On the final day of the preliminary rounds, the atmosphere at the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena was more intense than ever before.
Over the past twenty-odd days, twenty-eight teams have taken turns playing more than two hundred matches. As of today, the top four positions are no longer in doubt, but the final match—the battle for fifth place—is the focus of everyone's attention.
" Godwind Academy, undefeated in 27 battles, first place advances without a doubt." In the audience, a middle-aged Soul Master counted on his fingers with his companion.
"Second place: Skywater Academy, 26 wins and 1 loss, only losing to the Godwind Academy. Third place: Thunder Academy, 25 wins and 2 losses, losing to both Godwind Academy and Skywater Academy. Fourth place: Blazing Fire Academy, 23 wins and 4 losses."
"And what about fifth place?" someone asked from the side.
"The fifth place will be decided in today's match— Shrek Academy Elephant Armor Academy. Both teams have a record of 22 wins and 5 losses. The winner advances, and the loser is eliminated."
" Shrek has dropped to fifth place? Didn't they beat Blazing Fire Academy?"
"What's the point of Shrek beating Blazing Fire Academy? They forfeited two games. One was because a player was too badly injured to play, and the other was even more unlucky—"
Their Control System Soul Master went missing for a few days, and coincidentally, they ran into a strong team during those days. Without someone who could control the battlefield, they weren't confident, so Grandmaster simply gave up.
Two games were forfeited; no wonder their record isn't good. Although Blazing Fire Academy lost to Shrek, they only lost four games, giving them one more win than Shrek, securing a solid fourth place.
"What about Elephant Armor? Isn't Elephant Armor a long-established powerhouse? How did they fall to this position?"
"This year is different. Godwind Academy is ridiculously strong, Skywater Academy has Shui Bing'er's Ultimate Ice, and Thunder Academy and Blazing Fire Academy are not weak either. Elephant Armor got beaten by these four schools one by one, and won all the remaining victories, but they couldn't keep up with the losses they suffered earlier, so in the end they can only compete for fifth place."
Whispers rose and fell in the audience.
In the rest area of the Godwind Academy, Feng Lingtian leaned against the railing, listening to the various analyses coming from the audience behind him. Feng Xiaotian stood next to him, his gaze fixed on the two teams on the sidelines.
" The Elephant Armor has really had a tough year," Feng Xiaotian said. "We, Skywater Academy, Thunder Academy, Blazing Fire Academy have all beaten them one by one, and in the end, we have to compete with Shrek for the last spot."
"It's frustrating as it may be, but their strength is undeniable," Feng Lingtian said. "A pure defensive lineup can easily crush lower-ranked teams, but they'll be crushed by higher-ranked teams. This match against Shrek will be tough."
Feng Xiaotian hummed in agreement.
The two fell silent, their gazes simultaneously turning towards the Shrek Academy's rest area.
Tang San was talking to Yu Xiaogang. The two stood in a corner of the rest area, with no one else around. Yu Xiaogang's expression was as indifferent as ever. He moved his lips and said something. Tang San paused after hearing it, then nodded silently.
Feng Lingtian narrowed his eyes. He hadn't heard the content of that sentence, but he had clearly seen the pause Tang San made before nodding.
Yu Xiaogang turned around and walked back to his seat, arms crossed, expressionless.
"What's wrong?" Feng Xiaotian noticed his younger brother's expression.
"It's nothing," Feng Lingtian said, withdrawing his gaze. "I just feel that the weight of certain words varies depending on how they are spoken."
Feng Xiaotian glanced at him but didn't ask any further questions.
On the field, the referee blew the whistle. Both teams entered the field.
The seven members of the Elephant Armor Academy walked out in a line, led by their captain, Huyan Li, with the other six members behind him all being burly and imposing, like seven moving iron towers.
Their steps were perfectly synchronized, each stomp echoing heavily on the ground. The Elephant Armor Sect's defensive Martial Soul was renowned throughout the continent, and this team's tactics, from the preliminaries until now, could be summed up in one word—toughness.
On Shrek's side, the seven players who were going to take the field were already in place: Dai Mubai, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, Tang San, and Tai Long.
Feng Lingtian noticed that Tai Long and Tang San exchanged a glance before Tailong went on stage. Tai Long patted his chest, Tang San nodded slightly. There were no further words.
" Shrek has changed its roster?" Su Mei'er tilted her head. "I haven't seen that big guy much before."
" Tai Long, from the Strength Clan," Feng Lingtian said, "We need someone who can withstand the Elephant Armor's attacks head-on, otherwise Dai Mubai alone can't hold his own."
Feng Xiaotian didn't reply, his gaze sweeping over Shrek's lineup before settling on Ning Rongrong on the sidelines. The owner of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, she hadn't played a single game throughout the entire qualifiers.
"They're holding back," Feng Xiaotian said.
"Hmm," Feng Lingtian responded.
Ning Rongrong didn't play a single game in the entire preliminary round. The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, the number one support Martial Soul on the continent, was kept completely hidden.
It's been hidden until today, and it's still hidden.
Feng Lingtian glanced at Yu Xiaogang on the sidelines but said nothing more.
The competition has officially begun.
Elephant Armor Academy made the first move. The seven of them released their Martial Soul at the same time, and the phantoms of seven Diamond Mammoth appeared behind them. Layers of earth-yellow Soul Power were stacked on top of each other, forming a solid wall of energy in front of them.
