"Does everyone have confidence?" Yu Xiaogang asked, his voice echoing slightly in the team's designated waiting area.
When Yu Xiaogang finished speaking, a heavy silence fell over the group. Everyone except Tang San hesitated, looking at each other with uncertainty in their eyes. To be honest, they were a bit unsure of themselves. As students preparing for a major tournament, they had naturally researched and learned about the strength of some of the other competing teams. Compared to the powerhouses they might face, the configuration of their Lanba Battle Team could only be described as being in the middle ranks. They knew deep down that they didn't have much of an advantage.
What made them most unsure, however, was their captain. During their previous team training sessions, Tang San, despite being the leader, didn't seem to exhibit the suppressive effect or the dominating power one would expect from a fortieth-level Spirit Master. Without that feeling of absolute security from their leader, the team struggled to find the confidence their teacher demanded.
Seeing that no one spoke up immediately, Yu Xiaogang's brows instantly furrowed. His expression darkened, and he raised his voice, demanding an answer. "Tell me loudly! Do you have confidence!"
"Yes!" Tang San shouted without a moment of hesitation, his voice cutting through the awkward silence.
"Yes... Yes."
Although the others felt a bit awkward and forced, they had no choice but to follow along and shout in agreement. However, their voices lacked the conviction of their captain.
Such a sudden commotion instantly attracted the attention of many other academies nearby. Participating students and teachers from various schools cast their gazes over to the source of the noise. Originally, the Shrek Group, located on the other side of the resting area, was the main focus of the arena due to their bizarre green uniforms. Although they had tried their best to find a secluded corner to hide in, they were still noticed by many people. However, the quality of Spirit Masters was generally much higher than that of commoners. Although there were disdainful looks and contemptuous expressions directed at the Shrek team, there wasn't much open discussion or mockery.
But Tang San's loud, solitary shout directly drew the attention of many people, breaking the low hum of conversation in the hall. Even the Shrek Team was curious about who was making such a scene and looked in that direction.
It wasn't a big deal not to look, but once they did, the reaction was immediate. They immediately laughed.
Especially Dai Mubai, who saw the familiar stiff face of the Grandmaster and the arrogant posture of his former junior. He spoke without any concealment, his voice dripping with amusement. "Oh, isn't that Grandmaster and Tang San? Half a year has passed, and you're still so bad? Look at them trying to hype themselves up."
The others in the Shrek Group also burst into laughter, finding the scene incredibly ironic. At that time, the two leaders from Lanba Academy had actually received news of Yu Xiaogang's presence at Lanba Academy some time ago. It was Flender who had asked Dai Mubai to investigate and report it. Because of this intelligence, the Shrek Team had even received an expenditure of one hundred thousand gold coins to help prepare, indirectly thanking the Grandmaster for leaving.
However, Yu Xiaogang and Tang San didn't notice the Shrek Team sitting in the distance. Seeing a crowd of people from various academies looking at them with strange expressions, Yu Xiaogang also quieted down, feeling a bit embarrassed by the unwanted attention.
The members of each academy began to gather together under the leadership of their respective instructors, awaiting the start of the opening ceremony. At the same time, each academy also had one instructor responsible for the final registration and confirmation of participants with the tournament officials. This was a crucial step; once the status of the participating students was registered, it would not be possible to add or replace students in future competitions. The roster would be locked.
Not long after the commotion died down, the familiar figure of Dean Flender emerged from the administrative area, walking back towards his students.
"Why are you all hiding in such a remote corner?" Flender asked, looking at his team huddled in the shadows.
Seeing the students' unfriendly gazes and their evident shame regarding the uniforms, Flender coughed awkwardly. He adjusted his glasses and tried to move past the topic. "Uh... well, then let's stay here. It's quieter. The registration is complete, and the opening ceremony will begin shortly. Each of you, be energetic! Don't disgrace our Shrek Academy. Remember, you are the team that will win the championship."
"Championship? A toad wants to win the championship?"
Just then, a discordant, mocking voice came from the side, interrupting Flender's pep talk.
The students of Shrek Academy were already full of anger and humiliation because of their uniforms. Suddenly hearing this provocative voice was like lighting a fuse. They fiercely turned their heads, looking in the direction of the sound's origin.
It was a team from an academy standing near them. Coincidentally, the Shrek Group recognized a few people in this team immediately. They were the students from Canghui Academy whom they had encountered when they went to the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain their third Spirit Rings.
They were still wearing their original moon-white Spirit Master robes, with the characters 'Canghui' embroidered within a cyan circle on their shoulders. The difference was that this time, their team uniforms were intricately decorated with silver threads that shimmered under the arena lights. Compared to Shrek's outfits, they looked even more dazzling and dignified than before.
