Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team!

Flender frowned slightly, his gaze still fixed on the direction Canghui Academy had left in, and murmured:

"I never expected that old bastard to go to Canghui Academy..."

Ma Hongjun had always been the closest to Flender. Hearing this, he hurriedly leaned forward and asked:

"Teacher, who was that old man just now? Do you know him?"

Flender's expression turned somewhat grave as he said in a deep voice:

"That old bastard is called Shi Nian.

His Martial Soul is extremely unusual—an intangible, formless special Martial Soul capable of creating all sorts of bizarre illusions and causing people to lose themselves within them.

With his current strength, he could easily make opponents trapped in an illusion harm themselves to death while lost within it.

We call his Martial Soul Canmeng. That old bastard is exceptionally vicious. Don't be fooled by how calm he looks on the surface; he holds grudges over the slightest offense.

All of you need to be careful. When I first knew him, his Soul Power was already over level sixty. Now, I'm afraid... it has surpassed level seventy."

At those words, the Shrek Seven Devils were all startled.

Illusions? There was actually such a Martial Soul? Just hearing about it made it seem sinister and difficult to guard against.

After hearing this information, Tang San, watching from the sidelines, could not help but feel a chill in his heart.

"Illusions? There's actually a Martial Soul like that!"

He immediately began rapidly considering how he should deal with this type of Soul Master if he encountered one in battle.

It was a subconscious habit he had developed from his previous life to the present whenever facing an unknown threat.

Flender continued, "That Canmeng Martial Soul is indeed extremely troublesome. Even Soul Masters stronger than him generally aren't willing to fight him lightly."

He waved his hand, ending the subject. "All right, the opening ceremony is about to begin. Get ready to enter.

Mubai, Tang San, the two of you just lead everyone in.

I'll go on ahead and watch your valiant bearing from the stands!"

Having said that, the dean once again displayed the speed of an agility-attack Soul Master. His feet practically greased, and he vanished into the crowd in the blink of an eye, as though afraid that staying even one second longer would implicate him in those shit-green uniforms.

Still deep in thought, Tang San and the others followed the flow of people into the main competition venue.

The instant they stepped inside, both the group in the simulation and Tang San watching from the sidelines were stunned by the grand and magnificent sight before them!

Surrounding the enormous, open plaza were countless shouting and cheering spectators, their voices crashing over them like a tidal wave.

At the front of the central arena stood a luxurious yet solemn main platform backed in gold.

Behind the main platform was the renovated VIP section.

At that moment, the host on the stage began introducing the entering teams through a sound-amplifying Soul Tool:

"...The final team to enter is Shrek Academy's competing team...

"Just look at how striking their peculiar attire is..."

Hearing the host's words, which were plainly laced with mockery, along with Shrek's incredibly eye-catching uniforms bearing the words "Advertising Wanted," the spectators in the stands immediately erupted into laughter.

Dai Mubai, who had a fiery temper, looked as black as the bottom of a pot. His fists clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white as he walked forward and forced the words out through gritted teeth:

"If it weren't for the tournament rules... I'd tear that bastard's mouth apart!"

At this moment, Tang San in the simulation could clearly sense the violent fluctuations of Soul Power from Dai Mubai beside him, as though he might erupt at any moment.

Tang San hurriedly placed a hand on Dai Mubai's solid arm and said in a low voice, "Boss Dai, calm down!"

Dai Mubai took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed his anger. He understood that he was the captain. If he did something irrational in a situation like this, how could he lead the team?

Amid the surrounding clamor and pointing from the spectators, Tang San watching from the sidelines endured the embarrassment and began calmly observing his surroundings.

The first person to catch his eye was the figure seated at the very center of the VIP platform.

The man wore a golden-red robe and a Golden Diamond Radiance Crown. His face was like an ancient moon, and though he appeared somewhat aged, simply sitting there gave him an imposing dignity that could not be ignored, as though he were the center of every gaze.

"So this is... the emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire?"

Tang San, a six-year-old citizen from Holy Soul Village within the Heaven Dou Empire, saw the true appearance of the empire's highest ruler for the first time in an image from the "future."

The people beside the emperor also possessed extraordinary bearing, but Tang San did not recognize them.

However, by sensing the thoughts and emotional fluctuations of Tang San in the simulation, Tang San watching from the sidelines could tell that his simulated "self" likely knew some of them.

At that moment, a refined, elegant middle-aged man seated to Xue Ye's right seemed to notice Tang San's gaze from within the simulation and happened to turn, meeting Tang San's eyes.

With a warm smile on his face, he lightly nodded in Tang San's direction.

Tang San watching from the sidelines immediately realized that this person must have known his simulated "self."

Moreover, judging from the man's features, his brows and eyes bore some resemblance to Ning Rongrong's. He was likely closely connected to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Next, as the host on the VIP platform loudly announced:

"Now, let us invite His Majesty the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire to declare the opening of this tournament!"

Xue Ye, seated in the center of the VIP section, rose to deliver the opening address. Its contents were nothing more than official remarks encouraging the various academies to display the excellence of the empire's Soul Masters.

After Xue Ye's formal and brief speech, the host's voice rang out again:

"Next, let us invite Mr. Ning Fengzhi, Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, to address the tournament!"

Under Tang San's watchful gaze, the middle-aged man who had just met the simulated Tang San's eyes and resembled Ning Rongrong—Ning Fengzhi—slowly rose with a smile.

Warm applause once again rang through the venue.

Ning Fengzhi elegantly raised both hands in a calming gesture. Once the applause subsided somewhat, he likewise delivered some official words of encouragement for the young Soul Masters and hopes for the tournament's future.

However, the host had no intention of letting him off so easily and continued with a question:

"Sect Master Ning, as the continent's strongest support-system Soul Master, I would like to ask on behalf of the audience watching this event: among the twenty-eight teams participating in the Heaven Dou City regional qualifiers, which team do you favor most?"

Ning Fengzhi still wore that gentle smile that made people feel like they were bathed in spring breezes as he calmly replied:

"Other than the Heaven Dou Royal Academy First Team, which has entered the finals directly as a seeded team, there is another team among these twenty-eight that I favor."

The host feigned surprise and pressed further. "Oh? Which team has earned Sect Master Ning's favor?"

Ning Fengzhi merely smiled mysteriously and said:

"As for which academy this team belongs to, please forgive me for keeping it a secret for now.

But I can tell everyone this: I believe that the final champion of this tournament will definitely belong to the empire!"

After saying this, Ning Fengzhi politely nodded and returned to his seat.

The host could only say:

"What a pity. We failed to get Sect Master Ning to reveal the team he favors.

"Next, let us invite Lord Salas, master of the Heaven Dou City Martial Soul Temple and Platinum Bishop of Spirit Hall, to conduct the draw for the first round of the qualifiers!"

As the host's words fell, an elderly man in the front row of the VIP platform, to Xue Ye's right, slowly rose to his feet. He wore a scarlet bishop's robe, a five-pointed platinum crown, and an indifferent expression.

After Platinum Bishop Salas stood up, he walked to the host's side under the guidance of a palace maid and began the drawing.

Following the host's announcement, it was soon Shrek Academy's turn to learn its opponent.

"The first round of the qualifiers: Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team versus—Shrek Academy!"