The All-Continent Advanced Youth Soul Master Tournament had officially entered its group stage.
At this moment, the thirty-two remaining teams had all gathered at the main arena. The rest area had been expanded and divided into thirty-two private sections—each furnished with canopies and sofas, a small luxury reserved only for teams that had made it to the top thirty-two.
Everyone believed that from this point onward, the matches would only grow more intense than the first four rounds of preliminaries. Every single battle in the group stage carried enormous weight, directly determining each team's chance to advance. As a result, every squad was on high alert—no one dared to relax.
But no one expected that the very first match of the group stage would leave the audience stunned—Shrek Academy vs. Heaven Armor Sect, and the Heaven Armor Sect… forfeited outright!
The crowd exploded in uproar.
At first, everyone was shocked—but after the initial surprise, they all found it perfectly reasonable. After all, the entire continent had seen what happened in the fourth preliminary round: the Heaven Armor Sect had been utterly crushed by Shrek Academy. Choosing to surrender this time was, in truth, the wisest choice they could make.
There was no point in courting humiliation. Charging blindly into a hopeless fight wasn't noble—it was foolish. Thus, while the other teams quietly accepted the decision, the spectators weren't so forgiving. Jeers of "Cowards!" and "Spineless!" echoed throughout the arena. The Heaven Armor Sect's leader, however, remained unmoved.
And so, with their surrender, the first match ended instantly.
Then came the second match—one that sent excitement surging through the crowd: Tang Sect vs. Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy!
The two teams had met once before, in the fourth round of preliminaries, when Tang Sect had chosen to forfeit. This time, however, such an option no longer existed.
The arena roared to life. The frustration caused by the previous forfeit vanished instantly, replaced by eager anticipation. Most spectators cheered wildly for the Sun Moon team, convinced they would win without question.
Even among the other competitors, the general consensus was the same—Tang Sect had lost all credibility after their earlier withdrawal. But whether that assumption would hold true… only the battlefield could tell.
In the Tang Sect's rest area, Tang Ya, Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, Xue Weiwei, He Caitou, Huo Yuhao, Xiao Xiao, Wang Dong'er, and the three Sun Moon defectors Ji Juechen, Jing Ziyan, and Na Na stood together.
Eleven hands stacked one atop another. Their gazes burned with fighting spirit as they shouted in unison—
"Victory!"
Their cry drew immediate attention. In the opposing rest area, the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy team could clearly hear them.
The team leader, Xiao Hongchen, smirked disdainfully. "Heh, how arrogant. If they were that strong, why did they forfeit the last time we met?"
His younger sister, Meng Hongchen, however, was far more level-headed. "Don't underestimate them, Brother. We know exactly who they are. This Tang Sect team is made up entirely of members from the previous Shrek Academy preparatory team. I don't know why they're representing Tang Sect, but anyone chosen by Shrek for that roster can't be weak. Just look at Bei Bei."
"You worry too much, Meng." Xiao Hongchen's smile widened with confidence. "Aside from him, I haven't feared anyone my age. So what if they're former Shrek students? At best, they're on par with the previous generation's Shrek Academy team. Our current Sun Moon Imperial Academy is far stronger than that!"
He clenched his fist, eyes burning with ambition. "We must win this one. Only then can Her Highness's team advance alongside us!"
His words carried sharp conviction, infecting the rest of his teammates with his fiery determination.
"Yes! The Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy will prevail!" they shouted in unison.
Both teams were at peak morale—the battle was about to begin.
When the competitors ascended the stage, the Sun Moon team's chosen fighter was a tall young man with broad shoulders and calm eyes. His hands were unusually large, with long, steady fingers—clear evidence of a seasoned soul engineer. Just standing there, he exuded quiet confidence and strength.
From Tang Sect's side, the first to step forward was Wang Dong'er—her first appearance in the entire tournament.
The referee glanced at the two of them and said gravely, "Although this is officially the second match of the group stage, it's essentially today's first real battle. Be cautious. Avoid causing serious injuries. Once I determine that a winner is clear, I'll intervene immediately. Continuing to attack after that point will result in disqualification. Understood?"
After the numerous casualties during the preliminary rounds, the tournament's organizing committee was under tremendous pressure, which explained the referee's repeated warnings.
The Sun Moon contestant nodded politely. "My name is Shi Xing. Remember it—it might accompany you for the rest of your life."
With that, he turned and walked back to his position.
Wang Dong'er frowned. "Are all young men these days this full of themselves?" she muttered.
The referee's mouth twitched. "Just get ready. Victory is determined by strength, not banter."
Wang Dong'er gave him a cool glance. "Don't play favorites, or you'll regret it."
The referee froze, momentarily speechless. He had overseen more than a dozen matches already, but this was the first time a contestant had ever threatened him!
This girl is really something else…
As soon as Wang Dong'er turned toward her end of the stage, Shi Xing launched his attack.
Her brows furrowed slightly, but her movements remained smooth and precise. A dazzling light flared in her eyes, and two magnificent wings unfolded from her back—shimmering blue and gold, radiant and ethereal.
The Goddess of Light Butterfly wings spread wide, enveloping her figure in a divine glow. Each golden pattern on the wings seemed to come alive, releasing a wave of pure light energy that filled the arena.
At the same moment, Shi Xing activated his own equipment. A pair of mechanical wings unfolded behind him, thrusters flaring as white light erupted from their tips. In just two powerful strides, he shot into the air like a meteor, propelled by his flight-type soul tool.
While airborne, he fired a level-four explosive soul missile straight at Wang Dong'er.
Although high-level soul tools and stationary installations were banned in this tournament, level-four handhelds like the high-explosive missile were still permitted. Its destructive power was tremendous, though it required time to charge.
That Shi Xing could simultaneously control his flight device and launch a high-grade attack midair was a clear sign of skill.
Wang Dong'er, however, merely smirked in disdain. Her wings flapped once, propelling her upward like an arrow.
Then something unexpected happened—the missile suddenly swiveled midair and chased after her!
A few gasps erupted from the audience.
Without hesitation, Wang Dong'er's second spirit ring flared. A golden beam shot out from the glowing patterns on her wings, meeting the missile head-on.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion erupted in midair. A searing red flash expanded to a diameter of over ten meters, distorting the very air with its intense heat.
When the blast faded, Wang Dong'er hovered unharmed amid the dispersing light. Her opponent, however, was pale and tense—his five spirit rings—two yellow, three purple—glowed in contrast to her own configuration of two yellow, two purple, two black. The difference was overwhelming.
"It's over," Zhu Ziyang murmured from the Shrek team's lounge, leaning back on the sofa. "This round is hers. If the Sun Moon team doesn't send out a powerhouse next, this match will be decided."
Ma Xiaotao nodded in agreement. "That's your junior sister for you—no way she'd embarrass her senior brother."
Zhu Ziyang chuckled softly, his eyes glinting with quiet amusement.
Just as he predicted, Wang Dong'er easily overpowered the Sun Moon soul engineer. She even found time to tease the referee—who, utterly flustered, teleported to the edge of the arena for safety, his composure completely shattered.
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