Several more days passed, and the atmosphere in the Shrek Outer Courtyard and Inner Courtyard was polarized.
The Outer Courtyard was filled with song and dance, while the Inner Courtyard was shrouded in gloom.
Ma Xue and Lei Qianjie's decision to represent the Spirit Transfer Pagoda in the Federal Grand Competition enraged Yun Ming. He didn't blame the two students but instead sternly reprimanded the elders in charge of student promotions.
The factional struggle within the Academy had been brought into the open, with no room for mediation.
Although Yun Ming had previously used public opinion to purge a group of corrupt officials in Shrek City, leading to several elders stepping down, overall, Yun Ming was externally tough but internally soft, which meant the reformist cleaver he wielded failed to completely sever the network of various forces attached to Shrek Academy.
Today's Sea God Pavilion meeting was for post-event investigations and disciplinary actions against certain elders.
One could even say that if it weren't for the decent strength of the students from the collateral branches, Yun Ming probably wouldn't have even held the Sea God Pavilion meeting; he might have directly taken action.
"Their diligent contributions to the Academy over the years, even if not meritorious, have at least been painstaking. The elder positions must not be removed as casually as last time. In my opinion, removing them from their posts is sufficient. This will also stabilize the Academy's morale and facilitate reform. As for the issue of student retention, we can discuss it after the Federal Grand Competition ends."
Inside the Sea God Pavilion, the atmosphere was oppressive. Over twenty elders had gathered, and Long Yueming, leaning on her cane, spoke earnestly to Yun Ming.
Perhaps the two slaps from Qian Gu Dieting had somehow enlightened Long Yueming, for now, when she spoke, she never mentioned seniority, but instead constantly emphasized the importance of the Academy's overall situation, making it genuinely difficult for Yun Ming to refute her.
Yun Ming frowned slightly.
Ya Li found it difficult to interject and remained silent.
The elders from the collateral branches first looked at Long Yueming with grateful eyes.
Afterward, the six elders, led by the Inner Courtyard Deputy Hall Master, quickly expressed their apologies to Yun Ming, stating that they would never make such mistakes again and would diligently follow Yun Ming's reform requirements.
Everyone quietly waited for Yun Ming to deliver his final judgment. A moment later, he sighed inwardly, intending to give them one last chance, and said, "For these two charges alone—favoritism and arbitrary suppression—I could revoke all your honors."
No one dared to speak, listening in silence.
Yun Ming said in a deep voice, "The elder positions can be temporarily retained. After the Federal Grand Competition concludes, the reform plan will be executed by a few of you. The process and results will determine my evaluation of you."
"Yes." The elders who were found to have serious issues during the post-event investigation quickly responded.
The matter temporarily concluded, and Ya Li spoke to ease the atmosphere, "Regarding the adult group participants for the competition in Mingdu, everyone can recommend candidates."
"No need for recommendations." Long Yueming spoke, drawing everyone's attention to her. "Since I'm free anyway, I'll be the chief envoy for this trip to Mingdu, and all accompanying personnel will be chosen by me."
At these words, the elders were inevitably surprised, as Long Yueming had not managed Academy affairs for many years, at most only assisting with simple matters within Shrek City.
As the previous Deputy Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion, her prestige was not low, and for a time, no one spoke out to dissuade her.
Long Yueming said calmly, "Throughout the entire Douluo Continent, the place that discriminates against our Shrek Academy the most is Mingdu. Therefore, the chief envoy leading the team must be powerful. Yun Ming, you can't get away, Ya Li has to assist you, Elder Zhuo has to manage Outer Courtyard affairs, and Yue Er has been in seclusion and hasn't come out yet. In that case, isn't the best person to lead the team me, an old woman?"
"This..." Yun Ming clearly hesitated.
Precisely because the competition venue was in Mingdu, he dared not let Long Yueming lead the team with peace of mind. If she lost her temper and caused trouble in Mingdu, the cooperation he had just established with the Federation would immediately fall apart.
Long Yueming raised an eyebrow: "What? You don't trust me?" With a light snort, she shook her head and said, "Fine, I'm old and useless. Since you're not very willing, then find someone else."
Yun Ming's mentality of not being tough enough internally began to act up. In the past six months, Long Yueming had been too obedient, making him inevitably relax. So, after a quick internal assessment of the pros and cons, he chose to compromise.
"Going to Mingdu indeed requires a top Spirit Master to oversee it. Very well, I'll entrust the task of chief envoy to you."
Long Yueming nodded calmly.
...
"You're already following me, yet you still work at a milk tea shop. If the younger generation of other factions in the Spirit Transfer Pagoda saw you, they'd laugh at me."
Dusk deepened, and pedestrians became blurred. Nan Liujing sat on a bench in front of the milk tea shop, teasing the girl walking towards him.
Half a year had passed. Since returning home, Yuanen Yehui no longer concealed her true gender. Due to her frequent use of the Fallen Angel Spirit, her already cold and beautiful face gained a touch of allure.
But unlike truly enchanting women who can stir your desires in just a few sentences, her demeanor remained cool and aloof, creating a strong sense of contrast.
"I signed the contract, so of course I have to fulfill it." Yuanen Yehui's lips curved into a faint smile, her porcelain-white skin glowing softly in the dim yellow sunlight.
Nan Liujing shrugged. He had considered buying out her contract but was refused.
The two walked side by side out of the Academy, with people occasionally passing by.
Nan Liujing explained his purpose, "Come with me to Mingdu tomorrow."
Yuanen Yehui said in surprise, "I'm allowed to participate in the Federal Grand Competition?"
"Yes." Nan Liujing nodded with a smile, "The Spirit Transfer Pagoda has a total of eight direct entry spots for the Grand Competition. One originally belonged to me, but I'm not participating in the youth group competition, so I designated the spot to you."
"Thank you." Yuanen Yehui quickly thanked him but then reacted, "You gave the spot to me, so what about you?"
Nan Liujing said, "I'm going to participate in the adult group competition."
