The All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament had begun. As the first rays of sunlight fell over Star Luo City, an air of solemn majesty enveloped the capital of the Star Luo Empire.
The streets around Star Luo Plaza had been sealed off by soldiers in gleaming armor. More than a thousand elite troops were stationed near the Star Emperor Hotel, and all roads leading to the plaza were under strict lockdown. Only the competing teams from the academies were allowed through.
The stage for this year's All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament had not been built in the center of the plaza, but in front of the Imperial City's main gate.
This way, the Star Luo Emperor and his ministers could watch from above on the Imperial City walls, enjoying a perfect view while remaining completely safe.
The stage was a hundred meters long and a hundred meters wide, and stood five meters above the ground. A hundred and eight metal pillars surrounded it. These were genuine defensive Soul Tools.
Once the tournament began, a hundred and eight Soul Masters would activate them together. The pillars would form a sturdy barrier, keeping Soul Skills from spilling beyond the stage and preventing harm to bystanders or damage to the Imperial City's buildings.
Building the stage had cost a fortune. On top of that, a hundred Soul Masters had been assigned to guard it around the clock for more than a month. No one but a nation could have hosted an event of this scale.
At that moment, Star Luo Plaza lay empty and deserted. Aside from the soldiers on duty, not a soul was in sight. A crowd crush had occurred the last time the Star Luo Empire hosted the tournament, so the royal family was