Soul Master Tournament Grand Finals Begin
Huo Lei walked over to Huo Chui, gently patted his shoulder, and said with satisfaction, "You're a very loyal older brother. Regarding support, I planned to only arrange one person. Since you've withdrawn, then Huo Jun will be assigned. But don't worry, even though you didn't participate, you'll still get a share of the rewards if they're given out."
Huo Lie said, "If we calculate it this way, I'm the lowest level left. I can't hold the team back, so I choose to quit."
Huo Lei walked over to Huo Lie and patted him on the shoulder as well, saying, "Well done, thank you, Huo Lie."
"Our roster is finalized. The players representing Blazing Fire Academy in the Grand Finals tomorrow are: Huo Lei, Huo Wu, Huo Wushuang, Huo Yun, Huo Yu, Huo Jun, Feng Xiaotian."
"If Blazing Fire Academy wins the championship and the prizes aren't enough to go around, I will use Gold Soul Coin to make up the difference. Does anyone have any objections?"
"No objections," everyone responded.
For the Grand Finals of the Continental Elite Tournament of Advanced Soul Master Academy, the Spirit Hall specially set up a venue in the center of Spirit City. The huge arena was a hundred meters in diameter and was paved entirely with hard granite.
Directly in front of this arena is the Papal Hall. It is less than a kilometer from here to the hill where the Papal Hall is located. The Spirit Hall has announced in its posted notice that the final three Grand Finals will compete in the Spirit Hall.
The next morning, all the participating academies arrived at the competition venue under the guidance of officials from the Spirit Hall. Each academy had its own rest area. The rest areas were built around the competition venue, and the VIP judging panel was located opposite the Papal Hall. People from the two great empires and the Spirit Hall were watching the matches there.
As soon as he arrived, Xie Chong was called away to draw lots.
The first round of draws is very important; drawing a weaker opponent is very advantageous for the team.
Xie Chong returned quickly, his face beaming with smiles. "We just drew lots, and the academy we'll be facing in the first round has been determined. It's the Nightshade Academy from the Star Luo Empire. They shouldn't be too strong, so we've got this match in the bag."
The students from the Blazing Fire Academy were very excited, including Feng Xiaotian.
Feng Xiaotian went to find Huo Lei early in the morning, and then went to the competition venue with the Blazing Fire Academy team. He seemed very excited, especially when he looked at Huo Wu.
Huo Lei gently patted Feng Xiaotian's shoulder, smiling as he reminded him, "Brother Xiaotian, you can't get distracted during the competition! If something goes wrong because of you, don't blame me for kicking you out of the team."
Feng Xiaotian looked at Huo Lei solemnly and said, "Don't worry! During the competition, I will definitely concentrate fully, be meticulous, and bravely face my opponent until I win."
"Okay!" Huo Lei smiled and nodded.
At this moment, a young man wearing Godwind Academy team uniform ran over. "Boss, the draw is over. I'm here to tell you that Godwind Academy is matched against the Shrek Academy. The team leader has already forfeited the match."
Feng Xiaotian's face darkened, and he sighed, "What bad luck. We've run into the Shrek Academy in the first round. Fine, give up! Godwind Academy won't win anyway. You can go back to your team."
"Alright! I wish Blazing Fire Academy the best of luck in winning the championship. I'm off now." The team members from the Godwind Academy said goodbye and turned to leave.
The Grand Finals had no grand opening ceremony; everything was simple. A Red-Clothed Cardinal from the Spirit Hall went on stage and announced the matchups and the bye list. The matches began under the direction of referees specially selected by the Spirit Hall.
The Blazing Fire Academy's match was scheduled for the second game.
Huo Lei looked at the six members of the team and said, "Now let's arrange the battle formation. Huo Wushuang Feng Xiaotian will be in the first row, Huo Yun and Huo Yu in the second row, Huo Jun in the middle of the third row, and Huo Wu and I on the sides. Remember this formation. The four in the first two rows will attack quickly and try to win the match as quickly as possible. Unless necessary, we in the third row will not attack."