A hint of surprise flashed in Yuanen Yehui's eyes, "Adult group?"
"If I participate in the youth group competition, everyone else will only be competing for second place." Nan Liujing said very calmly. Although it sounded arrogant, Yuanen Yehui believed him implicitly.
In the past six months, after officially joining the Spirit Transfer Pagoda, she had sparred with him, but she was always easily defeated.
Logically, the Titan Giant Ape Spirit's defense should be strong enough, right?
One strike!
Whenever Nan Liujing got serious, one strike could knock her out of her Spirit possession state and back to her original form.
She was now very afraid of Nan Liujing's stick; it was too powerful.
"Since you're representing the Spirit Transfer Pagoda in the competition, the rewards you deserve naturally won't be few." Nan Liujing smiled, "You're already at level thirty-nine, right?"
"Mhm." When rewards were mentioned, Yuanen Yehui was tempted.
Compared to the original timeline, in this life, due to the changes in her Fallen Angel Spirit, her cultivation speed had significantly increased, truly demonstrating the cultivation level of a top genius.
Nan Liujing tempted her, "If you can secure a top three finish in the youth group, you'll receive a soul spirit selection card."
"What is that?" Yuanen Yehui asked, stunned.
Nan Liujing explained, "It means that as long as you use this soul spirit selection card, you can choose any soul spirit under eleven thousand years old from any pillar-level Spirit Transfer Pagoda on the Douluo Continent, without having to pay."
Hiss.
Yuanen Yehui gasped. Even the most ordinary ten-thousand-year soul spirit would cost at least eighty million federal coins, and those with powerful bloodlines would double in price.
"Can I choose powerful bloodline types?"
Yuanen Yehui asked nervously, clearly excited.
"Of course." Nan Liujing said gently, "I looked at the soul spirits, and I feel that a King Kong Baboon is very suitable for you. Coincidentally, the Heavenly Spirit Pagoda has a ten-thousand-and-three-hundred-year-old King Kong Baboon. As long as you finish in the top three, I guarantee you that the soul spirit will be waiting for you to merge with."
A blush appeared on Yuanen Yehui's face, a hint of unnaturalness. The King Kong Baboon, the largest ape-type Spirit Beast, was also the king of strength. At the same same age, it was in no way weaker than the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear.
And for her, with the Titan Giant Ape Spirit, unless it was a Titan Giant Ape soul spirit, there was no better soul spirit choice than this.
...
The next day at noon, the sunlight intensified, and brilliant rays poured down, illuminating the steel forest with dazzling splendor. As one of only two super cities on the Douluo Continent, Mingdu's size and prosperity could awe anyone who entered it.
Skyscrapers were just standard features, and buildings of various strange shapes stood tall, showcasing the city's open-minded philosophy.
In the sky, elevated roadways crisscrossed, with a large number of aerial vehicles shuttling through them. Throughout the city, giant holographic projection screens appeared on nearly all streets, playing exciting replays of previous competitions.
Crowds of people taking photos and checking in were endless.
Mingdu Soul Guidance Station was almost bursting with swarming tourists, a grand occasion that led the authorities to dispatch more police to maintain order.
Mecha teams patrolled various districts to prevent violent clashes and incidents caused by Evil Soul Masters.
At the Mingdu Royal Hotel, several black magic soul guidance helicopters slowly descended in the helipad. Their hatches opened, and a group of people walked out.
They were all high-spirited, coming from different factions of the Spirit Transfer Pagoda.
Xu Dongzhen, the Mingdu Spirit Transfer Pagoda Master, who had been waiting outside the helipad, quickly stepped forward and bowed to Qiangu Qingfeng, "Greetings, Councillor Qiangu."
Qiangu Qingfeng said indifferently, "These children are tired from their journey; take them to rest first."
"Yes." Xu Dongzhen was not a Spirit Master from the Heavenly Phoenix lineage. The main reason was that the Mingdu Spirit Transfer Pagoda Masters rotated every few years; sometimes Leng Yaozhu was revered, and sometimes Qiangu Dongfeng was revered.
Flowing Masters, solid grassroots.
"Please follow me."
Xu Dongzhen led the way, and the dozens of people from the Spirit Transfer Pagoda walked into the hotel.
The Royal Hotel occupied a vast area and was equipped with all sorts of facilities. It had been contracted by the authorities to serve as accommodation for top-tier forces.
It could be said that any related participant whose backing force was arranged here must have at least one Super Douluo presiding over them.
As they advanced, entering the magnificent and grand hall, many figures, both male and female, mostly young people, appeared within their line of sight.
Nan Liujing subtly observed the people coming and going around him.
In modern society, it was basically impossible to distinguish the accents and attire of these people to know where they came from, but the confidence on their faces highlighted their mindset and the strength of their affiliated forces.
Participants were divided by different regions. The exact number of participants was unclear, but in the previous Youth Group individual competition, there were 790 participants, and the final champion was from the War God Hall. That person could only participate in the Adult Group competition this year.
"Do you see the two people by the window on your right?" Qiangu Qingfeng transmitted his voice.
Nan Liujing looked over, following his gaze. Two figures, one slender and one robust, were talking with smiles on their faces. Although they were chatting cheerfully, their aura was exceptionally sharp, even filled with killing intent, undoubtedly indicating they had been through many battles.
Qiangu Qingfeng said indifferently, "One of them is called Commander Xiao Pojun, and the other is Dragon Tianwu. Both are War God Hall participants in this year's Youth Group individual competition. At the same time, they are both 61st-level Spirit Emperors and Two-Word Battle Armor Masters."
Battle intent surged in Nan Liujing's eyes as he said, "To be able to fuse Two-Word Battle Armor at the 61st level is not simple." Normally, One-Word Battle Armor corresponded to a Spirit King, and Two-Word Battle Armor corresponded to a Spirit Emperor or higher.
To be able to fuse a complete set of Two-Word Battle Armor upon first entering the Spirit Emperor stage was enough to show how strong their talent was. No wonder Shrek Academy was not participating in this year's Youth Group competition; with such a clear disparity, losing would be embarrassing.
