Chapter 262: Skywater vs. Huangdou Signature Moves
As soon as the door opened, Dugu Yan ran toward Han Li, a smile lighting up her face.
"Xiao Li, you're back already?"
Although she hadn't competed today, she had enjoyed experiencing the tournament atmosphere. More importantly, after helping Zhu Zhuqing get some payback, she was in an exceptionally good mood.
"You did well."
Han Li smiled as he praised her. Though it had all been a happy accident, the result was exactly what he wanted. He naturally wouldn't dampen Dugu Yan's enthusiasm.
Then, he turned to Zhu Zhuqing.
"Zhuqing, most of your problems have been resolved. Now, only the Star Luo Empire remains. But I doubt they'll act more likely, they'll pretend they don't know. For now, you can truly start to taste freedom."
"Thank you."
Zhu Zhuqing bit her lip, her voice soft as she uttered two simple words.
Before Han Li could respond, Dugu Yan grinned mischievously and raised her hand.
"Let me handle this!"
Then, under everyone's amused gazes, she mimicked Han Li's usual thoughtful pose hand under chin, eyes glancing at Zhu Zhuqing.
"No need for thanks. But Zhuqing, your outfit looks nice... I wonder what material it's made of? Can I take a closer look?"
With that, she burst into laughter and ran off, with Zhu Zhuqing her face turning red chasing after her, dragged along by Shui Bing'er and Xiu'er.
Han Li shook his head, watching them playfully scuffle. This was entertaining.
The Tournament Continues
In the following days, they continued attending the tournament.
Han Li played the role of a guest of honor, while the girls mingled with the Skywater Battle Team, offering strategic advice and even taking on some of the coaching and leadership responsibilities.
Skywater Academy competed a few times, but Dugu Yan and the others didn't step onto the stage.
They were here to enjoy the atmosphere, not to steal the spotlight.
Of course, their match against the Heaven Dou Royal Academy was an exception.
According to Dugu Yan, both Dai Mubai and Tang San harbored killing intent toward Zhu Zhuqing.
While they couldn't kill them outright, they could certainly give them a brutal beating in the arena within the tournament rules, of course.
She even borrowed a line Han Li had once used in jest:
"These two already walk the path of death."
Huangdou Team's Rising Reputation
Interestingly, Huangdou's second team kept winning easily.
Perhaps due to their weak opponents, their main lineup never changed.
Even when facing especially weak teams, they didn't even bother sending out Oscar winning with just five members.
This gradually improved their reputation among the audience.
Of course, among other academy teams, their behavior wasn't well received.
Winning with fewer members was seen as disrespectful, a blatant sign of arrogance.
And, as expected bad news spreads faster than good.
Within just a few days, the scandal Dugu Yan exposed had spread like wildfire throughout the entire Heaven Dou capital.
It was even beginning to spread across the entire continent.
Fortunately, the Royal Academy had already prepared a countermeasure.
On the second day of the scandal's spread, the Heaven Dou Empire, under Emperor Xue Ye's name, issued an official statement.
And just like that all former Shrek Academy teachers were expelled.
Shrek Academy's Final Fate
Upon further investigation, it was confirmed that, aside from their association with Zhao Wuji, the teachers had no criminal records.
Furthermore, during their tenure at the Royal Academy, they had performed their teaching duties properly.
However, due to their negligence when they ran Shrek Academy, they were deemed unfit to be teachers and expelled per the Emperor's orders.
Salas, unsure of Han Li's true intentions, stationed people to monitor them openly, ensuring Flender and Zhao Wuji felt constant pressure.
At this point, the two men didn't dare to flee.
If they ran, they had no idea if the Heaven Dou Empire would take action against them.
Thus, they simply hid inside a rented house, refusing to come out.
As for Li Yusong and Shao Xin, after Flender apologized to them, they simply shook their heads in silence and left Heaven Dou City, disappearing without a trace.
Shao Xin's Decision
Unlike Li Yusong, Shao Xin, a Food System Soul Sage, was highly sought after.
Even the Three Education Ministers offered him a guest elder position allowing him to choose freely between the academy, military, or other imperial institutions.
But after much consideration, Shao Xin declined.
"I want to see more of the continent," he said, leaving with Li Yusong.
Dai Mubai's Secret Plans
Interestingly, Dai Mubai kept his breakthrough to the Soul Sect a secret.
Perhaps Tang San had promised him something, because Dai Mubai was secretly searching for an 8,000 year Vajra Tiger Spirit Beast, hoping for a miraculous comeback.
Tang San's Transformation
Of them all, Tang San changed the most.
In the twenty or so days since his "bone exchange", his originally dark and lean physique had rapidly bulked up.
Strangely, he was starting to resemble Tai Long when using his Martial Soul.
And yet Xiao Wu found him even more endearing.
As for Tang Hao, he was aware of some side effects from the bone exchange process.
But in his mind, a sturdier body and increased strength were all beneficial for Tang San.
Although Tang San's appearance was growing rougher and more rugged by the day, he had inherited neither Tang Hao's heroic demeanor nor Ah Yin's beauty. But that didn't matter for a man, strength was the most important thing.
As for his teammates, most of them had already mentally checked out, treating this tournament as their final mission together before parting ways. Naturally, none of them would be foolish enough to point out Tang San's changes.
And so, in this strange atmosphere, the Skywater Academy vs. Heaven Dou Royal Academy match finally arrived.
