Shrek Concedes

"Are you Shrek going to step down yourselves, or should I throw you down?"

Shui Wuchen's calm voice reached Tang San's ears, making his expression turn incomparably grim.

Even the Hell White Tiger had lost. Three of Shrek's seven had already been eliminated, and of the remaining four, Ning Rongrong and Oscar were both support Soul Masters. Only Xiao Wu and he still had any fighting strength.

What about Skywater Academy? Not only had no one been eliminated, but they also had the unfathomable monster that was Shui Wuchen.

Under such circumstances, even if he revealed his trump cards, their chances of victory would still be minuscule.

Was it really worth exposing his trump cards for a battle they would almost certainly lose and that served little purpose, all to fight for that sliver of a chance at victory?

At that moment, Xiao Wu came to Tang San's side, assuming a defensive stance as she asked in a low voice, "Third Brother, what do we do now?"

Tang San glanced at Xiao Wu beside him, then at the exhausted Ning Rongrong and Oscar. Finally, he looked up at Shui Wuchen, who stood atop Articuno. His expression twisted with conflict, but in the end, he gritted his teeth and said, "Shrek concedes!"

Hearing this, the Referee immediately announced, "Since Shrek Academy has conceded, Skywater Academy is victorious!"

"Contestant Wuchen is simply too strong! Shrek actually conceded! Congratulations to Skywater Academy for achieving twenty-seven consecutive victories in the Preliminary Round. It seems that in this clash between a dark horse and an established academy, the established academy has emerged victorious!"

The host's somewhat astonished voice rang out. Clearly, he had been equally surprised by the result of today's match.

Whoosh—

As soon as the host finished speaking, wave after wave of cheers erupted from the stands.

"Skywater Academy really is stronger."

"Damn it, Shrek was so disappointing! I even bet on them to win."

"Ah, you can't really blame Shrek. That Shui Wuchen was just too strong. If I'd known, I wouldn't have chased those odds and would've just bet on Skywater Academy. My five Gold Soul Coins!"

"Hahaha! Looks like all of you lost money. Luckily, I bet on Skywater Academy."

Unlike the spectators, who were focused on the excitement of the battle and their gambling wins and losses, those in the VIP section were deep in thought after witnessing this scene.

"This kid's strength seems to have surpassed the realm of a Soul King. Could he possibly be a Soul Emperor?"

Bone Douluo watched Shui Wuchen atop Articuno, his brows slightly furrowed as he thought to himself.

But he quickly shook his head. "Impossible, impossible. This kid is only sixteen. Even if he had cultivated from the womb, he couldn't possibly have broken through to Soul Emperor!"

After dismissing that absurd thought, Bone Douluo's gaze at Shui Wuchen gained a trace of gravity. If it was not because of his level, then it could only be due to his Martial Soul.

Only a Martial Soul of exceptionally high quality could grant such formidable combat power at the Soul King level.

At that moment, Bone Douluo looked to the side and found Ning Fengzhi lowering his head in thought.

That kind of suppressive force reminded Ning Fengzhi of someone.

Salas's expression was also slightly grave. Such strength was even more outrageous than he had anticipated. How could someone like this appear outside Spirit Hall?

In the stands, Feng Xiaotian watched Shui Wuchen easily defeat the Hell White Tiger with Articuno. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he exclaimed excitedly, "Good! As expected of the opponent I chose."

He had originally worried that his current strength had grown too great. Shui Wuchen was simply too young, and under the suppression of their difference in levels, he might not have been able to serve as a worthy opponent.

But after seeing Shui Wuchen use Articuno to dispose of the Hell White Tiger, Feng Xiaotian was reassured. Shui Wuchen was even stronger than he had imagined.

"Luckily, if the Elite Tournament had been a few months earlier, I truly might not have been your opponent."

Feng Xiaotian's gaze burned. Shui Wuchen's rate of improvement was indeed terrifying. If given more time, Feng Xiaotian would most likely no longer be his opponent.

But now—

He, Feng Xiaotian, was invincible!!!

On the Arena, after hearing Shrek concede, Shui Wuchen lightly leaped to the ground. Articuno rapidly shrank and flew onto his shoulder.

Shui Wuchen stroked Articuno's head, then did not spare Tang San and the others another glance as he walked over to Shui Bing'er. "Bing'er, let's go!"

"Mm!"

Shui Bing'er nodded, then looped her arm through Shui Wuchen's as she left with him.

Seeing that their captain and vice-captain had both departed, the others from Skywater Academy naturally did not linger. They followed the two back to Skywater Academy's section.

On Shrek's side, Tang San stepped down from the Arena in a daze after conceding.

After arriving at Shrek's section, Yu Xiaogang saw Tang San's appearance and immediately frowned. "Failure is the mother of success. If you remain like this, you will lose even the matches you could have won. There is still one month until the Promotion Tournament. We can find a way to deal with that Shui Wuchen."

"But Teacher, can Shui Wuchen truly be defeated in just one month? And that Shui Bing'er... though I don't want to admit it, as a control-type Soul Master, she is far stronger than I am!"

Tang San spoke with some despondence.

Shui Wuchen's overwhelming strength, Shui Bing'er's exquisitely precise control, and that Soul Skill that could strike first all made him doubt himself.

Could his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul truly defeat opponents like them?

Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang sighed and patted Tang San's shoulder. "This tactical arrangement was Teacher's mistake. Teacher never expected Shui Wuchen to be so strong. If I had known earlier, I would not have had you do this."

Yu Xiaogang had already been proven wrong twice by Shui Wuchen. Last time, he had said that beast Martial Souls that could leave the body were inherently weak, only for Shui Wuchen to instantly crush Lightning Academy.

He had originally guessed that since Shui Wuchen's own body was so strong, Articuno's strength should not be anything remarkable.

Thus, based on the strength Shui Wuchen had previously displayed, he had devised a plan to use the Hell White Tiger, along with Oscar and Ning Rongrong's support, to knock Shui Wuchen off the Arena.

But unexpectedly, Articuno appeared even stronger than Shui Wuchen. With only one blue Ice Beam and a flap of its wings, it defeated the Hell White Tiger.

Such strength had completely exceeded Yu Xiaogang's expectations, rendering his plan useless.

"Teacher, please don't say that. That Shui Wuchen was simply too cunning."

After hearing Yu Xiaogang's words, Tang San hurriedly comforted him.

Not long after the battle between Skywater Academy and Shrek Academy, the Preliminary Round came to an end.

The captains and vice-captains of the five top-ranked academies—Skywater Academy, Godwind Academy, Blazing Fire Academy, Lightning Academy, and Shrek Academy—ascended the podium to receive their awards.

And the one presenting the awards was none other than Xue Ye.