In one of the private boxes, the Shrek Academy group let out a collective breath after watching Eastsea Academy's match.
"A ragtag bunch," Ye Xinglan couldn't help but scoff. "Zero teamwork. We'll definitely win it back."
Ning Xin agreed. "Exactly."
"We were just caught off guard by Arthur's domain last time, that's all."
"And he only held it for an instant. It's obvious he can't sustain a domain ability."
"As long as we're prepared, we won't take a hit like that again."
The tall, lanky boy said bitterly, "We were also drained from fighting Skysea Academy. Barely any soul power left. That's why Arthur was able to pick us off."
"This time, we'll wipe the slate clean."
"Naive." Watching the group desperately rationalize their loss, Ye Xinglan couldn't stay quiet.
No one understood Arthur's terrifying strength better than she did. Even if they fought again a hundred times, the outcome wouldn't change one bit.
"Hmph, and you have the nerve to say anything?" Ning Xin shot her a cold look. "This whole mess started because of you."
"If it weren't for you, we never would have suffered this humiliation."
"Tsk. And you even cried about it."
Wins and losses were a normal part of competition. They'd had their share of defeats within Shrek Academy itself.
But those were internal!
Out here, they represented Shrek, and losing was simply not an option. If they had to lose, it should have been a second loss or a third, not a first.
The weight of being the first to shatter Shrek's undefeated record was something else entirely. They couldn't even begin to imagine the backlash waiting for them back home, or the price they'd have to pay.
Being called a crybaby hit Ye Xinglan like a slap to the face.
Her breakdown hadn't only been about failing to uphold Shrek's honor.
It was also the despair of seeing no trace of herself in Arthur's swordsmanship, of being left completely in the dust.
The pressure he exerted was overwhelming. It was a total suppression, from sword technique to soul power, from mental fortitude to presence.
Arthur's sword intent and techniques had made years of her own dedicated training feel like a joke. That crushing sense of being utterly out of reach was the real reason she had broken down in tears.
Yuanen Yehui frowned and cut off the argument. "None of this matters right now. What matters is winning the next match and restoring Shrek's reputation."
Ye Xinglan shook her head and said nothing more, staying out of their tactical discussion entirely.
Because winning simply wasn't possible.
Elsewhere, Shen Yi and Wu Changkong were chatting casually after watching Eastsea Academy's match.
"So these are the students you've been teaching?" Shen Yi asked.
Wu Changkong shook his head. "Plenty of combat experience, but zero team coordination."
"That's because Arthur is around. Without him pulling all the weight, their teamwork is actually quite solid."
"Is that so."
"Arthur really is a monster." Shen Yi gave a wry smile and nodded.
"Are they still planning to compete?" Wu Changkong got to the point. "Tell them to drop out. You know as well as I do, there's no path to victory."
With Na'er and Gu Yue now in the mix, Shrek would only lose more badly. He didn't want to watch that unfold.
Shen Yi's eyes flickered with something complicated. "I originally wasn't going to let them compete."
She glanced toward the arena, a note of helplessness in her voice. "But word came down from the academy. They want the team to enter and win it back."
Wu Changkong was quiet for a moment. His tone was flat. "What are those old fossils thinking?"
"How are they supposed to win?"
He knew Class Zero's strength better than anyone, especially Arthur, Gu Yue, and Na'er. Any one of the three could hold their own against Shrek's best. All three together made the outcome completely foregone.
"I don't know."
Shen Yi watched the soul guide barrier rise over the arena as the next match got underway. Her voice was heavy with resignation. "Maybe they don't want to see Shrek's undefeated legend crumble just like that. Maybe they think the kids can pull off a miracle."
Wu Changkong looked away, turning over Shrek Academy's intentions in his mind.
"No no no no no!"
"Help! I don't want to be on the list!"
"Not the Young Talents Ranking, anything but that!"
