Tian Dou Imperial Academy fell under his jurisdiction, so good results there naturally brought him face as well. The name "Shrek Academy" had long since slipped from his memory. As an Imperial Prince, what had happened at Tian Dou Imperial Academy before was nothing more than a minor episode.
"I wouldn't be so sure. Sect Master Ning merely agreed with His Majesty that this duel holds no suspense. He never said which side would win."
Hearing this dissenting voice, Prince Xue Xing turned toward it with an unhappy expression. The speaker was none other than the foremost of Tian Dou Imperial Academy's three committee chairmen — Soul Douluo Meng Shenji.
Prince Xue Xing said coldly, "Chairman Meng Shenji, don't you go bolstering the enemy's morale. You are the one directly responsible for the Academy."
He and Meng Shenji had always been at odds, yet neither could oust the other from their position. After the Shrek Academy incident last time, Meng Shenji had gone to Emperor Xue Ye to lodge a complaint. But Emperor Xue Ye was burdened with state affairs and in poor health himself, so he hadn't paid much attention. Prince Xue Xing was his only younger brother — when it came to his own blood sibling, he naturally leaned toward trusting him more.
Prince Xue Xing hadn't recognized which Shrek Academy students were competing in the arena, but how could Meng Shenji fail to? One glance and he spotted Tang San, who had left such a deep impression on him before. When he realized that Shrek Academy hadn't even sent out the full Shrek Seven Devils, a pang of sorrow welled up inside him. The prestigious Tian Dou Imperial Academy — unable to force even a single opponent to go all out. But what could he do about it? Almost every student at Tian Dou Imperial Academy came from a powerful family; he couldn't simply reshape them even if he wanted to.
He had ample teaching strength and material resources at his disposal, yet outstanding disciples were few and far between. Had it not been for the great kindness the royal family had shown him, he would have long since abandoned the chairman's seat.
"The first match of the first round of the preliminaries — begin!"
At the referee's signal, the very first preliminary match of this Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament officially commenced.
Much like a regular duel, the tournament allowed both sides one minute to release their Martial Souls.
Coldly sizing up the opposition, Dai Mubai raised both hands before his chest and bellowed, "Brothers — release your Martial Souls! White Tiger, Possess Me!"
When both teams released their Martial Souls simultaneously and all their Soul Rings were displayed before the audience, murmurs of astonishment rippled through the stands.
Two yellow, two purple — four Soul Rings blazed brilliantly around Dai Mubai. Beside him, Tai Long and Huang Yuan each manifested two yellow and one purple — three Soul Rings. Three powerhouse-type Soul Masters radiated an imposing aura that was in no way inferior to their five opponents.
Xiao Wu, Jing Ling, and Jiang Zhu at the rear also each released two yellow and one purple — three Soul Rings. Every single one of the six bore the optimal Soul Ring configuration.
What shocked the audience most — even horrified them — was Tang San, positioned at the very center of Shrek Academy's formation. Two yellow, one purple, one black: four Soul Rings materialized around him all at once.
Black. The least conspicuous of colors — yet anyone with even a passing knowledge of Soul Masters understood what it signified.
Not only the spectator stands, but the VIP gallery as well erupted in gasps. Who could have imagined that in the very first preliminary match, they would witness a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring appear on a tournament stage?
Prince Xue Xing shouted, barely able to contain his emotions, "No — that's impossible! How can it be a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring?"
Meng Shenji closed his eyes in anguish. "This should have been Tian Dou Academy's glory. No wonder… no wonder they didn't even send their full lineup."
Even the Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Ning Fengzhi, who had already been extremely favorable toward Shrek Academy, was greatly startled upon seeing the black Soul Ring on Tang San. A ten-thousand-year fourth ring? As one of the clan masters of the upper three great sects among the Seven Great Clans, how could he not understand the sheer difficulty involved? That represented a gap of five thousand years of cultivation for a Soul Beast!
Archbishop Sadas of the Platinum rank, whose eyes had been half-lidded, suddenly lit up with a sharp gleam as he fixed his gaze on Tang San. Though he didn't lose his composure the way Prince Xue Xing had behind him, the hands resting on his knees clenched involuntarily tight.
"A ten-thousand-year fourth ring?" The light in Emperor Xue Ye's eyes flickered, a dazzling flash passing through them. "Sect Master Ning — it seems the team you've truly been watching is this one, isn't it?"
After a moment of brief surprise, Ning Fengzhi's expression had already returned to normal. Even though the sight of Tang San's ten-thousand-year fourth ring had stirred a tempest within his heart, he could still manage to maintain an outward calm at a time like this. He smiled faintly and said, "Your Majesty, my daughter is also at Shrek Academy — she simply didn't take the field in this particular match."