Preliminaries Begin!

Tiandou City, Soul Arena.

Today, the Tiandou Grand Soul Arena was several times livelier than usual.

Outside the towering circular arena, the crowds were like a sea, with spectators from all over arriving early.

Nobles, merchants, Spirit Masters, and commoners—nearly everyone had their eyes fixed on this Entire Continent High-Level Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament.

This was the stage for young Spirit Masters.

It was also an opportunity for the great academies to display their foundations.

At the center of the arena, the host's impassioned voice boomed from the massive Soul Guidance Megaphone.

"The Entire Continent High-Level Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament, Heaven Dou Division preliminaries, officially begins today!"

Cheers erupted like crashing waves.

In the VIP stands, Emperor Xue Ye sat in the center, with Ning Fengzhi and Salas seated on either side.

Meanwhile, in the competitors' passageway, a team clad in green uniforms slowly emerged.

Shrek Academy.

Dai Mubai walked at the front, his expression steady.

Tang San stood in the center of the team, calmly sweeping his gaze across the arena.

Xiao Wu followed at his side, looking eagerly around.

Ma Hongjun muttered under his breath:

"With so many people watching, even I'm getting a little nervous."

Oscar chuckled.

"Are you nervous, or are you itching to show off?"

Ma Hongjun puffed out his chest.

"Of course I want to show off."

Ning Rongrong shook her head helplessly.

Zhu Zhuqing said nothing, her gaze remaining cool and composed.

Yu Xiaogang stood in the shadows of the passageway and reminded them quietly:

"Remember, the preliminaries are only the beginning. Don't reveal all your strength too soon."

Tang San nodded.

"Teacher, I understand."

Their opponent today was not particularly strong.

But Shrek's goal had never been merely to win one match. It was to go all the way to the end.

On the other side of the Soul Arena, the Tiandou Royal Academy Second Team had already taken the field.

Once both sides were in position and the referee loudly announced the rules, the match officially began.

"Summon your Martial Souls!"

In an instant, Soul Ring light flared one after another.

Three Soul Rings—Two Yellows and One Purple—shone beneath Tang San's feet. Blue Silver Grass grew from his palm and swiftly spread across the arena.

Dai Mubai activated White Tiger Possession, his aura turning ferocious.

Xiao Wu's figure was light and nimble, her pink Soul Rings glowing as she prepared to charge at any moment.

The match began quickly and ended even faster.

Tang San gave his opponents almost no chance.

Blue Silver Grass bound, pulled, and sealed them in.

Dai Mubai suppressed them head-on.

Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing rapidly broke into their formation.

In only a few moments, the Tiandou Royal Academy Second Team's formation completely collapsed.

When the last member was bound by Blue Silver Grass and the referee declared Shrek Academy the victor, cries of astonishment erupted throughout the Soul Arena.

"What academy is that?"

"Shrek? I've never heard of them before!"

"They won that quickly?"

In the VIP stands, approval flashed through Ning Fengzhi's eyes.

"This team is not simple."

Salas narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze settling on Tang San.

"A Control System Spirit Master with Blue Silver Grass as his Martial Soul, yet he can use it to such an extent..."

On the stage, Xiao Wu skipped back to Tang San's side with a grin.

"Brother, that was so easy."

Tang San shook his head.

"It was only the first match. They weren't prepared."

Dai Mubai said in a deep voice as well:

"The truly strong teams have yet to appear."

Xiao Wu curled her lips.

"Like Spirit Hall Academy?"

At the mention of that name, everyone fell silent for a moment.

Spirit Hall Academy was an existence no competing team could avoid.

Especially Spirit Hall's Golden Generation, whose reputation had long spread far and wide.

Tang San's eyes narrowed slightly.

"If our goal is the championship, we'll meet them eventually."

Xiao Wu did not reply.

Yet another figure from three years ago surfaced in her mind.

Gu Changsheng.

He should be representing Spirit Hall in the tournament too, right?

Elsewhere.

Spirit City, Pope Palace Side Hall.

Before a massive crystal Soul Guidance screen, several members of the Spirit Hall Academy Team were watching recordings of matches from the Heaven Dou Division.

Yan leaned against the back of his chair, holding a piece of fruit as he ate and commented:

"This Tiandou Royal Academy Second Team is way too weak. Their formation falls apart at the slightest touch."

Xie Yue stood nearby, but his gaze remained fixed on Tang San.

"It's not that the other side is too weak. That Control System Spirit Master has an accurate grasp of the rhythm."

Hu Liena nodded gently.

"For Blue Silver Grass to be used to this extent is indeed rare."

Yan was unconvinced.

"No matter what, it's still Blue Silver Grass. How strong can it be?"

Gu Changsheng said nothing.

His eyes remained fixed on Tang San in the image.

Blue Silver Grass, battlefield control, judgment, composure.

Even though Tang San had not yet fully matured, he had already displayed an exceptionally strong talent for the Control System.

More importantly, he still had not revealed his Clear Sky Hammer.

And his Hidden Weapons.