"The people about fifty meters to your front left, by the sofa, are from the Tang Sect," Qiangu Qingfeng added.
Nan Liujing shifted his gaze and indeed saw more than a dozen men and women wearing unified, relatively simple clothing, but there seemed to be no Adult Group contestants among them.
Among the crowd, one young man stood out. He had short, light green hair, handsome features, and strange purple eyes. His physique was not robust, but he exuded a destructive aura. When light fell on him, there was a broken and twisted beauty.
Facing his companions' eloquent discussions, he merely smiled without speaking.
As if sensing someone watching him, Xu Zihuang subconsciously looked up.
Just then, Nan Liujing shifted his gaze, continuing to observe others.
That familiar figure caused Xu Zihuang's eyes to subtly change, revealing an unusual gleam.
As the most talented disciple under twenty in the Tang Sect, his dream was to become the future Tang Sect Master, but the high-level officials within the sect seemed to have another choice. The person favored by the Deputy Hall Master was precisely Nan Liujing, who had risen to fame by stepping on Shrek Academy during the Tianhai Alliance Great Competition in the Spirit Master desert.
It's him.
Xu Zihuang's eyes narrowed slightly, and destructive dark light rippled within them.
"It's the Spirit Transfer Pagoda people; they've arrived." A Tang Sect disciple couldn't help but speak.
Suddenly, the people who were talking quieted down, and like the dozen or so different forces' participants in the hall, they turned their gaze towards the Spirit Transfer Pagoda group, who were walking further and further away.
The Spirit Transfer Pagoda was a strong contender in every Federal Grand Competition, but just like Xu Zihuang, Nan Liujing attracted more onlookers.
Ordinary people might gradually forget the deeds Nan Liujing had accomplished, but Spirit Masters would not!
"To be fair, although he's young, he's really handsome, and his physique looks like it has explosive power. Tsk, when he grows up, he'll probably cause trouble for a lot of girls." A woman with wheat-colored skin and two claw mark scars on her face, wearing a single ponytail, walked up to Commander Xiao Pojun and said flirtatiously.
"Isn't your focus wrong?" Commander Xiao Pojun retorted, then his gaze became serious: "The Spirit Transfer Pagoda dares to let him participate in the Youth Group competition, so it definitely won't be simple."
The robust Dragon Tianwu's voice was relatively deep: "According to custom, for the first individual competition, the officials will choose the most suitable opponent as a stepping stone for famous contestants to set the atmosphere. However, no matter how the Youth Group chooses a stepping stone, they will at least be a Spirit Ancestor. I'm curious how he will make the battle process beautiful."
Nan Liujing's age was not a secret, so people's estimation of him was nothing more than a Spirit Ancestor's cultivation. Frankly speaking, at this age, this cultivation was already very impressive.
No one doubted how vast Nan Liujing's future would be, but there was one fatal flaw: the future might be his, but the present might not be. After all, the participants were generally at least six years older than him, a gap that was difficult to overcome.
The wheat-skinned woman licked her lips, regretting, "It's a pity he was taken by the Spirit Transfer Pagoda people. Otherwise, if he joined our War God Hall, he could go to the Endless Mountains and fight to the death with Abyssal Creatures. That's a good place to temper a Spirit Master."
The scars on her face were left after being injured by Abyssal Creatures. They could have been healed, but she refused, keeping the scars to remind herself that as long as the abyss was not eliminated, humanity's future would not be peaceful.
"That guy isn't simple either." Commander Xiao Pojun narrowed his eyes, staring in the direction of the Tang Sect.
In every competition, the War God Hall's main opponents were none other than the Spirit Transfer Pagoda and the Tang Sect. These three rotated or occasionally won consecutive championships, with virtually no other forces having a chance to reach the top three.
As for Shrek Academy, it was rumored that they would participate this year, but not in the Youth Group competition, which was a shame.
"It's good that he's not simple! Didn't we come to participate in the Federal Grand Competition hoping to encounter more geniuses?" The woman chuckled, "I hope my opponent isn't a weakling; I don't even get excited before they're done for."
"That's enough!" Commander Xiao Pojun and Dragon Tianwu reprimanded.
...
It is reported that the number of tourists who have arrived in Mingdu has exceeded 500,000. According to official railway bureau estimates, during the competition, Mingdu will host over five million tourists. Sun Kong, the highest administrative officer of Mingdu, has officially issued the highest safety directive standard to ensure that tourists can safely enjoy the entire competition process. — "Central Daily"
After thousands of years, Shrek Academy has returned to a Spirit Master competition involving the entire Douluo Continent. Can they restore their former glory? — "Shrek Times"
It is rumored that Nan Liujing, who caused Shrek Academy to publicly apologize at the Tianhai Alliance Great Competition, will skip levels to participate in the Youth Group competition. He even boasted to a friend that if he participated in the Junior Group competition, everyone else would be competing for second place. Good luck to him! — "Unknown Media Report"
Chapter 97: Wu Siduo: How can a peer rival me in physique?!
Led by the staff, the Spirit Transfer Pagoda team smoothly checked in. Female contestants had one suite, male contestants had another, and each bedroom was over one hundred square meters.
Qiangu Qingfeng gave the order, allowing his disciples free time.
The Federal Grand Competition's opening ceremony would officially be held at 9 AM tomorrow, and after the ceremony, the various competitions would officially begin in the afternoon.
Mingdu's ten large stadiums and dozens of small stadiums each served their purpose and effectively managed the flow of people. Generally speaking, the sub-professional competitions had the fewest spectators, and a small stadium was usually sufficient for their setup.
Spirit Master battles, mecha battles, sub-professional competitions… The most popular, naturally, were the Spirit Master battles, with the seven-on-seven format being particularly popular in the Sun Moon Federation.
Unlike the people of Star Luo Continent, who held extreme individualism due to Spirit Ice Douluo Huo Yuhao, the current mainstream in the Sun Moon Federation was still teamwork.
