Just as Ma Zhanshan had said, Ye Wuqing of Tianzheng Academy was a formidable opponent.
With only Lin Xi, Mijia, and Chen Fei, it was unrealistic to defeat them quickly.
In the end, Xiao Hongchen personally stepped in to hold Ye Wuqing back while Lin Xi and the other two dealt with the remaining six opponents.
When Ye Wuqing saw that all his teammates had been eliminated while three members of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy had yet to make a move,
he knew Tianzheng Academy no longer had a chance.
Yet he was not discouraged. Instead, his eyes blazed with fighting spirit as he challenged Xiao Hongchen, "Xiao Hongchen, do you dare fight me one-on-one?"
Through their earlier clash, Xiao Hongchen had discovered that Ye Wuqing was no ordinary opponent.
He readily agreed and said to Lin Xi and the others, "Lin Xi, Mijia, Chen Fei, fall back."
"Leave the next match to Ye Wuqing and me."
"Mm!"
At that, Lin Xi, Mijia, and Chen Fei turned their gazes toward Ma Rulong and Ye Fan.
After Ye Fan nodded in agreement, Xiao Hongchen and Ye Wuqing officially began their one-on-one duel.
In the end, under Ye Fan and the others' watchful eyes, Xiao Hongchen used up a Class 5 Invincible Shield and narrowly defeated Ye Wuqing.
Ye Wuqing, meanwhile, took the full brunt of Xiao Hongchen's Soul Tool artillery barrage.
He collapsed and could not rise again.
The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy's second round-robin battle in the Continental Soul Master Tournament had ended.
They still had five more rounds of matches ahead.
Having learned a painful lesson from Ye Wuqing, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy had a much easier time in the following matches.
Their opponents either surrendered outright or suffered ruthless defeat beneath Xiao Hongchen's artillery fire.
During the second round-robin stage, each team fought seven matches over fourteen days.
In the end, the tournament's top sixteen were decided.
Among them, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, Star Luo Royal Soul Master Academy, Tianhun Royal Soul Master Academy, and Douling Royal Soul Master Academy all remained undefeated.
As for Shrek Academy, once they had accumulated enough points, they decisively forfeited their final two matches.
They ultimately advanced into the top sixteen with five wins and two losses.
During this time, Shrek Academy finally sent out an official team member, Ling Luochеn.
The moment Ling Luochеn took the field, her ice-controlling abilities stunned the entire audience, and she led Shrek Academy to victory.
As for the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, Meng Hongchen ultimately had no choice but to join the battles as the competition progressed.
With her flawless coordination with Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen led the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy to advance undefeated.
The second round-robin stage ended, and the teams now had two days to rest and adjust.
During this time, the victorious academies all held urgent meetings.
They analyzed information on the other fifteen winning teams.
Naturally, this included the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy.
As for Ye Fan's side,
Ma Zhanshan was the first to list Shrek Academy's competition lineup.
"Shrek Academy, members who have fought so far: Ling Luochеn, Bei Bei, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, and He Caitou."
"Student profiles:"
"Ling Luochеn, Level 55 control-type battle Soul King. Martial soul: Ice Element."
"Bei Bei, Level 49 assault-type battle soul master. Martial soul: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon."
"Huo Yuhao, Level 35. Martial soul: Spirit Eyes. He possesses the power of space and can perform the Martial Soul Fusion Skill—Radiance Amidst Withering: Golden Road—with Wang Dong. Assessment: formidable."
"Wang Dong, Level 35. Martial soul: Light Goddess Butterfly. She can perform the Martial Soul Fusion Skill—Radiance Amidst Withering: Golden Road—with Huo Yuhao. Assessment: formidable."
"Xiao Xiao, Level 31. Twin Martial Souls: Nine Phoenix Ceremony Flute and Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron."
"Xu Sanshi, Level 48. Martial soul: Darkunderworld Turtle. He possesses spatial soul skills."
"Jiang Nannan, Level 46. Martial soul: Soft Bone Rabbit."
"He Caitou, Level 47. Martial soul: Cigar, a food-type auxiliary martial soul. Soul Engineer."
"Official team members such as Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng have yet to appear..."
A secret chamber somewhere within the Xingluo Empire's imperial palace was in much the same situation as Ye Fan's side.
Xu Jiujiu was speaking with an elderly woman, who was none other than the Nebula Douluo, Man Yi.
"Miss, the tournament's top sixteen have all been decided."
