Shui Bing'er Catches Him Cheating

"Hmph!"

Seeing the venue fall silent, Platinum Bishop Salas let out a cold snort. His gaze swept across the entire arena before he said calmly, "On behalf of Spirit Hall, I have no need for deception. I hereby announce that whichever team enters the Finals this time will exceptionally be allowed to join the Martial Soul Sacred Hall!"

The moment those words fell, the Soul Masters present erupted into an uproar. Even Shui Wuchen's eyes flashed with a trace of surprise.

The Martial Soul Sacred Hall was Spirit Hall's highest institution aside from the Pope's Palace and Douluo Hall. Those who entered it were guaranteed to become Soul Saints in the future, and might even have a chance of reaching the realm of Soul Douluo.

While this held little appeal for Shui Wuchen, for the students of the academies present, it was undoubtedly an ideal place to work after graduation.

After all, the only forces comparable to Spirit Hall were the Upper Three Sects and the Two Great Empires. Yet although the Upper Three Sects were called sects, they were really families. An outsider who joined them would always be considered inferior.

Though the Two Great Empires were vast, they had always lagged far behind Spirit Hall in nurturing Soul Masters. Unless the Two Great Empires offered actual noble titles, they could not compare to Spirit Hall in the slightest.

But in recent years, after the lessons learned from the duchies and kingdoms, their willingness to grant titles and fiefs had also steadily declined.

In the VIP seats, Xue Ye's expression darkened visibly upon hearing Salas's words. Recruiting people so openly—this was a complete disregard for him, the emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire!

Seeing this, the host's expression changed slightly as well. He hurriedly stepped in, saying, "Thank you, Bishop Salas, for drawing the lots. Next will be the first match of the first round of the Preliminary Round, as well as today's only match: Heaven Dou Royal Academy versus Shrek Academy."

"Brother, who do you think will win this match?"

At that moment, Shui Bing'er leaned closer and asked Shui Wuchen with a smile.

Shui Wuchen briefly glanced at the teams on both sides and casually commented, "The one called Shrek, I suppose."

"Oh? Why do you think so, Brother? Heaven Dou Royal Academy is an academy heavily nurtured by the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, while Shrek Academy is merely an unknown academy."

Shui Bing'er was somewhat surprised upon hearing that. She clearly had not expected Shui Wuchen to say such a thing.

Shui Wuchen answered, "That Heaven Dou Royal Academy team is only their second team. The truly outstanding students have all been taken away. Besides, look at them—they were probably raised rather pampered. Their actual combat performance shouldn't be very good."

Although noble Soul Masters were generally stronger than ordinary Soul Masters due to their superior Martial Souls and better resources, it was undeniable that there was severe polarization among them.

The outstanding ones exceeded ordinary people's imagination, while the trash ones also exceeded ordinary people's imagination.

As for Heaven Dou Academy's second team, they were not trash to that extent, but with such excellent resources, they had only reached this level. They were nowhere near outstanding.

The battle between the two sides began soon afterward. Heaven Dou Royal Academy's second team performed even worse than Shui Wuchen had expected, losing in barely a minute.

"Looks like I thought too highly of Heaven Dou Royal Academy. They don't even have a single four-ring Soul Ancestor."

Seeing this, Shui Bing'er pursed her lips. Heaven Dou Royal Academy's overall lineup was merely passable, even inferior to many ordinary advanced Soul Master Academies. It did not deserve its reputation.

Shui Wuchen remained calm as he said, "That's normal. Doesn't our Skywater Academy have a Soul Elder too? They're the second team, so it's perfectly normal for them not to have a Soul Ancestor.

I just didn't expect them to fail to last even a minute."

"..."

Shui Yuer.

That was rather rude of him.

Seeing the result, the host said in disbelief, "Unbelievable! Shrek actually won, and so easily at that!"

"Hmph!"

At the sight, Xue Ye snorted coldly. With a livid expression, he glanced at Prince Xue Xing behind him before flicking his sleeve and leaving.

It was obvious that Heaven Dou Royal Academy's second team losing so easily to such an obscure academy had greatly embarrassed him as the emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire.

And as the person responsible for this matter, Prince Xue Xing would inevitably receive some scolding once he returned.

The opening match had ended. The spectators and VIPs left in an orderly fashion, and there was naturally no reason for Shui Wuchen and Skywater Academy to remain. They all departed from the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena.

On the way back to the reception area, Shui Wuchen spoke to Shui Bing'er and the others, then left the group alone and headed toward the outskirts of Heaven Dou City.

But as she watched Shui Wuchen's departing figure, Shui Bing'er frowned.

During their time in Heaven Dou City, Shui Wuchen had always gone out alone. Every time, he would not return until very late. It was difficult for Shui Bing'er not to overthink it.

Suddenly, Shui Bing'er's eyes shifted as she thought of a possibility.

"Brother... he isn't going to that kind of place, is he?"

The thought of her brother being surrounded by strange women made Shui Bing'er's heart tighten, and a painful emotion surged within her.

But Shui Bing'er quickly shook her head frantically in her heart. No. With Brother's personality, he would never go to a place like that.

Yet once such a thought arose, it was difficult to get rid of.

"No, I have to follow him and take a look!"

With the thought that there might be even a one-in-ten-thousand chance, Shui Bing'er immediately informed Shui Yueruo, then quietly followed behind Shui Wuchen.

Watching this, Shui Yueruo shook her head helplessly. "Bing'er, honestly..."

Though she said that, Shui Yueruo could understand this situation.

After recruiting Shui Bing'er, she had investigated the siblings' circumstances. All she could say was that they had not lived well.

Shui Wuchen and Shui Bing'er's mother had died when they were very young, while their father in name had been exceedingly cold toward them, never caring whether they lived or died.

At that time, their status as illegitimate children of a noble instead became shackles. The nobles regarded them as filth, an error they were unwilling even to mention, while the commoners, oppressed by nobles in their daily lives, also rejected them deeply.

If Shui Wuchen had not occasionally come up with strange ideas and made things to earn some money, the siblings might have already died.

This situation did not change until Shui Wuchen and Shui Bing'er awakened their Martial Souls.

That was why Shui Bing'er cared so deeply about Shui Wuchen. Deep in her heart, she longed for her brother's approval.

Yet as Skywater Academy's strongest genius and the emotional pillar among the girls, she usually had to appear cheerful, calm, and steady so that she could become someone others could rely on.

Meanwhile, Shui Bing'er followed Shui Wuchen and soon arrived at a small forest outside Heaven Dou City.

"Why would Brother come here?"

A trace of confusion flashed through Shui Bing'er's eyes. As the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, Heaven Dou City gathered treasures from all over the world. Whatever he needed, there was no reason for him to leave the city.

At that moment, Shui Wuchen called out behind him, "Bing'er, come out. I found you!"