The Countdown Begins

"Wait!"

Just when everyone thought it was all over, Jian Tongming, who was still standing on the arena stage, suddenly spoke.

"I need a fight that lets me go all out! You can all come at me together!"

"What?!"

This time, even Elder Lin, seated in the VIP section of the viewing stands, stood up! Jian Tongming's overwhelming strength had already been shocking enough, but now these arrogant words and actions left him so stunned his jaw nearly dropped. Could such a fine seedling actually fail in character?

"Don't go too far! We've already admitted defeat, and this isn't the Soul Master Elite Tournament!" Elder Tang said in a low voice. The implication was clear: they still had trump cards, but they simply didn't want to reveal them too early, so he hoped Jian Tongming would rein himself in.

Of course Jian Tongming heard the meaning in his words, but he still showed not the slightest intention of backing down.

"I need an opponent who is completely unfamiliar to me! An opponent who won't hold back! I need to know exactly how far I've come!"

"Tick!"

"Tick!"

Inside the Demon Cave, Shen Ming, who had been drinking coffee and acting perfectly calm, seemed to sense something. His body actually trembled involuntarily, and a drop of coffee spilled from his cup.

"The countdown has begun! Damn it!"

With a crisp snap of his fingers, an ancient-looking hourglass appeared in the modern room, and the water droplets inside it were now slowly falling.

Inside Shrek Academy's Great Soul Arena.

"So this is the quality of your Shrek Academy students?" Elder Tang forcibly suppressed the fury in his heart and shouted in reprimand.

Elder Lin, who had been watching the match all this time, also walked out with a somewhat dark expression. For