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The following evening, when the information about the Shrek Battle Team was presented to the members of the Imperial Team, they couldn't help but be stunned.
What nonsense—only three Soul Elders in the team, with the rest being Great Soul Masters? How could such a team achieve consecutive victories in the Grand Spirit Arena?
Not to mention, teams participating at the Silver Spirit Badge level were no pushovers.
Qin Ming hadn't expected the strength of Shrek Academy to be so weak. However, the arena's record of their winning streak wasn't fabricated. He believed that the Shrek Team must have some hidden trump card that allowed them to maintain their streak.
Oslo had also grown sharper. Anticipating a possible match against the Shrek Team, he had gathered intelligence from within the Grand Spirit Arena beforehand.
"The Shrek Team only started participating in team soul battles a month ago. Before that, they showed impressive performances in one-on-one and two-on-two matches, but they didn't manage to upgrade their spirit badges."
"Therefore, I believe their winning streak is based on battles against Iron Spirit Badge teams."
Though reluctant to underestimate their opponents, Yu Tianheng couldn't help but chuckle. "I'm curious—how could such a team possibly defeat the Rage Team?"
"Maybe they slipped something into the Rage Team's drinks before the match," Yu Feng joked with a laugh.
Seeing his alma mater ridiculed, Qin Ming's face turned ashen with embarrassment. He barked furiously, "What are you laughing about? Have you even won your soul battle yet? Have you forgotten how you underestimated the Seven Treasures Team because they only had Great Soul Masters? You all ended up with humiliating defeats, losing by wide margins!"
Shi Mo, Shi Mo, and Ye Lingling, who usually never spoke, frowned uncomfortably at Qin Ming's reprimand.
Why was Qin Ming reacting so strongly to mocking the Shrek Team?
"Teacher Qin, please calm down. We definitely don't want to lose this soul battle. Everyone will take it seriously, and we'll analyze our opponents' strengths one by one," Yu Tianheng, as the team captain, set an example by immediately wiping the smiles off everyone's faces.
Midway through the analysis, Qin Ming suddenly interjected, "In this soul battle, Dugu Yan is not allowed to use her third soul skill. No one is permitted to intentionally injure opponents, and under no circumstances should anyone deliver fatal blows. Is that clear?"
His words left the Imperial Team members dumbfounded, exchanging awkward glances.
In a soul battle, soul skills were unpredictable, and accidents could happen at any time. Restraining themselves like this was practically the same as underestimating their opponents. What if they had the chance to eliminate a key opponent but held back out of pity, only to end up losing the battle? Wouldn't that be sheer arrogance?
Dugu Yan frowned. "Teacher Qin, why can't I use my third soul skill? This is a soul battle, not a child's game. Our only goal on the battlefield is to win."
Yu Tianheng chimed in, "Yes, Teacher Qin, forbidding Yanzi from using her third soul skill is absurd. Besides, soul skills are unpredictable. If someone steps onto the soul battle stage, they should be prepared to get hurt."
"Their team is younger than us, sure, but that doesn't mean we need to go easy on them, does it?"
Qin Ming couldn't bear the thought of his junior classmates getting injured. He abruptly stood up and barked, "Do as I say—have you heard me clearly?"
With that, he turned and walked out of the locker room, leaving no room for argument.
Oslo muttered under his breath, "What's gotten into Teacher Qin? Why would he make such an unreasonable request?"
This time, Yu Tianheng had no intention of following Qin Ming's advice. "Who knows what's going on with him? Let's stick to our original plan. There's no need to hold back deliberately."
---
Two hours later, the announcement blared across the Grand Spirit Arena, "Please welcome the Imperial Team and the Shrek Team to the central main arena for the soul battle."
"Xiao San, are you sure the wine you prepared can counteract Azure Phosphorus Snake venom?" Just before stepping onto the stage, Dai Mubai couldn't help but ask.
Tang San smiled confidently. "Big Brother Dai, there's no such thing as an absolutely incurable poison in this world. Besides, it's just ordinary Azure Phosphorus Snake venom. Don't worry."
Once on the stage, the two teams faced each other without prior acquaintance or grudges.
Seeing that neither side exchanged threats, the referee immediately declared the start of the soul battle.
"Brothers, unleash your martial souls!" Dai Mubai was the first to activate his White Tiger transformation.
The three new recruits' martial souls were blade, spear, and sword. However, in Tang San's eyes, the member with the sword martial soul was nowhere near even a ten-thousandth of Ning Tianchen's caliber.
One more or one less made no difference—it was simply to meet the minimum requirement for team soul battles.
As soon as the soul battle began, both sides became entangled in combat.
The Imperial Team adopted a conservative strategy, with only Yu Tianheng and two others forming the front line.
The Shrek Team, with its three Soul Venerables, managed to hold their ground evenly against them in the early stages.
---
Qin Ming's attention was no longer on the soul battle. From the stands, he scanned the crowd and quickly spotted Flender.
This time, Flender noticed him too.
"Little Gang, I'll step away for a moment. Keep an eye on things here."
Yu Xiaogang didn't respond, his gaze fixed intently on the soul battle stage.
Soon after, the teacher and student met at the far end of the stands.
---
"Principal, it's been a long time. How's the academy doing?"
Shrek Academy was even more dilapidated now than during Qin Ming's time.
Flender forced an awkward smile and quickly changed the subject. "Little Ming, it's been over a decade. You've already broken through to the rank of Soul Emperor. Haha, truly worthy of being an outstanding alumnus of Shrek Academy. By the way, what brings you back to visit us?"
Qin Ming gestured toward the ongoing soul battle below. "Principal, to be honest, I'm the leader of the Imperial Team. Right now, I'm also a teacher at the Tian Dou Imperial Academy."
Flender was astonished.
Being a teacher at the Tian Dou Imperial Academy was one of the most prestigious and well-compensated professions on the continent.
"I never imagined you'd achieve so much. The overall strength of the Imperial Team—if placed in previous Soul Master Tournaments—would likely secure at least a top-three finish."
All members of the Imperial Team were high-level Soul Elders, and before the tournament began, they would undoubtedly reach the Soul Ancestor rank. A team like this could only be defeated by the Spirit Hall Team, which boasted Soul King-level powerhouses.
Qin Ming shook his head bitterly. "It might not be possible this year. Principal, you're far away in Suotuo City, so you may not know what's happening in Tian Dou City. Recently, the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect founded a new Seven Treasures Academy…"
Before he could finish, the situation on the soul battle stage took a sudden turn.
When Xiao Wu attempted to break through to the backline of the Imperial Team, she was struck by Shi Mo and Shi Mo's combined attack and knocked unconscious.
Seeing Xiao Wu injured, Tang San instantly erupted, uttering that iconic line: "Anyone who hurts Xiao Wu will pay."
From the stands, both Qin Ming and Flender were left speechless.
Qin Ming had explicitly instructed the Imperial Team not to harm the juniors from Shrek Academy. Yet once on the stage, the team members had completely ignored his orders?
With Xiao Wu gravely injured and unconscious due to Shi Mo's attack, how was he supposed to explain this to Flender?
Flender, too, felt a surge of anxiety.
He had already witnessed the devastating power of Tang San's hidden weapons.
If serious injuries were inflicted on the Imperial Team members, how would they coexist in the future?
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