As for Huo Wushuang's trump card, it seemed Blazing Fire Academy wasn't prepared to reveal it just yet.
This was understandable—after all, their current opponents weren't strong enough to force them into using it.
This wasn't to say Huo Wushuang was superior to Huo Wu. Rather, the public was far more familiar with Huo Wu.
Her martial spirit had evolved once during the competition, making her overwhelming strength something everyone could accept.
But if Huo Wushuang were to undergo another drastic power increase, the logic behind it would raise suspicions.
For siblings, one such anomaly could be dismissed as luck.
But if both siblings experienced such rapid growth in a short span of time… then questions would inevitably arise.
Even Spirit Hall wouldn't directly accuse them—instead, they'd investigate those behind them.
The first to bear scrutiny would naturally be Blazing Fire Academy.
The second would be Xiao Tianyang, who had been in close contact with the Huo siblings over the past half-month.
It was precisely because of these considerations that Huo Wu made this decision.
Of course, don't misunderstand—such a meticulous thought process couldn't have come from Huo Wu herself.
Though intelligent, she was still young and lacked experience, making it impossible for her to fully grasp the intricacies of human nature.
This reasoning only became clear after Xiao Tianyang offered his advice.
But in the end, it didn't matter whose idea it was—as long as the right decision was made.
…
Meanwhile, Tianshui Academy and Godwind Academy also performed remarkably.
Even if Tianshui lost the first round, their subsequent challenges were impressive.
With Shui Bing'er leading, followed by Shui Yue'er, Yu Hairou, and Xue Wu, the four girls delivered an outstanding performance.
Even without relying on their combined power-stacking techniques, they secured victory in the following match.
As for Godwind Academy, only Feng Xiaotian took action.
But after undergoing Xiao Tianyang's unique "education," he no longer underestimated his opponents.
Instead, he fought with relentless ferocity, earning himself the title of Mad Wolf—a fitting name for his martial soul.
His best record was a six-win streak in a single session.
…
The competition lasted six days, and many contestants rose to prominence, their names etched into memory.
The term "Uncut Jade Generation" began circulating—and rightfully so.
Judging purely by individual potential rather than team strength, this year's tournament was practically star-studded.
Whether it was Shrek Academy, Blazing Fire Academy, or even the captain of Raging Blood Academy (Mad Battle Academy)—each was extraordinary.
Because of this, the outcome of most matches seemed predetermined.
The favored academy teams secured consecutive victories without a single loss.
Of course, no one counted the Whitebeard team among them.
Why?
Because they weren't a dark horse—they were a beast, rampaging through the competition with unstoppable force.
If their matches were excluded, the remaining battles still held plenty of excitement.
Huo Wu's fiery spirit, Zhu Zhuqing's beauty, Shui Bing'er's elegance, Xiao Wu's charm—these girls were a feast for the eyes.
As for Xiao Tianyang?
Despite his dazzling presence, most chose to ignore him—because his matches were a foregone conclusion.
No one even bothered betting on his fights anymore.
The odds were nonexistent; it was just throwing money away.
Eventually, opponents began forfeiting outright, leaving Xiao Tianyang speechless.
…
Xiao Tianyang watched the ongoing match below and sighed.
"Seems I went a bit too hard these past few days. Now no one wants to fight me."
Fei Xue tilted her head. "Senior brother, why do you sound so strange? Isn't winning without fighting a good thing? You don't seem happy."
[The phrase "winning without fighting" wasn't native to the Douluo Continent—Fei Xue had picked it up from Xiao Tianyang and used it aptly.]
"What I want now is the spotlight, not just sitting here," Xiao Tianyang replied, shaking his head. "Never mind. Who's fighting next? If it's not interesting, let's leave early."
Fei Xue grinned mischievously. "Hehe, you can't leave now, Senior Brother. The next match is Shrek Academy vs. Blazing Fire Academy."
Xiao Tianyang's lips curled slightly beneath his mask.
"Now that's interesting… Then we really can't leave."
At that moment, Saber returned.
The two exchanged a glance, wordlessly nodding in agreement—a silent confirmation that Saber had handled his task.
…
Backstage – Shrek Academy
Before stepping onto the stage, Tang San spoke solemnly.
"Teacher actually suggested we forfeit."
"The reason is simple—after our last joint training, we know exactly how strong Huo Wu and Huo Wushuang are."
"To defeat them, we'd have to reveal some of our trump cards… possibly even our full strength."
Oscar frowned. "Isn't that normal? We're already here to fight—why hold back?"
Dai Mubai answered for Tang San, his voice low.
"If it were just our decision, of course we'd go all out."
"But Tianyang warned us before leaving—if we're too sharp, certain people might grow uneasy…"
Oscar's eyes widened. "Is that why Tianyang isn't competing?"
"Who knows? But with his personality, he never acts without reason."
Dai Mubai continued, "So Xiaosan and I suggest we aim for victory without being too flashy. If we lose, so be it—just no retreating."
"What do you all think?"
Zhu Zhuqing was the first to respond. "I have no objections."
Since reconciling, she had warmed up to Huo Wu—though only as a friend.
Ma Hongjun and the others quickly agreed.
"Then it's settled," Dai Mubai said, turning to Tang San. "You handle the strategy. Adapt as needed once the fight starts."
His meaning was clear—if things looked bad, forfeiting was acceptable.
Their true goal wasn't just victory but securing their position without unnecessary risks.
This mindset, influenced by Xiao Tianyang, had tempered their impulsiveness.
A match was just a match—within the rules, tactical retreats were fair play.
Dai Mubai and the others might not have realized it yet, but Tang San was gradually aligning with this approach.
After everything they'd experienced, he was beginning to see the wisdom in Xiao Tianyang's methods—efficient and effective.
Little did they know, Blazing Fire Academy was making similar plans.
…
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