Douluo Continent: Starting with a Heavenly Fire Judgment

Chapter 143 The Trump Card

In the rest area of ​​the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, Ma Rulong said with a grave expression, "That turtle-like soul master from Shrek Academy has very threatening soul skills; we need to be extra careful if we encounter him!"

Xiao Hongchen said irritably, "Brother Ma, apart from this turtle soul master, who in Shrek Academy doesn't require our special attention? You're making it sound like the others aren't a threat."

Ma Rulong was speechless for a moment. Xiao Hongchen was right; anyone from Shrek Academy should be treated with extra caution. Thinking of this, he rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. He hadn't forgotten his promise to Elder Ma, who was leading the team, that he would leave Mingde Hall if they lost the match against Shrek.

Seeing Ma Rulong's pained expression, Xiao Hongchen's face also turned pale. Shrek's confidence had been shaken in the previous few matches, and he no longer underestimated Shrek.

The thought of facing Ji Lin in the next Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Battle Tournament, especially when he was leading his team, made him feel immense pressure.

Looking at his silly little sister, who was holding her cheeks in her hands and staring intently at Shrek Academy, he felt even more pressured. He suspected that if he faced Ji Lin on the field, his sister, who was obsessed with looks, would betray him on the spot.

He betrayed his older brother.

On the arena.

The referee in the purple dress gave the seven Shrek students a strange look, then glanced at the captain of Changning Academy, who was being dragged off by one leg by the team leader, before announcing, "Shrek Academy wins."

Although the match was somewhat dramatic, the audience still applauded and cheered.

Xu Sanshi's fourth soul skill, Xuanming Displacement, astonished everyone and aroused the vigilance of all other academies.

The round-robin tournament has entered its fourth round, which is the middle stage. Shrek Academy's Group 1 has only eight teams, and each team will play seven matches to complete one round.

As Wang Yan predicted, no strong teams appeared in the next three matches. Wang Yan still fielded the same lineup as Changning Academy, which Xiao Xiao and Wang Dong'er thoroughly enjoyed. Ji Lin, on the other hand, easily won all four matches without much effort.

Shrek Academy ultimately secured first place in their group with a perfect record of seven wins.

As expected, Zheng Tian Academy, led by Ye Wuqing and Yu Mengdi, also advanced from the first group.

It is also the strongest academy in the first group besides Ji Lin and his Shrek Academy.

Because there were still nine teams in the other groups, they were given three days of rest after the Shrek Academy competition ended.

Eighteen teams advanced from the round-robin stage, and the next stage is the even more brutal knockout stage.

Wang Yan convened another meeting with Ji Lin and others in the conference room of the Star Emperor Hotel.

"The matchups for the knockout stage are out," Wang Yan said in a deep voice. He had just returned from the Star Luo Empire's palace where the draw was being conducted and immediately convened a meeting with everyone.

"Our opponent in the round of 16 is an old rival: the number one academy of the Douling Empire, the Douling Royal Academy."

Hearing the words Dou Ling Royal Academy, the expressions of Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yaoheng and Ling Luochen all changed slightly.

Ma Xiaotao frowned and said, "We ran into them so early?"

Xiao Xiao asked curiously, "Is the Douling Royal Academy very strong?"

Ma Xiaotao said, "The top four from last year, wouldn't you say they were strong? They were definitely much stronger than the strongest team you faced, Zheng Tian Academy. Teacher Wang, how strong are the team members from Dou Ling who are participating this year?"

Wang Yan said, "This year's roster of members from the Douling Royal Academy includes five Soul Kings and two Soul Masters. They are very strong. Moreover, the Douling Royal Academy is not rigid; although it is a high-level Soul Master Academy, it is also the best Soul Master Academy in the Douling Empire. Through my observation of them, I found that almost every member of their team possesses a Soul Tool and can use it skillfully in the competition. At least two of them are true Soul Masters. With the strength of a Soul King combined with a Soul Tool, this opponent will not be easy to deal with."

Judging from their apparent strength, the opposing team has five Soul Kings, but Shrek Academy has two Soul Emperors and one Soul King, plus Ji Lin and Wang Qiu'er, who are not actually Soul Kings. If Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi were to reveal their trump cards, they could also be considered half-Soul Kings. Their side completely overwhelms the Douling Royal Academy, but the Soul Tools are an unknown factor. Wang Yan is also wary of the Soul Tools.

Dai Yueheng asked in confusion, "Teacher Wang, we qualified as the top team in our group in the round-robin tournament. Judging by their strength, the Douling Royal Academy should also have been the top team in their group, right? How did we end up being drawn against them? Isn't the top team in the group only drawn against the second-place teams from other groups in the round of 16?"

Wang Yan said, "Judging by strength, Douling Royal Academy should have qualified first in their group. But that's not the case. A dark horse emerged in their group, maintaining a perfect record before facing them. And for some reason, Douling Royal Academy forfeited their last match against that dark horse academy, thus qualifying as the second-place team. Unexpectedly, they ran into us."

Ji Lin stroked his chin and said, "It seems that the Douling Royal Academy is hiding its strength. The reason they gave up qualifying as the top team in their group is to avoid revealing their trump card."

Wang Yan said, "Ji Lin guessed correctly. I've also considered this issue, so you must be careful of the Douling Royal Academy's trump cards when you're on the field. However, we also have quite a few trump cards. With you guys here, there shouldn't be any major problems. Alright, let me first explain the rules of the knockout stage."

"The All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament has evolved over tens of thousands of years, with its rules constantly changing, especially the final elimination rounds. To make the competition more exciting and to better showcase the overall strength of the participating academies, the format will differ from the earlier rounds. Unlike the round-robin tournaments, the elimination rounds will no longer be decided by drawing lots. Each elimination round will be held over two days, consisting of team battles and individual elimination rounds. Winning the team battle does not guarantee advancement. In the individual elimination rounds on the second day, if a team with three or fewer members can defeat all seven members of the opposing team, they can turn the tide. The team that wins the team battle only needs to defeat three members of the opposing team to advance."

It's very simple. If you win the team battle, you only need to defeat three of the opposing team members to win the individual battle on the second day. Otherwise, you need to defeat seven of the opposing team members with three of your own to win.

"The elimination rounds are both a test of the team as a whole and a great opportunity to showcase individual strength. Truly capable academies will focus on cultivating their top students, precisely so that they can turn the tide in the individual competitions of the elimination rounds."

The fact that the knockout stage was conducted in this way was truly eye-opening for everyone.

(End of this chapter)