Word Count: 2,760 Words
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"Teacher Wang, are we really expected to compete in the elimination round?"
The question came from Huo Yuhao. He, Wang Dong, and Ning Tian were the youngest of the group. He feared that if the Reserve Team lost in the elimination round, they would bring shame to the continent's number one academy. Being eliminated in the first round would mean they might never be able to hold their heads up for the rest of their lives.
Wang Yan gave a wry smile. "It's highly probable. Ling Bai will lead six substitutes in the elimination round. As long as we don't encounter the Four Great Imperial Academies or a few particularly strong ones, victory should largely be assured.
Oh, right, we are the defending champions. We will be the first to compete in the opening match the day after tomorrow."
The Reserve Team members' faces tightened at these words. Though they hadn't even stepped onto the stage, an invisible, mountain-like pressure seemed to bear down on them from all directions, making breathing difficult. They couldn't help but lick their dry lips.
Creak—
The door of the Shrek Academy conference room creaked open suddenly. Ling Bai walked in carrying two large bags of colorful fruits in his hands. He said calmly:
"I heard voices inside as I passed by. You arrived half a day faster than I anticipated."
"Ling-ge, where did you go?" Ning Tian asked curiously.
"Buying local specialties, of course," Ling Bai replied matter-of-factly. "The Star Luo Empire is located in the south, so the fruit here is much sweeter than elsewhere. Here, would any of you like some?"
The two large bags of fruit were piled onto the center of the round conference table. Wang Yan and the Reserve Team looked on, unsure whether to laugh or cry. They were spinning in circles with anxiety like ants on a hot griddle, yet this fellow actually had the leisure to go out shopping for fruit.
They particularly admired Ling Bai's mindset. Shrek Academy was on the verge of disaster, yet he remained unruffled even if the sky were falling.
"Xiao Tian, have a Blue Spirit Fruit."
Ignoring the varied expressions around him, Ling Bai calmly picked out the largest, juiciest blue fruit and handed it to Ning Tian.
"Uh..."
Ning Tian held the Blue Spirit Fruit, her face slightly flushed. She felt awkward eating alone, and the atmosphere didn't seem quite right for snacking.
Wang Yan scratched his head and sighed. "Ling Bai, you're back just in time. The elimination round is decided by a single team battle. Shrek Academy's tactics will center around you. Who do you want on stage to cooperate with you?"
Ling Bai paused, looking puzzled. "Teacher Wang, the elimination round is a match for the official team members. Since Xiao Tao, Yueheng, and the others are temporarily unable to fight, then I alone am sufficient."
"What?!"
Wang Yan's eyes widened, and his palm slammed onto the table with a bang. The loud noise startled the Reserve Team. His expression twisted as he said:
"That's utterly reckless! You aren't just representing yourself; you're representing Shrek Academy's ten-thousand-year reputation! If you lose, who will bear this responsibility?!"
"We will!"
As these words fell, three figures slowly walked into the conference room: Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, and Ling Luochen—three main members of the Shrek Seven Monsters!
Their complexions were pale from unhealed injuries, but this did nothing to diminish the domineering aura of the Evil Fire Phoenix. A single glance from Ma Xiaotao caused Wang Yan's anger to instantly deflate. Ma Xiaotao stated in a deep voice:
"The Continental Elite Spirit Master Academy Tournament is the main stage for the Shrek Seven Monsters' main team. As long as any one of us main members can still fight, we won't make the Reserve Team shoulder a responsibility they shouldn't bear at their age!
I represent the main team in unconditionally supporting Ling Bai's decision. If he loses the elimination round, the four of us will bear the responsibility together. Teacher Wang, you and the Reserve Team need not trouble yourselves over the elimination round. You've all had a long journey and worked hard. Please return to your rooms and rest early!"
"That's right," Dai Yueheng added. "Among everyone present, Ling Bai possesses the greatest strength. He has the right to decide Shrek Academy's fate."
"They took all my lines," Ling Luochen murmured.
"You... all of you..."
Wang Yan looked at the three stubborn mules before him, trembling uncontrollably. He was so furious he nearly suffered a spasm in his chest. He couldn't even utter a complete sentence.
"Teacher Wang, have some fruit to cool down."
Ling Bai kindly offered a red, sweet-and-spicy fruit with a smile. "Think about it from another angle. If there's a team I cannot handle, sending the Reserve Team would be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. It would be better to create a smokescreen. My going on stage alone also conveniently conceals the fact that the main team members are injured."
There was logic in his words. Wang Yan began to contemplate. In previous opening matches, Shrek Academy would dispatch the main team to crush their opponents with overwhelming force, demonstrating the might of the continent's foremost academy.
If the Reserve Team competed this time and only managed a narrow victory after a struggle, it would easily lead others to suspect that something was amiss with the main team. More importantly, Wang Yan understood that due to his own limited strength, he couldn't command the four main team members at all. He had especially seen Ling Bai's true colors today. Though Ling Bai usually appeared gentle and courteous like a refined gentleman, in reality, he was the most arrogant among them, directly proposing to take on an entire team single-handedly.
