Thunderclap Academy Team

Zhang Jingyang immediately asked, "Where is Teacher Shi Nian?"

Hu Liena replied, "It seemed like he went to have tea with my master."

Zhang Jingyang immediately understood upon hearing this. "So it really was you who killed Teacher Shi Nian. In that case, that thing should be with you."

A sinister smile appeared on his face. "If so, then die painfully within this illusion."

A gemstone-like, dazzling radiance suddenly burst from Ning Rongrong's forehead, instantly swallowing the shadows behind the seven members of the Shrek Academy Team.

Ning Rongrong snorted. "Since you wanted to kill us, then we'll return the favor. Let you taste the power of your own skill."

"Illusion Wisdom Skull soul bone skill, Illusion Backlash!"

The shadows swallowed by Ning Rongrong's light then appeared behind the seven members of the Azure Radiance Academy Team. Each shadow held a sharp sword, pronouncing the arrival of their deaths.

The seven members of the Azure Radiance Academy Team suffered a mental backlash and ultimately lost their minds, becoming a group of idiots.

Hu Liena used Nine-Tails to attack her six teammates and herself, and blood immediately spilled from the corners of all seven of their mouths. Then, she used Nine-Tails to block in front of herself, clutching her chest as she knelt on one knee.

Once the smoke dispersed, everyone saw the seven members of the Azure Radiance Academy Team collapse to the ground.

The other six members of the Shrek Academy Team were already lying heavily wounded on the ground, leaving only Hu Liena struggling to hold on with Nine-Tails. Blood stained the corners of all seven members' mouths.

Seeing such a brutal outcome, the entire audience erupted in an uproar.

The referee-host's voice trembled slightly. "P-Preliminaries, twelfth round, first match... Shrek Academy Team wins..."

Gu Rong, Ning Fengzhi, and Salas arrived at Shrek Academy to conduct a detailed investigation into the events of this battle on behalf of the tournament committee.

Supported by Tang Wulin, Hu Liena dragged her weak, heavy body and softly tried to explain, "Perhaps they suffered a backlash from their own soul skills and lost their minds?"

The soldier beside them, who had been holding back his laughter all along, finally could not contain himself and burst out laughing.

Salas slammed the table angrily. "Flender! Stop putting on this act together. Shrek Academy committed deliberate murder. I hereby declare your qualification to compete revoked."

"How arbitrary. And you call yourself a Platinum Bishop of Spirit Hall."

The next moment, Huo Yuhao suddenly tossed a token before Salas. Salas immediately caught it, then bowed slightly with a respectful expression.

"This is the Pope's Token! Greetings, Elder. In that case, this investigation is unnecessary. Let this matter end here."

After returning the Pope's Token to Huo Yuhao with both hands, Salas left Shrek Academy.

After Ning Fengzhi and Flender exchanged a glance, he too left Shrek Academy with Gu Rong.

Flender said at last, "Forgive me for not seeing you off."

Liu Erlong asked Huo Yuhao with a puzzled expression, "Where did the Pope's Token come from? Are you really an Elder of Spirit Hall?"

Huo Yuhao shook his head. "Xue Qinghe gave me this token. I merely added a little misdirection to it."

Flender raised his brows. "The Xue Qinghe you mentioned... is that Xue Qinghe?"

Huo Yuhao nodded. "Yes. He is the eldest prince of the Heaven Dou Empire and the current crown prince."

Flender praised, "Impressive. I never expected you to have connections with him."

Huo Yuhao suddenly changed the subject. "Let's forfeit the next two matches."

Flender immediately understood. "That was exactly what I was thinking."

After the Shrek Academy Team forfeited two matches, they won another eight in a row. In their next match, they would face one of the Five Elemental Academies, the Thunderclap Academy Team.

At that moment, people in the audience were discussing among themselves. "Have you heard? Our Heaven Dou City division has gained an additional qualification spot for this tournament."

Another spectator spread his hands. "I also heard that the other divisions of the Heaven Dou Empire each lost a spot because of it."

That spectator continued, "Because the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy Team voluntarily requested to participate in the preliminaries to train their outstanding students, one affiliated kingdom had to lose a qualification spot."

A nearby spectator immediately asked in confusion, "Isn't that a little unfair to the affiliated kingdoms?"

The earlier spectator replied, "Those affiliated kingdoms would be defeated by the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy Team in the end anyway. Besides, was the previous rule of directly advancing teams fair?"

"That makes sense. Let's keep watching, then. Both teams have already taken the stage."

The tournament screen displayed the lineups of both teams to all the spectators present:

Thunderclap Academy Team: Yu Tiansin, Lei Dong, Lei Tian, Lei Mie, Lei Jiuzhong, Xiao Yunju, Lu Chen.

Shrek Academy Team: Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Oscar, Tai Long, Huang Yuan, Jing Ling, Jiangzhu.

Host Doudou exclaimed in surprise, "Facing the undefeated Thunderclap Academy Team this time, the Shrek Academy Team actually did not send out contestant Hu Liena, a Soul King. Are they looking down on the Thunderclap Academy Team?"

The podium and VIP area.

Ning Fengzhi smiled. "Shrek Academy truly has the skill to back up its boldness."

Xue Ye also laughed upon hearing this. "This Shrek Academy is indeed rather interesting."

Liu Erlong looked worried. "Can Mubai and the others win?"

Flender adjusted his glasses. "I believe Mubai and the others can definitely do it."

A private box in the audience stands.

Tang Wulin was sitting on Huo Yuhao's lap, leisurely eating osmanthus cakes.

"Brother Yuhao's Spiritual Detection Sharing is amazing. I don't even need to look at the arena to know every change happening on the field."

Huo Yuhao fanned Tang Wulin with a folding fan as he replied with a smile, "That's right. You can take in every movement on the field."

Xie Yue asked, "Master, when can I take the field?"

Huo Yuhao answered, "Soon. Before long, we'll be facing Skywater Academy, and you'll go on then."

Ma Hongjun stepped forward and said, "Why not let me deal with Skywater Academy? My fire attribute can perfectly counter their ice attribute."

Tang Wulin took a sip of mung bean shaved ice and explained, "The drawback of your limited attack range is too obvious. If you go on first and expose your strength, you'll definitely be targeted in later matches."

Huo Yuhao nodded. "Skywater Academy excels at ground control, and they lack powerful offensive strength. That is why I plan to have Xie Yue use his powerful attacks to end the fight quickly."

Hu Liena suddenly understood. "Brother's martial soul is the Moon Blade. Even if he is affected by Skywater Academy's control-type soul skills, the Moon Blade will not stop attacking."

Ning Rongrong praised, "Yuhao, you really are incredible. Your planning is far too meticulous."

Host Doudou made the final announcement. "Preliminaries, twenty-third round, third match: Thunderclap Academy Team versus Shrek Academy Team. Match start!"