Chapter 158: Watching the Matches
The second day of the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament officially began.
The stadium was bustling, with deafening cheers shaking the sky.
The Great Spirit Arena, capable of accommodating eighty thousand spectators, was fully packed. Particularly, those who had just arrived in Heaven Dou Imperial City felt immense regret at having missed yesterday's spectacular matches.
Although today's competition lacked the stunning appearance of a ten-thousand-year spirit ring as seen yesterday, several other powerful teams would be competing today.
Among them were the Five Elements Academies.
Today, Dai Yao and the Oakland team's group came to Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena as spectators.
Why spectators? Because there were only five matches per day, and Oakland's match had already been played during yesterday's opening ceremony. Today was their rest day, a good opportunity to observe the strength of other teams.
Apart from several rough men, only one girl, Dugu Yan, accompanied Dai Yao today.
Feng Wutong chose to stay at the academy to continue her cultivation, as her spirit power was only at level thirty-six, and she didn't wish to waste time watching matches. Zhu Zhuqing also stayed behind due to tomorrow's opponent, Blazing Academy, as she was essential for dealing with them.
Meanwhile, Dai Yuanyi, whose spirit power had already reached level thirty-nine and was close to breaking through his bottleneck, decided after much consideration to give up wandering around and also stayed to cultivate.
As for Luo Ling, perhaps influenced by Dai Yuanyi, she inexplicably remained with him at the academy.
"The first match today is Shrek versus Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's second team. The matches for Thunderclap Academy and Godwind Academy are scheduled for last," Dugu Yan read aloud as she looked at the arena's announcement.
"Matches between powerful teams really are the highlights," Dai Yao remarked with feeling.
"It seems that Shrek Academy can't escape this disaster," Dugu Yan chuckled lightly, hooking her arm around Dai Yao's.
Yesterday, Oakland's battle against Elephant Armor Academy had replaced Shrek's scheduled match against Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's second team, thus moving their match to today.
But undoubtedly, no one expected much from the little-known Shrek Academy.
Amid the cheers of the crowd, the two teams entered the stage.
Five minutes later, Shrek Academy stunned everyone by swiftly sweeping Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's second team out of the competition.
Countless astonished cries echoed through the arena. Even Dugu Yan looked surprised.
Although Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's second team wasn't as strong as their first team, their overall strength far surpassed ordinary academies. Yet, unexpectedly, Shrek had easily overwhelmed them in less than five minutes.
Compared to everyone else's astonishment, Dai Yao was more curious.
"Shrek's first match featured the original lineup from the story, except for the auxiliary spirit master Oscar, and some changes in their strength," Dai Yao thought to himself.
"Dai Mubai is still a Spirit Ancestor, though only at level forty-two. Tang San is also a Spirit Ancestor, but his fourth spirit ring changed from a frightening ten-thousand-year spirit ring to an ordinary thousand-year spirit ring."
Dai Yao had previously seized Tang San's opportunity at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Without the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot, Tang San lacked the ability to absorb a ten-thousand-year spirit ring.
"It seems the honor of having a ten-thousand-year fourth spirit ring will remain uniquely mine," Dai Yao thought quietly.
Though Shrek's overall strength had weakened, their easy victory over Heaven Dou Imperial Academy still slightly exceeded Dai Yao's expectations.
Recalling the match just now, he couldn't help but sigh internally:
"Truly worthy of being Tang San. Even with significantly reduced power, his outstanding control and precise grasp of the battle rhythm prevented Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's second team from performing effectively, thus securing victory."
Dugu Yan's eyes shone brightly beside him, as she spoke regretfully:
"This control-type spirit master from Shrek is really formidable. His control over the battle's rhythm surpasses even mine. But unfortunately, his martial soul is merely ordinary Blue Silver Grass."
As a control-type spirit master herself, Dugu Yan deeply understood Tang San's precise execution during the match, recognizing that she couldn't handle such delicate precision herself.
Dai Yao smiled, shaking his head internally, "His martial soul isn't ordinary Blue Silver Grass at all, but rather the Blue Silver Emperor, comparable in quality to the Clear Sky Hammer!"
"What are you smiling about?" Dugu Yan tilted her head, her long eyelashes casting faint shadows over her deep, clear eyes, puzzled by Dai Yao's quiet chuckle.
Dai Yao replied, "Nothing really, just surprised someone's mastery of control could surpass even my dear Yan Yan."
Hearing Dai Yao's praise, Dugu Yan's lips curled into a subtle smile.
After the Shrek Academy team left the stage, they quickly changed out of their uniforms.
Despite having swept away the humiliation suffered at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy previously, the bizarre uniforms they wore still earned them much ridicule.
Consequently, after the match ended, they immediately and unhesitatingly removed their oddly green outfits.
Seeing this, Dugu Yan chuckled gently, "Their dean really is a talent, designing their uniforms to look like that."
Dai Yao laughed quietly. Shrek's dean, Flender, was portrayed in the original as cunning, worldly, greedy, and stingy. Yet overall, he wasn't a bad person.
But upon further reflection, something felt subtly unsettling.
Ma Hongjun's martial soul was a top-tier beast martial soul, the Evil Fire Phoenix. Oscar was innately full of spirit power.
Both were ordinary commoners. According to reason, shouldn't the Spirit Hall have awakened their martial souls? With their talents, they absolutely would have been trained as core disciples.
But why, of all places, did these two specifically end up at Shrek Academy?
Or perhaps, did Dean Flender use some means to persuade them to abandon Spirit Hall? After all, originally they were neutral, or at least not opposed to Spirit Hall.
Only after Tang San's background was revealed did they join him in opposing Spirit Hall.
But what stopped them from going to the holy ground of countless spirit masters, Spirit Hall? They would have had a much brighter future, and it would have also improved their families' conditions significantly.
Moreover, after Shrek Academy's establishment, over forty spirit masters were recruited. Given Shrek's strict recruitment standards, those admitted must have been gifted spirit masters.
Yet ultimately, only around ten graduated—so where did all the others go?
Not to mention, their academy didn't even have the qualification to participate in the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament, likely causing countless students to miss out on their most brilliant youthful experiences.
Time passed gradually, and finally, the last two matches arrived.
The teams facing Godwind Academy and Thunderclap Academy stepped onto the stage dejectedly, clearly devoid of any desire for victory. It seemed facing these two powerful teams predetermined their defeat.
Godwind Academy showcased immense strength and legacy, with all seven members capable of flight, effortlessly sweeping away their opponents.
Thunderclap Academy featured five members, all possessing lightning attributes, exhibiting formidable strength.
Even more astonishing was their captain, Yu Tianxin, whose martial soul was the continent's strongest beast martial soul, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon!
Unsurprisingly, Thunderclap Academy easily defeated their opponents.
Amid cheers from the crowd, Yu Tianxin found Dai Yao's figure in Oakland's resting area. Their gazes met across the distance, sparking an intense rivalry.
(End of Chapter)