The Tournament Begins

After a night of rest, the Reserve Team had more or less recovered their condition. Today was also the final day of registration for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament. With a rare day of leisure, the reserve members paired up and wandered around Star Luo City.

The Main Team, meanwhile, still remained indoors to recover from their injuries. Huo Yuhao stayed alone in the hotel room assigned to him, turning down everyone's invitations to go out.

Although the Reserve Team would serve as the primary fighting force during the early stages of this Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament.

Huo Yuhao was, on the surface, merely a Soul Grandmaster with two rings.

Other than team battles, where everyone would need to participate, Beibei would generally not arrange for him or Xiao Xiao to compete in either individual or two-person matches.

Moreover, compared to the original host, who had been all flash and swagger in the original story, flaunting a ten-year soul ring everywhere and humiliating opponents, Huo Yuhao was now remarkably low-key.

He normally kept a low profile. Aside from a fairly eye-catching command of hidden weapons, only his Second Soul Skill's single-target Spiritual Strong Control was worth incorporating into Beibei's tactical plans.

It was therefore foreseeable that, barring accidents, Huo Yuhao would have a great deal of free time during this Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament.

And for the Gold of Life that would appear at the upcoming auction, Huo Yuhao needed to make some preparations in advance.

Within Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Sea, a Soul Power Circuit modified from Spiritual Erosion was being constructed before his spiritual body.

However, compared to the original Spiritual Erosion, this Soul Power Circuit's structure was closer to Spiritual Suggestion, while also incorporating a large number of concealment-type runes and arrays.

Compared to soul ring skills, soul skills constructed through Soul Power Circuits had the advantage that, aside from the necessary Soul Power and Spiritual Power fluctuations, they displayed almost none of the obvious external signs of a soul ring lighting up.

Furthermore, Spiritual Suggestion was itself a spiritual-type soul skill that influenced its target gradually and subtly, making it difficult for others to detect. What Huo Yuhao needed to do now was add further concealment-type runes to make it even harder for others to notice.

Since the Gold of Life was still in the form of the Spirit Devouring Blade, its vicious reputation was well known. If Huo Yuhao rashly bought it at auction, he would certainly attract the attention of Wang Yan, the team's supervising teacher.

Huo Yuhao's standing within Shrek Academy was not as high as it had been in the original story, so explaining it without a suitable reason would be troublesome.

But with Spiritual Suggestion, he could at least avoid most of that trouble.

Other than Wang Dong, whose Spiritual Sea contained measures left behind by Tang San, no one else in Shrek Academy could avoid the effects of Spiritual Suggestion with Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's assistance—not even Ma Xiaotao, who possessed the highest cultivation.

A large number of Soul Tools would appear at the auction. Under Tang San's influence, Wang Dong was unlikely to participate either, which gave Huo Yuhao room to operate.

Moreover, Huo Yuhao was not doing anything particularly difficult. He only intended to briefly influence the Shrek group's perception, making them overlook a short stretch of memory from when the Spirit Devouring Blade appeared.

After patching and refining the Soul Power Circuit, the brand-new Soul Power Circuit skill was finally complete. Unlike Spiritual Erosion, the soul skill constructed within this circuit required at least ten continuous minutes of influence before it could take effect.

But once the influence was complete, the affected person's mind would enter a muddled state, allowing Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Power to guide and control it.

Afterward, so long as the soul skill was released, the affected person would naturally forget that portion of their memories and unconsciously fill in the gaps, completing what had happened during that period on their own.

He closed his eyes and opened them again, and it was already deep into the night. Though the soul skill and runes used to calibrate this Soul Power Circuit had all been fully analyzed by Huo Yuhao, the construct's complexity meant it still took a long time. Feeling hunger rise from his stomach, Huo Yuhao immediately had the hotel deliver him a meal.

Without realizing it, Huo Yuhao's cultivation had broken through once more thanks to Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's diligent cultivation.

