After learning the details of Beibei and the others' soul skills, Wang Yan began outlining the strategy for the round-robin phase.
He said, "Let's talk about our approach for the second stage. As I mentioned before, the round-robin phase will feature three types of battle formats, all randomly drawn. Each match will be different."
"There are sixty-seven teams divided into eight groups. Five groups have eight teams, and the other three have nine. Each group will engage in a single round-robin. A win earns two points, a draw one point, and a loss earns zero. The top two teams in each group advance to the third stage, the finals."
"Based on our dominant performance in the first round, and the general pattern of past tournaments, Shrek Academy will likely be assigned to Group One — one of the eight-team groups. So we'll need to fight seven matches in this stage. Our first round-robin match will once again be the opening match. As for our opponents, we'll find out when we arrive at the arena tomorrow."
"This second stage will last about half a month. It'll be exhausting and intense, so I hope you're mentally prepared."
"Yes!" everyone responded.
Wang Yan continued, "For tomorrow's match, I think it's best for Yuhao not to take the field. His performance on day one was too dramatic — five hundred-thousand-year soul rings. That's sure to draw intense investigation from the other academies. Even if we can't hide it forever, I want to delay exposure as much as possible and maintain that aura of mystery."
"Agreed," said Zhu Ziyang, nodding. "If it's a one-on-one match, I suggest Sister Xiaotao or I go up. That way we can minimize exposing others."
"That's exactly what I had in mind," Wang Yan said. "In the single elimination matches, it's not just one fight per person. It's a king-of-the-hill format — whoever wins can stay on and continue fighting until they lose. That setup favors those with higher soul power. With Xiaotao or Ziyang, we could realistically sweep all seven opponents."
"If we draw a team battle, we'll have Yuhao go up again. His cultivation isn't high, but his Spiritual Detection Sharing is excellent for battlefield coordination. He can serve as the team's core controller."
"Neither of these formats should be an issue for us. What we really need to focus on is the two-two-three coordination battle. In that format, there are three rounds — two 2v2 matches and one 3v3. Best of three wins the set. That format will inevitably reveal parts of our actual strength. So I suggest this arrangement: Ma Xiaotao and Beibei in one pair, Zhu Ziyang and Xu Sanshi in another, and Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya as the third. If we can win both 2v2s, we'll avoid having to reveal more in the 3v3."
"Teacher, what if we lose one of the 2v2 rounds?" Wang Dong asked.
"Wang Dong, do you think any of them would lose?" Before Wang Yan could answer, Ma Xiaotao turned to him with a sweet smile and asked the question herself.
"Uh… Sister Xiaotao, I was just speaking hypothetically…" Wang Dong instantly grew nervous under her smile and scratched his head awkwardly.
"There's no such thing as 'what if'!" Ma Xiaotao replied confidently.
"If we really do end up in a 3v3, we'll have one of the unused core team members lead a team with you and Xiao Xiao," Wang Yan added, despite Ma Xiaotao's certainty.
"Ah! I have to go up? What if I get too nervous?" Xiao Xiao said, worry written all over her small face.
"Aiya, Xiao Xiao, don't be scared. You have to trust Brother Ziyang and the others!" Huo Yuhao reassured her. "And besides, your odds of being picked are only one in nine. No need to worry at all."
"Oh… okay!" Xiao Xiao nodded.
"Alright, that wraps up the tactical arrangements for now. It's getting late. Go rest and make sure you're in peak condition!" said Wang Yan. "Meeting adjourned!"
——
Day four of the tournament. Early morning.
Star Luo Plaza was already packed with excited spectators. On the city wall, Emperor Xu Jiawei once again appeared, and even the academies that weren't scheduled to compete had all arrived at the rest area.
The first match of the day was Shrek Academy's. After their stunning debut in the opening match — especially that boy with five red soul rings and the girl who fought like a moonlit Valkyrie — everyone was eager to see what Shrek would display next.
Of course, they most wanted to see the boy with the hundred-thousand-year rings return to the stage so they could witness those awe-inspiring rings again.
"Your Majesty, do you think Shrek Academy will send out that boy with the five hundred-thousand-year soul rings today?" the empress asked from the palace wall.
"Hard to say," Xu Jiawei replied thoughtfully. "That boy should be named Huo Yuhao. Those five red rings are likely some kind of trick, not real. Still, the fact that he's competing for Shrek Academy — and even seems to be a core figure — makes him someone worth paying attention to. Besides, he's one of our own. He's from the Star Luo Empire."
"He's one of our people?" The empress's face lit up in surprise. "Congratulations, Your Majesty!"
