"Three against seven? Heaven Dou Royal Academy is insane! Smash those dung beetles!"
"Coming to compete dressed like that? Even if they really make it to the finals, it'll just disgrace our empire. They should lose early and go home!"
"Hey, they don't look bad, but why dress like that? It's way too embarrassing!"
"..."
The audience seats were filled with cheers for Heaven Dou Royal Academy and ridicule toward Shrek Academy's uniforms.
In the VIP section, Ning Fengzhi watched the three slowly walking onto the stage. His eyes flickered, ignoring the surrounding noise, his face calm with a warm smile. "It seems Student Yang has great confidence in himself."
Xue Ye didn't comment on the two teams. Instead, he stroked his long beard, smiling slightly. "We shall see."
"Ning also looks forward to the performance of both teams," Ning Fengzhi nodded gently.
"Heaven Dou Royal Academy really looks down on people, only sending three participants!" In the competitors' viewing area, Liu Erlong slammed her fist onto the armrest, furious.
Flender looked deeply worried. He didn't think Yang Yunhai was stupid. If he dared to do this, then he must have a plan.
Xiaogang frowned slightly, not saying much, simply waiting for the match to begin.
The round stage for the preliminaries wasn't large, only about 30 meters in diameter. Within moments, the two teams were already facing off, 15 meters apart.
From Shrek Academy, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Tai Long were clearly displeased with Heaven Dou's numbers. It felt like an insult, and their faces burned with anger as they glared at Yang Yunhai.
Yu Tianheng's eyes lingered on Dugu Yan, his expression complicated. Beside him, Tang San's gaze was cold and sharp.
Standing at the back, Oscar and Ning Rongrong looked relatively calm, just curiously sizing up the opponents.
Yang Yunhai dared to bring only two female teammates onto the stage. Was it pure confidence, or something else? Ning Rongrong couldn't help but wonder.
"Long time no see." Yang Yunhai's gentle voice suddenly rang out.
"Long time no see." Yu Tianheng thought the words were for him, and his face turned slightly awkward as he replied.
"Hmph!" Dugu Yan snorted coldly, her sharp gaze sweeping across Tang San, Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun.
"..." Ma Hongjun instinctively shrank his neck and lowered his head.
Dai Mubai's brows furrowed as his eyes flicked over the three of them. Remembering that Dugu Yan's grandfather was a Titled Douluo, he forced down the flames of anger in his heart.
"Both sides salute. Non-participants, leave the stage." The referee's loud and resonant voice rang out.
Though unwilling, Dai Mubai and the others reluctantly bent at the waist in a casual bow. On Yang Yunhai's side, their bows were calm and proper.
The referee raised his right hand, glancing left and right as usual. Seeing no objections, he announced in a strong, clear voice, "You now have one minute to release your martial souls and adjust your formation..."
"Brothers, release martial souls!" Dai Mubai's cold eyes locked on Yang Yunhai as he gave a low shout.
"White Tiger Possession!" He activated his martial soul without hesitation.
The other Shrek members released theirs in unison.
Almost simultaneously, Yang Yunhai, Zhu Zhuqing, and Dugu Yan activated their martial souls.
Yellow, yellow, purple, black—four soul rings appeared beneath Yang Yunhai and Zhu Zhuqing. Only Dugu Yan's fourth soul ring was purple, but her now dragon-shaped green martial soul was dazzling enough to draw every eye.
Yu Tianheng's pupils contracted sharply.
The rest of Shrek's team paled at the sight.
'How is this possible!? Yang Yunhai and Zhu Zhuqing have already broken through to Soul Ancestor, and even have 10,000 year soul rings…' Tang San stood dumbfounded, his face full of disbelief.
They were younger than him…
His fists clenched tightly. 'It must be Immortal Herbs. It has to be. Dugu Bo must have had extra herbs and gave them some. Otherwise, there's no way they could have cultivated so quickly and absorbed 10,000 year soul rings…'
His heart churned with unwillingness. 'Why wasn't I the one who got the herbs?!'
'Heaven, how unfair you are!'
"This… how is this possible!?" In the viewing seats, Xiaogang's expression twisted, and he blurted out in shock.
"Good heavens, two 10,000 year fourth soul rings!" The audience erupted instantly, exclamations thundering in waves.
Even the other academies in the viewing area were stunned, their expressions a mix of disbelief and unease.
'No wonder—they are my disciples.' Hidden in the crowd, disguised, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo both smiled faintly.
Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes flicked to Tang San, curling his lip slightly. His gaze flashed coldly as he thought, 'Tang Hao, this old man is waiting for you to show yourself.'
"Impossible…" In another corner, Tang Hao frowned deeply, sinking into thought.
In the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's viewing section, the team members and Meng Shenshou looked at one another in shock. Doubtfully, they turned toward Dugu Bo, who sat calm and unbothered.
"I found a 10,000 year soul bone for Zhuqing," Dugu Bo said evenly. "Xiao Hai and Zhuqing both broke through during the half-month break before the tournament."
'So that's it…' Everyone accepted his words.
In the VIP section, Ning Fengzhi's eyes wavered, while behind him Bone Douluo's expression tightened in surprise.
Salas's eyes gleamed sharply, but then he frowned and lowered his head in thought.
As emperor, Xue Ye mastered his emotions swiftly. His shock vanished, and he turned to the three Education Committee members behind him.
"Your Majesty, we don't know when Xiao Hai and Zhuqing broke through to Soul Ancestor," Meng Shenji quickly admitted, embarrassed. "But most likely it was during the recent half-month holiday, when they went out to obtain their soul rings. The exact details, perhaps only they and Senior Dugu know."
Xue Ye nodded slightly, smiling. "Regardless, they are prodigies cultivated by my Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Dean Meng, Dean Zhi, Dean Bai—you three deserve great credit. When the tournament ends, I will reward you all handsomely."
"Your Majesty, we don't dare accept such praise," Meng Shenji replied humbly. Then he added, "The team has always been under Xiao Hai's direct leadership. Even the training grounds, equipment, schedules, and the medicinal baths for the support members' cultivation—all were designed and arranged by him. The resources and manpower were provided by you, Majesty. We only managed the distribution."
'The training program and facilities were designed by Yang Yunhai?' Ning Fengzhi's heart trembled, his gaze burning as it fell on the youth standing on stage.
"The three of you are too modest," Xue Ye said with a smile. "Even distributing resources well is great merit. I will not forget it."
"... "
While they spoke, the referee's hand dropped. His voice boomed across the arena: "Match—begin!"
Dai Mubai lowered his voice. "Don't let them scare you. They only have three people."
"Xiao San, let's attack head-on," he suggested.
Seven against three, and still needing to sneak an opening from the air? Just saying it was shameful.
"Fatty, take the skies. Watch my signals. Don't let Yang Yunhai's Parasite seeds or Dugu Yan's poison mist near the team. Burn Yunhai's vines whenever possible. Rongrong, boost Tianheng, Mubai, and Tai Long with strength, and boost me with soul power."
"Oscar, prepare recovery sausages and detox sausages, just in case." Tang San gave swift, calm instructions.
"Got it." Both nodded, immediately acting.
Ning Rongrong raised the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Light flickered as beams fell upon her companions one after another.
(End of Chapter)
---
This Fanfiction Has Been Completed on Patreon, There is 2 Chapters Ahead of Release for Free Members on my Patreon.
Support me if you like this Fanfiction.
Patreon,com/Fallen_Archangel_
(Remove comma for dot.)
Leave a 5 star Review and a Power Stone.