One week before the tournament began.
At the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.
In the Soul Fighting Arena.
Early one morning.
The official team members representing the academy in the tournament, along with the reserves.
Had all gathered there.
Ma Rulong, the captain, stood with his arms folded across his chest.
He stared at Chen Mo, who was several heads shorter than him.
Disbelief filled his eyes.
"Wait, Dean, you're not joking, are you?"
"I can understand having Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen compete as reserves."
"They're both Soul Kings, after all."
"But Chen Mo is only a Soul Elder."
"Is he going to the tournament to gild his résumé? Or to drag us down?"
Ma Rulong had long since heard about Chen Mo repeatedly breaking the academy's latest soul engineering assessment records.
He acknowledged that Chen Mo was indeed a genius.
His potential for future growth was enormous.
But no matter how many records this genius could break.
His current strength was still lacking.
For this tournament.
Ma Rulong actually cared little about whether they ultimately won or lost.
He had only one goal this time.
To defeat Shrek Academy and knock its long-standing arrogance down a peg.
So he hoped that both the official members and the reserves.
Would all be carefully selected elites.
Faced with Ma Rulong's doubts.
Jing Hongchen neither refuted him outright nor forced him to comply through his authority as dean.
He smiled faintly and said, "You have doubts? Easily settled. Have a soul fight. If, afterward, you still think Chen Mo isn't suited to competing, then as dean, I certainly won't play favorites. I'll replace him on the spot. How about it?"
"A soul fight?"
"Me against him?"
Ma Rulong pointed at himself, then at Chen Mo.
Then he said awkwardly, "Wouldn't