The youth and junior groups aside, there were only eighteen teams in the adult group's seven-on-seven Spirit Master battle. This event was scheduled for the very end of the competition, as the grand finale. Every competition, the adult group's seven-on-seven battle would attract over three hundred million viewers from the Douluo Continent, bringing economic benefits that would make any city hoping to host the competition envious.
The reason for its popularity was mainly that the adult group's seven-on-seven battle took place on a separate battlefield, as the participants' cultivation was too high for smaller stadiums.
Qiangu Qingfeng and the other deputy leaders left, but the disciples' wonderful life had just begun.
The Spirit Transfer Pagoda was wealthy, and each contestant had one million Federal coins of freely usable funds. Therefore, as soon as they put down their luggage, the group discussed going out for a stroll.
Ma Xue and Lei Qianjie had just joined the Spirit Transfer Pagoda and hadn't yet familiarized themselves with their companions, so they naturally wouldn't miss this opportunity to socialize.
After politely declining his colleagues' invitation, Nan Liujing sought out Yuanen Yehui after they left.
"They didn't invite you?" He leaned against the door, asking curiously.
Yuanen Yehui made no secret of her poverty: "One million Federal coins isn't a small sum. It's better to save it than spend it."
Even for everyday clothes, she chose cheap and discounted items, and the cost of living in Mingdu was certainly no lower than in Shrek City.
"I'm puzzled. Your Spirit is the Titan Giant Ape. Logically, a Spirit like that should have a particularly powerful family behind it. How is it that you seem unbelievably poor?" Nan Liujing asked knowingly.
A trace of unnaturalness appeared on Yuanen Yehui's face.
The Titan Giant Ape family was indeed powerful, but they were also truly poor. Because the family as a whole was very conservative and unwilling to be used by outsiders, a typical example was Shrek Academy's invitation to Yuanen Zhentian to join the Sea God Pavilion, and Shrek Academy even offered to provide resources, but it was politely declined.
Furthermore, the development of the times allowed ordinary people to take over many jobs and industries that only Spirit Masters could previously handle, which further led to this reclusive family becoming even poorer.
Can you believe it?
The Titan Giant Ape family, with nearly ten Titled Douluo, only had three sets of Two-Word Battle Armor, and they were even the most ordinary kind.
Nan Liujing knew when to stop; it wasn't yet time to win over the Titan Giant Ape family.
"I'm going out for a bit. Want to come?" he asked.
Yuanen Yehui looked at him: "For what?"
"I'm going to visit my Grandfather." Nan Liujing heard a familiar voice and immediately pointed to the television, "It's that person on TV."
Yuanen Yehui subconsciously looked over, only to see the Mingdu TV station broadcasting news of the Mingdu's highest administrative official being interviewed.
Her pupils contracted, "The highest administrative official of Mingdu is your Grandfather?"
One must know that every Federal Speaker in history had served in Mingdu.
"What's so strange about that? Qiangu Qingfeng, who led the team today, is also my Grandfather." Nan Liujing got up and walked out, "Since we're idle, if you're willing, come with me."
Yuanen Yehui's pupils dilated in shock. She had thought it was already exaggerated that the other party had a Sky Phoenix Douluo as a teacher, but she didn't expect there were even more powerful connections.
She resolutely turned off the television. Since she had joined the Spirit Transfer Pagoda and intended to dedicate her life to assisting Nan Liujing, it was only right to interact with his elders.
She had to cling to this super powerful connection.
Otherwise, wouldn't her life be wasted?
As the number one city on the continent, Mingdu's transportation infrastructure was built to the extreme. Even with a swarm of tourists, it did not lead to urban congestion. The only trouble was that the aerial bus lanes had become a popular spot for internet celebrities, attracting a large number of out-of-town tourists who took photos with the hovering soul-guided vehicles, under the local Mingdu residents' bewildered but respectful gazes.
Nan Liujing and Yuanen Yehui successfully arrived at the Mingdu Government Building.
After showing their identification, the two walked into what could be called the most tightly guarded government office area in the Federation, under the watchful eyes of at least thirty elite soldiers.
Why was it the most tightly guarded? It was simple. On the way in, Nan Liujing saw at least fifteen black-level mechas and two red-level god-level mechas. Soul power glows emanated from every building, clearly indicating trigger-type soul power shields, and judging by their scale, the defensive strength they could withstand was likely not low.
Entering the main building, they inquired with relevant staff to confirm Sun Kong's office location, and then the two hurried there without stopping.
Nan Liujing gently knocked on the door.
Click.
As the door opened, a beautiful figure came into view.
"You're here." Seeing her childhood friend, Ye Xinglan's eyes clearly showed joy.
"Mm."
Nan Liujing looked past Ye Xinglan, seeing his Grandfather Sun Kong, and also Ye Changming, as well as… Wu Jingru and another girl.
She had a thick, reddish-brown long hair, as vibrant as autumn maple leaves, smooth and lustrous, reaching her waist. Her beautiful heterochromatic eyes held a hint of surprise, followed by a smile. What didn't quite match her delicate and beautiful, yet slightly immature, facial features was her extremely full and voluptuous figure, which was inconsistent with her current age.
Wu Siduo.
Ye Xinglan moved aside to let them enter. Suddenly, the girl's clear blue eyes narrowed slightly, seeing the short-haired girl with chestnut-red hair following her childhood friend.
Her eyes seemed to have an unlockable cheat, instantly fixating on the astonishingly sized curves.
Yuanen Yehui politely tried to greet her, but seeing the incredibly beautiful girl in front of her staring at her proud assets without moving her eyes, the words got stuck in her throat and she couldn't say them.
"Cough." Ye Xinglan coughed dryly, her expression complex, full of dejection. Her measurements were given by her parents; she had to accept them whether she liked it or not.
Yuanen Yehui was startled, not knowing why the other party suddenly seemed to lose Spirit and become dejected.
"Grandfather, Uncle Ye, Uncle Wu, Siduo."
