The Imperial Battle Team's Second Team looked down on the Shrek Team.
Setting aside strength.
Just in appearance, the gap was far too vast.
The seven members of the Imperial Battle Team's Second Team were clad in matching pale-golden uniforms, silver stars glittering on their backs, radiating nobility.
In contrast, Shrek's dung-green uniforms—
The difference wasn't just one tier, but several.
Feeling the disdainful gazes. Dai Mubai narrowed his evil eyes and said:
"Both the First and Second Team are disgusting."
"In a moment, I'll make sure you don't even have the courage to look me in the eye."
Just at that moment, the referee's voice echoed throughout the arena.
"The first match of the preliminaries—begin!"
Boom——
As the words fell, a powerful Spirit Power fluctuation burst from Dai Mubai's body.
"Brothers, release your Spirit Rings!"
"White Tiger, Possession!"
At almost the exact same moment, the Imperial Battle Team's Second Team also released their Spirit Rings.
One after another, glowing rings lit up across the arena.
Successive gasps of surprise immediately rang out from the audience.
On the stage, Dai Mubai and Xiao Wu drew the most attention—
Two yellow, two purple Spirit Rings rose beneath their feet, glowing brightly.
At their sides, Tang San and Bai Chenxiang each carried two yellow and one purple, both three-ring Spirit Elders.
As for Ning Rongrong and Oscar, they too had the optimal configuration of three Spirit Rings.
Among the Shrek Seven Monters, only Zhu Zhuqing remained still, not releasing her rings.
Below the stage, the audience let out excited cheers. Who would have thought that this unknown team would have two Spirit Ancestors?
In the waiting area, Feng Xiaotian, Huo Wushuang, and the others grew solemn.
A team that could have a four-ring Spirit Ancestor had already entered the ranks of the first-class.
Dugu Yan, standing beside Li Zhexian, pursed her lips. "Is that all?"
Li Zhexian heard her and gave a helpless smile
To Dugu Yan, who had obtained the "Blood Swan's Kiss," the Shrek Team's Spirit Power levels truly looked unimpressive.
However.
The Seven Monters' levels were all within Li Zhe Xian's expectations.
Having lost the fortune of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well—
Dai Mubai, who in the original timeline had reached Spirit Power of level forty-four, had now barely broken through level forty.
Tang San, Ning Rongrong, and Oscar had yet to reach level forty; Bai Chenxiang, who replaced Fatty, naturally was even less.
Only Xiao Wu, who had never taken immortal herbs in the original story, remained unchanged—already at level forty.
And as for Zhu Zhuqing, though she had not revealed her Spirit Rings—
As the only one among them to have taken an immortal herb—
Her Spirit Power could only be higher than Dai Mubai's.
In short—
Compared to the original course of events, the Shrek Team's overall strength had been greatly diminished.
...
In the VIP platform.
Emperor Xue Ye nodded slightly. "Not bad."
Platinum Bishop Salas merely smiled faintly.
In their eyes—
This Shrek Team had some highlights.
But still did not live up to Ning Fengzhi's earlier praise.
Ning Fengzhi only smiled lightly and said nothing.
Back in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan—
Sword Douluo Chen Xin had once tested these seven youngsters.
His conclusion—
Aside from Zhu Zhuqing, the other six already had flawless teamwork.
Especially that Tang San.
As a control-type Spirit Master—
His command of the battlefield was as seasoned as an old veteran, nothing like a boy.
Ning Fengzhi trusted his own judgment.
"Look, it begins."
"Charge!"
Tang San barked out sharply.
Aside from Zhu Zhuqing, the six others instantly burst forward.
"The Seven Treasures turn to glaze!"
"First: Strength!"
"Second: Speed!"
"Third: Spirit!"
Ning Rongrong's black hair fluttered.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda in her palm swirled with light
Three beams of light shot out, precisely enveloping her teammates.
In an instant.
Amplification effects fell upon them.
Dai Mubai's muscles swelled, charging like a ferocious tiger descending a mountain.
With a roar, his third Spirit Ring flared with violet radiance.
"Third Spirit Ability—White Tiger Vajra Transformation!"