He had gone from level twenty-four, when he obtained his Second Soul Ring, to nearly level twenty-seven, now at level twenty-six.

Though he had already been close to level twenty-five after obtaining the soul ring, barely a month and a half had passed since Huo Yuhao acquired his Second Soul Ring.

The medicinal potency of the Demonic Potion within Huo Yuhao's body had also nearly been fully absorbed. Once his physique reached the Soul Ancestor level, his body would be able to bear higher-intensity Soul Power circulation, and his cultivation speed would experience another small burst of growth.

It was foreseeable that, after the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament ended, Huo Yuhao could begin preparing to break through to Soul Elder and hunt for his third soul ring. He would need to make preparations for his soul ring selection in advance.

Huo Yuhao enjoyed a rare good night's sleep. After all, the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament would officially open tomorrow, though he would not have much of a role to play.

The following morning, when the first ray of sunlight entered Star Luo City, the atmosphere within the capital of the Star Luo Empire was exceptionally solemn.

Large numbers of vendors and shops in Star Luo City's outer district had closed their doors. Troops clad in ornate ceremonial armor sealed off the city streets.

The roads from Star Emperor Hotel to Star Luo Plaza were especially placed under full martial control. All civilians and tourists were kept out, and only competitors from the various advanced soul master academies emerging from Star Emperor Hotel were permitted to pass.

Beyond Star Luo Plaza lay Star Luo City's inner district, the true imperial city area. It also offered the best viewing positions for this Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament.

The arena for this tournament was one hundred meters long and one hundred meters wide, surrounded by one hundred and eight defensive Soul Tools resembling metal pillars.

Once the matches began, one hundred and eight corresponding soul masters would activate these defensive Soul Tools. They would form a coordinated whole for joint defense, creating a protective barrier that blocked soul skills within the arena from spilling out and harming spectators outside.

However, compared to their internal protective strength, this set of Soul Tools was far less impressive at defending against attacks from the outside.

Furthermore, because the area they covered was too large and the Sun Moon Empire maintained a technological blockade, these one hundred and eight defensive Soul Tools might have seemed numerous, but their effectiveness could only be considered mediocre.

After casually sweeping them with the Eye of Truth, Huo Yuhao stopped paying attention to the Soul Tools. Most of the core arrays they used were standard, common designs.

Only the connected Soul Tool Core Array was somewhat interesting, but no more than that. These one hundred and eight defensive Soul Tools were entirely standardized, each built with exactly the same structure.

And because they were so crude, Huo Yuhao could even use his own Spiritual Power to exert reverse influence and control over them. After cracking them first, he could secretly siphon their Soul Power for his own use.

Because everyone took this tournament seriously, they had arrived early in the morning and taken their positions.

The task of drawing lots and arranging the competition order was handled by the supervising teacher from each academy.

As the sun climbed high into the sky, warm sunlight spilled across the earth.

The Star Luo Emperor, his empress, and the civil and military officials had all arrived at their places atop the imperial city walls. This signified that this Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament was about to officially begin.

As orders were issued one after another, the Star Luo Empire methodically arranged for the spectators to enter in an orderly fashion, while the various academies had long since gathered near the arena to wait.

By the time all spectators had entered and the competitors had finished preparing in their respective waiting areas, the sun was already high in the sky.

"Silence!" A booming voice spread throughout the venue, carrying a hidden pressure of Spiritual Power.

At the same time, all military officers maintaining order within the grounds snapped to attention and raised their spears. With that synchronized motion, the previously noisy Star Luo Plaza immediately fell silent.

"His Majesty the Emperor has arrived!" The same booming voice rang out. Large numbers of civilians fell to their knees in salute. Soldiers knelt on one knee according to their rank, while the students and teachers of the competing academies bowed.

"Rise, my subjects." The Star Luo Emperor's voice was amplified by a Soul Tool atop the imperial city walls and carried outward.

