Meanwhile, over at Shrek Academy.
Grandmaster was also explaining the tournament rules to the Shrek Seven Devils, giving detailed explanations of several lesser-known regulations.
"Especially you, Little San. Under no circumstances are you to use your hidden weapons during the tournament. No matter how angry you get, you must restrain yourself."
"The moment you use hidden weapons, everyone else will suffer the consequences along with you."
Tang San nodded firmly.
"Don't worry, Teacher. I know my limits. I won't drag everyone down."
Grandmaster continued,
"As for the preliminary rounds, remember that our goal is simply to qualify. While doing so, we must avoid exposing too many of our trump cards."
"There are five qualification spots in the Heaven Dou Empire division. That means we can afford to lose as many as four matches."
"Not long ago, there were rumors that Godwind Academy and Blazing Academy had merged into a single team. That effectively reduces the number of the traditional Five Element Academies by one, leaving only four."
Even Grandmaster had to admit that, besides the five established academy teams, Seven Treasure Academy had the greatest chance of qualifying.
Therefore, their objective was to defeat just one of those five teams.
"Either Elephant Armored Academy or Skywater Academy will do. We only need to beat one of them."
Skywater Academy's reserved and uncompetitive nature made them an easy team to overlook.
Up to this point, apart from a few academies that maintained close ties with Skywater Academy, no one knew how much Shui Bing'er had improved. The other teams knew virtually nothing about them.
Tang San was no exception, so he analyzed.
"Comparatively speaking, Skywater Academy should be easier to defeat. Teacher, let's wait until tomorrow's opening ceremony and see how the match schedule is arranged. There's no need for us to rush."
"As for Seven Treasure Academy."
Grandmaster interrupted him immediately.
"Little San, do not fight them before the finals!"
Although Grandmaster was overly confident, he wasn't a fool.
The Seven Treasure Team's momentum was at its peak. This was exactly the wrong time to confront them and risk exposing all of Shrek's trump cards.
Tang San said nothing, but it was clear he was already considering another showdown with the Seven Treasure Team.
Once the serious discussion ended, Dai Mubai sighed helplessly.
"Grandmaster, could you talk to the Headmaster about changing our uniforms? They're just too ugly!"
His complaint immediately won everyone's support.
Grandmaster, however, didn't seem to care.
"You'll have to discuss that with Flender yourselves."
The following day.
The renovated Heaven Dou Grand Spirit Arena had become the main venue for this year's Heaven Dou division preliminary rounds.
Early that morning, countless city residents, visiting Spirit Masters, and nobles gathered along both sides of the road leading to the arena, hoping to catch a glimpse of the young Spirit Masters.
The order in which each team would enter had already been announced by the organizers.
As the overwhelming favorite to win this year's tournament, and with both the imperial family and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan supporting them, the Seven Treasure Team was arranged to enter first.
In Douluo Continent, there was no concept of "saving the best for last." The earlier a team entered, the more importance it was given.
The Seven Treasure Team, including its substitutes, consisted of eleven members.
Wu Qi led the group at the front while everyone else lined up neatly behind him, creating an imposing formation.
"Look! That's the Seven Treasure Academy Team!"
As soon as someone in the crowd shouted, countless eyes turned toward them.
Having already gained extensive experience competing at the Grand Spirit Arena, none of them were intimidated by the attention.
In fact, Changkong and the others even enthusiastically waved and interacted with the spectators.
Seeing everyone getting a little too carried away, Wu Qi reminded them.
"Don't waste time. We need to get inside as quickly as possible."
Behind them, the second team scheduled to enter was the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team.
Since they had already arrived directly behind the Seven Treasure Team, any delay would slow down the opening ceremony.
Compared to the confidence of the Seven Treasure Team, every member of the Shrek Team covered their faces with their hands, as though afraid of being recognized.
They had also been assigned to enter last, making it obvious how little regard the organizers had for them.
Soon enough, the local spectators recognized them.
"Oh, isn't that the Shrek Academy Team?"
"Are you sure it's Shrek and not 'Shitrek'? Are those poop-green uniforms actually serious?"
The ridicule made the Shrek Seven Devils and Tai Long grit their teeth in anger.
Tang San snorted coldly.
"Don't let this affect your mindset. Once we're on the battlefield, only strength matters."
Meanwhile, under the guidance of the staff, the members of the Seven Treasure Team climbed the steps leading to the arena and entered the main venue.
After walking through the long competitors' tunnel, they were greeted by the sight of a packed stadium filled with spectators attending the opening ceremony.
The announcer loudly declared,
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Seven Treasure Academy Team!"
"I don't think I need to explain why being the first team to enter says so much."
"Seven Treasure Academy was only established last year..."
The announcer's job was to introduce every team, including their background and previous achievements.
The length of each introduction also gave the audience a rough idea of each team's overall strength.
"The Seven Treasure Academy Team's slogan is, 'There are no useless Spirit Masters, only useless martial spirits.' What an eye-catching slogan. Let's look forward to them delivering an outstanding performance and competing for the tournament championship!"
As soon as he finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted throughout the arena.
The unusual slogan immediately sparked discussion among the audience.
"This year's Seven Treasure Team really is incredibly strong. They're probably unmatched during the qualifiers. A slogan like that is probably meant to encourage their opponents instead of crushing their confidence."
After all, a martial spirit was something one was born with and could rarely change through effort. From that perspective, the slogan could also be interpreted as acknowledging the hard work of other Spirit Masters, making it surprisingly down-to-earth.
There were plenty of other interpretations as well. Some believed it reflected the Seven Treasure Team's arrogance.
However, most people agreed with the first explanation.
After all, possessing a powerful martial spirit was crucial to a Spirit Master's growth.
Naturally, the slogan had been Wu Qi's idea.
Every competing team needed a slogan. Rather than using the usual worn-out inspirational phrases, he decided to go with this one instead.
Of course, the slogan might not mean much to others, but to Grandmaster, it struck a particularly sensitive nerve.
Wu Qi and Grandmaster, along with the rest of Shrek, were destined to be enemies, so there was no reason for him to show any courtesy.
During the opening ceremony, the teachers did not enter alongside their teams. Instead, they had already taken their seats in advance.
The moment Grandmaster heard the Seven Treasure Team's slogan, his expression turned extremely gloomy.
The saying, "There are no useless martial spirits, only useless Spirit Masters," had been his own theory.
Now the Seven Treasure Team had reversed it.
Wasn't that indirectly calling him useless?
But if he wasn't useless, why had he remained stuck at Level 29 for so many years?
To Grandmaster, the Seven Treasure Team had clearly chosen this slogan specifically to target and humiliate him before the entire audience.
"Xiaogang, calm down first. Maybe it's just a coincidence," Flender quickly tried to reassure him.
Grandmaster's theory had never been accepted by the wider world. The only people who knew about it were Flender, Liu Erlong, a few close associates, and Tang San.
In Grandmaster's eyes, the Seven Treasure Team had blatantly taken his theory and twisted its meaning.
How could he possibly not be furious?
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