The temporary quarters assigned to the Blazing Academy crackled with a residual heat and palpable tension. Dean Flender shifted nervously in his chair, the cheap wood groaning under his weight. Yu Xiaogang sat stiffly, his face impassive, but his fingers drumming a silent, irritated rhythm on the table. Tang San and Dai Mubai sat opposite their recent victors: Huo Wushuang, Huo Wu, and their own academy's Dean, a stout man whose face was still flushed with pride.
"Dean Huo, Huo Wushuang," Yu Xiaogang began, his voice devoid of its usual lecturing tone, replaced by a cold pragmatism. "We understand the… rivalry between our academies is strong. Recent events have only fueled that fire." He paused, letting the implication hang in the air. "However, we now face a common enemy. An enemy whose arrogance threatens to make a mockery of this entire tournament, and humiliate every participant who isn't wearing the Imperial Academy's colors."
Tang San picked up the thread, his voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of steel. "Zhang Tian looks down on all of us. He sees this competition as a child's game, a stage for his own amusement. He threw down that challenge not to test himself, but to insult us. We must show him the price of such arrogance."
Huo Wu, who had been examining her perfectly manicured nails, looked up, her crimson eyes flashing like embers. "Ally with you?" she scoffed, her voice sharp. "After you," she directed a glare sharp enough to cut stone at Tang San, "you detestable guy, used those dishonorable hidden weapons against my teammates? You crippled two of my friends! Why should we lift a finger to help you now?"
"My brothers are still recovering!" she added, her voice rising. "Those needles… they weren't just metal. They carried some kind of insidious cold that bypassed their spirit power. What kind of honorable Spirit Master fights like that?"
Tang San met her gaze evenly. "The tournament rules allow auxiliary equipment. Your team's overwhelming fire advantage forced my hand into using methods beyond my spirit abilities. It was a tactical necessity in that specific match." He leaned forward slightly. "This battle is different. This isn't about winning a single round; it's about pride. It's about showing that arrogant fool in the Emperor Team he cannot trample over all of us combined. Or do you want the world to think the Blazing Academy was content to be dismissed as 'mediocrity'?"
Dai Mubai then spoke, directing his words to Huo Wushuang, warrior to warrior. "Huo Wushuang, you are powerful. Your fire is intense. But you haven't truly fought him. My team has." His voice dropped, losing its usual arrogance, replaced by a grim seriousness. "His spirit abilities… they're terrifying. He doesn't just bind; he devours. His vines can drain spirit power right out of you if they make contact. Faster than you can imagine. And he uses them with chilling efficiency. Alone," he admitted, the word tasting like ash in his mouth, "none of our teams stand a chance against their full strength. But together…"
Yu Xiaogang seized the opening, laying out the tactical nightmare the Emperor Team represented. "Their power levels are deceptive. Zhang Tian is confirmed Spirit King, Level 52. His fifth ring ability is unknown, but his control over his vines, even at the Spirit Ancestor level, was enough to incapacitate Yu Tianheng almost instantly. Ning Rongrong, the Nine Treasure Glaze Tile Pagoda user, fights like an assault master while providing buffs that likely exceed 40%. Her combat awareness is exceptional."
He continued, painting a grim picture. "Then there is Zhu Zhuqing. Reports from the Great Spirit Arena consistently place her speed as unmatched, not just among Spirit Ancestors, but potentially even faster than many Spirit Kings. She wields darkness, fire, and ice with lethal precision. And finally, Dugu Yan. Her Jade Phosphorus Dragon grants her draconic strength and defense, combined with a poison potent enough to trouble even high-level Spirit Kings. Added to that are Yu Feng's aerial control, Shi Mo's defense, and Ye Lingling's healing... they are a fortress, almost perfectly balanced and led by a tactical monster."
"He even claims to have dozens of self-created skills," Tang San added quietly. "Techniques outside his spirit rings."
Huo Wushuang listened intently, his calm facade cracking slightly. He remembered the fight against Shrek. Tang San's hidden weapons had been a shock. He thought back to the brief moment Zhang Tian had intervened in a past arena skirmish, the casual way his vines had simply eaten an attack. He looked at his sister, Huo Wu, saw the burning indignation in her eyes, still focused on Tang San's weapons.
"Sister," he said softly. "Our pride demands we answer Zhang Tian's insult. But pride alone will not win this battle. Shrek's analysis… it confirms my own observations. That team is dangerous. More dangerous than their ranks suggest." He looked back at Yu Xiaogang. "You propose an alliance? For this one battle only?"
"Solely to defeat the Emperor Team," Yu Xiaogang confirmed. "Afterward, our rivalry resumes."
Huo Wushuang considered for a long moment, the sounds of the city distant outside the window. Finally, he nodded. "Fine. For this one battle, the Blazing Academy will stand with you. But do not mistake this for friendship. We are doing this to silence Zhang Tian's arrogance, not to aid Shrek." The first, crucial piece of the alliance clicked into place.
