Even fewer people would carry a spirit bone on them. As long as they obtained such a priceless treasure, anyone would instantly absorb it, increasing their strength.
Grandmaster focused his attention on that spirit bone, beside himself for a long time.
“Little San, you truly have grown.”
Sighing softly, Grandmaster cautiously and solemnly returned the spirit bone to Tang San’s hands, indicating he should immediately put it back in the Wishful Hundred Treasure Purse.
Putting away the spirit bone, Tang San somewhat puzzled looked at Grandmaster. He didn’t understand why Grandmaster would say something like that.
Grandmaster sighed,
“On encountering a spirit bone, you still didn’t forget my warnings, and didn’t absorb it directly. This already proved that your temperament is already far beyond ordinary people. Now I can also finally at ease let you graduate after this tournament.”
There was some yearning in Tang San’s eyes,
“No, Teacher, I still want to continue learning from you.”
A laugh escaped from Grandmaster:
“You’ve long ago practically already learned what I can teach you. What you must do now is constantly take my theory and turn it into reality. This is also what I hope for the most. Little San, you must remember, no matter when, real combat is most important. If not for plentiful combat experience, right now you might already be a corpse. I didn’t expect that mysterious eye skill of yours could actually break Shi Nian’s Brutal Dream Spirit, and then that toxic hidden weapon as well. I think you should also be aware just how lucky you were in that fight yesterday. Only the slightest difference would have turned you into a corpse.”
Of course Tang San knew. Let alone the spirit bone, if Shi Nian hadn’t been so cruel and insisted on using his abnormal spirit ability, if he had only relied on strength, perhaps Tang San would already be dead. And then Shi Nian even had a spirit bone on top of that.
Grandmaster’s expression suddenly became serious,
“Don’t speak of this matter to anyone again. Not even the Shrek Seven Devils, Flender and the others. Brutal Dream Shi Nian has gone missing, but that’s entirely unrelated to you. That goes double for this spirit bone, don’t let anyone know about it. What is called ‘treasuring a jade ring becomes a crime’[1], I don’t want you to provoke some deadly calamity because of it. Understand?”
Tang San nodded, but he still couldn’t help asking:
“Grandmaster, just what is the effect of this spirit bone?”
Grandmaster muttered to himself:
“From observing its appearance and aura, it seems it was extremely wise of you not to absorb this spirit bone. Because it doesn’t suit you. This spirit bone should be a gem type, most applicable for auxiliary system Spirit Masters and illusionist type Spirit Masters, a very good match for Shi Nian. But you’re different, you’re not that category of Spirit Master. Even if you used it, the ability you would gain would be of little value. The added properties also wouldn’t be too good. Of course, it’s still a lot better than not having one.”
Part 3 (TL by Bagelson)
“Originally, the reason I repeatedly warned you not to anxiously absorb spirit bones after getting one, was because of this. Even if this spirit bone doesn’t suit you, it will suit others. Ideally, you can use it to trade for a spirit bone that fits you. Therefore, even though this spirit bone doesn’t suit your direct use, to you it’s still the necessary capital to trade for something more suitable. As long as you can grasp the opportunity, there will be no doubts as to the benefits.”
Tang San couldn’t help asking:
“Then what kind of spirit bone does suit me?”
Grandmaster said without the slightest hesitation:
“Strength type spirit bones and plant system spirit bones.”
Tang San stared blankly. Plant system spirit bones he could understand, but why strength type spirit bones?
Tang San had been Grandmaster’s disciple for many years, and naturally he saw the doubt in his mind,
“The benefit of plant system spirit bones goes without saying. As for strength type spirit bones, the greatest benefit is to strengthen you. At the same time, it’s also in order to prepare for your second spirit. Your Clear Sky School’s Clear Sky Hammer walks the strength route, and it’s even the most tyrannical strength route. Remember what I told you, what is the greatest difficulty for twin spirits? It’s that the body is unable to endure the added attributes from so many spirit rings. And strength type spirit bones will remould you one step further, making you able to endure even greater pressure.”
“So it’s like that.”
Tang San now understood Grandmaster’s painstaking effort,
“Then at what time should I go replace this spirit bone?”
Grandmaster pondered, saying:
“Don’t be hasty, this isn’t something you can accomplish on your own. Spirit bones are really too sensitive a topic in the Spirit Master world, if you don’t have sufficient threat of strength behind you, not only won’t you be able to trade for a suitable spirit bone, you will even attract deadly misfortune. Wait a few years. If you can meet your father, then you can shift it to an earlier date. With him there, nobody could touch you. Or if you could return to Clear Sky School, and obtain their backing.”
“Don’t participate in the match later. It’s not suitable to participate after such a massive exhaustion. Your opponents today aren’t powerful, the others are enough to deal with them. As for the others, just tell them that you had a flash of insight yesterday and went to cultivate outside the city for a while, and almost overdid it, that’s why you exhausted your spirit power. I’ll help you cover it up.”
Even though Tang San somewhat disapproved of Grandmaster’s caution, he still wouldn’t go against Grandmaster. His Teacher was doing it for his sake, and there was no harm in being a bit careful.