At the same time, Bai Chenxiang's three Spirit Rings lit up all at once.
Like a swallow piercing the clouds, she soared into the sky.
Her body split into afterimages, diving down upon the Imperial Battle Team's Second Team.
Two assault-type Spirit Masters unleashing thousand-year Spirit Abilities right at the start, ignoring consumption—
This reckless tactic.
Caught the Imperial Battle Team's Second Team completely off guard.
The five assault-types in front raised arms to block.
But—
Tang San would never give them the chance.
A cold blue-green light flared.
His third Spirit Ring suddenly pulsed.
"Third Spirit Ability—Spider Web Restraint!"
A ball of blue-green light shot out from his palm,
Expanding in the air into a venomous web of countless interlocking strands.
The five battle Spirit Masters of the Imperial Battle Team's Second Team were covered by the venomous web. A paralyzing sensation made their bodies stiffen.
And at that moment—
Dai Mubai and Bai Chenxiang's attacks arrived.
Dai Mubai slammed his tiger paws in succession, attacking three people amidst his roar. Bones cracked, screams rang out, and blood splattered!
Bai Chenxiang dived down and severely injured one person!
Meanwhile, Xiao Wu flickered—teleporting behind the enemy support-type female Spirit Master.
Teleport. Soft Skill. Waist Bow!
Her movements flowed seamlessly—
With a thunderous bang—
The support Spirit Master was slammed onto her back, crying out before fainting.
In the blink of an eye.
Five of the Imperial Battle Team's Second Team were down.
The last two soon followed, losing all combat ability.
From Spirit Ring release to battle's end—barely ten seconds had passed.
The Shrek Team had crushed the Imperial Battle Team's Second Team with overwhelming speed.
After a brief, dead silence, the audience erupted in a roar of cheers like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami.
On the VIP platform, Ning Fengzhi had a smile on his face. The expressions of Emperor Xue Ye and Salas became a little more serious.
In the backstage viewing area, Yu Xiaogang looked at the arena with a seemingly calm expression. But his hands, clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, exposed the excitement in his heart.
"I said it before…"
"The Spirit Master Tournament is where you will make your names known across the continent."
"The disciples I, Yu Xiaogang, have taught—will make the entire continent turn its eyes upon them."
The Shrek Team's performance.
Had made every other team in the tournament sober.
Even the Five Element Academies now wore solemn expressions.
Dugu Yan let out a cold snort, about to say something to Li Zhe Xian—
But stopped when he raised a finger to his lips.
His eyes.
Were fixed on the arena.
"…Tang San is looking at me?"
Amid the thunderous cheers.
Tang San's face remained calm.
That single word—"Charge"—was the signal for Shrek's attack.
As the control-type Spirit Master directing the entire battle, he lived for this sensation of mastery.
"First defeating the Second Team… next is the First."
Suddenly.
A ripple stirred in his heart.
His gaze pierced the sea of people—
And locked precisely onto the white-robed youth.
The other seemed to feel it too.
Their eyes met, unflinching.
"…Daring to lock eyes with me?"
"Then—accept punishment."
Cold light flashed in Tang San's eyes.
"Purple Demon Eye—Purple God Light!"
A dazzling purple light suddenly burst from his eyes.
Before the tournament, he had captured a wisp of purple light from the morning sun, allowing his Purple Demon Eye to touch the threshold of the "Mustard Seed" realm.
The purple light was like a rainbow, shooting toward him.
"…An eye technique?"
Li Zhe Xian's lips curved into a deeper, amused smile.
"Who gave you the courage—"
"To dare use a mere inferior eye technique… against Ultimate Sharpness, and the Sword at the Fourth Realm?"
At a thought.
The air before him rippled violently.
One after another, transparent swords of condensed sharpness emerged.
Buzz—
Buzz—
Space trembled.
The transparent sword qis of sharpness cut the air into ripples of substance that were visible to the naked eye.
Li Zhe Xian's eyes turned razor-sharp.
Those countless transparent sword qis—
Carrying the edge to rend all things.
Surged forth—
To meet Tang San's blazing purple light head-on…