The presence of a powerful academy was truly extraordinary.
A torrent of crimson light surged forward with an imposing aura, accompanied by their banner flapping noisily in the wind.
The surrounding academy teams, their faces filled with apprehension, all moved aside.
Neigh—
The crimson light flashed and swept to the front of the city gate in the blink of an eye.
Amidst the neighing, the red-flamed horses' four hooves were raised high, sparks burst from their manes, and a scorching aura spread out
The youths dismounted in fluid, practiced motions.
At the forefront, Huo Wushuang gave the blazing battle banner a mighty wave.
"Blazing Academy Battle Team, here to participate in the Spirit Master Tournament!"
The guards dared not be neglectful, bowing quickly.
"Welcome, honored prodigies of the Blazing Battle Team, to Heaven Dou City!"
"Carriages have been prepared—you may proceed directly to the villa district reserved for academy teams."
"A specialized person will receive you there!"
The crowd by the gate gazed at the spirited youths of this imposing team.
Whispers rose.
"Hiss, one of the Five Element Academies… a seeded team for the preliminaries!"
"Look at those youngsters—every one of them walks with heads held high, brimming with spirit!"
"If I had even half their talent, I'd be prouder than they are!"
But before the murmurs faded—
The geniuses of Blazing Academy, having received their entry tokens, reached the gate.
Then suddenly, all of them halted in their steps.
The onlookers were stunned.
Those very same prodigies who moments ago radiated arrogance—
Now each had excitement flooding their faces.
Especially the youth holding the banner, and the radiant girl beside him—they could not hold themselves back.
Taking three steps at a time, they quickly walked to meet the white-robed youth walking toward them from inside the city.
The guards caught sight of the figure in white being surrounded by Blazing's elites.
Their mouths twitched violently.
This scene…
Hadn't it already played out once, just a couple days ago?
They muttered inwardly:
This young master!
Drinking tofu pudding with His Highness the Crown Prince!
Sworn brotherhood with the Wind Sword Sect's young master!
And now even Blazing Academy's battle team greets him like this?!
"Brother Zhexian!"
Huo Wushuang, seeing the smiling white-robed youth, laughed heartily, striding forward.
He pulled him into a firm embrace.
"Half a year apart, and your presence only shines brighter than before!"
That Li Zhexian himself had come to the gate to greet them—this was an unexpected delight.
For the past half year—
He had constantly pondered how he might surpass Li Zhexian.
Now, to be welcomed by him in person—made all that longing worthwhile.
Huo Wu and the other team members also came up with bright smiles.
Li Zhexian kept his lips curved in a light smile, cupping his hands in courtesy to Huo Wu and the rest.
The Blazing youths hurriedly returned the gesture.
"Che! What's with you?"
Huo Wu rolled her eyes.
Her fair arm, half-raised, lingered awkwardly in the air.
If it were any ordinary girl, she might have flushed and pulled back shyly.
But Huo Wu didn't care in the slightest. Instead she jabbed boldly:
"I'm a girl, yet I'm not afraid. Why shouldn't I hug a good brother of mine?"
A trace of helplessness flickered across Li Zhexian's face.
But he obliged, giving her a light embrace as well.
"This isn't the place for talk."
Li Zhexian chuckled.
"Let me take you all to your villa lodgings, and along the way, I'll introduce you to a friend."
Feng Buyu, who was off to the side, looked at the group of boys and girls in golden-red battle uniforms with a bit of curiosity.
From the leaders, Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu, he felt a subtle pressure.
Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu also nodded in acknowledgment to Feng Buyu.
They both knew that anyone who could be introduced as a friend by Li Zhexian was definitely not a mediocre person.
The group talked and laughed cheerfully as they walked into the city and headed toward the Blazing team's residence.
It's worth mentioning that during the Spirit Master Tournament, all the large and small inns in Heaven Dou City were requisitioned as team residences.
And wherever there were crowds, they were inevitably divided into classes. For example, the Blazing Academy team naturally stayed in the relatively high-class villas.
As for the academy teams that were slightly less famous, they could only make do with ordinary inns.
Looking at the spirited and ambitious demeanor of these proud children of the heavens, everyone's eyes were filled with envy
About fifteen minutes later, another academy team arrived at the city gate.
To be fair—
The youths of this team carried an extraordinary air.
But their attire and banner…
Were downright shabby.
On their yellow-green uniforms—
Was printed in glaring words: "Advertising Space For Rent."
At their lead was a blond youth, holding a banner with the likeness of a green, big-eared humanoid Spirit Beast.
This getup—
Forget comparing with Blazing Academy, or that white-robed youth—
Even stacked against some second-rate teams, they came up short.
"Dean, Grandmaster… can't we change these uniforms…?"
Under the strange stares of passersby—
Oscar couldn't help sighing again.
Flender looked toward the gates of Heaven Dou City, silent.
Yu Xiaogang said calmly:
"The uniforms may look bad, but they temper your hearts."
"If you can remain unshaken under ridicule, that shows your will is firm."
Hearing this, Oscar could only sigh helplessly.
Liu Erlong came to stand beside Yu Xiaogang.
The Golden Iron Triangle gazed upon the vast imperial capital before them.
For a moment, all three were silent.
Over half a year ago—
Ma Hongjun and Zhao Wuji had been crippled in Heaven Dou City.
The three of them, lowering their pride, had sought help everywhere—only to end up as pitiful strays, fleeing in disgrace.
And the root of it all—was that Sword Wine.
Now, returning again with their disciples in tow—
Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Tang San all noticed their teachers' heavy emotions.
Tang San spoke softly:
"Teacher, be at ease."
"Shrek will not lose to anyone."
Yu Xiaogang turned his eyes toward the disciple he was most proud of.
A trace of gratification passed through them.
"Let's go."
His voice was deep.
"This Spirit Master Tournament will be the beginning of the Shrek Seven Monsters' fame resounding across the continent."
At the rear, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing followed along.
Zhu Zhuqing gazed at Heaven Dou City, thoughts unknown.
Her cold little face was tinged with a faint blush.
Xiao Wu nudged Ning Rongrong, teasing:
"Rongrong, look!"
"We haven't even met him yet, and Zhuqing's face is already red!"
Ning Rongrong looped her arm through Zhu Zhuqing's, snorting playfully.
"Hmph, Zhuqing, you'll have to let me see for myself!"
"Just what kind of prodigy is this Sword Wine, to have you so smitten!"
...
"How many now?"
"The third one…"
"Blazing , Elephant Armored, Godwind…"
"My goodness, these are all powerful teams from the Five Element Academies!"
The guards, watching the white-robed youth chatting and laughing with the Godwind Academy team at the gate—
Their expressions were already numb.
In the past two days—
They had seen this scene repeated over and over.
And what shocked them even more was—
That these famed teams all treated the youth not with formality, but with genuine warmth and joy.
In the hearts of the guards and the passing pedestrians, only one thought churned:
This young master truly has friends from all corners of the land—wherever he goes, he keeps the company of the distinguished!
"…So only Skywater Academy and Thunderclap Academy remain?"
"Thunderclap isn't so strange. But Skywater Academy lies far in the northern reaches, and only admits girls, it's said…"
"Surely this young master's connections can't be that absurd?!"
Li Zhexian himself was beginning to grow weary.
Since he had already started—
He couldn't play favorites.
After welcoming the last to arrive, the Godwind Academy Battle Team—
He led the throng of dozens of geniuses from each academy—
And under the reverent stares of the crowd, they marched grandly into Heaven Dou City…