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Teacher Zhou consoled Luo Guixing with a few words.
He glanced at Xu Yuan and the others, taking a deep breath.
"These classmates of yours are truly more outstanding."
Even with just a cursory glance, Teacher Zhou could gauge the overall talent of Xu Yuan's group.
This was something the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy simply couldn't match.
"However, Xiao Xing, although you're from our Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy, as your teacher, I must warn you—I won't show any leniency to Shrek's students during this exchange match, even for your sake," Teacher Zhou said sternly.
He understood Luo Guixing's decision to pursue a better future at Shrek.
But as a senior instructor at the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy, he harbored a certain animosity toward Shrek.
This animosity stemmed from the historical rivalry between the two academies.
It wasn't personal.
In fact, even to this day, the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy wasn't considered "legitimate."
This was absurd.
The Sun Moon Empire had annexed the original Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires, yet its premier academy, the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy, failed to continue its former glory. It was no longer the cradle of genius for the Sun Moon Empire. With the entire nation transitioning into the Federation era, the academy lost the support of the Sun Moon royal family and Mingde Hall. Everything was handed over to the Federation, and soul-guided technology became accessible to the public. The academy's advantages were abruptly leveled, while Shrek still maintained its superiority in terms of soul master strength.
Even after ten thousand years of effort, the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy remained one of the continent's top institutions, with unique expertise in soul-guided devices and mechs, but it could never rival Shrek.
Now that Luo Guixing had brought a group of students to challenge the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy—and they were seeking to leap five levels in their assessment—the academy wouldn't let this opportunity slip away.
"There are thirteen of you in total. To ensure everyone gets a chance to participate, the matches will consist of three one-on-one bouts, two two-on-two bouts, and one seven-on-seven bout. Do you have any objections?" Teacher Zhou looked at Xu Yuan.
Xu Yuan was the class monitor and the spokesperson for this Shrek group.
Xu Yuan nodded.
"No issues."
"Mm, but the matches can't take place today. We need time to prepare. Tomorrow, the official exchange match will be held in front of all of Mingdu's citizens. Does Shrek accept these terms?"
Xu Yuan frowned.
So it had come to this, had it?
But then again, how could the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy allow Shrek to issue such a challenge privately?
No matter how polite they were, it wouldn't work.
You want to challenge us by leaping five levels? And expect us to silently accept and compete without making a fuss?
Impossible.
Xu Yuan turned to Wu Zhangkong.
Wu Zhangkong was silent for a moment before nodding.
"Fine, we accept."
Representing Shrek?
Wasn't Xu Yuan's group already representative enough?
Even among third-year Outer Court students, none were more representative than Xu Yuan.
That day, throughout Mingdu's streets and alleys, the upcoming exchange match was being heavily promoted.
The match between the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy and Shrek Academy.
"Is the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy really this well-prepared?" Xu Lizhi stared in disbelief. On the way to the hotel, which took only half an hour, they had already seen countless advertisements flooding the city.
How efficient was this?
They had just finalized the arrangements, and now they were conducting a large-scale promotional campaign across all of Mingdu.
The Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy's influence in Mingdu was indeed immense.
Wu Zhangkong's expression remained cold.
"Because historically, such exchange matches have occurred more than once."
"Huh?"
Everyone was momentarily stunned.
They quickly understood what Wu Zhangkong meant.
Ah, practice makes perfect, huh?
"Roughly every ten years or so, there's such an exchange match." Wu Zhangkong's lips twitched slightly, as if recalling his own generation.
On average, every three batches of new students, there would be some from Shrek who chose to challenge the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy as their final trial.
And the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy always hosted these so-called exchange matches.
Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan and the others' lips twitched as well.
Xu Yuan hadn't known about this tradition or its frequency.
He hadn't expected that the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy had endured so much over the years.
No wonder the so-called rivalry had persisted to this day. Even teachers like Zhou, born in this era, disregarded their own students' faces and insisted on holding such a grand exchange match for all of Mingdu to witness.
After all, if Shrek made even the slightest mistake in such an exchange match, overwhelming public opinion would inevitably turn against them.
No wonder Teacher Zhou could act so self-righteously.
It seemed they had been genuinely "humiliated"—and on a cyclical basis, no less.
Shrek Academy.
Outer Court Dean's Office.
Cai Yue'er received a soul-guided communication from Wu Zhangkong.
After listening to his report, a faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Indeed, the tradition continues."
She spoke into the communicator: "Tell them that not a single match can be lost tomorrow. If there's even one defeat, the entire assessment will be scored as zero."
With the quality of this year's batch and the talents of these thirteen individuals, any failure in this exchange match wouldn't be due to a lack of raw strength.
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The Next Day
Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy, training grounds
Given its focus on cultivating soul engineers, the training grounds here were exceptionally large, with a diameter of four hundred meters.
Xu Yuan led the twelve other companions into the preparation area, while the opposing team from the Sun Moon Royal Squad had already taken their seats.
The event was being broadcast live.
Xu Yuan looked up at the flying drone above—it appeared to have a camera pointed at them.
He flashed a wide smile.
"Teacher Wu said that if we lose even one match in this exchange, the entire assessment will be scored as zero. So everyone, stay sharp," Xu Yuan announced.
"To play it safe, for the three one-on-one matches, Wu Siduo and I will each take one. For the final one-on-one match, Tang Wulin, Gu Yue, who will take it?"
Xu Yucheng didn't have absolute confidence in winning a one-on-one match.
For one-on-one matches, it was safer to send someone with strong offensive capabilities. Although Gu Yue was a control-type soul master, she specialized in aggressive control and possessed formidable offensive abilities—her elemental attacks were never weak.
"I'll do it," Tang Wulin said firmly.
"Alright. Now, for the two-on-two matches, who wants to go?"
Xu Yuan looked at the others.
"Xiao Yan, your martial soul no longer has nighttime restrictions. Do you have confidence in controlling the opponents?"
"Yes!" Xu Xiaoyan's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected to get a chance to participate in the two-on-two match and immediately assured him.
"Good. Then I'll pair you with Ye Xinglan. You two must secure the victory."
"Yes!" ×2
"Alright. For the remaining two-on-two match, who's confident?" Xu Yuan looked at the remaining eight people.
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