Monster Academy faces off against the Shrek Academy team and the representatives from the Spirit Pagoda's main headquarters, Xia Yi and Gu Yue.
This might be one of the most highly anticipated matches of the entire Continental Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament's doubles competition.
No one expected such an explosive matchup in the first round of the doubles event.
Aside from the grand finals, no other match in this category would likely be as thrilling as today's.
Yesterday, Shrek Academy's Yuanen Yehui and Ye Xinglan displayed their complete one-word battle armor.
Tang Wulin also defeated the five-ring, one-word battle armor master, Jiu Huan Yin Dao, Ling Wuxie.
The others hadn't made a grand display of power, but that was simply because they hadn't encountered any strong opponents yet.
Considering they were all from the same team, their strength couldn't be too far apart.
Some even speculated that every participant from Shrek Academy might be a one-word battle armor master.
Though the audience of the Star Luo Empire had absolute confidence in the Monster Academy's Eight Heavenly Kings, they also knew that Shrek Academy, along with the Spirit Pagoda's Xia Yi and Gu Yue, were no pushovers.
Today's doubles match was bound to be a fierce clash between titans.
"The people from Monster Academy are here."
Someone in the crowd murmured, and immediately, all heads turned toward the entrance.
At the waiting area's entrance, a group of eight walked in at a steady pace. They were all dressed in dark red fitted uniforms, and on their chests was a black emblem—a circular design that opened on one side like a gaping maw lined with sharp teeth, exuding an ominous aura.
Leading them was a tall, muscular man with a shaved head. He stood at around two meters tall, with broad shoulders and a powerful frame, giving off the impression of an immovable mountain that blocked the view of those behind him.
This man was none other than Monster Academy's greatest genius—Long Yue.
No, he wasn't just the greatest talent of Monster Academy. He was the greatest talent of the entire Star Luo Empire, possibly even the entire Star Luo Continent.
Even Xia Yi, who had always been confident, felt a sense of unease upon sensing Long Yue's imposing aura.
For a brief moment, he thought he saw a flicker of dark red light in Long Yue's eyes.
As Long Yue entered the waiting area, the originally crowded space immediately cleared a path for him, allowing him to stride forward unobstructed.
Upon reaching the center of the waiting area, Long Yue's gaze landed on the Shrek Academy team and Xia Yi.
His pupils instantly turned dark red.
In that very instant, the air inside the waiting area seemed to grow turbulent, and many people instinctively took a step back, their faces filled with alarm.
Then, the burly, bald Long Yue walked straight toward Xia Yi.
"I don't think I've offended them, have I?" Xia Yi, who was lounging on a sofa with his legs crossed, muttered under his breath.
But Long Yue ignored his thoughts. His dark red eyes glowed faintly as he took a few steps forward, quickly closing the distance between them.
"Xia Yi, the number one genius of the Douluo Continent! I'm not wrong, am I? Where's your teammate?"
Despite his robust physique, Long Yue's voice was deep and composed—not particularly loud, but filled with an inherent authority that radiated immense pressure.
"That's right, I'm the number one genius of the Douluo Continent. As for Yue'er, she's in closed-door training," Xia Yi replied nonchalantly, as if he didn't regard the Eight Heavenly Kings of Monster Academy as threats at all.
"But today is a doubles match," Hua Lantang, who stood behind Long Yue, said coldly, his gaze sharp as he looked at Xia Yi. "Are you planning to fight two opponents alone?"
"I guess I have no choice," Xia Yi shrugged, appearing completely indifferent.
"What arrogance! Careful not to bite off more than you can chew," Hua Lantang sneered.
Never before had anyone dared to look down on Monster Academy like this.
Not only was Xia Yi younger than them, but his spirit power was also far inferior.
Yet now, he actually intended to take on two opponents at once.
"I don't want to, but there's no other way." Xia Yi put on an exaggeratedly helpless expression.
"Very well. In that case, I wish you good luck. My name is Long Yue, but people call me Mad Dragon. Pleased to meet you." Long Yue extended his large hand toward Xia Yi.
It was obvious that he was trying to establish dominance.
His skin had taken on a faint dark-red hue, and his massive palm resembled a large fan.
Xia Yi smiled faintly and extended his own hand in return.
"Xia Yi of the Spirit Pagoda, Douluo Continent."
A simple introduction.
Xia Yi was participating in this exchange event under the banner of the Spirit Pagoda, so his introduction wasn't incorrect.
However, in truth, he wasn't actually a member of the Spirit Pagoda.
Unlike Gu Yue, who had officially joined, Xia Yi had never received the organization's special identification credentials.
Even Leng Yaozhu, the Spirit Pagoda's top leader, didn't seem to have any intention of forcing him to join.
Compared to Long Yue's massive hand, Xia Yi's hand appeared delicate and weak—his skin was fair and smooth, his fingers slender and refined, more beautiful than most women's hands.
When their hands clasped together, many onlookers instinctively had the same thought.
Would Xia Yi's hand be crushed?
Many began to worry for him.
Meanwhile, the other Heavenly Kings of Monster Academy revealed expressions of satisfaction.
'Hmph! That fool. Daring to shake hands with Big Brother Long? He's finished. Completely finished!'
To them, Xia Yi, who had the audacity to challenge their academy with a one-against-two match, was utterly detestable.
Yet unexpectedly, neither hand moved an inch.
Long Yue's palm darkened slightly, emanating a sense of immovable stability like a mountain.
Meanwhile, Xia Yi's battle armor automatically emerged. In the next instant, his martial soul activated, and five fox tails slowly rose behind him. His soul rings lit up one after another.
Long Yue lifted his head sharply, locking his dark-red gaze onto Xia Yi. His pupils swirled with a vortex-like intensity.
He couldn't understand. Xia Yi clearly had more strength left to spare, yet he pretended to be at his limit.
"All right, Long Yue. That's enough."
After over ten seconds, Dai Yueyan stepped forward and spoke in a deep voice.
Regardless of Xia Yi's status, he represented the Spirit Pagoda's headquarters.
As the future emperor of the Star Luo Empire, Dai Yueyan couldn't afford to let Xia Yi be humiliated too much.
Both Long Yue and Xia Yi released their grip simultaneously.
Xia Yi's expression remained calm, as if nothing had happened.
However, a trace of madness flickered in Long Yue's eyes.
"Hahaha! Interesting! It's been so long since I met such an interesting opponent. What a shame you're younger than me. If only we were the same age… Haha! Hahahaha!"
Among the Eight Heavenly Kings, only Long Yue understood that Xia Yi had been holding back.
Still laughing, Long Yue turned and left, with Dai Yueyan and the others following behind him.
"…What a lunatic," Xia Yi muttered emotionlessly.
His battle armor-clad hand, which had been subtly trembling, was discreetly placed behind his back.
This small detail was noticed by keen observers.
"Grand Tutor, do you think this Xia Yi is overrated?"
On the VIP platform, Emperor Dai Tianling frowned as he observed Xia Yi's still-quivering arms.
Given Xia Yi's age and cultivation level, it was natural for him to lose in terms of raw strength against Long Yue.
But if he had to use both his battle armor and martial soul just to last a mere ten seconds, wasn't that a little underwhelming?
Was he just acting tough for show?
Dai Tianling felt a deep sense of disdain.
"No… He wasn't using his full strength," En Ci, the Grand Tutor, shook his head.
As an Ultimate Douluo, if he couldn't see through Xia Yi's facade, he might as well find a piece of tofu and smash his own head against it.