After leaving Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Nezha headed toward the Great Soul Arena in Heaven Dou City.
The qualifiers for the soul master tournament were held at Heaven Dou City's Great Soul Arena, the venue for the Heaven Dou Empire division.
It was not far, so Nezha planned to walk there.
The streets of Heaven Dou City were much livelier than usual. The restaurants and teahouses lining the streets were packed, and most conversations revolved around the ongoing soul master tournament.
Occasionally, students in the uniforms of various academies passed through the streets in groups of three or five, brimming with youthful confidence.
Nezha entered the Great Soul Arena amid the crowd. The guards at the entrance glanced at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Emblem on his chest and let him through.
The Great Soul Arena's interior had been remodeled. The central arena was several times larger than usual, and the surrounding stands had been divided into different sections. The spectators' voices rose in a roaring hubbub.
Nezha swept his gaze around, found the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team's preparation area, and walked over.
Inside the preparation room, Xiao Wu stood before a dozen or so team members, her hands on her hips and her expression stern.
"Listen up. We're facing Canghui Academy today. They're no pushovers, so don't you dare take them lightly."
Her gaze swept over every face. "If any of you mess up out there, your training load doubles when we get back."
The dozen or so team members answered in unison, "Yes, Sister Xiao Wu!"
Xiao Wu nodded in satisfaction. She was about to say more when she caught a familiar figure entering the doorway out of the corner of her eye.
She froze for a moment, then turned to look.
Nezha leaned against the