Spirit Master Tournament Begins

A week later, the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament was about to begin. Everyone from Blazing Academy had arrived in Heaven Dou City. Huo Tianchen and the deans of the other Five Elemental Academies had gone to a gathering, while Huo Lie and Huo Yi had taken all the students to stay at a hotel.

The uniforms for the academy teams had already been prepared in advance, and everyone was now wearing specially designed team outfits. Huo Wu's clothes were particularly eye-catching. She wore an off-the-shoulder outfit with two crisscrossing red-and-black shoulder straps. Her dress alternated between red and gold and only partially wrapped around her body, leaving much of her upper half exposed. Combined with her fiery red hair, the red flame mark between her brows, and the golden collar around her neck, sensuality, fierceness, freedom, pride, and nobility were all concentrated in her. If one had to describe her in two words, they would be: queen.

Huo Wushuang's outfit was comparatively underwhelming. He had golden hair, yet wore a headband, while the middle of his top hung open and revealed eight abdominal muscles. He looked a little chuunibyou, somewhat like a boxer from Xiaofei's previous life. In fact, Huo Wushuang could have simply modeled his outfit after Dai Mubai's. That would have made him appear more arrogant and spirited.

Xiaofei's outfit was much more conventional. Like the other students, he wore dark red clothes, and his head of flowing black hair made him look extremely energetic. Huo Wu had originally suggested that Xiaofei have a competition uniform custom-made as well, but Xiaofei glanced at Huo Wushuang and decisively refused.

As time passed, the opening of the tournament finally arrived. Accompanied by the host's stirring rhythm, the various teams entered in order. At last, it was Blazing Academy's turn. Huo Wushuang, Huo Wu, and Xiaofei walked at the very front, with Huo Wushuang in the middle and Huo Wu and Xiaofei on either side of him. The rest of the team followed behind. The lights across the venue shone on the team, and cheers and screams erupted throughout the stadium. Blazing Academy truly was a veteran powerhouse, and the cheers it received were exceptionally loud.

After they reached the center of the arena, the other teams gradually entered the field as well. Xiaofei carefully glanced at the platform ahead. Several tall seats had been arranged there. In the very center sat an old man holding a scepter. He looked somewhat benevolent, yet exuded authority. He was probably Xue Ye. On the left sat a refined-looking middle-aged man holding a cane. He was likely Ning Fengzhi, the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. On the right sat a gloomy, thin old man—the Spirit Hall Platinum Bishop, Salas. Slightly behind the second seat on the left was an old man with white hair and a youthful face, his gaze filled with sharpness: the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Sword Douluo, Jian Daochenxin. The second seat on the right was occupied by another thin old man whose presence was clearly weaker than the others. He was probably Prince Xue Xing.

Xiaofei kept his gaze fixed on Sword Douluo, the continent's number-one offensive Douluo, whose strength had reached level 96. In the novel from his previous life, Sword Douluo had also been one of Xiaofei's favorite characters.

Amid wave after wave of cheers, the teams made their way toward the arena. Suddenly, waves of disdainful jeers rang out across the venue. A team dressed in green entered, with the words "Seeking Title Sponsorships" plastered across their uniforms. Xiaofei found it painfully embarrassing to look at. Every time he saw this part, he was rendered speechless. This was the protagonist's Shrek Academy Team. Without the Immortal Herbs, Xiaofei did not know whether they could reach the heights they had in his previous life. Looking closely, the Shrek Team had only Tang San and Dai Mubai as Soul Ancestors; everyone else was a Soul Elder. However, judging by their Soul Power, they were all high-level Soul Elders. If they reached the finals, there would probably be four Soul Ancestors. Ma Hongjun, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing had likely experienced limited improvement, reaching at most the high-level Soul Elder rank.

After Xue Ye, Ning Fengzhi, Salas, and the others delivered their speeches, Salas conducted the draw. As expected, Shrek Academy was matched against Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team 2. Xiaofei followed the team out of the arena, leaving only the Shrek Academy Team and Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team 2 on the field.

Other than Ning Rongrong, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar, everyone from the Shrek Academy Team took the field.

Suddenly thinking of something, Xiaofei went to the entrance alone. As expected, there was a betting counter there. Shrek's odds were actually three to one. Without a word, Xiaofei decisively bet one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins on Shrek Academy to win before returning to the main venue.

As expected, Shrek Academy won the match within a minute. Although the others were somewhat weaker, Tang San and Dai Mubai were still quite impressive, and their strength had not been diminished too much. What had perhaps truly been weakened was their potential. Without the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, Ma Hongjun might find cultivation difficult in the later stages. Without Martial Soul Evolution, Ning Rongrong's greatest achievement would only be the peak Soul Saint realm. Without Ice and Fire Body Tempering, Tang San would find it difficult to overcome Blazing Academy. The others had all suffered various degrees of weakening.

On the second day, Blazing Academy took the field. This time, Huo Wu, Huo Wushuang, and Huo He led four substitutes into the arena. Huo Wushuang's astonishing level 48 Soul Power, together with Huo Wu's level 47 strength, instantly dazzled the entire venue. Every team regarded the Blazing Team with solemn expressions. One had to understand that Huo Wushuang currently had the highest Soul Power Level in the Heaven Dou Division, and he was only twenty years old. Huo Wu ranked second at level 47, and she was only eighteen. Feng Xiaotian ranked third at level 44, but he was already twenty-four. In other words, Huo Wu could participate in the next Spirit Master Tournament as well, and by then she would definitely have reached the Soul King realm.

Every other team had only one or two Soul Ancestors. The most powerful was Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team 1, which had five Soul Ancestors, but even its strongest member was only level 43. The difference between a high-level Soul Ancestor and a low-level Soul Ancestor was enormous.

Their opponent was the Oakland Academy Team. Oakland Academy had only one Soul Ancestor, and he had just reached that rank. Once both sides took the field, Huo Wushuang charged forward. A Blazing Dragon barreled straight into the opposing formation, after which several others rushed in and launched a barrage of attacks. Finally, Huo Wu unleashed a wide-area attack Soul Skill, blasting every opponent off the stage. Nearly everyone had used only one Soul Skill. The entire venue immediately erupted in cheers, while the other teams fell silent.

In the Shrek Team's area, everyone was silent for a while. At last, Yu Xiaogang analyzed the Blazing Team. "The Blazing Team's fighting style is extremely simple. Huo Wushuang launches a powerful assault into the enemy formation, Huo Wu controls the field, and several Agility Attack-type Soul Masters swarm forward, squeezing the enemy's room to maneuver. Finally, Huo Wu delivers the winning blow. Although the method is simple, it is somewhat impossible to counter. After all, they have three Soul Ancestors, including two high-level Soul Ancestors. Across the entire division, no one should be able to withstand Huo Wushuang's assault. Moreover, Blazing Academy is extremely fast and coordinates very well. It is clear that they have abundant combat experience and have undergone rigorous training."

Observing the opposing team's mental state, Yu Xiaogang continued, "Blazing Academy has weaknesses as well. Because of the explosive power and offensive nature of the Fire Element, Blazing Academy does not have a single Support-type Soul Master, while we have Ning Rongrong and two genius Support-type Soul Masters. Blazing Academy's endurance will be extremely poor. This is also why their matches are so short and so intense."

Tang San thought for a moment before asking, "Teacher, does the Blazing Team know about their weakness?"

Yu Xiaogang replied, "Of course they know their own weakness. However, Blazing Academy has a long history, and its first admission requirement is that applicants possess the Fire Element. Fire Element Soul Masters are basically incapable of becoming Support-type Soul Masters."