The Tournament Begins, Huo Gua Reveals His King of Cheats Persona Once More

The next day, the sun shone brightly, as if welcoming this grand Soul Master event held once every five years across the continent!

Star Luo Plaza, beneath the imperial city walls, was already packed with people. Fortunately, the situation remained fairly orderly, since Star Luo Royal had deployed several thousand soldiers to maintain order.

The competition grounds lay beneath the city walls: a massive arena five meters high and one hundred meters long and wide. One hundred and eight metal pillars surrounded it, forming an immensely powerful defensive Soul Tool.

The competing teams also began entering one after another: Star Luo National Academy, Dou Ling Royal Academy, Di Ao Academy, Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy...

Shrek Academy was the last to appear.

However, when everyone saw Shrek's team, they froze. The venue even fell eerily silent for a moment before erupting into a jumble of voices.

They had seen a team that was generally far too young. Aside from the teacher leading them, only two looked close to twenty years old.

What the hell were those other ten?

None of them looked older than fifteen. One little girl did not even seem to be ten, did she? (Xiao Xiao: Was it wrong to be petite and delicate? I was adorable!)

Had Shrek really sent the wrong team?

This damn team should have been competing in the next tournament!

It was not only the audience that was dumbfounded. The major participating academies were just as stunned.

At the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy's area, Xiao "My Talent Is Peerless and Unmatched" Hongchen opened his mouth in surprise, yet said nothing. He merely wondered what Shrek was up to.

Beside him, Meng "Wang Dong's True Love Fan" Hongchen blinked and nudged her brother. "Brother, what is going on with Shrek?"

Xiao Hongchen shook his head. "I can't tell for now."

Meng Hongchen curled her lips. "Aren't you the world's smartest genius?"

Xiao Hongchen: "..." This little sister should be thrown away. She was far too infuriating.

The same confusion and questions arose among the other participating academies.

Especially in an inconspicuous corner among the audience, where Vina and Long Aotian had concealed their figures and faces.

Yet when Vina saw Zhou Huan among Shrek's team, she was still somewhat shocked. "Aotian, look. That guy lied again. He said he was just an ordinary Shrek student. If I ever believe him again, I'm a pig."

After all, she had met Zhou Huan at Guan Luo Hotel and had more or less believed him, thinking he was not a competitor.

But now, not only was Zhou Huan on the team, Wang Qingya and Wen Xiaoshuai were there as well.

Moreover, given their ages, they should not have been this year's main team members. Yet among Shrek's entire team, there were only two people who looked like main team members.

Long Aotian naturally could not make sense of Shrek's current situation either, but he still said, "Brother Zhou did not exactly lie. He only said he was an ordinary student; he never said he was not competing. We can just wait and see."

Vina: "..." She had no idea why her future boyfriend, whom she had already picked out, thought so highly of that guy.

Leaving aside what Vina was thinking, most people were currently busy imagining possibilities and making guesses.

Even His Majesty the Emperor of the Star Luo Empire, Xu Jiawei, who stood atop the imperial city walls looking down upon everything, was dumbfounded for quite a while. In truth, he was a diehard Shrek fan, but even he could not figure out what was happening.

Only after the dignified and noble Empress beside him reminded him did Xu Jiawei stop speculating about Shrek.

"Silence--!"

At the booming shout of a Guardian Douluo, Star Luo Plaza, which held more than two hundred thousand people, gradually fell quiet.

"Now, let us welcome His Majesty the Emperor of the Star Luo Empire to deliver the pre-tournament address!"

The moment those words fell, every Star Luo soldier present dropped to one knee and shouted in unison, "Long live our Emperor! Long live our Emperor! Long live our Emperor!"

Most of the Star Luo spectators also showed respect for their Emperor, though their voices were nowhere near as orderly.

As for the competing Soul Masters, they merely bowed slightly in salute. A small number did not even move.

Xu Jiawei naturally did not care about such things. Instead, he began speaking from atop the city walls. "Once every five years, the Soul Master Competition is the most important event on the entire Douluo Continent! It is our honor that this year's event is being held in the Star Luo Empire! I hope that all of you will come in high spirits and leave in high spirits!"

"Enough idle talk. I hereby announce that the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament now begins!"

Boom--!

Boom--!

Boom--!

Dozens of ceremonial cannons erupted, signaling the opening of the tournament!

After the cannon fire ended, the Referee finally stepped onto the arena. Her voice did not seem loud, yet everyone present could hear it clearly. "First match of the Soul Fighting Tournament Preliminary Round: Shrek Academy versus Tian Ling Advanced Soul Master Academy! Please welcome the defending champions from the previous tournament, Shrek Academy!"

Under the gazes of Wang Yan, Zhou Huan and two others, as well as Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng, Huo Gua slowly led the team onto the arena.

