Dai Mubai had just mustered the courage to stand tall when a tidal wave of boos crashed over him.
Tens of thousands of spectators in the stands erupted.
A royal succession struggle was far more gripping than an ordinary fight. And just days ago, on this very stage, Spirit Hall's acting Pope had publicly castrated the second prince of the Star Luo Empire.
That scandal, with all its sordid appeal, had spread across Spirit City like wildfire.
Seeing a prince brought so low also gave the spectators a private sense of superiority.
Now Dai Mubai was not only alive but walking at the head of Shrek's team as though nothing had happened. The pointing fingers and laughter from the stands threatened to shake the Great Soul Arena apart.
He had forced himself to put on a brave face today, presenting himself as a Soul Ancestor.
But no one was talking about his strength. They were all wondering what, if anything, remained in his trousers.
On the other side of the stage, the Seven Treasures Team had long been waiting.
Ning Rongrong stood at the front in a lavish gown with a dark edge to its style. She looked Dai Mubai up and down, taking in his slightly stiff gait, then laughed without bothering to hide the contempt in her eyes.
"A castrated, sickly cat still dares to enter the ring." Ning Rongrong toyed with a lock of hair draped over her chest, her voice clear and cutting.
"Shrek Academy must truly be out of options if it has to drag a eunuch like you out here to make up the numbers."
A vein jumped on Dai Mubai's forehead, and a tearing pain shot through the wound at the top of his thigh.
He clenched his teeth, swallowed his anguish, and