At this moment, the entire audience was in shock after learning that the Sun Moon Royal Team had actually drawn an Individual Elimination Match for group six.
The originally boisterous Star Luo Plaza, after a brief moment of dead silence, instantly erupted into a discussion even more intense than before.
Even the ordinary citizens who didn't know much about the Spirit Master world understood what an "Individual Elimination Match" meant for a team of pure Soul Engineers, thanks to the explanations from those around them.
It was a disaster.
"Oh boy, is this Sun Moon Team having a run of bad luck this year?"
In the front row of the spectator stands, a burly man with a face full of stubble couldn't help but slap his thigh as he spoke, his tone full of pity:
"Who doesn't know that a Soul Engineer's greatest strength lies in positional warfare and fire coverage? When those rows of soul tool cannons are set up, who would dare to charge head-on? But if this turns into a one-on-one individual battle... tsk tsk tsk."
"Exactly!" A young Spirit Master in an academy uniform nearby chimed in, his eyes gleaming with the light of someone "in the know":
"Soul Engineers rely too much on external objects. In a team match, with teammates covering them, they can leisurely charge, lock on, and fire their spirit tools."
"But on a stage like the Individual Elimination Match where enemies meet on a narrow path, the opponent won't give you time to prepare. Especially if they encounter agility-attack system or Defense System Spirit Masters who specialize in close-quarters combat; once a Soul Engineer is closed in on, they're like lambs to the slaughter!"
"What a pity, truly a pity. I thought I'd see the Sun Moon Team recreate last year's glory this year, but now things are looking dicey."
Similar conversations rose and fell in every corner of the plaza.
It wasn't just the audience; even the other academy teams who had finished drawing or were waiting to draw now looked toward the Sun Moon Team with strange expressions.
There was sympathy, schadenfreude, and even the relief of having dodged a bullet.
After all, having one less powerful competitor was a good thing for everyone.
...
And at this very moment.
No one was happier than Xuan Zi from Shrek Academy.
Looking at the glaring words "Individual Elimination Match" on the large screen, Xuan Zi felt as if all thirty-six thousand pores on his body had opened up; he felt comfortable from head to toe.
"Good! Good! Good!"
Xuan Zi couldn't help but shout 'good' three times in his heart. If he hadn't been mindful of so many people being present, he would have even wanted to laugh loudly three times to the heavens and gulp down several large mouthfuls of fine wine to celebrate.
He glanced at Liu Yuan from a distance, the corners of his mouth curling into a cruel arc:
'Arrogant, aren't you? Kid, weren't you acting all high and mighty?'
'Even the heavens can't stand it anymore! Keep being arrogant! Now that you've drawn an individual match, let's see how you perform!'
In Xuan Zi's eyes, Soul Engineers were just a bunch of opportunists who relied on tricks.
Without the cover of a team and the support of a fortified position, they were just toothless sick cats!
Now, only one thought remained in Xuan Zi's mind, which was also the thing he desired most to happen—
And that was for the Shrek Team to also be drawn into group six!
'As long as we can get into group six...'
Xuan Zi's beard trembled slightly with excitement as he quickly calculated in his heart:
'With the powerful individual strength of our Shrek Academy, we can absolutely achieve a total slaughter of the Sun Moon Team!'
'Even...'
Xuan Zi's gaze became sinister.
'Even, if there are a few more decent strong teams in group six besides us Shrek... hehe.'
The rules for the Round-robin Tournament were based on a points system, with the top two teams in the group advancing.
If the Sun Moon Team lost consecutively to several strong teams in the individual matches and ended up at the bottom of the points, they wouldn't even make it into the top sixteen!
To crush last year's runner-up and that damn Liu Yuan directly in the group stage, making them the laughingstock of the entire continent...
Thinking of that scene, Xuan Zi trembled all over with excitement.
That would be the most perfect revenge!
Just as Xuan Zi was immersed in his beautiful fantasy, the drawing ceremony continued.
"Next, Crimson Flame Academy!"
As the Prime Minister's voice fell, a burly young man with hair as red as fire strode onto the stage.
Crimson Flame Academy.
Hearing this name, Xuan Zi's eyebrows twitched slightly.
He had an impression of them.
This was a strong team from the Heaven Dou Empire. Although not as dazzling as Shrek or the Sun Moon Royal Academy, their foundation was quite deep.
In the last tournament, they finally ranked seventh in the entire continent; their strength was definitely not to be underestimated.
And most importantly, Crimson Flame Academy focused on fire-attribute Spirits, and their attacking style was extremely violent, specializing in frontal bombardment and individual explosive power.
This kind of style was quite advantageous in an Individual Elimination Match!
"Please draw group six... please draw group six..."
Xuan Zi stared fixedly at the red-haired youth's hand, muttering in his heart as if he were more nervous than if he were drawing the lot himself.
Perhaps Xuan Zi's "prayers" really moved the heavens.
The red-haired youth pulled a ball from the box, glanced at it, and then held it up high.
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