Yes, everyone who went up was undoubtedly a reserve team member.

There was no need to send any of Zhou Huan and two others up at this point. Whether considering the reserve team members' identities or the strength everyone knew they possessed, Huo Gua's seven-person group was the right choice.

Of the main team members, only Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng had come. In any case, both of them still needed over half a month to recover.

Ling Luochen's injuries were lighter, so it was better for her to remain at the hotel and recover as soon as possible. As for Gongyang Mo, there was no need to mention him. He was the most seriously injured of the four; it was already impressive that he could make it to Star Luo City, so there was no point putting him through more trouble now.

On the arena, after Huo Gua's seven-person group took the field, Tian Ling Advanced Soul Master Academy's team also walked up at the Referee's call.

Very quickly, the Tian Ling Team formed the most traditional and effective battle formation: a three-two-one-one formation!

The three at the front were naturally Power Attack System or Defense System Soul Masters. The two at the sides were Agility Attack System Soul Masters, while the two in the center and rear were generally Control System and Support System Soul Masters.

Huo Gua's side was different. He stood alone at the very front, while the other six stood behind him. It looked exactly like the big boss was leading his underlings into a brawl!

Most people were confused, but the Referee had already announced, "Begin!"

In an instant, all seven members of the Tian Ling Team unleashed their Martial Souls!

Yellow and purple Soul Rings emerged one after another. Among the seven, there were five Soul Ancestors and two Soul Elders!

They were not weak, but they were not strong either.

The average strength level in the Soul Master Competition was basically at the Soul Ancestor level, so a team like Tian Ling Advanced Soul Master Academy's was considered middling.

In contrast, the seven on Huo Gua's side looked absurdly calm. They had not even unleashed their Martial Souls.

Just after the Tian Ling Team released their Martial Souls, Huo Gua's gaze changed. He slowly took a step forward, and ring after ring of Soul Rings gradually rose beneath his feet--

Purple, black, black, black, red, red!!!

Wave after wave of aura, as though from ancient Fierce Beasts, instantly blanketed the entire arena!

Every member of the Tian Ling Team froze.

The Referee froze as well. Under the pressure of that Hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring, she even unconsciously released her Martial Soul.

The more than two hundred thousand spectators present were also frozen, rendered speechless!

Xu Jiawei atop the city walls could not help swallowing. He then swiftly instructed the Prime Minister beside him to investigate exactly who this Soul Emperor youth, who looked only thirteen or fourteen, was.

As expected of His Majesty the Emperor. His reaction speed was unquestionably the fastest.

At this moment, Zhou Huan revealed a satisfied smile.

In fact, Zhou Huan had suggested this Soul Ring configuration.

When they discussed their strategy the previous night, Wang Yan and the four from the Inner Court had not been present. But because Xiao Xiao insisted that Zhou Huan was an old schemer, she dragged him into the discussion.

It had originally been Huo Gua who suggested the simulated Soul Skill strategy, but Zhou Huan made one small adjustment to his idea.

They should not make it too outrageous and directly produce six Hundred-thousand-year Soul Rings!

Because the intimidating effect would not last long. Once normal people thought about it afterward, they would all conclude it was fake.

So, the Soul Rings became one purple, three black, and two red. It was still exaggerated, but not completely impossible to accept. The effect was actually better this way.

And so, this became the current situation!

The result was obvious. While the Tian Ling Team was still wondering who they were, where they were, and what they were supposed to do, Wang Dong stepped behind Huo Gua. Immediately afterward, a Golden Road roughly seventy meters long and three meters wide swept through and took all seven opponents out at once.

From the beginning of the match to its end, the whole process took less than ten seconds.

The Referee felt as though she had maintained loneliness. She stepped onto the arena and said, "The match begins," then spent several seconds in shock before saying, "The match ends." That was it.

But at this moment, the spectators below the stage went wild, endlessly shouting, "Shrek! Shrek!" This was the strength Shrek Academy, the sacred ground of Soul Masters, was supposed to possess!

Afterward, Huo Gua directly led the team away, looking incredibly imposing!

Of course, Zhou Huan knew that Huo Gua's legs had gone weak at this moment. He had consumed too much Soul Power.

"Zhou Huan, you're really sinister," Wang Qingya whispered quietly.

"...What nonsense are you talking about? I'll sue you for slander!" Zhou Huan rolled his eyes at Wang Qingya. "The class monitor clearly came up with this plan."

"But your suggestion made the plan more complete," Wang Qingya said.

"Let's go." Zhou Huan was too tired to explain.

"We aren't watching anymore?" Wang Qingya asked. "Didn't we come here to watch the matches?"

"Let's head out first. Later, we'll buy tickets and blend into the crowd to watch the remaining matches." Zhou Huan lowered his voice. "The class monitor is about to lead the team away. To match his imposing aura, we can only leave first too."

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