When the old locust trees along Shrek's wall sprouted new buds, spring had truly arrived.
Freshly turned earth colored the ridges of fields outside Suotuo City, and the air carried the damp, earthy scent of mud mixed with the bitter freshness of newly grown grass and trees.
The morning sunlight was much warmer than in winter. It shone over the training ground, slowly melting the lingering frost into tiny beads of water.
After morning classes ended that day, Flender made an exception and did not arrange combat training. Instead, he had everyone carry stools to sit beside the training ground.
He stood beneath the flagpole, with newly replaced turf and freshly painted brick walls behind him, and twelve youths in dark green uniforms before him.
"Let's talk about something serious." Flender clasped his hands behind his back. His unusually stern expression made Ma Hongjun swallow the dry ration in his mouth, not daring to keep chewing.
"I asked around about the format of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament. The first stage is the group round. Sixteen teams will be divided into four groups, with the top two from each group advancing to the quarterfinals. After that comes the knockout stage, where one match determines victory or defeat. Lose, and you go straight home."
He swept his gaze across their expressions and continued, "The group-stage draw is blind, which means you might draw a weak team, or you might draw last year's champions in your first match. No matter who your opponents are, win every match you can. Don't try to become fat in one bite. Make sure you qualify from the group first."
"Dean," Ma Hongjun raised his hand, "which team won last year?"
"Heaven Dou Royal Academy." Flender adjusted his glasses. "Unless something unexpected happens, they'll