The somewhat tense and slightly ambiguous atmosphere between Qi Han and Yue Lengxin did not last long. Soon, with the referee's loud announcement in the center of the competition field, the battle format for Shrek Academy versus Element Academy was revealed through a draw.
One-on-one elimination match.
The moment the format was announced, large cheers erupted from the audience, leaving Qi Han somewhat puzzled.
"Is one-on-one elimination really that popular?" he muttered to himself.
Yue Lengxin's ears twitched slightly. She glanced at him and, after a brief hesitation, explained, "One-on-one elimination matches are very popular because they require at least seven rounds, more than any other format. Additionally, the Star Luo Empire revere's personal combat prowess and prefers one-on-one battles."
So that's why. Qi Han understood, a faint smile curling at his lips.
Seeing that smile, Yue Lengxin shot Qi Han a glare before turning her head away. She decided to ignore him. Pururu was much more adorable!
Lowering her head, Yue Lengxin resumed playing with Pururu.
Shrek's team captain, Sun Changhao, who was the strongest among the current inner court disciples and the only one to have reached the Spirit Emperor level before turning twenty, was responsible for the draw. His talent was indeed astonishing.
Drawing the one-on-one elimination format brought a smile to his face, while the captain of Element Academy opposite him had a noticeably darker expression.
This reaction was understandable. Element Academy, known for its various element-based Spirit Masters, had developed unique training methods and combined element attack techniques over its long history. Formats like the two-two-three small team battle or the seven-on-seven team battle would better play to their strengths. However, their prowess in one-on-one elimination battles was relatively weaker.
Of course, this "weakness" was only relative. An academy with a history of thousands of years certainly had no shortage of powerful individuals.
Shrek Academy had already planned their lineup for the three possible formats the night before. Without much discussion, they quickly submitted the list of participants for the one-on-one elimination match.
According to the rules, the list contained only seven names, and only those seven could compete throughout the match. The order of participants could be changed freely, but once a participant lost, they could not re-enter, providing both teams with opportunities to strategize against their opponents' lineup, making the one-on-one elimination match highly watchable.
A tall, slender young man with blue hair from Element Academy soon took the stage. He wore a tight-fitting outfit and walked straight onto the competition platform, looking toward Shrek Academy with burning battle intent in his eyes.
As this young man appeared, cheers and shouts of encouragement erupted from the area near Element Academy. From the enthusiastic voices, Qi Han learned the name of the first Element Academy participant: Luo Fengche.
At the same time, Shrek Academy sent out their first contestant, which surprised Qi Han—Fu Ya was chosen to go first.
Was Fu Ya really that strong?
Qi Han genuinely didn't know. Although she had almost gone berserk upon learning about the ingredients of the Exploding Honey Badger Intestines, she hadn't actually lost control. Fu Ya had always appeared gentle and understanding, leading Qi Han to underestimate her strength.
Seeing that his opponent was Fu Ya, Luo Fengche. Looking at Fu Ya stepping onto the stage, smiled and said, "Don't worry, little girl, I'll go easy on you."
Little girl...
The audience, hearing Luo Fengche's words through the arena's amplification system, couldn't help but feel a bit awkward. Compared to Luo Fengche, Fu Ya did look like a little girl, appearing at most fifteen or sixteen years old.
"No need!" Fu Ya's cheeks puffed slightly, her face serious.
The boss was watching from the resting area, and she couldn't afford to lose this match.
With their pre-match exchange over, the referee announced the start of the match, and both figures on the field moved simultaneously.
Luo Fengche's smile vanished, replaced by a serious expression.
Even though his opponent looked like a mere fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl, he wouldn't underestimate her. After all, she was from Shrek Academy.
Shrek Academy had been a formidable presence overshadowing Element Academy for thousands of years, seemingly insurmountable. Every student from there was a monster, not to be taken lightly.
