"Strike the strongest, and the world will recognize our power!"
With this declaration, the decision was made.
The atmosphere within the Canghui Academy team was tense. Their vice-captain had disappeared permanently, and the culprit had yet to be identified.
This was not an isolated incident. Both Blazing Academy and Thunderclap Academy had lost core members as well—critical participants eliminated under suspicious circumstances.
At this moment, four of the Five Elemental Academies had gathered to discuss the situation. Only Elephant Armored Academy had opted out of the "meeting."
In one corner, Feng Xiaotian of Godwind Academy questioned Shui Bing'er of Tianshui Academy.
"Shui Bing'er, did you see the face of the person who ambushed you?"
His voice was somber, tinged with grief despite the mask concealing his face.
Shui Bing'er was the sole survivor of an encounter with the mysterious assailant, making her their only lead.
Having sat out Tianshui's match against Canghui Academy yesterday to recover, Shui Bing'er was visibly shaken by the memory.
She shook her head, her voice trembling.
"No, I only heard a chilling 'heh, heh, heh' laugh. From the sound, it seemed like an old man.
"If not for Elder Meng's timely arrival, I…"
Her voice trailed off, and she shuddered. The memory filled her with fear and dread.
"Ah…"
Yu Tianxin of Thunderclap Academy sighed deeply. If he ever discovered the culprit's identity, he would bring his clan to exact vengeance, no matter the cost.
A warrior dying in battle was one thing, but falling victim to an assassin's cowardly tactics was something no battle soul master could tolerate.
"Seems like we don't have any useful leads. Everyone should stay cautious outside the battle arena," Feng Xiaotian advised.
Even the usually fiery Huo Wu didn't draw his attention—Feng Xiaotian was in no mood for distractions.
The group disbanded in low spirits, each academy returning to their respective rest areas.
In the Godwind Academy rest area, the teacher in charge addressed the students, his voice icy and filled with murderous intent.
"Focus on your matches. We've already informed the headmaster about this incident. Rest assured, we will find the truth."
Behind the Five Elemental Academies stood powerful backers, many of them at the Soul Douluo level or higher. Godwind Academy itself was supported by a veteran Soul Douluo whose strength ranked among the top fifty on the continent.
In battles where Titled Douluo didn't intervene, the Godwind Academy headmaster's power could rank in the top ten.
If the perpetrator wasn't sufficiently strong or backed by an influential force, their fate would be worse than death.
"Yes!"
Feng Xiaotian and the others responded in unison, their spirits somewhat lifted.
Similar conversations played out in the rest areas of the other elemental academies. None of them knew that the mysterious assailant had been killed the day before, his spirit bone already taken.
The Five Elemental Academies were furious not just because of the murders but because of the loss of face.
This was the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament!
Allowing their students to be killed without finding the culprit would make them the laughingstock of the spirit master world.
Back in the Tianshui rest area, a member of the team approached Shui Bing'er.
"Sister Bing'er, do you think it could have been Canghui Academy behind this?"
"The day before their match against Blazing Academy, Fire Leopard was killed.
"The day before our match against them, you were ambushed and nearly assassinated."
Her suggestion left the Tianshui team deep in thought. It made sense, but then why had Canghui Academy still lost both matches?
The purpose of such ambushes was to ensure victory by eliminating key opponents. Yet Canghui Academy had failed to capitalize on these advantages.
Moreover, Godwind and Thunderclap hadn't even faced Canghui yet, and they had also suffered losses.
It made Canghui Academy the most suspicious party, but without concrete evidence, the matter remained unresolved.
In the arena, the host's voice rang out.
"Let's give a warm welcome to the participants from Shrek Academy and Canghui Academy!"
Standing in the center was the dazzling host, Dou Dou. Her clear voice carried excitement as her angelic wings spread behind her, holding her aloft in midair.
Canghui Academy entered first, drawing murmurs from the crowd. Four of their seven participants were new faces, and their formation was unusual.
One student stood at the center, while the other six formed a hexagonal pattern around them.
The confident smirks on their faces puzzled not only the audience but also the other teams watching the match.
"What's with Canghui Academy today? Are they hiding a trump card?"
The Shrek team was the strongest in the Heaven Dou division. If Canghui was smiling like that, they were either delusional or had a powerful ace up their sleeve.
When Shrek's lineup emerged, the crowd gasped in disbelief.
"Three?! Only three participants?!"
The match format called for seven-member teams, but Shrek had only sent out three. While this wasn't against the rules, it was highly unconventional.
In the tournament's history, even when there was a clear disparity in strength, no team had ever entered a match so underhanded.
Had something gone wrong with Shrek?
Curious, the crowd glanced at Shrek's rest area. To their surprise, everything seemed normal. The team was leisurely enjoying slices of watermelon, as if watching a casual exhibition match.
With no signs of distress from Shrek's camp, the realization dawned.
This 3v7 was intentional.
(End of Chapter)