"It's over..."
These two words buzzed in Xuan Zi's mind like a heavy hammer, smashing his psychological defenses to pieces.
The noisy discussions and exclamations around him sounded incredibly piercing at this moment, as if everyone was mocking the tragic fate Shrek was about to face.
He didn't even dare to imagine what kind of storm would be triggered across the entire Douluo Continent if Shrek truly stopped at the Top 16.
That was ten thousand years of glory! That was a gold-lettered sign forged with the blood and lives of countless ancestors!
Was it all going to be completely smashed to pieces in his, Xuan Zi's, hands?
"No... no! Absolutely not!"
Xuan Zi shook his head violently, forcibly suppressing the surging fear and despair in his heart.
He was the leading teacher, the spiritual pillar of these children. If even he collapsed, then this match would be lost before it even began.
By now, Ma Xiaotao had already walked down from the high platform, looking lost and dejected.
That red dress, which was originally as dazzling as fire, seemed to have lost its color now, appearing dim and lackluster.
She kept her head down, not daring to look at anyone, and walked straight to the team.
"Elder Xuan... I'm sorry..."
Ma Xiaotao's voice trembled, carrying a heavy sob, "I... I used up everyone's luck..."
"Sister Xiaotao..."
Wang Dong, Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and the others felt a pang of sorrow in their hearts as they looked at her in this state.
They opened their mouths, wanting to offer some comfort, but found their throats blocked as if by something, unable to speak a word.
Blame her?
This was a matter of luck, after all. Who could blame her?
But if they didn't blame her, how could this heavy pressure be vented?
In the entire Shrek Team's area, the atmosphere was oppressive to the extreme, like the low pressure before a storm, making it hard to breathe.
Xuan Zi took a deep breath, forced a smile that looked worse than crying, and patted Ma Xiaotao on the shoulder:
"It's okay, Xiaotao, this isn't your fault."
"Drawing lots is all about luck. Since the Heavens want us to meet the Sun Moon Team early, it means they think highly of us!"
Xuan Zi looked around at everyone, raising his voice as much as possible to try and boost morale:
"Children, don't look so dejected! What's so special about the Sun Moon Team? They don't have three heads and six arms!"
"Aside from that Liu Yuan who's a bit strange, the other members like Ma Rulong and Xiao Hongchen are nothing to worry about!"
"In terms of overall strength and Spirit quality, our Shrek is still number one on the continent!"
However, as soon as he finished speaking, Ma Xiaotao raised her head. Her phoenix eyes, which were usually full of confidence, were now filled with confusion and fear:
"But Elder Xuan... what about Liu Yuan?"
"That guy... how are we supposed to avoid him? And how could he possibly let us avoid him?"
"In the last match, I gave it my all, but I was completely no match for him... If we can't deal with him, then even if we win against everyone else, what's the use?"
Ma Xiaotao's words were like a bucket of ice water, directly extinguishing the tiny flame of hope that had just ignited in Xuan Zi's heart.
It was true.
Liu Yuan.
This name was like an insurmountable mountain, weighing heavily on everyone's hearts.
Whether you admitted it or not, as long as Liu Yuan wasn't dealt with, this match was a dead end.
Xuan Zi opened his mouth to argue but found himself speechless.
His head began to ache violently, a physiological reaction to extreme anxiety.
...
Unlike the gloom and doom on Shrek's side, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy's side was a completely different scene.
"Hahaha! Number 8! It really is number 8!"
Xiao Hongchen was so excited he almost jumped up, completely disregarding the gazes of those around him. "Brother Liu Yuan, has your mouth been blessed? You said we'd draw them, and we actually did!"
"Exactly! This is just too great!"
Meng Hongchen was also excited, her small face flushed red. "This is perfect. We don't have to wait for the finals; we can send those self-righteous guys back home tomorrow!"
Ma Rulong threw a powerful punch into the air, the flames of revenge flickering in his eyes: "I've waited for this day for too long! I can finally wash away the humiliation of the previous tournament with my own hands!"
Liu Yuan stood in the center of the crowd, listening to his teammates' cheers with a faint smile on his face.
He raised his hand and pressed down lightly, signaling for everyone to be quiet.
"Everyone."
Though Liu Yuan's voice wasn't loud, it clearly reached everyone's ears, carrying an unquestionable confidence.
"Since the opportunity has been placed before us, there's nothing more to say."
"Tomorrow, we have only one goal—"
"To make Shrek Academy pack their bags and get lost at the gates of the Top 16!"
"Yes!"
The unified roar echoed through the skies. That soaring Aura made the other surrounding teams look over in surprise, secretly feeling glad they hadn't run into these lunatics in the first round.
...
The drawing ceremony ended in an extremely strange atmosphere.
The various teams left the Star Luo Grand Hotel with different moods.
Just as they walked out of the hotel entrance, Liu Yuan suddenly stopped.
"What's wrong?"
Jing Hongchen, who was walking in front, turned back and looked at him with some confusion.
"Hall Master."
Liu Yuan looked at Jing Hongchen and said with a serious expression, "There is an event tonight that I think we need to attend."
