Arrival in Star Luo

In this operation to eliminate the Evil Soul Masters, Inner Courtyard Disciples had been injured, but not a single Outer Courtyard student had suffered harm. The moment Elder Xuan heard this, he breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, no one had died. Elder Xuan opened his eyes again, a resolute look appearing in them as he made his decision. He said in a deep voice.

"Wang Yan, a heavy responsibility is about to fall on your shoulders. Take them back to the military camp first. Once Xiaotao and the other two have stabilized, head immediately to Star Luo City to take part in the tournament. I'll take Gongyang Mo, Chen Zifeng, Yao Haoxuan, and Xi Xi back to the academy. There's no time to lose. We move at once."

Wang Yan gave a bitter smile. "I'm afraid that's our only option. The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament lasts for an entire month. Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, and Ling Luochen will need at least half a month to fully recover. For now, only you can represent the academy."

Huo Yuhao asked, "Teacher Wang, can we do it?"

No one knew how many consecutive championships Shrek Academy had dominated. For the other academies, they generally only fought for second place. Before the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy of the Sun Moon Empire had emerged, there had not even been an opponent capable of challenging them.

What had originally been a lineup of two Soul Emperors and six Soul Kings had now become four Soul Ancestors, one Soul Elder, and two Great Soul Masters. The gap in strength was enormous. With such pressure falling on these substitutes, the youngest of whom was only twelve, one could well imagine how they felt.

Wang Yan sighed. "The responsibility for this setback lies with me. I failed to command properly. When we return to the academy, I will naturally answer to the higher-ups. As for the tournament, just give it everything you have."

As always, Ye Qingchen smiled. "Pull yourselves together. Are we really that bad? Shrek Academy's students are all monsters. What can a mere setback do to us?"

"That's right. We're no worse than anyone else. I heard that the competitors sent by the participating academies are generally only at three or four rings. We're Shrek's elite. What the hell are we afraid of?" Xu Sanshi declared, brimming with fighting spirit.

Jiang Nannan rolled her eyes at him. "Simple-minded."

Wang Yan managed a faint smile as well and nodded. "We'll just do our best."

As he spoke, his gaze unconsciously turned toward Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, and Ling Luochen. None of the three said anything, and Wang Yan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Do all that we can and leave the rest to fate. In this Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament, they can truly only rely on themselves.

The host's intervention preserved the lives of the Inner Courtyard students, changing their fates. Reward: Enhancement Points ×2

"Huh? There's a reward for that too?" Ye Qingchen said in confusion.

Yes. Of course, the host may choose not to accept it.

"..."

"I was just saying. System, enhance," Ye Qingchen said.

Enhancement successful. Current enhancement level: 43. Host cultivation: Second Level God Peak.

One day later, at Shrek Academy, Elder Xuan sat on the steps with his disheveled hair, pouring wine into his mouth. Footsteps sounded behind him, and an elderly man dressed in white walked over.

"How is it?"

The white-robed elder stood respectfully behind Elder Xuan. "The situation has stabilized. It was Corpse Poison. Fortunately, it was only this one type of toxin, and you brought them back in time. Their lives are no longer in danger."

Elder Xuan exhaled the smell of alcohol and sighed. "That's good."

Just then, someone entered from outside the courtyard. It was none other than Yan Shaozhe, the dean of Shrek Academy's Martial Soul Department.

"Elder Xuan, the Sea God Pavilion Meeting you proposed has been prepared. You..."

"Let's go."

Elder Xuan rose and walked out. Yan Shaozhe followed behind him, secretly sighing to himself. The Sea God Pavilion Meeting had not been convened so frequently in many years.

"Elder Xuan, this incident came too suddenly. No one could have expected it. Perhaps the current outcome is already the best possible one," Yan Shaozhe quietly tried to persuade him.

Elder Xuan said nothing, merely shaking his head.

The Sea God Pavilion was no different from the last time the Sea God Pavilion Meeting had been held, but the atmosphere was several degrees more solemn.

Mu En's gentle voice rang out. "Speak, Xuan Zi. Why did you call for a Sea God Pavilion Meeting?"

Elder Xuan nodded and slowly rose to his feet. "Everyone already knows about this incident. This isn't the first time something has gone wrong while I was leading a team. As the leader, I cannot evade responsibility. Therefore, I have decided to resign as Shrek Supervisory Group Vice Leader and withdraw from the Sea God Pavilion, becoming nothing more than an idle man at the academy."

Yan Shaozhe was greatly alarmed. "Elder Xuan, how can that be? You are one of the academy's pillars. The academy cannot do without you!"

Elder Xuan sighed. "Shaozhe, say no more. Actually, after that mistake in the Star Dou Great Forest, I had already wanted to resign and accept blame. But that girl Le Xuan knelt for so long that she refused to rise. I couldn't bear to wound that child's heart again, so I stayed. Yet this time, it has once again resulted in the Inner Courtyard Disciples being severely injured. If I had remained by their side all along, how could something like this have happened?"

Star Luo City, the capital of the Star Luo Empire, was unquestionably the empire's largest city. The tournament was being held at Star Luo Square before the imperial palace. Star Luo Square was enormous and could accommodate the greatest number of spectators.

Not far east of Star Luo Square stood a grand seven-story hotel. This hotel, called the Star Emperor Hotel, belonged to the royal family. It had been specially cleared out this time to receive competitors from advanced soul master academies and soul engineer academies from various nations.

The Shrek Academy delegation was holding a meeting. At this moment, nearly every participating academy was conducting motivational meetings. The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, staying on the same floor as Shrek Academy, was doing the same.

At this moment, all eleven team members, along with their leading teacher Wang Yan, were seated in the conference room for a pre-match motivational meeting.

They had arrived in Star Luo City only yesterday, making them among the later arrivals of all the participating academies. But as the defending champions and the continent's number one academy, everyone else merely regarded this as Shrek Academy's pride.

Wang Yan sat at the head of the table. To his left sat Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, and Ling Luochen, whose faces were still pale. Under such circumstances, there was no way Wang Yan could look pleased.

Registration for the academies closed today. Wang Yan had already completed their registration with the tournament organizers, yet reinforcements from the academy had still not arrived. For the tournament beginning tomorrow, they could only rely on themselves to accomplish everything.

Wang Yan calmed himself and revealed a faint smile. "How did everyone rest last night? The Star Luo Empire's hospitality is really quite good."

Seated in the first position, Ye Qingchen said, "I rested fairly well. Teacher Wang, do you have any tactical arrangements?"

Wang Yan snapped irritably, "What tactical arrangements do we need? With you covering for us, what is there to worry about? The ones who should be afraid are our opponents, not us."

After Wang Yan introduced the tournament procedures, he let them return to rest.

(End of Chapter)