The stands buzzed with discussion, while gamblers who had bet on Heaven Dou Team Two cursed and tore their betting slips to pieces.
Those who had followed the tournament from the very beginning, however, now looked at the standings with complicated feelings.
Canghui Academy had stunned the entire arena with its seven-in-one formation in its opening match. Though it had subsequently lost to Tianshui, Kamikaze, and Blazing Fire, its record of twenty-four victories was proof enough of its strength.
Shrek Academy had suffered a crushing defeat in its opening match and had once been expected never to recover. Yet its students had gritted their teeth and fought their way through, match after match. With twenty-three wins and four losses, they had stepped over Thunderclap Academy's corpse to seize the final qualifying spot.
Now, in Canghui Academy's preparation area, Shi Nian's aged face was wreathed in smiles.
Basking in triumph? That hardly covered it.
He was practically carried away by his own success.
He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the standings. It lingered on Shrek Academy's name for a moment, and a meaningful smile curled his lips.
Then his gaze turned toward Shrek Academy's preparation area a short distance away.
There, Flender was directing the students to pack up their belongings, a smile on his face as well.
They had qualified. How could he not be happy?
But happy as Flender was, the moment he caught sight of Shi Nian's expression out of the corner of his eye, half his smile collapsed. "What's that old bastard grinning about?" he muttered venomously.
Liu Erlong glanced at him without speaking and merely sighed softly.
She knew what was making Flender angry.
Back in the Star Dou Great Forest, Zhao Wuji had put Shi Nian so firmly in