The instant Li Zhexian led the Imperial Battle Team into the arena—
The entire Great Spirit Arena erupted in thunderous uproar.
Even though…
The Imperial Battle Team had been crushed by Spirit Hall's team before the tournament even began.
The citizens of Heaven Dou City might scold them—
But support was support.
This was still their home team, their own pride.
And yet—
When that white-robed youth came into sight—
The spectators were stunned.
"Wasn't Yu Tianheng the captain of the Imperial Team?! Who is this?!"
"White robes, standing tall like a sword—and now replacing Yu Tianheng as captain…"
"Hiss—Sword Wine! That's Sword Wine from our own Heaven Dou City Spirit Arena!"
"So this is Sword Wine?! What a strikingly handsome youth!"
"Can Sword Wine defeat Spirit Hall's team?"
"Hard… but there's hope!"
In a remote corner—
A storyteller's eyes went wide, trembling as he pointed toward the white-robed youth who had become the focus of thousands, his face flushed red with excitement.
"Lord Sword Wine… Lord Sword Wine!"
Someone beside him teased:
"Old man, you've been telling stories of Sword Wine for over a year."
"Today you finally see the real one."
The storyteller nodded again and again, his voice choking.
"Yes! Yes!"
"I always wondered, why did my storytelling table get gold coins every so often?"
"So it was Lord Sword Wine rewarding me!"
"Lord Sword Wine knows me!"
The youth he praised in tales had stepped from legend into reality, and had once left him coin.
That tremor of awe, incomprehensible to others, brought tears streaming down his old cheeks.
He remembered.
Across from the tavern, at the noodle stall, there was always a youth who came with several friends.
So it was true.
Across that street—
The one cheering for him was none other than the very Sword Wine of his stories.
Others only thought the old man was raving again, unable to tell tale from truth. They ignored him. And went on shouting themselves hoarse for the Imperial Battle Team.
"Your Highness speaks with such confidence—it seems you are placing your hopes on this Sword Wine." Bishop Salas said with a fake smile.
Xue Qinghe nodded calmly. "With Sword Wine in the Imperial Battle Team, we need fear no opponent."
Salas's murky eyes widened slightly. "Your Highness's words truly leave no room for doubt."
Such words, so unlike Xue Qinghe's usual modesty, even left Emperor Xue Ye surprised.
He remembered Sword Wine.
During the Four Academies Exchange, it had been Sword Wine who preserved the Imperial Academy's honor.
"Since Qinghe holds him in such esteem, I too will watch with interest," Xue Ye said with a laugh. "Alas, it's a pity that the final is in Spirit Hall's City. I won't have the chance to personally witness this boy's brilliance."
At those words—
A glimmer flickered in Xue Qinghe's eyes before she quickly concealed it.
Salas, having gained nothing from pressing Xue Qinghe, turned instead to Ning Fengzhi:
"Sect Master Ning, which team do you favor?"
Ning Fengzhi smiled warmly.
"My view is the same as His Highness."
"The Heaven Dou Imperial Battle Team's strength is formidable."
"Aside from them, though, there is another team with considerable potential…"
"Oh?"
Both Xue Ye and Salas looked toward him.
Ning Fengzhi did not keep them guessing.
"Shrek Academy's seven little monsters. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan has had some dealings with them—their strength is quite extraordinary."
With Ning Rongrong at Shrek—
How could he, as her father, not pay attention?
In his inquiries, he had even struck a deal for hidden weapons with that youth Tang San.
"That Tang San..." Ning Fengzhi took a sip of tea and thought, "I wonder, compared to Li Zhexian, who is stronger?"
He had once spoken these thoughts to Chen Xin.
Chen Xin had answered in a tone of utmost seriousness:
"Fengzhi, you do not understand the sword. You do not understand Zhexian's genius upon the sword's path."
Emperor Xue Ye laughed.
"Come to think, Fengzhi's daughter is in that academy, isn't she? Truly worth looking forward to."
Salas nodded his agreement.
"If Sect Master Ning holds them in esteem, they must indeed have some skill."
Xue Qinghe glanced at Ning Fengzhi, who was lowering his head and drinking tea.
She immediately understood that he was comparing Shrek to Li Zhexian.
"Heh…" Xue Qinghe sneered inwardly.
In her eyes—
Even all seven of the Shrek Seven Monsters bound together—
Could not withstand a single falling plum petal from Li Zhexian's sword.
...
One team after another entered, the atmosphere climbing toward its peak.
Yet—
As the home team, with the name of Sword Wine upon them, and as the first to enter the arena—
The Heaven Dou Imperial Battle Team was undoubtedly the brightest focus of all.
In the Heaven Dou City division—
Aside from the Imperial Team One, who advanced directly to the finals—
There were twenty-eight other teams vying for five preliminary spots.
The rules were simple, yet brutal:
Over twenty-seven days, all twenty-eight teams would fight once daily.
Each had to battle every other team.
The top five by points would advance.
And for today's opening ceremony—
There was only one match.
To be determined by drawing lots from Platinum Bishop Salas.
When Salas's hoarse voice rang out across the arena—
Many were stunned.
"The first match of the preliminaries: Shrek Academy versus Imperial Battle Team's second team!"
——
——
The lingering echo was heard clearly by everyone.
"Hm?!" Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and Yu Tianheng's seven were all surprised. Shrek Academy was an old rival.
Putting aside their grievances with Li Zhexian, their own Royal Fighting Team's team one had once been defeated by them.
"The Shrek Seven Monsters..." Yu Tianheng murmured in a low voice.
"Let's see how strong you are now." He knew that the Imperial Battle Team's second team was a decent match. He hoped they could probe the Shrek Seven Monsters' depth.
Dugu Yan lowered her head and fiddled with her nails, a cold glint flashing in her eyes
Li Zhexian's joining the Empirial Battle Team had reignited her confidence. The Shrek team,
And Shrek—the very team who had defeated them, who bore grudges with Li Zhexian?
"Hmph. Best that I meet you in the arena."
Li Zhexian watched the two teams stepping onto the stage with interest.
He was curious.
Without Ma Hongjun, without the immortal herb encounters—what strength could the Shrek Seven Monsters still muster?
...
On the VIP platform—
Emperor Xue Ye and Salas both leaned forward with interest.
"Sect Master Ning, the Shrek Team you favor is about to enter."
Ning Fengzhi smiled:
"We shall see."
On the ten-meter-high, thousand-square-meter stage—
The Shrek Seven Monsters and Imperial Battle Team's second team faced each other from opposite ends.
Hearing the audience's jeers at their uniforms—
Oscar forced a bitter smile.
"Why do I feel like just showing up is embarrassing?"
Dai Mubai cracked his knuckles with a series of crisp pops.
"Today we crush second team first."
"Then later, we'll destroy Team One."
Tang San's eyes swept across the opponents arranging their formation, his voice low and firm:
"Take formation—just as in training!"
"Brothers, this is Shrek's very first battle of the tournament!"
"I want it over fast—end it within one minute!"
"Understood!" ×5
Zhu Zhuqing's gaze passed across the stage, falling upon the team gathering area below.
Her delicate chin lifted slightly.
In her eyes flickered a trace of longing.
A glint of hope flashed in her eyes.
For two years, she had never been lazy for a moment.
All she wanted was to tell that sword-wielding figure, "Zhu Zhuqing wants to stand shoulder to shoulder with you."
Ning Rongrong's fingers trembled slightly.
Seven-colored light swirled in her palm.
She cast a glance, seemingly by chance, toward the direction Zhu Zhuqing was gazing, and bit down on her lip.
"Brother Zhexian…"
"Let me show you—the power of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!"