At this moment, among the Shrek Group, only Ma Hongjun, the 'Fatty', had taken off his mask to breathe. Among the more than ten students of Canghui Academy, only two had seen them before in the forest. So, most of the Canghui students didn't recognize these people as the ones who had beaten them previously.
"Who are you calling a toad?" Ma Hongjun snapped, stepping forward.
"Whoever wears a shit-green uniform, I'm talking about them," the speaker sneered. "I think each of you is still missing a green hat. If you add that, then it would truly be perfect. You look like a joke."
The speaker was a young man who looked to be in his early twenties. Huo Feng and the others had never seen this person before. His face was somewhat pale, giving him a sickly appearance, and his build was tall and thin. His small, beady eyes were full of disdain and scorn as he looked up and down at the Shrek students.
"I'll let you know who the toad is!" Ma Hongjun roared.
His fist swung directly towards the pale young man. Ma Hongjun was not someone with a good temper to begin with. He was easily agitated, and after being provoked so blatantly by the other party, how could he hold back?
"Fatty, come back."
Dai Mubai's voice rang out, calm but authoritative.
Ma Hongjun's fist, which was about to be thrown, had to stop in mid-air. He froze, gritted his teeth, and turned to look at Dai Mubai with a confused expression. "Boss Dai, I..."
Dai Mubai looked at him and said indifferently, "What's the use of just talking? If you want to fight, wait until you're on the arena. Don't you know that fighting between Spirit Master academies is prohibited here in the waiting area? If you strike now, we get disqualified."
He paused, then turned his gaze toward the Canghui group, his voice dripping with icy sarcasm. "Where did this group of puppies come from? Does anyone have an owner to quickly take them away before they bite someone?"
Dai Mubai's expression beneath his mask was very calm, at most carrying a hint of disdain. He didn't even give those people from Canghui Academy a direct look, acting as if they were beneath his notice.
"Who are you calling a dog?"
The people from Canghui Academy had no self-restraint. Upon hearing the insult, they instantly surrounded the Shrek group. Each of them began to exude an intimidating aura, releasing fluctuations of Spirit Power. They indeed seemed to possess some strength, unlike the weaker students Shrek had faced in the past.
Dai Mubai didn't show any fear at all. He stood his ground, crossing his arms. "Whoever barks here is a dog. And you look like a pack of ownerless wild dogs. Although we can't fight here, self-defense is always allowed, right? If you attack first, I don't mind sending these puppies home on a stretcher."
The Canghui Academy group was furious, ready to pounce. The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife.
Just then, a powerful, aged voice rang out from behind the Canghui students.
"What are you doing?"
Hearing this voice, the angry expressions of the students from Canghui Academy immediately vanished, replaced by looks of fear and fawning respect. They quickly moved aside, creating a path.
From behind them, an old man of about sixty walked over. He was also dressed in the moon-white Spirit Master attire of Canghui Academy, but the embroidery on his clothes was gold rather than silver, indicating his high status.
Flender had been watching the scene coldly from the side, ready to intervene if necessary. However, his eyes twitched noticeably when he saw this person. He recognized him.
Ma Hongjun, unaware of the tension in Flender, whistled loudly. "Oh, look at that. The puppies' owner has finally arrived. Hurry up and take your puppies away, old man. Lest they bark randomly here and annoy everyone. It wouldn't be good if they urinated or defecated everywhere and dirtied the venue."
To the surprise of the Shrek Group, the old man didn't explode in anger. He merely glanced at Ma Hongjun indifferently, his eyes sweeping over the strange green uniforms without emotion. He didn't react to the vulgar taunts.
Instead, he looked at his own students and sternly ordered, "Go."
After speaking, he turned and headed in another direction towards the resting area, not sparing Shrek another glance. The students of Canghui Academy looked at each other, stunned by their teacher's lack of reaction. However, no one dared to say anything more. They obediently lowered their heads and followed him, like scolded children.
Fatty laughed heartily without concealment, slapping his thigh. "It's really different when the owner comes; they're so obedient! They tucked their tails and ran."
"Alright, Fatty, that's enough." Flender glared at Ma Hongjun, his tone serious.
Only then did the latter close his mouth, sensing that the Dean was not in a joking mood. However, there was still a hint of defiance and amusement in Ma Hongjun's eyes.
Flender's brows furrowed slightly as he watched the retreating back of the old man. He muttered to himself, his voice low, "I didn't expect this old fellow to go to Canghui Academy. It seems that the quality of Canghui Academy's participating students this year should be good if he is teaching them. Could it be that the earlier impetuousness of those students was feigned to test us?"
Ma Hongjun, being closest to Flender, heard the mutterings. He leaned in and quickly asked, "Teacher, who was that old man just now? Do you know him?"
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