Su Ming's on-site carving of the core formation was meant for people to watch, not for certain individuals to conceal their spiritual power and probe inside.
If this didn't count as peeking, then during all Spirit Tool maker competitions, when others are making Spirit Tools, everyone should be allowed to observe with spiritual power, right?
There were many snooping dogs, more than one.
Putting away his Spirit Jade Silver, Su Ming walked down from the competition stage.
Today's demonstration was over.
Next time would be the Level Eight Blacksmith's demonstration.
The audience below was also left wanting more, wishing the semi-finals would be canceled outright so they could see the Level Eight Blacksmith's performance right away.
"Do you think there will be a Level Nine Blacksmith demonstration after the finals?"
"You sure dare to think big. This is pioneering work, you know. The forging world never had the concepts of Spirit Refinement or Soul Refinement before. When President Su Ming successfully achieved Soul Refinement, the whole continent knew about it. That was only a bit over three years ago. How could he possibly reach Level Nine now?"
"Although I also think President Su Ming is like a god, I have to admit that right now, the distinction between Level Seven and Level Eight Saint Blacksmiths isn't as clear-cut as the earlier divisions between Levels Three and Four, or Levels Five and Six. There's a kind of fuzziness. I feel Level Eight Saint Blacksmith is the President's limit."
"Even if there's no Level Nine, there should be some vision for Level Nine, right? I feel the President will show us his theories."
"Hard to say. We wouldn't understand anyway; it would be useless for him to explain."
"..."
After Su Ming, representatives from the four semifinalist teams simultaneously ascended the competition stage to begin the draw.
Long Aotian, Huo Yuhao, Xiao Hongchen, and Yu Tianlong stood at four positions, looking at four wildly tumbling small balls within a Spirit Power protective shield.
The protective shield shattered, the balls scattered, and the four men, with keen eyes and quick hands, each grabbed one of the small balls.
Opening the balls, the four compared the contents with each other.
Xiao Hongchen revealed a smile.
"Haha, looking forward to it. With no Su Ming this time, if you Shrek lose again, don't go blaming this and that."
He had been to Shrek for an exchange and often heard there that the reason Shrek lost the previous tournament's championship was purely because Su Ming was too exceptional. Xiao Hongchen had frequently argued with people, turning red-faced, but never won the debate.
Facts had proven Su Ming was indeed exceptional.
But this time, he, Xiao Hongchen, would prove to the world.
Even without Su Ming, the Sun Moon Royal Team could still suppress Shrek!
Huo Yuhao's expression was somewhat heavy.
Among the other three teams present, he most hoped to be paired with the Tianlong Sect.
Because then they would have a one hundred percent chance of advancing to the finals. Even if they ran into the Body Sect, at least the loss wouldn't be due to their own failing.
Now, being paired with the Sun Moon Royal Team, if they failed, Shrek's honor would truly be completely severed. Because this time, the Sun Moon Royal Team didn't have Su Ming.
There was no second person they could blame for being too strong.
He had actually used Spiritual Detection to observe the balls, but unfortunately, his strength wasn't enough, and Long Aotian snatched his target.
Thinking of this, he looked at Long Aotian, revealing an expression of indignation.
Your Body Sect is so strong, you don't even need to worry about winning or losing. Why did you have to snatch the Tianlong Sect opponent from us Shrek?
Long Aotian revealed an innocent expression.
Su Ming instructed it. No choice.
This answer only proves that you, Huo Yuhao, must have peeked at the contents through means outside the rules.
Otherwise, how could it be that the one I snatched from you just happened to be Tianlong Sect?
"Semi-final first match: Shrek Team versus Sun Moon Royal Team!"
The referee checked the results once and announced on the spot.
Huo Yuhao returned to the preparation area with a heavy expression.
"We're in trouble this time," Fan Yu said.
The Shrek Seven Monsters also wore worried expressions one by one.
"Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen both studied at our academy. Their strength cannot be underestimated, especially their Martial Soul Fusion Skill. Even Senior Sister Wu Ming suffered a loss from it."
