At the opening ceremony of the Soul Master Tournament, Ning Chuan's entrance caused quite a stir. But because of his connection to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the murmurs died down after a while. After all, Ning Chuan wasn't breaking any rules.
As Ning Chuan chatted with Dugu Yan, the other academies began filing in.
Soon, Ning Chuan spotted Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing.
The two walked briskly, deliberately putting some distance between themselves and Tang San's group behind them, simply because the others' outfits were far too conspicuous.
Flender, with his peculiar taste, had specially commissioned green team uniforms for Tang San and the others. The bizarre design was bad enough, but there were even advertisements seeking sponsors on the backs.
Naturally, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing refused to wear those outfits into the arena. They now had the highest soul power levels at Shrek Academy, so Flender and Yu Xiaogang could do nothing about their refusal.
But Yu Xiaogang found it easy to keep Tang San and the others under his thumb. A single remark-"This is training your mental fortitude"-was enough to make them obediently put on the ridiculous uniforms.
Thus, the moment Tang San's group entered, laughter erupted all around them, far louder than the murmurs that had greeted Ning Chuan.
Tang San knew how humiliating this was, too. He put on the mask he used for soul fighting, then hurried inside and reached Shrek Academy's competitors' rest area.
As soon as Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing entered, they made straight for Ning Glazed Azure Academy's area. Neither wanted to stay over there and embarrass herself.
The moment they sat down, Dugu Yan snickered. "Your academy really is something else!"
"Don't even mention it!" Ning Rongrong was utterly exasperated. "Luckily, there's only one match at the opening ceremony, so we probably won't be drawn. Besides, the dean said Zhu Zhuqing and I won't need to fight in the first few matches. If they're still dressed like that tomorrow, I'm not coming!"
Beside her, Zhu Zhuqing nodded repeatedly in agreement.
"Fifth Brother, this is all your fault!" Ning Rongrong suddenly turned toward Ning Chuan.
"Rongrong, what does this have to do with me?" Ning Chuan asked helplessly.
"Of course it has to do with you!" Ning Rongrong pouted. "If I'd known you were so strong, Fifth Brother, I would have left Shrek Academy ages ago!"
Zhu Zhuqing immediately spoke up beside her. "Rongrong, how can you blame Brother Ning? If you'd left earlier, wouldn't you have abandoned me at Shrek Academy all by myself?"
"That's true!" Ning Rongrong nodded, then curled her lips into a mischievous grin. "Fifth Brother really did have foresight. Otherwise, where would he have found me such a wonderful sister-in-law?"
Zhu Zhuqing flushed and chided her, "Rongrong, you're making silly jokes again! I'm not talking to you anymore!"
Seeing this, Dugu Yan immediately poured oil on the fire. "Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Chuan is in high demand now. If you don't believe me, ask Shui Bing'er and the others!"
Shui Bing'er and the others had been watching the fun with interest, never expecting the teasing to turn toward them so quickly.
Shui Yue'er spoke up at once, amusement in her eyes. "You're certainly right about that. Yu Tianheng, you'd better put in some effort, or someone might steal Sister Dugu Yan away."
Yu Tianheng merely smiled without joining in. He actually couldn't quite understand why Dugu Yan had become so close to Shui Bing'er and the others.
Moreover, Dugu Yan's cultivation had advanced astonishingly quickly lately. She had already reached level forty-nine, something he simply couldn't comprehend.
Yu Tianheng had asked Dugu Yan why, but she said it involved certain secrets, so he had tactfully refrained from pressing her.
Their relationship was excellent. The stronger Dugu Yan became, the happier Yu Tianheng genuinely felt for her.
"Huh? Wait..."
Something suddenly occurred to Yu Tianheng. He immediately turned toward Ning Rongrong and asked, "Miss Rongrong, did you just say Ning Chuan was very strong?"
Only then did Ning Rongrong realize she had let something slip. But Ning Chuan was already prepared to reveal his strength, so it wasn't much of a problem.
She therefore admitted it openly. "That's right. My fifth brother's cultivation talent is actually better than mine!"
"What?" Disbelief immediately filled Yu Tianheng's eyes. He turned straight to Dugu Yan. "Is this the surprise you mentioned?"
Dugu Yan looked at Ning Chuan. When he nodded to her, she quietly explained to Yu Tianheng, "Actually, the reports that Ning Chuan's martial soul underwent a malignant mutation were false all along. His martial soul is top-tier, too!"
It took Yu Tianheng a long while to digest this before he looked at Ning Chuan and slowly said, "No wonder your name was on Glazed Azure Academy's roster. I knew it-with your temperament, why would you ever fish for fame like that?"
He didn't ask what Ning Chuan's martial soul was, nor did he ask his soul power level. He wanted to leave himself a little suspense. Once the matches began, everything would become clear.
While they chatted, all the competing academies entered the competitors' area.
On the raised platform, Xue Ye, Prince Xue Xing, and "Crown Prince Xue Qinghe" were all present. After Xue Ye declared the tournament open, the master of ceremonies specifically asked Ning Fengzhi, a guest at the opening ceremony, which team he favored.
Ning Fengzhi smiled. "Of these twenty-eight teams, I favor two. I believe one of them is certain to win this year's Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament!"
The master of ceremonies immediately asked which two teams he meant. Ning Fengzhi gave a mysterious smile, keeping them in suspense rather than naming them outright.
However, Shui Bing'er and Xiao Yun's ability to resonate their martial souls was no secret in Heaven Dou City, so everyone naturally assumed that Glazed Azure Academy had to be one of the two.
As for the second, no one could guess. After all, Shrek Academy was virtually unknown.
Next, Platinum Bishop Salas, master of Heaven Dou City's Martial Soul Hall, drew the matchups for the first round of qualifiers.
On the first day, the opening ceremony featured only this one match, serving as an opening exhibition.
On the second day, five arenas would open simultaneously, allowing ten teams to fight at once.
The draw was soon announced. The Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team's opponent happened to be Shrek Academy.
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing felt helpless at the sight. Both were immensely relieved that, as the team members with the highest soul power levels, they wouldn't need to take part in this match so their strength could be held in reserve.
Both teams entered the arena. The Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team looked down on Shrek Academy completely.
Of Shrek's seven members, not only Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing but also Oscar and Ma Hongjun sat out. Tai Long, Huang Yuan, Jing Ling, and Jiang Zhu from the former Blue Tyrant Academy took their places.
Before the fight began, both sides traded verbal barbs. Once the battle started, Shrek Academy finished it decisively in less than a minute.
Every member of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team suffered significant injuries.
As the referee declared the Shrek Team victorious, the entire arena erupted in an uproar.
No one had expected the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team to lose to an obscure academy.
Shrek Academy made its name in a single battle. No one mocked its bizarre uniforms anymore. After all, the Douluo Continent was a world where strength reigned supreme.
With an ashen face, Xue Ye swept a glance over Prince Xue Xing, then swept his sleeves and left.
Qian Renxue hadn't expected Shrek Academy to be so strong either.
Tang San in particular had already reached level forty-eight, and his fourth soul ring was black.
Qian Renxue therefore immediately asked Ning Fengzhi, "Teacher, I remember Rongrong attends Shrek Academy, doesn't she? Is this academy also being secretly cultivated by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
Ning Fengzhi shook his head. "For certain reasons, Rongrong promised Shrek Academy that she would compete for them in this tournament. Once it ends, she will leave Shrek Academy!"
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