The visitor was none other than Elder Ma, the leader of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy, a veteran Level 8 Soul Engineer, and also the grandfather of Ma Rulong, the captain of the regular team.
Upon seeing Elder Ma, Xiao Hongchen tugged at Meng Hongchen's sleeve and then said with a smile:
"We didn't talk about much, Elder Ma."
"That would be best."
Elder Ma gave a heavy snort, and a powerful but subtle aura burst forth from him, causing Xiao Hongchen to take a step back.
Meng Hongchen was clearly extremely resentful of the old man and was about to unleash his Martial Soul to clash with him head-on, but Xiao Hongchen stopped him.
The old man glanced at Meng Hongchen, then said coldly:
"That would be best, of course. Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, you two should focus your energy on the students under fifteen from the Shrek Academy. They will be your real opponents in the next competition."
" Elder Ma, my only opponent is myself." Xiao Hongchen smiled broadly.
Seeing the atmosphere becoming increasingly tense, the captain of the regular team quickly stepped in to smooth things over.
He first glared at Xiao Hongchen, then said:
"Say less and let's discuss tactics and hear the intelligence we just obtained from our people who infiltrated the Sun Moon Empire. I believe you'll have a better understanding after hearing it."
Xiao Hongchen slightly and simply gestured for him to enter.
Meanwhile, in the rest area of the Star Luo National Academy, Xu Jiujiu took a file handed to him by a waiter, flipped through a couple of pages, then his expression changed slightly, and he exclaimed in surprise:
" Shrek Academy is actually sending its reserve team to play in the most important opening match?"
Qiangu Yunche glanced at it, then smiled:
"What if their reserves have a big one hidden?"
Xu Jiujiu rolled her eyes at Qiangu Yunche, "While Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy isn't the strongest among the more than one hundred participating academies, it's not at the bottom either."
But look at the seven people Shrek Academy signed up for the competition. The three Soul Ancestor aren't bad, but the rest seem a bit too amateurish."
Scrap materials?
The thought that a part of the great Great God King Tang's daughter and the future Emotion God King had become mere scraps in Xu Jiujiu's mouth almost made Qiangu Yunche laugh out loud, but he only said softly:
"Let's wait and see. After all, Shrek Academy values their so-called eternal glory far more than we imagine. If they lose the opening match, I can't even imagine the internal turmoil within the Shrek Academy and the uproar in public opinion across the continent..."
Xu Jiujiu hearing this, Xu Jiujiu smiled and then said:
"If that's the case, then I actually hope Shrek Academy loses this match. After all, such a spectacle is truly a once-in-a-century event."
While the two were laughing and joking, the other members of the Star Luo National Academy sat obediently not far away, not daring to be presumptuous at all, and even kept their conversations to a minimum.
Others might not know just how powerful the two giants sitting before them truly were, but they knew all too well.
Leaving aside Xu Jiujiu, Qiangu Yunche had become a terrifying figure in their eyes, almost like a demon god.
After all, what kind of good person could easily defeat them with one hand?
Is this even human?
Qiangu Yunche and Xu Jiujiu ignored the other team members' discussions and focused on showing their affection.
Xu Jiujiu, as if remembering something, Xu Jiujiu spoke up:
" Yun Che, speaking of which, wasn't that girl who was peeking at us a little... um, I don't know how to describe it, but I just felt like the way she looked at us wasn't entirely innocent."
"I think she might have fallen in love with us at first sight." Qiangu Yunche rubbed his chin. With his and Xu Jiujiu's perception abilities, it was not difficult for them to sense the movements from the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy.
But being spied on wouldn't hurt them, and besides, they'd stalked other people quite often, so they didn't think much of it.
However, Meng Hongchen's gaze was simply too intense, too obvious amidst the curious, surprised, or envious stares of the crowd.
"She..." Xu Jiujiu's expression was somewhat complicated. Clearly, she felt that what Qiangu Yunche said made sense.
She had seen many men and women who admired her individually or admired Qiangu Yunche, but this was the first time she had seen someone admire both of them at the same time.
As expected, the situation in the Sun Moon Empire was far too complicated.
Even the geniuses they train exude a strange aura...
As the sun rises higher, the temperature gradually increases.
More than 300,000 spectators had gathered around the huge competition stage. In order to earn more money per person and maintain fairness, all the spectators had to stand. The bustling noise spread outwards like a tide.
"Silence!" Just then, a loud voice suddenly resounded throughout the entire venue.
Upon hearing this voice, all the soldiers stood at attention and raised their spears. Instantly, a chilling atmosphere filled the entire area, and the once noisy Star Luo Plaza fell silent.
"His Majesty the Emperor has arrived."
Upon hearing this, all the people immediately knelt down. However, people with special status like Qiangu Yunche or members of the participating teams did not need to kneel; a bow was sufficient.
While Xu Jiawei was giving his instructions, in a secluded corner high up on the competition stage, Xuanzi was enjoying a hearty meal of meat and wine.
Thanks to Ling Luochеn's timely intervention, the Shrek Seven Devils did not suffer any major losses, so Xuanzi breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
After abstaining from alcohol and meat for two days as punishment, Xuanzi felt like a bottomless pit, wanting nothing more than to eat and drink like crazy, and then find a place to take a good nap to recover his over-shocked sanity.
None of my family members understand, this old man almost resigned again because of the consequences.
But just as Xuanzi was about to drift off to sleep, the appearance of a presence made him suddenly open his eyes, and then his face showed astonishment.
"This aura is..."
After speaking, Xuanzi lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment before disappearing from the spot.
At the same time that Xuanzi disappeared, 108 cannon salutes were fired one after another, and Star Luo Plaza was transformed into a sea of excitement and cheers.
After cheers, the referee announced the two teams for the opening match of this tournament.
" Shrek, Shrek, Shrek..."
The deafening cheers for Shrek echoed in almost every corner of Star Luo Plaza. Huo Yuhao and the others, their faces slightly pale from extreme tension, slowly walked onto the competition stage. Opposite them were the members of the Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy team, their faces ashen and their steps unsteady.
After taking a deep breath, encouraged by Wang Yan's gaze, the seven stepped onto the solid ground of the competition platform.
After the referee announced the rules and restrictions of the competition, Huo Yuhao, who was standing at the front of the seven, took a deep breath. Immediately afterward, an indescribable and terrifying aura suddenly appeared on the competition stage.
The crimson light illuminated the entire arena in an instant, and an atmosphere filled with coldness, cruelty, slaughter, madness, and other terrifying elements suddenly erupted.
Six blood-red Soul Ring rose from beneath Huo Yuhao's feet. In an instant, exclamations of surprise erupted from hundreds of thousands of people like a tidal wave.
The deafening sound was so intense that not only the members of all the participating teams, but also Xu Jiawei, Star Luo Empress, and the civil and military officials on the city wall were all shocked and stood up.
The masterful disguise finally came into play.
Qiangu Yunche looked at Li Jing, who had suddenly appeared beside him, and then said with some surprise:
"It's actually this kind of Soul Beast... What a Sky Dream Ice Silkworm! I really underestimated you..."