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The members of the Shrek Team hung their heads, as if all their Spirit had been drained, and they retreated in disgrace amidst the jeers and discussions of the audience.
"Tiandou Royal Academy, wins!"
With the referee's loud announcement, the audience once again erupted in enthusiastic applause and cheers.
"No, we didn't even see his Spirit and spirit ring, and it's over already?"
Many spectators couldn't help but complain, as they were not expecting the first match of the opening ceremony to be so boring.
But those who had watched Xuan Ming's matches in the Great Spirit Arena even felt that this scene was so self-evident.
"I thought a team would be eliminated today. It seems the Shrek Team's leader is a smart person." Salas's face showed undisguised disappointment.
He had originally expected something exciting, but it had turned out this way.
After the match, the Shrek Team members, like stray dogs, hastily fled the arena under the strange gazes of the crowd.
Back in the lounge, a heavy atmosphere permeated every corner.
Dai Mubai punched the wall, roaring angrily, "What is this? We surrendered without even fighting. How will we establish ourselves in the Spirit Master's world after this!"
His eyes were bloodshot, clearly indicating that the humiliation and anger in his heart had reached their peak.
"It's all your fault! You ran before fighting, shaming our Shrek!" Dai Mubai angrily accused Oscar and Ma Hongjun, his eyes full of disappointment and rage.
Oscar and Ma Hongjun lowered their heads, not daring to look into Dai Mubai's eyes.
They knew their actions this time were indeed somewhat cowardly, but facing Xuan Ming, they truly couldn't control their fear.
"Don't be so dejected!"
Flender and the others walked in.
"Failure isn't scary; what's scary is losing confidence and fighting Spirit. We still have over twenty days of preliminaries and many opportunities to prove ourselves," Liu Erlong said.
"That's right, today's surrender might not be entirely bad," Yu Xiaogang said.
"Appearing weak, though a bit embarrassing, will make other teams underestimate us in future matches, allowing us to surprise them and hide our true strength."
"At least we suffered no damage and preserved our strength. Other teams, if they fought them out of momentary pride, would inevitably suffer losses."
"The tournament is still long. Everyone, don't dwell too much on temporary wins or losses. Only those who laugh last are the true winners."
Everyone remained silent, neither agreeing nor refuting.
On the other side, Xuan Ming and his group, having finished their match, quickly left the Great Spirit Arena.
However, they hadn't walked far when a familiar figure appeared before them.
"Grandpa Gu?" Ning Rongrong was startled.
"Why are you here?"
Gu Rong looked at Xuan Ming with some helplessness, "It's all because of this kid."
"Xuan Ming? What's wrong?" Ning Rongrong asked, puzzled.
"Fengzhi has something he wants to discuss with you. Is it convenient for you to come with me now?" Gu Rong asked.
"Or you can bring them too; the match is over, and you all can rest a bit."
Xuan Ming nodded, and Gu Rong didn't delay, directly opening a spatial gate and taking everyone away from the Great Spirit Arena.
After a dizzying journey, everyone opened their eyes again, already at the entrance of the Seven Treasure Clan.
"Rongrong, take them to the private room to play; we have something to discuss," Gu Rong said.
"Oh." Ning Rongrong didn't ask further, beckoning everyone to follow her.
However, Gu Yuena didn't move at all. She stood quietly to the side, her silver hair fluttering in the wind, her gaze always fixed on Xuan Ming, as if the entire World in her eyes contained only him.
Seeing this, Ning Rongrong could only turn her gaze to Xuan Ming.
Although they were teammates, they hadn't actually spoken to Gu Yuena until now. The girl simply didn't speak; no matter what they asked her, she remained expressionless, only reacting when Xuan Ming spoke.
Xuan Ming looked at Gu Yuena, "Can you go with them and wait for me first, okay?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Yuena's eyes changed slightly, "Can't I follow you?"
As she spoke, a hint of confusion and reluctance appeared on her face, making Ning Rongrong and the others feel a pang in their hearts!
Xuan Ming paused slightly, "No."
Xuan Ming's answer was brief but firm. Gu Yuena's confused and reluctant expression lingered on her face for a moment, but she finally nodded gently, "Okay, then I'll wait for you."
Seeing this, Ning Rongrong stepped forward and took Gu Yuena's hand, "Come on, come on, let's go to the private room. There are delicious snacks and fun things to play with there."
Gu Yuena didn't resist, allowing Ning Rongrong to pull her, but her gaze still drifted towards Xuan Ming from time to time.
Gu Rong's face couldn't hold its composure, "You kid, when did you..."
