After Shrek Academy's victory over Thunderclap Academy, they had secured their twelfth consecutive win in the tournament.
Though the match had ended, the audience's perception of Zhu Zhuqing's strength deepened significantly after her outstanding performance.
"Lin Jie." As Shrek Academy's group returned to their camp, someone stepped forward to block their path.
It wasn't Huo Wu this time—it was Feng Xiaotian.
Ma Hongjun frowned at the interruption. "Why is there always someone trying to block our way?"
Hearing that Feng Xiaotian was calling for him specifically, Lin Jie stepped forward and said calmly, "What do you want?"
The sight of Lin Jie instantly rekindled the flames of anger in Feng Xiaotian's heart, but he forced himself to keep calm. "The draw is done. Tomorrow, we face each other."
"Oh? I see," Lin Jie replied, unsurprised. As they had predicted, their final opponent was indeed Godwind Academy.
Feng Xiaotian stared intently at the rival he considered his strongest opponent. "You just fought Thunderclap Academy today, so your team must be tired. I don't want to take advantage of that. Tomorrow, I'll be the first to take the stage—and I want you to do the same. If I lose, Godwind Academy will concede the match."
Lin Jie was slightly taken aback. There was an unmistakable sharpness in Feng Xiaotian's voice—he wasn't joking.
As Lin Jie glanced in the direction of Blazing Academy, a thought suddenly crossed his mind.
The rest of Shrek's team looked at him but said nothing, waiting for his response.
After a brief pause, Lin Jie shook his head. "I am just one person, and Shrek Academy is a team. I can only speak for myself, not for the whole. So, I can't accept your challenge."
Feng Xiaotian's eyes turned red with anger, and his tone grew agitated. "Lin Jie, you coward! I only want to face you head-on, fair and square. Why won't you agree?"
Yu Xiaogang turned toward Lin Jie. "Accept it. I believe in your strength."
"That's right, Lin Jie," Tang San added. "We all believe in you."
The other members of Shrek Academy nodded in agreement.
Seeing the support from his teammates, Lin Jie nodded slightly, and a flash of determination sparked in his eyes. His presence suddenly turned sharp and oppressive as he looked at Feng Xiaotian. "Very well. I accept your challenge. Tomorrow, we settle this in one battle."
Feng Xiaotian instinctively stepped back, but quickly recovered and stepped forward again. The tension between them flared as their auras clashed.
His gaze burning, Feng Xiaotian gritted his teeth and said, "If you lose, I want you to stay away from Huo Wu from now on."
Lin Jie shook his head. "That's not something you should be saying to me. You should talk to Huo Wu about that." After glancing toward Huo Wu, who was standing nearby, Lin Jie turned and left with the Shrek team.
Members of Blazing Academy, who had been watching from a short distance away, had overheard everything. They had followed when they noticed Feng Xiaotian intercepting Shrek Academy.
Huo Wushuang glanced at his visibly conflicted younger sister and sighed. "Is this the outcome you were hoping for?"
Huo Wu shook her head vaguely, not answering.
Hearing Feng Xiaotian's words, and recalling the kiss she had shared with Lin Jie in the resting room that day, her heart grew even more confused.
Huo Wushuang gave her a meaningful look. "Then… who do you hope will win?"
"Lin Jie…" Huo Wu answered absentmindedly, speaking his name without realizing it.
She quickly snapped out of it and shook her head again, saying nothing more before walking off alone.
Although her voice had been low, Huo Wushuang heard her clearly. He nearly stumbled in shock. As her older brother, he knew Huo Wu's personality best. She had always been proud, spoiled, and stubborn—never one to admit defeat. But now… something had changed. Instinctively, Huo Wushuang looked in the direction Lin Jie had gone.
Back at their camp, the Shrek team treated the lightly injured Tang San and Dai Mubai, who recovered quickly. After briefly discussing tomorrow's match, everyone turned in early for rest.
Now, the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Competitio's qualifying rounds had reached Round Thirteen. The overall rankings were more or less determined. Most teams, seeking to avoid injury ahead of the finals, were beginning to hold back during matches.
But not Shrek Academy and Godwind Academy.
Each academy had a total of fourteen matches in the qualifiers. The final match for both Shrek and Godwind would be against weaker opponents, practically guaranteeing them a win.
So, this thirteenth match—Shrek vs. Godwind—would determine the champion of the qualifying round.
