After Shrek lost to the Blazing Fire Academy, the atmosphere within the team plummeted to rock bottom.
In the following matches, the opponents were not strong, and they won them with some close calls, but each victory was not decisive enough.
Dai Mubai delivered several impressive one-on-one duels, and Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer became increasingly effective in his use, but everyone knew that the real battle was yet to come.
The Star Luo Royal Academy —that was the tough battle.
The night before the match, Yu Xiaogang called everyone to the lounge. His expression was more serious than usual, and he was flipping through his tactical notebook with a rustling sound, stopping when he turned to a certain page.
He got straight to the point. " Star Luo Royal Academy is a whole level higher than us. Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun are both level 46, and the rest of the team members are at an average level 44."
On our side, even the highest-ranked Mubai is only level 44. This is the first time since the start of this qualifying tournament that we've been completely outclassed in terms of level.
No one spoke in the lounge.
"Furthermore," Yu Xiaogang paused, " Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun can also use the Hell White Tiger technique."
Upon hearing this, everyone simultaneously turned to look at Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing. The Hell White Tiger was Martial Soul Fusion Skill of Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing's martial souls; how could someone from the Star Luo Royal Academy also possess it?
Dai Mubai was silent for a few seconds, then stood up.
"I've never told anyone about my relationship with Zhu Zhuqing." His voice was lower than usual. "I am a prince of the Star Luo Empire. The rule of the Star Luo Imperial Family is that brothers must fight each other—"
The winner inherits the throne, the loser has their Soul Power destroyed or dies. My Dai Weisi is six years older than me, and I've known since I was little that I couldn't beat him. So I ran away."
He paused, his Adam's apple bobbing.
"It wasn't a righteous departure, it was an escape. I left Zhu Zhuqing alone in the Star Luo Empire and ran off to Heaven Dou. At that time, I was just a coward who abandoned everything and ran away."
No one spoke in the lounge. Zhu Zhuqing stood beside him, her expression unchanged, but her gaze remained fixed on the floor, not looking at anyone.
"Then Zhu Zhuqing came." Dai Mubai turned to look at her. "She chased them from the Star Luo Empire to Heaven Dou, finding Shrek all by herself. She didn't escape; she came to fight. She came to tell me—it's not time to give up yet."
Zhu Zhuqing finally raised her head and glanced at him. It was a very brief glance, and then she looked away.
Dai Mubai turned around and looked at all his teammates.
"Meeting everyone at Shrek, training together, playing in the qualifiers, and fighting our way to the finals was the most enjoyable time of my life."
In the past, when I encountered something I couldn't beat, I would hide; when I couldn't hide, I would run away—run away from the Star Luo Empire, run away from my brother, run away from everything I didn't want to face.
But this time, I don't want to run away anymore. Tomorrow's match is one that Zhu Zhuqing and I can't afford to lose—if we lose, we'll have nothing left.
Therefore, I implore everyone, all seven members of the Shrek Seven Monsters, to fight with your strongest lineup and help us win this battle.
Xiao Wu was the first to stand up. "Of course we'll go!"
Ma Hongjun followed closely behind. "The captain's business is our business, just do it."
Tang San didn't speak, but simply nodded slightly. Ning Rongrong hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
Oscar was the only one who didn't respond immediately. He sat in the corner, his gaze shifting from Dai Mubai to Ning Rongrong. The fact that all seven members of the Shrek Seven Monsters were going into battle meant that Ning Rongrong would also be on the field.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda —no, it's the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. If this is revealed on a stage like the advancement competition, what will the Spirit Hall think? Will they just sit idly by and watch the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect gain another genius capable of assisting Titled Douluo?
Oscar's hands clenched on his knees. He wanted to say something, but Xiao Wu and Ma Hongjun had already built up the atmosphere to this point, and to stand up and object now would make him a coward.
Besides, Dai Mubai has already laid bare his most shameful side to everyone—he's even admitted he was a coward back then, so how can you not help him?
"I agree," Oscar said, his voice a little softer than usual.
After the discussion, everyone went back to their rooms. Oscar lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling for a long time. Then he got out of bed, quietly opened the door, and stepped into the night.
He went to the Godwind Academy's residence.
Oscar didn't knock on the door directly. He stood in the hallway for a long time until a figure carrying a box of groceries walked around the corner.
Su Ran was taken aback when she saw Oscar. As fellow Food System Soul Master, the two had met a few times during the preliminaries and remembered each other.
" Oscar?" Su Ran pulled the food box closer to her chest. "Who are you looking for so late?"
"I'm looking for you," Oscar said.
Su Ran's room was simple, with several well-worn food recipe notebooks piled on the table.
Oscar cut to the chase and asked Su Ran to buy him a pill from the Pill Pavilion. It would be useful for Support System Soul Master, increasing their Soul Power recovery speed and making the amplification last longer.