Huyan Li stood at the forefront, possessed by the Diamond Mammoth, his skin glowing with a dark luster, as if coated with a layer of rock armor. He clenched his fists, and two cracks appeared in the floor beneath his feet.
Shrek simultaneously released their Martial Soul. Dai Mubai's White Tiger Possession Soul Power blazed around him like flames; Xiao Wu's Soft Bone Rabbit Martial Soul moved nimbly, her toes barely touching the ground.
Zhu Zhuqing's Nether Civet Martial Soul was as dark as a shadow, and she flashed into the side; Ma Hongjun's Fire Phoenix hovered above his head, flames gathering in his palm;
Oscar's Sausage Martial Soul materialized in his hand, ready to provide supplies at any time; Tang San's Blue Silver Grass spread silently, covering the ground beneath his feet.
Tai Long stood beside Dai Mubai, his Great Strength Gorilla Martial Soul Possession, his arm muscles bulging, forming a frontal defensive line with Dai Mubai on either side.
Without any probing, the battle escalated to a fever pitch from the very beginning.
Dai Mubai struck first, his White Tiger Fierce Light Wave slamming head-on into the Elephant Armor Formation. The white pillar of Soul Power collided with the earthen-yellow defensive layer, creating a deafening explosion.
The seven members of the Elephant Armor retreated three steps, but their formation remained intact. Huyan Li a low shout, and the Diamond Mammoth Martial Soul shone brightly, managing to withstand the attack.
Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Fire Line followed closely, the scorching flames sweeping towards Huyan Li. The Diamond Mammoth's defensive layer was charred black, and Huyan Li's expression changed slightly—it hurt, but he could withstand it.
Feng Lingtian saw it clearly. This time, Tang San was having a hard time controlling it. Blue Silver Grass is the nemesis of speed-type Soul Master, but against an opponent like Elephant Armor who stands still, Entanglement him is meaningless - he can break free while standing still.
Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing attacked from both sides. The soft techniques couldn't break through, and the Hell Stab only left five white marks. The Diamond Mammoth's defense couldn't even be torn apart by the Hell Spirit Cat's claw attack.
The Elephant Armor began to exert pressure.
With Huyan Li, Hu Yanli led the seven men forward. Their fighting style was simple to the point of being brutal: they didn't chase or pursue, but simply moved forward step by step, using their defensive layers to crush the enemy like a bulldozer.
Shrek's formation was forced to retreat repeatedly. Dai Mubai gritted his teeth and held the front, but he couldn't withstand the simultaneous advance of seven people by himself.
Yu Xiaogang made a gesture from the sidelines.
Tang San saw this and immediately ordered a substitution. Oscar leaped into the formation from behind, throwing Sausage one after another.
Recovery Big Sausage, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Tai Long's Soul Power fluctuations stabilized, and their auras were invigorated.
After swallowing the Sausage Tai Long took a step forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with Dai Mubai to withstand Hu Yanli's Huyan Li attack. With the power of the Great Strength Gorilla Martial Soul and the explosive force of the White Tiger, the two of them barely managed to maintain their footing in the front.
But it was merely a matter of stabilizing the situation.
The Elephant Armor's advance halted, but Shrek still couldn't break through their defenses. The situation shifted from a one-sided affair to a stalemate, which was advantageous to the Elephant Armor —their Soul Power consumption was far lower than the attackers'. The longer the conflict dragged on, the smaller Shrek's chances of winning became.
Time ticked by, second by second.
Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Fire Line swept over Huyan Li a second and third time. The scorch marks grew deeper and deeper, but the Diamond Mammoth's defensive layer remained unbroken.
Dai Mubai's Soul Power had begun to decline, and even with Oscar's replenishment, the consumption from high-intensity continuous output could not be fully compensated by a few Recovery Big Sausage.
Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing attempted a flanking attack three times, but were repelled each time.
Tang San stood at the rear of the formation, while Blue Silver Grass constantly changed formations on the field, trying to find a gap in the Elephant Armor defense.
He tried every angle: a frontal breakthrough, flanking maneuvers, focusing on one point, and spreading out to Entanglement. Every method was neutralized by the Elephant Armor's armor's defense.
This isn't a tactical issue; it's a difference in raw power. Against this level of defense, without sufficient individual burst damage, even the best tactics are useless.
Yu Xiaogang stood expressionless on the sidelines.
Tang San turned around and glanced at him.
Yu Xiaogang didn't shout anything or make any tactical gestures. He simply nodded slightly.
The movement was so subtle that almost no one noticed it. But over in the Blazing Fire Academy's rest area, someone frowned.
On the field, Tang San took a deep breath.
The Blue Silver Grass receded from beneath his feet, one by one, like the receding tide, back into his body.
A moment of silence fell over the entire arena. All the Soul Master watching were stunned— Blue Silver Grass was Tang San's Martial Soul, why was he taking it back? Was he giving up? Admitting defeat?
Dai Mubai turned to look at him, his eyes filled with questions. Xiao Wu also turned her head, her lips moving slightly.
Tang San offered no explanation.
He raised his left hand.
A black hammer appeared out of thin air in his palm. The hammer was small, entirely black, and unadorned, with two characters engraved on it—
Clear Sky!
The entire room fell silent.
Then it exploded.