The First Match: Today's Cause, Tomorrow's Consequence-We'll Settle It All at the Finals!

To Emperor Xue Ye's left, Salas, Spirit Hall's Platinum Bishop, said darkly, "It seems Your Majesty has great confidence in Heaven Dou Team One!"

The moment he spoke, Emperor Xue Ye's smile vanished. Then he gave a calm smile.

"Bishop Salas, you jest. As emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, if I don't support Heaven Dou Academy, am I supposed to support Spirit Hall's team instead?"

Salas smiled knowingly.

"That wouldn't be impossible!"

"After all, the championship..."

"Will ultimately belong to Spirit Hall!"

Emperor Xue Ye, Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Dugu Bo—the latter two seated in the second row of the VIP Stand—all scoffed.

The championship belonged to Spirit Hall?

Heaven Dou Academy had Qi Dao. What did Spirit Hall have?

Those three members of the so-called Golden Generation?

Could they stand against Qi Dao?

Only Xue Qinghe narrowed her eyes.

Salas might not have been a Titled Douluo, but as one of the four Platinum Bishops beneath the Pope, his standing in Spirit Hall was no lower than theirs.

And as master of Spirit Hall's Sacred Hall in Heaven Dou City, he naturally knew Xue Qinghe's identity.

That was precisely why he had said what he had.

In a sense, Qi Dao could indeed represent Spirit Hall now.

With his connection to Xue Qinghe, his roots in Spirit Hall were as orthodox as they came.

Before long, the Qualifiers' Opening Ceremony continued.

Emperor Xue Ye and Ning Fengzhi rose to deliver speeches in turn, and Salas conducted the draw for the first round of the Qualifiers.

There was only one match on the opening day.

After the draw, the selected team would face Heaven Dou Second Team.

And perhaps by coincidence, even without Salas pulling strings, Shrek Academy was still selected as Heaven Dou Second Team's first opponent.