Early the next morning, the area before the Great Soul Arena in the center of Star Luo City was packed with people.
This massive structure resembled a colossal beast awakening in the morning light. Built entirely from white cloudstone, a specialty of the Star Luo Empire, it stood dozens of zhang tall and covered enough ground to accommodate tens of thousands of people.
The Soul Arena was circular in appearance, its roof covered by a vast transparent Soul Tool barrier that refracted seven-colored light beneath the sun.
Above the main entrance was a relief of a Star Luo Griffin with outspread wings. Its eyes were set with two fist-sized gemstones that glittered brilliantly in the sunlight.
The competing teams from one hundred and thirty-three academies across the continent stood in formation before the Soul Arena, dressed in their respective academy uniforms.
The various uniforms intertwined into a dazzling sea of color, while banners snapped in the morning breeze. Citizens and visitors packed both sides of the streets so tightly that not even water could pass through, their voices rising in an exceptionally lively clamor.
Shrek Academy's two teams stood near the front of the formation. Their uniform dark-green academy robes bore golden Shrek Seven Monsters emblems, making them particularly eye-catching beneath the sun.
The surrounding teams repeatedly cast glances their way. As the continent's number one Soul Master Academy and a favorite to win every tournament, Shrek Academy was the center of attention wherever it went.
"There are so many people." Wang Dong stood amid the team, rising slightly onto her tiptoes to look ahead. Excitement glittered in her golden eyes.
"It is, after all, the highest-level tournament on the continent." Ning Tian stood beside her, her tone calm, but the fingers gripping the hem of her academy uniform tightened