All six nodded in agreement.
The first match was between two relatively weak teams, and the game ended quickly.
"The second match is between the Blazing Fire Academy of the Heaven Dou Empire and the Nightshade Academy of the Star Luo Empire. Both sides, enter the arena." The referee's voice rang out.
When the seven members of the Blazing Fire Academy Team entered the arena, the students from the dozen or so academies on the Heaven Dou Empire side erupted in a frenzy. The topic of discussion was remarkably consistent: why were the students from the Godwind Academy among the Blazing Fire Academy?
On the side of the Heaven Dou Empire, several deans and teachers from various academies went to the Organizing Committee to demand an explanation, filled with anger and doubt. Among them was Flender, the dean of the Shrek Academy.
"Hmph! It's no use if you academies are dissatisfied. Who told you there were loopholes in the rules? Besides, as long as the Spirit Hall sets its mind to it, switching academies isn't impossible. You can only be envious. The competition has already started, and it's too late for you to switch now. Opportunity favors the prepared. You need both strength and wisdom." Huo Lei stood on the competition field, his gaze sweeping over the various academies of the Heaven Dou Empire, a hint of smugness on his face.
Huo Lei and Huo Wu were positioned at the rear, while Huo Wushuang and Feng Xiaotian stood at the very front of the group. When they all revealed their Soul Ring, their opponents immediately chose to concede defeat.
Of the seven members of the Blazing Fire Academy, one was Soul King, five were Soul Ancestor, and only Huo Jun, who served as an assistant, was Three-Ring Soul Elder.
When the seven members of the Nightshade Academy Team saw the Soul Ring Configuration on the Blazing Fire Academy members, they were first shocked, then their faces turned pale. When they saw the five Soul Rings on Huo Lei, who was standing in the third row, their already pale faces were filled with helplessness and bitterness, and they immediately chose to concede defeat. Just like that, Blazing Fire Academy won without a fight.
After the Blazing Fire Academy finished their match, Xie Chong greeted them with a smile, "I didn't expect you to win so easily. It seems I overestimated the Nightshade Academy."
Feng Xiaotian exclaimed excitedly, "This is too awesome! To win just by going through the motions is unbelievable!"
Huo Wushuang smiled and said, "I think the reason why Nightshade Academy surrendered directly is because of Huo Lei. Without Huo Lei, they would definitely have chosen to fight, and even if they still lost to us, it wouldn't have been as easy as it is now."
Shrek Academy was very dissatisfied with the appearance of Feng Xiaotian at the Blazing Fire Academy, Flender protested to the Organizing Committee and the Spirit Hall. However, the Spirit Hall's reply was simple: within the limits of the rules, the Organizing Committee would not interfere.
Dai Mubai said, "Dean, are we just going to let this matter go like this?"
Flender's face was filled with helplessness. "It's not just Shrek Academy that's protesting; many academies in the Heaven Dou Empire have lodged the same protest. But the Spirit Hall is very firm. Their final response was just one sentence: if you don't want to participate, you can withdraw. The Organizing Committee is absolutely fair."
Dai Mubai said indignantly, "Isn't this bullying? Hasn't the Heaven Dou Empire made any response?"
Flender gave a bitter smile. "The Heaven Dou Empire will not have any objections. No matter how it is changed, Blazing Fire Academy will still belong to the Heaven Dou Empire. If they achieve good results, the Heaven Dou Empire will be overjoyed."
The students of the Shrek Academy fell silent.
The first two rounds of the competition ended quickly. The top ten of the All-Continent Elite Tournament for Advanced Soul Master Academy were determined.
The third round of the competition is about to begin. In this round, Blazing Fire Academy and Star Luo Empire, the second-place academy in the Promotion Round, will receive a bye.