Teacher Xu still wanted to persuade them more, believing that Yelena would definitely take first place if she continued to fight.
However, Chen Kai wasn't competing, and Yelena was indeed not interested in it.
What everyone didn't expect was that Chen Kai and the others' decision actually saved them a lot of trouble.
After a long time of persuasion, Teacher Xu truly had no other option. He was already parched from communicating with the schedule team, and now he was even more exhausted.
He sighed helplessly, got up, walked outside, and pulled out his phone to call the principal to report the matter.
The other end of the phone was noisy, and Teacher Xu, anxious and helpless, recounted how the students had given up the competition.
After listening, the principal simply replied indifferently, "Alright, I understand."
Then he hung up the phone.
Teacher Xu stood there blankly, holding his phone, completely at a loss, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
What he didn't know was that the principal had heard yesterday that seven students from his school had entered the top 32, and he had rushed to watch the competition early this morning.
When seven of the final top eight were students from his school, he couldn't have been happier.
However, extreme joy leads to sorrow.
At noon, the principals of several other schools in Qu County, using the fact that Yelena was not from Dragon Country, collectively pressured the Qu County Alliance Center management.
These principals stated that if this was allowed, next year they would all recruit more foreign students, and there would not be a single local person in the Qu County competition.
They demanded that the Alliance Center revoke Zining High School's participation qualification.
For this, Principal Wang of Zining High School argued for an hour, so angry that he almost came to blows with the principals of other high schools.
Hearing Teacher Xu's words, Principal Wang sighed silently in his heart, but with so many people around, he certainly couldn't show it.
He called out Manager Liu of the Qu County Alliance Center to talk privately: "Xiao Liu, Yelena's relevant documents are all complete."
The previous argument had also exhausted Manager Liu, and he replied weakly, "I know that, but you also saw that the other principals have strong opinions, and I can't do anything about it!"
Principal Wang said, "So, I've decided to let Yelena withdraw herself, but her status in the top eight must be guaranteed."
Manager Liu spread his hands and said helplessly, "But they might still be relentless about this!"
Under Principal Wang's grizzled eyebrows, his gaze was firm: "Then I can take one last step back. Three other students from our school will also withdraw, but their rankings must be preserved.
You can directly proceed with the top four matches."
"Ah... this."
Manager Liu still wanted to say something.
Principal Wang slowly raised the ebony cane in his hand. The cane was made of ebony, with exquisite patterns carved at the top, and after years of friction, it appeared ancient and heavy.
He slammed the cane heavily on the ground with a "thud," like a muffled thunderclap exploding in Manager Liu's ears, making Manager Liu swallow the words he wanted to say.
"If they still have objections after this, let them come find me! I'll have a word with each and every one of them!" Principal Wang left this remark and turned to leave.
Manager Liu vaguely saw a terrifying dragon-shaped phantom behind Principal Wang, and he swallowed.
Seeing Principal Wang walk away, Manager Liu felt a headache and sighed helplessly, returning to continue arguing with the other principals.
Originally, the principals of other schools were still going to nag, but hearing that Principal Wang was going to find them individually, these principals still agreed.
Because they had been in Qu County for many years, they knew that this Principal Wang had considerable strength when he was young, and he had connections in the capital.
Since Principal Wang had already made concessions, they didn't dare to truly push Principal Wang too far.
Ultimately, the various principals set a verbal rule: if any school recruited foreign students, they would have to stop at the top eight, and three students' top eight competition qualifications would be deducted.
This was to prevent principals from seeking foreign students.
The afternoon matches started directly from the top four, with Su Yuexi facing Huang Mao (Wang Tianxiang).
Considering the type disadvantage, and to play it safe, Huang Mao sent out his strongest combination—Dwebble and Geodude. Given that Larvitar had just arrived, these two were undoubtedly his best-cooperating generals.
Su Yuexi, on the other hand, sent out Bellossom and Hoppip. Although Hoppip's level wasn't high, it still had some fighting power.
With the referee's command: "The battle officially begins!"
Hey, these two were classmates, familiar with each other, and even thought of the same strategy.
Huang Mao planned to deal with the weaker Hoppip first, so he could take on Bellossom two-on-one; Su Yuexi also thought of taking care of Geodude first, and then slowly wearing down Dwebble.
