After Chu Qing returned home after paying the compensation, he noticed that Tang Wutong had inexplicably locked herself in her room and was sulking.
He couldn't be bothered with it; on the contrary, he was happy not to be bothered and silently handed the bill under the door.
After the elimination rounds, the playoffs began, and Shrek was once again in the first match.
When the dark green competition uniforms appeared in the entrance passage of the participating academies, the entire Star Luo Plaza erupted in cheers.
Starting from the very beginning of the entrance passage, the audience was as frenzied as cult fans, chanting Shrek's name at the top of their lungs.
Some people even fainted on the spot due to excessive excitement, and healing-type Soul Master quickly rushed in to rescue them.
Overshadowed by the Shrek Academy's brilliance, other academies paled in comparison.
Star Luo Emperor wrote with emotion:
"This is the Shrek, a place of eternal glory!"
His expression was somewhat complicated.
Even though Shrek Academy has compromised with the nobles, their actions of monitoring the continent would still be a thorn in the side for any monarch.
Chu Qing was also slightly moved. Some things are deeply ingrained. Even if he could dominate Shrek in this year or the next, there was still a long way to go before Qianling Academy could reach that level.
After a series of pointless remarks from the host aimed at stirring up the audience's emotions, he shouted in the most impassioned voice:
"Next, please welcome the Shrek Academy team, the number one academy on the continent!"
"And their opponents, the Star Luo Empire's Yunluo Advanced Soul Engineer Academy team, enter the waiting area."
"At the same time, we invite the captains of both teams to come up on stage to confirm their competition format."
Before Wang Yan could give the signal, a fiery red figure leaped onto the stage.
When the captain of the Yunluo Academy came up on stage, he felt Ma Xiaotao's presence opposite him and his aura became noticeably weaker, making others feel ashamed of themselves.
Both players simultaneously hold down the drawing bucket, and the referee inserts small balls—red, yellow, and blue—representing three different game formats, through the holes.
Before Captain Yunluo could react, Ma Xiaotao lightly flicked the ball and tossed the lottery bucket into the air, making it twenty meters high.
Captain Star Luo Empire's hand froze awkwardly in mid-air before slowly retracting it.
Three small balls were spinning inside the lottery bucket when one of them fell out.
However, Ma Xiaotiao didn't even look at it; he had already turned around and jumped off the stage.
The referee caught the ball and announced:
" Shrek Academy will face Yunluo Academy in a one-on-one elimination tournament."
"Please send out your first player to compete."
Ma Xiaotao returned to the waiting area, Wang Yan advised her:
" Ma Xiaotao, restrain your behavior. Remember that your every word and action represents Shrek Academy."
Ma Xiaotao sat down on her own, crossed her legs, leaned back in her chair, and closed her eyes to rest. She didn't seem to be listening at all, after all, Wang Yan's status in Shrek was not as high as hers.
She said it nonchalantly:
"It doesn't matter, we'll win easily no matter what kind of competition it is."
Wang Yan clenched his fists in anger and became serious:
" Ma Xiaotao, I know my cultivation level is low, and you look down on me."
"That doesn't matter to me, but let me tell you, I'm the team leader now."
" Dai Yueheng is now taking over your captaincy."
Ma Xiaotao immediately opened her eyes and angrily said:
"On what grounds?"
Wang Yan did not answer her, but simply gave the order:
This is the first time I'm warning you!
"If you continue to act recklessly, I will disqualify you from the competition."
"You are indeed powerful, but let me tell you, Shrek doesn't stop functioning just because someone is missing."
"If you're not satisfied, go back to the inner courtyard and ask me, the teacher in charge, if I have the authority to deal with you!"
Ma Xiaotao snorted angrily, stood up, kicked the chair where Dai Yueheng was sitting, and said irritably:
"Get out of my way."
Dai Yueheng smiled slightly, stood up, straightened her collar, and sat down in front, deliberately trying to provoke her, saying:
"Remember to follow my instructions from now on."
Ma Xiaotao crossed her arms, her impatience written all over her face.
Wang Yan's expression softened.
He was under a lot of pressure during this competition. First, he faced the Death Messenger, and if it weren't for Huo Yuhao, they would have almost met with an accident.
Then there was the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy and the Qianling Academy that suddenly appeared out of nowhere. He truly felt the crisis, even with two Soul Emperor in charge.
Therefore, he had to be strict and not let Ma Xiaotao and the other geniuses, who were used to being self-centered, continue to do as they pleased. He had to ensure that the team's cooperation on the field would not be ruined by personal temper.
He looked at the reserve team members sitting behind the official team members. Behind Dai Yueheng was Bei Bei, and behind Ma Xiaotao was Jin Su, who had also been demoted.
There's a certain imbalance, with more yin than yang!
He sighed inwardly and said to Jin Su:
" Jin Su, now is your chance to make amends."
"You're not allowed to use your Soul Skill. Go and eliminate the opponent."
Of all the people, only Jin Su Ultimate Strength; even without using Soul Skill, her combat strength was terrifying.
Jin Su stood up, drew her Golden Dragon Spear, and said coldly:
"If someone is killed, will the academy pay compensation?"
Wang Yan immediately frowned and corrected him:
"This is a competition!"
Jin Su snorted coldly, and with a kick that cracked the ground, she jumped onto the stage, causing the chair she was sitting in to fall backward.
Wang Yan felt a headache coming on and glanced at Huo Yuhao.
Of all these people, he liked Huo Yuhao the most. Huo Yuhao had the best overall perspective and a strong sense of team honor. It was just a pity that his cultivation level was still a bit weak. Otherwise, he would have wanted Huo Yuhao to be the captain.
Sitting next to Huo Yuhao, Dai Huabin stared at Jin Su's dashing figure, a strange glint in his eyes.
Compared to Zhu Lu, who was obedient to him in everything, Jin Su, who was powerful and domineering, was clearly more interesting to him.
He looked around, his gaze falling on his brother Dai Yueheng and Ma Xiaotao beside him. They were brothers, and in some ways they were the same.
He was somewhat curious: was it because of Ma Xiaotao that his brother didn't have much contact with the women of the Zhu Family, and even always made excuses for it?
He found it somewhat laughable, but he couldn't help but imagine what might have happened if he hadn't met Zhu Lu sooner...
Back at the Yunluo Advanced Soul Engineer Academy, their captain was sent back by drawing lots, and the team members were all indignant.
"What's with the captain acting so high and mighty?!"
"So what if it's Shrek Academy? They have no manners at all, looking down on everyone."
Captain Yunluo raised his hand to stop them. To be honest, he had a strange feeling in his heart. Ma Xiaotao's arrogant gaze seemed to linger in his mind.
He even wondered if he had masochistic tendencies, feeling a strange, tingling pleasure in it all, especially if Ma Xiaotao were looking at him with disdain while reluctantly extending her delicate feet...
He straightened his voice slightly and said:
"Being able to encounter Shrek Academy is at least better than being eliminated by other academies."
"Let's all do our best! Give it our all!"
He reached out his hand, and one by one, his teammates reached out and placed their hands on him, encouraging each other:
Damn it!