Nan Liujing greeted them, not forgetting to introduce Yuanen Yehui to everyone.
Sun Kong's smile was warmer, while Ye Changming and Wu Jingru, though nodding naturally, clearly had other implications in their eyes.
Wu Siduo's gaze locked onto Yuanen Yehui's impressive assets. In comparison, a hint of surprise appeared in her beautiful eyes.
Among her peers, someone could actually be her equal!
Could it be that you also have an ancestral bloodline inheritance?
Ye Xinglan breathed a sigh of relief. It was just a companion; that was good, that was good.
"Don't let the girl just stand there. Sit." Sun Kong said.
Nan Liujing immediately led the somewhat reserved Yuanen Yehui to sit on another sofa.
Yuanen Yehui felt strange, like she was meeting her boyfriend's parents.
Wu Jingru asked directly, "Liu Jing, I heard you're participating in the youth group competition?"
"Yes." Nan Liujing nodded. This was no longer a secret. He didn't know who was secretly fanning the flames, praising him so much. He hadn't even fought a match, but he was already the champion online.
This kind of putting someone on a pedestal, if he succeeded, he would be amazing, but if he lost, the mockery would probably be considerable.
Ye Changming frowned: "In the youth group, there are at least four Spirit Emperors and powerful Two-Word Battle Armor Masters. It will be very difficult for you to participate in the youth group."
Ye Xinglan, Wu Siduo, and even Yuanen Yehui's expressions couldn't help but become serious, clearly not expecting the youth group contestants to be so formidable.
Nan Liujing calmly said: "My Grandfather told me about this, but I think, instead of staying in the junior group and crushing others, it's better to challenge something more difficult. Swimming against the current always brings abundant rewards."
Ye Changming and Wu Jingru exchanged glances.
Since the person involved said so, what else could they, as elders, say?
Sun Kong, however, had plenty to talk about: "The chief told me you've already become a Two-Word Battle Armor Master?"
At these words, everyone except Ye Xinglan paused briefly, then their eyes collectively widened.
Two-Word Battle Armor Master?
Nan Liujing smiled and said, "Thanks to my teacher helping me design the core array, and my Grandfather helping me engrave it, I was able to complete all the Battle Armor components before the Federal Grand Competition."
"You're like a monster, kid. How can a normal person fuse with Two-Word Battle Armor at four rings?" Sun Kong was full of pride.
"Wait a moment." Wu Jingru couldn't help it. He asked his old friend in surprise, "You said Liu Jing is a Two-Word Battle Armor Master?"
"Yes." Sun Kong glanced at him.
Wu Jingru suddenly understood: "No wonder he signed up for the youth group competition. So he also has Two-Word Battle Armor to help him."
When he had Two-Word Battle Armor, he was almost a Spirit Saint. The gap was not insignificant. He thought getting into the top eight should be no problem.
"To be able to withstand the impact of fusing with Two-Word Battle Armor, your physique is probably no less than a Spirit Emperor's." Ye Changming keenly grasped the key point.
Although physique and spirit power cultivation cannot be completely lumped together, relying on physique can indeed help Spirit Masters fight above their level at lower cultivation.
"Uncle Ye, I remember there's a strong contender for the championship in the youth group from the Tang Sect. How about you tell me a bit about him?" Nan Liujing wanted to gather intelligence.
Ye Changming laughed exasperatedly: "You sly fox, trying to get information from me. I don't have any important intelligence, but I can tell you that Zihuang's Spirit is the Purple Blaze Heaven Extinguishing Dragon, one of the two great inherited Spirits of the Old Sun Moon Empire imperial family. Its attribute is destruction, and I'm sure you're familiar with the legends of this Spirit."
Indeed, he was not unfamiliar, but in the Douluo series, it had only appeared once with Xu Tianran. Its setting was impressive, but its actual performance was just so-so.
Nan Liujing didn't expect this formidable opponent's Spirit to be quite special.
With the topic opened, the atmosphere in the office gradually became livelier.
Upon learning that Ye Xinglan, Wu Siduo, and Yuanen Yehui were all participating in the junior group individual competition, Nan Liujing's expression became particularly interesting.
Ye Xinglan represented the Tang Sect, participating only in the individual competition, while Wu Siduo was the first place in the Douluo Continent's South-Central Competition Zone's individual competition, representing that zone.
Later in the conversation, Sun Kong, seeing Yuanen Yehui becoming increasingly silent as she couldn't join the conversation, simply had Nan Liujing take the three girls out for a stroll.
Nan Liujing didn't refuse. It wasn't that he hadn't tried to include Yuanen Yehui in the conversation, but she just couldn't open up.
The four left the administrative building and, once outside, didn't try to take a car, but simply walked leisurely.
Ye Xinglan watched a falling leaf land in front of them, then her delicate brows raised slightly, "Last time in the Spirit Ascension Platform, we didn't decide a winner. How about we settle it this time?"
Wu Siduo's heterochromatic eyes narrowed slightly, and a haughty smile appeared on her lips, "Alright, whoever ranks higher wins."
Yuanen Yehui sensed some emotion in their conversation and subconsciously looked at Nan Liujing, who shook his head at her.
When proud people meet equally proud people, they inevitably compare themselves to each other; there's no need to stop it.
"Oh, by the way, Nan Liujing, speaking of the Spirit Ascension Platform, the candy you gave me that time was virtual and didn't count. Are you going to make it up to me this time?" Wu Siduo asked with a smile. Her lips were already full and as vibrant as a rose, and when she smiled, there was a cat-like cunningness.
"Okay, I'll make it up to you." Nan Liujing's left hand glowed with two colors, gold and purplish-black, "What flavor do you want?"
Wu Siduo looked at the two glows, her beautiful eyes sparkling, "Only children make choices; I want both."
"That's very greedy."
Nan Liujing's spirit power surged, and Golden Dragon Candy and Demon Gummy were successively condensed. Of course, the candy's accompanying boosts were separated by him.