The qualifiers continued, and after the tenth round had finished, the teams participating in the Heaven Dou City qualifiers had already pulled open a lead.
Shrek Academy’s record of ten fights and ten wins, left them clearly competing for the first position.
There were still a few teams that had amassed identical records. That was also the four elemental academies other than Elephant Armored School.
Strangely, apart from facing the Elephant Armored Academy at the start, Shrek Academy didn’t encounter any of the other five elemental academy teams.
But the Elephant Armored Academy successively encountered the other four academies, and without exception, lost each time. It seemed as if their defense didn’t have any effect.
So far, Shrek Academy had been competing with the other four elemental academies for the top five positions, and they all still had complete win records.
But Elephant Armored Academy was extremely miserable. After ten fights with five wins and five losses, their position was only in the middle of the rankings. Let alone the Elephant Armored Academy themselves, even the organizers hadn’t expected such an outcome.
This made each team in the qualifiers pull open the distance, and the first group of five teams led by a wide margin.
However, the next match wouldn’t be so easy. Shrek Academy’s eleventh opponent was from the five elemental academies, the Blazing Academy. A formidable team composed entirely of fire type Spirit Masters.
This match, due to Shrek Academy and Blazing Academy’s previous matches, undoubtedly became the greatest focal point. It came as a shock to nobody that they were arranged for the central stage.
The match still hadn’t started, but the stands were already bustling. At least a third of the audience was dressed in the emblematic green of Shrek Academy’s uniforms.
Even though the five elemental academies were equally strong, a grassroots background like the Shrek Academy resonated even easier with the audience. Especially their out of the ordinary poise had already swept Heaven Dou City with a green wave.
This
moment wasn’t far from when they signed up, but Shrek Academy was already receiving applications like snow flakes. This showed how much reputation the Shrek team had brought their Academy.
Flender was even more pleased as the profit filled both basins and pots.
As Grandmaster made a detailed introduction of the Blazing Academy, his expression was clearly somewhat serious. These days he had constantly been researching the strength of the five element academies, and now he had finally grasped a general outline.
“Teacher, we’ll go out as usual for this match.”
Tang San said to Grandmaster. What he called ‘as usual’, was him, Dai Mubai, and Xiao Wu, bringing along the four reserve members.
Grandmaster shook his head, saying:
“No. This time your opponent is fairly powerful. Little San, you’ve always been competing these last days, do you know why the Elephant Armored Academy successively lost against the other four elemental academies?”
Tang San shook his head. He had led the team to participate in matches every day. Having to analyze the circumstances of the match, as well as being the mainstay, he basically didn’t have the time to pay attention to such things.
Grandmaster said:
“Originally I couldn’t be sure, but in these few days I’ve been observing the battles between the other four great elemental academies and the Elephant Armored Academy, and I already have a vague grasp on the details. They’re also hiding their strength. It seems the extreme limit flow has already begun to use strength to make up for weakness.”
Seeing Tang San’s somewhat astonished gaze, Grandmaster quickly said:
“There’s not much time, I’ll make it brief. You’ve already faced the Elephant Armored School’s disciples, they were a typical extreme limit flow team. In the past there wasn’t much difference between them and the other four elemental academies in strength. The reason they’ve kept losing this time is because the other four elemental academies have changed their fighting style. Even though they’re all Spirit Masters of the same attribute, they’ve already started splitting the work. In other words, these four great elemental academies are fully using extreme limit flow according to the balanced method. Do you understand?”
Tang San had studied under Grandmaster for so many years, and he naturally found it easiest to understand what he said. Complexion changing, he said with astonishment:
“Teacher, you mean, the other four great elemental academies have also begun using separate classes?”
“That’s right. The Blazing Academy you’re about to face possesses fire element power attack, fire element battle control, fire element agility attack, fire element support. They just didn’t reveal this when they were facing weaker opponents. Only when they fought the Elephant Armored Academy did some of their strength appear. That’s why, even if the Elephant Armored Academy’s chief disciple has a spirit bone, they still couldn’t endure their bombardment. Blazing Academy and Thunderclap Academy are both known for their attack. Their strike is bound to be like the five thousand ton weight of thunder. That’s why you have to be even more careful. If it seems impossible, I would rather you concede without being stubborn. After all, these are just the qualifiers, it’s fine as long as you pass the goal line. No need to worry about Flender.”
Hearing what Grandmaster had to say, Tang San couldn’t help sinking into a brief moment of consideration.
Fire element power attack, fire element battle control, fire element agility attack, fire element support, he had never come across a team like that.
Same attribute amplification and support, even if it was just more of the same, the burst intensity when attacking would absolutely be frightening. This Blazing Academy really didn’t seem easy to deal with.
“Teacher, I’ve decided. We’ll still go out as usual.”
Tang San’s words were resolute, without a trace of hesitation.
Grandmaster stared blankly a moment, then nodded and smiled:
“Fine, do as you wish. I believe you will do very well. Sometimes, giving up when necessary is also a very good kind of tactic.”
Tang San knew Grandmaster had misunderstood his intent, but he still didn’t try to explain. He only smiled calmly and nodded to his Teacher.
