Star Luo Plaza was awash with cheers, surging like a tsunami again and again, simply because today was the first competition day of the third stage of the Pan-continental Elite Soul Master Competition, and it also featured the continent's top academy, Shrek Academy.
In the second stage, Shrek Academy primarily fielded its preliminary team. Among the three main team members, Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao each made one appearance, while Zhu Ziyang had not yet competed. Therefore, other academies and the audience were more familiar with Bei Bei and the other six. However, everyone knew that the preliminary team alone, with Bei Bei and the others, could not possibly contend with the Dou Ling Team. Thus, everyone was curious about what lineup Shrek Academy would send out.
In the Sun Moon Academy's lounge area, Teacher Ma, Ma Rulong, Xiao Hongchen, and others were discussing this matter.
Teacher Ma asked, "What kind of lineup do you think Shrek Academy will send out?"
After some thought, Ma Rulong replied, "From the information we gathered in the second stage, the Spirits and strengths of the Shrek Team members are mostly clear. Those worth our attention are Ma Xiaotao and Jiang Nannan from the main team, and Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, He Caitou, and Wang Dong from the preliminary team. Oh, and also Zhu Ziyang, who hasn't competed yet and is suspected to be a main team member. I guess their potential lineup would be something like that."
"Heh, why bother with such complications?" Xiao Hongchen disagreed with Ma Rulong, saying, "I think they might very well give up on the team battle directly and choose to turn the tide in the individual competition. After all, with the peak Spirit Emperor Ma Xiaotao, a one-versus-seven win isn't impossible!"
"Hmm!" Teacher Ma first listened to his grandson's words, his face showing relief. Then, hearing Xiao Hongchen's analysis, his expression immediately became peculiar, as he realized Xiao Hongchen's words made a lot of sense, and even had a high probability, given Shrek Academy's emphasis on individual combat power. He said, "What Xiao Hongchen said is not without reason. The strongest member of the Dou Ling Team is their captain, Guzhu Jian, a Level 58 Spirit King. If it really comes down to individual prowess, Ma Xiaotao might genuinely be able to turn the tide by herself!"
On the arena, the referee for this match had already ascended the stage. His voice boomed as he announced, "Round of sixteen, first match: Shrek Advanced Spirit Master Academy versus Dou Ling Royal Advanced Spirit Master Academy. Both teams' members, please proceed to the waiting area to prepare for the match."
After the referee's command, Zhu Ziyang stood up and walked towards the waiting area.
Wang Yan stopped him, cautioning, "Ziyang, just do your best, no need to push yourself!"
"Ha, Teacher Wang, you can rest assured," Zhu Ziyang chuckled, then shook off Wang Yan's hand and confidently walked into the waiting area.
Shrek Academy's every move was observed by other academies. When they saw Shrek Academy only sending out one student, their first reaction was that Shrek Academy was indeed going to forfeit the team battle!
"Why did Shrek Academy only send one person?" In the audience, the vast majority of spectators were Shrek Academy supporters, and they all expressed concern and confusion about Shrek Academy's move. Only a man and a woman sitting in the furthest corner of the audience showed faint smiles.
"Heh!" In the Sun Moon Team's lounge area, Xiao Hongchen's face twisted into an arrogant smile as he said, "Just as I expected, Shrek Academy is indeed preparing to give up the team battle and place their hopes on tomorrow's individual elimination rounds. They actually only sent one person! This is good, we'll have more opportunities to understand Ma Xiaotao's abilities!"
Teacher Ma's brow furrowed. He always felt things weren't that simple. Even if Shrek Academy wanted to forfeit the team battle, there was no reason to send only one student. Wasn't that making things difficult for that team member? Or were they confident that Zhu Ziyang, who had never competed before, could defeat a team with five Spirit Kings and two Spirit Ancestors by himself?
It was very strange.
"Both teams' competitors, please take your positions!" the referee announced again. Then, he witnessed a scene that left him somewhat stunned.
From Shrek Academy's direction, only a handsome young man walked up; there was no one else. Before he could express his confusion, the captain of the Dou Ling Team had already voiced his dissatisfaction.
"Your academy is being too arrogant!" The captain of the Dou Ling Team, Guzhu Jian, was an eighteen or nineteen-year-old youth. His expression was very displeased as he said, "Are you so confident you can defeat us in the individual battle? Aren't you afraid of trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice?"
"Hehe, the strong are always filled with absolute confidence in themselves," Zhu Ziyang said with a faint smile.
Guzhu Jian looked deeply at Zhu Ziyang and said, "I hope you are just being stubborn, Your Excellency. When the battle begins, we will show you some respect, after all, you are a top student from Shrek Academy."
"Oh!" Zhu Ziyang replied softly, saying, "Don't worry, I'll also go easy!"
