Afterward, the team and Individual Competitions proceeded smoothly, and they soon entered the round-robin stage.
According to the competition rules, after the first two knockout rounds, a total of thirty-six teams advanced to the subsequent round-robin stage.
The round-robin stage was divided into four groups, with nine teams in each group. They would compete in eight rounds, with each team facing off against the other eight teams in their group one by one.
After the single round-robin, the top four teams from each group would advance to the round of sixteen. Subsequently, the final rankings would be determined through elimination rounds, and only the top sixteen could receive rewards. This rule also applied to the Youth Group and the Adult Division.
"We aren't in the same group as Shrek," Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, and the others discussed.
"Looking at it this way, I can observe at least eight more of their matches."
Although Arthur was with them, they wouldn't relax. Instead, they would do their best to observe and figure out how to deal with Shrek.
"It's starting. This just happens to be Shrek's round-robin match."
Inside the private box, Xie Xie slapped his thigh hard and dragged Tang Wulin toward the window. Xu Xiaoyan followed quickly, carrying a soul guidance recorder, her eyes full of anticipation: "Hehehe, I'll record all their attack methods. That way, I'll have more experience hiding behind Arthur. Otherwise, it wouldn't be fun if I got eliminated by some unexpected trick."
At this moment, Arthur, who had been indifferent to the matches, suddenly leaned over as well. He saw that the Shrek team members coming out were still the same seven as before.
"The team lineup hasn't changed. How do they expect to beat me with this?" He frowned.
At this point in public opinion, he could understand that Shrek wanted to win back their reputation.
But it was impossible to win with just these seven. Perhaps in the eyes of low-level Soul Masters, Arthur had just taken advantage of the opponent's exhausted Soul Power.
But Shrek's higher-ups couldn't fail to see that winning or losing had nothing to do with that.
Even if they couldn't feel Arthur's Sword Intent from the circulated videos, just from the combat skills he displayed, they should have realized that these seven couldn't win.
"Then why did Shrek allow them to compete?" Arthur thought silently.
His Intuition gave him a sense of unease. Without something to rely on, Shrek's higher-ups wouldn't have allowed these seven to compete.
Otherwise, if they lost fair and square again, there would truly be no room left in public opinion.
"Arthur." Wu Zhangkong walked in, his voice lacking its usual coldness. "I just received news. Shrek Academy has dispatched a Sea Gods Pavilion Elder who is currently heading to the Tianhai Alliance Grand Competition."
"A Sea Gods Pavilion Elder?" Everyone in the box stopped watching the match and quickly gathered around.
"What does that mean?" Arthur didn't understand. "What is a Sea Gods Pavilion Elder coming here for?"
"Don't tell me they're coming for me."
Hearing this, Gu Yue and Na'er's faces both darkened, and Na'er clenched her fists.
How bold!
They dare touch my Arthur?
Shrek must want a taste of the Dragon God Transformation!
"That's certainly not it." Wu Zhangkong recalled the information he had just received from Shen Yi. He walked to the window, looked at the Shrek team on the stage, and said solemnly, "Shrek Academy has more than just these seven people competing."
"They also reported a substitute."
"They are on their way here with the Elder."
"A substitute?" Xie Xie's eyes widened, and he subconsciously raised his voice. "Adding a substitute only now that it's the round-robin stage? What kind of game is Shrek playing?"
Xu Xiaoyan also stopped operating the soul guidance recorder, her brow furrowing slightly. "Isn't that against the rules?"
"That's Shrek Academy." Wu Zhangkong's voice was calm; a single name explained all the reasons for its privileges.
"What level is that substitute?" Arthur asked.
"That's exactly what I came to tell you." Wu Zhangkong's figure stood tall.
He was practically glowing!
Arthur thought to himself that Wu Zhangkong was really a stand-up guy.
He could be called East Sea Academy's best scout!
"The maximum age limit for the Junior Division is fifteen," Wu Zhangkong's voice was complex. "The one coming must be Shrek's strongest fifteen-year-old student."
"According to the information I've received, this student is about to enter the Inner Court."
"And according to Inner Court standards, this person must be at least at the Spirit King level."
At this point, he paused for a moment and looked at Arthur. "And they are also a One-Word Battle Armor Master."
"A Spirit King?!" Xie Xie's exclamation almost blew the roof off the box. He subconsciously took half a step back, his face full of disbelief. "A fifteen-year-old Spirit King? And entering the Inner Court? Is that a Realm a human can reach?"
Xu Xiaoyan's soul guidance recorder fell to the ground with a "clatter," but she was completely unaware, muttering, "A Spirit King... a full two Realms higher than us, plus the enhancement of a One-Word Battle Armor Master... how can we fight this?"
Tang Wulin's pupils suddenly constricted.
Through the knowledge about battle armor that Wu Zhangkong had taught them during this time...
...they were very clear about the leap in combat power that a Battle Armor Master brought.
A one-word battle armor could directly provide a twenty-level increase in strength.
A five-ring Spirit King equipped with it would have combat power comparable to a seven-ring Spirit Saint!
No way, man. A group of us nine-year-olds are supposed to fight a Spirit Saint?
Xie Xie swallowed hard, his previous confidence instantly draining away. "A One-Word Battle Armor Master... we're all only at the three-ring or two-ring level."
"And it's a team competition too."
"Even if Arthur can fight, he can't withstand someone who has battle armor and the support of others!"
They're not even pretending anymore.
Shrek is really turning up the pressure.
Arthur frowned slightly. Currently, he could at most fight against a Soul Master at the Spirit Emperor level.
A Spirit King wearing one-word battle armor could rival a Spirit Saint, and the combat power of a Spirit Saint was a qualitative change compared to a Spirit Emperor.
Wu Zhangkong looked at everyone's low spirits and said in a deep voice, "Just do your best. I also give you permission to withdraw from the competition."
"A One-Word Battle Armor Master..."
"That's not an enemy you should be facing right now."
A heavy silence filled the box.
Seeing Arthur fall silent for the first time since the Tianhai Alliance Grand Competition began, Na'er walked over to Gu Yue, wanting to say something.
But Gu Yue seemed to know what she was thinking and shook her head in advance, whispering, "No, it's too high-profile. We're only Spirit Elders."
"This is just a match; it's not necessary."
Na'er pursed her lips and lowered her head.
"Shrek... really thinks highly of me..."
Arthur was speechless. He hadn't revealed that much in his previous fight, had he?
Why did they react so strongly?
Sending a One-Word Battle Armor Master over.
"Is it necessary? A One-Word Battle Armor Master fighting a Spirit Elder like me."
"A fifteen-year-old fighting a nine-year-old."
"So what even if they win?"
Finally, Arthur walked to the window, his gaze fixed on the Shrek team on the stage below, and analyzed in a calm tone.
"What they want is likely just the 'victory' as a result."
"As long as Shrek wins, even if they use a fifteen-year-old One-Word Battle Armor Master to crush a group of us nine-year-old kids, they can spin it as 'Shrek has deep foundations and an abundance of geniuses, easily reclaiming their honor.'"
"As for whether the process is ugly or fair, there will naturally be countless supporters to help them explain and beautify it. After all, the winner takes all."
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