Surprising Everyone.

"Good, then next we will conduct the first match of pre-selection competition, Heaven Dou Imperial Academy versus Shrek Academy. All non-competing academies leave the field. The two academies taking part in the match later, please prepare. In one hour, the match will formally begin."

"Third brother, let me go up."

Fatty excitedly said to Tang San as he rubbed his fist in anticipation.

Tang San glared at him before he can even speak anymore as he said :

"We will go as we planned before."

"Don't worry fatty. I'll help you properly teach these Heaven Dou Imperial Academy fellows a good lesson." Tai Long laughed as he patted fatty's shoulder.

As a result of other academies not competing today, after the opening ceremony was concluded, they immediately left for the rest area to spectate the first match of the first round.

Shrek Academy too followed them toward the rest are as they gathered together to discuss some pre-match strategy.

"Our opponent is actually the secondary team of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy? Heh, we already beat the shit out of their main team, aren't they just asking for a beating?"

Xiao Wu said with a wide smile on her face. To her, the secondary team of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy is just asking for a beating even after knowing that they had already defeated their main team.

"Heh, you seem quite confident and arrogant, you lil rabbit. How many times have I told you to never underestimate your opponents? Looks like you are in a need of good personal private training session with me."

Tang Ming looked at Xiao Wu with a small smile which made Xiao Wu immediately shut up. She just looked down at her feet and grumbled in annoyance.

"Even if they are only a secondary team, there strength will not be too far from the main team. I have heard from the master, that you all managed to defeat the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy main team in the Great Spirit Fighting Arena but you all only managed to win barely and that too because of Xiao San using his external spirit bone."

Hearing this everyone became silent as they remembered that they only won because of Tang San using his mysterious techniques and external spirit bone.

"Also for this match, I'll be playing. You don't have to worry about master, I've already talked to him about this. As this is the first match of the Shrek Academy, we need to show everyone our strength while still try to hide as much as we can. So in this match, you all will not reveal any of your spirit ring ability and will fight in close combat just with your raw physical power."

"What? But how can we win if we just fight in close combat without using any spirit ring skill?"

Dai Mubai looked at Tang Ming with confused expression.

"You don't need to worry about that. You will just exchange a few moves with all of them for a while, after which I'll finish them in a single move using my first spirit ring ability. In this way, we'll be able to win in a domineering fashion while still being able to hide all of your strength and abilities."

At this time Grandmaster walked in with Flender and others.

"Are you sure about this, Xiao Ming? Revealing your strength at the beginning?"

"Yes teacher. It doesn't matter if they got to know a single spirit ring ability of mine. I have a quite a no. of them not to say I won't even be using it in full power."

Tang Ming explained to Grandmaster as the latter nodded his head. He had seen Tang Ming able to do many things and possessing many abilities. So he didn't question his decision anymore.

"If you're playing in this match, then I have a condition for all of you. I ask you all to win within a single minute. And you, Xiao Ming, would not use more than a single ability no matter what. Is that clear?"

Grandmaster said as he glanced at everyone as his gaze lastly fixed at Tang Ming.

"Yes. We'll do it."

Tang San and Dai Mubai immediately responded while everyone else also nodded their head. They are already thrilled after thinking about what expression the spectators would make after seeing the famous Imperial Academy losing to a no name team in just a matter of second and that too with a single move.

'If brother Ming played, forget about a minute he will be able to defeat everyone in less than ten seconds.' That's what everyone thought in their mind. They have experienced how much of a monster he is firsthand. So they have full confidence that they will be able to win in one minute.

Everyone else also wanted to beat the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy team as they haven't the humiliation they received that day. So there would be nothing more humiliating than defeating them in front of all people in single minute and making them regret their decision.

Not long after an official came and hurried everyone to the stage.

Just as they arrived, the Shrek Academy could hear the officiant outside declaring the names and spirit of each members of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy team. Golden beams of light and firecrackers were shot down on the high stage from the side of Great Spirit Arena, accompanying each members of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy second team as they appeared.

The crowds were cheering madly for them while shouting 'Heaven Dou' continuously.

Leaving the strength of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy second team, the members were excellent in terms of appearance, the faintly shining golden uniforms that had the words 'Heaven Dou' embroidered on the left side of the chest, each member looked valiant and formidable, and seemed to be over twenty years of age.

Under the illumination of firecrackers and lights, they seemed to release a dazzling radiance even though it's daytime.

