First battle, ten suns blazing in the sky

When Wang Dong'er and the others left the hotel, they discovered that the area outside Star Luo Plaza was already packed with spectators. They had arrived far earlier than the competing teams.

Fortunately, there was a dedicated passage. Otherwise, they would never have been able to squeeze their way into the arena.

Each team had its own rest area, and everyone settled into Shrek's.

People from the other academies arrived one after another, filling the plaza with bustle.

The teachers leading the other academies went to draw lots for their match order, but Wang Yan did not need to. As the winner of the previous tournament, Shrek Academy had to take the stage first.

Memories of the tournament from her previous life surfaced little by little in Wang Dong'er's mind. Back then, the main team had been much weaker, and the reserve members had carried them through almost the entire tournament. Everyone had fought bitterly.

This time should be much better.

"His Majesty the Emperor has arrived!"

A loud, ringing voice sounded, and the entire plaza fell silent.

A majestic figure appeared on the elevated platform.

"Everyone, thank you for coming to Star Luo City to participate in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament, held once every five years. I hope every academy will show its finest qualities in the coming matches."

"Now, I declare the tournament open!"

Thunderous booms erupted around the plaza as ceremonial cannons fired without pause.

The announcer walked to the side of the arena and said enthusiastically, "Everyone, I'm sure you already know this. One of the teams in the first match is the champion of the previous tournament, the Shrek Academy Team!"

"Shrek!"

"Shrek!"

"Shrek!"

The entire plaza erupted in cheers of "Shrek!" As the champion of every previous tournament, Shrek Academy had built up tremendous popularity.

The members of Shrek could not help growing nervous, worried that they might let everyone's trust down.

"Dong'er, don't be nervous."

Huo Yuhao held Wang Dong'er's hand.

Yet Wang Dong'er's hand was steady, while Huo Yuhao's trembled slightly.

"I think you're the nervous one," Wang Dong'er said.

Huo Yuhao smiled. With Wang Dong'er's hand in his, he no longer felt quite so nervous.

The announcer raised his voice and called out, "Next, let us first welcome the other team in the opening match, the members of Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy!"

A team emerged from the rest area nearby. Their faces were ashen, and they had no desire to fight at all.

The moment they had drawn the first match, they had already known the outcome. Their opponent was Shrek Academy; there was no chance of winning. Their luck was truly terrible.

Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy's team was not weak. With some luck, they might even have made it through the elimination rounds, but now they would be eliminated in their very first match.

Ma Xiaotao stood up first. "Let's get ready to take the stage too."

The others rose one after another and waited to enter.

The announcer continued, "Everyone, please give a warm round of applause as we welcome the previous champion, the continent's number one academy—the team representing Shrek Academy!"

The entire plaza erupted once more.

"Let's go. It's our turn."

Everyone took a deep breath and stepped onto the Battle Platform.

The crowd froze when they saw Shrek Academy's lineup. Apart from Ma Xiaotao, almost all of them were children of twelve or thirteen. Every academy could tell that Shrek had sent out its Reserve Team.

At the sight, a flicker of hope suddenly stirred in the previously lifeless hearts of Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy's students.

Shrek had actually sent out its Reserve Team. Did that mean they had a chance of winning?

If they could defeat Shrek Academy, their academy would become famous overnight.

The referee stepped onto the stage and announced, "The match is about to begin. Both sides may use non-special Soul Tools. Once one side concedes, the other side wins."

"During the match, I will also intervene to rescue contestants as circumstances require. Anyone rescued will be eliminated. Now, both sides, please withdraw to your preparation areas."

The two teams moved to their respective positions and arranged their formations.

Unexpectedly, on Shrek Academy's side, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong'er stood at the very front, with Ma Xiaotao behind them.

The others stood even farther back, then simply sat down on the ground, as though they had come onto the stage to watch a show.

The Soul Masters from Tianling Academy looked utterly bewildered. They could not understand what their opponents were trying to do.

The referee raised his right hand. "Both sides, get ready."

At the same time, the metal pillars on the stage emitted light, enveloping the entire competition platform. This would keep the shock waves of the battle from reaching the spectators.

"Begin!"

As soon as the referee's voice fell, both sides released their martial souls.

Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong'er joined hands, and their Haodong Power began to circulate.

Ten red Soul Rings rose behind Huo Yuhao, staining the entire arena red.

Moreover, every Soul Ring released the terrifying aura of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast.

Everyone present was stunned, their minds unable to process what had happened.

The students of Tianling Academy, who felt the aura of hundred-thousand-year soul beasts at close range, had their legs give way and collapsed onto the ground. Before such a terrifying aura, they did not even have the strength to move.

Just then, with a phoenix's cry, Ma Xiaotao's phoenix soared into the air.

A great mass of fireballs rained down from above.

"Phoenix Meteor Shower!"

Ma Xiaotao had not used her full strength, but even so, her Phoenix Meteor Shower wiped out all seven opponents at once.

Huo Yuhao withdrew his Soul Rings. The pressure in the arena vanished instantly, and only then did the people around them begin gasping for breath.

Impossible! Absolutely impossible!

That was everyone's first thought. How could anyone possess ten Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings?

Never mind all of them being a hundred thousand years old—there was no such thing as a Soul Master with ten Soul Rings in the first place.

And a child of twelve or thirteen possessing ten Soul Rings was simply impossible.

Most people guessed that it had to be some kind of illusion.

Originally, Huo Yuhao had planned to release five or six Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings, which would have been enough to overwhelm his opponents.

However, Wang Dong'er had suggested simulating ten Soul Rings outright. That way, they could make it clear that the Soul Rings were fake and shatter any covetous intentions others might harbor.

Otherwise, they might encounter unnecessary trouble during the tournament.

"Referee, you can announce the result now," Ma Xiaotao called.

Only then did the referee come to his senses.

That was also why Ma Xiaotao had not used her full strength. She had worried that unleashing her Phoenix Meteor Shower at full power might burn their opponents to a crisp.

The referee announced, "In the first match, Shrek Academy wins!"

"Shrek!"

"Shrek!"

Once again, the entire plaza rang with cheers for Shrek Academy.

At first, they had harbored a trace of doubt upon seeing the reserve members take the stage. Now, after watching the Reserve Team win the opening match so cleanly, all those doubts vanished in an instant.

Everyone was certain that the ultimate winner of this tournament would once again be Shrek Academy.