Tang Sect, with Only Four Competitors

Watching the competing teams file into the arena one after another, Huo Yuhao noticed a team whose formation was particularly out of place—the Tang Sect delegation.

This tournament was called the Continental Advanced Soul Master Youth Elite Tournament, and various sects were permitted to register and compete. As an ancient sect with a ten-thousand-year legacy, the Tang Sect naturally intended to use this opportunity to make its name known.

Although Tang Ya had secured Shrek Academy's support for the Tang Sect through Tang Wutong's connections five years ago, the number of people who joined the Tang Sect remained pitifully small. At present, only Tang Wutong and He Caitou of Shrek Academy had joined the Tang Sect.

Thus, the Tang Sect delegation participating in this tournament consisted of only four people: Sect Master Tang Ya, eldest senior brother Bei Bei, Tang Wutong, and He Caitou.

However, Tang Ya had previously absorbed the life force and Soul Power of a Soul Emperor, and her Martial Soul had evolved into the Blue Silver Emperor. She had now cultivated to the level of a Soul Saint.

Furthermore, unwilling to suffer another loss after the previous tournament, Tang Wutong had diligently cultivated in seclusion at the Clear Sky Sect. She had now also stepped into the realm of a Soul Saint.

In addition, since Shrek Academy had not suffered a collective attack from the Holy Spirit Cult this time, Mu En still had more strength to protect Shrek Academy. Under the guidance of his grand-uncle, Mu En, Bei Bei's cultivation speed had soared. He was now a level 68 assault-type Soul Emperor.

He Caitou did not fall behind either. Through constant diligent cultivation, his Soul Power had reached level 65 as well.

Compared to the previous tournament, the four were indeed quite formidable. Even though they numbered fewer than seven, their individual combat strength was exceptionally strong. Moreover, this tournament's format placed greater emphasis on one-on-one individual elimination matches, making personal strength all the more important.

As for Spirit Pagoda Academy, Beast God Di Tian had not arranged for any students to participate in this tournament. Huo Yuhao had already conveyed the Holy Spirit Cult's and the Sun Moon Empire's plans to him through a Soul Guidance Communicator.

Furthermore, Ling Luocheng, Jin Qiurui, Su Tong, Jiang Nannan, Xu Sanshi, and Xiao Xiao had all successfully graduated from the inner academy. They had become deputy tower masters at the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters, assisting several great ferocious beasts, holding the same status as Na Na, Ji Juechen, Jing Ziyan, and Xuan Ziwen.

Spirit Pagoda Academy therefore no longer had any students. Combined with Beast God Di Tian's failure to find any disciples he favored, he ultimately disbanded Spirit Pagoda Academy.

Shrek Academy, naturally, was represented by Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, Ning Tian, Wu Feng, Xie Huanyue, Cao Jinxuan, Zhou Sichen, Lan Susu, and Lan Luoluo.

"Silence!"

Standing near Zhongli Wu, Long Xiaoyao relied solely on his immense strength to make his voice ring clearly in everyone's ears, effortlessly silencing the noisy, chaotic crowd.

Afterward, the regent's consort, Ju Zi, concisely announced the official start of the tournament through a Soul Guidance Amplifier. At Xu Tianran's command, the Sun Moon Empire's ministers rose to watch the matches.

Because there were so many participating teams, the preliminary elimination rounds would directly determine the final thirty-two teams. The top thirty-two would then be divided into four divisions, with the top two teams from each division advancing to the quarterfinals. Every stage would use a format of individual elimination matches followed by seven-man team battles.

There would be no break after the individual elimination matches. Even if injuries during those matches left a team short-handed, the seven-versus-seven team battle still had to be fought using the participants from that individual elimination round.

Each victory in an individual elimination match earned one point, while victory in the team battle earned five points. The side with the higher total score from the individual matches and team battle would claim the final victory.

If a team earned an extremely high score in the individual elimination matches, such that the opposing side could not surpass it even after adding the five points from the team battle, the team battle could be skipped and victory awarded directly.

It was worth mentioning that this tournament, hosted by the Sun Moon Empire, allowed Milk Bottles to restore Soul Power. This meant that an individual's ability to fight continuously would be greatly enhanced.

As expected, due to the Sun Moon Empire's behind-the-scenes manipulation, Shrek Academy drew a bye. With Spirit Pagoda Academy not participating in this tournament either, the first preliminary match was led off by the third-place finishers of the previous tournament—the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy.

Meng Hongchen, a six-ring Soul Emperor, faced six Soul Kings from the Dragon Slaying Sect with her even more potent poison. In order to conserve her strength and ensure she would not be injured, Meng Hongchen voluntarily conceded.

Afterward, the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy sent out a Soul King-level fifth-grade Soul Engineer, who fought a fierce battle against the Dragon Slaying Sect's captain and won the final individual elimination match.

Since Meng Hongchen had won six matches for six points, and the second competitor had won one match for one point, the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy earned a total of seven points in the individual elimination round. The Dragon Slaying Sect gained only one point because Meng Hongchen had voluntarily conceded.

Even with the five points for winning the team battle, the Dragon Slaying Sect would have only six points. There was no need to hold a team battle at all, and the referee announced that the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy had won the first preliminary match.

What was more, the Dragon Slaying Sect's six combatants had already lost their fighting ability due to Meng Hongchen's poison. In reality, only their captain remained capable of participating in the team battle.

On the first day of the tournament, twenty-six matches were held from morning until evening. In other words, twenty-six teams earned time to rest and successfully advanced to the next round.

Likewise, another twenty-six teams were eliminated and returned to their hotels to pack their belongings and leave. Of course, the Sun Moon Empire was not a place they could enter and leave whenever they pleased.

Seated among the spectators, Huo Yuhao and Tang Wulin did not pay much attention to the specific details of the matches.

At first, Tang Wulin ate snacks while listening to Huo Yuhao explain the format and rules of this tournament.

Before long, Tang Wulin gradually became sleepy, his eyelids growing heavier and heavier. After all, such matches were mere small fry to him; he had long grown accustomed to them.

Seeing this, Huo Yuhao took the initiative to draw Tang Wulin into his arms, letting him rest properly against his shoulder while blocking out the surrounding clamor.

Thus, Tang Wulin leaned against Huo Yuhao's shoulder and slept peacefully and comfortably for the entire morning. After lunch, the two did not continue watching the afternoon matches.

Instead, they sat on a sofa in the lobby of the Ming Yue Hotel, silently observing the passing crowds of competitors.

Every movement the two made was watched by the Masked Douluo. In his view, the Holy Son was likely making preparations in advance for that night's operation.

What he did not know was that the passing competitors all glanced at Huo Yuhao with varying degrees of surprise.

Ming Yue Hotel.

On this dark and windy night, the rustling chirps of insects fell silent as a cold gust swept past.

Nearly everyone from the competing teams slept peacefully in their rooms, unaware of any strange disturbances or the hidden danger lurking nearby.