Only against a Seven Ring Soul Sage was Wang Zhi unsure of himself.
At the Soul Saint level, there was the added ability of the Martial Soul Avatar. Once a Soul Master activated their Martial Soul Avatar, their strength would surge several times over. It was an entirely different level.
He didn't know if he could fight one.
In the end, it would depend on how things went in actual combat.
But at least he wouldn't encounter an opponent of that level in this Tianhai Competition.
That was enough.
"What?!"
"How can they do that!"
Zhou Tian'er's voice exploded through the room. She sprang to her feet, her large emerald-green eyes filled with disbelief.
They had just returned from today's matches when they heard the news from Zhang Zhenpeng.
Since a Shrek Academy student wanted to enter the Individual Match at the last minute, the organizers had agreed.
That alone wasn't a problem.
The problem was that the Shrek student's chosen opponent was Wang Zhi, who was supposed to compete tomorrow.
So the organizers wanted Wang Zhi to withdraw from the competition and give up his spot.
"What right do they have?!"
Zhou Tian'er was so angry that her face turned red.
"Xiao Zhi has fought so many matches to make it this far. What right do they have to make him give his place to someone else?!"
Zhang Zhenpeng's face had gone dark, too.
When the organizers approached him, he had refused outright.
As the Dean of Sea and Land Academy, he had a temper of his own.
His student had worked hard to make it this far. What right did they have to give his spot to some Shrek student who'd barged in halfway through?
But as a result, he had offended that Shrek student.
When the student learned that Zhang Zhenpeng had refused, he announced on the spot that he would fight Wang Zhi tomorrow and defeat him fair and square.
The organizers had no choice but to arrange the match.
Zhang Zhenpeng took a deep breath and explained the whole story.
Silence fell over the room.
Zhou Tian'er was trembling with anger. Zhou Hanyou furrowed her brow, and Wang Dongqi looked indignant, too.
Only Wang Zhi remained calm.
He sat in his chair, lightly tapping the armrest with his fingers.
After a moment, he spoke.
"Who is it?"
His voice was calm, giving away no emotion.
Everyone looked at him.
Wang Zhi repeated himself, his voice still calm.
"Who is it?"
Zhang Zhenpeng answered slowly.
"A Shrek student named Ye Xinglan."
Wang Zhi nodded slightly.
Just as he thought.
He'd already guessed as much.
In the Original Work, Ye Xinglan had done the same thing, forcing Tang Wulin into a fight and defeating him for offending her, leaving him unable to take part in the rest of the Individual Match.
When he'd read that part, he'd thought it was absurd.
Using privilege to throw one's weight around, forcing a defeat on someone else and rendering all their hard work meaningless.
How had someone like that ended up becoming one of the Shrek Seven Devils?
Wang Zhi really wanted to crack open Tang Wulin's head and take a look inside.
Even a saintly person ought to have some backbone, shouldn't he?
If he'd been in that situation, it would have been a grudge as deep as having one's path to greatness blocked. The only way to settle it would be to kill her!
He couldn't bring himself to repay evil with kindness.
Then Wang Zhi spoke calmly.
"Dean, Tian'er Jie, don't worry."
"You know what I'm capable of."
"I honestly don't take them seriously."
He meant it.
With his current strength, he wasn't afraid of Ye Xinglan, let alone a few more like her.
But Zhang Zhenpeng's expression remained grim.
"Xiao Zhi, I'm not really worried that you'll lose to her."
He sighed.
"It's just..."
"The Tianhai Competition is being broadcast live across the Federation."
"If you beat her, it means you've slapped Shrek in the face."
He paused and looked at Wang Zhi, his gaze complicated.
"And Shrek Academy is the Continent's Number One Academy. Only by going there can you get the best opportunities to develop."
"If you offend them..."
He left the rest unsaid, but his meaning was clear.
Win the match, lose your future.
Zhou Tian'er exploded at that.
"What kind of garbage academy is that?!"
"If they can't handle losing, why compete at all?!"
She grabbed Wang Zhi's hand.
"Xiao Zhi, don't be afraid!"
"We don't even want to go to an academy like that!"
Zhang Zhenpeng gave her a helpless look.
But at that moment, everything suddenly became clear to Wang Zhi.
At last, he understood why Zhou Tian'er and Zhou Hanyou hadn't been able to join Shrek Academy in the Original Work.
It was because they had offended Wu Changkong.
And Wu Changkong's teacher was Zhuo Shi, one of the Sea God Pavilion Elders at Shrek Academy.
With that connection, how could they possibly get in?
Now that he understood, Wang Zhi had no more reservations.
He spoke mildly.
"Dean, there's never only one choice in this world."
"Shrek isn't the only option, either."
His voice was calm, yet carried an unquestionable conviction.
"Since they've used their privileges to threaten me today, I'll make sure to repay this grudge in the future."
Zhang Zhenpeng looked at him for a long while, then sighed.
"Forget it. So be it."
He waved his hand, his expression complicated.
"I was going to contact some upperclassmen at Tianhai Academy and ask them to help you get a few spots at Shrek Academy."
"Since things have come to this, I won't go groveling to them."
He looked at Wang Zhi, then at Zhou Tian'er and Zhou Hanyou.
"But I hope you won't regret the decision you've made today."
Wang Zhi nodded slightly.
"Don't worry, Dean."
"I won't regret it."
Zhou Tian'er immediately chimed in.
"Neither will I!"
Zhou Hanyou nodded slightly. She didn't say anything, but her gesture made her feelings clear.
The next day.
Early in the morning, everyone arrived at the competition venue.
The stadium was especially lively today. The stands were packed, and the crowd roared with excitement.
The news had already spread.
A student from Shrek Academy was entering the competition at the last minute to fight the boy from Sea and Land Academy.
Many people had come early just to see the match.
Zhou Tian'er and Zhou Hanyou weren't competing today, but they'd come along and were sitting in the contestants' rest area, cheering Wang Zhi on.
Just then, Wang Zhi's gaze sharpened.
A figure was walking toward him.
She was a girl who looked about eleven or twelve, with delicate features.
But her brows carried an inborn air of arrogance.
Ye Xinglan.
She stopped in front of Wang Zhi and looked down at him.
After a moment, she gave a cold snort, her tone haughty.
"I hope you'll be as confident as you were yesterday when you lose."
Wang Zhi smiled faintly.
"It's too soon to say who'll win."
"Brat."
Ye Xinglan's expression changed.
"You!"
"What about me?"
Zhou Tian'er had been watching them for a while. As soon as she heard them talking, she recognized the girl as Ye Xinglan.
Her temper flared. She shot to her feet and rushed over to stand in front of Ye Xinglan.
"You think being a Shrek student gives you the right to do whatever you want? How can you even show your face?!"
Ye Xinglan's expression darkened until it seemed ready to drip.
She had never expected these people to be unafraid of her when she came over to provoke them.
She was from Shrek Academy!
The Continent's Number One Academy!
Everywhere she went, people fawned over her and treated her with awe!
Yet these people weren't afraid of her. They even dared to talk back?!
Before you continue