This battle wasn't just the first true clash between elite academies, but also involved the main players of a scandal that had shaken the entire capital. It was bound to be an unmissable spectacle.
Many academies had no matches scheduled today, but thanks to the recent events and Skywater Academy's incredible performances, most teams flocked to the arena, half out of curiosity, half to watch the drama unfold.
A quick glance revealed that the audience size was even larger than on opening day.
Arena Entrance
On Skywater Academy's side, only four figures stood at their designated waiting area, casually chatting.
"Zhuqing, today's your big day. We already agreed we're just here to back you up. Feeling nervous?"
Zhu Zhuqing shook her head lightly.
Back in Soto City, she had fought in the Soul Arena so often that it had become second nature.
Besides, she had been training against them daily. Even though she had only ever won against Ye LingLing, she had undergone far more intense battles than anything her former teammates could offer.
She felt zero pressure.
"Xiao Li said, as long as they don't die, beat them within an inch of their lives. Just remember that."
It was Xiu'er who spoke this time a rare moment.
She had been by Han Li's side the longest and understood him the most.
She clearly recalled how, before Han Li's Martial Soul Awakening, he had personally gone to observe the new students at Notting Academy's opening ceremony.
Back then, she hadn't understood what he was looking for.
But after learning about Tang San and Xiao Wu, she realized Xiao Li had been looking for them from the very start.
"See? Even Xiu'er says so. Zhuqing, we're all counting on you~"
Dugu Yan grinned mischievously, bumping Zhu Zhuqing's shoulder playfully.
Zhu Zhuqing was about to respond when she heard the announcer's voice boom overhead
"Skywater Academy, enter the stage!"
The four women immediately straightened up, adjusted their clothes, and walked toward the arena platform.
Huangdou's Entrance & Immediate Disrespect
On the opposite side, Heaven Dou's second team began their march onto the stage at the announcer's cue.
The moment both teams stepped into the arena spotlight, Tang San and his teammates scowled deeply.
Their lineup was fully assembled while Skywater Academy had only sent four members.
They were being openly mocked.
They had spent days preparing for this match even going so far as to request Ye LingLing's healing for Tai Long.
Even so, when Ye LingLing had treated him, her expression had been a little odd.
Now, seeing only four people on the opposite side, their anger deepened.
And when the arena's giant floating screens displayed the scene to the spectators, the entire stadium erupted into chaos.
Host & Referee Stay Unfazed
Unlike the audience, the host and referee remained unfazed.
They had already been informed no matter what unexpected events occurred today, they were to ignore them and proceed as usual.
Thus, as soon as both teams stood in position, the announcer swiftly exited, while the referee ignored the crowd's uproar and immediately began the match.
"Battle, begin!"
Mockery Before the First Move
"Oi, oi, why the long faces? Lighten up a little."
Dugu Yan smirked, raising an eyebrow provocatively.
"I've got great news for you although we only sent four people today, only Zhuqing will actually fight. The rest of us? We're just here to watch. Excited yet?"
Taking full advantage of the one minute preparation period, she teased them relentlessly.
Tang San took a deep breath, forcibly ignoring her provocations.
Instead, he turned to his teammates, his gaze resting on Ning Rongrong.
Ning Rongrong crossed her arms, rolling her eyes.
"Relax. Friendship is one thing, competition is another. My buffs will land exactly when needed not a fraction early or late. Worry about yourselves instead."
Tang San nodded. He ignored her irritated tone, then turned back to face the Skywater team.
"Brothers, Martial Souls, activate!"
Huangdou's Signature Move... Backfires
The moment Tang San shouted, the arena exploded in cheers.
His battle cry, followed by the team's synchronized Martial Soul activations, had become a signature routine for Huangdou Team 2.
So far, Tang San's ten thousand year fourth soul ring had been a terrifying psychological weapon, often intimidating opponents into submission before the fight even began.
And then
Laughter.
A loud, mocking, uncontrollable laughter.
"GAHAHAHA oh my god, I knew this would be funny, but seeing it in person? It's even dumber than I imagined!"
Dugu Yan doubled over laughing, half collapsing onto Shui Bing'er's shoulder, her body trembling with amusement.
Her magical laughter was so infectious that the other three women struggled to hold back their own laughter, covering their mouths to avoid losing composure.
Unexpected Impact
Behind Tang San, Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda had just emerged, but her hands trembled.
Originally, she saw nothing wrong with their routine.
But after hearing Dugu Yan's mockery, she suddenly realized
"Wait… does this actually look stupid?"
Even her Martial Soul felt hot in her hands, awkward to summon, awkward to dismiss.
Her confidence wavered.
Tang San Reaches His Limit
"Enough!"
Tang San's voice turned ice cold as he suppressed his rising fury.
"Dugu Yan, this is an official match. Don't go too far. I hope your strength is as sharp as your tongue."
The mocking laughter from the four women instantly vanished.
Three intense gazes locked onto Tang San, carrying real weight forcing him to remain still despite his instincts screaming at him to step back.
"You're interesting," Shui Bing'er said calmly, her expression serene.
Her words sent shivers down the spines of Ma Hongjun and the others.
The Unveiling of Zhu Zhuqing
"Alright, Zhuqing, time to shine," Dugu Yan said lightly, gently pushing her forward.
Then
Before everyone's stunned eyes, five soul rings emerged from Zhu Zhuqing
Two yellow, one purple, two black.
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