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A day later, in a VIP lounge at the Soto Great Spirit Arena, the atmosphere was luxurious. The walls were covered in thick, gold-threaded brocade, and a huge crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, filling the room with a warm, bright light.
The most unique feature was a transparent crystal panel that served as a wall, allowing those inside to see out onto the main fighting arena, while preventing anyone outside from seeing in.
Inside the room were nine people, all from the Royal Fight Team, chatting idly.
Dugu Yan picked up her teacup, a half-smile on her lips. "I just heard Teacher Qin say they've arranged a spirit battle for us against a team called the Shrek Seven Devils. I heard they've been here for a while and haven't lost a single team match."
Hearing this, Ao Si Luo, who had been yawning and leaning back in his chair, suddenly sat up straight. A flicker of excitement appeared in his eyes. "Yan Zi, what did you say? They haven't lost? Are they a Spirit Ancestor-level team too? We'll have to be careful this time."
Dugu Yan slowly set down her teacup, a hint of disdain in her gaze. "No, that's not it. From what I know, no one on their team has reached Rank 40 spirit power. The Shrek Seven Devils are a Rank 30 Spirit Elder team."
"I heard this team was specially invited by the Soto Great Spirit Arena to deal with us. It's a bit against the rules, but since their team's spirit power rank is lower than ours, Teacher Qin agreed. If we lose, we'll take our people and leave."
"A Spirit Elder-level team? No matter how strong they are, they can't be our opponents," Yu Feng said, crossing his arms, a hint of disdain in his expression.
Just then, the door opened, and light footsteps approached. Qin Ming walked in with his hands behind his back, his expression as steady as ever, a faint smile on his lips.
"Hello, Teacher Qin," everyone said, standing up and greeting him respectfully.
Qin Ming nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the faces of the Royal Fight Team members. His smile deepened. "What are you all discussing?"
Yu Tianheng stepped forward and replied respectfully, "It's about the upcoming team spirit battle."
"Oh?" Qin Ming responded softly, his lips curving into a smile. He took a cloth scroll from his spirit tool and tossed it onto the table. The cloth unfurled with a snap, revealing several lines of clear text and images. His tone was calm but serious. "This is the Shrek Team's information. Take a look."
The scroll detailed the Shrek Seven Devils team. It listed the captain as the Evil Eye White Tiger, with a spirit of White Tiger and a Rank 38 spirit power. It also listed the vice-captain as Thousand Hands Asura, with a Blue Silver Grass spirit and a Rank 34 spirit power. The scroll then listed other team members, including two with a spirit power of Rank 28, a Ma Hongjun with an Evil Phoenix spirit and a Zhu Zhuqing with a Nether Spirit Cat spirit.
Dugu Yan quickly scanned the information until she reached the last few lines. A mocking curve instantly appeared on her lips. "What? There are even Rank 20-something spirit masters? A team like this, and the Soto Great Spirit Arena dares to invite them to fight us? How ridiculous! I think I alone could take care of all of them."
As her words fell, the atmosphere in the room changed slightly. Qin Ming's originally indifferent expression instantly grew colder. His brows furrowed, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and he snorted. "Yan Zi, you haven't even entered the arena yet, and you're already looking down on your opponents? This is a major military taboo. With this mindset, if you were in the Pan-continental Advanced Spirit Master Elite Competition, you would suffer a great loss sooner or later."
His unquestionable tone made Dugu Yan's heart tighten. Seeing that Qin Ming was somewhat angry, she stuck out her tongue, not daring to speak further.
Immediately after, Qin Ming turned his gaze to Tang Chuan, his tone calm but with a hint of scrutiny. "Tang Chuan, what do you think of this team?"
"There are a few people among them that Ruier and I have already fought against before," Tang Chuan said, touching his nose casually.
Hearing this, Qin Ming's brows furrowed, and a look of confusion, even surprise, flashed in his eyes. "You... fought against them?"
Tang Chuan turned his head to meet Xiao Ruier's gaze. The two smiled slightly and nodded simultaneously.
"This Shrek Team has good strength. Two of them even possess a spirit fusion skill. If it were just the original members of the Royal Fight Team going against them, winning… would probably not be easy," Tang Chuan said, his brow slightly furrowed as he looked at Qin Ming.