"What's there to congratulate?" Xu Jiawei looked puzzled.
"I mean congratulations on producing such a remarkable talent under your reign, of course! If Huo Yuhao is from our empire, then surely one day he'll serve Your Majesty!" the empress said.
"Sigh… Zitong, you don't understand. If only that were true." A trace of helplessness appeared on Xu Jiawei's face. "Huo Yuhao is now competing on behalf of Shrek Academy. That means there's a high chance he'll enter their inner courtyard. Once that happens, he'll no longer be considered a citizen of the Star Luo Empire."
"What… how could that be?" the empress said, eyes wide in disbelief.
While the imperial court discussed Shrek, the rest area was no different. And no one was talking more than the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy.
"Brother, do you think Huo Yuhao will compete today?" asked a beautiful girl beside Xiao Hongchen. She was his younger sister, Meng Hongchen.
"Hard to say," Xiao Hongchen said darkly. "But I hope he does. That way, I'll find out if he's really that strong — or just pretending. I won't allow anyone more exceptional than me to exist on this continent."
"Heh!" Ma Rulong, captain of the official Sun Moon team, gave a mocking laugh. "Even if that Huo Yuhao is a trick, just Jiang Nannan is enough to make you all nervous. She's only fifteen this year — a real Rank 50 Soul King. No exaggeration. I'd love to see how you plan to beat her next tournament."
His sarcastic tone made Xiao Hongchen's face darken. He was just about to respond when Meng Hongchen tugged his sleeve.
"Brother, look — Shrek's here," she said, pointing toward the entrance where the familiar dark green uniforms had appeared.
Xiao Hongchen immediately turned his gaze forward, eyes locking onto the figure at the head of the team — Huo Yuhao.
Jiang Nannan was strong, yes, but she didn't unsettle him. The one who truly disturbed him… the one who might become his inner demon… was that boy said to wield five red rings.
The arrival of the Shrek team ignited the crowd's excitement. Chants of "Shrek! Shrek!" echoed through the plaza until Zhu Ziyang and the others took their seats in the rest area.
Sitting in the luxurious rest space, Zhu Ziyang couldn't help but sigh inwardly. This was the power of the people's will — and the people's will was Heaven's will. And with Heaven's will on his side, he believed great things could be achieved.
The host had already begun warming up the crowd. He first read out the names of the teams that had passed the elimination round, then listed the round-robin groupings. Finally, he shouted, "Now, let us welcome the continent's number one academy — Shrek Academy — and their opponents, the Cloudfall Advanced Soul Engineering Academy from the Star Luo Empire. Both teams, please report to the waiting zone. Team captains, please come forward to draw lots for the battle format!"
Hearing the announcement, Ma Xiaotao instinctively stood, but Wang Yan stopped her and sent Beibei, the reserve team captain, instead.
The captain of Cloudfall Academy was a burly man, nearly as large as He Caitou. Both approached the stage together.
The referee walked between them with a large spherical draw container. After letting both captains inspect it, he called out, "Three, two, one!"
Both captains twisted the sphere and flung it into the air. A yellow ball dropped out first.
Yellow meant: one-on-one individual elimination.
The referee caught the ball and showed it to both captains, then signaled to Emperor Xu Jiawei before announcing, "The match between Shrek Academy and Cloudfall Academy will follow an individual elimination format. Each side, please send your first fighter."
One-on-one?
The crowd and many academy representatives lit up in anticipation. The audience wanted to see Huo Yuhao again. The other academies wanted more intel on Shrek's lineup.
"I'll go!" Ma Xiaotao immediately volunteered once Beibei returned to the waiting zone.
"No," Wang Yan and Zhu Ziyang said in unison.
"She should go — Jiang Nannan," Wang Yan said.
"Why?" Ma Xiaotao frowned, clearly dissatisfied.
Looking at her calmly, Wang Yan explained, "Among the four nations, the strongest soul engineering academies are in the Sun Moon Empire. The rest — including those from the Star Luo Empire like Cloudfall Academy — are average at best. I highly doubt they even have a Soul King, or maybe even a full Soul Ancestor. Against soul engineers, agility-types are more effective than power-types."
"He's right. Sister Xiaotao, putting you in now would be overkill. Let Nannan go. It'll also help us avoid revealing one more of our core members," Zhu Ziyang added.
"Fine," Ma Xiaotao relented with a nod.
"Nannan, how about it? Think you can sweep the whole team solo?" Zhu Ziyang asked, turning to Jiang Nannan.
"Leave it to me!" Jiang Nannan replied confidently with a firm nod.
(End of Chapter)
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