The Star Luo Empire officially allocated a section of the top floor of the Star Emperor Hotel for the use of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.
Not only did each of them, including Liuxing, have their own private bedroom, but there was also a dedicated conference room for their use.
Although the relations between the two empires were not good, the Star Luo Empire was not so petty in this regard.
After checking into the Star Emperor Hotel, the members of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy took a brief rest and then, under the summons of Elder Ma, began to discuss strategies to deal with the other major teams.
Not all academies were qualified to be opponents of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.
Apart from Shrek Academy, only the Star Luo Royal Academy, the Imperial Mystical Academy were worth paying attention to.
These three academies were the strongest from the original three empires of Douluo and were regulars in the top four of previous Soul Master Competitions.
These were opponents that even the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy could not afford to underestimate.
Elder Ma focused his discussion on these academies.
Apart from them, other academies present were also holding discussions to strategize.
For most academies, the primary concern was how to survive the first round of the elimination matches.
Next to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy was the area prepared by the Star Luo Empire for Shrek Academy, so close that they could bump into each other just by opening their doors.
But for some reason, perhaps due to the pride and arrogance of being the reigning champions, Shrek Academy had not yet registered or checked into the Star Emperor Hotel.
This left Liuxing and the others, who were eager to see who the members of Shrek Academy were, greatly disappointed.
With two days left until the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Competition, Shrek Academy had still not arrived.
Liuxing and the others did not go out to wander around but stayed in the Star Emperor Hotel to conserve their energy.
During these two days, some scouts from distant places had also collected information and sent it back via long-distance communication soul tools to some people in another plane.
...
...
Two days later, on the top floor of the Star Emperor Hotel.
Conference room of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.
Liuxing, Xiao Hongchen, Ma Rulong, and the other twelve regular and reserve team members had all gathered.
Elder Ma and another teacher dispatched by the academy exchanged glances and began to introduce the intelligence they had recently gathered.
The responsibility for intelligence and tactical arrangements fell on Elder Ma and the other two teachers, while Liuxing and the others only needed to focus on the competition.
"Today, Shrek Academy has arrived in Star Luo City to register."
Hearing this, Liuxing and the others perked up.
Shrek Academy had not arrived for so long that they had started to worry that Shrek Academy might miss this year's competition!
This made Liuxing and the others anxious, even more anxious than Shrek Academy itself.
If Shrek Academy did not participate, even if they won the championship, it would be meaningless.
Everyone would say that if Shrek Academy had participated, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy would still be the perpetual runner-up.
Thus, for the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, the significance of this competition was not just about winning the championship, but more importantly, winning the championship by defeating Shrek Academy.
Therefore, when Shrek Academy had not arrived, the most anxious were the members of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.
They were all praying that Shrek Academy would not encounter any mishaps and would definitely come to participate in the competition.
Now that Shrek Academy had finally arrived, Liuxing and the others breathed a sigh of relief.
Looking at the intelligence in his hand, Elder Ma said with a strange expression, "According to the information from our informant within the Star Luo Empire, Shrek Academy is very unusual this time!"
"Oh, how so?"
Liuxing propped his face with one hand, lazily asking. As long as Shrek Academy had arrived, nothing else mattered.
"The configuration of Shrek Academy this year is very unusual. Including both the reserve and regular teams, they only have ten members. Moreover, only three of them appear to be around eighteen or nineteen years old, while the other seven are about the same age as you all, around twelve to fourteen years old."
"This means that Shrek Academy has only sent three regular team members and seven reserve team members this time. Among them, two regular members were reserve members who appeared in the last competition, and the last regular member has never been seen before."
"Moreover, their leading teacher is also problematic, only a Soul King. According to past experiences in the Soul Dueling Competition, Shrek Academy would at least send a Title Douluo level expert to oversee the team."
"..."
Upon hearing this, the members of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy were immediately filled with confusion.
"Are they... looking down on us?"
Xiao Hongchen gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead.
This was too insulting! Sending only three regular members, did they think the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy was made of clay?
"Probably not."
Liuxing shook his head and retorted, "Even if Shrek Academy is arrogant, they wouldn't send only three main team members unless those three are all Soul Sage level experts. But is that possible?"
