On Shrek Academy's side, Dai Mubai took the lead, a chilling gleam in his evil eyes as he stared fixedly at the passage opposite them.
Ma Hongjun followed at his side, the usual grin gone from his round face, fighting spirit blazing in his small eyes.
Tang San stood in the middle, his steps steady as his calm gaze swept over the arena and their opponents.
Zhu Zhuqing trailed slightly behind them like a cool, shadowy figure. Her catlike eyes were lowered, and she made no eye contact with Dai Mubai.
The three substitutes, Huang Yuan, Tai Long, and Jiang Zhu, followed close behind, their tense expressions tinged with excitement.
On the other side, the seven members of Canghui Academy filed out. Clad in matching moon-white robes, they moved with the orderly air of an academy team.
Melida walked at the front. Her red hair seemed like burning flames beneath the lights. With her chin slightly raised and her gaze level, she looked less like she was here to compete and more like she was here to inspect the place.
The other six Canghui Academy members stood beside her.
The two sides stopped in the center of the arena, twenty meters apart.
The referee was a tall Soul Emperor with a grave presence. He swept a stern gaze across both teams. "Bow to each other. This is not a death match, so stop before things go too far. Prepare—"
Dai Mubai stared at Melida and forced out a few words through clenched teeth. "Melida, do you remember me?"
Melida looked Dai Mubai over twice, and genuine confusion flashed through her amber eyes.
This face... looked a little familiar, but she truly could not recall where she had seen him.
Over the past few years, she had either been cultivating, fighting,