"It's decided then. Ling Bai will go alone."
Ma Xiaotao gave Wang Yan no chance to object. She reached out and grabbed Ling Bai's sleeve, then turned and left the conference room with Dai Yueheng and Ling Luochen.
The Reserve Team members looked at each other. Xu Sanshi elbowed the dazed Bei Bei and said with a grin:
"Xiao Bei, what's on your mind?"
Bei Bei pushed away Xu Sanshi's 'pig trotter' and gazed at the closed conference room door with a sigh:
"I just suddenly felt a bit lost. I knew Ling Bai slightly earlier than the rest of you; I was the one who brought him into Shrek Academy. I just realized something. He's actually younger than all of us, the same age as Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Ning Tian.
'We won't make the Reserve Team shoulder a responsibility they shouldn't bear at their age,' yet Ling Bai voluntarily took on this responsibility all by himself."
Xu Sanshi's smile faded. "So... you've realized the gap?"
"Yeah, having such a monster among our peers truly makes one feel powerless. But I have to admit... with him taking the lead upfront, the burden on our Reserve Team seems a little lighter. Perhaps this is what they call 'winning while lying down'..."
"What kind of talk is that!"
Xu Sanshi declared righteously, "Who's lying down? Being on the cheerleading squad is extremely tiring, okay!"
"Get lost, you shameless bum!"
…
Swish, swish, swish!
Meanwhile, the trio of main team members half-led, half-dragged Ling Bai into Ma Xiaotao's room with rapid footsteps. They formed a semicircle around him and fixed him with intense stares, giving off the feeling of three mothers lecturing their child.
Ma Xiaotao suddenly grabbed Ling Bai's shoulders. Her stunning face almost pressed against his as she said seriously, "You must promise us that you will win the elimination round!"
The young woman's warm breath brushed against his face, yet Ling Bai felt no romantic stirrings, only strangeness. "Hold on, do you people trust me or not..."
Dai Yueheng cleared his throat, his expression serious. "The Shrek Seven Monsters are one entity. Outside, we will definitely support you. But behind closed doors, let's speak frankly. The elimination round affects the academy's prestige and our personal reputations. You have to win, and you have to win spectacularly. We know very well you've got more than a few hidden tricks up your sleeve. If you have any secret techniques from the Angel Clan, hurry up and show them off in the opening match!"
"What if I draw one of the Four Great Imperial Academies in the opening match and lose? What then?" Ling Bai joked. Considering the tournament's need for excitement and political factors, seeded teams wouldn't clash in the first round. They would even be deliberately placed in different groups during the round-robin stage, only meeting in the quarterfinals.
The three actually took his joke seriously. After exchanging glances, they spoke in unison:
"Then the three of us will kill you first, then jump off the roof of the Star Emperor Hotel together! We'll meet the Yellow Springs neatly as one!"
"... Alright, alright, you guys are ruthless!"
Ling Bai wiped the specks of saliva that had splattered on his face and said, "But seriously, while I can handle the elimination round alone, the real challenge is the round-robin stage that follows. The individual battles and team battles go without saying; I'll naturally do my best. However, the 2-2-3 format requires winning two out of three matches, and participants cannot compete again. No matter how strong I am, I can only secure one victory. That means the Reserve Team still has a tough fight ahead of them.
When do the three of you expect to make a full recovery to lighten their load?"
Ma Xiaotao folded her arms, providing a precise timeframe. "With full focus on recovery, twelve days."
Dai Yueheng continued, "My cultivation level is lower than Xiaotao's. I'll need about fifteen days."
Ling Luochen said calmly, "There weren't many corpses near me then, so I sustained lighter injuries from the corpse explosion. Around seven days."
Ling Bai made a quick calculation, then spoke confidently to Ling Luochen, "You should be able to compete around the third round of the round-robin stage. That's only two rounds of matches. I'll draw the lots myself. Hmm, I definitely won't draw the 2-2-3 format."
Ling Luochen frowned. "But I've heard your luck is a bit—"
"Stop!"
A slender index finger sealed the lips that were about to utter the grating word. Ling Bai slowly and firmly shook his head:
"Don't say it. To say more would be impolite."
Ling Luochen: "..."
...
At dawn, when the first ray of sunlight pierced into Star Luo City, this ancient imperial capital with a history spanning ten thousand years exuded an aura of solemnity.
All streets surrounding Star Luo Plaza were completely blocked by soldiers clad in bright armor. The Star Emperor Hotel, serving as the accommodation zone for contestants from various academies, received utmost importance from the Star Luo Emperor. With a wave of his hand, he dispatched over a thousand soldiers to stand guard.
