In the original timeline, the four finalists were Star Luo National Academy versus Shrek Academy, Di'ao Academy versus Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy.
But this time, that order isn't quite working.
On the day of the semi-final match draw, Xu Jiujiu stepped onto the stage for the first time as the captain of the Star Luo National Academy.
Upon seeing Xu Jiujiu enter the arena, Ma Xiaotao, who was representing Shrek Academy to draw lots, raised an eyebrow slightly, and her expression turned serious after regaining her composure.
Without Xu Jiujiu and Qiangu Yunche, the Star Luo National Academy's lineup would be six Soul King and one Soul Ancestor. This lineup would be the weakest among the top four teams. However, if Xu Jiujiu and Qiangu Yunche joined, even if the other five didn't play, the Star Luo National Academy would still be the most terrifying team.
Now that Xu Jiujiu has finally taken the stage, is Qiangu Yunche far behind?
Ma Xiaotao looked towards the stands of the Star Luo National Academy from a great distance, while on the other side, Qiangu Yunche seemed to sense something and looked over in their direction.
Their eyes met from afar, but the gazes parted only briefly.
Compared to Ma Xiaotao's composure, Ma Rulong, the captain of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy, Jiang Peng, the captain of the Di'ao Academy, looked extremely solemn.
They all knew through their respective intelligence channels that Star Luo National Academy had two reserve team member slots, but they still hadn't been able to find out who those slots were for.
Now they understood that the host of the Soul Guidance Release Conference, the only gold-level auctioneer at the Starlight Auction House, and the most renowned princess of the Star Luo Imperial Family had actually chosen to personally take the battle.
When talking about the Star Luo Imperial Family, one cannot help but mention their Star Crown Martial Soul, which has virtually no weaknesses.
For a time, almost all three parties had their own plans.
On the other side, Xu Jiawei, standing on the high platform, smiled with satisfaction as he looked at his younger sister's graceful figure.
A high-level Soul Emperor who is not yet twenty years old, with three top-tier Soul Bone, his combat power is no less than that of an ordinary Soul Douluo. More importantly, because of Qiangu Qing's affair with Qiangu Yunche, he promised Xu Jiawei that he would equip Xu Jiujiu with three more Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring.
With four Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring, even a useless person could be molded into a world-renowned genius, let alone Xu Jiujiu, who was already exceptionally talented.
Without further thought, Xu Jiawei said a few polite words and then threw out four golden beams.
The angles and forces at which the four golden beams were thrown were so mysterious that none of the people present could see them clearly.
This is not hard to understand. It's true that Xu Jiujiu was a genius, but isn't Xu Jiawei also a genius?
If we're really talking about talent, Xu Jiawei is the most gifted person in the Star Luo Imperial Family in the past three hundred years.
He and White Tiger Duke Dai Hao of the White Tiger were of the same generation and not much different in age. Dai Hao was already a high-level Soul Douluo, while Xu Jiawei had even entered the Titled Douluo realm.
However, due to his noble status and the fact that he rarely makes a move, coupled with the fact that the Star Luo Imperial Family is known for its mystery, he remains unknown to outsiders.
After the four golden beams reached a certain height, they began to descend. Xu Jiujiu's gaze swept over them one by one before finally locking onto the beam that the captain of the Di'ao Academy was about to obtain.
The next instant, she raised her hand, and a dazzling starlight flashed by.
At the same time, Jiang Peng's pupils contracted, the golden light before his eyes vanished instantly, and his large hands grasped only air.
At the same time, both Ma Xiaotao and Ma Rulong had already obtained the golden light they had locked onto.
After landing, Jiang Peng caught the last ray of golden light, but his gaze remained fixed on it for Xu Jiujiu.
"Your Highness, what do you mean by this?"
Jiang Peng, as the only genius in nearly a thousand years of the Di'ao Academy to break through to the Soul Emperor level before the age of twenty, and possessing the top-level weapon Martial Soul Heaven-Shaking Axe Clear Sky Hammer, has always been extremely arrogant.
His speech carried a weighty, forceful, and imposing air, giving off an oppressive feeling akin to a volcano about to erupt.
"I sense an affinity between this golden light and me."
Xu Jiujiu responded with a faint smile, showing no sign of backing down under Jiang Peng's pressure.
"Then Your Highness had better cherish this fate, lest it harm you."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Peng gave Xu Jiujiu a deep look. Although he was arrogant, he knew what was important and wouldn't fall out with Xu Jiujiu in this situation.
He remained silent for Xu Jiujiu, then chuckled softly, unfolded the note in his hand, and said aloud:
"Number One."
At the same time, Ma Xiaotao spoke up, "Number Two."
Ma Rulong had clearly noticed everything that had just happened. He stared at it for Xu Jiujiu before saying:
"Number Two."
Jiang Peng glanced at the note in his hand, but instead of opening it, he crushed it into dust with terrifying force.
"Number One."
After Jiang Peng finished speaking, the final four matchups for this competition were finalized, and the entire Star Luo Plaza was thrown into turmoil.
The first match of the semifinals will be between the Star Luo National Academy and Di'ao Academy.
Both academies are Heaven Dou Imperial Academy of their respective empires, and both are top-tier Soul Master Academy with over ten thousand years of history on the continent, making them incredibly interesting.
Meanwhile, Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy faced off against the Shrek Academy. These two academies had almost monopolized the championship and runner-up positions in the finals of the Soul Fighting Tournament since they started participating together.
Many believe that this semi-final has just as many highlights as previous finals.
After the match results were announced, Xu Jiujiu ignored Jiang Peng's provocative gaze and went straight back to the rest area.
Qiangu Yunche gently tidied a strand of hair at her temple, then chuckled softly:
Are you nervous?
Xu Jiujiu's gaze swept over Huang Heyun and the others who were pretending to be blind, then he smiled and said:
"I'm not nervous at all, I'm actually very excited. I can't wait to show the royal family its splendor to the whole continent."
Qiangu Yunche didn't say anything more, he just gently patted Xu Jiujiu's shoulder.
A moment later, as Huang Jinxu, the Heavenly Calamity Douluo, spoke, fourteen people from the two teams slowly walked onto the competition stage.
With the home advantage, Star Luo National Academy received thunderous cheers and shouts as soon as they entered the arena. More than 80% of the audience's attention was focused on Xu Jiujiu, who stood in the very center of the seven-person team from the Star Luo National Academy. This was not only because of her appearance and temperament, but also because of the indescribable feeling she gave off.
As the referee, Heavenly Calamity Douluo, announced the official start of the competition, a dazzling array of lights instantly transformed the entire arena into a sea of color.
Among the dozens of Soul Ring, a striking yet magnificent crimson color dominated the majority of the display.
"Hiss--"
A collective gasp of astonishment echoed throughout Star Luo Plaza, even causing Jiang Peng, who Xu Jiujiu disliked him, to momentarily freeze in shock.
Following Huo Yuhao and Ling Luochеn, this year's competition has seen the emergence of a third contestant with Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring.
After regaining their senses, the entire Star Luo Plaza was shaken.