Gu Changsheng slowly spoke:

"Don't underestimate him."

Yan froze.

"Junior Brother, do you really think that Blue Silver Grass is impressive?"

Gu Changsheng nodded.

"He isn't an ordinary Control System Spirit Master."

"Judging from the first match, his use of Blue Silver Grass is very mature. It can restrict, pull, and protect his teammates."

"His team won so quickly not because of any individual burst of strength, but because he completely controlled the tempo."

Xie Yue glanced at Gu Changsheng.

"You think he's like you—the brain of the team?"

Gu Changsheng answered calmly:

"At least for now, that seems to be the case."

Hu Liena looked thoughtful.

"Shrek Academy... I haven't heard much about them before."

Gu Changsheng said:

"That is exactly why they are worth noticing."

Yan scratched his head.

"But we can only meet them in the Finals, right? Isn't it too early to study them now?"

Gu Changsheng shook his head.

"It isn't too early."

"A true opponent should be recorded from the moment their first match begins."

He raised his hand, and the Myriad Heaven Book appeared.

Its pages flipped open automatically. Every move Tang San made on the crystal screen was recorded one by one through Mental Power.

[Target: Tang San.]

[Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass.]

[Classification: Control System.]

[Traits: Calm, strong tactical awareness, skilled at manipulating formations.]

[Preliminary threat level: High.]

Gu Changsheng looked at the information on the page, his gaze deepening slightly.

Shrek had already appeared.

That meant the tournament's true main storyline had officially begun.

Hu Liena walked to his side and asked softly:

"Junior Brother, do you care a lot about this Tang San?"

Gu Changsheng did not deny it.

"He may become the greatest variable on our path to the championship."

Yan looked shocked.

"More troublesome than the Tiandou Royal Academy First Team?"

"More troublesome than them."

Gu Changsheng answered directly.

Xie Yue's eyes narrowed.

"Why?"

Gu Changsheng looked toward the Shrek Seven Monsters, who were leaving the stage in the image.

"Tiandou Royal Academy's strength lies in its resources and lineup."

"Shrek's strength lies in its potential for growth."

"They may not be the strongest right now, but after every match, they will become harder to deal with."

Hu Liena's eyes flickered.

"You know them very well?"

Gu Changsheng's expression remained natural.

"I understand Control System Spirit Masters."

The statement was half true and half false, yet reasonable enough.

At that moment, Xiao Wu in the image suddenly turned around, as though she sensed something, and looked toward the spectator stands.

Gu Changsheng's gaze paused slightly.

After three years apart, Xiao Wu had grown up considerably.

Her face was still radiant, and her eyes remained just as lively.

But she would never know that, far away in Spirit City, someone was watching her through the match footage.

Hu Liena keenly noticed Gu Changsheng's pause.

Following his gaze, she looked at Xiao Wu.

"That girl is special too?"

Gu Changsheng withdrew his gaze.

"Agility Attack close combat. Her burst power is decent."

Hu Liena smiled faintly.

"Only that?"

Gu Changsheng replied calmly:

"At least for now."

Yan said carelessly from the side:

"Junior Brother, if you really think they're troublesome, then when we meet them in the Finals, I'll be the first one up to burn them."

Xie Yue said calmly:

"You'd better make sure you don't get tangled up by Blue Silver Grass first."

Yan immediately bristled.

"Can mere Blue Silver Grass really trap me?"

Gu Changsheng glanced at him.

"If it's ordinary Blue Silver Grass, no."

"But if poison is added, its toughness is enhanced, the terrain is used to advantage, and it's combined with teammates' attacks, then maybe not."

Yan opened his mouth, then finally snorted.

"Then I'll add Break Control to my training from now on."

Gu Changsheng nodded.

"That's exactly what you should do."

Hu Liena chuckled softly.

"It seems our training direction will change again."

Gu Changsheng closed the Myriad Heaven Book.

"It isn't changing."

"We're beginning to prepare for real opponents."

Meanwhile.

Outside the Tiantou Great Soul Arena.

The Shrek Seven Monsters had just finished their first match and were preparing to leave.

Quite a few spectators around them were discussing them.

Walking beside Tang San, Xiao Wu suddenly turned to glance at a distant platform.

Tang San asked:

"Xiao Wu, what's wrong?"

Xiao Wu wrinkled her nose.

"I don't know. I just feel like someone was watching me just now."

Oscar laughed.

"With so many people watching, Sister Xiao Wu, you're famous now."

Xiao Wu rolled her eyes at him.

"It wasn't that kind of feeling."

Tang San's expression tightened slightly.

"Was it dangerous?"

Xiao Wu thought for a moment, then shook her head.

"It didn't seem like it."

She looked up at the sky and muttered softly:

"How strange..."

The feeling was like someone familiar had looked at her from very far away.

But this was Tiandou City.

That person should have been in Spirit City, right?

Xiao Wu quickly shook her head and suppressed the strange feeling.

But what she didn't know was that from this match onward, Shrek had officially entered Gu Changsheng's sights...