashen face and trembling lips betrayed his true feelings.
Tang San turned his gaze toward the six Spirit Academy fighters who had entered the battlefield, bitterness welling in his heart.
"Could such talent really exist in this world?"
Even if he unleashed every hidden card, even if he fought at his absolute peak, he estimated he could only barely defeat one of them.
But Spirit Academy had six of these geniuses.
The entire arena fell silent.
The audience didn't even dare to breathe loudly.
Normally, upon seeing prodigies, they would scream in excitement and cheer.
But these six carried with them a crushing aura, a suffocating pressure that weighed down on the entire audience like a mountain, leaving them gasping for air.
At that moment, dark clouds gathered overhead, blotting out the sunlight.
Heaven and earth seemed to dim.
The six members of Spirit Hall's academy advanced slowly, heads lowered, faces expressionless.
A terrifying murderous intent and overwhelming presence poured out from them.
With every step they took forward, the students of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy involuntarily retreated one step back.
The shadow of dread spread across the battlefield.
****
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