Jiang Huai put away the Soul Bone and led the others away. Not a single one of them looked back.
They returned to Shrek Academy in Heaven Dou City. Jiang Huai warned them not to tell anyone about what had happened, or it would cause unnecessary trouble.
Jiang Huai handed the Illusion Wisdom Skull Bone to Ning Rongrong and told her to absorb it that night.
It was a precaution, too. As the daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's leader, Ning Rongrong had the entire sect and two Titled Douluo behind her, so no villains would dare covet it.
Before long, Flender, Liu Erlong, and Yu Xiaogang returned. They told Jiang Huai that their opponents tomorrow would be Skywater Academy.
Of the Four Elements Academy, Godwind Academy was the strongest, followed by Skywater, Thunderclap, Blazing Fire, and Plant Academy. Tomorrow would be a tough battle.
Jiang Huai told the others to go back and rest before the final qualifying match the next morning. He also reminded his teammates to face tomorrow's match in their best possible condition.
With that, Jiang Huai and the others returned to their dorms to rest. Ning Rongrong absorbed the Illusion Wisdom Skull Bone, while Gu Yue and Xiao Wu guarded her in her room.
Although the academy was the safest place, with three Soul Douluo standing guard, and no one daring to attack them, what if someone came knocking and disturbed her?
So Gu Yue and Xiao Wu stayed highly alert, allowing no one to disturb Ning Rongrong.
Zhu Zhuqing was still working on her Self-Created Soul Skill. Dai Mubai was reading in the dorm, Oscar and Ma Hongjun were sleeping in bed, Tang San was studying Hidden Weapons, and Jiang Huai was reviewing the files submitted by the Shrek Inspection Group and the student council.
After finishing with the files, Jiang Huai handed them to the person who had brought them to him. That person took them and left for the temporary building. Qin Ming was in the office on the top floor, temporarily serving as president until the Spirit Master Tournament ended.
Soon, the next day arrived. Jiang Huai brought his teammates to the Great Soul Arena. There was only one match that day: Shrek versus Skywater Academy.
Now all that remained was to see which seven Jiang Huai would send into the match. Every competing team was waiting for Shrek Academy Team to appear.
Skywater Academy had already chosen its competitors, but the door to Shrek's lounge remained firmly shut.
Inside, Jiang Huai called everyone over and said, "I'm competing this time!"
"What!" x15
Yu Xiaogang objected. "No! You're the trump card of the whole team, Xiaohuai. You're also a level fifty-two Soul King. If you compete, you'll reveal all of our strength."
Jiang Huai smiled and shook his head. "I'll use my Second Martial Soul, but they don't know I have Twin Martial Souls. Besides, I've never revealed what my Martial Soul is."
After some discussion, Shrek's competitors for this match were Jiang Huai, Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Oscar, and Jing Ling.
Once the team had been chosen, the door to Shrek's lounge swung open. Jiang Huai led the competitors out and passed Skywater Academy Team on his way to the waiting area.
The members of the other academies watching from the sidelines began to cheer. Among Skywater Academy's girls, Shui Yue'er in particular watched Jiang Huai walk away with an infatuated look.
Shui Bing'er lightly tapped her younger sister on the head. "What are you staring at?"
Shui Yue'er covered her head. "Sis, look at Shrek Team's captain, Jiang Huai. He's so handsome!"
Shui Bing'er smiled. "Then you'd better not go easy on him later."
After getting ready, Shui Bing'er led her sisters to the waiting area. Jiang Huai and his teammates had just arrived there to await the start of the match.
Flender, Liu Erlong, and Yu Xiaogang took the others who weren't competing to the spectator stands. The arena was packed for today's match, with everyone looking forward to the final qualifying round.
Soon, Emperor Xue Ye, Salas, and Ning Fengzhi took their seats on the judges' panel. Then Dustheart, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's guardian Douluo, the three members of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's education committee, Prince Xue Xing, and Xue Qinghe all took their seats as well.
All the important figures were in place. Dou Dou took a microphone and flew into the air above the arena.
"Open the sunroof!"
With the clatter of machinery, the roof of the Great Soul Arena opened, letting in the sunlight.
Jiang Huai looked at his teammates. "Brothers! Today marks the first step toward claiming the championship. Are you confident?"
"Yes!" x6
The members of Shrek Academy Team were brimming with fighting spirit. All seven members of Skywater Academy Team were girls, but their only loss in the tournament had been to Godwind Academy. Shrek had also yet to lose, though they had forfeited several matches for various reasons. They were still undefeated.
Dou Dou spoke into the microphone. "Competitors, enter the arena!"
At her words, Jiang Huai and Shui Bing'er led their respective teammates into the arena. The two teams faced each other in two rows, full of fighting spirit.
After both teams bowed, Dou Dou waved her hand, flew into the air, and shouted, "Soul Fighting begins!"
With his left hand behind his back, Jiang Huai summoned the Jinxu Longyuan Sword in his right and said coolly, "Brothers! Release your Martial Souls!"
Dai Mubai and the other five did as told and released their Martial Souls. Five Soul Rings floated down around Jiang Huai, appearing beneath his feet in a superlative configuration: two yellow, one purple, and two black.
Terrifying sword qi filled the entire arena. Seeing that Jiang Huai was a Soul King, Shui Bing'er realized they had to change their original strategy. She shouted, "Xue Wu! Ice and Snow Fluttering!"
Xue Wu snapped out of her shock and immediately rushed toward Shui Bing'er, but Jiang Huai wasn't about to let them get their way.
Without using the power of his Soul Rings, Jiang Huai said calmly, "Too slow!"
He casually flicked out a slash of sword qi. It struck Shui Bing'er and sent her flying out of the arena, eliminating her. The shockwave also sent Xue Wu tumbling off the platform.
Everyone watching shivered. The members of the other academy teams felt their hearts sink, thinking how fortunate it was that Jiang Huai hadn't competed in their earlier matches. Otherwise, they would have ended up just like Shui Bing'er and her teammates.
The remaining members of Skywater Academy were still fighting stubbornly. Shui Yue'er used her Soul Skill. "Third Soul Skill: High-Pressure Water Ball!"
Jiang Huai split the water ball in two with an easy swing of his sword. In an instant, he appeared in front of Shui Yue'er, the tip of his sword barely a centimeter from her fair neck. Tears welled in Shui Yue'er's eyes.
Seeing her younger sister's eyes fill with tears, Shui Bing'er shouted, "Skywater Academy surrenders!"
At those words, Dou Dou appeared from nowhere, took Jiang Huai's hand, and raised it above his head. "The champion of this Continental Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament qualifying round is Shrek Academy!"
When Shui Yue'er heard that Shrek had taken first place, she burst into tears and threw herself into her older sister's arms.
Shui Bing'er could only pat her younger sister's back gently to comfort her. She also shot Jiang Huai a resentful glare.
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