“First round, central stage, Shrek Academy facing Blazing Academy.”
The announcer declared the names of the entering teams in a loud voice. The teams on either side stepped into the ring with their heads held high.
In a split second, the entire audience surged like a raging sea, cheers rising and falling, some supporting Blazing Academy, but even more supporting Shrek.
Shrek Academy had already defeated one of the five elemental academies, if they could also take down Blazing Academy, then their status would inevitably rise another step. All the spectators were looking forward to this moment.
Dai Mubai still walked furthest ahead, Tai Long and Huang Yuan at his side, behind them were Tang San, and standing next to him were Xiao Wu and Jing Ling.
Jiang Zhu still stood furthest in the back as customary. Their uniforms no longer had just that ‘wash even healthier’ advertisement, but still had even more logos.
Perhaps it was because the effect of the advertisement was out of the ordinary, but Flender had already found more than ten sponsors for the team uniforms. The uniforms appeared even more hilariously gaudy, but Shrek Academy’s profit had also become even greater.
Faintly flickering light, Tang San’s eyes displayed a trace of ice cold light, both hands folded across his chest, quietly observing their opponents, equally unhurriedly strolling onto the stage.
The Blazing Academy’s seven students all seemed to be about the same age, a bit over twenty.
Seven people, in a triangular formation.
* * *
[1] Idiom: Just possessing a treasure is enough to invite disaster.
Chapter 100: Shrek Academy VS Blazing Academy
Part 1 (TL by Bagelson)
The person walking furthest ahead was medium sized, with an extremely ordinary appearance, a pair of eyes flickering with red-hot radiance, broad shoulders, the contrast between a gold and red uniform and that not particularly handsome face still made him imposing and threatening.
This person was Blazing Academy’s team captain, Huo Wushuang[1]. A forty second ranked power attack system Battle Spirit Master. His spirit was somewhat similar to Liu Erlong’s, a Fire Dragon. Only Liu Erlong’s Fire Dragon was more partial to Yin flame, while his Fire Dragon was a One-Horned Tyrant Dragon, completely walking the explosive route. In these qualifiers he was already known among Spirit Masters as most powerful head-on. He was also Blazing Academy’s unyielding mainstay attacker.
All the seven Blazing Academy students stood very close, and directly behind Huo Wushuang was another power attack system Spirit Master, thirty eighth ranked, without any outstanding features. Data showed that this person’s spirit was a Fire Leopard. Further behind were two people, two youths with gloomy expressions. Their appearances were exactly identical, unexpectedly a pair of twins. One was called Huo Yun[2] and the other Huo Yu[3], their spirits were Fire Crane[4]. They were also the agility attack system fire element Battle Spirit Masters Grandmaster spoke about. Their spirit power had both reached the thirty ninth rank, only a fine line away from the fortieth rank.
Furthest behind were two men and one woman, the two male Spirit Masters were extremely tall and wide, their faces valiant, and if going by appearance, they would absolutely be taken for power attack system Spirit Masters. But Grandmaster had told the Shrek Academy team that the two weren’t power attack system, but rather auxiliary system. Only their support contained a certain attack capability. If the opponents weren’t especially powerful, their support characteristics wouldn’t even be seen. Their spirits were also strangely identical, both had Sparks[5]. That’s right, Sparks, a kind of unusual spirit.
And between the two was the whole Blazing Academy team’s only woman, an extremely beautiful girl,
the golden uniform she wore complementing her, matched with deep red long hair, able to stir any man’s fire, she was extremely attention grabbing.
Even though she was the only woman among the Blazing Academy, she was the tallest among the seven members, and her body was extremely well shaped. Standing in the middle with a constant faint smile, there was a faint red light around her.
If someone thought she was the Blazing Academy’s weakest member in a fight, then that would be a fatal mistake. Because apart from the captain, this girl was Blazing Academy’s other fortieth ranked Spirit Master, and even the highest ranked in the whole team. Forty third ranked control system Battle Spirit Master, Huo Wu[6]. She was the soul of the team, as well as their vice captain. Her spirit was she herself, using her own shadow, Fire Shadow[7].
Before the start of the match, Tang San only had time to look over the Spirit Master formation on the other side. It wasn’t that Shrek Academy had received the information late, but rather that Grandmaster deliberately gave them a rough run down of the opponents before the match. Winning was admittedly important, but to Grandmaster, it was even more important for the children to mature. In battles between Spirit Masters, you would frequently have to adapt to the enemy. When confronting the enemy, they would never tell you about their circumstances. What Grandmaster wanted to cultivate was Tang San’s ability to judge the enemy. As the soul of the team, his adaptability was clearly the most important.
Of the seven opponents, the one that drew Tang San’s attention the most wasn’t the one reputed as the most powerful frontal attacker, Huo Wushuang, but rather the control system Spirit Master Huo Wu between the two auxiliary system Spirit Masters in the rear.
Even though the opponents this time were still inferior to Elephant Armored Academy in terms of spirit power, what with having only two fortieth ranked Spirit Ancestors, since they could defeat the Elephant Armored Academy, there was no need to doubt their strength.
Douluo Dalu - Volume 01-48 Page 178