It was morning.
At the foot of Douluo Mountain's steps, in the great Soul Fighting Plaza.
The third round of the ranking matches had yet to begin, but the members of the six teams competing today, along with quite a few contestants from eliminated academies, were already waiting in the rest area.
The Spirit Hall Second Team's lounge was to the left of the judges' seats.
As the two door panels swung open, the seven people seated around the room rose in unison.
From the look of them, they had clearly been waiting a long time.
"Captain!"
"Captain!"
"..."
Their eyes shone as they offered the newcomer their sincerest respect.
"Mm." Xu Zi strolled inside, and the seven people lining his path stepped aside.
He took the head seat at the large square strategy table.
The large square table before him resembled the Soul Fighting Plaza outside, scaled down to one-hundredth its size.
Xu Zi waved both hands, gesturing to those on either side. "Sit."
He casually tossed out the information on every member of the Wind Fire Team, sending it sliding across the table.
"Vice-captain Shi, this is Elder Ling Yuan's intelligence. Pass it around quickly."
"Yes!"
Xu Zi slapped a second document onto the table.
It was the ranking sheet.
"This is a public ranking. With Spirit Hall and the forces behind everyone here, I imagine it won't take even half a day to spread it beyond Martial Soul Holy City."
The black lettering on the ranking sheet was fairly large, so all seven could read it clearly without holding it.
Excitement immediately flared in their eyes.
Because they really were in the top four!
This year's tournament was widely acknowledged as the strongest in its history.
Thus, the top four this year had boundless prospects!
Xu Zi tapped the tabletop repeatedly, quieting the restless atmosphere.
He encouraged them. "I've always upheld the principle that 'beating ordinary teams is no match for defeating elites.'"
"That principle is also the secret to how we stood out among thirty-three teams with just two victories."
"Especially last night, when our team joined forces to crush the world's number one power attack system beast martial soul, riding that momentum straight into the top four."
"And today, we'll face two more world number ones, along with a contestant with innate full soul power hailed as a prodigy!"
"Tomorrow may be even more brutal than today, but as long as our team can wade its way to the summit of this tournament, I will never keep that glory to myself!"
Xu Zi slapped the table and abruptly stood.
The seven around him sprang to their feet with a rustle.
With the atmosphere sufficiently fired up, Xu Zi issued his orders directly. "Considering today's matchup, with so many agility attack system Soul Masters on the opposing side, our Dragon Pattern Staff Formation may not be very useful."
"So I've decided on a last-minute change-break convention and split up the three brothers."
Xu Zi turned to the three on his left and ordered, "Youngest of the three brothers, you'll be a substitute on the sidelines for today's semifinal."
Though the youngest brother's eyes dimmed, he immediately answered, "Yes!"
Xu Zi continued his instructions. "Today, because four of the opponents are extremely fast, I won't assign a specific formation. Position yourselves freely."
"As for me, I'll stand right in the middle of the front row."
The six selected immediately replied, "Understood!"
"Good." Xu Zi looked up at the sun outside the window.
Having confirmed the time, he immediately shouted, "Our objective: take down the world's number one agility attack tool martial soul, and take down the world's number one fire beast martial soul!"
"Trample the genius with innate full soul power beneath our feet!"
Seven roars rang throughout the lounge:
"Take down the Wind Fire Squad! Win the semifinal!"
Xu Zi waved toward the door.
"Move out!"
At noon, the sun shone overhead.
The Soul Fighting Plaza had been cleaned until not a speck of dust remained.
Today's schedule: seven down to four.
There were only three matches in total-
The Shrek Team versus the Star Luo Royal Team.
The Spirit Hall Second Battle Team versus the Wind Fire Team.
And the Spirit Hall First Team happened to have another bye today.
After Shrek Academy defeated Star Luo Royal Academy, they did not linger at the venue.
Because tomorrow, in the first and second halves of the grand finals, they would have to pit their wits and courage against Bibi Dong.
So the moment they won, they left the competition venue early.
This greatly reassured Xu Zi.
Even if he used Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon possession and Shrek's side learned how the battle had gone.
Without watching the match in person, Shrek could never devise a... second plan tonight, beyond the one for dealing with the First Team.
In the eastern half's preparation area.
Xu Zi stretched out his palm and caught the midday sunlight.
He could not help curling his lips upward. "Clear skies, a noon match, fire and light."
"Everything is in place."
Just then, the assistant referee for the eastern half turned around. "Second Team, Second Team, you may enter now."
Following the pre-match plan, the seven lined up abreast.
They strode briskly up the steps and onto the arena.
At that moment, the chief referee stood in the center and announced loudly:
"The Soul Master Tournament ranking matches, third round, second match-"
"The Spirit Hall Second Battle Team versus the Wind Fire Team."
"Contestants from both sides, please take your positions on the field."
In the western half stood the Wind Fire Team.
Seven people: three in blue-green outfits with white trim, four in red with yellow edging.
The person in the middle was tall and slender, with neck-length black hair and handsome features carrying a trace of mature, heroic bearing.
A casual smile lingered constantly at the corners of his lips, as though merely standing there made him the center of the entire arena.
Naturally, he was the genius with innate full soul power, renowned as the Divine Wind prodigy, and the captain of the Wind Fire Team: Feng Xiaotian.
To his right stood a young woman whose clothing was somewhat revealing and whose figure was particularly voluptuous.
She had a cascade of dark-red waves and bright, spirited eyes, with beauty far surpassing that of the Tianshui Girl Group.
Wherever she stood, she was like a brilliant flame.
This young woman, whose figure and looks were both of the highest caliber, was naturally the Wind Fire Team's vice-captain: Huo Wu.
Toward the left of the team stood a muscular young man with brilliant-red, close-cropped hair.
Through the faint sensation between their draconic bloodlines, Xu Zi could naturally guess that this young man was Huo Wushuang.
Lastly, the man and woman on the left, dressed in Blazing Fire's red and gold, were presumably the Fire Leopard Soul Master and the Flame Crane Soul Master; the two young men on the right in long blue-green and white robes were the Wind-Chasing Sword Soul Masters.
On the other side, Feng Xiaotian withdrew his gaze and right hand from the red-haired beauty beside him.
He looked across at their opponents and could not help feeling somewhat taken aback.
At that moment, Huo Wu, a control system Soul Master, was equally puzzled. "Why are they... positioned like that?"
Huo Wushuang was also somewhat dumbfounded, because their opponents' positioning was completely different from what their team's senior leader had planned for.
Because right now, Xu Zi, who had always liked hiding far in the rear to cast his abilities, was unexpectedly standing right at the very front.
All seven members of the Spirit Hall Second Team were spread out in a single line, with no distinction whatsoever between front and back rows.
"Where's the opening? Or rather..."
"Isn't the opening... a little too obvious?"
In an arena of intrigue and deception, smooth sailing meant there had to be a trick!
Thus, the situation before them left the Wind Fire Team's four agility attack system members... momentarily at a loss.
They had wondered whether the Spirit Hall Second Team knew they could not win and had deliberately started slacking off.
But that imposing air across from them, so bold and spirited, did not look like they were simply smashing an already cracked pot.
But what would shock them still lay ahead.