"An event?" Jing Hongchen was startled. "Are you talking about that top-tier auction?"
"Exactly."
Liu Yuan nodded. "I received information that a very special auction item will appear at tonight's auction."
"I want that item."
Hearing Liu Yuan say this, Jing Hongchen's expression also became serious.
"Good!"
Jing Hongchen waved his hand grandly and said heroically, "Since you've said so, what else is there to say?"
"Let's go! To the auction!"
...
On the other side.
The dejected Shrek group was preparing to return to their rooms to rest.
"Wait."
Xuan Zi, who had been silent all along, suddenly called out to everyone.
Everyone stopped and looked at him in confusion.
Xuan Zi took a deep breath, and a glimmer of light reignited in his cloudy old eyes—the madness of a gambler wanting to bet everything in a desperate situation.
"There's a top-tier auction tonight. All of you get ready and come with me to attend it."
"An auction?"
Wang Yan pushed up his glasses and asked in confusion, "Elder Xuan, the match is tomorrow. Going to an auction at this time... isn't it a bit inappropriate?"
"What's inappropriate about it?"
Xuan Zi snorted coldly. "It's precisely because the match is tomorrow that we must go!"
"I heard that there will be many good things at tonight's auction: high-level spirit tools, and even Spirit Bones!"
"You've seen the current situation. Our chances of winning by relying on raw strength alone aren't high. Therefore, we must use every means possible to increase our strength!"
At this point, Xuan Zi patted the storage spirit tool at his waist, a sinister smile appearing on his face:
"Last time I was tricked by that Jing Hongchen, I learned my lesson."
"This time, I specifically had the academy urgently transfer tens of millions of gold coins in cash over here!"
"Tonight, as long as it's something useful to us, no matter the price, I will buy it! Even if I have to throw money at it, I'll arm you all to the teeth!"
Hearing the figure 'tens of millions of gold coins,' the Shrek members' breathing couldn't help but quicken.
But just then, the usually reticent Chen Zifeng suddenly spoke up.
He frowned and asked hesitantly:
"But... Elder Xuan, didn't you used to hate spirit tools the most? You even taught us not to over-rely on external things..."
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere on the scene immediately became somewhat awkward.
Xuan Zi's old face turned red, and a flash of annoyance crossed his eyes, but he quickly masked it.
"Hmph! That was then, this is now!"
Xuan Zi argued stubbornly, "That was for regular cultivation, where it's natural to build a good foundation. But what time is it now? It's a moment of life and death!"
"As long as we can win, as long as we can preserve Shrek's glory, no method is shameful!"
"Besides, spirit tools are also a part of one's strength!"
"Alright, enough nonsense. Everyone, follow me!"
With that, Xuan Zi flicked his sleeves and took the lead toward the auction house.
Behind him, the Shrek members looked at each other and could only follow helplessly.
...
Starlight Auction House, Top-tier Auction Hall.
The level of luxury here far exceeded any previous auction.
In the massive dome above, countless night pearls were embedded, as if the entire starry sky had been moved indoors. Every seat was made of the highest quality Spirit Beast fur, incredibly comfortable.
Liu Yuan, Jing Hongchen, and the others sat in a VIP box with the best view.
Coincidentally, Shrek Academy's box was diagonally across from theirs.
Through the one-way glass, Liu Yuan could clearly see Xuan Zi's grim face opposite them, and his bloodshot eyes staring at the auction stage like a hungry wolf.
Liu Yuan picked up the red wine in front of him and took a sip: "Shrek? You guys again. It really is a small world!"
"However... the protagonists tonight are destined not to be you."
Just then, the lights in the auction hall dimmed, and only a spotlight lit up the center of the auction stage.
An auctioneer wearing a golden long dress and possessing a noble and elegant temperament slowly walked onto the stage.
"Distinguished guests, good evening."
"Welcome to the Starlight Auction House Top-tier Auction. I am your auctioneer for tonight, Jiujiu."
Princess Xu Jiujiu smiled and bowed to the audience, her elegant posture immediately drawing countless admiring gazes.
"Without further ado, let us get straight to the point."
"Tonight's first auction item, I believe, will surely bring a surprise to all the Soul Engineers and Power Attack System Spirit Masters present."
As her voice fell, two burly men pushed a cart covered with a red cloth onto the stage.
Xu Jiujiu walked to the cart and reached out to whip off the red cloth!
Swoosh!
A piercing golden light instantly illuminated the entire auction stage.
Lying on that cart was a massive war blade with an exaggerated design and a violent Aura.
The blade was two meters long and entirely dark gold, carved with a lifelike pattern of a fierce tiger, as if it would pounce out to devour someone at any moment.
A heart-palpitating spirit power fluctuation constantly emanated from this blade.
"This is tonight's appetizer—"
Xu Jiujiu's voice suddenly rose:
"Crafted by a certain Soul Engineer from Mingde Hall, a perfect masterpiece combining both offense and defense—"
"Level 8 melee soul tool, tyrant tiger soul refining blade!"
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