"Impossible. I know two of their main team members. One was the captain of the reserve team back then, and her cultivation level was at the Soul Ancestor level. The other was a Soul Elder. There's no way they could have reached the Soul Sage level in just five years. Besides, Shrek Academy has always discouraged using drugs to boost cultivation."
Ma Rulong shook his head, dismissing the possibility.
As the captain of the reserve team from the previous tournament, he had a deep impression of Shrek Academy and couldn't have misremembered.
"So, Shrek Academy must have run into some trouble on their way here. That would also explain why they arrived so late," Liuxing speculated.
Everyone nodded in agreement with this speculation. It was the only plausible explanation.
Otherwise, Shrek Academy would have no reason to do this.
Like the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, they took the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament very seriously and had never missed a single edition.
In other words, Shrek Academy might really be in trouble!
Originally, before setting off for the tournament, they had prepared to fight Shrek Academy to the death.
But as the tournament approached, they discovered that Shrek Academy was having issues.
"Does that mean we have a really good chance of winning this time?" Li Yan's voice trembled with excitement.
Liuxing, however, wasn't as thrilled as Li Yan and the others.
Whether Shrek Academy was absent or fielding a weakened team, it would affect the significance of their potential victory.
Winning against a crippled Shrek team was not the same as defeating a full-strength Shrek team.
If given the choice, Liuxing would prefer to defeat Shrek Academy at their full strength rather than a team with only three main members.
Meng Hongchen played with her slender fingers, a playful smile on her face. "Who knows? Maybe Shrek Academy won't even make it past the first round this time."
Although she was joking, Meng Hongchen didn't believe that a Shrek Academy team with only three main members would be very strong.
As for the reserve team, Meng Hongchen refused to believe that Shrek Academy had monsters like Liuxing and Liuying.
Ma Rulong shook his head. "This situation is not favorable for us. If we win, the outside world will only think we got lucky and won by default. If we lose, it would be an even greater humiliation."
Upon hearing this, Chen An and the others' excitement instantly faded.
Indeed, what was the point of a championship won by default?
"This is really frustrating. Even though Shrek Academy is having problems, in a way, they're already in an unbeatable position."
If they lose, it's because they had issues on the way and their team wasn't complete. If they win, they surpass all previous Shrek teams and gain immense glory.
They win either way.
Only Shrek Academy could enjoy such treatment. Any other academy, even the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, wouldn't get the same consideration.
If they lose, they lose. But Shrek Academy is different.
The entire continent would make excuses for them. That's the influence Shrek Academy has built over ten thousand years.
That's the power of legacy.
"There is a way to break this deadlock," Liuxing said, stroking his chin, a glint of light in his eyes.
"What way?" Xiao Hongchen looked at Liuxing. He didn't want to be stuck in such a frustrating situation.
"Don't forget, in the eyes of outsiders, we are the reserve team," Liuxing said with a sly smile, pointing to himself, Xiao Hongchen, and Gu Yuena.
"That's right! We can be the reserve team! If Shrek Academy is fielding a weakened team, we'll send out our reserve team. That way, no one can make excuses for Shrek Academy," Xiao Hongchen exclaimed, slamming the conference table in excitement.
"Exactly. Although we are the main team, in the eyes of outsiders, we are the reserve team because of our age. Shrek Academy may have a weakened team, but we're not fielding our main team either," Liuxing said with a cunning smile.
With Shrek Academy's legacy and strength, even if they had issues, they could have sent another main team.
But they chose not to, perhaps intending to put the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy in a difficult position.
"Shrek Academy's clever plan has backfired. Their scheme is destined to fail."
As a level-nine soul engineer, Elder Ma was no fool. Putting himself in their shoes, if something had happened to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, they could have quickly selected new main team members.
So Shrek Academy must have been able to do the same, but they chose not to. Wasn't that just a ploy to mess with the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy?
Of course, it's also possible that Shrek Academy had other intentions, such as training their reserve team.
But whatever Shrek Academy's intentions were, they had already found a way to break the deadlock.
Elder Ma looked at Liuxing with admiration.
Liuxing had thought further ahead than he had, instantly grasping the key point and turning the tables on Shrek Academy.
"Regardless, we must win. Even if this championship lacks significance, we still have the next tournament."
That's right. Given Liuxing and Xiao Hongchen's age, they could still participate in the next tournament. By then, they would face Shrek Academy head-on in a fair and square match.