After the draw, the opposing teams had fifteen minutes for tactical arrangements. After fifteen minutes, the match officially began.
Ma Xiaotao returned to the resting area and immediately approached Wang Yan, asking, "Teacher Wang Yan, how should we arrange the team battle personnel?"
"Don't rush, I want to introduce you to the main players of Star Luo Academy," Wang Yan waved his hand, indicating not to worry, and said, "Star Luo Academy has previously showcased six Spirit King-level players:
Former captain Huang Heyun, a level 58 attack system Spirit King with a Dark Demonic Tiger Spirit;
Wang Yichen, a level 55 control system Spirit King with a Fire Element Spirit;
Dugu Shangshan, a level 55 attack system Spirit King with a Netherworld Mad Lion Spirit;
Chen Xiaojie, a level 53 agility-attack system Spirit King with a Lightning Falcon Spirit;
Wang Shiying, a level 55 control system Spirit King with a Wind Element Spirit;
Sheng Yi, a level 56 defense system Spirit King with a Giant Winged Vulture Spirit.
Coupled with Princess Princess Xu Jiujiu, whose specific level is unknown but possesses the Star Crown Spirit, this year's Star Luo Team is definitely the strongest in the history of the competition!"
"What if it's the strongest ever?" Jiang Nannan was unconvinced by Wang Yan's statement and said, "Can they be stronger than us?"
"Ah, how could that be?" Wang Yan chuckled upon hearing this, then explained, "The reason I say this is just to make sure you don't let your guard down. After all, they have a Star Crown Spirit Master among them! This is a support system Spirit that was once as famous as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda! Coupled with Princess Xu Jiujiu's princess status, they might have hidden trump cards!"
"Alright, alright, we get it!" Ma Xiaotao, seeing Wang Yan start to chatter incessantly, immediately interrupted him impatiently, saying, "Hurry up and arrange the team battle participants; time is almost up."
"Okay!" Wang Yan immediately put away his desire to speak at length and said with a serious expression, "Zhu Ziyang, Ma Xiaotao, Jiang Nannan, Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, Huo Yuhao, and Wang Dong, the team battle will be fought by the seven of you. Zhu Ziyang and Ma Xiaotao will be the main attackers, and Huo Yuhao will be the main controller. Ziyang, you need to be especially careful. You are too eye-catching. If the opponent wants to win the team battle, they will definitely prioritize targeting you."
"Haha, good, I'm only afraid they won't target me," Zhu Ziyang couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this.
He was very interested in Princess Xu Jiujiu's Star Crown Spirit. He often saw the name of the Star Crown Spirit in ancient texts from ten thousand years ago. To be listed as one of the six top Spirits of Spirit Hall during the Spirit Hall era and to be on par with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda as a support system Spirit, its function and effect must not be exaggerated. Given this, what kind of abilities would it possess?
Fifteen minutes passed quickly. The seven members of the Star Luo Team, led by Princess Xu Jiujiu, walked past the Shrek Academy resting area towards the arena.
Princess Xu Jiujiu walked at the very front. As she passed the Shrek Academy resting area, her beautiful eyes precisely found Zhu Ziyang, and then she gave him a challenging look.
Zhu Ziyang was unfazed by the beautiful princess's provocation. After all, from the moment he revealed his Spirit Emperor cultivation and his hundred-thousand-year spirit ring, he had received such looks more than once, although most of them came from the Sun Moon Team.
However, being challenged for the first time by such a beautiful and noble princess of the Star Luo Empire like Princess Xu Jiujiu, it stirred a subtle, unusual feeling deep within Zhu Ziyang, a commoner from the Tianhun Empire.
He decided that in this match, he would definitely leave Princess Xu Jiujiu with an unforgettable impression.
The Shrek seven also walked towards the arena. Zhu Ziyang walked first, followed by Ma Xiaotao, Jiang Nannan, Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, Huo Yuhao, and Wang Dong.
Upon seeing Zhu Ziyang appear again, all the spectators immediately erupted in screams and cheers. At this moment, Emperor Xu Jiawei, who had returned to the imperial city tower, also showed an indescribable expression. His gaze fixed intently on Zhu Ziyang, and he said, "Ultimate Light Spirit, a fifteen-year-old Spirit Emperor, plus a hundred-thousand-year sixth spirit ring—this is truly a uniquely gifted talent! Old Luo, why do you say Shrek Academy always has such prodigies?"
An old man with white hair beside Emperor Xu Jiawei smiled slightly upon hearing this and said, "My Emperor, this is the foundation!"
The old man's face was filled with emotion and envy. His name was Xu Luo, the Hall Master of the Star Luo Empire Royal Hall of Enshrinement, a level 97 Super Douluo, whose Spirit was the Staff of Starlight, and his Titled Douluo was Starlight. He was currently the greatest source of confidence for the Star Luo Royal Family.
Just by his name, one could tell that this Starlight Douluo came from the imperial branch family. This was indeed the case; Xu Luo was from a collateral branch, and by seniority, Emperor Xu Jiawei should address him as great-granduncle. His Spirit was a mutated Spirit. Although it did not possess the support abilities of the Star Crown, it had powerful attack capabilities. It was precisely he who recognized that Zhu Ziyang possessed Ultimate Light.