A rich fruity scent wafted out. Wu Siduo's jade hand shot out like lightning, her skin brushing against Nan Liujing's palm, feeling smooth and cool.
The Golden Dragon Candy was lollipop-shaped, and she put it directly into her mouth. The taste was incredibly amazing, as if she had taken a mouthful of iced orange juice in summer. Wu Siduo's beautiful eyes lit up, and she subconsciously took it out to look at it.
The golden candy was somewhat translucent, like crystal. In the sunlight, the saliva left on it shimmered with tiny, sparkling glints.
"I want some too." Ye Xinglan reached out unceremoniously.
How could Nan Liujing not hear the slight emotion in her words? He teased, "If others want it from me, it costs at least hundreds of thousands of Federal coins per piece."
As he spoke, he conjured candy again like a magic trick, two pieces as well.
This clearly pleased her. The curve of Ye Xinglan's lips noticeably lifted. She chose to eat the purplish-black Demon Gummy, and her previous jealous thoughts were instantly forgotten. Inside her mouth, cool, refreshing grape juice seemed to ripple, and sweetness moisturized everything.
Her azure eyes were clearly a bit unfocused, as if she had lost concentration.
Yuanen Yehui blinked. No, was this candy really that delicious?
Are you two really not shills?
Hundreds of thousands for one piece? What, you want to trick me out of the one million the Spirit Transfer Pagoda gave me?
As she was thinking, Nan Liujing happened to look over.
Yuanen Yehui subconsciously said, "I only need one."
As soon as she finished speaking, her small mouth slightly agape, she froze. It was as if he hadn't even asked her if she wanted any yet, right?
Her cold and almost enchanting pretty face instantly flushed crimson.
She wished she could dig a three-bedroom, one-living-room apartment into the ground with her toes.
Suddenly, her black eyes froze, only to see the young man in front of her holding out a golden candy.
The young man's smile blended with the sunlight, and his voice was gentle: "You said yourself you only wanted one."
Yuanen Yehui didn't know how she took the candy, but she would definitely remember the wonderful burst of summer fruit flavor in her mouth after the candy entered it.
The next day, early morning.
The Central Stadium in Mingdu was bathed in the morning light, which streamed through the translucent Spirit Tool dome like a waterfall of light, casting dappled shadows on the gleaming metal floor. The three hundred thousand seats were already packed.
On the circular stands, waves of noise rose and fell. If not for the built-in sound-ddampening Spirit Tool shields, the sheer volume of sound alone would have been unbearable for many.
Reporters from various TV stations gathered, providing the clearest live broadcasts to people across the continent.
At that moment, the opening ceremony was in full swing.
Participating teams from various regions of the Sun Moon Federation, led by Miss Etiquette (etiquette ladies) holding flags, marched to the tune of the 'Federation Glory March', making their entrance as the host introduced them one by one.
Whenever a local Mingdu team appeared at the entrance, the stands would immediately erupt in thunderous cheers.
Overall, the sound waves only varied in volume; no boos were heard.
"Next, let's welcome the Spirit Transfer Pagoda team!" The host's magnetic and full voice echoed throughout the Central Stadium.
The Spirit Tool light screen in the distance immediately focused on the Spirit Transfer Pagoda team.
Dozens of figures appeared on the screen.
Whoosh!
Waves of joyous cheers erupted again. The Spirit Transfer Pagoda's free awakening of Spirit for commoners indeed earned them respect.
Even contestants who had previously participated in the Federal Grand Competition were excitedly waving in greeting.
Yuanen Yehui followed beside Nan Liujing, looking at the distant, cheering crowd. Her enchanting, cold, and beautiful face clearly showed a hint of excited blush.
You could clearly hear hundreds of thousands of people shouting the words 'Spirit Transfer Pagoda', as if they were etched into their souls, making one intoxicated.
Gradually, the screen focused solely on Nan Liujing, who single-handedly stole the spotlight from the entire Spirit Transfer Pagoda team.
At the same time, the host's voice rang out: "A nation needs heroes, and he is a hero! Citizens of the Federation, let us give our warmest applause to the honorary citizen of Heaven Dou City, Nan Liujing!"
Under the astonished gazes of Nan Liujing and Yuanen Yehui.
The several massive Spirit Tool light screens displayed footage of Nan Liujing killing the Evil Soul Master on the train.
His domineering, cold demeanor, combined with the lightning wrapped around him and his handsome face, created a beauty that many movie posters couldn't capture.
Coupled with the reverent gazes of the surrounding passengers, it was like a bomb, instantly igniting the atmosphere of the entire venue.
Applause was incessant.
Nan Liujing hadn't expected the officials to pull such a stunt. What else could he say?
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He could only wave in greeting.
It was during this wave that the situation suddenly changed, and the images on the several Spirit Tool screens shifted again.
In the footage, Nan Liujing stood on the shattered competition stage, facing the exquisite Holy Spirit Douluo Yali.
Nan Liujing's waving motion paused, and he mused inwardly, "It couldn't be…"
The next moment, his conjecture was confirmed.
Under the gaze of hundreds of thousands of people present and hundreds of millions watching live, Ya Li's apologetic voice clearly spread.
"After investigation, we have confirmed that student Xu Cang did indeed secretly collude with Evil Soul Masters."
"Here, on behalf of Shrek Academy, I apologize to…"
The screen abruptly cut off, returning to Nan Liujing's individual shot.
The shouts and applause from the audience instantly ceased. People's eyes widened, and many only then remembered who Nan Liujing was.
So it's you!
Wasn't he the one who, during the Tianhai Alliance Great Competition, exposed that he had been offered a bounty by a Shrek Academy student, then killed the Shrek Academy student, and forcefully made Shrek Academy apologize?
As Ya Li's apology ended, the host's clearly flustered voice rang out:
"Next, let us welcome the Shrek Academy team!"
In unison, tens of thousands of people at the scene shifted their gaze away from the Spirit Tool screens.
The team after the Spirit Transfer Pagoda was indeed Shrek Academy.
