Just as everyone's eyes were focused on the arena, eagerly anticipating the start of this ultimate showdown.
Unbeknownst to anyone, a conspiracy that could reshape the empire was quietly brewing in the VIP section.
The Level 8 Soul Engineer referee who was originally standing at the edge of the arena had quietly left the stage at some point.
Instead, a figure as steady as a mountain appeared.
Then, Zheng Zhan, the Unbreakable Douluo and chief referee of this competition, stepped onto the center of the arena with an upright posture.
The strength and combat power of the members of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy and Shrek Academy are far superior to those of other academies.
Therefore, Zheng Zhan will personally serve as the referee for this match!
This match was a team competition.
On the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy's side, seven figures had already stepped onto the arena, their powerful auras converging into an invisible pressure that spread outwards.
The characters appearing on stage are: Kong Ling, Xu Wei, Xu Tianyi, Huo Yuhao, Shui Ling, Xiao Hongchen, and Qiangu Fuliu!
Among them, Xiao Hongchen has already stepped into the Soul Saint realm.
The rest of them, except for Huo Yuhao who was a level 59 Soul King, were all Soul Emperor!
Kong Xuan and Gu Yuena did not participate in the match, but the lineup of just these seven people was enough to defeat Shrek Academy.
The members of the Sun Moon Team had a burning fighting spirit in their eyes, which mingled with the thunderous cheers from the stands as they eagerly awaited the start of this fateful showdown.
Just as Unbreakable Douluo Zheng Zhan, frowned slightly, preparing to urge Shrek Academy to make their appearance as soon as possible, a figure slowly stepped onto the arena alone.
The newcomer was none other than Bei Bei, the captain of the Shrek Academy.
Zheng Zhan paused, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, before he could finish speaking.
In a team battle, why did the opposing team only send one player?
Not only him, but almost every audience member in the audience had the same question in their minds at that moment.
As for Shrek's plan to fight seven opponents alone?
No one would think that way, because their opponent was the suffocatingly powerful Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy!
Bei Bei stood alone in the center of the wide arena, facing the seven spirited members of the Sun Moon Team. The stark contrast made his figure appear somewhat frail.
He took a deep breath, the breath carrying the cool air from the edge of the ring, and a heavy sense of helplessness.
He then looked at the referee, Zheng Zhan, and said, "In this team battle, Shrek Academy... forfeits."
Bei Bei's voice wasn't loud, but it was clearly transmitted to the ears of more than 100,000 people in the arena through the sophisticated Amplifying Soul Tool on the stage.
These words were like a silent thunderclap, exploding across the vast arena.
In an instant, the once bustling audience seemed to be silenced, falling into a deathly stillness.
However, this extreme silence lasted only a moment before it was completely ignited!
Like a flood bursting its banks, a fierce discussion erupted, sweeping across the entire audience.
Some people looked on incredulously, pounding on the armrests of their seats, unable to understand why the Shrek, with its millennia-old tradition, would surrender without a fight.
Some people looked mocking and loudly ridiculed Shrek for being all bark and no bite, ultimately fearing the might of the Sun Moon Empire.
Many spectators, who had been eagerly anticipating a fierce battle, were furious at their disappointment and unleashed a torrent of abuse at the Shrek Academy, venting their frustration and anger.
Standing in the center of the ring, Bei Bei couldn't hear the specific words in the rolling roar, but the disappointment, anger, and contempt contained within felt like real needles pricking his back.
He straightened his back and endured it all with a blank expression.
Unbreakable Douluo Zheng Zhan frowned, staring seriously at Bei Bei, and asked in a deep voice, " Bei Bei, captain of the Shrek Academy, are you sure you want to forfeit and admit defeat on behalf of the Shrek Academy?"
Bei Bei's gaze swept over the seven members of the Sun Moon Soul Royal Academy opposite her, and finally she nodded heavily and firmly to Zheng Zhan: "I'm sure."
Zheng Zhan then announced loudly, "Since Shrek Academy has forfeited, I hereby declare the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy the winner of this team battle!"
With referee Zheng Zhan's final announcement, this highly anticipated match came to an end in a way that surprised everyone.
While victory is certainly cause for celebration, this bloodless "victory" left the members of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy with an indescribable sense of loss.
What they expect is to defeat their opponents in a real fight on the ring.
Who would have thought that the ever-proud Shrek Academy would so readily admit defeat?
Inside the preparation area, the members of the other teams also did not expect this outcome.
In many people's minds, Shrek is the only team qualified to compete with the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.
Such a disappointing ending is bound to leave people feeling very discouraged.
Of course, there are also relatively calm individuals who can guess the deeper considerations behind the Shrek Academy's choice.
However, in the face of burning emotions, the voice of reason is always weak.
Most people were still dominated by disappointment and confusion, finding it hard to accept that this highly anticipated showdown had ended so quietly and hastily.
The journey back from the ring to the preparation area wasn't long, but for Bei Bei at that moment, every step felt like walking on a scorching knife's edge—long and agonizing.
A deafening roar surged in from all directions, and countless cacophonies forced their way into his ears.
Although it was impossible to hear the specific content of each sentence, the emotions contained in the combined sound waves were clearly discernible.
There were angry roars erupting from unfulfilled expectations, undisguised sharp sarcasm, and wanton slander against Shrek Academy's eternal glory.
Even worse, some people hurled words like "coward" and "disgrace" at them.
When making the decision to abstain, Bei Bei told himself countless times that it was a rational choice for the greater good, and that he must and could bear everything that followed.
However, when this naked and malicious storm of public opinion truly engulfed him, his pre-set psychological defenses were still shaken to the breaking point.
He involuntarily lowered his head, his gaze fixed on his toes as he moved forward, his tightly pursed lips losing all color.
He dared not look up at the disappointed and even angry gazes, but silently quickened his pace, almost fleeing back to the entrance of the preparation zone.
At the same moment that Shrek Academy conceded defeat amidst the uproar on the field in the eastern suburbs of Mingdu.
After a long and arduous journey, Cai Mei'er finally arrived at the Shrek Academy and set foot on Sea God Island.
However, the moment her footsteps touched the familiar path, she keenly sensed that something was amiss.
Although Sea God Island is the sacred ground of the academy, its atmosphere is always solemn yet tranquil. The Titled Douluo of the academy each have their own duties and rarely gather on Sea God Island.
But at this moment, she keenly sensed that the number of hidden yet powerful auras on the island was unusually large!
It was as if all the Titled Douluo within the academy had gathered here at this moment.
Has something big happened again, requiring Sea God Pavilion Meeting?
Just as Cai Mei'er frowned and was filled with doubt and uncertainty, a figure rushed over from a distance and arrived in front of her in the blink of an eye. It was Qian Duoduo, the vice dean of the Martial Soul Department.
When Qian Duoduo saw Cai Mei'er, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes; she clearly hadn't expected her to appear at this moment.
He opened his mouth and asked, "Why are you back?"
But he didn't give Cai Mei'er a chance to speak, and just sighed and said, "Now that you're back, you might as well come with me to the Sea God Pavilion."
Seeing Qian Duoduo's unusually solemn expression, Cai Mei'er's ominous premonition suddenly surged to its peak, and her heart sank.
Sure enough, Qian Duoduo's next words were like a thunderclap from the heavens, exploding in her ears.
" Xuan Zi and the others are all inside."
His voice was incredibly strained; every word seemed to be uttered with all his might.
"Let's go see Mu En... one last time."