Back at the hotel, Arthur was hit with devastating news. He had become famous across the entire Federation, and with that came an unwanted addition to the Young Talents Ranking.
The Young Talents Ranking was one of several sub-lists under the Continental Rising Stars Chart.
The Continental Rising Stars Chart was a soul master exclusive ranking system run by the Spirit Pagoda, founded with the mission of advancing the soul master community and helping practitioners push their limits. It consisted of a main list and multiple sub-lists.
The main list, the "Douluo Continent Rising Stars Chart," held one hundred entries and recorded the top one hundred Dou Armor masters on the continent.
The sub-lists covered categories such as forging, mech design, mech construction, and mech repair.
Among these, the Young Talents Ranking was considered the farm system for the main chart. Those who made it onto this list were, barring any unexpected setbacks, essentially guaranteed a future spot on the full Rising Stars Chart.
Entry requirements for the Young Talents Ranking were strict: candidates had to be eighteen or under, and selections were based on a comprehensive evaluation of talent, combat ability, secondary occupations, soul power level, and more. Only thirty spots were available.
As far as Arthur was concerned, the whole thing was just some obscure fan-made list.
"Arthur, isn't being on a ranking amazing?" Tang Wulin crowded in next to him, eyes brimming with envy. "You'd be recognized alongside all the geniuses from Shrek!"
"Recognized alongside them? I couldn't care less about being lumped in with a bunch of clowns."
Arthur rolled his eyes and tossed his communicator onto the table.
"What kind of level do they think they're at, being on the same list as me?"
Xu Xiaoyan was scrolling through her feed, grinning. "They even came up with a title for you."
"Windward Swordsman Arthur."
Arthur blinked. "Huh?"
"What kind of garbage nickname is that? It sounds terrible."
Xu Xiaoyan held the screen up in front of him. It was flooded with discussion about the Young Talents Ranking.
The search term "Windward Swordsman Arthur" was rocketing toward the top of the Federation's trending list.
"Look, look. Because you used a sword and wind in that match, they called you the Windward Swordsman."
"You're ranked sixth!"
"Pfft. I don't want it." Arthur decided to pull some strings, reaching for his communicator. "The ranking is published by the Spirit Pagoda, right?"
He called his uncle. "Hey, old man!"
A calm, warm voice came through from the other end, laced with amusement. "You little brat. What do you need?"
"Can't I call just to call?" Arthur leaned back into the couch, completely at ease. "The Spirit Pagoda put me on their Young Talents Ranking. Sixth place. Windward Swordsman, they called me. It sounds ridiculous. I want off."
"Oh? You made the list?" His uncle's voice carried a quiet laugh. "Isn't that a good thing? The Spirit Pagoda's rankings carry real weight. People would kill for a spot on there."
"Real weight? As far as I'm concerned it's just some nobody list." Arthur curled his lip. "I don't want it. Talk to your contacts at the Spirit Pagoda and get my name pulled."
A brief silence fell on the other end, followed by his uncle's long-suffering sigh. "That's not going to happen, Arthur. You're too prominent right now. You broke Shrek's undefeated record. If even you can't make the Young Talents Ranking, the Spirit Pagoda's credibility goes right out the window."
"Tch." Arthur was not happy. "Fine, then at least change the nickname. This one's unbearable."
"What would you want instead?"
"Tyrant Dragon!"
Dead silence on the other end. Then the call disconnected.
"What! He actually hung up on me!"
Arthur stared at the communicator for a stunned moment before slamming it down onto the couch in irritation. "Fine, whatever. Keep the dumb name then."
Xie Xie was laughing so hard he could barely stand, slapping his knee. "Hahaha, Tyrant Dragon! Arthur, your taste is somehow even worse than Windward Swordsman!"
Before Arthur could fire back, Na'er sent Xie Xie flying with a furious kick. "What's wrong with Tyrant Dragon?!"
"Hmph. When I make the ranking, I'm going to be called the Golden Dragon Queen."