A cardinal in red robes walked onto the referee's stand, holding a huge crystal ball. Inside the transparent sphere, the nameplates of the thirty-three competing teams floated gently. As the cardinal injected his spirit power, the nameplates began to spin rapidly. The hearts of everyone in the plaza were in their throats.
Who would face whom in the opening round?
Soon, the light from the crystal ball stabilized, and two nameplates slowly rose to the top. The cardinal's booming voice echoed across the plaza.
"The first round of the finals, the first match! From the Heaven Dou qualifiers, first place, Shrek Academy!"
A wave of whispers went through the crowd. Shrek again. All eyes instantly focused on them.
"Versus…" the cardinal paused, his voice taking on a strange tone, "the Star Luo Empire's pre-qualified seed team, Star Luo Royal Academy!"
The entire plaza erupted in a massive uproar. It was a fated showdown. Shrek Academy versus Star Luo Royal Academy. Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing versus Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun. The Star Luo Empire's cruel rules for selecting its heirs were no secret. This duel was more than just a battle between academies; it was a life-and-death struggle that would decide the fates of Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing.
On instinct, Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing's bodies tensed. Their gazes shot like daggers through the crowd, locking onto the two figures at the front of the Star Luo Royal Academy team. Those two returned the stare with cold, cruel smirks, like cats toying with mice before the kill.
Dai Weisi's lips curled into a vicious arc as he slowly dragged a thumb across his throat in a clear threat to Dai Mubai. Zhu Zhuyun let out a soft chuckle, but her venomous gaze coiled around Zhu Zhuqing, filled with nothing but disdain.
"Mubai! Zhuqing!" Flender and Yu Xiaogang's expressions turned grim. This was an incredibly dangerous battle. Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun were undoubtedly stronger than their younger siblings. Furthermore, as a seed team, the Star Luo Royal Academy's overall strength was terrifying.
"Dean, Teacher!" Dai Mubai suddenly turned, his eyes burning with an unyielding fire. "For this battle, please, let Zhuqing and me fight!"
Zhu Zhuqing said nothing, but her cold eyes now blazed with a determination and fighting spirit he had never seen before. Years of suppressed humiliation, the cruelty of her own family, and her deep yearning for freedom all erupted into a raging inferno at that moment. They had to win this battle.
Ye Yin looked at the fire in their eyes and nodded. "Good. For this match, you two are the main characters. Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, get on stage." He paused, then added, "Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, Oscar, Ma Hongjun. You're with them."
The eyes of everyone he called out instantly gleamed with anticipation.
The referee's voice boomed like thunder. "Both teams, on stage!"
Shrek Academy:
Captain: Ye Yin (Support System Spirit King)
Members: Dai Mubai (Attack System Spirit Ancestor), Zhu Zhuqing (Agility-Attack System Spirit Ancestor), Xiao Wu (Attack System Spirit Ancestor), Ning Rongrong (Support System Tool Spirit Ancestor), Oscar (Support System Tool Spirit Elder), Ma Hongjun (Attack System Spirit Elder).
Star Luo Royal Academy:
Captain: Dai Weisi (Attack System Spirit Ancestor)
Members: Zhu Zhuyun (Agility-Attack System Spirit Ancestor), Dong Hui (Support System Spirit Ancestor), Yang Mingxin (Support System Spirit Ancestor), Li Yang (Agility-Attack System Spirit Ancestor), Tang Hongning (Agility-Attack System Spirit Ancestor), Ying Wei (Attack System Spirit Ancestor).
The fourteen students from both academies stood facing each other on the massive white jade platform. An invisible killing intent immediately filled the arena.
Dai Weisi looked at his younger brother with open mockery. "My dear brother, after all these years, you still don't know your place. Do you really think you can challenge me with this group of misfits you found?"
Dai Mubai's fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. Golden fur instantly covered his body as his evil eyes raged with fury. "Dai Weisi! Enough talk! Today, I'm taking back everything that belongs to me!"
Meanwhile, Zhu Zhuyun giggled as she looked at her sister. "Oh, my dear sister. I haven't seen you in a few years, and you've grown quite brave, haven't you? It's a shame that trash will always be trash. Even if you got lucky and found a few friends, it won't change your destiny. You're going to be eliminated."
Zhu Zhuqing didn't say a word. Instead, a cold phantom of a Hell Civet appeared behind her. But it looked different from Zhu Zhuyun's. Zhu Zhuqing's spirit was completely wrapped in a deep, shadowy light. Its form was more slender and agile, and its cold cat eyes shimmered with faint, dark-gold halos. An inexplicable pressure, originating deep from its bloodline, instantly spread out like an invisible tide.
The pressure had little effect on the others, but for Zhu Zhuyun, who shared the same Hell Civet spirit, it felt like a mountain was crushing her.
"Ugh!" Zhu Zhuyun groaned, her face turning pale. The Hell Civet phantom behind her let out a terrified whimper, as if it had come face to face with its natural predator. It began to tremble violently, even showing signs of dissipating.
It was spirit suppression. And it was an absolute suppression, coming from a spirit of the same origin but of a superior quality.
"How is this possible?!" Zhu Zhuyun's eyes filled with disbelief and horror. She was older than Zhu Zhuqing, had been cultivating longer, and had a higher spirit power level. Her Hell Civet spirit had been refined to an extremely pure state with the resources of the royal family. How could she be suppressed by her weaker sister? It felt as if Zhu Zhuqing's spirit was an ancient emperor among cats, one whose bloodline was purer and more powerful than her own.
Zhu Zhuqing's cold eyes swept over her sister. She didn't have to say anything; the indifference and hint of pity in her gaze were enough to completely ignite Zhu Zhuyun's fury and humiliation.
"What kind of evil trick did you use?!" Zhu Zhuyun shrieked, forcefully channeling her spirit power to stabilize her wavering spirit.
"The match begins!" the referee commanded.
The battle erupted instantly. Like a tiger unleashed from its cage, Dai Mubai charged at Dai Weisi with furious momentum, his third spirit ability, the White Tiger Vajra Transformation, instantly activating. Golden fur stood on end as his muscles bulged, his evil eyes burning with the flames of revenge.
Dai Weisi sneered and activated his own White Tiger Vajra Transformation. "You're overestimating yourself!"
The two golden meteors collided with a deafening boom of spirit power, sending shockwaves across the platform.
At the same time, Zhu Zhuqing's figure transformed into a bolt of black lightning, moving almost too fast for the naked eye as she shot straight for Zhu Zhuyun. Her Hell Rush Stab and Nether Claw tore through the air, creating streaks of cold light. Although Zhu Zhuyun was suppressed by the superior spirit, her higher spirit power and combat experience allowed her to dodge and parry. But with every clash, her spirit trembled violently, making her spirit power circulation sluggish and weak.
Elsewhere on the platform, Xiao Wu and Ma Hongjun engaged Ying Wei and Li Yang, the other two attack-type Spirit Ancestors from the Star Luo Royal Academy.
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