The referee announced, "The first match of the third round of the preliminary, begin!"
In each round, five matches take place simultaneously. However, as the match began, everyone's gaze was drawn to the third stage, the battle between the Shrek Team and the Xiangjia Team.
As the match started, three members of the Shrek Team positioned themselves at the back of their team and surprisingly sat down on the ground. The masked boy took out a deck of cards and started dealing them...
"Wha... What are they doing?"
"Playing poker?"
"This... although they are three Support Types, they are actually playing poker so casually? Don't they know they should protect themselves against the Xiangjia Team?"
...
This scene attracted everyone's attention. Those who didn't know Ye Yu all wore a look of shock and confusion.
At this moment, Ye Yu, Ning Rongrong, and Jiang Zhu were in the back of the team, playing "Fight the Landlord".
This scene also left the Xiangjia Team stunned, and then all seven became extremely furious.
"How infuriating! Playing cards while facing us, not taking us seriously at all?"
"Hmph, though being a Support Type might mean doing less on the battlefield, they should still assist their teammates and protect themselves, not just rely on their teammates. And these three aren't even preparing to defend themselves, just sitting there playing cards, fools."
"And their other four teammates don't even intend to protect them."
"Hmph, I'll rush over and knock those three flying, so they can go play poker in the resting area."
"Let's show them what we're made of later!"
...
The members of the Xiangjia Team were all furious, feeling utterly insulted.
All seven of them underwent Martial Soul Possession, their bodies swelled, and their clothes suddenly burst apart. Their skin revealed a dark yellow keratin layer, gleaming with a metallic luster, with two white tusks extending from their noses, each a foot long.
The seven stomped in unison, causing the stage to tremble as if it couldn't bear their might.
The soul rings around the seven were all two yellow and two purple, eliciting exclamations from the crowd.
"All above level 40!"
"I thought there were six; seems one just broke through. The Xiangjia Team is going all out."
"Shrek may be the dark horse, but they're being too unreliable. Three team members playing poker during the match, even though they're Support Types, they're being too nonchalant!"
"They're bound to lose."
...
Everyone believed that the Shrek Team would lose this match.
In the VIP area, Huyan Zhen snorted at this scene, "This dark horse team is too arrogant. The seven members of the Xiangjia Team are the most outstanding disciples of our Xiangjia Sect's younger generation. The captain, Huyan Li, is my eldest grandson, and even more talented than I was. I hope he can become the first Titled Douluo of the Xiangjia Sect in the future."
Beside him, Salas sighed lightly, "Oh? It seems he's quite formidable."
"Yes, this match is surely won by the Xiangjia Team."
Emperor Xue Ye sighed, "Sect Leader Huyan, having such a grandson is worth celebrating."
Huyan Zhen replied apologetically, "Your Majesty overpraises us."
Though he said that, there was no trace of humility in his tone, only a modest front while inwardly feeling fully deserving of such praise. His grandson Huyan Li was the greatest genius in the history of the Xiangjia Sect.
Huyan Zhen confidently said, "Everyone, watch Ah Li's performance. This time, the Xiangjia Sect's goal is to be in the top three of the finals!"
Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo naturally overheard Huyan Zhen's words, inwardly wanting to disdainfully say, the top three in the finals? Keep dreaming.
The Xiangjia Team's seven members released their martial souls and soul rings, not attacking actively but forming a line and advancing slowly. Though their steps were slow, each step they took increased their momentum, putting some pressure on Tang San's group.
Tang San released Blue Silver Grass, which spread across the ground at a rapid pace, directly entangling one of the sturdy elephant legs, only causing the opponent to pause briefly before a snapping sound was heard, and the Blue Silver Grass broke apart.
Tang San was surprised to find that not only were the Xiangjia Team strong, but they also coordinated well and made good use of their advantages in battle.
The Xiangjia Team was not only strong in defense but also in power, leveraging their body weight to reduce soul power consumption. The combination of physical strength and soul power allowed for greater force and defense.
As the Xiangjia Team closed in, the space available to Tang San and others grew smaller and smaller.
The Xiangjia Team's method of fighting was the most steadfast, revealing no flaws and employing a tactic of defense turning into offense.
"Get ready!"
Tang San spoke, and Ning Rongrong's Nine Treasures Glaze Tower emerged as she played cards.
"Of the Nine Treasures, first is Strength!"
"Of the Nine Treasures, second is Speed!"
"Of the Nine Treasures, third is Soul!"
"Of the Nine Treasures, fourth is Defense!"
...
With the four soul technique boosts, Tang San, Zhu Zhuqing, Huang Yuan, and Jing Ling's strength, speed, soul power, and defense increased by fifty percent each, greatly enhancing their abilities.
After Ning Rongrong buffed Tang San and his three teammates, she continued playing cards with Ye Yu.
At this moment, the entire audience was astonished.
"A Seven Treasures Glaze Tower Soul Master!"
"I didn't expect the Shrek Team to have the strongest support, a Seven Treasures Glaze Tower Soul Master. Incredible!"
"Truly a dark horse, but even with the Seven Treasures Glaze Tower support, there are only four main attackers. Although with the buffs, they possess the combat power of five or even six individuals, they're up against the Xiangjia Team, and winning won't be easy."
"Indeed, the other two Support Types are too useless. No, it's that masked boy who's the most useless, doing nothing but playing cards. The other is of the Healing Type, not yet her time to act, but what can the masked boy do?"
"With the Seven Treasures Glaze Tower support, he's merely a decoration, probably the weakest of the team, but just for numbers to conserve strength."
"Makes sense why he would start playing cards directly, he's the least useful, just making up the numbers."
...
The platform buzzed with discussion, but most people missed a crucial point.
By this time, in the VIP area, Huyan Zhen and Salas' eyes widened in astonishment!
They noticed the pagoda in the girl's hand wasn't seven layers but nine!
"This... Nine Treasures Glaze Tower?!" Huyan Zhen exclaimed.
Emperor Xue Ye also understood what the Nine Treasures Glaze Tower represented; although the Seven Treasures Glaze Tower was the strongest support, it had a massive limitation: no matter how much they cultivated, it could only reach the level seventy-nine Soul Saint. The Nine Treasures Glaze Tower was the dream of Seven Treasures Glaze Tower Soul Masters. If given a choice between ten soul bones and five hundred-thousand-year soul rings or one Nine Treasures Glaze Tower, they would choose the Nine Treasures Glaze Tower without hesitation.
A Nine Treasures Glaze Tower Soul Master had no such limitations and could cultivate to become a Titled Douluo.
The saying goes, when God opens one door for you, he closes another. The Seven Treasures Glaze Tower was just like that, titled the strongest support, but could only cultivate to Soul Saint.
Emperor Xue Ye, intrigued, asked, "Sect Leader Ning, do you know her?"
Ning Fengzhi did not hide it, "She is my daughter."
Emperor Xue Ye said, "Congratulations, Sect Leader Ning, having your daughter's martial soul as the coveted Nine Treasures Glaze Tower of the Seven Treasure Glaze Sect. Congratulations!"
Some were happy, while others were troubled. Salas was the one with a furrowed brow.