The atmosphere in the center of the arena was heavy with anticipation as Tang San led a total of ten Lanba Academy team members to stand in a row. They stood directly across from the Zuan Academy team, who had brought a larger group of sixteen members to the floor.
Zuan Academy was known for its deep background and influential sponsors. It was common knowledge that the capital supporting the institution came from several great families, powerful nobles, and even the royal families of certain kingdoms. While it wasn't quite as prestigious as the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, it was still a force that no one could underestimate. Like the royal academy, Zuan Academy only admitted students of noble birth or those from prominent families. Even if these students were merely collateral relatives compared to the elite at Heaven Dou, a noble was still a noble.
Because of their high-born status, these students naturally looked down on the commoner attire of the Lanba Academy members. If they hadn't been standing in the middle of a formal arena, many of them likely would have burst out laughing at the sight.
"Look at this bunch of toads. Do they actually think they can participate in the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament dressed like that?" The captain of the Zuan Academy team spoke first. He was a petite boy with fair skin and a face so pretty he looked like a girl. Even his voice had a soft, effeminate quality to it. "Captain, how did we end up with such an opponent? It's like a toad landing on your foot. It might not bite, but it's still disgusting. Just look at their academy's emblem; it's absolutely ridiculous."
A flamboyant girl with a full bosom standing next to him covered her mouth and nose, acting as if she were afraid of catching a scent from the Lanba students. The captain nodded in agreement, though his gaze drifted lustfully toward Jiang Zhu. "It really is a pity for such a little beauty to be with them."
Jiang Zhu frowned, her expression hardening as she snorted coldly. "One's a hermaphrodite and the other's a prostitute. How did we get stuck with such an opponent?"
"You little slut! Who are you calling a prostitute?" The curvaceous girl flared up immediately, her face turning red with rage. The male captain, who had been called a hermaphrodite, also saw his complexion turn ashen.
Tai Long laughed heartily at the exchange. "Jiang Zhu, you're talented! How did I not think of such a perfect description? A hermaphrodite and a prostitute—they really are a perfect match!"
The petite captain of the Zuan Academy team narrowed his eyes, his voice turning cold. "Good, you're very good. Even though killing is prohibited in the competition, injuries and disabilities are inevitable. Since you're seeking death, don't blame us when it happens."
The match hadn't even started, but the air was already thick with the smell of gunpowder. Tang San remained silent, though he was clearly displeased that the other side had stolen the opening lines. Before he could say anything, however, the referee walked over to the center of the stage.
"Both sides salute. Non-competitors, please leave the arena."
Members of both Zuan Academy and Lanba Academy bowed to each other with obvious reluctance. Once the extra team members left, only the seven participants for the first preliminary match remained. On the Lanba Academy side, Cao Kui, Cao Zhan, and Tai Long stood at the very front. Tang San took his position in the center, flanked by Huang Yuan and Jing Ling, while Jiang Zhu stood at the rear.
On the Zuan Academy side, five robust individuals stood in a row at the front, acting like a solid wall to protect the two behind them. The petite captain stood in the center of the back row, clearly serving as the Control System Spirit Master for his team. The curvaceous girl took her place at the very back.
Up in the VIP section, Emperor Xue Ye watched the arena with a smile. He turned to Ning Fengzhi, the school master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, and asked, "School Master Ning, what do you think of the two teams in this opening match?"
Ning Fengzhi offered a slight, polite smile. "In my opinion, the strength of the Lanba Battle Team and the Zuan Team isn't very different. The outcome will depend on which side is in better condition and performs better in the moment."
Platinum Bishop Salas, sitting on the other side, suddenly chimed in. "School Master Ning, could you tell me which of the twenty-eight teams you favored is the champion contender you mentioned earlier?"
"Your Excellency Salas, isn't a little mystery a good thing?" Ning Fengzhi replied smoothly. "I imagine you also have a team you're supporting."
Salas gave a forced smile. "So, School Master Ning is unwilling to reveal it?"
"This is my own secret," Ning Fengzhi said indifferently. "It doesn't seem to have anything to do with Your Excellency."
Salas's face darkened instantly. His gaze clashed with Ning Fengzhi's right in front of Emperor Xue Ye, and neither man seemed willing to back down. Emperor Xue Ye, noticing the tension, frowned slightly and intervened.
"There's no need for the two of you to be so impatient. Once the tournament ends, there will naturally be a result. Bishop Salas, School Master Ning is right; who he favors is his own business. Even I find it difficult to ask that question, though I'm just as curious as you are."
Platinum Bishop Salas glanced at the Emperor and said in a neutral tone, "Your Majesty is right. Let us watch the match, then." He turned his attention back to the arena as the announcement echoed: "The first match of the first round of the preliminaries officially begins!"
At the referee's signal, the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament was underway. Following the standard rules, both sides were allowed one minute to activate their Spirits. Tang San watched his opponents coldly before raising his hands to his chest.
"Brothers, activate your Spirits!" Tang San shouted.
As both teams released their Spirits simultaneously, a wave of shock spread through the stands. The audience gasped as the spirit rings appeared. On Tang San's body, four rings brilliantly flashed: one white, one yellow, and two purple. He was a Spirit Ancestor.
Tai Long, Cao Kui, and Cao Zhan, standing in the front line, each released two yellow and one purple spirit ring, marking them as Spirit Elders. The three Attack System Spirit Masters erupted with powerful auras, standing their ground firmly against the five robust opponents in front of them. Behind them, Huang Yuan, Jing Ling, and Jiang Zhu also revealed their configurations: two yellow and one purple ring each.
Except for Tang San, every member of the Lanba team had the optimal spirit ring configuration. This sight alone was enough to send a shockwave through the crowd. Even though Tang San's first spirit ring was only white, the fact remained that he had one more ring than anyone else on the stage.
Compared to Lanba Academy, the Zuan Team's configuration seemed slightly inferior. It wasn't that their quality was bad; with Zuan Academy's resources and the influence of the noble families, obtaining optimal spirit rings wasn't difficult. However, none of the seven people on the Zuan side had reached Level 40. They were all Spirit Elders with only three spirit rings.
When the Zuan students looked at Tang San and realized he was a Spirit Ancestor with four rings, a hint of genuine surprise flashed across their faces. Seeing the look of shock on his opponents' faces, Tang San couldn't suppress the slight smirk forming at the corner of his mouth.
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