For this match, Tang San chose Dai Mubai, Jing Ling, Huang Yuan, Tai Long, Jiang Zhu and lastly Tang Ming.

While others went to the spectators area to observe the match.

When they entered the arena, there was no firecrackers or golden beams of light shining on them as complete opposite of what happened when Heaven Dou Imperial Academy entered. There was pin drop silence in the arena before the crowd started 'booing'.

But Tang Ming can still hear the few people cheering for them at the spectators area. He turned to look at them only to see Ma Hongjun, Oscar, Xiao Wu and Rongrong shouting and cheering for them as best as they can while waving some kind of board which says 'Undefeated Champions'.

This made them stand out from others as people looked at all of them with odd gazes. Even Zhu Zhuqing were standing there holding the board with a firm expression without being ashamed or anything.

This made him feel a little sweet in his heart. So he too waved his hand at them, and when there eyes met each other, Tang Ming slightly smiled at her.

Tai Long and others also waved their hand at them with smiles.

"They're taking us way too lightly, aren't they?"

Tai Long said as he felt a little bitter about the overly pompous entrance of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy team.

"Let them be arrogant for a while. We'll be sure to crush their arrogance completely today."

Dai Mubai said while a grin formed at his mouth. Tai Long mood also became slightly better after thinking of their faces when he will crush all of that arrogance.

"While I'll be the only one who'll use his spirit ring ability, there's no one restricting you to beat them physically." Tang Ming said with a smile as he continued, "As soon as the match starts, rush them and engage them in a melee fight before they can even comprehend what next move they should make."

"Hehe! We'll be destroying some imperial asses today. Let's go."

Tang Ming said jovially as he and the others were practically beaming with happiness.

"Now that the players of both team have arrived, I announce the first match of the Continental Advance Spirit Master Academy tournament to begin. Both teams please open the martial spirit within a minute, after which the match will start."

As soon as the announcer voice fell, the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy team immediately released their martial spirit and spirit ring simultaneously. Every single one of them has three spirit ring with best configuration, two being yellow and one being purple signifying that all of them are Spirit Elders.

Crowds cheered at the sight of colourful spirit rings being released from Heaven Dou Imperial Academy team.

After releasing their martial spirits and spirit ring, they looked toward Shrek with disdain and provocation, only to see all of them looking back at them with contemptuous gaze while smirking evilly.

One by one Shrek Academy also released their martial spirit and spirit rings beginning from Tai Long, Huang Yuan, Jing Ling, Jiang Zhu.

Tai Long beat his chest as his Vigorous Orangutan manifested as an illusory figure behind him, his body started growing rapidly becoming more robust and tall. Three rings also rose up from his feets yellow, yellow and purple.

Huang Yuan, Jing Ling and Jiang Zhu too released their martial spirit one after the other.

The crowds that were booing a few moments ago became silent at this as all four of them were Spirit Elders with the best spirit ring configuration. But the next scene made them gasp in surprise as Dai Mubai slowly released his martial spirit and spirit ring.

An illusory figure of white tiger manifested around him with a 'King' character visible upon its forehead. His body started to swell rapidly becoming a little more muscular and taller. Yellow, yellow, purple and purple, four rings rose up from his feets showing he is a Spirit Ancestor.

Before they can even digest this surprise, Tang San too released his martial spirit and spirit rings. A small Blue Silver Grass appeared on his right hand. Next spirit ring started rising up from his feet yellow, yellow, purple and purple...no the last and the fourth ring was not purple, it was shockingly black.

The whole audience became pin drop silence, as everyone in the VIP stage also looked shocked. The crowd in the audience gasped in shock as they looked at the black spirit ring.

"Heavens!! Is that a ten thousand years old spirit ring..."

"I'm not seeing things, right...?"

"But he's only a Spirit Ancestor...."

They have never seen anyone with black ring as their fourth spirit ring.

Platinum Bishop Salas previously squinting eyes now abruptly shone, staring fixedly at Tang San.

"How can it be...?"

The previously arrogant Heaven Dou Imperial Academy team looked as if they swallowed a fly. All of them looked like as if they had seen a ghost.

They were arrogant because they thought that their opponents are some backwater academy but not only the opponents have two Spirit Ancestors in their team, one of them even has a ten thousand years old spirit ring.

Tang Ming too didn't wait any longer as he too summoned his Primordial Spear and released all of his spirit rings, two yellow, one purple and one black. The same configuration as of Tang San.

Obviously, he hid the real age and colour of the spirit ring with his second spirit ring ability [Eternal Illusion] before entering the arena.

