Bibi Dong continued, "This morning, each of your three teams will participate in an individual elimination tournament with seven players. The winning team will have an advantage and will directly advance to tomorrow's Championship Tournament. The two losing teams will compete for the other championship spot this afternoon. Now, you can send out your first players."
It's an individual elimination tournament, similar to the qualifying rounds, but with three teams participating together.
Although this isn't the final championship match, it's just as important.
Winning not only means finishing in the top two, but also means being able to conserve energy and resources.
The rules for the individual competition are that each team sends out seven members, who take the stage in turn.
The winner stays on stage, the loser leaves and is replaced by the next member of their team.
The match ends when all seven members of one team are eliminated.
This is not just a contest of overall strength, but also a comprehensive test of endurance, willpower, and tactics.
The winner of the individual competition can rest and prepare to face the opponent who fought their way up from the loser's bracket in the final.
The losers in the individual competition will first have to compete against another team in the loser's bracket elimination round in the afternoon. The winner will qualify for the Championship Tournament.
Such a tight schedule of consecutive matches takes a huge toll on physical and Soul Power, and may even lead to injury.
The final competition is tomorrow, and it's difficult for the players to be back to their best form. Therefore, the team that wins the individual competition is very likely to be the ultimate champion.
Dai Mubai remembered that in the original novel, the Shrek Team, in order to avoid excessive exertion, simply gave up the individual competition and went straight into the afternoon's loser's bracket team battle.
Now, not only does the Spirit Hall Team have three Soul King, Star Luo Second Team also has Soul King.
But this time Yu Xiaogang isn't the team leader, so it's unclear how the Heaven Dou Second Team will choose.
Dai Mubai glanced sideways at the direction of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team, but couldn't discern anything amiss.
Dai Mubai didn't care what the Heaven Dou Second Team chose; for him, there was no such thing as giving up, and he had to fight to the end.
Since the individual competition is a one-on-one elimination tournament, the support players do not need to play, so Oscar and Ning Rongrong cannot participate.
Dai Mubai began to give instructions. " Chenxiang, you go first. Focus on probing and wearing down the enemy; don't take any risks."
Bai Chenxiang's face flushed with excitement upon hearing this. "Okay, boss, don't worry."
Facing his teammates behind him, Dai Mubai said calmly, "Everyone, just go for it. Don't push yourselves too hard. Just admit defeat when you run out of Soul Power. I'll be there to back you up. Don't worry."
Everyone nodded firmly.
The match is about to begin.
The draw was conducted by the first person sent by each of the three teams to determine which two academies would face off in the first match. The winners would then continue to fight against the next team, and so on.
The Star Luo Second Team naturally sent Bai Chenxiang.
For Heaven Dou Second Team, Qin Ming's first choice was Osler, who was also an Agility Attack Soul Ancestor.
The Spirit Hall Team sent Zhao Ming, a Power Attack System Battle Soul Ancestor who replaced a Auxiliary Soul Master. Zhao Ming had Soul Power of Level 42 and his Martial Soul was Demon Bear. He must be a member of the Demon Bear Douluo Clan.
The three walked to the center of the arena to draw lots.
Bai Chenxiang had exceptionally good luck, drawing a draw that resulted in a bye.
Being given a bye in the first round means you can play later, which not only allows you to be well-rested in the first round but also gives you a better understanding of your opponents' strengths.
Bai Chenxiang breathed a sigh of relief, nodded in Dai Mubai's direction, and retreated to the waiting area at the edge of the arena.
On the arena, the individual match between the Spirit Hall Academy and the Heaven Dou Second Team is about to begin.
Just as Osler was preparing to engage Zhao Ming in a battle of wits, a voice suddenly rang out from the stands.
"Please wait a moment before the match begins."
The sound was so sudden that the two people who were about to Soul Battle on the stage were startled, and everyone's eyes turned towards the stands.
The Red-robed Cardinal, acting as referee, frowned and demanded sharply, "Who interrupted the match?"
"It's me!" Yu Xiaogang, sitting in a wheelchair, raised his right hand, straightened his back, and slightly raised his chin, putting on the air of a hermit.
Flender and Qin Ming, standing to the side, were immediately speechless, rubbing their foreheads in dismay, wondering what kind of trouble Yu Xiaogang was up to now.
As Red-robed Cardinal, the referee possessed Soul Power of at least level sixty, making Soul Emperor. Naturally, he quickly realized that Yu Xiaogang was merely a minor Soul Grandmaster.
A mere level 29 Soul Grandmaster, not even qualified to stand in the Papal Palace Square, dares to interrupt the final?
He was still wearing that smug, smug look on his face, which immediately annoyed me.
The referee glanced at Pope Bibi Dong, and seeing her expressionless face, immediately shouted, "Who are you?"
Yu Xiaogang glanced at Bibi Dong, but Bibi Dong didn't even look at him.
Yu Xiaogang had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "I am the leader of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team."
The referee took out a list, looked at it, and then looked up and asked, "Are you Qin Ming?"
Yu Xiaogang then realized that his team leader had long been dismissed, and he had pretended to have forgotten about it.
In fact, he no longer held any position; he was even dismissed from his teaching position at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
The only reason Yu Xiaogang was allowed to come and watch the match was because Xue Qinghe gave him a name on Tang San's behalf.
Yu Xiaogang's earlier arrogance immediately deflated by more than half.
"I... I'm not... I... I'm Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang."
The referee's face darkened upon hearing this.
"You audacious madman, how dare you interrupt the match without cause! Hall Guard Knight, throw him out with your clubs!"
Upon hearing the words " Hall Guard Knight," Yu Xiaogang, whose memories of the past ten days were still vivid, turned deathly pale, his previous air of superiority vanishing completely.
The two closest Hall Guard Knight immediately turned around, and without thinking twice, swung their spear butts and smashed them down hard on Yu Xiaogang's only intact leg.
"Ouch!"
Yu Xiaogang let out a piercing scream as he tumbled off his wheelchair and onto the ground, his eyes wide with agony.
Yu Xiaogang glanced at Bibi Dong again, thinking to himself: Why? She used to be so protective of me, why doesn't she say a word to me now?
As commoner Soul Master, Flender and Qin Ming dared not obstruct the Hall Guard Knight from enforcing the law in front of the Papal Palace, otherwise it would be tantamount to openly defying the Spirit Hall.
Tang San, standing on the sidelines, dared not speak out against his anger.
Moreover, the rules of the Soul Master Tournament are clearly stated that unauthorized personnel are not allowed to interrupt the competition, otherwise they will be severely punished.
Flender could only plead, "Your Honor, Xiao Gang only did it unintentionally, please forgive him!"
The referee ignored Flender and waited until the Hall Guard Knight had struck Yu Xiaogang more than a dozen times, until Yu Xiaogang's leg was broken beyond repair, before slowly raising his hand to call a stop.
"Throw him out!"
Two Hall Guard Knight immediately grabbed Yu Xiaogang from either side and dragged him away.
Yu Xiaogang's three legs are now useless, and he can't even struggle.
He slumped limply between the two knights' arms, still hoarsely calling out.
" Qin Ming, our Second Team has forfeited the individual competition and voluntarily entered the loser's bracket team battle this afternoon..."
" Qin Ming... Qin Ming... did you hear me?"