Heavenly Water Academy Team

At the very start of the battle, Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, and Tai Long immediately consumed the Excitement Pink Sausages Oscar had given them, gaining a temporary all-around boost to their strength, speed, defense, and other attributes.

Immediately afterward, Oscar, Huang Yuan, Jing Ling, and Jiangzhu quickly consumed Flying Mushroom Sausages together and rose into the air.

Judging from how Kamikaze Academy had defeated Thunder Academy during the preliminary rounds in the original story, as long as they flew high enough and stayed beyond Thunder Academy's casting range, the other side would pose no threat to them.

With that in mind, Huo Yuhao calmly took a sip of mung bean ice slush and continued observing the match with Spiritual Detection.

Tai Long single-handedly held back Lei Jiuzhong, Xiao Yunju, and Lu Chen, relying on his formidable defense to withstand the Thunderclap Academy Team's repeated attacks.

Meanwhile, Zhu Zhuqing used her fourth soul skill—Netherworld Shadow Clone—summoning two clones to fight Lei Tian and Lei Mie separately while she herself battled Lei Dong.

Dai Mubai, meanwhile, was engaged in a captain-versus-captain duel with Yu Tiansin. Their crisp, brutal close-quarters fight gradually drew the audience's attention, and everyone's blood began to boil.

"Wind rolls, rain falls, clouds cover the sun; Dragon Roaming the Nine Heavens, Jade Heaven Thunder."

Facing this self-created thunder-and-rain fusion combat technique of Yu Tiansin's, Dai Mubai merely used the White Tiger Body-Protecting Barrier enhanced by his White Tiger Vajra Transformation to block it.

Seeing Dai Mubai effortlessly stop his self-created combat technique, Yu Tiansin immediately unleashed his strongest attack, determined to settle the matter with Dai Mubai.

"Fourth soul skill, Azure Lightning Divine Dragon Dash!"

A massive blue dragon spiraled forth, then dove straight at Dai Mubai.

"Fourth soul skill, White Tiger Meteor Shower!"

Dai Mubai immediately met it with his strongest attack as well. Golden shooting stars rained down upon the blue dragon, resisting its assault.

In the end, Yu Tiansin ran out of soul power and collapsed weakly to the ground.

At the same time, Tai Long successfully withstood the attacks of the three opponents before him and launched a counterattack. After knocking all three of them to the ground, Tai Long also fell limply onto the floor.

Relying on her speed advantage, Zhu Zhuqing and her clones swiftly defeated the three opponents facing them. She then flashed to Dai Mubai's side and caught him just in time as he staggered.

Seeing this, Oscar, Huang Yuan, Jing Ling, and Jiangzhu immediately flew down from the air. Huang Yuan and Jing Ling then helped Tai Long up from the ground.

Oscar promptly summoned three Great Recovery Sausages for Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, and Tai Long to consume.

At the same time, Jiangzhu activated the Healing Array, providing treatment and recovery for the three exhausted fighters.

"What an excellent strategy of breaking them one by one. Truly a brilliant tactic."

Watching the seven members of the Thunderclap Academy Team fall one after another, referee-host Doudou could not help but praise them.

"I announce that in the third match of the twenty-third round of the preliminary rounds, the Shrek Academy Team is victorious!"

Xue Ye exclaimed, "Shrek Academy truly is remarkable. They actually defeated seven opposing members so easily with only three of their own."

Salas wore a disdainful expression. "The Thunder Academy members were merely arrogant and underestimated their opponents. They failed to make use of their team advantage."

Ning Fengzhi smiled. "It must be said that Shrek Academy's tactical arrangements are indeed ingenious."

Upon hearing this, Gu Rong transmitted his voice to Ning Fengzhi. "There's a good chance that Huo Yuhao arranged these tactics."

Ning Fengzhi glanced at Gu Rong and nodded slightly, indicating his agreement.

After the Shrek Academy Team won three more matches in a row, they reached the final round of the preliminary rounds and were about to face the Heavenly Water Academy Team in the final showdown.

The spectators in the audience area were enthusiastically discussing the final standings of the preliminary rounds.

"The Heaven Dou Imperial Academy Team and the Divine Wind Academy Team both lost only one match out of twenty-six, tying for first among the qualifying teams," one spectator said first.

A spectator beside him continued, "The Shrek Academy Team and the Thunderclap Academy Team both lost two matches out of twenty-six, tying for second."

"But because the Thunderclap Academy Team lost to the Shrek Academy Team, and because there are already two teams tied for first, the Shrek Academy Team is actually ranked third, while the Thunderclap Academy Team is ranked fourth."

A spectator behind them sighed. "What a pity. Because the result of Shrek Academy's match against the Azure Radiance Academy Team was so brutal, they had to forfeit two matches in a row. Otherwise, Shrek Academy would definitely be in first place now."

The first spectator nodded regretfully, then continued.

"The Blazing Fire Academy Team has lost three matches out of twenty-six and ranks fifth. The Heavenly Water Academy Team has lost four matches out of twenty-six and ranks sixth."

The spectator beside him finally said, "The match is about to begin. Let's keep watching."

In the first match of the twenty-seventh round of the preliminary rounds, the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy Team easily defeated the Divine Wind Academy Team and claimed first place among the qualifying teams. The Divine Wind Academy Team lost narrowly and ranked second.

Doudou praised them. "As expected of our Imperial Battle Team. Their lineup is balanced in both offense and defense, and contestant Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphor Snake Venom is exceptionally effective at controlling the field."

She suddenly changed the subject. "Next, let us welcome the undefeated Shrek Academy Team and the beauty-filled Skywater Academy to the stage for an even more exciting match!"

In the next moment, Shui Bing'er, Xue Wu, Shui Yue'er, Qiu Ruoshui, Yu Hairou, Gu Qingbo, and Shen Liuyu of the Heavenly Water Academy Team stepped onto the arena.

At the same time, Dai Mubai, Xie Yue, Oscar, Tai Long, Huang Yuan, Jing Ling, and Jiangzhu of the Shrek Academy Team also took the stage together.

Looking at the soul power levels of the competing contestants displayed on the giant screen, Doudou exclaimed in surprise.

"Heavens! Another Soul King in the Shrek Academy Team! Contestant Xie Yue is actually a level fifty-nine Soul King, the same as contestant Hu Liena. Shrek Academy is truly full of hidden talent!"

Seeing this, Xue Ye's lips curled upward. "I'm even starting to look forward to the Shrek Academy Team winning the championship and bringing glory to Heaven Dou."

Ning Fengzhi clasped his hands and smiled slightly. "Then Ning shall offer Your Majesty his congratulations in advance."

Salas, seated in the vice-chair of the main platform, silently clenched his fists, furrowed his brows, and revealed a fierce expression.

Dugu Bo, seated in the main seat of the VIP section, had not left after watching his granddaughter's match that day. Instead, he remained to watch the next match, only to witness this scene before him.

Two thirteen- or fourteen-year-old genius youths on the verge of reaching the Soul Emperor threshold... Spirit Hall will likely send everything they have this time.

Thinking this, Dugu Bo unconsciously turned his gaze toward a viewing box in the distance, looking through the window at the blue-haired youth sitting leisurely in his seat.

Sensing Dugu Bo's gaze, Huo Yuhao looked back with a smile, then calmly continued peeling grapes for Tang Wulin beside him.

At that moment, Tang Wulin was eating the grapes Huo Yuhao had peeled for him one after another with a satisfied expression.

In the next moment, Doudou suddenly announced, "The second match of the twenty-seventh round of the preliminary rounds, Shrek Academy Team versus Heavenly Water Academy Team—begin!"