Ning Rongrong's face puffed up with anger as she talked about the things Dai Mubai had said to her.
She looked absolutely adorable.
"Looks like you really suffered at Shrek Academy."
"By the way, Dai Mubai's fiancée recently joined Heaven Dou Royal Academy too."
"Her name's Zhu Qing. You might have a lot in common with her."
Su Ze chuckled at Ning Rongrong's words.
At least when it came to Dai Mubai, Zhu Qing and Ning Rongrong should have plenty to talk about.
Next, Su Ze immediately introduced Ning Rongrong to the other girls.
With Shrek Academy as their common topic, it didn't take long for the four girls to become friends.
After that, Su Ze went to find two members of Heaven Dou Royal Academy from the Original Work.
Shi Mo and Shi Mo!
They were a pair of brothers, and their Martial Souls were the Black Tortoise and the Mysterious Nether Tortoise, respectively.
In the Original Work, they had served as Heaven Dou Royal Academy's defense, taking hits for the team.
But now that Yu Tianheng had left Heaven Dou Academy, the brothers had nowhere to go either.
So when Su Ze invited them, they readily accepted.
And with that, Heaven Dou Royal Academy was officially formed.
Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, the day of the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament's opening ceremony arrived.
As it was the opening ceremony, Dugu Yan dragged Su Ze out of bed early and brought him to the venue to watch.
The main reason was to see Tang San.
He wanted to see what new team Tang San and the others had put together.
Standing at the Heaven Dou Competition Zone's venue, Su Ze watched one team after another file past him.
As one academy team entered, the whole venue immediately erupted into a commotion.
The academy was made up entirely of girls, each one a stunning beauty, dressed in blue-and-white dresses.
Every one of them had a pair of long, shapely legs.
They became a dazzling sight at the entire opening ceremony.
"Is that Skywater Academy?"
"Wow, all the girls in that academy are beautiful!"
"They're all goddesses! It'd be a blessing for three lifetimes to marry one of them."
It wasn't just the spectators who grew excited. Even the newly recruited Shi Family Brothers stared at them with shining eyes.
"No wonder they're Skywater's handpicked Soul Masters. They're gorgeous!"
"The one leading them is Shui Bing'er, right? She's even prettier than the rumors say."
Hearing the brothers, Su Ze looked toward the girl at the front of Skywater Academy's group.
She looked about sixteen or seventeen, with a beautiful face and clear, bright blue eyes. Her Soul Power fluctuations were also extremely strong.
She was Shui Bing'er, the Skywater team's captain and the wielder of the Ice Phoenix Martial Soul.
She was exceptionally talented, a once-in-a-century genius.
With the Top-tier Martial Soul Ice Phoenix, she had once beaten Tang San so badly that his Dao Heart Shattered, making him believe Blue Silver Grass was worthless.
He had even planned to switch to cultivating the Clear Sky Hammer.
But unfortunately, this was an era of great contention.
Shui Bing'er was extremely talented, but not talented enough.
The Douluo Continent at this time was full of top geniuses.
Especially now that Su Ze had arrived.
As Su Ze recalled Shui Bing'er's story, Shrek Academy entered the venue.
The moment Shrek Academy appeared, it caused another uproar.
The Shrek Group wore Shrek uniforms, with advertisements for a medicinal shop in Heaven Dou Imperial City printed on them.
"Which academy is that? How can their uniforms be so ugly?"
"The uniforms are bad enough, but they even have an advertisement on the back."
"I remember that medicinal shop only sells aphrodisiacs. What kind of third-rate school is this? How could they pull something so embarrassing at such an honorable competition?"
"They're bringing down the whole opening ceremony!"
Looking at Shrek Academy's uniform, a shade of dung green with an advertisement on the back, Su Ze smiled helplessly. Flender really was unreliable.
He'd even managed to put an advertisement on their uniforms at a competition involving the entire continent.
Of course, maybe he really was out of money.
"Zhu Qing, thank goodness we left Shrek Academy. Just imagine having to wear those clothes in a place like this!"
"Just thinking about it makes me sick!"
Looking at the medicinal shop advertisement on Shrek Academy's uniforms, Ning Rongrong rubbed her arms, her face full of disgust.
She thought about how she would have been standing with the Shrek group if she hadn't dropped out, and felt relieved.
"Yeah, they're ugly. Especially Dai Mubai, walking at the front."
Zhu Qing's expression was cool as she looked at Dai Mubai at the head of the group, her voice full of loathing.