"Here is the list of teams that advanced into the top sixteen, along with the information the Empire has recorded on these teams over recent days."
Hearing this, Xu Jiujiu flipped through the materials the elderly woman handed her.
The first document she picked up was the one labeled Shrek Academy.
Its general contents were similar to the information Ye Fan had received.
Xu Jiujiu continuously tapped the Shrek Academy dossier with her right hand, as though pondering something.
Soon, Xu Jiujiu took out the second dossier, concerning the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy.
"Academy profiles:"
"Ye Fan, Level 49. Martial soul: Death Angel. Abilities unknown."
"Ma Rulong, Level 63. Martial soul: Big-Headed Spirit Ape. Abilities unknown."
"Xiao Hongchen, Level 58. Martial soul: Three-Legged Golden Toad. Soul Engineer."
"Meng Hongchen, Level 57. Martial soul: Jade-eyed Ice Toad. Abilities unknown."
Looking at the many unknowns surrounding the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, Xu Jiujiu's brow furrowed even deeper.
"Miss, what is it?"
"Is there something wrong with the information on Shrek Academy and the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy?"
At that, Xu Jiujiu relaxed her brow and replied, "Nothing, Grandma Man Yi. It is simply that Shrek Academy and the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy truly deserve to be called the continent's long-established academies."
"Each has deeper foundations than the last."
"Even now, we still do not know the full extent of their strength."
"Indeed. Then, Miss, shall the plan continue?"
"Continue!"
In the end, Xu Jiujiu said to the Nebula Douluo, "Grandma Man Yi, sorry for the trouble, but come with me."
"Please, Miss!"
Xu Jiujiu immediately left the secret chamber.
Before long, she appeared at the Star Emperor Grand Hotel, the hotel the Xingluo Empire used to host the various competing teams.
Xu Jiujiu did not visit the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy first.
Instead, she felt that although both sides had concealed their strength, Shrek Academy had hidden far more.
At this time, the Shrek Academy group had just finished an internal meeting.
Those present included their team-leading teacher Wang Yan, as well as Zhang Lexuan, Xuan Zi, and the other guardian teachers.
The members included competing students such as Huo Yuhao and Bei Bei.
Xu Jiujiu first sent someone to announce her purpose.
"Congratulations on successfully advancing into the tournament's top sixteen. On behalf of the Star Luo Royal Family, Jiujiu sincerely invites you all to attend the Star Luo Auction, specially prepared by the Xingluo Empire for this Continental Soul Master Tournament."
As she spoke, Xu Jiujiu personally presented Wang Yan, the other teachers, and the students with invitations to the Star Luo Auction, along with a catalog of the auction items.
Wang Yan was easygoing by nature and knew that Huo Yuhao and the others had exhausted a great deal of energy preparing for the competition these past days.
In the end, Wang Yan thanked Xu Jiujiu. "Then we shall accept Your Highness's kind invitation. We will certainly attend."
After the two sides exchanged pleasantries, Xu Jiujiu proceeded to visit the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy's residence.
After Xu Jiujiu left, Wang Yan, Huo Yuhao, and the others casually flipped through the auction catalog and could not help drawing sharp breaths.
"Seven-Myriad-Year Ice Jade Empress Scorpion Left Arm Bone!"
"Tyrant Tiger Soul-Refining Saber!"
"Ye Fan, come let your big sister pinch those cute little cheeks."
As she spoke, Xu Jiujiu discarded the stern demeanor she had worn while visiting Shrek Academy. She darted over to Meng Hongchen's side, then sneakily stretched out her jade-like hand and gave Ye Fan's cheek a hard pinch.
"Not satisfying enough."
Xu Jiujiu secretly thought, Tender, handsome, manly, and adorable. He's just too young.
At the side, the Nebula Douluo saw everything.
Ye Fan tried to dodge, but he could not withstand Xu Jiujiu's devilish hands.
Meng Hongchen immediately felt a sense of crisis. She hurriedly slipped between Ye Fan and Xu Jiujiu, demanding, "Xu Jiujiu, what do you want?"
"Hehehe, our princess came to invite everyone to the Star Luo Auction three days from now, and to present you with the auction item catalog."
"Tyrant Tiger Soul-Refining Saber! A Class 8 close-combat Soul Tool."
"Seven-Myriad-Year Ice Jade Empress Scorpion Left Arm Bone!"
"The final auction item: temporarily confidential."
Before you continue