Dugu Bo's figure kept flickering, each time moving a hundred meters away, and soon he was outside the cave.
After entering, Dugu Bo looked around, finding everything the same as before, smelling the same as before.
Dugu Bo headed inside, but when he passed through the cave to the valley, he was stunned. Before him, there was nothing! It was a flat ground!
Dugu Bo hesitated: "What's going on? Where are those herbs?"
If not for coming through the cave, Dugu Bo would suspect he came to the wrong place. This empty flat ground, how could it be his herb garden? However, when he saw that peculiar spring still there, his expression stirred, and he instinctively stepped back two steps, murmuring to himself: "How…how could…my herbs!"
Dugu Bo quickly stepped forward, passed through the hazy mist, constantly searching, but found not a single herb.
Soon, he noticed a note on the ground, which read: Dugu Bo, Tang San and I won't be polite; we've dug up all your herbs. Don't worry, we didn't pull the roots out, the roots are still there, they'll grow back later. Thanks a lot.
Looking at the note, Dugu Bo gritted his teeth, and the poisonous mist directly corroded the note into nothingness. His fist clenched tightly, making a cracking sound, and the veins on his forehead bulged.
"Damn it! My herbs! Ah ah ah!!!"
Dugu Bo was furious, roaring in anger, waiting for them to grow back later? Who knows how long that will take!
The herbs here, though he was unfamiliar with many, he knew were all priceless treasures. Adding up the value here, it was no inferior to a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring! In fact, these herbs combined might be more valuable than a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring!
Dugu Bo was shaking with anger, every cell trembling, yet he could only be angry and do nothing. Attack Ye Yu and Tang San? He really wanted to kill those two brats, but he dared not.
If he did, Tang Hao would surely kill him.
Dugu Bo felt both furious and powerless.
At this moment, at Lanba Academy.
Ye Yu came back not long ago, then Tang San and others returned.
Master said: "Get to know each other's new Soul Techniques."
Tang San, Ma Hongjun, and the others told Ye Yu about their newly acquired Soul Techniques. Everyone felt their new techniques were impressive, but hearing about Ye Yu's gains was disheartening.
At this time, four students from Lanba Academy approached, among them someone Ye Yu and the others recognized: Talon.
Master said: "They are substitute players, to prevent injuries reducing numbers in battle, so each team is equipped with substitutes."
Oscar responded: "With Boss Yu here, we probably don't even need to fight, let alone worry about injuries."
Master said, "In the initial battles, I won't let Ye Yu participate, we can't let other teams know Shrek Team's true strength too early. These four are Lanba Academy's elites; they haven't graduated yet so they can participate in competitions."
Four people, three men and one woman, the woman being the youngest at nineteen.
Master said: "Introduce yourselves."
Talon scratched his head: "No need for me to introduce, everyone knows me."
"Then I'll go ahead, my name is Huang Yuan, twenty-two years old, Martial Soul is Lone Wolf, at level thirty-nine, Strong Attack Type War Soul Venerable."
"My name is Jing Ling, twenty-two years old, Martial Soul is Skeleton, level thirty-nine, Agile Attack Type War Soul Venerable."
"My name is Jiang Zhu, nineteen years old, Martial Soul is Healing Staff, level thirty-six, Healing Type Artifact Soul Venerable."
Their Soul Ring configurations were all two yellow and one purple.
Because Jiang Zhu's purple was quite good, Ma Hongjun's eyes were glowing as he gazed.
Master said: "In four days, it's the All Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Grand Tournament, I'll explain the rules to you."
"This is the largest Martial Soul tournament organized jointly by the Two Great Empires, Tian Dou and Xingluo, with Martial Soul Hall assisting. Requirements: participants must be under twenty-five years old, at Soul Venerable strength or above, no killing opponents is allowed, otherwise disqualification."
Master continued: "Though weapons are unpredictable in battles, the continent hosts this tournament to select talents, thus killing is prohibited."
Ye Yu nodded: "I see, then I won't participate until we face a strong team, lest I accidentally kill them."
"Even if you participate, you don't need to fight, you're support, others won't mind."
"There are two more rules, no use of non-Support Type or Food Type manufactured drugs, no use of Hidden Weapons."
Tang San nodded upon hearing.
"Next is the advancement method, first, two direct-entry teams to the finals, which are the official Advanced Academy teams of Tian Dou and Xingluo. For Tian Dou Empire, they can directly select one team for the finals. Since each academy has a participation quota, these official academies also have one affiliate team each, participating in the same qualification advancement match as you."
"First, there's the qualification match, conducted in team battle format. Qualified teams total thirty, then those thirty will advance to the next level. Advancement matches aren't team battles but single team-member combat: if you defeat an opponent, then you continue to challenge the team's second member, until that team's members are all defeated. This isn't a knockout match, but to determine rankings, then according to ranking, arrange appearance order in the finals."
"At the start of the finals, there will be a total of thirty-three teams."
Oscar asked in confusion: "Teacher, shouldn't it be thirty-two teams? Thirty from advancement, two direct-entry for finals, is there another one?"
Master nodded: "Indeed, there's another team that's directly promoted, by Martial Soul Hall. The team's members aren't from any Advanced Soul Master Academy, but specially trained by Martial Soul Hall. This year marks the fourth All Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Grand Tournament. In the previous three tournaments, the first time, a team from Xingluo Empire won the championship, while Martial Soul Hall won the next two consecutive times."
"Reminding you, the team Martial Soul Hall sends is far more formidable than Huang Dou Team."
At this moment, snoring sounds rose, it was Ma Hongjun had fallen asleep listening.
Master stepped forward, kicked, Ma Hongjun suddenly woke up.
Master reminded: "Listen carefully."
Snoring continued, Ma Hongjun following the sound and pointing at Ye Yu, said: "Boss Yu is asleep too, why don't you wake him up."
Master said: "If you were as gifted as he is, you could also keep sleeping and not listen."
Ma Hongjun lowered his head: "Alright."
Master said: "In each qualification match, among you Seven Monsters, at most three will participate; the other four will be Talon and his group fixed."
Tang San asked: "Teacher, should we conserve our strength? If we lose, wouldn't that be a pity?"
Master frowned: "What, don't you have this much confidence? Most teams will adopt such a method. If you expose your strength to opponents too early, the road ahead will be extremely difficult."
At this time, Ye Yu woke up and shared his thoughts.
"Master, what you said is too complicated, why not let me go directly, without needing full strength, and sweep all the way, no matter how other teams think of strategies, they're useless. In absolute strength, everything is futile."
Master: "..."
Master felt very helpless: "Stay asleep, they need honing."
Ye Yu nodded: "Okay."