The staff worked quickly, and soon the arena was cleared.
The two teams entered the stage from their respective passages.
When the Shrek team appeared, their hideous green uniforms once again drew laughter from the entire audience.
"Their uniforms are just..." Oscar started but stopped himself.
He felt a sense of relief—had he not joined the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, he might have had to wear such an ugly uniform himself.
"Don't judge a book by its cover. Watch their match carefully. In the near future, Shrek Academy will also be our opponent," Sun Buyu reminded everyone.
On the stage.
The second-generation heirs of the Imperial Second Team couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Isn't this the Shrek team that was expelled from our academy? How's life treating you now that you're on your own? Look at those green uniforms!"
Tang San remained calm, his tone icy. "It's enough to deal with you."
In this duel, they were not only determined to win beautifully but also to settle old scores.
The referee, holding back his laughter, announced, "Both teams activate your martial souls—the match begins!"
A faint smile appeared on Tang San's lips as he said to his teammates, "According to the pre-match plan, we'll secure victory within one minute!"
"Don't worry, they're ours," Dai Mubai cracked his neck and clenched his fists eagerly.
The martial souls of the Imperial Second Team included jackals, wolves, tigers, panthers, bears, and dogs—a veritable zoo.
Up on the high platform, Xue Ye was extremely confident in his team's strength. "Patriarch Ning, there's no doubt about this match, is there?"
Ning Tianchen was unfamiliar with Shrek's situation, so he simply smiled without making any comments.
With both teams' martial souls activated, the match was about to ignite.
Tang San immediately unleashed his fourth soul skill—a group-control ability that bound all members of the Imperial Second Team.
"A thousand-year soul ring with a group-control ability? This Tang San is no ordinary talent," many neutral spectators remarked, recognizing Tang San's exceptional abilities.
To bring Blue Silver Grass to such heights made Tang San the foremost expert of Blue Silver Grass on the continent. Not to mention, the effects of his soul skills were far from weak.
Inside the rest area, Xiao Wu smirked. "Hmph, now they know how formidable Big Brother San is."
---
The Shrek team gave the Imperial Second Team no chance to react.
All members unleashed their high-level soul skills, launching a full-scale assault on the Imperial Second Team.
This group of spoiled heirs hadn't even trained before the match—they were nothing more than a hastily assembled ragtag team.
Faced with such a crisis, they predictably lost their composure, failing to mount any resistance and taking the brunt of Shrek's attacks head-on.
After a series of agonized screams, the members of the Imperial Second Team lay sprawled across the stage, motionless.
The team leader of the Imperial Second Team watched this scene, his pupils dilating and his body trembling.
Turning around, he knelt before Xue Ye. "Murder! They're committing murder! Your Majesty, please seek justice for us!"
Xue Ye's expression darkened.
The Imperial Second Team represented the dignity of the royal family. A crushing defeat in the opening match was a severe blow to the royal family's reputation.
"Shrek Academy, give me an explanation!" Xue Ye demanded.
Tang San stood straight, speaking calmly and respectfully. "May I ask Your Majesty—are they dead?"
His words caused an uproar throughout the venue.
How dare Shrek speak to the emperor like that—they truly had guts.
Behind Xue Ye, the three teaching committee members instinctively shrank back.
If such unruly individuals were allowed to join the Tiandou Imperial Academy, their careers would surely come to an end.
The other two committee members snorted softly, displeased with Tang San's audacity.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Xue Ye couldn't afford to lose his temper easily. He gestured for the referee to check on the condition of the Imperial Second Team.
After some examination, the referee signaled that the members of the Imperial Second Team were still alive, albeit barely.
Tang San continued, "From the very start of the match, our healing-type soul master began treating the members of the Imperial Second Team."
As Jiang Zhu retracted her healing soul skill, the condition of the Imperial Second Team visibly deteriorated once again.
"You—" The team leader was enraged and turned to Xue Ye once more. "Your Majesty, these madmen should be disqualified from the tournament as an example to others!"
Ning Fengzhi frowned slightly.
He hadn't expected Shrek Academy to produce such reckless individuals.
Gu Rong transmitted a voice message to him. "Fengzhi, it's fortunate that Rongrong and Tianchen returned to the sect. If they had stayed at Shrek Academy, the sect's future would be bleak indeed."
Ning Fengzhi fully agreed.
---
As the team leader, Yu Xiaogang wouldn't let the other side slander them unchecked.
He stepped forward to the edge of the stage, hands clasped behind his back, and mocked, "May I ask Your Majesty—what rule has our Shrek Academy broken? Is someone trying to disqualify Shrek Academy based on the rules, or is it personal bias?"
"If someone delays treatment due to pointless arguments, resulting in casualties for the Imperial Second Team, don't blame us. Shrek Academy isn't responsible for that."
"How dare you question His Majesty! What crime is this!" A guard beside Xue Ye barked angrily.
Salas lounged lazily in his chair, watching the scene with indifference.
"Your Majesty, Yu Xiaogang is the son of Patriarch Yu Yuanzhen. Please think carefully," Ning Fengzhi whispered a reminder.
Xue Ye's expression darkened further, but he didn't issue a verdict.
Upon hearing Yu Xiaogang's words, the team leader of the Imperial Second Team was overcome with fury, coughing up blood and collapsing.
"Shrek Academy is being too arrogant! Do they not fear becoming public enemies?"
"Even if they're arrogant, they have the strength to back it up. With four Soul Ancestors on their team, most squads aren't their match."
The audience buzzed with discussion.
In the Seven Treasures team's rest area, Huang Wu couldn't help but mutter, "By offending the emperor like this, doesn't Shrek Academy fear being sabotaged?"
This commotion placed Xue Ye in a difficult position—no matter how he handled the situation, he would face criticism.
Shrek Academy had practically put the emperor on the hot seat—how bold of them.
Not long after, Ning Fengzhi took the initiative to step forward.
His Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul materialized in his palm, and the next moment, a seven-colored glow seeped into the bodies of the Imperial Second Team members, improving their condition slightly.
"I am also one of the heads of the tournament organizing committee. Perhaps I should make the judgment this time. Everyone, what do you think?" Ning Fengzhi asked with a faint smile.
"Thank you, Patriarch Ning." Seeing an opportunity to de-escalate, Xue Ye immediately agreed.
Ning Fengzhi turned his gaze toward the Shrek team.
Yu Xiaogang smiled faintly and deliberately emphasized, "Everyone saw the match just now. I believe Patriarch Ning will make a fair judgment."
Gu Rong felt displeased and transmitted a message. "Fengzhi, Shrek Academy is too arrogant. Use any excuse to kick them out of the competition."
Ning Fengzhi was inwardly annoyed, but in front of the public, he couldn't afford to appear biased.
After some thought, he declared, "There is no rule in the tournament prohibiting 'humiliation of opponents.' Therefore, Shrek Academy did not violate any rules, and their victory stands."
"However, the members of the Imperial Team sustained serious injuries. Out of humanitarian considerations, Shrek Academy must pay them a certain amount of compensation."
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