Huang Mao yelled at the top of his lungs: "Geodude, Rock Throw! Dwebble, Rock Slide! Aim for the Hoppip flying in the sky!"
Su Yuexi also calmly commanded:
"Bellossom, Grassy Terrain! Hoppip, be careful, the opponent's target is you, hide a bit behind, use Absorb!"
The fastest one had to be Dwebble. It raised its claws high, instantly condensed a large pile of rocks, and then slammed them towards Hoppip. Countless rocks fell like a meteor shower with a "whoosh," which was its Rock Slide move.
Hoppip was terrified at the sight of this. Bellossom reacted quickly, lightly jumping to the front of the field, trying to block the attack for Hoppip, while elegantly spreading its petals, emitting a soft green light all over its body.
In just a moment, a fresh grassy scent permeated the air, and the battleground instantly transformed into Grassy Terrain with a "swish." Lush green grass blades grew rapidly from the ground as if by magic, creating a favorable battle environment for Bellossom and Hoppip.
Seeing Bellossom attempting to block the attack for it, Hoppip confidently used its move. It floated gently in the air, its leaves shimmering, and seized the opportunity to shoot a green energy beam towards Geodude, which was the Absorb move.
Finally, the slowest Geodude also exerted its power. It vigorously shook its body, gathered the surrounding rocks, and then launched them at the opponent with a "whoosh." The Rock Throw attack flew past with a whistle.
Suddenly, rocks rained down on Bellossom and Hoppip. Those flying rocks hit the Bellossom in front with "thuds," making it tremble and its petals slightly disheveled.
However, thanks to Grassy Terrain helping to restore some stamina, it wasn't too badly hurt.
And the light beam launched by Hoppip precisely hit Geodude, causing Geodude's body to sway.
Although the Absorb move wasn't very powerful, it was still four times the damage, so Geodude still took some damage. Most importantly, its Sturdy ability was broken just like that.
Seeing Geodude's ability broken, Su Yuexi immediately shouted: "Bellossom, Super Drain! Hoppip, Absorb! Both aim at the opposing Geodude!"
The Super Drain used by Bellossom was much more powerful than Hoppip's. With the Grassy Terrain's boost, a thick, dense green energy beam shot out from its pistil with a "whoosh"; Hoppip's Absorb energy was relatively thinner, like a green thread. Both energy beams wrapped around Geodude.
"Damn it!" Huang Mao couldn't help but curse under his breath, "Why didn't I realize Su Yuexi was so ruthless before? This is like kicking a man when he's down!"
Huang Mao quickly used his small brain to think of a solution. "Dwebble, hurry and help block! Slash!"
Dwebble naturally knew to help its brother. It rushed in front of Geodude with a "whoosh," its pincers glinting coldly, intending to use the Slash move to block the two Absorb energies.
But it didn't know that absorption-type energy waves weren't that easy to block, completely different from ordinary attacks.
When the green energy was about to touch Dwebble, Bellossom and Hoppip slightly raised their hands, then suddenly made a 90-degree turn, bypass Dwebble, and continued to rush towards Geodude.
Geodude was instantly tightly enveloped by these two Absorb energies. Its stamina and energy within its body were like a dam breaking, being frantically sucked away with a "whoosh, whoosh." The light on its body grew dimmer and dimmer, and its originally hard shell lost its luster, becoming dusty and grimy. It struggled desperately, but it was completely useless.
Finally, Geodude ran out of stamina. With a "thud," it fell heavily to the ground from its floating state, closed its eyes, and completely fainted, losing its ability to battle.
Only Huang Mao and Dwebble were left, looking at each other, wide-eyed.
Dwebble looked bewildered: "Dweb?" (What now?)
Huang Mao was stunned for a long while before stammering, "I... I don't know either!"
Next, Bellossom and Hoppip, relying on Grassy Terrain's recovery effect, plus the recovery ability brought by Super Drain and Absorb, slowly wore down Dwebble until it was exhausted.
Huang Mao walked off the battleground with a disgruntled look.
"Oh, our Champion is here!" Qin Ying teased with a smile from the side.
Huang Mao angrily waved his hands and shouted: "Ah ah ah ah! At least I defeated students from other schools!"
This shout caused another burst of laughter from the Zining High School resting area.