In the first match of the preliminary round, Blue Tyrant Academy made a name for itself.
Seven Soul Masters.
Especially their leader, Zhu Zhuqing, who was like a fierce tigress.
Now, whenever Blue Tyrant Academy is mentioned, the male students from other participating academies can't help but clench their legs.
However, because of this, only two hours after the match, the stern Platinum Bishop Orlando from the Spirit Hall came to Blue Tyrant Academy to cause trouble.
The rules of the Continental Elite Soul Master Competition, besides age restrictions and the ban on killing, also include a very important one: during the competition, the aim is friendly rivalry and minimizing harm to opponents.
But in this first match, Zhu Zhuqing directly crippled Dai Mubai.
This move caused a strong protest from Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Dai Mubai's external injuries weren't serious and would heal quickly under the treatment of healing-type soul masters.
However, the injury to his lower body was very severe — it seemed he could no longer be a man.
More seriously, he suffered psychological damage as well. He became dull and kept muttering, "This can't be, this can't be."
After seeing Dai Mubai's pitiful state, Meng Shenji was furious and frustrated.
He was angry that Lanba Academy was so ruthless as to directly cripple someone.
He was frustrated because the student he had paid a high price to obtain played no role and ended up as merely background for Lanba Academy.
Regarding the story of Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing, Ma Hongjun had actually told him some of it when the conflict first arose.
However, Meng Shenji didn't understand relationships and assumed they were just a quarreling ex-couple — at worst, just a lovers' spat.
He never expected that Zhu Zhuqing would truly try to kill him.
Upon hearing this, Yu Xiaowei clapped his hands and praised her.
Zhu Zhuqing could be so ruthless — that meant she had completely let go of her past attachments.
That was a good thing.
As for Dai Mubai's disability, his only comment was:
"Don't advise others to be kind unless you've suffered their pain."
Zhu Zhuqing was deeply upset now — this was Dai Mubai's fault!
When they got engaged, their talents were not much worse than Davis and Zhu Zhuyun.
But Dai Mubai was so afraid of Davis that he abandoned his fiancée and fled alone.
To survive, Zhu Zhuqing had to search for her fiancé across the continent.
Meanwhile, Dai Mubai lived lavishly in Soto City and even had money to sponsor the poor Shrek Academy.
It was clear the Star Luo Royal Family was still in contact with him, with someone secretly supporting him.
Zhu Zhuqing, on the other hand, had a much harder time.
When Dai Mubai ran away, she was only nine years old.
Yet since awakening her martial soul at six and testing with an innate spirit power of level 9, Zhu Zhuyun had never stopped suppressing her.
Dai Mubai's sudden escape caused Zhu Zhuqing's last support to collapse, and Zhu Zhuyun hunted her more viciously.
So, she spent three years running, searching, and training to survive.
No one knew how much she had suffered or how much resentment she held in her heart.
Worse, she had no one to talk to. She could only endure in silence.
Until she reached Soto City and finally found her fiancé.
A fiancé who had forgotten her and was living a wild, depraved life.
At that moment, Zhu Zhuqing truly felt like the sky was falling.
But for the sake of her unfortunate fate and her own survival, she had to acknowledge her identity and convince herself to follow Dai Mubai.
All of this completely changed after her martial soul mutated.
She no longer had to submit to the fate of the Nether White Tiger.
Regarding today's match:
She only wanted to teach Dai Mubai a lesson and vent her anger.
Unfortunately, Dai Mubai had to mention that he was her fiancé.
This instantly enraged Zhu Zhuqing.
The grievances and depression she had buried for three years exploded at that moment.
Afterwards, she felt a bit of regret.
But what she regretted was likely violating the competition rules and potentially causing trouble for the academy.
At Lanba Academy's office.
Orlando led his Templar Knights in and entered hurriedly.
As soon as he stepped through the door, he got straight to the point.
"Dean Liu, I won't waste time. The reason I'm here is simple."
"In today's match, your academy's student acted viciously and severely injured the opponent."
"This has now resulted in a Heaven Dou Royal Academy student becoming disabled. Because of this, Headmaster Meng Shenji of Heaven Dou Royal Academy has strongly protested."
"Where is your student named Zhu Zhuqing? I have something to ask her."
Flender shrugged calmly and replied.
"There were many bloody scenes in today's match, and she suffered psychological trauma, so I asked her to return to the dorm to rest. If you have something to say, just tell me."
"She suffered trauma from seeing bloody scenes?"
Orlando looked at Flender in disbelief.
She wasn't the one who was harmed — this excuse is nonsense.
Of course, Flender didn't expect Orlando to believe him and just continued:
"Yes, that's the truth. Zhuqing was a good child, but those two had a grudge. Today, old grudges and new ones overlapped, and she temporarily lost control."
"A grudge? What kind of grudge would make her that ruthless?"
Orlando started to understand a little after hearing this.
In previous competitions, some opponents did have personal feuds and were more ruthless on stage.
Out of humanity, the organizing committee often didn't investigate such matters too deeply.
They'd just chalk it up to passion gone too far.
So if Zhu Zhuqing really had a personal grudge against Dai Mubai, the committee wouldn't press the issue.
Flender gestured for Orlando to come closer and whispered.
"This child was once engaged to Dai Mubai, but the engagement has been broken."
"I've said enough — you probably understand what I mean."
"This isn't something that should be widely discussed for a girl's reputation."
"So please, don't publicize it too much."
Orlando nodded. People opposing each other over love wasn't uncommon, and he could understand that.
As for whether the story was true or not, he didn't look into it.
A student from Heaven Dou Royal Academy was crippled — what did that have to do with him?
He only came because Meng Shenji's fuss annoyed him, and getting an explanation was enough.
After that rushed inquiry, he politely said to Liu Erlong and Flender:
"We'll let it go this time, but I don't want to see your students act so ruthlessly on stage again."
"No problem."
Flender responded with a full smile and didn't let out a long sigh of relief until he saw them out.