The stands roared with noise, cheers and discussions rising and falling as they rang across the entire Shrek freshman competition arena.
Su Ming turned his gaze toward the ring. The battle there had just come to an end, and the team formed by Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao had claimed the first victory of the Freshman Grand Competition.
The young men and women who had just finished fighting were slightly out of breath, yet still stood tall.
Su Ming saw clearly how Huo Yuhao had used his exquisite Spirit Detection to pinpoint his opponent's opening, coordinating it with a modified, finely crafted Soul Tool.
One precise strike sent the opponent flying. The tactics were crisp, the timing exact, and not a single movement was wasted.
Watching half of his student steadily grow, a hint of approval appeared in Su Ming's eyes. He couldn't help giving a slight nod, privately acknowledging Huo Yuhao's progress.
But this feeling lasted only a moment. He abruptly came back to himself, remembering the real reason he had come to watch the Freshman Grand Competition today.
It wasn't simply to observe Huo Yuhao's team compete. He had come to find an angel investor.
At that thought, Su Ming immediately withdrew his gaze and slowly scanned the densely packed rings and crowds around him, as though deliberately searching for someone.
The old rogue Xuan Zi took in his every move. Curiosity written all over his face, he leaned over and asked with a teasing lilt:
"Hey, why are you looking all over the place? Instead of watching the matches properly, what are you searching for?"
Su Ming paid no attention to Xuan Zi's teasing. His gaze continued to roam across the arena.
After a moment, he turned to Teacher Wang Yan, who was beside him and responsible for coordinating order at the examination grounds. In a calm, polite voice, he asked, "Teacher Wang, do you know which examination area Ning Tian is competing in?"
Wang Yan paused at the question, then realized who Su Ming meant. After thinking for a moment, he replied warmly:
"You mean Ning Tian of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? Her team is competing in examination area seven, in the southeastern part of the arena. Head that way and you'll see it."
"Thank you, Teacher Wang."
Su Ming nodded his thanks, then turned and headed straight for examination area seven in the southeast.
A fierce match had just ended at examination area seven. The students gathered to watch had yet to disperse, and the place was still noisy.
Su Ming walked over at an unhurried pace and swept his gaze around. He happened to catch the final moment of Ning Tian's team's victory.
The three girls who had just finished fighting were breathing unevenly, their Soul Power still unsettled. Their hair was slightly disheveled, and their clothes bore traces of dust from the match, yet none of it could conceal their striking presence.
Just as Ning Tian, Wu Feng, and Nanmen Yun'er were recovering and preparing to leave the ring, a composed figure slowly approached them.
"Congratulations on your first victory."
Su Ming spoke in an even, easygoing tone, taking the initiative to greet them.
A clear, warm male voice suddenly sounded beside them. The three girls, who had just finished their match, stopped at once and turned to look.
The instant Ning Tian recognized Su Ming, her clear eyes lit up, surprise and delight flashing across them.
She had come to compete today with something weighing on her mind.
Ever since entering Shrek Outer Court, she, as the young sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, had followed her father's instructions.
She was supposed to befriend some of the Outer Court's top talents and build connections for the sect. Su Ming was one of the core geniuses the sect had specifically singled out and was eager to recruit.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had a thorough intelligence network and had long since learned all about Su Ming. Born a commoner with no sect backing, he had nevertheless carved out a formidable reputation for himself in Shrek, where geniuses abounded. His combat strength was astonishing and his talent exceptional, making him one of the most promising young powerhouses to befriend and recruit.
Especially since, three months ago, she had witnessed with her own eyes the battle that had shaken the entire Outer Court. With the cultivation of a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor,
he had faced a Six-Ring Soul Emperor head-on and crushed him, becoming a legend in a single battle. That had completely settled Ning Tian's resolve to befriend and recruit Su Ming.
She had just been wondering when she could find a natural opportunity to approach him and start a conversation. Never in her wildest dreams had she expected Su Ming to come to her before she had made a move.
In Ning Tian's eyes, it was practically a gift from heaven.
Delighted, Ning Tian quickly composed herself, then raised a hand to straighten her slightly disheveled clothes and hair.
She put herself to rights, brushed off her post-match fatigue, and wore a gentle smile that was just right as she stepped half a pace forward.
Nanmen Yun'er, standing beside her, was gentle and courteous by nature. Seeing this, she gave a slight bow and respectfully greeted Su Ming, her bearing dignified and graceful, befitting a disciple of a prominent sect.
Wu Feng, however, was a world apart.
The girl's features were sharp, and the fierce edge of the match still clung to her. Her eyes fixed on Su Ming as he walked toward them.
They were filled with undisguised hostility and wariness, and her whole bearing bristled with an unmistakable keep-away-from-me air.
Seeing Wu Feng's hostility, Su Ming's mind filled with question marks.
He grumbled inwardly, Come on, girl. This is basically our first proper meeting. What did I ever do to you?
I came all this way because I need to talk to Ning Tian. I'm not stealing your resources or trying to steal the spotlight, and I'm certainly not competing with you for anything. That hostile glare of yours has me completely baffled.
Su Ming thought for a moment, then suddenly remembered why Wu Feng stayed glued to Ning Tian, guarded her fiercely, and seemed so hostile toward him. She had a thing for Ning Tian.
Su Ming mused to himself that Wu Feng's jealousy was spilling over like an overturned vinegar jar. Her possessiveness toward Ning Tian was far too intense. Any man who got close to Ning Tian was treated as a potential threat.
Honestly, watching the two beautiful girls acting so close, inseparable as shadows, and seeing Wu Feng's fiercely possessive protectiveness, gave the whole scene a decidedly strange air.
Leaving aside the fact that they were both girls, Ning Tian's status as the young sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect alone meant that her life, marriage, and connections were all under the sect's control. There was no way she could simply follow her heart.
No matter how deep their bond was, the sect elders would never allow such an improper relationship.
As the young sect master of the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect, Ning Tian was perceptive. She immediately noticed the intensely hostile look Wu Feng was giving Su Ming.
She followed Wu Feng's gaze toward Su Ming and was at once filled with helplessness, her head aching.
She knew Wu Feng's nature all too well: fiercely loyal and fiercely protective. It was only this one trait that left her at a loss.
Whenever a young, talented man approached her, Wu Feng instinctively grew hostile, keeping her guard up and taking aim at him at every turn.
But the two of them had grown up together from childhood, their bond deep and sisterly. Ning Tian simply couldn't bring herself to scold or blame her.
Left with no other choice, Ning Tian gave Su Ming an apologetic smile and said softly, "Senior Su Ming, I'm truly sorry. Feng'er has just finished a grueling match, and she's still worked up. If she was rude or offended you, please let me apologize on her behalf."
As she spoke, Ning Tian turned her head and gave Wu Feng a subtle look, a silent warning and reminder.
Wu Feng was perceptive and understood Ning Tian's hint at once.
She also knew perfectly well that winning Su Ming over would greatly benefit both them and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Moreover, no one in the entire Outer Court could match Su Ming's current strength and potential. She had witnessed his abilities herself; he was unquestionably a top genius worth befriending.
But no matter how much sense it made, she couldn't suppress the jealousy and resentment in her heart.
She simply couldn't stand it when an unfamiliar man went out of his way to approach Ning Tian.
But under Ning Tian's steady, meaningful gaze, Wu Feng finally bit her lip and reined in her bristling hostility, though she remained deeply reluctant.
She silently took half a step back and returned to Ning Tian's side. Even so, her eyes stayed fixed on Su Ming, never letting down her guard.