Spectators from across the continent had arrived early, eagerly waiting in the stands, forming a vast, dark sea of people. Many contestants felt immense pressure upon seeing the crowd. The young geniuses, all under the age of twenty, puffed out their chests to maintain their personas, elegantly walking into the rest and preparation areas designated for their respective academies around the plaza.
A colossal competition stage was constructed in the center of Star Luo Plaza. One hundred and eight metal pillars stood at its periphery. These pillars formed a type of Spirit Barrier; one hundred and eight high-level Spirit Masters continuously infused their spirit power to create a protective shield, preventing spirit skills from spilling outwards and harming innocent bystanders or damaging the city.
Dressed in a bright yellow robe, the Star Luo Emperor, Xu Jiawei, arrived at the viewing platform with the Empress and his civil and military officials. He looked upon his subjects with a gaze both gentle and dignified as he delivered a pre-competition speech:
"The Continental Elite Spirit Master Academy Tournament occurs every five years across the Douluo Continent. I am honored that our Star Luo Empire is hosting this grand event. On behalf of the Star Luo Empire, I extend my warmest welcome to all academies that have traveled here. I hope you show us all your full prowess over this month-long tournament.
I now declare the Continental Elite Spirit Master Academy Tournament open!"
Under the impassioned declaration of the Star Luo Emperor Xu Jiawei, the curtain rose on this grand continental event. Representatives from each academy stepped onto the stage to draw lots for their opponents in the first round of the elimination matches, while silently praying they wouldn't encounter Shrek Academy or any of the major Imperial Academies.
The tournament's referee team confirmed the matchups and announced through an amplifying Spirit Guidance Device:
"Elimination Round, Match One! The continent's number one academy, winners of every tournament for the past ten thousand years on the Douluo Continent, Shrek Academy, versus the Tian Ling Advanced Spirit Master Academy from the Dou Spirit Empire! Will the contestants from both sides please enter the arena!"
"Shrek! Shrek! Shrek!"
On the Douluo Continent, both commoners and Spirit Masters alike possessed a reverence for the strong. Shrek Academy's ten thousand years of glory perfectly satisfied this sentiment. For other academies, participating in the tournament was generally about vying for second place. Before the rise of the Sun Moon Imperial Academy, the original three great empires couldn't even find a single opponent capable of truly challenging Shrek.
Following the referee team's announcement, the atmosphere throughout Star Luo Plaza instantly surged to its zenith. Shouts of 'Shrek' echoed through nearly every corner. As for the Tian Ling Advanced Spirit Master Academy, they were merely considered a stepping stone for Shrek's warm-up; nobody paid them any mind.
A team of ashen-faced youths walked out from a position relatively far back in the contestant area. They trembled so much they wished they could withdraw from the competition on the spot. When they shakily stood on the competition stage, they suddenly discovered that only a single figure had appeared on the opposite side.
Light transformed into a golden, thin gauze, draping over the body of the slowly approaching youth. The soft glow illuminated his handsome face, so exquisite it seemed like an oil painting. Simply looking at him seemed to push away all the surrounding noise.
His face held no superfluous expression. Step by step, he ascended the high platform with incomparable calmness.
We're doomed.
An indescribable sense of despair filled the hearts of the seven youths.
"Xiao Hongchen, look quickly! Doesn't he resemble your future brother-in-law!"
Meng Hongchen excitedly grabbed Xiao Hongchen's hand in the rest area of the Sun Moon Imperial Academy below the stage.
Xiao Hongchen shook his head, utterly dumbfounded. "Wait a minute, Sis! You spent two days lecturing me like I was your child, calling me a huge pervert, calling me lovesick! What's going on with you now? I demand a perfect explanation!"
"Explanation, my foot! Hey, handsome, look over here!"
Meng Hongchen waved frantically toward Ling Bai. These siblings were both face-cons. They were unable to resist someone of the opposite sex who hit their sweet spot.
The rest area of the Sun Moon Imperial Academy was very close to the competition stage. Ling Bai clearly heard Meng Hongchen's shouts and inwardly sighed, thinking that trouble had indeed found him again.
Even though he was reluctant to admit it, the Seraphim and the Bright Goddess Butterfly were both light-attribute Martial Spirits. He and Wang Dong shared a subtle similarity in aura. The difference was that his golden hair and eyes matched people's fantasies of light more closely. His slightly older appearance drew Meng Hongchen's gaze as though it were magnetized.
"Both of you, be quiet!"
A stern rebuke suddenly rang out. Elder Ma, a Class 8 Spirit Guidance Master, pointed at the figure standing straight as a pine on the stage. His thick eyebrows were furrowed into a '川' shape:
"Shrek Academy isn't stupid. Since they dare to send only one student to fight in a single-elimination match, it already indicates two things.
One, that student is extremely powerful, someone who has handily wiped out an entire opposing team alone in the past.
Two, Shrek Academy does not wish to reveal its other members' abilities prematurely and is using him to attract the attention of rival teams.
Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, neither of you will compete before the finals. You're both our hidden trump cards. Observe his abilities meticulously!"