"Zhu Qing, don't worry. No one here will ever force you again."
After nearly a year together, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Qing had become very close. She knew all about Zhu Qing and Dai Mubai's history.
So she immediately tried to comfort her.
Looking at Shrek's team, Su Ze's eyes flickered.
Besides the original Shrek Five Monsters, the team had brought in Yu Tianheng, who had already broken through to Soul Ancestor, as well as a tall, muscular man.
He was probably from Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Academy, some unknown extra.
Tang San's Soul Power was also surprisingly close to breaking through to Soul Ancestor.
That caught Su Ze off guard. It seemed the protagonist's halo still had an effect.
Even though he had taken the Blue Silver Grass Soul Bone and Tang San hadn't gotten the Immortal Herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye, Tang San had still managed to cultivate to this level. Maybe he'd had some opportunity Su Ze didn't know about.
At that thought, Su Ze decided he would go back and work harder on his cultivation.
Although he should be able to crush Tang San in terms of strength, barring any surprises,
there was an old saying:
One should look down on one's enemy strategically, but take them seriously tactically.
In the venue, as they heard the countless people around them laughing at them, the Shrek group clenched their fists.
Dai Mubai, at the head of the group, was so furious that his breathing turned ragged and his eyes bloodshot. He was about to turn around and retort to the insults.
But Tang San grabbed him from behind.
"Mubai, there's no point arguing with them. As long as we keep going and eventually win the championship,"
"these jeers will naturally disappear."
"Arguing now will only make us look even more ridiculous."
Tang San tried to persuade Dai Mubai, whose face had turned red with anger.
"You're right, Little San! You're right! As long as we win the championship,"
"all these people mocking us will be the ones who look like fools."
At Tang San's words, Dai Mubai regained his composure.
As Shrek Academy entered, it was time for the host, Heaven Dou Royal Academy, to make its appearance.
"Are we going out? Then let's hurry."
Ning Rongrong blinked her beautiful eyes, looking excited.
After seeing the commotion caused by the beauties of Skywater Academy, Ning Rongrong was looking forward to it too.
Would her entrance cause a sensation?
"Let's go!"
Su Ze calmly led Dugu Yan and the others toward the venue.
As the Heaven Dou Academy group entered,
they immediately drew everyone's attention.
After all, Heaven Dou Royal Academy had always been a favorite to win the All Continent Elite Competition.
And with beauties like Zhu Qing, Ning Rongrong, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling among them,
they drew everyone's attention at once.
Cheers and chatter rose and fell all around them.
At that moment, the Shrek Academy group, who had just entered the venue, heard the discussion behind them.
When Oscar heard Ning Rongrong's name, he immediately looked toward the hall.
Seeing the girl in the distance who had broken his heart, Oscar's face showed a trace of anger and pain.
He really couldn't understand why a girl so youthful and full of life would betray the academy.
Disappointed and angry, Oscar took one last look, then hurried after his teammates.
In the venue, Ning Rongrong was enjoying everyone's attention and praise when, for some reason, she suddenly felt sick.
She moved closer to Su Ze beside her without thinking.
After feeling the yang energy radiating from the lightning around Su Ze, she felt a little better.
"What's wrong?"
Su Ze looked strangely at Ning Rongrong, who had suddenly come up close behind him.
"I don't know. I suddenly felt so cold!"
"Are you sick?" Zhu Qing asked with concern.
"No! I feel fine."
Ning Rongrong was confused too. As a Support Soul Master, she knew whether or not she was sick.
But if she wasn't sick, why had she suddenly felt cold?
Could something unclean be watching her from the shadows?
At the thought, Ning Rongrong unconsciously edged a little closer to Su Ze.
Inside the Heaven Dou Competition Zone venue, Su Ze led his team to the private box reserved for them.
Through the window, Su Ze looked down at the Dueling Arena.
Now that they had entered, the opening ceremony began.
One figure after another appeared on the opening ceremony's large screen.
Besides Ning Fengzhi, there was also the Heaven Dou Empire Emperor, Xue Ye, and the Spirit Hall's Platinum Pope.
Since Su Ze knew Ning Fengzhi well, he turned his gaze to Xue Ye.
Looking at Xue Ye's rosy complexion, Su Ze now understood why Qian Renxue had chosen to poison him.
Xue Ye's ability to maintain his health was truly remarkable. In the Original Work, he seemed to grow younger as he got older.
Qian Renxue had practically no chance of simply waiting for him to die of old age and inheriting the empire.
