Long Tian, Tianshui Team Captain—Target: Champion!

Not long after.

Tianshui Academy's main square.

Several hundred students hurried over from all directions and assembled neatly beneath the raised platform.

Their blue uniforms blended together like the surface of a clear lake.

Shui Yue'er, Xue Wu, Yu Hairou, and the other members of the Tianshui Team all stood at the front of the crowd.

Everyone was still discussing the Annihilating Ice Phoenix Dance from earlier.

"Why did Senior Bing'er suddenly gather everyone? What could it be about?"

"Could it have something to do with that fusion soul skill just now?"

"The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament is about to begin. She's probably announcing the competition arrangements."

Amid the discussion, Shui Bing'er stepped onto the platform.

Her pale blue dress fluttered gently in the wind, while her water-blue hair fell to her waist.

Her delicate face looked especially pure and beautiful beneath the sunlight.

The crowd below quickly fell silent.

"The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament is about to begin."

"Tianshui Academy has always had me as its captain."

"This time, I have made a new decision."

The students all looked seriously toward the platform.

Shui Bing'er paused briefly.

"Starting today, I will relinquish my position as captain of the Tianshui Team."

The moment she said this, the square erupted in uproar.

Shui Yue'er's eyes widened.

"Big Sister is giving up the captaincy?"

Xue Wu was equally astonished.

"Within Tianshui Academy, who could be more suited to be captain than Bing'er?"

"Could it be..."

Almost at the same moment, countless gazes turned toward the edge of the square.

Long Tian stood beneath an ancient tree covered in snow.

His white robes stirred lightly in the wind, and his black hair draped over his shoulders.

Sunlight shone upon his flawless, handsome face, while his Nine-Colored Double Pupils gleamed like stars.

The mingled nobility and charm about him gradually quieted the surrounding students.

Shui Bing'er also looked toward the white-robed figure.

"Long Tian, please come up."

A trace of surprise flashed through Long Tian's eyes.

Shui Bing'er had never mentioned this arrangement before.

Still, beneath the gazes of several hundred people, Long Tian calmly walked onto the platform.

The female students along the way all stepped aside to make room for him.

Countless eyes followed the white-robed figure.

"He looks even better up close."

"If Long Tian becomes captain, who would object?"

"Just based on that Annihilating Ice Phoenix Dance earlier, the captain's position should belong to him."

Long Tian came to Shui Bing'er's side.

"So this is what you wanted to announce?"

Shui Bing'er nodded.

"The Tianshui Team needs to be led by the strongest person."

"Your strength, judgment, and support abilities are all above mine."

"You are the most suitable person for the captain's position."

Long Tian looked down at the crowd.

"You never mentioned this before."

"If I had told you in advance, you might not have agreed."

Shui Bing'er looked earnestly at the man beside her.

"Now that everyone is here, you can't just leave directly."

Long Tian smiled faintly.

"So Bing'er knows how to scheme too."

"This isn't scheming."

Shui Bing'er's cheeks reddened slightly.

"It's just not giving you the chance to refuse."

Hearing their exchange, everyone below immediately smiled.

Shui Bing'er stepped forward.

"Long Tian has not been at Tianshui Academy for long."

"But everyone has already witnessed his strength firsthand."

"A level thirty-five Soul Elder, a ten-thousand-year third soul ring, and a Rainbow Dragon martial soul."

"Whether in individual strength or team enhancement, no one at Tianshui Academy can surpass him."

"The Annihilating Ice Phoenix Dance just now also proved that his support can allow the Ice Phoenix to unleash power far beyond its limits."

Shui Bing'er swept her gaze across the crowd.

"Does anyone object to Long Tian succeeding as captain of the Tianshui Team?"

The square fell quiet for a moment.

Shui Yue'er was the first to raise her slender hand.

"Yue'er has no objections!"

"Long Tian is the strongest, so of course he is the most qualified to be captain!"

Xue Wu spoke immediately afterward.

"The Tianshui Team values strength."

"Long Tian can lead us to become stronger. He fully deserves to be captain."

Yu Hairou nodded as well.

"I agree."

The students in the front rows voiced their support one after another.

"Long Tian is the most suitable!"

"Tianshui Academy needs a captain like him!"

"No one is more qualified than Long Tian!"

More and more students joined in.

Several hundred people called Long Tian's name in unison.

"Long Tian!"

"Long Tian!"

"Long Tian!"

Fair arms rose one after another, and blue skirts swayed lightly with their movements.

Bright gazes all focused on the handsome man atop the platform.

Shui Bing'er stepped back half a pace, yielding the center of the platform to him.

Long Tian looked at the crowd below and did not decline any further.

"Since everyone is willing to trust me, I accept the position of captain."

Cheers throughout the square grew even more fervent.

Long Tian raised his right hand.

The students quickly quieted down.

"The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament gathers the finest young soul masters from across the continent."

"Spirit Hall, the two great empires, and the other advanced soul master academies will all send out their strongest teams."

"Tianshui Academy has achieved respectable results in the past."

"But this time, respectable results will not be enough."

Nine-colored divine light slowly rose from Long Tian's body.

The enormous phantom of a Rainbow Dragon spread its wings behind the platform.

Sacred dragon might enveloped the entire square.

Standing within the nine-colored divine light, Long Tian's handsome face appeared even more noble.

"Since we are entering the competition, there is only one goal."

"Champion."

Those two short words set the hearts of everyone below ablaze.

Shui Yue'er was the first to wave her arm.

"Tianshui will prevail!"

Xue Wu and the others raised their right hands at the same time.

"Tianshui will prevail!"

Several hundred students shouted in unison.

"Tianshui will prevail!"

"Long Tian!"

"Long Tian!"

The cheers spread throughout Tianshui Academy.

Countless gazes filled with admiration and anticipation fell upon the new captain.

Long Tian stood at the center of the platform as the Nine-Colored Divine Dragon circled the heavens.

"In this Soul Master Tournament."

"I will lead Tianshui Academy to claim the championship!"

At the same time.

Shrek Academy.

The charred marks on the damaged training ground remained clearly visible.

Shattered ice crystals lay scattered everywhere, glimmering with a pale blue sheen beneath the sunlight.

Everyone from the academy had gathered inside a wooden cabin.

No one took the initiative to speak.

That previous battle kept replaying in Tang San's mind.

The Nine-Colored Divine Dragon descended, and with martial soul pressure alone, it had rendered the White Tiger, Netherworld Spirit Cat, and Evil Fire Phoenix incapable of resisting.

After receiving support, Shui Bing'er had used only one soul skill to lock down every member of Shrek.

The Bluesilver Grass, Mysterious Heaven Technique, and Tang Sect hidden weapons he had been so proud of had been utterly useless before the Ultimate Ice.

Throughout the entire battle, Shrek had been suppressed from beginning to end.

Tang San lowered his hands.

"Why did we lose so badly?"

"When Long Tian left the academy, he clearly did not have this kind of strength yet."

"In only three months, he obtained a ten-thousand-year third soul ring."

The more he recalled it, the more stifled Tang San felt.

Oscar sat in a corner, his expression gloomy.

"We lost."

"And we lost completely."

"The seven of us joined forces, yet we couldn't even block one move from Shui Bing'er."

Dai Mubai slammed his palm onto the table.

Bang!

The already old wooden table immediately cracked in several places.

"So what if we lost one match?"

"Why are you all hanging your heads like this?"

"Long Tian is only ahead for now. Once we cultivate further, we'll win it back sooner or later!"