Leading the team were Yu Han霜 and Yan Rong, along with other Inner Courtyard students.
The cheers for the various representative teams were gone; instead, there was only a strange, scrutinizing silence. The atmosphere was incredibly awkward.
No one cared if it was a live broadcast accident; it had already happened.
Yu Han霜, along with the rest of the Shrek Academy students, had initially been applauding Nan Liujing out of courtesy, but when the scandal landed squarely on them, their expressions instantly turned extremely ugly. Facing the cameras and the audience's gaze, they wished they could bury their heads in the ground.
The reserve students, who were representing the academy in the youth group competition, also looked dispirited, no longer possessing their earlier poise.
"Bastard!"
Among the seated leaders of the various representative teams, Long Yueming's face was contorted in fury as she prepared to rush towards the main platform, where the Federal Speaker, Vice Speaker, and various ministers were seated.
It was them; it must have been them who arranged this.
Otherwise, how could the academy coincidentally appear after the Spirit Transfer Pagoda, and why would they coincidentally play the embarrassing incident of Shrek Academy that had already passed?
"Long Lao, don't be impulsive!"
Two elders and Lan Muzi, the Grandmaster of the Inner Courtyard, quickly held back Long Yueming, preventing her from causing trouble.
This was the Central Stadium; if a conflict broke out here, how many commoners might die by accident?
That was an extreme consequence Shrek Academy could not bear.
Around them, the leaders of other forces exchanged glances, their expressions quite remarkable.
They secretly sighed that the Federation was truly ruthless, bringing up old matters in front of everyone on the Douluo Continent, severely slapping Shrek Academy's face.
The public opinion had already died down, but presumably, because of that incident just now, it would return to the trending topics.
Day after day, there was no end to the gossip.
Lan Muzi held back his teacher and said in a deep voice, "Teacher, don't worry, I will file a complaint."
"I want to see how they plan to explain themselves," Long Yueming said with bloodshot eyes, panting heavily.
Looking at the Spirit Transfer Pagoda's formation, especially staring at Nan Liujing's back, her eyes grew even colder.
The opening ceremony continued, with tens of thousands of participants gathered. After the elegant Federal Speaker delivered his speech, countless fireworks burst forth, and the various teams dispersed in an orderly fashion. A series of unique cultural performances followed, warming up for the official competitions in the afternoon.
…
"Temporary worker?"
At noon, inside the Mingdu Grand Hotel, Long Yueming suddenly struck her walking stick, her face grim. "
The Shrek Academy students all looked solemnly at their Senior Brother, Lan Muzi.
After the opening ceremony, Lan Muzi personally sought an explanation from the officials, but to his surprise, they brushed him off with the excuse that the involved employee was a temporary worker who had already been fired.
Lan Muzi sighed, "I have already reported this matter to the Pavilion Master. The Pavilion Master's intention is that he will handle this matter and wants us to participate in the competition with a calm mind."
"Nonsense! The Federation is clearly slapping us in the face. How can we compete with a calm mind?" Long Yueming suppressed her anger, her voice icy. "In the upcoming competitions, for any local Mingdu team, you must go all out.
Anyone who dares not to fight with their lives will bear the consequences!"
With that, Long Yueming's figure flashed and disappeared.
"This…" Lan Muzi was helpless.
"Senior Brother, what should we do?" Yu Han霜 frowned.
Lan Muzi shook his head and said to everyone, "The Federation's actions are nothing more than an attempt to provoke us. Anger makes people lose their minds. We must use our true strength to win back our reputation and silence all those who are hostile to Shrek."
"Yes." Everyone was filled with fervor.
Elsewhere in the hotel, Nan Liujing hung up his uncle's call.
He snorted, "This Federation sure knows how to cause trouble, using me as a tool to stir things up."
Qiangu Qingfeng sat on the sofa and said, "With Long Yueming leading the team, it's inevitable that the Federation's higher-ups would have ulterior motives. I've already had someone negotiate with the Federation on behalf of the Spirit Transfer Pagoda. You can just focus on the competition."
Nan Liujing said no more. If the Federation dared to use him without offering proper compensation, they shouldn't blame him for giving the Federation a big surprise in the future.
One o'clock in the afternoon.
Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, Great Spirit Arena.
The Douluo Arena, designed to resemble ancient coliseums, had over one hundred and fifty thousand seats, second only to the Central Stadium.
This venue was designated by the Federal authorities for the youth individual competition's semi-finals.
While the individual competition was not as popular as the seven-on-seven format in the Sun Moon Federation, it was widely considered the most prestigious event.
In team combat, even if a participant performed poorly, they could still advance with the help of teammates.
But the individual competition was different; how far you went depended entirely on your true strength.
At that moment, the Great Spirit Arena was already packed, appearing no less grand than the Central Stadium.
This year's youth individual competition had a total of three hundred participants, all in the contestant waiting area.
Around them, conversations rose and fell.
Nan Liujing closed his eyes, resting.
In terms of age, he was the youngest, and some people were already staring at him with ill intent.
The Tianhai Alliance Great Competition had made him famous, and precisely because of this, countless people wanted to step on him to advance to the next round.
The individual competition was not based on points; it was entirely a single-elimination format.
"The competition is about to begin. Contestants, please prepare yourselves." The host's voice rang out, and the noisy stands gradually quieted down.
"Contestant with draw number one, please enter the arena!"
On the giant Spirit Tool screen, the waiting area was displayed. Under the gaze of countless people, Nan Liujing calmly stood up and lightly stepped towards the competition stage.
According to the rules, the first five matches would be conducted one by one as a warm-up, after which five matches would proceed simultaneously, as there was ample space.
All eyes fell on Nan Liujing. At this moment, a young man excitedly stood up and also walked towards the competition stage.
Sounds of envy immediately arose in the waiting area.
"Tsk, he got lucky."
"What a stroke of luck."
"He's guaranteed to advance to the next round."
Only the contestants from Tang Sect, War God Hall, and a few other top forces chose to silently observe. Only a fool would believe that someone would dare to participate in a cross-level competition without genuine ability.