Guzhu Jian said nothing more. He only felt pity for Zhu Ziyang's attitude and dismissed Zhu Ziyang's words as mere bravado. He didn't believe that the opponent could defeat seven people alone. If he really was defeated by one person, then he, Guzhu Jian, would no longer need to be captain.
"Both sides, step back and prepare to begin!" The referee for this match was an old man over sixty, who had seen too many storms in his life, so facing such a situation, he quickly dispelled his doubts, as he was merely an observer. He said in a deep voice.
Zhu Ziyang turned, walked backward, then turned to face the members of the Dou Ling Team, his gaze calm. He was alone, facing seven people, appearing incredibly disadvantaged.
The Dou Ling Team arranged their formation: the Frightening Claw Bear Spirit King Qian Yuan and the defense-system Adamantite Shield Spirit King Chi Hengyu stood at the very front. Behind them hid the agility-attack system Spirit King Han Ling'er. Behind Han Ling'er was the captain, the attack system Spirit King Guzhu Jian. On either side of Guzhu Jian were the control system Spirit King Xiao Feng and the control system Spirit Ancestor Qing Feng. At the very back was the support system Spirit Ancestor Tang Niuniu. This was an unconventional five-pointed star formation.
"Match start!" The referee, seeing that both sides were in position and having gestured to each, shouted loudly. Before his voice even faded, he immediately activated his Spirit Ability and quickly left the center of the arena, as if fearing being caught in the crossfire.
As the command to start the match was given, the seven members of the Dou Ling Team simultaneously activated their Spirits. But no one paid attention to them; all eyes were on Zhu Ziyang. Everyone wanted to know what level this Shrek Academy student, who had never competed before and was now facing such a situation, truly possessed. Was he a sacrificial pawn? Or did he truly have the strength to fight one against seven?
The truth was about to be revealed. Zhu Ziyang smiled faintly, raised his right hand parallel to his shoulder, then flicked his wrist, and a golden battle scythe appeared in his hand.
A Tool Spirit? And an unfamiliar Spirit at that? But it looks so imposing! These were the real-time comments from the crowd outside the arena.
Along with the Pacifying Life-Reaping Scythe, spirit rings slowly rose from beneath Zhu Ziyang's feet: yellow, purple, purple, black, black. The appearance of the first five spirit rings completely confounded both those inside and outside the arena. They thought Zhu Ziyang was a Spirit King, but at such an age and with such strength, he shouldn't be treated as a sacrificial pawn, right?
As the sixth spirit ring slowly rose, Star Luo Plaza instantly erupted. The same scene as the first match of the competition, when Huo Yuhao's five ten-thousand-year spirit rings appeared, recurred, but this time, because there were more people present, the atmosphere was even more frantic and agitated.
A red spirit ring! Is this real this time? Everyone had this thought. Most of the audience had already made their judgment: this student, hidden by Shrek Academy all this time, was the true leader of Shrek Academy's current generation!
The audience was unaware of Zhu Ziyang's age, but the various participating academies had all investigated the information of Shrek Academy's students. They naturally knew that Zhu Ziyang was only fifteen years old, and a feeling of despair and discouragement spontaneously arose.
"No, this is impossible!" In the Sun Moon Academy's lounge area, Xiao Hongchen was on the verge of exploding with rage, his eyes bloodshot as he stared fixedly at Zhu Ziyang on the arena, letting out indignant roars of disbelief. "How is this possible? I used so many rare treasures, and I only reached Spirit King. How can he reach Spirit Emperor? And possess a ten-thousand-year spirit ring?"
"Is this the new generation's leader of Shrek Academy?" From the imperial city tower, Emperor Xu Jiawei narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Zhu Ziyang on the arena. He immediately gave an order, saying, "Go, find all information on this Zhu Ziyang for me, and activate the Star Luo Chamber of Commerce in Shrek City. I want all information on this Zhu Ziyang!"
"A ten-thousand-year spirit ring! Is this Shrek Academy?" In the Star Luo Academy's lounge area, a stunning young woman gazed blankly at the ten-thousand-year spirit ring behind Zhu Ziyang, murmuring, "Imperial Brother, it seems you were right! Shrek Academy truly hides its true strength. With this Zhu Ziyang, will anyone truly be able to shake Shrek Academy's position in the future?"
"Big brother, what should we do?" In the audience, two strangely-dressed men whispered to each other. One of them said, "This Shrek student's talent is so powerful, should we make a move?"
"Idiot!" The other man tapped his head and said, "Since the opponent dared to enter the arena, it means they are fully prepared! Let's go back to the Sect and tell the Sect Master about this!"
Zhu Ziyang's battle hadn't even begun, but his ten-thousand-year spirit ring had already stirred up a huge commotion!