You Can Do That?

Representatives from the academy teams filed onto the stage at Star Luo Plaza to draw lots.

Song Que, Huo Yuhao, and the others stood off to the side of the plaza, waiting for the results with nothing to do.

"Well, if it isn't Huo Yuhao."

Dai Huabin spotted them. His gaze chilled, and he deliberately raised his voice, drawing looks from students of the other academies nearby.

"Never thought I'd run into you here. I heard you left Shrek?"

Huo Yuhao frowned slightly. His eyes cooled, but he said nothing and ignored him.

Dai Huabin clearly had no intention of stopping there. A mocking smile spread across his face.

"Heh. That's pretty pathetic. You spent so long at Shrek and couldn't even make the reserve team. In the end, you had to leave and look for another way in."

"I just didn't expect you to join some No-Name Academy to get a spot in the tournament."

Dai Huabin shook his head in feigned regret. "Even if you get onto the arena floor, won't you feel like a fraud?"

Wang Dong's temper flared at once, and she glared at Dai Huabin.

"Dai Huabin, you lost to us. What gives you the right to mock Yuhao?"

"You lost both times we fought, and you even knelt to Yuhao in front of everyone. Have you forgotten?"

Standing beside Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu gently held him back. She shook her head with a helpless look and spoke softly.

"Wang Dong, there's no need to get so worked up. Anyone could see you had luck and the rules on your side in those fights."

"If you were really that strong, why wouldn't Shrek's teachers keep you or put you on the reserve team? Surely every teacher couldn't have been wrong."

"Instead of arguing here, you should make the most of this hard-won chance. Getting knocked out in the first round would be truly embarrassing."

Song Que watched the two play off each other and gave a cold snort.

He turned to Ye Wuqing beside him and said casually, "Brother Ye, did you hear that? They called Just Sky Academy a No-Name Academy."

Ye Wuqing, Tang Xiaolei, and the others' faces darkened instantly. They stepped forward as one to face the Shrek team.

Ye Wuqing's gaze was icy. "Who are you calling a No-Name Academy?"

A powerful aura burst from him and bore down on the pair, making their expressions change at once.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Sensing trouble, Ma Xiaotao strode forward and planted herself in front of Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu. She fixed Ye Wuqing's group with a sharp stare as Soul Power surged through her, ready to fight.

A patrolling Soul Douluo referee rushed over from the plaza and barked at them.

"Stop! Private fights are strictly forbidden during the tournament. Cause trouble, and your entire team will be disqualified!"

Ma Xiaotao said angrily, "Referee, they started it!"

Yu Mengdi shot back, "Nonsense! Your side insulted our academy first!"

"And Ye Wuqing never even attacked. You were the one who came charging over, ready to fight!"

"You!" Ma Xiaotao's anger surged, and she was about to lash out.

Then a calm voice rang out.

"Enough. Let it end here."

Song Que spoke, his gaze sweeping calmly over Ma Xiaotao.

"Ma Xiaotao, this isn't Shrek. Don't throw your weight around on someone else's turf."

Ma Xiaotao looked toward the voice. Surprise flashed in her eyes when she recognized him.

"You... You're Song Que? What are you doing here?"

"Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi? Why are you here too?"

Song Que merely smiled without explaining. He gave the referee a slight nod, then led the others away.

Meanwhile, Mu Jin, the teacher who had replaced Zhou Yi as team leader, hurried over and frowned at the scene.

"What happened here? Don't go picking fights with every dubious team you come across."

"Enough. Come back with me so we can plan our tactics. The draw results are out."

Ma Xiaotao glared fiercely at Song Que's departing group, then shot Dai Huabin an irritated look. She could only swallow her anger and follow Mu Jin away.

As both sides left, the atmosphere in the plaza gradually settled.

On Just Sky Academy's side, Bei Bei watched the Shrek team and spoke in a low voice.

"Shrek's lineup seems to have changed quite a bit."

"I saw two students from the soul tool department on their team."

Xu Sanshi looked puzzled too. "Dai Yueheng, Gongyang Mo, and the other mainstays are all missing. Even the reserve team has a lot of unfamiliar faces."

"But Nannan's still there. Bei Bei, why did you keep pulling me back just now? Why wouldn't you let me go see Nannan?"

Bei Bei rolled his eyes at him. "Don't make trouble at a time like this. Besides, she might not want to talk to you."

Huo Yuhao said, "I saw Cao Jinxuan, Zhou Sicheng, and Xie Huanyue. They're all on Shrek's team."

Wang Dong frowned. "None of them used to be on the reserve team. Why have they all come this time?"

Song Que understood. The strongest Soul King had probably worked his magic again.

It seemed Xuan Zi, the Holy Spirit Cult's grand elder, was as reliable as ever.

Ye Wuqing frowned. "That woman just now was strong. She could be trouble."

Song Que nodded. "Her name is Ma Xiaotao. She didn't compete last time, so you wouldn't know her."

"In terms of strength, she should be the strongest member of Shrek Academy's team this year. Her Soul Power seems to have reached around Level 67."

"There's also Dai Yueheng, last tournament's captain. He's a Soul Emperor too."

Yu Mengdi couldn't help sighing. "Two Soul Emperors... That's Shrek for you. How are we supposed to fight them? That's a lot of pressure."

Song Que remained calm. "It's fine. As long as you keep the others in check, I can handle those two."

"Oh, right. Has our first-round opponent been confirmed?"

Ye Wuqing nodded. "The teacher just told us. It's an ordinary academy from the Dou Ling Empire. They have only one Soul King, and everyone else is a Soul Ancestor. They're fairly weak overall."

Song Que smiled. "Is that so? Then this will be easy."

"Since Shrek came over to mock us, we can't put on a poor showing."

"Yuhao, Wang Dong, you two will start the first match."

The two acknowledged him and nodded.

They had already agreed before the tournament that if they faced a weak team, the two of them would go on first to get some practice and build up real combat experience.

Song Que looked at them, the corners of his mouth lifting. "Remember, you two are the main force in this match."

Everyone on the team froze, stunned.

Yu Mengdi blurted out, "Boss Song Que, are you serious?"

"They're both incredibly talented, but..."

Even Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong were baffled.

Song Que said quietly, "In your next match, you two will do this..."

A moment later, after hearing Song Que's plan, everyone wore strange expressions, torn between laughter and disbelief.

"You can do that...?"

Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong exchanged a glance, then said, "No problem, Brother Song Que."

Xu Sanshi immediately raised his hand, his face full of anticipation. "Uh, if that's how we're doing it, can I join in? I want a chance to show off too..."