Standing still, Nan Liujing scanned his opponent, who appeared to be around nineteen years old, with evenly fluctuating spirit power around him, estimated to be at the cultivation of an initial Spirit King.
The referee, from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, said in a deep voice, "Once I announce the start of the match, you can begin. Remember, you must stop once your opponent is no longer able to fight, otherwise, you will be disqualified."
Nan Liujing and his opponent both nodded in acknowledgment.
"Each of you, retreat a hundred meters," the referee said.
Buzz~
An invisible spirit power shield rose, and all eyes in the arena fell upon the competition stage.
"According to custom, those who draw the first five lots are to warm up for the competition and are allowed to say provocative words." The young man's lips curled into a confident smile, saying, "I'm honored to have drawn the chance to step on you and advance to the next round."
His words spread to every corner of the Douluo Arena, immediately eliciting shouts from the excited audience.
For Spirit Masters fighting, if they didn't utter some harsh words, would they even be called Spirit Masters?
Nan Liujing raised an eyebrow. Originally, he hadn't felt much about the preliminary match, but upon hearing these words, he immediately became energized.
He immediately returned a smile:
"Then you'd better step firmly, don't fall off."
"Match start!"
The shield finished rising, and the referee elder's voice followed.
Buzz~
Beneath the young man, two yellow, three purple, five spirit rings quickly rose, with crackling electric arcs flowing around him. He was a lightning-attribute Spirit Master.
Nan Liujing couldn't help but 'tsk' in admiration.
Lighting up his fourth spirit ring, the young man pointed to the sky. Violent lightning elements gathered, forming deep thunderclouds, from which several beams of lightning suddenly shot out.
The lightning beams were extremely fast, and the air crackled with a scorching smell. In an instant, they arrived above Nan Liujing's head.
Lightning attribute, generally speaking, boasts the greatest destructive power among attributes. Even if the young man was only an initial Spirit King, even an intermediate Spirit King would not dare to underestimate him.
However, under the gaze of all, a scene that left everyone dumbfounded appeared.
Nan Liujing showed no intention of releasing his spirit rings or Spirit. With a large grab, the lightning beams, which were powerful enough to pierce through cyan-gold boulders, were held in his hand like obedient pets.
He stroked the lightning as if teasing a dog, and under the astonished gazes of the young man and the audience, Nan Liujing expressionlessly threw it out.
The lightning beams surged back, and the violent lightning elements seemed to have received an imperial decree. Surging lightning snakes streaked across the sky, leaving shattered trails, with a resolute intent as if saying, 'I shall die for my lord, bearing the jade dragon'.
The young man's pupils constricted, and his third spirit ring instantly lit up. Lightning mist surged around his body, as if he had transformed into a human lightning cloud, with flickering electric lights faintly visible.
The piercing lightning snakes passed through his body, dispersing him. This move effectively dodged the attack. The spirit power shield behind him was struck, blooming with countless lightning marks, like obvious scars, which took a long time to smooth out.
The young man's body returned to its original state, his heart trembling. His third Spirit Ability was supposed to be immune to all elemental attacks, yet he still felt a trembling sensation, as if a higher bloodline was suppressing a lower one.
"Hmm?"
Before he could recover from the shock, he felt someone grab his arm.
His eyes met a pair of indifferent eyes, and a knee that was already coming up.
How was that possible?
He was clearly a hundred meters away from him!
Bang!
A burst of air exploded, and an invisible airflow swept through. The young man's abdomen suddenly felt a sharp, excruciating pain, as if his internal organs were twisted. His slightly handsome face instantly contorted, his mouth wide open, eyes bulging, and his entire body stiff. His Spirit King-level physique was instantly breached.
Bang!
His arm was released, and the young man, like a curled-up shrimp, fell to the ground, his eyes vacant, trying to breathe, but the intense pain prevented him from screaming. Veins bulged on his neck, and cold sweat continuously broke out.
Nan Liujing stood beside him, looking down at the young man, and said indifferently:
"I thought you were a dish, but you're just trash."
"May I announce the result?"
He turned to look at the referee.
'These young people nowadays are more terrifying than the last.' The referee mused inwardly and immediately announced the result.
When the spirit power shield receded, thunderous cheers erupted.
"Nan Liujing!"
"Nan Liujing!"
Students from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, as well as the old natives of Mingdu, expressed their attitude without any reservation.
Glancing at his opponent being carried away on a stretcher, Nan Liujing shook his head slightly, thanking the Federation's higher-ups. Now he had truly become a big star.
Especially as the frontline against Shrek Academy, his fame here was astonishingly high.
The female students asking for his contact number had already exceeded fifty.
Walking back to the waiting area, the other contestants from the Spirit Transfer Pagoda, including the team leader, quickly came forward, expressing their congratulations with beaming smiles, their expressions even a bit fawning.
Nan Liujing didn't dislike it. People, after all, wanting to improve was normal.
Oh, those who were planning to step on him to advance also had much clearer eyes now.
"How do you feel?"
In the War God Hall's resting area, a wheat-skinned woman asked her two friends with a smile.
Commander Xiao Pojun's face was solemn: "His speed, at least for now, seems comparable to an agility-attack system Spirit Emperor not using Spirit Abilities."
Dragon Tianwu said in a deep voice, "Speed is secondary. His methods are what we need to be wary of. Lightning elements have always been known for their untamed nature. To be able to command someone else's lightning element spirit power like a pet, his Thunder Dragon Soul is probably even more powerful than we imagined."
"As expected of a top-tier Spirit with a Dragon Soul, he truly has the qualifications to fight across levels."
"Contestant with draw number two, please come to the stage."
The host's voice interrupted their conversation. Suddenly, their expressions shifted. They saw a short, light-blue haired young man from the Tang Sect's resting area stand up and walk out, cheered on by his colleagues.
"Xu Zihuang."
The three, who considered him their greatest opponent, quickly focused their gazes.
All parties, including Nan Liujing, also became focused.