As the match concluded with a humiliating defeat for the powerful Heaven Dou Imperial Academy team, the group in green—Shrek Academy—walked off the stage without fanfare. Their expressions remained calm, even as whispers and gasps surged through the stadium.
On the highest platform, Emperor Xue Ye's expression had turned cold. He slowly turned his head and glared at Prince Xue Xing, whose face was twitching slightly with unease.
Standing behind them were the three committee members of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy—Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin. Each of them had the same serious expression.
"Your Majesty," Meng Shenji stepped forward and bowed. "Shrek Academy was originally brought into the imperial academy as external support. We three recognized their unmatched potential and recommended that they be recruited to fight for the Empire under our banner."
Bai Baoshan added solemnly, "But Prince Xue Xing refused. He rejected them outright without considering our advice and expelled them from the academy grounds."
Xue Ye's eyes narrowed sharply. "Prince Xue Xing, is this true?"
Prince Xue Xing paled. "Your Majesty, they were… low-born, from a countryside academy. I did not believe they were worth the investment—"
"Silence!" Emperor Xue Ye barked. "Because of your arrogance, we nearly lost talents that could have won glory for the Empire. From now on, you will not interfere in academy decisions again without my express approval."
"Yes… Your Majesty," Prince Xue Xing lowered his head, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead.
After saying this Emperor Xue Ye walked out of the stadium with a disgruntled expression.
Ning Fengzhi stepped out of the avenue and calmly walked toward the Azure Dragon team, his gaze falling warmly on Ning Rongrong, then shifting toward Jiang Yun.
"Rongrong," Ning Fengzhi said gently.
"Father," Ning Rongrong beamed, running into his arms. For a moment, the pressure and weight of competition melted into familial warmth
Then he turned to Jiang Yun and his teammates.
They exchanged a silent glance—this was not their first meeting.
After the match at the Soul Arena years ago, Ning Fengzhi had expressed admiration for Jiang Yun's leadership and strength, and even suggested an alliance between the Azure Dragon team and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Jiang Yun had not agreed back then, but now, things had changed.
"Sect Master Ning," Jiang Yun greeted respectfully.
Ning Fengzhi smiled faintly. "I see your team has grown even stronger since our last meeting."
"I've come to accept the alliance you proposed before," Jiang Yun said quietly, just for Ning Fengzhi's ears. "Let's cooperate."
"I'm pleased to hear that," Ning Fengzhi nodded, not asking questions. "You've made the right choice."
" But I don't want anyone to know about our alliance even close ones, as you know that on the surface our academy is a neutral academy, so if some people got information that our academy has made alliance with your sect it will not be favourable for both of us."
Ning Fengzhi agreed with Jiang Yun and got in the carriage that was waiting for him.
Later that evening, inside their private villa arranged by the tournament organizers, Jiang Yun gathered his team.
"Tomorrow is our official debut in the tournament," Jiang Yun began calmly, his voice firm. "Our opponent—Blue Mist Academy—is weak. Still, we'll stick to the plan. No full exposure. We play the long game."
He looked at each member. "We will not reveal our true strength. Use the Soul Ring Concealment Technique I taught you."
His body pulsed with power briefly, but no soul rings appeared. "My rings are naturally invisible, but I'll suppress my cultivation to Soul Ancestor level."
Dugu Yan nodded next. "I'll hide my level and show myself as a Soul Ancestor too. I'll adjust the color of my fourth ring from black to purple."
Zhu Zhuqing stood silently. "I'm at forty-nine. I'll suppress it to around forty-one."
Hua Yue, Feng Ming, Qiao Xuan, and Bai Ling all nodded as well.
"We'll show Soul Elder-level strength—around thirty-nine to forty—just enough to look competent without standing out," Feng Ming said confidently.
"As for me," Ning Rongrong added, "I assume I sit this one out?"
Jiang Yun nodded. "Yes. Your evolved martial spirit must stay hidden as long as possible. When the time comes, it'll turn the tide—but not yet."
Ning Rongrong gave a firm nod of understanding.
