Gu Yue had just finished speaking and the atmosphere turned tense. It seemed like all of them had been waiting for someone to make this suggestion. Seeing them all stare at her, Gu Yue waited for their answers with a determined expression on her face.
Sheng Feilong was surprised that Gu Yue suddenly brought this up and missed his opportunity. Before he could say anything, Ye Xinglan spoke, saying she'd join Gu Yue. Yuanen Yehui, Xu Lizhi, Yue Zhengyu and Xu Xiaoyan also quickly agreed.
Xie Xie's eyes were slightly reddened. His tightly fisted hands pressed onto the table. "I'll join in to avenge the captain." All of them were suddenly burning with passion, ready to give it their all in the upcoming matches.
"No, all of you aren't allowed to participate." an icy cold voice echoed from nearby at this moment. Turning around, they saw Wu Zhangkong walking over to their table with a solemn expression. "Wulin's whereabouts are already unknown. I can't allow all of you to risk your lives again. Don't participate in the matches afterwards. The search for him is also still going on and we can't take any more chances until he is found."
Gu Yue stood up, coldly staring at Wu Zhangkong. "Teacher Wu, since the academy didn't interfere and intervene with us since the earlier matches, I hope that the academy will act as such and not intervene with us in the following matches as well."
"This is the academy's order." Wu Zhangkong spoke with a deep voice. Gu Yue's expression turned even more frosty when Sheng Feilong suddenly spoke up. "Teacher Wu, I already spoke with Elder Cai earlier today. Shrek Academy will be participating in the group competition. I'll take full responsibility."
All eyes were on Sheng Feilong. Gu Yue and the others were shocked about what he suddenly said. They didn't know anything about this until now. Wu Zhangkong's eyes were even colder than before. Staring at Sheng Feilong, he started speaking in a deep voice once again. "You'll take responsibility? How do you think you'll do that? What if they get injured-"
Sheng Feilong spoke up before he could continue, his voice determined and leaving no room for discussion. "I already added my own life to the bet with Elder Cai. If even one of them gets hurt, she'll personally kill me. Do you still think I won't be able to take responsibility?"
Gu Yue and the others suddenly felt a cold shiver run down their spines and stared at Sheng Feilong with wide eyes. Wu Zhangkong's pupils shook lightly; He was just as shocked as the others. "You bet your life against Elder Cai on this...?"
"Sheng Feilong, this..." Gu Yue started speaking, but was cut off by Sheng Feilong nearly instantly. "Yes. For them, this concerns their honour and their love for their team captain. For me, it concerns my life. I'll personally crush Monster Academy's team."
Wu Zhangkong stayed silent for a long while, staring at Sheng Feilong in shock. As he didn't say anything else, Shng Feilong turned around to Gu Yue and the others with a blank expression. "Let's go. The next round starts soon."
The other followed behind him without saying anything. Wu Zhangkong stayed silent. He would have to verify this with Elder Cai as soon as possible, but knowing her, she really was someone who wound go through with agreements like these.
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A while later, Star Luo City was in an uproar. Just a few minutes ago, the students from Shrek Academy officially announced that they would continue to participate in the Continental Young High-Ranking Soul Masters Elite Competition's group matches!
After the individual match's profoundly disturbing scene, the two-on-two category became much less interesting without the participation of Shrek Academy's students. The common people had also gradually calmed down after Long Yue's victory. On the contrary, they were anticipating the arrival of this exciting match.
The group competition was already in full throttle and Shrek Academy had already qualified for the final's round. Unlike before, the matches wouldn't only consist of a seven-versus-seven match, but of a different categories.
The teams will choose one participant each to fight in a one-versus-one against the other team first. Then there will be a two-versus-two team fight and lastly, the seven-versus-seven. Each round gave the winners a certain amount of points and, with this set of rules, it would be possible to win the group competition before the group match!
If one team won all three one-versus-one matches and then also won the two-versus-two match, they would already have a majority of the points, leading to a win by default!
Making use of this rule, the Shrek Academy group won every one of their matches by a landslide. None of the normal competitors in the tournament were strong enough to win against their participants for the one-versus-one and two-versus-two matches. The same was true for Monster Academy's team; They also won every single one of their matches by default.
A few more days passed with matches every day. The audience was getting more and more expectant of the fight between Monster Academy and Shrek Academy. And as it turns out, according to the match-ups, they would only face each other in the grand finale of the competition!
As per the plan of Gu Yue and Sheng Feilong, the latter always kept in the background. He never showed his face during the normal competition and never went out together with the others. As far as the audience was concerned; They were participating with only seven people and without their captain, Tang Wulin.
