After Jiang Nannan stepped down from the stage, the score between Shrek Academy and the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy had widened to 2–4.
Among the audience members who were unaware of Shrek Academy's internal situation, some had already begun jeering, accusing Shrek of cowardice and even claiming they were deliberately throwing the match to the Sun Moon side.
Hearing such insults, He Caitou, Bei Bei, and the others clenched their fists tightly, itching to fire back.
But with Xuanzi present, they could only suppress their emotions.
Xuanzi turned to Jiang Qingtong, who was about to take the field, and said,
"Qingtong, it's your turn next. That's your brother out there. His talent is no less than yours—and he even has an extra ring. Even if you lose, none of us will blame you. Go on. Don't put too much pressure on yourself."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Qingtong inwardly scoffed coldly.
Is he listening to himself? That's supposed to be encouraging? It sounds more like a backhanded dig than support.
Though thinking this, she still put on a well-behaved expression and nodded politely, replying,
"Don't worry, Elder Xuan. This is a match—I'll do my best."
Satisfied with her response, Xuanzi nodded and allowed her to proceed to the stage.
In the stands sat an elderly man and woman, both with grayish-white hair. However, the woman's aura was radiant, not at all resembling someone of old age. Her gaze never left Jiang Qingtong, sparing only a few occasional glances toward Jiang Shengyu.
These two were none other than Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui, both of them Limit Douluos of terrifying cultivation. Even Xuanzi—currently the most powerful among those present—couldn't detect their presence with their auras deliberately concealed.
Ye Xishui watched the arena calmly.
Suddenly, she asked,
"Long Xiaoyao, between those two siblings—who do you think will win?"
She rarely entered the territories of the original three nations of the Douluo Continent, especially places with Shrek Academy's presence. But for the sake of Jiang Qingtong and Jiang Shengyu, she was willing to make an exception.
Long Xiaoyao shook his head.
"Hard to say. Those two little ones are quite enigmatic."
"Hmph. In my opinion, neither of them will win." Ye Xishui snorted and turned to Long Xiaoyao.
Long Xiaoyao glanced toward Jiang Qingtong, who was walking onto the stage, then at Xuanzi standing in Shrek's rest area, immediately understanding her implication.
Before he could speak, Ye Xishui continued:
"A rank-98 Super Douluo, fooled this badly by two kids. I can't even imagine how far Shrek Academy will fall now that Mu En is gone."
"Xuanzi—I've looked into him. His martial soul is the Taotie Divine Bull, and he bears traces of Dragon God's lineage. Unfortunately, it's impure. Still, he might have a chance at forming a second soul core and ascending to Limit Douluo."
Long Xiaoyao stroked his beard as he watched Xuanzi and said calmly,
"As long as Shrek Academy still has Limit Douluos after Elder Mu's passing, they won't collapse."
Ye Xishui scoffed disdainfully.
"Him? You think he could reach Mu En's level? Long Xiaoyao, you're underestimating Elder Mu."
She looked up at the sky and added,
"Looking at this generation, there isn't a single one at Shrek Academy capable of taking the lead. This continent will one day belong to our Holy Spirit Cult."
Long Xiaoyao did not respond to her final remark. Instead, he said softly,
"The Holy Spirit Cult cannot succeed, Ye Xishui. Once those two children grow up, they will destroy the Cult entirely."
Ye Xishui's eyes narrowed, and she replied coldly,
"Long Xiaoyao, you only dare say such things in front of me."
If Zhongli Wu had heard Long Xiaoyao's words, then regardless of whether it was Jiang Shengyu or Jiang Qingtong, there would only be two outcomes: join the Holy Spirit Cult, or die.
There would be no third option.
Long Xiaoyao nodded slowly.
"Of course I understand you, which is why I dare say it."
As the two spoke, Xuanzi suddenly felt an uneasy sensation—as if someone was watching him.
He turned his eyes toward the stands, scanning carefully—but saw nothing out of the ordinary.
"Strange... With my cultivation, who in the entire Star Luo Empire could evade my gaze? Yet why do I feel like I'm being watched?" he muttered, frowning deeply.
"He's looking our way," Long Xiaoyao said to Ye Xishui.
She remained completely indifferent.
"Him? Let him try again after reaching Limit Douluo. A mere rank-98 fool thinks he can see through us?"
Xuanzi glanced around, still unable to find anything unusual. He could only assume recent events had made him overly paranoid.
Wang Yan, seeing Xuanzi's furrowed brow, tried to comfort him.
"Elder Xuan, have faith in Qingtong. She's already an outstanding student of Shrek Academy. She'll fight for the academy's honor."
Xuanzi nodded slowly.
"Mm… Of course I trust her."
He didn't say anything more and simply watched as Jiang Qingtong stepped onto the stage.
As she did, the entire arena erupted in shock.
Her appearance was nearly identical to Jiang Shengyu's—only the length of her hair was different!
Star Luo Emperor Xu Jiawei's eyes widened in surprise.
"Beloved subject—are those two on stage related?" he asked.
Dai Hao pondered briefly, recalling what Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin had said about Jiang Qingtong being from the Sun Moon Empire, then nodded.
"It's possible. That Shrek Academy student is likely from the Sun Moon Empire."
Xu Jiawei frowned.
"If she's from the Sun Moon Empire, will she really fight wholeheartedly for Shrek?"
Dai Hao nodded confidently.
"Yes. Every time my son returns from the academy, he talks about how strong its atmosphere is. I imagine she's been moved by Shrek's values too."
"If only all the Sun Moon Empire's geniuses were so easily swayed…" Xu Jiawei sighed, continuing to watch the stage.
Even referee Huang Jinxu was startled after looking back and forth between Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong. Their resemblance was too uncanny.
Jiang Qingtong stood calmly and declared:
"Jiang Qingtong, reserve team member of Shrek Academy. Rank-33 Battle Soul Elder!"
Jiang?
Same surname?
They really were related!
Realization dawned on Huang Jinxu's face, and the crowd craned their necks, staring with curiosity.
Shrek Academy was actually sending a relative of a Sun Moon Empire competitor into battle? What a bizarre sight!
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