"Oh!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Fan was not surprised. Strictly speaking, Huo Yuhao and the others were all substitute team members, and Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao were even Shrek's new students.
It was normal for Ma Zhanshan not to have information on him.
Ma Zhanshan then explained the teams from the royal academies of the other three great empires.
This included the team from the Xingluo Empire Royal Academy.
Ma Zhanshan also went over the competition rules.
"This tournament is divided into two stages."
"The first stage is the elimination round, where one match determines life or death. It consists entirely of 7v7 team battles, with single-elimination rules. Losers are immediately eliminated, while winners advance to the top sixteen."
"The second stage runs from the top sixteen to the finals, using a best-of-five comprehensive format. Each round uses five types of matches, with the first to win three taking victory. It thoroughly tests individual, duo, and team strength:
"Two 1v1 individual matches;"
"One 2v2 duo match;"
"One 3v3 squad match;"
"One 7v7 full team battle;"
After Ma Zhanshan finished, he turned to Jing Hongchen and asked whether he had any instructions.
Jing Hongchen glanced at everyone, then at the absent-minded Ye Fan, and immediately announced, "Get some good rest tonight. The first-stage elimination matches begin tomorrow."
The next day, Ye Fan and the others arrived early at the venue prepared by the Xingluo Empire for the Continental Soul Master Tournament.
The enormous Xingluo Square was grand and magnificent. At its center stood a hundred-meter-square giant Soul Battle Platform, its five-meter-high surface level and sturdy.
One hundred and eight black iron Soul Tool pillars stood around the arena, silently waiting to be activated. They could deploy a protective barrier at any time.
The spectator areas on both sides of the square were orderly arranged, while the imperial city loomed majestically ahead. The crowd roared with excitement as competing teams from every side gathered here, and the solemn, grand atmosphere of the event washed over everyone.
Before long, Xingluo Empire Emperor Xu Jiawei slowly appeared atop the imperial city walls.
Using a Soul Tool sound-amplifying formation, he delivered an opening address to the heroes gathered below. His words displayed the bearing of a great nation, and he once again announced the generous rewards for the tournament, stirring the hearts of countless students.
When his speech ended, Xu Jiawei shouted, "I hereby announce that the first Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament has officially begun! The drawing for the first round of elimination matches will begin immediately!"
The atmosphere in the arena instantly reached its peak.
Ye Fan and the others soon learned that their first-round opponent was Yunluo Advanced Soul Master Academy.
It was a local academy from the Xingluo Empire.
Ye Fan recalled the intelligence Ma Zhanshan had provided yesterday: The entire team consists of Soul Ancestors. Only their captain is a level 49 Soul Ancestor. They are a second-rate local powerhouse in Xingluo.
The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy sent out Ye Fan, Ma Rulong, Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, Lin Xi, Mijia, and Chen Fei.
Before Ye Fan even needed to make a move, the Soul Tool cannons of Lin Xi, Mijia, and Chen Fei had already blanketed the opposing seven members.
In the first match, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy won.
As expected, the Xingluo Empire Royal Academy, Tianhun Royal Soul Master Academy, and Douling Royal Soul Master Academy also easily defeated their opponents in the first round.
Shrek Academy, on the other hand, sent out Huo Yuhao, Bei Bei, Wang Dong, Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, Xiao Xiao, and He Caitou, winning only after a rough and stumbling battle.
However, Ye Fan had no time to pay attention to any of that.
The first day of matches quickly came to an end.
The second day.
In the second round, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy faced Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy, an old-established academy of the Dou Ling Empire.
"Captain: Zhou Sichen, a level 53 assault-type Soul King. Martial Soul: Mighty Titan Ape."
"The other six are all Soul Ancestors in their forties. They are a balanced, traditional Soul Master team and rarely use Soul Tools."
After considering the team's information, Ye Fan found nothing worth paying special attention to.
The same seven went onstage. Mijia and Chen Fei dealt with the other six, while Lin Xi ultimately took care of Zhou Sichen.
The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy won the second round and advanced to the top thirty-two.
Two easy victories in a row greatly boosted the reputation of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy.
The same was true for the Xingluo Empire Royal Academy, Tianhun Royal Soul Master Academy, and Douling Royal Soul Master Academy. All of them were favorites to win the championship.
"Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy will win!"
"Xingluo Empire Royal Academy will win!"
"Tianhun Royal Soul Master Academy will win!"
"Douling Royal Soul Master Academy will win!"
Each of these four teams had plenty of supporters.
When it came to Shrek Academy, however, the situation became somewhat strange.
"Shrek Academy... umm."
"Look, that's a Martial Soul Fusion Skill!"
"The Withering in Splendor—Golden Road!"
Even after his own match ended, Ye Fan could not help being drawn in by Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong's Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
"So this is the treatment of a protagonist?"
"Even after I stole so many of your opportunities, you can still shine upon the world as the child of destiny."
"Huo Yuhao, let me see whether the Martial Soul Fusion Skill between you and Wang Dong is stronger."
"Or whether my self-body Martial Soul Fusion Skill is stronger."
Ye Fan silently thought as he watched Huo Yuhao shine brilliantly on the stage.
At the same time, in a corner of Xingluo Square, a bald elderly man muttered, "Body Martial Soul, Shrek Academy... interesting!"
Then he vanished without a trace.
Shrek Academy then advanced into the top thirty-two.
The entire venue finally erupted into fervent cheers. "Look, those are the legendary Shrek team members! They're so young and so powerful!"
"So handsome!"
Even Meng Hongchen beside Ye Fan could not help glancing at Wang Dong on the stage before looking at Ye Fan beside her.
Seeing this, Ye Fan teased Meng Hongchen, "Sister Meng Meng, do you think Wang Dong is pretty?"
"Pretty," Meng Hongchen replied to Ye Fan without thinking.
But Meng Hongchen quickly came to her senses.
"Xiao Fan, don't misunderstand. Wang Dong is pretty, but she always seems so effeminate. She's nowhere near as manly as you."
Ye Fan merely smiled at those words. "Sure enough, Sister Meng Meng, you don't need to explain."
"I understand."
"What do you understand?"
Meng Hongchen planted her hands on her hips and demanded the answer, her hand flying toward Ye Fan's ear the next second.
Ye Fan hurriedly ducked behind Xiao Hongchen and explained, "Sister Meng Meng, no! I mean Wang Dong is a girl."
"Ah!"
"How did you know, Xiao Fan?"
"Snow Girl told me."
"Snow Girl has an ability that can distinguish men from women!"
"Fine. That hateful Wang Dong actually dressed up as a man. Disgusting."
Without realizing it, Meng Hongchen felt as though she had been deceived. Looking at Wang Dong again, she felt nothing but disgust.
The second round of elimination matches temporarily came to an end with Shrek Academy's victory.
Ye Fan, Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, and the others returned to the hotel.
As soon as they returned, Ma Zhanshan gathered everyone to introduce the academy's opponent for tomorrow.
"Our opponent tomorrow is Zhengtian Academy. Their captain, Ye Wuqing, is a level 58 Soul King."
"Tomorrow, aside from Ye Fan, Ma Rulong, and Meng Hongchen, the remaining four of you may all take action."
"Yes!" *7.
The next day, the elimination stage of the Continental Soul Master Tournament entered its third round.
The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy faced Zhengtian Academy.
Before you continue