Chapter 156: We Fight Star Luo Royal Academy?!

Chapter 156: We Fight Star Luo Royal Academy?!

Xiao Hongchen couldn't help but frown when he heard what Elder Ma said.

Did he look so unreliable?

"I know," Xiao Hongchen replied, his tone somewhat gloomy.

Standing nearby, Meng Hongchen lightly cupped her hands and parted her red lips slightly.

She hadn't expected Ling Shuang to have such a background.

Even as the granddaughter of the head of Mingde Hall, she couldn't receive such treatment—being personally escorted by a top-level powerhouse capable of slaying a peak-level Rank 98 Spirit Douluo!

"You're seriously a male god!"

Meng Hongchen held her small face, red eyes glittering like stars.

He had talent, looks, and an extraordinary identity and background. He was perfect!

"Meng, that's our opponent!" Xiao Hongchen's brow twitched slightly as he looked at his fangirling sister.

"So what?" Meng Hongchen pouted, unconcerned.

"Friendship first, competition second. Understand?"

"Haha." Xiao Hongchen just sneered coldly.

He knew his sister's competitive spirit all too well.

Words like that definitely didn't belong in her mouth.

...

Though Old Xuan's death had shaken all the major powers and brought Ling Shuang, Xue Di, and the others under the spotlight, it hadn't affected the progression of the tournament.

The competition still proceeded in an orderly fashion.

As Ling Shuang had predicted, Shrek Academy did lodge a formal complaint with the tournament committee, hoping to disqualify him.

However, most of the committee members were affiliated with the Star Luo royal family. Just as Xu Jiujiu had previously mentioned, they naturally rejected the appeal, and the matter ended with barely a ripple.

Later on, under the "accidental" suggestion of a certain princess, the matter of Shrek Academy's regular team being replaced was leaked.

Now, nearly every academy knew that Shrek was facing internal issues, and the main team couldn't play, leaving only the reserve members to compete.

The spread of this news made Huo Yuhao and the others' earlier deception seem like a bad joke.

It also flipped many other academies' attitudes.

Where once they hoped to avoid Shrek Academy in the draw, they now wanted to face them in the next match.

After all, even though Shrek had the reputation of the number one academy on the continent, a group of students with an average age under fifteen and Spirit Power not even reaching the Spirit King realm were like soft boobs, easy to pinch.

Thanks to the Star Luo royal family's neutrality and Shrek's decent luck, most of their opponents in the following matches weren't particularly strong.

They had only lost a few matches in the non-elimination phase so far, and there was still a chance to qualify.

Inside the Shrek Academy lounge.

The entire team was gathered.

Aside from Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luochen, nearly everyone else was present.

The atmosphere was somber. Everyone wore a faintly gloomy expression.

Elder Xuan's death had cast a long shadow over them.

Coupled with the failure of their ghost-disguise tactic, the pressure on them had reached a boiling point.

Wang Yan stood at the front, beside a blackboard that displayed the team's current results and the accumulated points of the other academies in their group.

"This is where we currently stand."

"With these points, as long as we don't lose the next match, we can still qualify. This aligns with what the Academy has asked of us."

Wang Yan pointed at the chalk-drawn chart on the board as he spoke.

The Academy's expectations were clear.

They didn't expect this team to win the championship anymore but they had to qualify.

That way, even if the reserve team was fielded, it could still be spun as a successful strategy, and with the right guidance, they could suppress the narrative that Shrek's defending title had been broken.

Dai Huabin and the others nodded.

Initially, they had entertained thoughts of winning the title, but after witnessing the strength of the other academies, they gave up those illusions.

Dai Yueheng might be able to fight later, but even then he couldn't use his full strength.

As for Ma Xiaotao...

She seemed to have lost interest in the competition altogether, and had missed several meetings.

Meanwhile, other academies had brought Spirit Emperors into play.

Both Di Ao Academy and the Sun Moon Royal Soul Instructor Academy had confirmed Spirit Emperor-level powerhouses.

And Ling Shuang of the Star Luo Royal Academy though not a Spirit Emperor carried a pressure that surpassed even those two!

Even if Shrek made it to the semi-finals, it was nearly guaranteed they'd be eliminated if matched against any of those three academies.

After all, unlike the injured Dai Yueheng, the Spirit Emperors from Di Ao and the Sun Moon academies were at full strength.

Two complete Spirit Emperors!

And the rest of their teams were composed of Spirit Kings—every one of them with higher cultivation than Shrek's top reserve members.

This was an all-around crushing in terms of raw capability, not something that could be overturned by mere shouts of determination and passion!

So the dream of winning was gone. Now, they simply hoped to qualify, to uphold Shrek Academy's reputation as the continent's number one academy!

Just then, the lounge door slowly opened.

Bei Bei walked in with a gloomy face.

"Bei Bei, how is it? What was the result of the draw?" Xu Sanshi asked anxiously.

The others all looked toward him.

They only needed not to lose this match to complete their mission from the Academy so naturally, they were nervous.

Beibei sighed and said solemnly, "Not good."

"Our next opponent is..."

"Bei Bei, tell us! Why are you hesitating?!"

Xu Sanshi grew agitated at Beibei's silence and urged him on.

Beibei's lips moved. He spoke with difficulty:

"Star Luo Royal Academy."

"That's our next opponent..."

As soon as the words landed, everyone's expressions froze.

"Star—Star Luo Royal Academy?!"

"Beibei, are you sure?" Xu Sanshi asked, gripping Beibei's arm.

If there was one team they didn't want to face in the entire group, it was the Star Luo Royal Academy!

In their eyes, that team led by Ling Shuang was far more dangerous than any other.

Faced with Xu Sanshi's question, Beibei gave a bitter smile. "Yes, it's Star Luo Royal Academy."

He hadn't wanted to believe it when he first saw the draw.

They were only one match away from qualifying why did it have to be this opponent?

So close, yet so far!

But facts were facts. Their next opponent was the Star Luo Royal Academy, led by Ling Shuang.

If they won, they would qualify.

If they lost, they would be eliminated.

And the former seemed very unlikely…

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(End of this chapter)