"No matter what, we must force all the trump cards of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy team out. We might not get the ten custom slots for this tournament's champion, but we absolutely cannot let the Sun Moon Empire get them."
Xu Jiawei's expression was heavy as he looked at his younger sister and voiced his thoughts.
"Brother, although the Shrek team had a slight mishap, their main force is still intact. The championship shouldn't be a problem," Xu Jiujiu said.
Xu Jiawei sighed.
"I know. Shrek has always been the champion; their strength is beyond doubt. But my heart has been pounding too violently recently; I have no confidence at all. I'm afraid of the cooperation between the Blacksmith Association and the Sun Moon Empire. We've already confirmed there's an Association branch over there, but we don't know the extent of their Spirit Metal trade."
It always came back to this problem.
Xu Jiujiu fell silent.
Indeed, without certainty on this point, the upper limit of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy team's strength remained unknown.
She struggled internally for a long time before gritting her teeth and saying, "Then let's proceed according to your plan, Brother. The single custom slot for third place isn't that significant anyway. I already possess a Thousand Refined, One Peak Spirit Magic Crystal, and it suits me very well."
Xu Jiawei sighed and patted Xu Jiujiu's shoulder.
"Jiujiu, it's up to you all."
His gaze turned heavy, his tone serious.
"This time, I will also place the Douling Team in your group. You and the Douling Team will jointly probe the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy team."
He paused, then continued, mentioning a possibility he himself didn't hold much hope for.
"If possible, deplete their effective strength. It would be even better if they don't even make it into the top three."
The fourth day of the tournament.
After the elimination round came the group stage.
Only sixty-seven teams remained now, divided into eight groups. Three groups contained nine teams each, and five groups contained eight teams each.
The so-called group stage meant that every two teams within a group would compete against each other. This round used a points system: a win earned two points, a loss earned zero, and a draw earned one point for each team.
The two teams with the highest scores in each group would advance to the top sixteen and participate in the final advancement round.
Unlike the single 7v7 team battle of the elimination round, the group stage added individual elimination matches and 2-2-3 cooperative battle modes. The competition format was decided by draw; whichever format was drawn would be the one used for the match.
There was no so-called playing all three formats.
When two teams clashed, only one format would be chosen for their match.
Therefore, the group stage was the phase that most tested a team's overall comprehensive strength.
"This grouping... it really looks like they are targeting us."
Looking at the published group list, Ma Rulong's expression was grave.
"The Star Luo Royal Team and the Douling Team, both hot contenders for the top four, are both in our group."
Elder Ma narrowed his eyes, considering whether to raise an objection.
Su Ming spoke up at this moment.
"Elder Ma, since the grouping is like this, let's just eliminate them in the group stage."
Just as Elder Ma was about to reiterate the potential impact of Spirit Metal, Su Ming interrupted him.
"If the Star Luo Empire is arranging things this way, they probably can't gauge our strength either. This actually allows us to confirm that they haven't received any substantial enhancement from the Blacksmith Association's Spirit Metals either."
Su Ming's words caused Elder Ma's expression to relax slightly.
That's right.
Elder Ma suddenly saw the light.
"Of course, it's also possible they want to intercept us midway, make us stop in the group stage, and not leave a single one of the top three's custom Spirit Metal slots for us."
When Su Ming voiced this possibility, even Elder Ma laughed.
Was it possible?
No.
He was just considering the worst-case scenario as a team leader, but he hadn't sunk so low as to underestimate his own team to that extent.
"First match, against the Douling Team."
After looking at the schedule, the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy team was even more convinced of their theory of being targeted.
"Let's draw lots first to see what the format is."
Elder Ma looked at Ma Rulong, signaling him to go draw the lots.
Su Ming watched the completely fair and impartial lottery process, his mind already settling on the answer.
"Individual elimination match."
Individual elimination match: each team designates seven participants, then arranges the order of appearance. The winner continues to face the next opponent from the other team.
"Ma Rulong, I leave it to you."
Elder Ma's arrangement was simple and crude.
Have one person defeat several of the opponents; that would suffice.
Ma Rulong, a six-ring Spirit Emperor, Level 6 Spirit Engineer, had prepared a Level 7 Spirit Tool as his trump card.
Of course, in the group stage, he didn't plan to use the Level 7 Spirit Tool, opting instead to fight with his self-made Level 6 Spirit Tool—the Thunderfire Sword.
A six-ring Spirit Emperor, a close-combat Spirit Engineer.
This was the ability Ma Rulong revealed in this match.
It took a full four people from the opposing Douling Team to defeat him.
The Douling Team's lineup was quite good, boasting five Spirit Kings!
Yet, Ma Rulong alone eliminated one of their Spirit Kings and two Spirit Ancestors.
Now, the Douling Team's second Spirit King, Chi Hengyu, also had his Spirit Power depleted by more than half.
"Xiao [Hongchen], you go next."
The reserve team?
On the imperial city wall, Xu Jiawei frowned as he saw the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy team send out their second participant.
How could it be the reserve team?
Sending a reserve team member on stage, how was he supposed to observe their trump cards?
The next second, Xu Jiawei stood up directly from his seat.
He stared intently at the stage.
"One, two, three, four, five!"
Five Spirit Rings!
Xiao Hongchen looked no older than fifteen, was still a reserve team member, and was meant to be a main force for the next tournament's Sun Moon Imperial team.
Yet, he was already a five-ring Spirit King.
It wasn't just Xu Jiawei; the various teams in the preparation area were all staring at Xiao Hongchen in shock.
Shrek Academy team.
"There are still five years until the next tournament, and he's already a Spirit King."
Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and Jiang Nannan, these three Spirit Ancestors, felt immense pressure.
If nothing unexpected happened, they would be the main force for the next tournament, and they were currently...
On the stage.
As if sensing the attention from all sides, Xiao Hongchen revealed a confident smile and struck a pose of enjoyment.
He loved this feeling of being the center of attention.
After the referee announced the start of the match, Xiao Hongchen transformed into a fortress, staying in one spot.
He utilized nine Level 5 Spirit Cannons and easily eliminated Chi Hengyu.
"Next."
Han Linger, a fifty-first-level Agility-Attack System Spirit King, took the stage.
As an Agility-Attack System master, she undoubtedly heavily countered fortress-type Spirit Engineers.
Pushing her abilities to the limit, she managed to get close to Xiao Hongchen and had already dodged abilities like his Repulsion Ring.
"Little brat, still lacking in combat experience."
Just as Han Linger was feeling pleased with herself, Xiao Hongchen transformed into liquid metal, nullifying eighty percent of the damage she inflicted.
In the next instant, flames filled her field of vision.
"Linger!"
The Douling Team captain was greatly alarmed, directly catching the blasted Han Linger.
He stared at Xiao Hongchen, both shocked and furious.
A mere reserve team member had actually eliminated one of their regular team members.
***
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(Chapter end)