The total number of soul masters across the continent did not exceed six figures.
From prosperous metropolises lined with towering buildings to remote, tranquil villages with wisps of cooking smoke, every commoner's martial soul awakening ceremony was handled entirely by Spirit Hall's professionals.
Spirit Hall was like an enormous net, gathering more than ninety-nine percent of the continent's exceptionally gifted children into the Spirit City Junior Soul Master Academies.
This seemingly ordinary trial among the four eastern, southern, western, and northern districts concealed deeper significance. It was an important stage for geniuses to make their names, where the new generation's favored talents had all gathered, ready to show their abilities.
For this competition, Spirit City had deployed a full three thousand Guardian Knights and five hundred soul masters to maintain order.
The vast venue was more than one hundred and fifty meters in diameter.
Before long, everyone was in position.
"Please welcome the captain of the Soul Hunting Squad, Platinum Bishop Tuoba Xi, to deliver the opening speech for this trial!"
Tuoba Xi was in charge of Spirit Hall's Soul Hunting Squad.
The Soul Hunting Squad had priority in selecting talents. Taking advantage of the trial, after the Pontiff, elders, and others had made their selections, the Soul Hunting Squad would choose suitable talents to join them for focused training.
As a Platinum Bishop, Tuoba Xi had dressed ceremoniously today in a crimson robe that covered his entire body. A five-pointed platinum crown rested atop his head. His burly frame was like a mountain. Every step he took on the temporary wooden platform made no sound at all, a truly astonishing sight.
Also seated on the platform were the headmasters of the Junior Soul Master Academies from Spirit City's four eastern, southern, western, and northern districts.
Tuoba Xi stepped onto the platform and raised his right hand, giving the students and teachers a light wave. The applause quickly died down, and the enormous square fell silent.
His loud, powerful voice spread throughout the venue through an amplifying Soul Tool.
"I, Platinum Bishop of Spirit Hall, on behalf of the Four Junior Soul Master Academies of Spirit Hall, hereby declare the 1,376th Four Academies Fellowship Tournament officially open!"
Thunderous applause erupted once more, accompanied by waves of cheers.
Once the applause had quieted again, Tuoba Xi continued.
"I will not say much about the rules."
"I hope every student participating in this fellowship tournament will fully display their strength and achieve good results."
"Do your utmost to survive in the valley for as long as possible and keep climbing higher. For the glory of Spirit Hall, let your brilliance shine!"
Applause rang out for the third time.
This time, the soul masters in the square had fiery light blazing in their eyes.
For students about to graduate from the Junior Soul Master Academies, such a fellowship tournament was the best possible stage to display themselves.
Next, the host added further details about the tournament rules.
Every year, the Four Junior Soul Master Academies held the trial in the valley ahead.
The valley stretched hundreds of li deep, and its widest point measured fifty li across.
Within the valley were ordinary beasts less than ten years old, as well as birds and beasts that had lived for as long as thirty thousand years.
This valley belonged exclusively to Spirit Hall.
After more than a thousand years of development by Spirit Hall, it had been divided into ten levels. The deeper one went, the higher the terrain became. The soul beasts encountered would also be older, and the danger would increase drastically.
The purpose of the trial was to select talents, and prizes had been established.
The top fifty would receive Gold Soul Coin rewards, while the top ten would receive considerable cultivation resources. The higher the ranking, the better the cultivation resources awarded.
Anyone who entered the top ten could forgo studying at an Advanced Soul Master Academy and enter the Spirit Hall Sanctum directly, receiving one-on-one focused training from Spirit Hall.
What kind of place was the Spirit Hall Sanctum?
It was Spirit Hall's highest institution, second only to the Pontiff's Hall and Douluo Hall.
The Pontiff's Hall was the Pontiff's exclusive domain, while Douluo Hall existed largely as a symbol.
Thus, the Spirit Hall Sanctum was effectively the highest-ranking institution within Spirit Hall.
Not only did it offer excellent treatment, but it also provided various cultivation arrangements and the honor of the Spirit Hall Sanctum.
"The trial begins!"
At the announcer's command, students from the four Junior Soul Master Academies passed through the valley's iron gates one after another and entered the valley ahead.
At the valley entrance, an ancient aura rushed toward them. The deep valley, dense with trees, resembled a colossal beast crouching upon the ground, ready to devour anyone at any moment.
Within the forest, Tuoba Yan stood on the trunk of a large tree, studying a map in his hands.
Tuoba Yan's grandfather had not shown favoritism. The map had not come from his grandfather; in fact, every student possessed a map of the valley.
Having a map did not mean one could pass through the valley.
The soul beasts within the valley would not recognize anyone. They could attack students who entered the valley at any time.
Suddenly, Tuoba Yan put away the map in his hand and called out, "Come out!"
As his voice fell, Zhang Ping emerged from behind the trunk of a large tree behind Tuoba Yan.
"There are two more!"
As soon as he spoke, two more people emerged from behind Zhang Ping. They were Hu Liena and Xie Yue.
Tuoba Yan spoke bluntly, "You have been following me all this way. What exactly do you want?"
Zhang Ping said, "I want to form a team with you. If we join forces, we can definitely reach the fifth level. We may even have a chance of reaching the sixth!"
The trial's ranking rules were simple: rankings were determined by how high one climbed. Whoever climbed higher would rank ahead.
At the same level, rankings were determined by time. Whoever spent the least time and cleared the level first would rank higher.
The trial lasted for one month.
To ensure the participating students knew their limits, the map precisely marked the age and types of soul beasts on every level.
Most sixth-year Spirit Hall students possessed one soul ring. The third level, where the soul beasts were no more than a thousand years old, was their limit.
Looking at the performance of students throughout the years, the best result had been the fifth level.
The fifth level of the valley contained soul beasts between five thousand and ten thousand years old. Those with the cultivation of a Soul Elder could generally reach that level.
Tuoba Yan's gaze shifted toward Xie Yue and Hu Liena.
Xie Yue had lost to Tuoba Yan before, so he did not speak immediately. Hu Liena forced herself to extend the invitation. "Climbing to the sixth level can earn Merit Points. My brother and I want to team up with you and brave the sixth level."
"I am not interested."
As Tuoba Yan spoke, he continued heading deeper into the valley.
"Tuoba Yan, do not refuse so quickly. Teaming up with us will only benefit you, never harm you."
Just then, a masked man suddenly leaped out of the bushes.
His entire body was shrouded in a black robe, with only his eyes exposed.
With every step he took toward Tuoba Yan, a soul ring descended above his head. In the end, there were six soul rings.
The six soul rings were, from the inside outward, yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, and black.
"A Soul Emperor!"
Hu Liena's brows drew tightly together, her eyes filled with vigilance and worry.
"Kehehehe!"
The masked man let out a chilling, eerie laugh. He raised his hand, and light flickered in his palm as a saber radiating biting cold appeared in his grasp.
Holding the saber, he pointed it straight at Tuoba Yan and said viciously, "If the rest of you do not want to die, leave on your own now. My only target is Tuoba Yan!"
Before you continue