Naturally, the officials knew that 'She Feilong', a former student of Shrek Academy, had joined the Shrek team to fill the gap left behind by Tang Wulin's accident. With the confirmation of the Emperor, She Feilong was allowed to join, even though the registration period was long since over.
There were only 16 teams remaining in the final rounds, so after just three days, it was time for the grand final.
The audience was going wild once again, cheering and screaming for Monster Academy to win as they walked out of the waiting area. A while later, the cheering died down a bit, but the audience was still thrilled when the participants from Shrek Academy walked into the coliseum.
No one really noticed it, but unlike before, Shrek Academy's group came with eight people as opposed to the former seven. Naturally, the members of Monster Academy noticed this; And they also noticed that this eighth person was She Feilong!
Gradually, the audience also realized this and when Sheng Feilong sat down together with the members of Shrek Academy, their confusion was visible. The announcer started the introduction of each teams competitors, starting with Monster Academy, then Shrek Academy.
Everyone's abilities were explained in general and then the announcer paused for a short moment. "... We have also just received news from His majesty, the Emperor, that Shrek Academy has an eighth member again. Contestant Tang Wulin is still missing, but contestant She Feilong was allowed to take his place for this competition."
The audience was once again riled up when they heard the familiar name of the person who disrespected their princess in the solo competition and they just quit. They went into an uproar again, but the announcer continued their explanation without regard to them. "As we've been informed, She Feilong is actually a certified student of Shrek Academy. However, due to personal reasons, he hadn't joined the competition under their name before."
The announcer explained a bit more about the situation, also including a general run-down of Sheng Feilong's abilities before the competition officially began. The Emperor once again held a speech like he did in the grand finals of the solo and two-versus-two competitions, before the first one-versus-one match began.
Shrek Academy already had a clear plan. As soon as the competitors were asked to come on stage, Ye Xinglan opened her eyes and climbed up the arena without hesitation. On Monster Academy's side, Su Mu walked onto the arena.
Unlike his usual self, Su Mu was considerably tense during this match. Prior to this, they had thought that Yuanen Yehui was the second strongest of Shrek Academy after Tang Wulin, but Ye Xinglan had revealed that she already possessed complete set of Battle Armour in one of the prior rounds of the competition.
This Battle Armour, combined with her incredible combat standards and powerful Stargod Sword Spirit Essence, she managed to defeat Su Mu with a moderate amount of effort after a long fight. Contrary to the solemn atmosphere of Monster Academy, Shrek Academy's students didn't even cheer about this victory. Instead, they just nodded towards Ye Xinglan as if it was expected that she wouldn't have any trouble!
For the second round, Monster Academy sent out the second ranked Soul Master of their Eight Heavenly Kings, Tiger King Dai Yueyan! Shrek Academy, on the other hand, sent out Yuanen Yehui. Similar to how the fight against Shadow King Teng Teng went, Yuanen Yehui also defeated Dai Yueyan with the help of her Fallen Angel Spirit Essence's fourth Soul Skill, the Gates of Hell.
She Meixiao's pupils constricted when Yuanen Yehui summoned this gate and the demonized version of herself stepped out of it. She instantly turned aorund to look at Sheng Feilong, but the latter just stared across the arena, directly at Long Yue without flinching. She Meixiao was confused; This time, the Netherworld Putrefaction Demon didn't rampage around!
Unbeknownst to her and the members of Shrek Academy, though; The Netherworld Putrefaction Demon did indeed rampage around again. However, it was already bound down by the strange black chains as soon as it started, and Sheng Feilong was able to suppress it by focussing all of his attention on Long Yue instead of the demonized Yuanen Yehui; He resisted it with just his willpower alone!
By now, Shrek Academy was in the lead by having won two of the three solo matches. As for the third match, it was one that riled the audience up completely; From Monster Academy's side, the first ranked of the Eight Heavenly Kings stepped out – Dragon King Long Yue, the champion of the solo competition! On the other side, Shrek Academy sent out someone who all of the audience wanted to see lose; Sheng Feilong.
The two of them stood on the arena, staring at each other and waiting for the match to begin without so much as saying a single word. Long Yue was completely focused on this match; He knew that Sheng Feilong might be even stronger than Tang Wulin. Moreover, Sheng Feilong was staring at him for this entire time, radiating a terrifyingly cold killing intent.
The referee slowly lifted his hand, speaking in a clear voice for everyone to hear. "The third solo match of the group competitions finals. Monster Academy's Long Yue versus Shrek Academy's She Feilong!" He swung his arm down in one fluid motion, announcing the start of the match. "Begin!"