"Welcome to the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament!"
Inside Heaven Dou's Great Soul Arena, the host's voice rang through the Amplifying Soul Tool, reaching every corner.
Deafening cheers erupted from the packed stands. Nearly a third of Heaven Dou City's residents had gathered here or attended in person.
On the high platform, Xue Ye sat in the center, with Ning Fengzhi, Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and Salas, the Spirit Hall Platinum Bishop, seated on either side.
Beyond them sat the great nobles and sect representatives of the Heaven Dou Empire. Everyone's gaze was fixed on the center of the Soul Fighting Arena.
"First to enter is our Heaven Dou Royal Academy First Team!"
The host's voice rang with excitement.
"Captain Yu Tianheng, Martial Soul: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, Soul Power: level 43!"
The Imperial Fighting Team entered with their heads held high, dressed in luxurious gold uniforms. Warm applause filled the stands. As the seed team guaranteed a place in the tournament by the Heaven Dou Empire, they represented the empire's prestige.
"Next, Leiting Academy! Captain Yu Tianxin..."
"Chihuo Academy! Captain Huo Wushuang..."
"Godwind Academy! Captain Feng Xiaotian..."
"Xiangjia Academy!"
One team after another entered the arena. Each wore uniforms that showcased their academy's character, acknowledging the spectators as the host introduced them.
The atmosphere gradually heated up as spectators cheered on the academies they supported.
But when a team dressed in bizarre green uniforms entered, the atmosphere turned awkward.
"Next to enter is Shrek Academy!"
The host paused, seemingly taken aback by the team's getup too.
"Captain Dai Mubai, Martial Soul: Evil Eye White Tiger, Soul Power: level 44! Team member Tang San, Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass, Soul Power: level 42..."
The spectators suddenly fell silent.
Then laughter rang out from every direction.
"What are those clothes? Did a pile of leaves come to life?"
"Ha ha ha! Those colors, that design—they're so tacky!"
"Shrek Academy? Never heard of it. What backwater academy are they from?"
In the stands, the burly Tailong's face flushed red as his fists clenched with a creak. Huang Yuan and Jing Ling beside him were also glaring angrily. Only Dai Mubai remained relatively calm, though the corner of his mouth twitched.
"Tailong, hold it in," Dai Mubai said quietly.
"Can't help it when we've got a profiteer for a dean!"
He remembered Dean Flender's smug expression as he'd designed these uniforms, boasting that they were "good quality at a low price." Now, Dai Mubai wanted nothing more than to crawl into a crack in the ground.
Tang San stood beside him, but his clenched fists betrayed how he felt.
Xiao Wu glared angrily at the stands, while Ning Rongrong kept her head down, wishing she could bury her face in her chest.
Zhu Zhuqing still wore her usual cold expression, but the killing intent in her eyes was almost tangible. Oscar and Ma Hongjun exchanged helpless glances.
On the high platform, Bishop Salas narrowed his eyes, watching Shrek Academy with interest. Ning Fengzhi frowned slightly, and Bone Douluo Gu Rong murmured something beside him. Ning Fengzhi gently shook his head.
Once all the academies had entered, the host looked around and suddenly realized someone was missing.
"Wait..."
He checked the list in his hands.
"Where's Skywater Academy, famed for having beauties all over the empire? Why haven't they appeared yet?"
Only then did the spectators realize it. Right, Skywater Academy, one of the Four Elements Academies, was famous for its all-female roster and striking looks. They always drew attention when they entered. Why were they missing today?
Salas perked up at once, leaning forward as his eyes glinted lecherously. He scanned the place where Skywater Academy was supposed to appear.
Xue Ye had noticed the oddity too and turned to ask, "Sect Master Ning, do you know why Skywater Academy hasn't arrived?"
Ning Fengzhi bowed slightly. "I do not, Your Majesty."
He truly didn't know. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's intelligence network had sent no word about Skywater Academy's absence, which was highly unusual.
Whispers began spreading through the VIP stands.
Skywater Academy might not be among the strongest of the Four Elements Academies, but its all-female roster and striking looks had earned it a large following.
Their absence disappointed many spectators.
"Could they have gotten stage fright?"
"Impossible. Skywater Academy made it into the top eight last year."
"Did something happen to them on the way?"
As the murmurs continued, time ticked by.
The host looked awkward and was about to skip Skywater Academy and move straight on to the next part of the ceremony.
Just then, the air above the Soul Fighting Arena suddenly warped.
A silver rift appeared out of thin air, like a curtain torn open by an unseen hand. It widened rapidly, and a dense aura of water elemental energy poured out.
"What's that?!"
Someone cried out.
Every gaze shot toward the sky.
From the rift, a line of blue-clad figures drifted down: seven young women wearing Skywater Academy's standard uniforms, their pale-blue skirts billowing in the wind.
At the front was Captain Shui Bing'er, her ice-blue hair flowing in the breeze, her face as cold and clear as snow.
Behind her were Gu Yuena, Xue Wu, Shui Yue'er... all of Skywater Academy's starting members had arrived.
But the most eye-catching person wasn't Shui Bing'er, nor was it the stunning silver-haired girl Gu Yuena, whose expression was as cold as ice.
It was a figure among the team.
A man dressed in pale-blue clothes.
His long black hair streamed in the wind.
He had a handsome face, a faint smile on his lips, and deep eyes. Standing out starkly, he became the focal point of the entire scene.
The crowd fell silent in an instant.
Then an even more heated wave of discussion erupted than before.
"A-a man?!"
"Why does Skywater Academy have a man?!"
"Isn't Skywater Academy supposed to only accept female students? What's going on?"
Salas slammed his fist against the stone chair and snorted disdainfully.
Ning Fengzhi carefully asked Gu Rong, "Uncle Gu, was that the power of space?"
Gu Rong nodded. "That little fellow is incredibly powerful. He already feels close to a Soul Emperor."
In the air, the Skywater Academy team began their descent.
They didn't fall quickly. Their pale-blue figures traced graceful arcs in the sunlight before landing lightly in the center of the Soul Fighting Arena, right beside Shrek Academy.
Not a speck of dust rose as they touched down.
There was no doubt about it: Skywater Academy's entrance had made them look impressive.
The black-haired youth Yang Teng stood beside Gu Yuena, his gaze sweeping across the arena. His eyes paused for a moment on Shrek Academy.
He looked at Tang San for half a second longer, then turned toward the VIP stands and met Bishop Salas's gaze.
Salas actually felt a chill crawl up his spine.
Yang Teng smiled faintly, looked away, and nodded to the host.
Only then did the host snap out of it and hurriedly pick up the Amplifying Soul Tool.
"Skywater Academy! Captain Shui Bing'er, Soul Power: level 43! Team member Gu Yuena, Martial Soul: Element Control, Soul Power... level 53?!"
The host's voice clearly trembled as he announced Gu Yuena's Soul Power.
Level 53—just one step away from Soul King. She was among the very best of all the contestants.
But he quickly realized there was another name on the list.
"Team member Yang Teng, Martial Soul... Space-Time Divine Dragon, Soul Power: level 44!"
Space-Time Divine Dragon!
The moment those four words were spoken, the whole arena erupted once more.
A Martial Soul no one had ever heard of. Surely the spatial rift just now had come from him! What a stunning entrance.
Yang Teng took a step forward and spoke. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the entire Soul Fighting Arena.
"Skywater Academy. It's a pleasure to meet you all."
Before you continue