As Su Ze was thinking, the announcer below began the day's draw.
Soon, the teams on the Soul Guidance screen shuffled around, and the first match of the opening ceremony was confirmed.
"The first match is Shrek Academy versus the Balak Team."
There was nothing worth watching about this match. Shrek Academy crushed the weak school and won in no time.
The only incident came after they defeated their opponents with ease. Dai Mubai shouted to the entire venue,
"Ah! Remember the name of our Shrek Academy!"
"This is the name of the team that will win the Elite Competition! Whether it's Heaven Dou Royal Team or the Soul Martial Hall team,"
"we're the only ones who will claim victory in the end!"
Dai Mubai's arrogant declaration immediately set off a commotion throughout the venue.
Combined with the advertisement on their uniforms, it made Shrek famous in an instant.
Of course, not for anything good.
Watching Dai Mubai's declaration from below, Su Ze chuckled.
He was looking forward to seeing whether Shrek Academy could really make it all the way to face them.
In the VIP Seats, Xue Ye looked at Shrek Academy below with interest.
The main reason was that he could tell Dai Mubai was a fugitive prince from the Star Luo Empire.
But neither Ning Fengzhi nor the Spirit Hall Hall Master took Shrek Academy seriously.
Ning Fengzhi had great confidence in Su Ze.
The Soul Martial Hall Bishop had extreme confidence in the Golden Generation that the Soul Martial Hall had sent.
Both believed the championship would go to the team they supported.
"Shrek Academy is certainly arrogant. But tell me, who do you think will win this year's competition?"
Xue Ye looked at Ning Fengzhi beside him, then at the Soul Martial Hall Bishop.
"Of course, Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Your Majesty. I can guarantee that Heaven Dou Royal Academy will be the champion this time."
Thinking of Su Ze's powerful, almost monstrous strength, Ning Fengzhi spoke with absolute confidence.
Beside him, Salas, the Bishop of Soul Martial Hall, spoke with some curiosity.
"Oh? Sect Master Ning, you're very optimistic about this year's Heaven Dou Team."
"Of course! The Heaven Dou Team will definitely win the championship this time."
At Ning Fengzhi's words, the Bishop of Soul Martial Hall merely chuckled.
He had complete confidence in the Golden Generation personally trained by His Excellency the Pope.
No matter how terrifying the other teams were, they would be no match for Soul Martial Hall's Golden Generation.
"Sect Master Ning, if I remember correctly, your daughter joined Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
"Is that why you're so optimistic about Royal Academy?"
As the representative of Soul Martial Hall, Salas couldn't afford to show weakness. So he spoke with a barb, mocking Ning Fengzhi.
"Haha, my daughter did indeed join Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
"But that's not why I've made my prediction, Bishop Salas. Just watch what happens next. The facts will prove it."
Ning Fengzhi wasn't angry at the subtle mockery.
He had absolute confidence in Su Ze's strength.
Hearing Ning Fengzhi's confidence, Emperor Xue Ye naturally thought of Su Ze as well. He had heard a little about the person he had been trying so hard to recruit for his Crown Prince.
Thinking of that genius's strength, Emperor Xue Ye looked toward the box above, where Heaven Dou Royal Academy sat.
Su Ze immediately sensed the Emperor's gaze upon him.
The two exchanged a look from across the room.
When Su Ze looked over, Emperor Xue Ye first paused, then gave him a warm smile.
As for the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, Su Ze also nodded and returned a polite smile.
Soon after, the Heaven Dou Competition Zone's matches officially began.
A total of twenty-eight teams were competing for five spots.
As a result, the matches dragged on and on.
After watching for a while, Su Ze decided to return to his dorm and cultivate.
After a year of cultivation, Su Ze had risen directly from level 55 to level 58.
For a Soul Master with an Ultimate Attribute, that pace wasn't slow.
But Su Ze was still far from satisfied.
After all, his rivals weren't just Tang San and the others his age.
Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue were both a generation older than him.
The Great World Struggle was approaching.
They had already found their paths to godhood, while he hadn't even found his own path to becoming a god.
So he needed to redouble his efforts in cultivation.
With that thought, Su Ze left the venue.
Just outside, he ran into several familiar faces.
Seeing the Shrek Academy group closing in around him, Su Ze's expression didn't change in the slightest.
He merely glanced at them and prepared to leave.
Su Ze didn't take Shrek Academy seriously, but they had come here specifically for him.
Yu Tianheng and Dai Mubai stepped forward, blocking Su Ze on either side.
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