Seeing this, Ling Luochen couldn't help but smile. She said to the members going on stage, "Look, this is your opponent. Did you notice? Some of them have their calves shaking like chaff! The reputation of Shrek Academy has indeed placed a heavy responsibility and burden on you, but the glory of our Shrek Academy is also one of your most advantageous weapons. Show them your strength! Shrek will be victorious!"
Xu Sanshi's mind was originally a little blank. Hearing what Ling Luochen said, he suddenly felt as if he had been enlightened. His eyes immediately lit up, and he nodded heavily. "Don't worry, we won't bring shame to Shrek. Shrek will be victorious!"
Looking at Xu Sanshi's firm gaze and hearing the three words "Shrek," every preparatory team member felt the hot blood in their bodies rapidly surging. Yes, they were members of Shrek Academy. They bore the ten-thousand-year glory of Shrek Academy. Their opponents would only feel fear towards them. What they had to do was to defeat everyone who stood in their way.
As the only two from the official team who could fight, Yao Haoxuan and Gongyang Mo looked at each other. They seemed to see their former selves in this group of high-spirited young men and women. Back then, they still had the protection of a complete official team from the previous generation. But this time, these five little ones could only rely on themselves.
They, these two auxiliary-type soul masters, must give these five preparatory team juniors the greatest support. They had long had no way back, let alone a need to retreat. What they had to do was to continuously advance, advance, advance!
"Alright, the team members of the Heavenly Spirit Advanced Soul Master Academy have already entered the stage. At this moment of universal attention, next, let us welcome the continent's number one academy, the true king among academies, the Shrek Academy representative team to the stage!" The host's high-pitched voice pierced the clouds. Star Luo Plaza instantly became an ocean of cheering for Shrek. Even the Star Luo Emperor, sitting on the city wall watching the battle, couldn't help but stand up, a look of excitement on his face.
Who would have known that back then when he was still a prince, he had once studied in Shrek Academy under an alias? Even now, he was still deeply in love with a person in his heart, in love with her who still remained in the inner court of Shrek Academy...
Twenty hands were shaken vigorously. When Xu Sanshi raised his head again, the lazy smile on his face had disappeared, replaced by a resolute firmness. He strode towards the competition stage with large steps.
He Caitou followed behind Xu Sanshi. Further behind were Cao Jinxuan, Jiang Nannan, Wang Dong, Yao Haoxuan, and Gongyang Mo.
Amidst the cheers, the breathing of every participating member was a little rapid, and their faces were even a little flushed. In their excitement, the soul power in their bodies was circulating at high speed. Everyone felt as if they had an inexhaustible amount of strength.
Finally, the high stage was right before them. Xu Sanshi did not directly ascend the high stage, but turned to his partners and said in a deep voice, "This match, not only must we win, but we must win beautifully. We must show the brilliance that belongs to our Shrek Academy! Wang Dong, watch us!"
Wang Dong nodded forcefully. Of course, she understood what Third Senior Brother's words meant.
Only then did Xu Sanshi turn again, ascending the high stage in front with steady steps.
The seven people from both sides gathered in a corner of the competition stage, looking at each other from afar. When the students of the Heavenly Spirit Advanced Soul Master Academy saw that five of the members sent out by Shrek Academy were such a young lineup, they couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.
Are most of the ones who came up from Shrek Academy's preparatory team? But this is a knockout tournament! Aren't they afraid of an upset?
The ones who had the same question were all the spectators, and even all the participating academies. Even the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy was dumbfounded.
At this moment, Xiao Hongchen even began to doubt his own judgment. Is this Shrek Academy too bold? Even if they are strong, to send out this team with an average age of less than fifteen, and even some who look to be eleven or twelve, can they win against an academy whose contestants' ages are all close to twenty? The knockout tournament doesn't have a second chance.
And just not far behind him, a gentle voice sounded, "For Shrek to do this, they must have their own reasons. Perhaps this is just an empty fort strategy. Haven't you noticed that the auras of those official team members who haven't entered the stage are all a bit unstable?"
Hearing this voice, Xiao Hongchen immediately put on a modest expression. Although he did not turn his head, the depths of his eyes held an uncontrollable fiery heat.
Behind him, besides his sister Meng Hongchen, there was also a peerless woman with a naive and charming appearance. She had an extremely beautiful and delicate face. Her fair and tender skin, even in the dimly lit audience seats, still had a crystal-clear texture, as if water could be squeezed out with a single pinch. The same Sun Moon team uniform she wore perfectly brought out her fine figure. Perhaps she was not as beautiful as the Jiang Nannan on the stage, but that lazy, somewhat naturally dazed temperament was also very easy to catch one's eye.
The girl was precisely Ju Zi, the Ju Zi of the normal timeline. In this tournament, she had surprisingly come as a participating member of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy team.
In the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, she had a resounding nickname: War God! War God Ju Zi!
And after the members of the Shrek Academy team entered the stage, her gaze had been fixed on the student named Wang Dong. Memories immediately surged like a tide, making her unable to help but dream back to the tall and straight figure from many years ago.