"A spirit fusion skill?!" Everyone's expressions instantly changed. Ao Si Luo even widened his eyes, his tone filled with shock. "Tang Chuan, how do you know they have a spirit fusion skill?"
"You don't need to ask about that. Just trust me," Tang Chuan shook his head slightly, a faint curve on his lips, choosing not to explain.
Just then, Qin Ming's gaze was fixed on Tang Chuan's face. After a moment of thought, he slowly spoke. "So, you mean you and Ruier will replace two people on the field?"
"No need. I alone can replace Ling Ling on the field. My Blue Silver Grass can also provide support for everyone, and if any unexpected changes occur, I can still attack and cover. However, I have a suggestion: I want to pretend to be Ling Ling on the field using a Simulation soul skill!"
As soon as he said this, Ye Lingling was stunned for a moment, then her pretty face flushed red, even the tips of her ears turning pink, and she lowered her head, not daring to look at Tang Chuan.
"Oh my—" Ao Si Luo was the first to react, his face full of playful mockery. "Tang Chuan, what do you intend to do? I didn't realize you had such a fetish?"
"Tang Chuan, I didn't expect you to be a pervert!" Even Yu Feng and Dugu Yan couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Qin Ming's eyebrows raised slightly, as he seemed curious as well.
Tang Chuan merely glanced at them indifferently, his expression unchanged. "What are you all thinking? I just want to give the people from Shrek Academy a surprise, to make them think we haven't changed anyone. If you can deal with them, that's great. If not…"
Inside a dilapidated wooden house at Shrek Academy, Ma Hongjun, propped up on pillows on the sickbed, continuously chewed on Oscar's recovery sausage. After about a week of recovery, his face had finally regained some color, and his originally listless expression had livened up as his physical strength returned.
But just now, Flender had told him about the upcoming team spirit battle.
"Teacher, what are you doing? I've just recovered, and you want me to participate in a team spirit battle?!" Ma Hongjun said, his eyes wide with disbelief, his face full of incredulity.
Flender coughed, his eyes a little shifty. "Hongjun, this… is mainly because the academy is facing an economic crisis right now, no money." Then, he forced a comforting smile. "How about this, after this team spirit battle, I'll let you rest for two months, alright?"
Ma Hongjun immediately rolled his eyes, his lips twitching. "Two months? Who knows if you'll find another excuse to pull me out by then?"
He was about to continue complaining when the Yu Xiaogang beside him suddenly sat up sharply from the bed, looking as if he had risen from his deathbed. He held the Royal Fight Team's information tightly in his hand, his knuckles white, his voice trembling but exceptionally firm. "Flender, help me to the Great Spirit Arena later. I want to personally command this spirit battle."
Flender's expression changed. He walked over quickly and placed a hand on the Yu Xiaogang's shoulder. "Xiao Gang, you're still very weak right now. I don't think you should go. Although the opponent has your Blue Lightning—"
Before he could finish, the Yu Xiaogang's face suddenly darkened, and a nearly unresolvable anger flashed in his eyes as he roared, "Flender, please don't mention that sect's name in front of me! That place… has nothing to do with me anymore!"
Saying this, he slowly pushed Flender's hand away, took a deep breath, and stood up, supporting himself on the bed frame. Although his movements were somewhat labored, his back was held perfectly straight.
"Flender, do you know? This will be my chance to prove myself. If the person I taught defeats the most outstanding disciple of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan of this generation, once this news spreads, it will be enough to thoroughly slap those old geezers in the face."
"I want everyone to know that I, Yu Xiaogang, have never been a good-for-nothing! Yesterday, they misjudged me, Yu Xiaogang. Today, they misjudged me, Yu Xiaogang, again, but I am still me. The genius with only half a Rank of innate spirit power, who still managed to cultivate to Rank 29!"
The Yu Xiaogang's voice gradually grew louder. The suppressed anger in his chest for many years seemed to be pouring out. "So, I must go to this spirit battle! I will personally arrange the tactics! As long as Little San can defeat Tian Heng, then I, Yu Xiaogang, will truly stand up! Do you know? I've been waiting for this day for over twenty years!"
At the same time, a thousand miles west of Soto City, three streams of light were flying in, followed by dozens of red figures.