After returning to Star Luo City from the Douluo World, Huo Yuhao received news from Zhang Lexuan that Wang Dong had been attacked by unknown individuals.
Whether Wang Dong lived or died was naturally of no concern to Huo Yuhao. Should he say she's truly Tang San's daughter? After such a toss-up yesterday, she was actually fine...
However, due to the power and pressure of the Clear Sky Sect, Wang Dong had already been personally escorted via flight by Dean Xian Lin'er today to return to Shrek Academy.
See that? In this world, you need a background to survive.
Time waits for no one, and the semi-finals soon arrived.
From over a hundred teams at the start to the final four now, the tournament had taken over a month. The audience had finally gotten their wish: to see blood flow like a river.
Setting aside Shrek Academy, which had suffered the heaviest casualties, other academies had more or less seen bloodshed during their clashes. Fortunately, the Star Luo Empire provided substantial compensation to the victims' families—mostly because they had already made a massive profit, and the vast majority of those who died were from the Sun Moon Empire...
With nearly half an hour left before the match began, the members of the four teams had all arrived.
Xiao Hongchen stared intently at Huo Yuhao with a provocative, punchable gaze that made even his sister, Meng Hongchen, want to step up and slap him.
Huo Yuhao ignored Xiao Hongchen's gaze, looking straight ahead with a calm expression. There wasn't a trace of battle intent on his face, as if this grand event couldn't pique his interest in the slightest.
The first day of the semi-finals: Team Battle.
A wide red carpet stretched from the Imperial City gates all the way to the front of the competition stage. Ten minutes before the draw was set to begin, the Star Luo Emperor, Xu Jiawei, headed toward the stage surrounded by four elderly men.
All four elders were Titled Douluo. This move was intended to intimidate the Sun Moon Empire, though whether the Sun Moon Empire side was actually afraid was another matter entirely.
After Xu Jiawei finished his humorous opening remarks, the man to his front-left stepped onto the field, his voice low and serious.
This was naturally the Star Luo Empire's Protector Douluo, the Fiendish Sky Douluo, Huang Jinxu.
"Will the captains of the four teams please come on stage for the draw."
Once the four had stepped up, Huo Yuhao noticed that the captain standing at the very front of the Star Luo National Academy was Xu Jiujiu. As for Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin, they could only stand behind her.
The people from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Engineer Academy and Imperial Sky Academy all widened their eyes in surprise.
The captain isn't Dai Yueheng, but this Princess Xu Jiujiu?
Anyone capable of reaching the final four wasn't a fool; they could naturally see that Xu Jiujiu was the Star Luo team's trump card.
This made things a bit difficult... because no one knew what Princess Xu Jiujiu's martial soul was.
Dressed in light gold combat attire, Xu Jiujiu looked full of heroic spirit. Her long purple hair was neatly tied into a beautiful scorpion braid, and a faint smile touched her pretty face.
Her beautiful eyes scanned the Shrek side and offered a slight smile to Huo Yuhao.
The corner of Huo Yuhao's mouth curled slightly as he gave her a small nod.
Ma Xiaotao looked at Xu Jiujiu with a hint of wariness. In terms of figure and appearance, she was not inferior to Xu Jiujiu, but for some reason, she felt as if she were being outshone.
That little pervert's ability to flirt everywhere is certainly growing...
Xu Jiawei's gaze swept over the four and he smiled. "Very well, the match is about to begin. I hope you all remember the principle of friendship first, competition second. Shortly, I will throw out balls with the seedings written on them. You will all snatch them at the same time. Are you ready?"
After the four captains nodded to show they understood, Xu Jiawei waved his hand, and four small golden spheres rose into the air.
Ma Xiaotao immediately soared upward like a spring. Xu Jiujiu was not to be outdone; her long legs in white boots tapped the ground lightly. She followed closely behind Ma Xiaotao and grabbed a sphere, while the remaining two only succeeded as she was descending.
Xu Jiujiu smiled and said, "Number two."
Ma Ruilong hesitated, "Number one."
Ma Xiaotao's gaze landed directly on Ma Ruilong's face. "Number one."
The captain of Imperial Sky Academy didn't speak, as the results of the draw were already clear.
Once Xu Jiawei announced the results, the entire audience erupted.
Because... the first match of the semi-finals was Shrek Academy versus Sun Moon Royal Academy!
Even though the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Elite Academy Tournament had been held for so many years, in reality, it always came down to Shrek Academy and the Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Engineer Academy fighting in the finals, while other academies merely fought for third place.
But no one expected they would clash early this time!
As for why this happened... do you really think my great Star Luo Empire is willing to keep being the sucker?
From the results, Ma Xiaotao had undoubtedly drawn the worst possible lot...
Ma Xiaotao walked off the stage somewhat dejectedly, saying with a bitter smile, "Sorry, Eldest Senior Sister, Teacher Wang."
Wang Yan's face was grim. "Don't overthink it, everyone. To have reached this point, I can responsibly tell you that we have a clear conscience. I have only one requirement: everyone must ensure their own safety."
"Next, I will announce the roster for the team battle: Ma Xiaotao, Gongyang Mo, Ling Luochen... Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, and... Huo Yuhao."
"?"
Seemingly seeing Huo Yuhao's confusion, Wang Yan explained, "Yuhao, no matter what thoughts you have, wait until the tournament is over to discuss them. For this battle at least, please give it your all as a Shrek student, okay?"
Huo Yuhao's gaze clouded for a moment; he nodded, then shook his head.
"Let me state this beforehand: no one can make me do something I don't want to do, but I can make an exception this time. Not for your Shrek glory, but out of respect for the act of combat itself."
Wang Yan gave a bitter smile and whispered, "That is enough. Thank you."
Then his gaze swept over the participants, and he said solemnly, "Give it your all, don't hold back. For the glory of Shrek!"
A figure dressed in a long green robe sat in a corner of the audience. His view from this position wasn't great, but he could still see the field.
However, his gaze wasn't on the competition stage, but on Huo Yuhao in the Shrek resting area.
"This old man will have to see clearly if this little fellow is qualified to inherit the Ultimate Seed..."
…
Shrek Academy, Sea God Island, underground space of the Golden Tree.
Gurgle...
The sound of a stomach craving justice rang out exceptionally loud in this quiet, dark space.
Xuan Zi had no choice but to tighten the clothes wrapped around his waist once more, trying to alleviate the unbearable torture.
With the cultivation of a Rank 98 Super Douluo, he wouldn't starve to death even without eating for half a year, but for a glutton, this was truly a torture worse than death.
Although his hunger made his eyes dizzy, Elder Mu was right: with an empty stomach, the brain thinks a bit more.