Chapter 347: Shrek, Give Us Our Money Back!
Shrek Academy had only secured one point, while Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy had already taken two.
This meant that if Huo Yuhao kept winning, the score would soon reach 6–1 in favor of Sun Moon Academy.
And given Huo Yuhao's strength, could Shrek Academy really defeat them in the team battle?
The answer was no.
Even if Jiang Nannan and Xu Sanshi fought while injured, they wouldn't stand a chance against a team led by Huo Yuhao.
In the round robin phase, each team had to face seven opponents, and only the top two teams from each group would advance to the finals.
Cai Mei'er sighed.
"To conserve our strength, let's forfeit.
If we go all out against Sun Moon Academy, we'll suffer too many losses.
Of course, this doesn't mean we fear them our main goal is still the championship.
This is simply a strategic surrender.
Only by winning the final championship can we uphold Shrek Academy's millennia old glory."
Xu Sanshi nodded, his expression approving.
"Dean Cai truly knows what's best for Shrek Academy."
The others also fell into thoughtful silence, considering her decision.
Cai Mei'er then turned to Xie Huan Yue.
"Xie Huan Yue, go inform the referee that we are forfeiting."
Technically, Xu Sanshi was the team captain, making him the best candidate for the task.
However, he was still injured and shouldn't be walking around too much.
As for herself, she was a Sea God's Pavilion Elder a figure of high standing.
If she personally admitted defeat, it would bring great disgrace to Shrek Academy.
"Me?" Xie Huan Yue was stunned, unsure if he had misheard.
"Yes, you." Cai Mei'er repeated firmly.
For a Shrek Academy representative to admit defeat was a humiliating act.
After all, Shrek Academy had stood undefeated for thousands of years, recognized as the sacred land of soul masters.
Even though their reputation had crumbled in the Sun Moon Empire, there were still many who stubbornly revered Shrek Academy.
Xie Huan Yue was frustrated.
Why me?
Why not someone else?
However, seeing that Cai Mei'er insisted, he didn't dare disobey.
Activating his flying soul tool, he flew onto the stage and announced:
"Referee, on behalf of Shrek Academy, I officially forfeit both the individual and team matches."
The referee looked at him in shock.
"Are you sure?"
Xie Huan Yue's face burned with embarrassment.
He had always taken pride in being a Shrek Academy student, and now he was declaring their surrender.
Still, he nodded and replied weakly:
"I'm sure."
"Very well."
The referee deactivated the soundproof barrier, then flew into the air and shouted through a soul tool amplifier:
"**Shrek Academy has forfeited both the individual and team battles.
Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy is victorious!**"
The moment these words fell, the crowd erupted but not in cheers.
The gamblers who had bet on Shrek Academy instantly turned pale as corpses.
A forfeit?!
That meant all their money was gone.
Historically, Shrek Academy had always dominated the tournament, winning every championship except the last one.
The gamblers had been so confident that Shrek would win.
Some had even sold their possessions and gone all in, dreaming of overnight riches.
But now…
Shrek Academy had surrendered?!
A group of furious gamblers erupted into angry shouts:
"Shrek Academy, I f*ing swear, give us our money back!**"
"Shrek Academy, how could you betray your supporters like this?!"
"This is disgraceful! A real champion fights to the end! Are you going to forfeit to the Myriad Jade Sect next? After that, will you just keep surrendering to every random academy?!"
Xie Huan Yue, his face burning with shame, hurried off the stage and rejoined the Shrek team.
Cai Mei'er's expression darkened as she listened to the crowd's insults.
As a Sea God's Pavilion Elder, it had been years since anyone dared to openly curse at Shrek Academy.
If these hecklers were in Shrek City, she would have made them pay dearly for their words.
However, this was Mingdu, where powerful figures far stronger than herself lurked in the shadows.
For the sake of her students' safety, she couldn't retaliate doing so would only give the Sun Moon Empire an excuse to strike against them.
She turned back to her team, seeing that everyone's faces were grim.
To reassure them, she activated the soundproof barrier, cutting off the spectators' voices.
"Those people in the stands are short sighted."
"They don't understand that this is a strategic surrender.
Don't let it weigh on your conscience.
Once we win the championship, all these angry voices will disappear."
Her words helped the team's expressions softened slightly.
Then, Cai Mei'er continued:
"Next, I will contact Bei Bei. He will arrange a meeting with Huo Yuhao.
Since they've known each other for a long time, it will be easier to approach him.
Of course, I'm not trying to harm him this is Mingdu.
Attacking Huo Yuhao here would be suicidal.
Instead, I will try to recruit him into Shrek Academy.
His talent is wasted at Sun Moon Academy.
He belongs at Shrek Academy, where he can reach his true potential."
Sun Moon Academy Waiting Area
The moment Huo Yuhao returned, he was met with a hero's welcome.
"Yuhao, you're unbelievable!"
"You forced Shrek Academy to surrender!"
"This moment will go down in Sun Moon Empire's history!"
Xiao Hongchen threw his arm over Huo Yuhao's shoulder, his excitement palpable.
Meng Hongchen, equally elated, chimed in:
"Yuhao, I'm going to ask my grandfather to throw you a victory feast!
You're the MVP of our team!"
For the Sun Moon Academy team, defeating Shrek Academy had always been a lifelong dream.
Historically, every time they had faced Shrek, they had always lost.
Even in the previous tournament, when they won the championship, it felt hollow because Shrek Academy had withdrawn.
They never got the chance to prove themselves against Shrek Academy.
But this time…
Huo Yuhao had made them surrender outright.
There was no greater victory than this.
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