The six earlier matches of the day concluded uneventfully. As the main event, the showdown between Shrek and Godwind was saved for last.
On the Godwind Academy side, the team stood in formation. Feng Xiaotian stood at the front and addressed his teammates solemnly. "Brothers, do you trust me?"
The current Godwind Academy lineup was composed of elite Spirit Masters, and they had been with Feng Xiaotian for a long time. Yet this was the first time they had seen him look so grave.
One teammate answered without hesitation, "Captain, we trust you. No matter the outcome, we're behind you. Besides, if even you can't defeat Lin Jie, then we definitely can't either."
"Captain, win or lose, we're with you," the others echoed.
Feng Xiaotian sighed. "Yesterday, something Lin Jie said really struck me. I used to think of this team as my own. Only now do I realize how wrong I was. Still, thank you, brothers. No matter what happens, I'll give it my all."
As Shrek and Godwind's teams were called to the stage, Lin Jie and Feng Xiaotian entered the arena from opposite sides. When the crowd realized the first two contestants were the strongest members from each team, the audience erupted in surprise.
Shrek Academy Vice-Captain Lin Jie, 46th-ranked Control-type Spirit Ancestor. Martial Soul: Lightning.
Godwind Academy Captain Feng Xiaotian, 44th-ranked Power Attack-type Spirit Ancestor. Martial Soul: Stormwind Doubleheaded Wolf.
Over at the Blazing Academy section, Huo Wu's gaze grew complicated as she watched the two take the field.
Both Lin Jie and Feng Xiaotian walked slowly into the arena, eyes locked, each trying to analyze the other's flaws.
Once they reached the center, they stood facing each other. Feng Xiaotian's expression was calm and focused. He knew that Lin Jie was the strongest opponent he had faced in the entire tournament.
At the referee's signal, both sides released their Martial Souls.
Lin Jie raised his right hand. A familiar blue glow shimmered in his palm. As always, he gave nothing away—his expression serene, a faint smile on his lips.
Feng Xiaotian let out a long howl. A surge of green light burst from his body, followed by a cacophony of cracking bones and rippling muscle. His hair turned ash-gray, and two wolf heads sprouted from his shoulders, radiating a chilling aura as their six glowing eyes locked on Lin Jie.
Originally a Stormwind Demon Wolf, Feng Xiaotian's Martial Soul had undergone a rare mutation into the Stormwind Doubleheaded Wolf—elevating it from a barely high-level soul to one nearly on par with top-tier Martial Souls.
Relying on this mutated Martial Soul and his innate full Spirit Power, Feng Xiaotian had reached rank 44 by the age of twenty-four.
Lin Jie, on the other hand, lacked that kind of innate talent. His Spirit Power had advanced this far not because of raw talent, but due to foresight, relentless effort, wisdom, and numerous fortuitous encounters—much like many other members of Shrek Academy.
Today, however, Feng Xiaotian appeared calm and collected. The hotheadedness from yesterday was gone.
"Lin Jie." Feng Xiaotian called his name, gaze focused. "I'm twenty-four years old. When I awakened my Martial Soul, I had innate full Spirit Power. Every step I've taken has been earned bit by bit over the past twenty-something years. I know your Spirit Power is higher than mine—but for Godwind Academy, and for myself, I have to defeat you today."
"Innate full Spirit Power… impressive talent," Lin Jie replied calmly.
Feng Xiaotian frowned. Although Lin Jie's words sounded complimentary, he couldn't shake the feeling there was a hidden barb.
"You mocking me?" he asked with narrowed eyes.
It wasn't hard to see why. Lin Jie looked barely twenty, yet his Spirit Power had already reached rank 46—two full levels higher. For someone like him to call Feng Xiaotian's talent "impressive" did sound a bit sarcastic.
Feng Xiaotian wondered if this was a psychological tactic—was Lin Jie trying to provoke him into losing focus before the fight even began?
But Feng Xiaotian wasn't that easy to goad. He'd already endured watching what happened in that rest area with Huo Wu. A few words wouldn't faze him.
"I wasn't mocking you," Lin Jie said mildly. "I just genuinely admire those of you with innate full Spirit Power."
"So… you don't have innate full Spirit Power?" Feng Xiaotian asked, surprised.
Lin Jie shook his head. "No, I don't. When my Martial Soul awakened, my Spirit Power was only level four. That's why I can't help but envy talents like yours."