This time even the emperor stood up in surprise. Once can be called a miracle but twice...

"Shrek Academy? How come I have never heard of this academy before? To be able to train two monsters who had black ring as their fourth spirit ring..."

Emperor Xue Ye looked at Shrek Academy as he asked himself in surprise.

"Is this the academy, School master Ning supports?" Emperor Xue Ye suddenly asked as if remembering something.

"Yes, I really like this team, as even my little girl is also a part of it."

Ning Fenghzi smiled slightly as he said.

"Oh! So this team was cultivated by Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Clan?"

Emperor Xue Ye asked with a smile. If this team was cultivated with the help and resources of Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Clan, then he can somewhat understand their overbearing strength.

At this time the expression of the Platinum Bishop Salas became slightly grim and unsightly. Ning Fenghzi declaring that his daughter was part of this team, was clearly to tell him that Spirit Hall mustn't have the notion of striking at this team. And the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Clan has always had a good relationship with Heaven Dou Empire Imperial family.

Ning Fenghzi shook his head in denial as he casted a sideward glance at Prince Xue Xing.

"This is not a team that my clan cultivated, your majesty. These childrens wanted to join the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy at first, but unfortunately they were not able to due to some circumstances."

In the distance, the three board member of the Imperial Academy when heard this, sighed heavily.

These childrens would have belonged to their Heaven Dou Imperial Academy if not for a fool that intervened. The three of them looked extremely regretful. If they have made them stay at the Imperial Academy, this honour would have belonged to them.

After hearing Ning Fenghzi say this, Salas expression recovered somewhat and there was even a light of taking a joy in misfortune of

"What!? What happened then? Why didn't they join?"

Emperor Xue Ye voice became slightly cold as he asked calmly. The strength these children showed now is really too great, it's a guarantee they will become great in the future.

Especially now, when the intention of Spirit Hall is becoming more and more greedier and is not quite clear.

If they were enrolled in their Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, they might have come directly into the Empire.

However these children have now gone to other academy. This is equivalent to sending the talents of their Empire. Whoever or whatever caused this, he will definitely see this to the end.

"These children wanted to enter Heaven Dou Imperial Academy at that time, but because one of the students in the academy called them beggars and disrespected their teachers, one of the children from Shrek Academy beated that student. It's the one right there with four spirit ring with White Tiger martial spirit. But the beaten student just happened to be the fourth prince."

Ning Fenghzi said calmly, "But after that the fourth prince called Prince Xue Xing and asked him to not let them enter the academy. Prince Xue Xing then forbid the Shrek Academy for entering the academy and sent them back after humiliating them and their teachers. After which they joined Blue Tyrant Academy which was renamed Shrek Academy later."

Ning Fenghzi told emperor Xue Ye briefly without hiding anything. He didn't give any face to prince Xue Xing as he didn't need to. He was a respectable Sectmaster of one of the upper three clans, he didn't need to fear or show respect to anyone beside the emperor himself.

"Xue Xing, can you explain?"

Emperor Xue Ye looked coldly toward prince Xue Xing. It can be seen that the emperor was really angry right now.

Everyone of these children is a genius, and two of them even have black ring as their fourth spirit ring.

When prince Xue Xing heard the emperor's voice. His mood immediately fell to the bottom as he didn't dare to look up and meet the emperor's eyes.

If he knew that one of these childrens were going to have a ten thousand year old ring as his fourth spirit ring, he wouldn't have dared to humiliate and let these people go.

And by the chilliness of the emperor's sound, he knew that if he didn't give a satisfactory explanation, he is definitely finished this time.

'Ah! Nephew, you even drowned me with you this time...'

He just wanted to help his nephew, who would have thought this would happen.

"Sectmaster Ning, I will definitely investigate this matter. When the time comes, these children will be treated fairly and if they are still willing to come to Heaven Dou Imperial Academy to study, they will be very welcome and will be treated as guest."

Emperor Xue Ye said to Ning Fenghzi to which the latter nodded his head in agreement.

**************************************************

A/N : So here's the new chapter. Enjoy.

I'll be releasing the next chapter within two days as I've already written half of it.

I'll try to atleast release new chapters regularly during this tournament arc so that you all can enjoy the exciting battles and interactions.

Also if you felt that the interaction between characters are quite stiff or feels two dimensional, please point it out. I'll try to make it better.

Any reviews, suggestions and comments are appreciated either negative or positive. Now I'm out.

Your Allfather Author - PrimorDious. Peace Out✌️.