Both teams ascended the arena and stood opposite each other in the center. The referee for this match was Celestial Fiend Douluo Huang Jinxu. He stood between the two teams, his gaze falling upon Zhu Ziyang. A hint of jealousy and envy flashed in his eyes. A hundred-thousand-year spirit ring! He, a Titled Douluo, didn't even have one, yet this young Spirit Emperor possessed it. Was this the difference between people?
Huang Jinxu's heart was filled with jealousy and envy towards Zhu Ziyang. Possessing a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring meant possessing a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Bone. A hundred-thousand-year spirit ring could not be transferred, but a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Bone could! The thought of a Spirit Emperor possessing a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Bone made Huang Jinxu itch with desire, but he only dared to think about it, as Shrek Academy was behind Zhu Ziyang!
If he really dared to lay hands on him, then even with a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Bone, he wouldn't live to enjoy it.
Celestial Fiend Douluo withdrew his gaze from Zhu Ziyang, reining in all his petty thoughts, and said with a stern expression, "Both sides retreat. No one is to release their Spirit before I announce the start of the match."
Both teams quickly retreated, swiftly changing their formations during the process. On Shrek Academy's side, Zhu Ziyang and Ma Xiaotao were at the very front, Jiang Nannan and Bei Bei on the flanks, Xu Sanshi in the middle, and behind him were Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong. This was a 4-1-2 formation. At this moment, Huo Yuhao's spiritual detection sharing was already connected to everyone.
On the Star Luo Team's side, they adopted a somewhat peculiar formation. Six of them stood in a triangle: Huang Heyun alone in front, followed by Dugu Shangshan and Chen Xiaojie, with Wang Yichen, Wang Shiying, and Sheng Yi in the third row. Behind the three of them was Princess Xu Jiujiu. At this moment, her eyes emitted a faint golden glow, and her entire demeanor changed, as if she were a female marshal commanding a myriad of troops.
"Match start!" After Huang Jinxu's loud shout, he disappeared from the arena.
On the arena, with Huang Jinxu's command, all fourteen members of both teams simultaneously released their Spirits. Zhu Ziyang's movements were the quickest and most concise. With a flick of his right hand, the Pacifying Life-Reaping Scythe, accompanied by six spirit rings, appeared in his hand. His gaze bypassed the six front-row members of the Star Luo Team and landed directly on Princess Xu Jiujiu.
A golden gem appeared on Princess Xu Jiujiu's forehead. As the gem radiated brilliant golden light, a shimmering, magnificent, and dreamlike crown appeared above her head, then settled firmly on it. The crown was adorned with eighteen stars, each emitting a faint golden glow, and five spirit rings—two yellow, two purple, and one black—appeared behind Princess Xu Jiujiu.
Level 59. Zhu Ziyang immediately determined Princess Xu Jiujiu's spirit power level. This princess was only eighteen years old. At eighteen, being level 59 was a talent rarely seen even in Shrek Academy. No wonder she dared to step onto the Pan-continental Elite Soul Master Competition arena with her princess status.
"Star Radiance Art!" Princess Xu Jiujiu was the first to activate a Spirit Ability. Her third spirit ring flickered, and rays of starlight emanated from her Spirit, precisely landing on the six teammates in front. The starlight falling on Huang Heyun and the others gave them a golden outline, significantly boosting each person's aura and strength.
Star Radiance Art, an all-element amplification support Spirit Ability. When cast, it enhances all teammates' elemental abilities. With Princess Xu Jiujiu's Spirit King cultivation, this amplification effect should be forty percent.
The six members of the Star Luo Team, aided by Princess Xu Jiujiu, immediately launched an attack on the Shrek Academy members. The Dark Demonic Tiger Spirit King Huang Heyun charged directly at Ma Xiaotao. The Netherworld Mad Lion Spirit King Dugu Shangshan charged at Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi. The Lightning Falcon Spirit King Chen Xiaojie naturally sought out Jiang Nannan, who was also an agility-attack system Spirit Master.
At the same time, the two control system Spirit Kings of the Star Luo Team, Wang Shiying and Wang Yichen, were not idle. They immediately unleashed their Spirit Abilities on Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong, who were at the very back of the Shrek formation. The defense system Spirit King Sheng Yi did not charge forward, instead standing alone in front of Princess Xu Jiujiu.
Zhu Ziyang was quite surprised that no one from the Star Luo Team attacked him. Did they intend to deal with the others first before coming for him? Zhu Ziyang pondered this, but his movements were not slow at all. If no one came for him, couldn't he go for them? Wielding the Pacifying Life-Reaping Scythe, he rushed towards the opponent's back row, specifically the two control system Spirit Masters and Princess Xu Jiujiu.
His speed was astonishing. In the blink of an eye, he had charged to within five meters of Princess Xu Jiujiu. However, he saw no panic on Princess Xu Jiujiu's face. On the contrary, he saw triumph and a hint of glee.