"Now, rest. Tomorrow, we strike."
—
The Next Day – Tournament Arena
"Next match: Azure Dragon Academy vs Blue Mist Academy!"
The Azure Dragon team took the stage calmly—Jiang Yun, Dugu Yan, Zhu Zhuqing, Bai Ling, Hua Yue, Feng Ming, and Qiao Xuan. Ning Rongrong remained in the waiting area with a composed smile.
The announcer glanced between the teams. Blue Mist Academy, while neat in formation, looked nervous—clearly overwhelmed by the presence of the composed team in azure uniforms.
As both sides took position, the referee asked, "Combatants, ready?"
Jiang Yun nodded once, then turned to his team and hinted them . 'Show them. Just enough.'
One by one, soul rings flared around the members of Azure Dragon Academy.
Zhu Zhuqing released her Hell Civet, four soul rings spinning—two yellow, and two purple—her Soul power level supressed to level 41 giving appearance of a newly advanced Soul Ancestor.
Dugu Yan's evolved Jade Phosphor Earth Dragon coiled behind her, releasing two yellow, and two purple rings. Her fourth ring was originally black, but now it pulsed with controlled purple glow—perfectly altered by Jiang Yun's ring concealment method.
Bai Ling, Feng Ming, Hua Yue, and Qiao Xuan each revealed three soul rings—two yellow and one purple, the classic Soul Elder combination. Their true fourth rings remained hidden, their cultivation levels skillfully masked.
Finally, Jiang Yun stepped forward. The battlefield buzzed with anticipation.
His martial spirit awakened—Kamen Rider Kuuga: Mighty Form—manifesting a radiant red armor that shimmered briefly as four invisible rings spun around him. No one can see his Soul rings and he didn't want to see them because even if he make them visible he cannot explain why they had no colors.
"Referee, we're ready," Jiang Yun said calmly.
The referee raised his hand. "Battle… Begin!"
Blue Mist Academy moved first, launching control and wind-type attacks. But their formation barely lasted three seconds.
Qiao Xuan struck first. His Earthbind chains erupted from below, wrapping around two Blue Mist defenders. He followed with a Quake Strike, sending shockwaves to destabilize their footing.
Bai Ling raised her hand, and her Radiant Bloom activated around the team, reinforcing them with a low-level healing field. She played her support role perfectly, not revealing the full extent of her Lotus Sanctuary.
Dugu Yan calmly breathed out a wave of Jade Phosphor Mist, dull and faint to the eyes, but potent. Blue Mist's front line staggered, coughing and confused.
Hua Yue dashed forward, claws wreathed in flame. Her Inferno Charge pushed right through the enemy shield spirit master, sending him flying. She didn't even need to use her Third ability.
Feng Ming took to the air, his Gale Strike and Storm Claws carving through the middle of the field like a whirlwind. With every movement, he left mirage-like afterimages—fooling the enemy into wasting attacks.
Zhu Zhuqing vanished into the shadows. Moments later, her Nether Stab struck a support spirit master from behind. In the blink of an eye, she split into three shadow clones, each pressing the attack from different directions.
On the sidelines, cheers turned into stunned silence.
And Jiang Yun?
He didn't move.
He walked calmly toward the enemy captain, who panicked and tried to strike him with a lightning-type attack.
Jiang Yun moved like a blur.
Crimson Lock.
Then, Jiang Yun appeared behind the captain and delivered a clean Mighty Kick, knocking him off the platform.
Silence.
The battle was over in less than forty seconds.
The Blue Mist team lay scattered across the stage—none seriously injured, but all decisively defeated.
The referee hesitated, then raised his hand. "Winner: Azure Dragon Academy!"
The audience exploded in chatter.
"They're strong—really strong!"
–––
Back in the stands, Salas of Spirit Hall narrowed his eyes.
"They're hiding something…" he muttered.
But Jiang Yun and his team had already exited the stage without a word.
One match down. Many more to come.
And no one yet knew the storm Azure Dragon Academy was truly preparing to unleash.