The Balak Team's first contestant to step onto the stage was their vice-captain.
Seeing Feng Xiaotian's unfamiliar face, he couldn't help but feel relieved. "Thank goodness it's not Ning Tianchen. Judging by this guy's appearance, his strength must not be that great."
"If I can eliminate him in this match, His Majesty will surely increase my rewards when he hears about it."
With his mind made up, the Balak vice-captain believed he had the upper hand against Feng Xiaotian.
On the other hand, Feng Xiaotian hadn't moved since stepping onto the stage. He stood still with his eyes closed, adjusting his breathing.
The Balak vice-captain sneered internally, "What kind of person did the Seven Treasures Team send? He even seems nervous?"
Yes, in his view, Feng Xiaotian's constant adjustment of his breathing was an attempt to overcome his anxiety.
In the rest area, Ning Tianchen leaned back in his chair and chuckled. "Feng Xiaotian will finish the first match in ten seconds—it's a good start."
The opponent's display of underestimation would leave him unprepared for Feng Xiaotian's swift and fierce attack once the match began.
"Ten seconds? I'll bet a hundred gold spirit coins that the vice-captain will win between eleven and twenty seconds," Chen Huayu chimed in.
Ning Tianchen slung his arm around Chen Huayu's shoulder and laughed, "That's settled then—no backing out this time!"
Chen Huayu suddenly hesitated.
When it came to judgment, Ning Tianchen was definitely sharper than him. A hundred gold spirit coins wasn't a small amount for him.
"I'll pass on that," Chen Huayu said, shrinking back.
"Tsk, no fun!" Ning Tianchen lost interest.
---
Feng Xiaotian's adjustment of his breathing was actually to sense changes in the surrounding airflow.
As soon as the referee announced the start of the match, he snapped his eyes open.
"This match—I've already won," the Balak vice-captain said with a triumphant smile as his fourth soul ring lit up beneath his feet.
Feng Xiaotian's expression remained unchanged, giving the vice-captain no chance to act.
Using the surrounding airflow, Feng Xiaotian vanished from his original position in the blink of an eye.
"Where did he go?" The Balak vice-captain stopped moving and began searching around.
"Behind you!" the team's instructor shouted loudly in warning.
But it was too late.
Feng Xiaotian reached his right hand forward, releasing a powerful gust of wind that blew the Balak vice-captain off the stage.
"The winner of this round is Feng Xiaotian. Additionally, the Balak Team is issued a warning. If this happens again, they will automatically forfeit the match!"
The instructor had risked being penalized to warn the vice-captain, but the latter had underestimated Feng Xiaotian from the very beginning and hadn't reacted in time.
Now, not only had he suffered a humiliating defeat, but Feng Xiaotian hadn't even revealed his soul rings—he still didn't know the extent of his opponent's strength.
After scolding the vice-captain, the instructor quickly sent the second contestant onto the stage.
"It took seven seconds," Ke Jie remarked.
Chen Huayu sucked in a breath of cold air.
If he had continued with his bet earlier, those hundred gold spirit coins would now belong to Ning Tianchen.
Ning Tianchen added, "Feng Xiaotian didn't activate his martial soul just now, saving a significant amount of soul power. In the following matches, we need to maintain this momentum."
---
Just ten minutes later, Feng Xiaotian had consecutively defeated four members of the Balak Team.
During this time, each match lasted no more than thirty seconds. Most of the time, he simply waited for his opponents to take the stage.
"He's a Soul King—it's going to be tough for us. Teacher, surrendering now wouldn't be shameful," the Balak captain said with a bitter laugh.
If they chose to concede now, the previous four fighters would have been beaten up for nothing. Some might even question the instructor's competence.
No matter what, the instructor couldn't afford to lose face.
"Continue the match. So what if he's a Soul King? His soul power isn't infinite—we'll wear him down until he collapses!"
As the Balak Team's fifth contestant stepped onto the stage, Tang San in the Shrek Team's rest area immediately sensed something. "In the last four matches, Feng Xiaotian has used at most twenty percent of his soul power. If the Balak Team doesn't concede, he might complete a one-against-seven sweep."
"There has never been a record of a one-against-seven sweep in the Tiandou Empire region's promotion matches. He might just create history," Yu Tianxin remarked sourly.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul had high attack power, but correspondingly, it also consumed a lot of soul power.
When facing seven opponents, they might be able to counterattack and take out all of them—but eliminating them one by one would leave their soul power insufficient to sustain such a feat.
"Do not rejoice over external gains, nor grieve over personal setbacks. Achieving a one-against-seven sweep is just a bonus. Even if we don't achieve it, there's no need to feel pressured," Flender reminded them.
Achieving a one-against-seven sweep would only result in a record—it carried no substantial reward.
Rather than wasting energy on that, it would be better to let more people participate.
Another ten minutes passed. As the sixth member of the Balak Team was eliminated, the gazes of the various teams below the stage were fixed on the arena.
These ten minutes weren't the time Feng Xiaotian spent during the match. Instead, the Balak Team had slowed down the speed at which they sent contestants onto the stage.
"Teacher, let's concede," the Balak captain, who hadn't yet gone on stage, said with a dejected tone.
"This…" The instructor hesitated.
If their last member was also eliminated, they would forever be branded with shame.
But now, the opponent had already completed a one-against-six sweep. Even if they conceded immediately, they would still be mocked by other teams.
Since they were bound to lose face either way, they might as well fight to the end.
Moreover, the Balak captain was the strongest member of their team.
After six matches, Feng Xiaotian was already showing signs of exhaustion. Defeating him would salvage some of the Balak Team's lost dignity.
With this in mind, the instructor decided, "The opponent's soul power is almost depleted. Once you go up, fight him with everything you've got. After defeating him, I will report your performance today to His Majesty."
Hearing this, the Balak captain's eyes lit up.
Six teammates had failed to eliminate anyone, but if he succeeded, wouldn't that prove that his strength and talent far surpassed theirs?
Perhaps His Majesty might even grant him a noble title.
It was settled!
The Balak captain no longer hesitated and strode confidently toward the stage.
In the rest area, Ning Tianchen smiled and said, "A one-against-seven sweep is guaranteed!"
Feng Xiaotian had currently consumed nearly fifty percent of his soul power, leaving enough to handle a forty-two-level Soul Ancestor.
Ke Jie shook his head. "You're only considering soul power consumption. The opponent has delayed for so long, and Feng Xiaotian has been forcing himself to maintain his breathing rhythm. His physical stamina is greatly depleted. If the final match drags on, he won't have a chance to win."
Ning Tianchen nodded.
To complete a one-against-seven sweep, precise control of soul power consumption was necessary, but physical stamina was equally crucial.
Feng Xiaotian had come this far—there was no reason to back down now.
Whether or not he could defeat his opponent depended entirely on himself.
In the Shrek Academy's rest area,
Tang San clenched his fists tightly and vowed silently in his heart, "If Feng Xiaotian can do a one-against-seven sweep, so can I!"
The Hao Tian Hammer martial soul itself possessed formidable attack power. Compared to others, he could conserve more soul power.
But it seemed he had forgotten—the Hao Tian Hammer was extremely heavy. Swinging it around consumed an enormous amount of physical stamina.
------------------------------------------------------
Thank you to our new Patrons: Jose Carrillo, Jean C, Aaron Gurrola, It's_Bleau and mason gerken! Your support means the world to me <3 We are up to 'Chapter 310: Tang Xiao Escapes, Troubles for the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect' on Patreon!
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)
Support my writing journey: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
40+ Chapters Ahead Guaranteed.