The lineup sent by Shrek Academy for this competition was anchored by two powerful Spirit Emperor-level experts, accompanied by five Spirit Kings of considerable strength.
In past competitions, such a configuration would have been considered a crushing force.
Whether in terms of Spirit Master Rank, combat experience, or team coordination, the Shrek group was completely confident.
They believed their team was strong enough to sweep through the arena, with no other team capable of standing against them.
In their eyes, with such a luxurious lineup of two Spirit Emperors and five Spirit Kings, winning the championship of this competition would be as easy as reaching into a bag to grab something.
This confidence gave everyone at Shrek a consistently superior attitude.
However, as the competition procedures progressed, reports regarding the strength of other participating teams began to arrive one after another.
This instantly shattered the confidence of the Shrek Academy group, and the previously relaxed atmosphere suddenly became heavy.
The smug expressions on everyone's faces vanished entirely, replaced by shock and disbelief.
Who could have imagined that the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, long considered a formidable rival by the Three Great Empires of the original Douluo Continent, actually possessed two Spirit Emperor-level Spirit Masters as well.
A Spirit Emperor lineup that was not in the least inferior to Shrek's; this news already caused everyone's hearts to sink.
But what they found even more inconceivable was an obscure second-rate Sect.
The Mingluo Sect.
A small Sect that was virtually unknown in the Spirit Master's world and could at most be considered a second-rate power.
In terms of background, Legacy, or past reputation, it simply could not be compared to the established top-tier Sects on the Douluo Continent.
Yet, it was precisely such a Sect that actually possessed three Spirit Emperor-level experts!
One must realize that even the Clear Sky Sect—the number one Sect in the world, which had been in seclusion for many years and possessed a deep Foundation—only had a lineup of three Spirit Emperors.
For a nameless second-rate Sect to match the high-level combat power of the Clear Sky Sect was completely beyond everyone's understanding.
Shrek Academy and the Clear Sky Sect had always been on good terms, both belonging to the original Douluo Continent Spirit Master camp.
Their common goal was to contain the increasingly rising and ambitious Sun Moon Empire.
Shrek Academy had long known about the Clear Sky Sect's three Spirit Emperor lineup and had never been the least bit worried.
After all, they were allies; the stronger the Clear Sky Sect was, the more confidence they had in opposing the Sun Moon Empire.
Since both sides were on the same front, there were naturally no conflicts of interest.
But where on earth did this suddenly emerging Mingluo Sect come from?
What kind of secrets were hidden behind its sudden rise?
How did a second-rate Sect manage to cultivate three Spirit Emperor experts?
This series of questions filled the minds of every Shrek member, leaving them full of doubt and unease.
The sounds of discussion grew louder as everyone speculated about the origins and goals of the Mingluo Sect, and the entire meeting room fell into chaos.
Yan Shaozhe sat in the main seat, his brow furrowed, looking grimly at this group of young team members who had been high-spirited but were now losing their composure due to shock.
After a moment of contemplation, Yan Shaozhe slowly raised his hand and pressed down gently, signaling everyone to be quiet.
He had already discussed the matter of the Mingluo Sect with Xu Jiawei; even though they were ninety percent certain that the Mingluo Sect was a disguise for Evil Soul Masters, they still chose to maintain their current plan.
This was because the Mingluo Sect was a double-edged sword, a good blade to be used against the Sun Moon Empire's team.
It wouldn't be too late to conduct a thorough investigation after this sword had served its purpose.
Right now, Shrek Academy had only one goal: to concentrate all their energy and go all out to oppose the Sun Moon Empire's competing team.
With its advanced spirit tool technology, the Sun Moon Empire's strength had risen rapidly, and it had long been eyeing the Three Great Empires of the original Douluo Continent with hostility.
The Spirit Master competition was the best battlefield to strike at the Sun Moon Empire's morale.
What Shrek Academy needed to do was to use absolute strength to ruthlessly crush the Sun Moon Empire's team in the main arena.
At the same time, they would destroy those Genius Spirit Masters whom the Sun Moon Empire had high hopes for, fundamentally striking at the Sun Moon Empire's younger generation.
Severing the Foundation of the Sun Moon Empire's future Spirit Master talent was the most critical task at hand.
In particular, the name Xu Tianhao of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy was like a thorn embedded in the hearts of all Spirit Masters from the original Douluo Continent.
At only twelve years old, his cultivation had already reached Rank 59, only a single step away from the Spirit Emperor Realm.
Such talent could be described as terrifying and was practically unheard of.
Even the Xu Tianran who had once stunned the entire Spirit Master's world and was now a core figure of the Sun Moon Empire...
...had not reached such a terrifying cultivation height at the age of twelve.
The Sun Moon Empire had already produced one exceptionally gifted and ambitious Xu Tianran, who brought a great threat to the Three Great Empires of the original Douluo Continent.
If Xu Tianhao were allowed to grow up smoothly as well, he would surely become an even greater disaster in the future.
Two peerless Geniuses joining forces would be enough to make the Sun Moon Empire's strength climb to an unimaginable level.
Of course, besides Xu Tianhao, the suddenly emerging Mingluo Sect was also placed on the priority watch list by Ma Xiaotao and the others.
Because according to intelligence, the Mingluo Sect also had a peerless Prodigy who was not inferior to Xu Tianhao.
That fellow who always wore a Rakshasa Mask was also twelve years old, and his cultivation had also reached the appalling Rank 59.
Such talent was enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with Xu Tianhao, and even the top Prodigies of Shrek and the Clear Sky Sect.
Ma Xiaotao and the others could not afford to ignore this.
...
In stark contrast to the shock and gravity on Shrek Academy's side, the atmosphere in the temporary meeting room of the Clear Sky Sect's team remained peaceful and relaxed, completely unruffled.
Even knowing that the Mingluo Sect possessed three Spirit Emperors, the members of the Clear Sky Sect still looked indifferent, showing not the slightest hint of worry or wariness.
The pride and arrogance of being the world's number one Sect were etched into the very bones of the Clear Sky Sect members.
Through the accumulation of time, the Clear Sky Sect's Foundation and glory had long since penetrated their very marrow.
Even after years of seclusion with their sharpness restrained, no one ever dared to underestimate them.
In their eyes, their purpose for participating in this Continental Soul Master Tournament was very pure.
It was to use absolute martial suppression to ruthlessly beat the Sun Moon Empire's team on the field.
By doing so, they would demonstrate the prestige of the Clear Sky Sect while also contributing to the original Douluo Continent camp.
As for the Mingluo Sect that had suddenly popped up and also possessed three Spirit Emperors...
...in the eyes of the Clear Sky Sect members, it was merely a slightly larger ant, not worth mentioning at all.
Even if the Mingluo Sect had decent high-level combat power, it could not be compared to them, who possessed an ancient Legacy and formidable strength.
This confidence, stemming from the Sect's deep Foundation, meant they never took the Mingluo Sect seriously.
Furthermore, besides possessing the world-shaking Clear Sky Hammer Spirit...
...the Clear Sky Sect's team also had the Radiant Butterfly Goddess Spirit, which had a natural suppressive effect on all types of Dark Spirits.
With this two-pronged approach, whether facing the Sun Moon Empire's Soul Engineer team or the mysterious Mingluo Sect, the Clear Sky Sect had absolute confidence