Fear Like a Rising Tide

All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, individual event, round of sixteen to quarterfinals.

Early that morning, the area around Star Luo Grand Stadium was already packed solid. Even if people could not enter to watch the matches live, they could still watch the big screens outside. Even just listening to the cheers from inside the stadium was enough to feel the atmosphere!

That kind of atmosphere was wonderful. People always needed something to get excited about.

For the people of the Star Luo Empire, this tournament was exactly that.

Even though Situ Xuan's infamous reputation had spread by word of mouth throughout this tournament, and everyone knew of it.

Yet in this distorted nation, a nation that worshipped duels and individual strength, Situ Xuan's actions had inexplicably earned him a group of strange supporters.

As the competition continued, the number of people in the waiting area steadily dwindled. Now, only sixteen spots remained.

Even Dai Yun'er had not been allowed to enter.

Shrek Academy, Monster Academy, the military—every Soul Master possessed a formidable presence and aura.

The sixteen people seated in the waiting area were all ruthless figures who had fought their way through the individual event. None of those who had made it this far had done so through luck. Some possessed powerful martial souls, some had deep Soul Power, some had extensive combat experience, and some were utterly ruthless.

But at this moment, everyone's eyes turned in the same direction.

The entrance to the waiting area.

Footsteps rang out.

Under heavy guard, Situ Xuan appeared at the entrance to the waiting area.

The guards sent by the military to maintain order were all burly men over six feet tall. They wore full standard-issue armor, Soul Tools hanging at their waists, and stood there like a wall. But when