Their next stop was the temporary quarters of the Divine Wind Academy. Feng Xiaotian, their captain, a young man whose speed was his greatest pride, met them with open hostility.
"Help you?" he sneered, looking Tang San up and down. "Why should I? You already beat us once in the preliminaries! Made my team look like fools with your tricks!"
Tang San didn't flinch. He used a different tactic, appealing not to shared enmity, but to personal pride. "Captain Feng, I respect your dedication to skill. I have heard you have spent years perfecting your self-created spirit skill, the 'Stormwind Demon Wolf's Thirty-Six Successive Chops'."
Feng Xiaotian's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What of it?"
"I admire such dedication," Tang San continued smoothly. "It shows a true pursuit of mastery. But did you know that Zhang Tian, the man who dismissed us all as 'mediocrity'... has created over twenty such skills himself? Techniques powerful enough, they say, to allow him to fight far beyond his rank, developed without any teacher's guidance."
Feng Xiaotian's jaw tightened. Twenty self-created skills? Perfected? It sounded impossible, yet… Zhang Tian's casual display of power suggested a depth that defied normal limits. The thought that this arrogant youth might possess a level of skill mastery he himself had struggled for years to achieve was a barb that sank deep into his pride.
"Our cooperation," Tang San pressed, seeing the flicker of doubt, "is solely to bring down this arrogant individual. To prove that true skill lies not in natural talent alone, but in hard work and dedication like yours. Once he is defeated, our teams go their separate ways. Think of it as a chance to measure yourself against him, with the strength of our team behind you."
Feng Xiaotian was silent for a moment, his pride warring with his resentment. Finally, he gave a curt nod. "Fine. I'm in. But only to shut that arrogant mouth. After he falls, Shrek is still my rival."
Convincing the Thunderclap Academy proved the easiest, yet perhaps the most hollow, victory. They didn't even need to plead their case. Yu Tianxin met them at the door, his expression sullen.
"My Uncle, Clan Leader Yu Yuanzhen, has already sent word," he grumbled, avoiding Yu Xiaogang's gaze. "Thunderclap Academy will cooperate with Shrek Academy for this battle."
He clearly wasn't happy about it, his own pride demanding he face the Emperor Team alone, but a direct command from the Clan Leader was not something he could disobey. The alliance gained another powerful, if reluctant, member.
The Shrek delegation then approached the final two academies, hoping to forge a complete front. They were met with swift, cold refusal.
Shui Bing'er of the Heavenly Water Academy listened to their proposal patiently, her beautiful face an impassive mask of ice. When they finished, she simply shook her head.
"Ally with you against another team in a tournament setting?" Her voice was like the chime of ice crystals. "That is dishonorable. Strategy is one thing; forming a pack to bring down a stronger opponent goes against the spirit of fair competition." She stood, dismissing them. "We will face the Emperor Team with our own strength, win or lose. We do not need your help, nor will we offer ours. Please leave."
Mu Qingzhu of the Plant Academy offered a different, though equally firm, rejection. She listened with keen interest, her eyes fixed on Tang San as Yu Xiaogang detailed Zhang Tian's plant-based abilities.
"Cooperation?" she echoed, a thoughtful, almost predatory smile on her face. "Against a fellow plant-type spirit master? One whose spirit has mutated in such a fascinating way?" She looked intrigued, not threatened.
"No. I appreciate the offer, but I am curious. I wish to see his true power for myself. My Azure Blood Vine against his Blood Silver Grass. It will be an educational experience." She politely showed them out, her mind clearly already analyzing the potential matchup.
Shrek had secured three allies: Blazing Academy, Divine Wind Academy, and Thunderclap Academy.
Four teams united against the Emperor Team's seven members. Forty-two Spirit Masters against seven.
The odds seemed slightly less impossible, shifting from 'suicidal' to merely 'extremely dangerous'.
Tang San immediately began the complex task of coordinating their disparate strengths, assigning roles, and planning intricate combined attack strategies, his mind a whirlwind of tactical calculations.
Meanwhile, back at Zhang Tian's estate, the atmosphere was the antithesis of Shrek's frantic diplomacy. The tension of the upcoming battle seemed a distant, irrelevant storm cloud. Zhang Tian, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing were lounging by the edge of a large, clear pond, tossing small pellets of food to the lazily swimming koi fish.
"So, husband," Ning Rongrong asked casually, watching a large, golden koi snatch a pellet from the surface.
"Aren't you even a little bit worried? Forty-two opponents. Some of them are pretty strong. That Huo Wu girl is nasty with her fire tricks. And Tang San's got those weird poison vines now."
Zhang Tian just yawned, stretching languidly like a well-fed cat. "Worried? Why?" His voice was a lazy drawl. "Numbers are irrelevant when the quality gap is like comparing a mountain to a molehill."