"Just picked her up," Xuan Ming said.
Gu Rong hesitated, feeling as if his own Rongrong was losing hope more and more.
...Following Gu Rong, Xuan Ming arrived at a private room deep within the Seven Treasure Clan, where Ning Fengzhi was already waiting.
"Is something wrong?" Xuan Ming sat opposite Ning Fengzhi.
Ning Fengzhi's expression was somewhat heavy. "I just received news that someone wants to harm you, and it's not just one group. You must be extremely careful during this period."
"Mhm, I know," Xuan Ming nodded.
Ning Fengzhi's eye twitched slightly, "You're not doing this on purpose, are you?"
Xuan Ming didn't need to participate in the preliminaries so ostentatiously, but he still did, claiming it was to let Ning Rongrong and the others showcase their strength more. But in reality, he always felt this kid had other ideas.
"I definitely have the idea of fishing, but primarily, it's to accompany them," Xuan Ming said.
"After all, after the tournament ends, I should disappear for a long time, and I'm not sure what will happen. If something unexpected truly occurs... it will at least leave them with a somewhat happy memory."
Ning Fengzhi frowned deeply, "Where are you planning to go?"
"Slaughter City," Xuan Ming said.
"Slaughter City?!" Gu Rong's expression changed dramatically.
"Why would you want to go to that hellhole?"
"My Spirit, I can't keep dragging it out," Xuan Ming said.
"But you... you don't have to go to that hellhole," Gu Rong said anxiously, not knowing what to say, and could only look at Ning Fengzhi.
Slaughter City!
That hellhole is almost a one-way trip!
In a thousand years, only a handful of people have come out of that place alive!
If Xuan Ming died in that hellhole, Ning Rongrong would surely cry herself to death!
Ning Fengzhi was silent for a moment, then looked at Xuan Ming with a solemn gaze, "Xuan Ming, Slaughter City is extremely dangerous. Even our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School knows very little about that place. You... even if you truly intend to take the risk, you could wait a few more years, until your strength is greater and you have more confidence."
"Yes, Tang Hao also only entered after he was thirty. Your talent is no less than his, but for something like this, it should be safer," Gu Rong advised.
"I'm confident," Xuan Ming said.
"As long as nothing unexpected happens, that place holds no danger for me."
Slaughter City only prohibited the use of Spirit Abilities, but he had grown accustomed to fighting without Spirit Abilities during his years in the Great Spirit Arena's death match ring.
The only thing he was somewhat reliant on was Thunderstorm, or rather, he was used to starting with Thunderstorm.
But now he possessed the Thunder bloodline, as well as abilities gained after absorbing the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger spirit ring and his innate bead. In situations where Spirit Abilities were not used, he had an absolute advantage!
"You kid, why are you so stubborn! Don't you think about Rongrong? You can't possibly not see her feelings for you. If something were to happen to you, what would she do?" Gu Rong said anxiously.
"Do you want her to live in pain for the rest of her life?"
"And you, kid, you've attracted so many women, how can you be so heartless as to take such a risk?"
"Can you bear to see them in tears?"
"I can't bear to, so I won't look," Xuan Ming said.
"..."
"I'll beat you to death, you brat!"
Gu Rong exploded instantly, and Ning Fengzhi quickly stepped forward to stop him.
"Uncle Gu, calm down, calm down."
"Fengzhi, didn't you hear what this brat said? How can I calm down? Can you calm down?"
"Uncle Gu, Rongrong and the others are right ahead. If you hit him here, Rongrong will surely cause a huge fuss, won't she?"
"Let's find another place to fight."
"???"
Xuan Ming's eye twitched slightly, looking at Gu Rong, who genuinely intended to beat him, and Ning Fengzhi, who intended to help. Without a moment's hesitation, a dark spatial vortex quietly opened beneath him, the other end connecting directly to the private room where Ning Rongrong and her group were.
"Farewell."
Xuan Ming's figure flashed, and he directly plunged into the spatial vortex, instantly disappearing from his original spot.
Gu Rong's punch, carrying a gust of wind, only hit the air.
"That brat, he runs fast!"
Ning Fengzhi sighed helplessly, patting Gu Rong's shoulder, "Uncle Gu, don't be angry. Xuan Ming has his own thoughts and plans. If we persuade him more, maybe he'll change his mind later."
Gu Rong snorted, "Change his mind? I think he's determined to go to that hellhole. I really don't know what he's thinking, leaving a good life behind to go to such an extremely dangerous place."
With so many beautiful women around him, no normal man would ever be willing to abandon such a life and run off to a hellhole like Slaughter City!