Behind the emperor stood his empress and the civil and military officials. One step behind the Star Luo Emperor and empress stood Duke White Tiger, Dai Hao.

However, compared to when they had previously seen him at the military camp, Duke White Tiger's eyes now seemed bloodshot. His expression was weary, and he looked as though he had traveled through wind and dust.

The Star Luo Emperor wore a smile, though whether it was for the tournament or some other reason was impossible to say.

"The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament is the most important grand event in the soul master world. I am delighted that this year's tournament is being hosted by our Star Luo Empire. On behalf of the Star Luo Empire, I welcome all the academy representatives who have traveled from afar, led by Shrek Academy."

"I hope you will display your brilliance in the coming month of competition!"

The representatives of all one hundred and thirty-three academies responded together, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

The Star Luo Emperor did not say much more. After all, several hours had already passed since the students from the various academies entered the venue.

"Very well. I now declare the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament officially open!"

After the ceremonial cannons boomed, the Star Luo Emperor stepped back and led the civil and military officials to the viewing seats prepared atop the imperial city walls, where they took their places.

"According to the rules of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament, the first round will be an elimination round."

"A total of one hundred and thirty-three advanced soul master and Soul Engineer academies have registered for this tournament. Following the draw, there will be sixty-six matches, with one academy receiving a bye."

"Any competitors defeated in the first-round elimination matches will immediately conclude their journey in this tournament."

"Now, the first match is about to begin. The two sides are the representatives of Heaven Spirit Advanced Soul Master Academy from the Dou Ling Empire, and the representatives of the Number One Academy on the Continent, Shrek Academy, winners of every tournament championship over the past millennium!"

Because of the prestige Shrek had accumulated over the past ten thousand years, as well as its reputation for winning the championship for a thousand consecutive years, the arena erupted the moment the host made the announcement.

Under those circumstances, everyone on the Reserve Team other than Huo Yuhao felt a heavy pressure settle over their hearts. Their faces turned pale.

Huo Yuhao, however, remained calm. To him, glory and victory or defeat meant nothing. Other than preparing to acquire the Gold of Life, his primary objective in coming here was to use the Eye of Truth to record the soul skills of every soul master and the Soul Tool Core Array structures within Soul Tools, thereby enriching his own reserves. Whether he won or lost was of no concern to him.

"Shrek! Shrek! Shrek!" Amid the spectators' fervent cheers, the members of both academies began preparing to enter the arena.

Seeing the somewhat stiff Reserve Team members, Wang Yan forced a smile. "Don't be afraid, everyone. This is the glory of Shrek Academy, and it will soon be your glory as well."

"Don't be nervous. Don't panic. Your opponents will be ten times, a hundred times more nervous and frightened than you, because their opponents are us—Shrek Academy!"

Even so, the slightly stiff expression on Wang Yan's face as he spoke showed that, experiencing a competition venue of this scale for the first time, he was nowhere near as relaxed as he claimed.

But the others, aside from Huo Yuhao, had no attention left to judge that. Wang Yan's words felt as though they had been given a shot of confidence.

After calming down somewhat, their hearts still pounded, but color gradually returned to their pale faces.

At this moment, the tournament host began announcing the competing members of both sides.

"First, let us welcome the members of Heaven Spirit Advanced Soul Master Academy!"

Immediately afterward, a team entered the arena with unsteady steps, pale faces, and even trembling legs.

Seeing this, everyone from Shrek Academy breathed a sigh of relief. Shrek Academy's reputation was simply too great, while their opponents, Heaven Spirit Advanced Soul Master Academy, were nothing more than a no-name school.

They had always been among the first batch eliminated in previous tournaments, a team that existed only to make up the numbers.

Facing Shrek Academy, such a team could hardly be expected to exceed its limits. Under the intimidation of Shrek Academy's overwhelming reputation, they had already lost their nerve before the fight even began, likely throwing away seven or eight parts of their already limited strength.