His hand, unseen beneath the surface of the cool water, found Zhu Zhuqing's thigh, giving it a firm, possessive squeeze. She gasped softly, a blush rising on her cheeks, but didn't pull away.
Ning Rongrong saw the gasp, saw the blush. She immediately scooted closer, leaning her head on Zhang Tian's shoulder and pouting prettily. "Hey! No fair! You're paying more attention to Zhuqing than me! I need attention too!"
Zhang Tian chuckled, turning his attention to her. He pulled her into his lap, his arms wrapping around her waist. "Is my little princess feeling neglected?" he murmured, nuzzling her neck. His hand began a slow, teasing exploration under her silk top, making her giggle and squirm.
Zhu Zhuqing watched them, a small, satisfied smirk on her face. She leaned against his back, feeling the warmth of his body. "Rongrong is right to complain," she purred, though her tone held no real jealousy.
"But she is also right that some of them are strong. Individually."
She paused, considering.
"That Blazing Academy relies solely on fire. Predictable. Their formation is solid, but inflexible. The Wind Academy is fast, yes, but fragile as glass. One solid hit and they shatter. Thunderclap is strong, but clumsy, all brute force with little finesse." She smirked again. "And Shrek... well, we already know all their pathetic weaknesses, don't we?"
"Exactly," Zhang Tian agreed, his hand still busy under Rongrong's top while his other arm held her securely.
"Our strategy is simple."
He looked from one beautiful face to the other, his eyes gleaming.
"Overwhelm them. Show them the true meaning of power. This isn't a battle; it's a demonstration. A lesson in humility they won't soon forget."
Their "training" in the following days reflected this supreme confidence. There were no brutal drills, no frantic strategy sessions. Zhang Tian would playfully spar with Zhu Zhuqing in the courtyard, their movements a blur of crimson and black, more an intricate dance than a fight. He'd easily dodge her lightning-fast strikes, occasionally landing a light, stinging tap on her backside that made her yelp and glare playfully before lunging again.
"Too slow, my little cat," he'd tease, effortlessly sidestepping a Frozen Shadow Claw.
"Just wait until I use my fire!" she'd retort breathlessly.
Ning Rongrong, meanwhile, practiced her Nine Jewel Divine Light with casual ease, using the focused beam to carve intricate, flowing patterns into a massive block of solid steel as if it were soft clay.
Her control was becoming so fine, so absolute, it was almost frightening.
Their preparation was marked by a calm, almost arrogant certainty. They were not worried. They were simply waiting for the performance to begin.
While the chosen warriors relaxed, the empire itself was a hive of frantic activity.
Emperor Xue Ye's command had galvanized the full resources of Heaven Dou.
Just outside the city walls, a vast construction site buzzed day and night under the light of thousands of spirit lamps.
Earth-attribute Spirit Masters reshaped the land with gestures, raising massive earthen walls, carving out tiered seating that rose like the sides of a mountain.
Metal-attribute masters forged colossal steel supports, their hammers ringing in a constant, deafening rhythm.
Wood-attribute masters grew intricate decorative elements, their spirits weaving living wood into arches and balustrades.
Thousands of ordinary workers swarmed the site, directed by stern-faced imperial engineers.
Teams of Spirit Tool masters, working under the discreet supervision of engineers "loaned" from the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect, embedded powerful defensive arrays deep within the arena's structure.
Runes glowed with contained power as they were activated, designed to withstand the combined assault of dozens of Spirit Ancestors and potentially multiple Spirit Kings. This stage would not falter.
The arena took shape with impossible speed. It was a massive, circular colosseum, a modern marvel designed for maximum spectacle, capable of holding over a hundred thousand roaring spectators.
Elaborate, silk-draped viewing boxes were constructed high above the main floor, reserved for the Imperial Family and the visiting dignitaries from the great sects and Spirit Hall.
News of the construction, and the impending 7 vs 42 battle, fueled a frenzy in the city. Tickets for the event, released in limited quantities, sold out within hours at prices that would make a nobleman weep. Betting houses were overwhelmed, the odds shifting wildly with every new rumor.
Arguments erupted in taverns, market squares, and noble courts. Was Zhang Tian a suicidal fool? Or was the Emperor Team truly about to perform a miracle? The entire empire held its breath.
Spies from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the newly settled Clear Sky Sect watched the construction with growing unease.
The scale, the speed, the sheer power being poured into this arena… it was another stark reminder of the Heaven Dou Empire's might, and, more worryingly, the seemingly limitless resources and influence of the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect.
On the morning of the third day, the arena stood complete. It was a magnificent, imposing structure, a modern colosseum gleaming under the dawn sky, ready to host a battle for the ages. The stage was empty, silent, waiting for the players to arrive. The air was still, but it hummed with anticipation, thick with the weight of expectation. The countdown was over. The show was about to begin.