"Sister Ju Zi, when you participate in the tournament with the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy in the future, you must be careful of that girl from Shrek named Wang Dong, who is dressing as a man."
His voice was as if it had returned to that day, echoing in her ear.
Little fellow, I have come to this tournament of ten thousand eyes. But where are you now...
Ju Zi's eyes were dazed, her thoughts couldn't help but return to the day she had accidentally entered the Evildemon Forest in her youth—
Seeing the crowd being surrounded by countless terrifying soul beasts, countless dazzling soul tool rays suddenly opened up a wide road for them.
"Are you all alright?"
A young Xiao Hongchen and his sister came out of the dense forest with a middle-aged man who was not tall but very fat. The middle-aged man was dressed in a magnificent black long robe with golden embroidery, and his face always had a smiling expression.
But Huo Yuhao, who was hidden in the dark, had judged his identity at a glance from the description of this person in the original novel. The Dean of the Illustrious Virtue Hall of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, and also the true person in charge of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, Jing Hongchen.
Quite a coincidence. If not for their move, I would have had to use Kamui to pack up and take away these poor insects.
"Many thanks, senior, for your life-saving grace!" The two teachers from the junior academy reacted and hurriedly bowed gratefully to Jing Hongchen. Looking at their crying appearance, they were probably just short of acknowledging him as their adoptive father.
Xiao Hongchen looked at the students of the junior soul tool academy with a proud face. It seemed this fellow had been this arrogant since he was young. But his gaze quickly settled on Ju Zi, who was the most conspicuous among all the students. His two eyes immediately burst out with a dazzling light.
This made Huo Yuhao in the dark curse in his heart. Good boy, I'll give you a chance. Move your gaze away immediately, or this old one will make you my cheap future brother-in-law!
Beside Xiao Hongchen was Meng Hongchen, blinking her beautiful blue eyes. Her age was a little younger than Ju Zi's. Her long hair was a rare wine-red color, deeper than Ma Xiaotao's hair color, like mellow grape wine, shining with a faint luster, looking very cute.
Very good! Xiao Hongchen, even if you don't move your gaze away, you will still be my cheap brother-in-law!
"I wonder which academy you are all from?" Xiao Hongchen, completely unaware that he had been designated as a certain someone's future brother-in-law, stepped forward politely, but his gaze still remained on the beautiful Ju Zi.
The two teachers guessed that the youth before them was probably of noble birth. They hurriedly reported the name and geographical location of their own academy, and then received an answer that made their jaws drop.
They had actually come to the Evildemon Forest in the northern part of the Sun Moon Empire for no reason!
"Your guts are not small. To actually dare to come to a place like the Evildemon Forest with just two Soul Kings," Jing Hongchen glanced at the two faintly and said.
The two could only smile obsequiously, but their hearts were full of doubt. They had clearly set off from the eastern part of the empire, yet had arrived at this northern Evildemon Forest in less than half a day. Could it be that the carriage they were riding on could fly?
"Since it's fate, you can follow this old one. I can still manage to protect you and let you leave here safely. If you're lucky, I can also help your students hunt a few soul rings along the way," Jing Hongchen followed his grandson's gaze and saw the already slender and graceful Ju Zi at a young age. How could he not know what his grandson was thinking? Then he might as well do him a favor. What's more, this kind of trash soul master academy's requirements for soul rings were not high, or rather, they had no requirements at all.
Hearing this, the two Soul King-level teachers were overjoyed. With the help of this existence who looked to be a high-level soul tool master, they could smoothly complete their task when they went back this time.
Huo Yuhao might as well drill into the Kamui space and hang behind the group. Jing Hongchen had no small number of detection-type soul tools on him. With his current experience of not yet having come into contact with the soul tool field, it was difficult to guarantee that he would not be discovered by him.
With Jing Hongchen around, hunting a few hundred-year soul beasts in the Evildemon Forest was no problem at all. In the face of the powerful firepower of the soul tools, even most ten-thousand-year soul beasts would choose to take a detour.
Soon, among the children of the junior soul master academy, besides Ju Zi, all had obtained a soul ring that was extremely suitable for them. One by one, their small faces bloomed with joy.
Ju Zi's martial soul was not strong innately. Plus, it was the most common fruit-type food system martial soul. It was not easy to find a hundred-year soul beast that suited her. The two Soul King teachers did not dare to make excessive demands, but just honestly followed behind Jing Hongchen, paying attention to the soul beasts they encountered.
Receiving her brother's signal, Meng Hongchen moved to Ju Zi's side. The two girls quickly hit it off, almost to the point of crawling into bed to gossip about what color underpants Xiao Hongchen was wearing today.
It had to be said that Xiao Hongchen's noble status and amazing talent were still very lethal to young girls of this age. Seeing that Ju Zi had glanced at Xiao Hongchen a few more times, Huo Yuhao, who had been hiding in the Kamui space, couldn't sit still anymore.
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Author's Note: The world line has changed again. Ju Zi, this strategist, is now in the tournament. Let's mourn for the members of Shit-rek first. Even the original Huo Gua, in military terms, never truly won against Ju Zi.