Jiang Lan's First Match
"Their competition outfits... are quite unique." Shui Bing'er carefully chose her words, trying not to sound too harsh.
Jiang Lan shrugged and said, "Having personality depends on the occasion."
The opening ceremony that followed was long and tedious, with each college entering in turn, leaders giving speeches, and referees taking oaths. Jiang Lan's eyelids were drooping as she listened.
He leaned against Shui Yue'er's legs, and Doro leaned against his stomach. The two, one human and one soul, slept soundly in full view of everyone.
"Little Guga, if you keep sleeping, you'll drool on the floor," Xue Wu whispered to him.
Jiang Lan reflexively wiped her mouth, found nothing, and glared at Xue Wu: "Liar."
"Who told you to sleep like a pig?" Xue Wu laughed triumphantly.
"The first match of the first round of the qualifiers has officially begun."
At the referee's signal, the first preliminary round of this year's Continental Elite Tournament for Advanced Soul Master Academy officially began.
The first match was Shrek Academy versus Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Since Tang San and his group no longer had the Immortal Herb to enhance their strength, they had a very difficult time fighting.
Tang San turned the tide and won the first victory.
"His skill level is average," Shui Bing'er commented after watching the match.
"Just average?" Shui Yue'er pouted and hugged Jiang Lan tighter. "Tang San was clearly struggling. If those guys from the Heaven Dou Royal Family hadn't underestimated him, they might not have won."
Jiang Lan didn't respond; his gaze remained fixed on the field.
Tang San was surrounded by his teammates, his face showing the exhaustion of surviving a disaster, and his dingy green team uniform was covered in dust.
On the Heaven Dou Royal Academy side, the captain of the second team had a livid face and was talking to the referee, but in the end he just shook his head and led his team away from the field.
"Let's go, we have a match too." Shui Bing'er stood up.
The girls from the Skywater Academy all stood up and followed her towards the waiting area.
Jiang Lan was placed on a chair and waited for the match with Doro.
Canghui Academy is a second-rate Soul Master Academy, renowned for its Seven-Person Fusion Skill, and its members have a high average Soul Power.
Jiang Lan remembered that before she transmigrated, many people said that Yu Xiaogang was very capable, and that the Seven-Person Fusion Skill was created by Yu Xiaogang.
In reality, the Seven-Person Fusion Skill Seven-in-One Martial Soul Fusion Skill obtained by Tang San from the teacher of the Canghui Academy after killing him.
Shui Bing'er suppressed the opponent's core control from the very beginning, Xue Wu turned the surrounding area into an ice and snow world, and with the continuous output of other team members, the game ended in less than half an incense stick's time.
Throughout the entire process, Jiang Lan sat on the bench with the sesame candy that Shui Yue'er had given him on his lap, and he and Doro ate it piece by piece with great gusto.
He looked at it quite intently, and even drew a few lines of formation diagrams in a small notebook. However, the notebook was already sticky with sesame candy, and the lines he drew were crooked and messy, making it impossible to make any sense of them.
"Jiang Lan, when it's your turn to go on stage, you can't just focus on eating." Shui Bing'er walked over after the match, bent down and pinched his cheek, her tone teasing.
"I won't eat it when I'm on the field." Jiang Lan brushed off the last bit of sugar residue, closed her notebook, puffed out her chest, and said, "I'm here to end the game."
He spoke with such seriousness that several girls from the Skywater Academy nearby laughed, clearly thinking he was just talking like a child.
In the following days of the qualifiers, Skywater Academy made great strides, easily defeating several mid-ranked teams.
Jiang Lan has not yet taken to the field; his identity is a secret weapon, not to be easily revealed until the crucial moment.
He was happy to have some free time, spending his days either eating snacks with Doro in the waiting area or bickering with Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong in the stands.
Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong still harbor resentment towards Jiang Lan for joining Skywater Academy. Every time they meet, they pinch his cheeks and call him a traitor who was kidnapped by a pretty older sister.
Jiang Lan would always cover her cheek and protest her innocence, saying that she was just going to be a substitute and that she would go back to Honey Snow Ice City and continue being the boss after the game.
"Then after the competition, you'll treat us to milk tea for a month." Ning Rongrong took the opportunity to extort money from us.
"A month? You might as well sell me." Jiang Lan's eyes widened.
"Sell you? Who can afford to eat like you?" Xiao Wu added insult to injury.
The three of them laughed and joked together, while Doro lay sprawled in Ning Rongrong's arms, fast asleep, completely oblivious to everything around him.
Skywater Academy faced off against the Godwind Academy in the most important match of the preliminary rounds.
Godwind Academy only recruits Soul Master with Wind Attribute Martial Soul. All members hone their speed and explosive power around the Wind element, maximizing the advantages of a single attribute.
There are no strict restrictions on background; talent and practical skills are valued; the academic style is pragmatic; and there is a close relationship with the Blazing Fire Academy.
Shui Bing'er thought for a moment and decided to let Jiang Lan go on stage.
There was no other way; Feng Xiaotian was a level 44 Power Attack System Battle Soul Ancestor, and he also possessed the Self-Created Soul Skill, Gale Demon Wolf Thirty-Six Consecutive Slashes.
They were no match for Feng Xiaotian.
When Jiang Lan entered the arena, the stands fell silent for a moment, then erupted in laughter that was three times louder than the day Shrek Academy entered.
Today he was wearing the Skywater Academy team uniform that Shui Bing'er had specially altered to a smaller size. The blue and white striped battle skirt had been cut into a short robe, but it still looked loose on him, like he was wearing a little skirt.
Two short legs peeked out from under the hem of the robe, their feet adorned with the iconic orange flippers, and they wore the hood of a penguin onesie on their heads.
What's worse, Doro was right beside him, a round little ball of a ball, shuffling along on his short legs, with half a piece of sesame candy dangling from his mouth.
"My god, is Skywater Academy out of talent? They sent a little kid to fight Godwind Academy?"
"Look at his feet! What are those? Duck feet? Is he here to swim?!"
"What is that white ball of a thing? Jixiang? Or is it lunch today?"
"Hahaha, could it be that Skywater Academy thinks they can't win and is starting to give up?"
Laughter from the stands grew louder and louder, drawing glances even from the direction of the presidential platform.
There was no way around it; Jiang Lan was simply too young.
Unrestrained laughter also echoed from the waiting area of the Godwind Academy.
Feng Xiaotian, the captain of the Godwind Academy, stood at the front of the group, arms crossed, looking at Jiang Lan with a half-smile.
"Little sister, is there no one left in your academy?" Feng Xiaotian raised an eyebrow at Shui Bing'er with a smile, his tone clearly teasing.
Jiang Lan looked up at Feng Xiaotian, not angry at all, but instead greeted him very politely, "Big brother, your hair color is the same as your head, both are silver-gray."
The laughter from the stands stopped abruptly, then erupted into even louder laughter.
Feng Xiaotian's face instantly turned cold.
"What's your name?" Feng Xiaotian stared at Jiang Lan.
"My name is Jiang Lan, I'm six and a half years old, and I'm a level 43 Power Attack System Soul Ancestor." Jiang Lan said, each word distinct, her voice not loud, but like a stone thrown into calm water.