Luo Fengche's figure blurred as light green Spirit Power rippled around him. With wings outstretched, he dashed swiftly towards Fu Ya. The wind generated by his wings tore through the Spirit Power fluctuations, making him appear as a light green blur, almost indiscernible to the naked eye.
Simultaneously, as if anticipating his move, Fu Ya stomped the ground, her Spirit Rings appearing behind her. Her second Spirit Ring instantly lit up, summoning hundreds of ice spikes that coalesced behind her before shooting towards Luo Fengche.
Speed-type Spirit Masters counter power-type Spirit Masters.
In the face of such a dense barrage, speed advantages were nearly nullified. Luo Fengche's pupils contracted slightly, his battle intent intensifying. Four Spirit Rings slowly materialized around him: yellow, yellow, purple, purple.
As the distance between Luo Fengche and Fu Ya rapidly closed, his second Spirit Ring glowed. Countless wind blades slashed out seemingly chaotically but struck the incoming ice spikes with precision, causing a violent collision that created a storm, sending shattered ice crystals flying and leaving several blood marks on Luo Fengche's handsome face.
Despite his quick response, Luo Fengche lost the upper hand in this exchange. Wiping the blood from his cheek, his wing beats never slowed. His third Spirit Ring lit up, and his speed multiplied, making him appear ghostly. In a blink, he was almost upon Fu Ya.
At this critical juncture, mere tens of meters apart, Luo Fengche had chosen an excellent moment to unleash his burst of speed. Allowing a speed-type Spirit Master to get close typically signaled the end of the match.
Fu Ya's pupils contracted slightly, but her face showed no panic. Her fourth Spirit Ring lit up, and an ice-blue ring of light quickly expanded from her body, creating ripples through the air.
As the ring passed over the arena, a layer of ice-blue frost silently formed. The seemingly slow ring of light moved quickly, meeting Luo Fengche's ghostly figure and halting his momentum. His blurred figure became fully visible, covered in a thin layer of frost.
Luo Fengche felt a bone-chilling cold and numbness, almost as if he was frozen. His fourth Spirit Ring instinctively lit up, trying to shake off the numbness, but Fu Ya wouldn't give him the chance.
Almost simultaneously with the collision of Luo Fengche and the ice-blue ring, Fu Ya's first Spirit Ring lit up. A massive ice pillar, thick enough to require two people to encircle, shot up from beneath Luo Fengche, lifting him into the air and interrupting his fourth Spirit Skill.
Then, Fu Ya's second Spirit Ring shone brightly, launching countless ice spikes at the airborne Luo Fengche, who was just regaining his mobility.
Luo Fengche's figure disappeared mid-air, and the next moment, he was brought back to the ground by the referee, signifying he couldn't withstand the upcoming attack. The referee's intervention meant Luo Fengche was out.
"The winner of the first match is Fu Ya, of the Shrek Academy!"
Hearing the referee announce her victory, Fu Ya finally breathed a sigh of relief, her tense expression relaxing. She turned towards Shrek Academy's resting area and flashed a V-sign.
The audience erupted in enthusiastic cheers and applause. In the Shrek Academy resting area, Qi Han clapped so hard his palms turned red. The speed at which Luo Fengche had used his third Spirit Skill was astonishingly fast, making it impossible for Qi Han to see his movements clearly. He had clenched his fists tightly in anxiety, hoping Fu Ya would respond in time.
His eyes held a mix of surprise and awe. It was his first time seeing Fu Ya go all out, and he hadn't expected her to be so strong.
Yue Lengxin, sitting beside Qi Han, observed him silently. She had watched him clench his fists in tension and clap vigorously in joy, feeling a stirring in her heart.
So, this guy had this side to him too.
Feeling a sudden impulse, Yue Lengxin spoke up, "Boss Qi, after seeing how strong your shop's employee is, what do you think?"
Even she didn't realize that her tone had taken on a rare playful note.
"Uh..." Qi Han hesitated for a moment, unsure, remembering that her salary is 300 Gold Coins a month, he said. "I got a good deal?"
Yue Lengxin: "…?"
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