For this competition, the academy truly threw away any pretense of pride. Before the exchange activities had even ended, they found ways to use Wu Ming to goad Xiao Hongchen and the other, making them unleash their Martial Soul Fusion Skill to test the power of their Hongchen's Attachment.
It couldn't exactly be called goading.
Xiao Hongchen was like a child; he would often get angry on his own, turning red-faced arguing with people.
Shrek just used topics frequently discussed in the Inner Court to easily make him lose his temper.
The reason Wu Ming was the one to act was because Shrek claimed her and Ma Xiaotao's reputations were once on par, and if Ma Xiaotao hadn't met with an accident, she would be around Spirit Sage level by now.
Because they had tested it, they were wary.
"Only Dong'er and I can handle their Martial Soul Fusion Skill. I can also allocate spiritual power separately to provide you all with Spiritual Detection Sharing. But—"
Huo Yuhao swept his gaze over each of his partners, then reluctantly looked toward Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu from the preliminary team.
"Xiao Xiao, Senior Nan Nan, you two don't need to participate in the team battle. Let Dai Huabin and the other go. Their Martial Soul Fusion Skill's power can also threaten Xiao Hongchen and the others. If necessary, it can be used to force them to use their Martial Soul Fusion Skill."
For this competition, the Sea God Pavilion had even adjusted the selection system for the Shrek Seven Monsters.
Previously, the official members were the Seven Monsters, the reserve team were the quasi-Seven Monsters, and they would automatically be promoted to official Seven Monsters next term.
Now, there were no quasi-Seven Monsters at all. They selected another seven students with the highest strength—namely Dai Huabin and the others.
Dai Huabin was now seventeen years old but already had level fifty-nine Spirit Power.
In the original story, he was level fifty-seven. Clearly, he had now received support from the Sea God Pavilion, having at least completed an enlightenment in the Golden Ancient Tree.
Zhu Lu had also broken through level fifty and was now at level fifty-one.
The two's Martial Soul Fusion, when used against a Spirit Sage not using their Martial Soul True Body, had a certain win rate.
The removed Xiao Xiao and Jiang Nannan were both Spirit King cultivation. Even with cooperation, they couldn't replicate the Netherworld White Tiger effect of the other two.
Among the other three official members, Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and He Caitou were all Spirit Emperors.
Even so, one could see the gap in talent between these individuals. Dai Huabin was fully three years younger than Bei Bei and the other two!
With such cultivation speed, plus a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, even without considering the "born in the wrong era" factor, his innate talent should have been enough to enter the ranks of the Seven Monsters.
On this point, even the Shrek elders blamed the deceased Xuan Zi more than once. Just how were the Seven Monsters chosen last time, actually leaving out Dai Huabin? At that time, Dai Huabin was also a genius who broke the record for the fastest breakthrough to Spirit Elder.
"That's the plan. The first match is the team battle. Yuhao, Dong'er, Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and He Caitou, you seven will take the stage. Even if you can't win, you must deal a heavy blow to the Sun Moon Royal Team's main force, laying the foundation for winning the subsequent individual battles and the two-two-three cooperative battle."
Fan Yu's gaze revealed a cold glint.
"If necessary, you can strike a bit more severely. Elder Lin from the academy has already departed and will arrive at Sun Moon Imperial Capital soon. He'll cooperate with us from within and without. Even if a Spirit Engineer Legion surrounds us, we don't need to worry."
"Besides, competitions are meant to be fought with full force. If you don't want to get hurt, then don't participate."
After addressing the seven, he looked at the others.
"Nan Nan, you maintain your peak condition. With your Invincible Golden Body and teleportation, you should be able to secure a victory in an individual battle."
"Xiao Xiao, you have twin Martial Souls and are flexible and adaptable. When the time comes, I'll do my best to match you against a favorable opponent so you can secure a win."
"..."
On Shrek's side, they made serious preparations. The Sun Moon Royal Team, on the other hand, was much more relaxed.
"When we get on stage, the first thing is to put on your Battle Armor. Then release the other Spirit Tools."
***
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(Chapter End)