"It's not for my own use," Oscar paused, "It's for Rongrong."
Su Ran leaned back in his chair, sizing up Oscar. This Food System Soul Master had come to see him in the middle of the night, looking tired but with a serious expression in his eyes.
"You know that the pills from the Pill Pavilion aren't cheap, right?"
"I have some savings." Oscar took a small purse out of his pocket and placed it on the table, then hesitated for a moment before taking out a worn notebook, opening it, and handing it over.
The text is densely packed with details about when to replenish Food-type Martial Soul in actual combat, the consumption ratio of different Soul Skill, and how to make the most needed replenishment with the least consumption when Soul Power is insufficient.
Su Ran flipped through a few pages, her expression changing.
"You're willing to give these to me?"
"I'm glad you don't mind." Oscar breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "Since we're both Food System, it's worth it if these things are useful to you."
As for the purpose of coming today, it's simply to make Rongrong feel more at ease when she stands on the ring tomorrow."
Su Ran remained silent for a moment, then closed her notebook and stood up.
"Wait here for me."
When he returned, he carried a small porcelain bottle. Inside the bottle was a warm, moist elixir with a Qing Ya fragrance.
"This is Soul-Fortifying Pill." Su Ran placed the porcelain bottle in Oscar's hand. "I've accepted your notes. And... if you can't stay at Shrek anytime, Godwind Academy will always welcome you."
Oscar gripped the porcelain bottle tightly and nodded.
The next morning, Ning Rongrong was stopped by Oscar at the entrance of the lounge.
" Rongrong, this is for you." Oscar shoved the porcelain bottle into her hand, speaking much faster than usual, "Inside is Soul-Fortifying Pill, which can make Soul Power recover faster and amplify it for a longer period of time."
Today you're the most important support player in the entire game, Star Luo Empire will definitely send someone to target you—with this, things will be much easier for you."
Ning Rongrong looked down at the porcelain vase in her hand, then looked up at Oscar. Oscar felt a little flustered by her gaze and was about to say, "It's okay if you don't want it," when Ning Rongrong suddenly smiled.
You bought it yourself?
"I asked Su Ran for help," Oscar confessed honestly. "He's that Food System Soul Master from the Godwind Academy. I shared my cultivation insights with him, and he helped me contact the Pill Pavilion and buy this pill."
Ning Rongrong held the porcelain vase tightly in her hand.
"Thank you," she said, then pushed open the door to the lounge and went inside.
Oscar stood there, watching her walk into the lounge, and couldn't help but smile slightly.
Two hours later, the duel between the Star Luo Royal Academy and Shrek Academy was about to begin. When the referee announced the names of the two teams, the Star Luo Empire audience in the stands erupted in the loudest cheers since the start of the competition.
Dai Mubai stood at the very front of the Shrek Academy team, looking at Dai Weisi on the opposite stage. The moment their eyes met, it was as if the air in the stage was sucked away.
Standing next to Dai Weisi was Zhu Zhuyun, and behind him were Xu Chen and four other team members. Xu Chen stood at the back of the group with his arms crossed, about half an arm's length away from the others—he was sent by the Star Crown Sect and wasn't particularly close to these Heaven Dou Imperial Academy team members.
Zhu Zhuqing stood behind Dai Mubai, facing her sister. The two Zhu Family sisters did not exchange a word, but Zhu Zhuqing's clenched fists said it all.
Dai Weisi spoke first, a playful smile on his lips, " Mubai, you've grown bold after hiding in Heaven Dou? You think you can challenge the Royal Family with a bunch of country bumpkins?"
Dai Mubai did not respond. Dai Weisi glanced at Zhu Zhuqing again, his smile deepening, " Zhu Yun, your sister seems even thinner than the last time I saw her. Doesn't she get enough to eat in a place like that?"
Zhu Zhuyun pursed her lips, remaining silent, her eyes devoid of any sisterly warmth, only cold indifference.
Just as the referee was about to announce the start of the game, Dai Weisi suddenly raised his hand.
"Referee, I request that this match be changed to a team battle. The matter between my brother and me cannot be resolved in a one-on-one situation. This is a rule of the Star Luo Imperial Family."
The referee looked at Dai Mubai. Dai Mubai didn't hesitate. "I agree."
Seeing that neither side had any objections, the referee announced, "This match will be changed to a team battle by special permission. Seven players from each side will participate simultaneously, and the rules will be the same as in the preliminary rounds."
The seven members of Shrek stepped onto the arena. Opposite them, Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun stood side by side, while Xu Chen and the other four lined up behind them. The light of the Star Crown flickered above Xu Chen's head as he began to gather his Soul Power.
Ning Rongrong stood at the back of the line, the warmth of the Soul-Fortifying Pill still lingering in her palm. The light of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda flowed within her body, more steadily than usual.
Dai Mubai took a deep breath and whispered something that only he and the people around him could hear.
"It's on."