Soul Master Tournament Opens

The Blazing Fire Academy group arrived at the main arena, in the rest area specially provided for participating academies. They had entered relatively early, so there were not many people inside. The spacious resting area had over a thousand seats, divided into separate sections for the various Soul Master Academies to rest and wait.

The members of each academy gathered under the leadership of their respective teachers, waiting for the opening ceremony. At the same time, one teacher from each academy would handle the final registration confirmation. Once the information of the participating students had been registered, no further changes could be made during the tournament.

Before long, Xie Chong returned and said, "The registration has been completed. We'll be entering shortly for the opening ceremony."

Not long afterward, tournament staff entered the resting area and began organizing the assembled students to enter the arena.

The staff member was a middle-aged man. He approached the Blazing Fire Academy's resting area with a smile and said respectfully, "Honored Soul Masters, the participating teams may now enter. Please follow me."

Xie Chong looked at the eight of them and said, "Go on! I'll watch your valiant performance from the stands."

The members of the Blazing Fire Academy Team nodded to Xie Chong, then followed the staff member into the entrance passage.

The moment Huo Lei and the Blazing Fire Academy members entered the arena, they were all deeply shocked by the sight before them.

The massive, open grandstands were packed with countless spectators shouting and cheering. Directly in front of the central field stood a rostrum with a golden backdrop, and behind it was the renovated VIP section.

The broad field was more than 150 meters in diameter. The academies that had entered earlier had already formed neat lines in the middle of the arena. Each time an academy entered, the host on the rostrum introduced them.

"Next to enter is one of the Five Great Elements—the Blazing Fire Academy Team. Every member of Blazing Fire Academy's team is a fire-attribute Soul Master. Their uniforms, hair, and eyes are all a passionate, wild red. I can practically feel the blazing heat radiating from them. They have eight students competing. Their registered slogan is: Passion burns like fire, and the championship belongs to Blazing Fire. What an imposing slogan. We look forward to their outstanding performance."

Huo Wu walked in the front row, while Huo Wushuang and Huo Lei walked in the second. The remaining five walked in the third row. All eight entered the arena with smiles on their faces and confident strides.

The Five Great Elements entered one after another, followed by Plant Academy.

"The final team to enter is Shrek Academy, dressed in peculiar uniforms. They have eleven students competing. Their slogan is: Champions without rivals."

Upon hearing the host's words, the spectators in the stands burst into laughter, and jeers rose one after another.

At that moment, Lin Yin snorted coldly from the stands and gritted his teeth. "I never expected Shrek to participate in the Soul Master Elite Tournament too. What rotten luck—they actually managed to recruit so many students."

Jin Shan sat beside Lin Yin. Sensing the hostility and fury in his words, he asked softly in curiosity, "Do you have a grudge against Shrek Academy?"

"Something like that. It's just a trash academy that swindles people out of money through lies and boasting." Lin Yin's cheeks twitched continuously with rage, and his teeth clacked together.

Jin Shan narrowed his eyes slightly and did not press further.

As time passed, all the participating academies finally finished entering.

The host at the side of the VIP platform announced in a clear voice, "Next, let us welcome His Majesty the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire to declare the opening of this tournament."

Everyone present erupted into thunderous applause and cheers.

Huo Lei and the Blazing Fire Academy members all raised their heads and looked toward the VIP seats.

At the center of the front row of the VIP section, an elderly man in a crimson-gold robe slowly rose to his feet. He raised his right hand and gave a light wave toward the spectators and the competing Soul Master teams below. The applause and cheers quickly fell silent, and the vast plaza became completely quiet.

So he's Emperor Xue Ye. The ruler who would eventually be slowly poisoned to death. He looks fairly healthy now. Though he's somewhat old, he carries himself with remarkable dignity. He is both the supreme emperor and a pitiful old man. In the end, he was left with only one son, though fortunately, his family's throne was preserved. Huo Lei sighed inwardly beneath the stage.

A resonant voice spread throughout the venue through a Soul Tool amplifier. "Xue Ye, Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, on behalf of the Heaven Dou Empire and the organizers of this tournament, hereby declares the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament officially open."

Applause rang out once again, and cheers rose in waves.

After the applause gradually subsided, Xue Ye continued, "Here, I hope that every Soul Master participating in this tournament will fully display their strength and achieve excellent results. You are all the pride of the Heaven Dou Empire. For the glory of the Empire, show your brilliance!"

The applause sounded for a third time. This time, the Soul Masters at the center of the arena were exceptionally excited. Huo Lei and his teammates all beamed as they clapped vigorously.

Xue Ye returned to his seat, and the host's voice rang out again. "Next, let us welcome the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Mr. Ning Fengzhi, to deliver a speech for this tournament."

Huo Lei focused his gaze on him. The middle-aged man wore a white robe and a Seven Treasure Purple-Gold Crown. So this is what Ning Fengzhi looks like. As expected of a sect master, he looks quite decent—refined and scholarly. One look at that physique, and it's obvious he's a support-type. He's clever and skilled at plotting, but his ending isn't very good.

With a smile, Ning Fengzhi spoke some encouraging and courteous words. The host also had a brief exchange with Ning Fengzhi, asking whether there were any teams he favored. Ning Fengzhi merely smiled mysteriously and kept his answer to himself.

The exchange between the host and Ning Fengzhi was quite effective, sparking lively discussion among the spectators.

After Ning Fengzhi returned to his seat, the host smiled and said, "It is truly regrettable that we were unable to get Sect Master Ning to reveal the team he favors. Next, let us welcome the master of Heaven Dou City Spirit Temple, Spirit Hall's Platinum Bishop, Lord Salas, to conduct the draw for the first round of the Preliminary Round. Once the draw is complete, Heaven Dou Royal Second Team will face the opponent they draw in the first round. This will also be the only match today."

Huo Lei shifted his gaze from Ning Fengzhi to the old man beside him, dressed in a red robe and wearing a five-pointed platinum crown. Salas really looks the part of a villain—pointed chin, monkey-like cheeks, and those lecherous eyes constantly sizing up female Soul Masters. There really are some people of poor character among Spirit Hall's upper ranks.

Platinum Bishop Salas slowly stood up and, led by a palace maid, walked to the host's side to begin the draw. Even during the drawing, he could not behave himself, openly groping the maid's hand. She could only swallow her anger and endure it.

Salas did not speak. Each time he drew a pair of opponents, he handed the result to the host to announce.

"First round of the Preliminary Round: Canghui Academy versus Purple Star Academy."

"First round of the Preliminary Round: Oakland Academy versus Flame Glory Academy."

"..."

"First round of the Preliminary Round: Heaven Dou Royal Academy versus Shrek Academy."

When the host announced Shrek Academy, boos immediately rang out without end.

"Little sister, Huo Lei, listen to that. They're all booing Shrek. I've never even heard of this academy called Shrek. They're really unlucky—getting such a bad reception right when the tournament opens. There must be something wrong with their teachers too, dressing them in uniforms with such disgusting colors." Huo Wushuang looked excitedly at Huo Wu and Huo Lei.

Huo Wu replied with a smile, "This Shrek Academy is really quite unusual."

At that moment, the host's announcement rang out once more.