The Battle Was About to Begin

"You had that much confidence in Xiao San?"

"Of course. He had learned most of my abilities. If he could not even handle something like this, how could he secure his position as the team's most reliable commander?"

Thinking it over, Flender suddenly felt that it really did make sense. As expected of Xiaogang. No wonder he had said "an average of Soul Elders" before. One Soul Ancestor and six Soul Elders—averaged out, that was indeed an average of Soul Elders.

"As expected of you, Wisdom Horn!"

"Hmph!"

Yu Xiaogang snorted and unconsciously clasped his hands behind his back, further elevating his imposing aura and fully displaying the bearing of a master.

Watching him act like that, Zhao Wuji clenched his fists, but eventually loosened them again. He felt that ever since Yu Xiaogang had arrived, Headmaster Flender had been acting strangely. He agreed with Yu Xiaogang on many decisions without even thinking them through. It was simply unreasonable.

"Xiao Wu, that Yun Tian you mentioned does not seem to be in the Imperial Battle Team. Could he have just been passing through?"

Rather than preparing in a hurry, Ning Rongrong moved closer to Xiao Wu and spoke with an eager, gossiping expression.

Xiao Wu nodded, looking somewhat disappointed. She had even hoped Yun Tian would be part of the Imperial Battle Team, but Yu Xiaogang had not mentioned him at all. With Yun Tian's talent, there was no way he could have been overlooked.

"Honestly, I was hoping that big brother would appear in the Imperial Battle Team too. I do not think that master's strategy is very useful. Everything he said is based on the other side underestimating us."

"But what if they do not underestimate us? How are we supposed to fight then?"

Ning Rongrong curled her lips. She had never believed Yu Xiaogang from beginning to end. And Tang San had even absorbed a white first Soul Ring. With that level of intelligence, even if he were cured, he would still drool. How was he qualified to take command?

Meanwhile, Tang San, whom she had been badmouthing, was seriously checking his realgar wine. With this dosage, combined with Fatty's flames, it would be enough to eliminate the enemy's large-scale poison.

"Hmph, it looks like the Imperial Battle Team is not much after all. Teacher only mentioned a few of them. The others do not seem worth worrying about!"

Time slowly passed.

As a bright full moon rose high in the night sky, the most important match of the evening at the Soto Great Spirit Arena was about to begin.

"Xiao San, this is all your teacher can do for you. Whether you can salvage your image depends entirely on this battle!"

"Good luck, little monsters! This headmaster bet more than half his savings on you!"

Hearing Flender's shout, Zhao Wuji froze for a moment before asking, "Headmaster, you bet all your savings on Shrek?"

"What, you bet too? I knew Shrek's teachers would not disappoint me!"

"No, I put a little on the Imperial Battle Team."

Flender's face darkened. Funding the enemy right in front of him, the headmaster? Zhao Wuji clearly had a death wish!

On the Imperial Battle Team's side.

"Yan Yan, when you use your poison later, make sure to watch Tang San's movements. He is the one in the ugly blue outfit."

"Shi Mo, once the battle starts, the two of you immediately surround Lingling. No matter who comes over, do not get drawn into a fight. Yu Feng, use your flight to pass information to Yan Yan."

"Yu Tianheng, you... forget it. Just do whatever you want. I can cover for you anyway."

"What do you mean by that?!"

Yu Tianheng's face turned bright red. Yun Tian's words were like a blade driven straight into his pride. It was far too insulting. Everyone else had such clear roles, yet when it came to him, Yun Tian was this perfunctory?

This was definitely retaliation!

"Xiaotian is right. We will do everything his way. As for you, Tianheng, make sure you control your emotions. Do not lose your head!"

"I know. Hmph!"

Qin Ming looked at Flender and Zhao Wuji in the transparent spectator seats opposite them, his face filled with emotion. But when he spotted Yu Xiaogang, his expression became puzzled.

Who was that man? How could he be standing beside Headmaster Flender?

"Alright! The next team spirit battle will absolutely be the most exciting match of the night! Please welcome the Imperial Battle Team from Heaven Dou City, who have been on a winning streak lately!"

"And next, Suotuo City's greatest local dark horse, the recently unstoppable Shrek Team!"

Supervisor Ao personally took the stage to provide commentary. Then, seven figures slowly stepped onto the spirit arena from each side.

On the left, Shrek Academy was led by Dai Mubai, followed by Tang San and Ma Hongjun, with the girls behind them.

On the right, Yun Tian, handsome and carrying a sharp spear-like intent, took the lead. Behind him came Dugu Yan and Yu Tianheng, followed by Ye Lingling and the others.

"Go, Imperial Battle Team! I bet my entire fortune on you!"

"Go, Shrek Team!"

Listening to some of the cheers from the audience, Supervisor Ao's expression turned extremely grim. Nearly all the spectators had bet on the Imperial Battle Team, creating completely one-sided odds.

If they won, he might not be able to keep his position as supervisor!

"Shrek Team, you had better pull yourselves together!"

On the stage.

Dai Mubai, who had been brimming with confidence just moments earlier, saw that the enemy's leader was actually a pretty boy and immediately sneered in disdain.

He had thought the so-called Imperial Battle Team would be formidable. Their leader was just a pretty boy?

"Kid, those two chicks on your team are not bad. Give them to me, and I will go easier on you later!"

"Yun Tian?!"

Unlike Dai Mubai's contempt, Tang San stood there completely dumbfounded. That facial outline, that familiar aura—if that was not Yun Tian, then who was it?

Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing behind him were also stunned. The captain of the Imperial Battle Team was actually the Yun Tian Xiao Wu had mentioned?

"Xiao Wu! That big brother is actually the captain of the Imperial Battle Team! What should I do? I want to join their side now!"

"Rongrong, let us finish the fight first. The aura around him feels dangerous to me!"

Zhu Zhuqing quietly warned her. Yun Tian was clearly not deliberately releasing any overwhelming presence, yet he gave her the feeling of a cat with its fur standing on end.

"Hmph, a pretty boy?"

Yun Tian did not care about Dai Mubai's words. Since they were going to trade trash talk now, he would not hold back either.

"A lecherous tiger, a limp chicken, and a sausage brat. Tang San, how did you end up hanging around with this bunch of weaklings and cripples?"

"What?! Kid, say that again!"

Dai Mubai was the first to lose his temper. As the announcement to begin rang out, he immediately shouted, "Brothers, release your Martial Souls!"

"Dai Mubai, you!"

Tang San had still been reeling from Yun Tian's insults, but Dai Mubai had already lost his head. Seeing everyone release their Martial Souls, he could only force himself to join them.

"Dai Mubai, Martial Soul White Tiger, level thirty-eight Battle Soul Elder!"

Three Soul Rings—yellow, yellow, and purple—rose beneath his feet. A phantom White Tiger appeared behind him, and the pressure of a Soul Elder surged toward the seven members of the Imperial Battle Team.