Walking down the streets of Spirit City, Su Chen could only shake his head helplessly at how much emptier they had suddenly become. Today was a big day: as usual, the four academies in the eastern, southern, western, and northern districts of Spirit City were jointly holding the Four-Academy Friendship Tournament. More than eighty percent of the city's residents had gone to watch. By now, the center of Spirit City was already completely choked with crowds.
"Su Chen, you're representing our East District Junior Soul Master Academy in this tournament, but don't put too much pressure on yourself. Even if you can't win, you can still skip straight ahead to study at the Advanced Soul Master Academy." Director Yang gently patted Su Chen's shoulder. Behind him were two other students of the same age as Su Chen. Like him, both were outstanding students qualified to skip ahead to the Advanced Soul Master Academy. They had come to compete and earn better resources and treatment.
Director Yang had already learned from Su Chen that, over the past six years, he had still acquired only one soul ring. In other words, although Su Chen's soul power had reached level thirty, his rank remained that of a Soul Master. The other five children beside him had already acquired two soul rings, with soul power levels of twenty-one and twenty-three, respectively. Although Su Chen had only one soul ring, his soul power was level thirty, and that ring had a ten-thousand-year age.
Whenever Su Chen had faced challenges from other outstanding students, he had never used a soul skill. In Director Yang's opinion, with Su Chen's innate divine strength, victory would not be difficult as long as he did not encounter opponents of the Control System or Agility Attack System.
"Mm." Su Chen nodded.
"Also, try to show your strengths in the ring. Seven or eight years ago, there were already rumors that the Supreme Pontiff wanted to take a disciple. Perhaps the champions of past Friendly Tournaments lacked the blessing of fate, because she still hasn't taken a single student. You might just fulfill that long-held wish of hers." Director Yang patted Su Chen's shoulder again.
This Four-Academy Friendship Tournament also concerned the Second Trial of Su Chen's Dragon God’s Nine Trials: take first place in this tournament and become Bibi Dong's student.
"Uncle Yang, I'll give this tournament my best." A determined look appeared in Su Chen's eyes. He was set on claiming first place this time.
"Mm, good boy. But you mustn't let your guard down. The Junior Soul Master Academies in the South District, North District, and West District have some formidable students too. The South District in particular has one whose soul power has reached level twenty-nine, and another who has even reached level thirty-one." Director Yang shared the information he had gathered with Su Chen.
Level twenty-nine and level thirty-one! Su Chen inwardly clicked his tongue. With levels like those, they were more than qualified to enter Shrek Academy.
"Yes. Their martial souls are the Demon Fox and the Moon Blade. As for the South District, it also has an exceptional talent whose soul power has reached level thirty-one, with the Flame Lord martial soul. All three had innate full soul power when their martial souls awakened. Like you, they have never lost since becoming Number Zero Students. They're also seeded contestants who, like you, are among the favorites to take the top three places and have a chance of catching the Supreme Pontiff's eye." Director Yang smiled.
"Mm." Su Chen nodded, the corners of his lips lifting slightly. He had not expected to share a ring with Spirit Hall's future Golden Generation so soon. Two of them had already acquired three soul rings and were level-thirty-one Soul Elders. Claiming the championship in this tournament would be quite a challenge.
"Su Chen, why are you wearing a mask today?" Director Yang asked in puzzlement. There was nothing wrong with Su Chen's looks.
"Keeping an air of mystery isn't a bad thing!" Su Chen smiled meaningfully.
Waves of clamor rose into the sky above the enormous square. Countless people desperately squeezed toward the Arena at its far end. Had fully armed soldiers not been maintaining order, the crowd would probably have surged inside regardless of the consequences.
For soul masters, the Four-Academy Friendship Tournament was an excellent opportunity to observe and learn. For ordinary people, battles between soul masters were a rare sight on any other day, so naturally, they did not want to miss it either.
Director Yang presented his identification token and led Su Chen and the other two children into the Arena. It was vast, capable of accommodating twenty to thirty thousand people at once. The surrounding stands were nearly full. In the center of the small square stood a fighting platform as tall as a person. More than forty people were already standing beside it. Apart from being divided into four colors-red, blue, yellow, and cyan-their uniforms were identical in style. Their ages varied, but even the oldest was no more than seventeen. Among them, Su Chen counted as one of the youngest. Those students who were already over twelve all came from the Intermediate Soul Master Academy.
"Time's up."
A Red-Robed Cardinal in a brocade robe rose from the dais at the front. He addressed everyone in a ringing voice. "I won't waste words on unnecessary talk. Your opponents will be determined by drawing lots. Everyone here is a genius among geniuses. The winners will have a chance to represent Spirit Hall in the Continental Elite Soul Master Tournament three years from now. If you attract the Supreme Pontiff's attention, you may even be taken as her direct disciple. So, if you want to secure better treatment, give it your all!"
After finishing, the Red-Robed Cardinal looked at the host standing beside the dais. The host bowed slightly in salute, then stepped onto the fighting platform and said, "The draw begins now. After drawing your lot, register at the table to the side."
All the contestants followed the instructions, reaching into the box on a table and registering in an orderly fashion. When Su Chen's turn came, he discovered that the wooden box was no ordinary box: it could interfere with a person's spiritual perception. Cheating to select a weaker opponent for oneself was completely impossible.
"Number one!" Su Chen walked to the table on the side and placed the ball in his hand before the deacon.
The forty-six contestants soon completed the preliminary arrangements.
"All right, the matches will now begin. Contestant number one, Su Chen, and contestant number two, Sun Chuantao, please enter the ring and begin your match."
"Sun Chuantao?"
Su Chen froze briefly as a memory suddenly surfaced. Among Spirit Hall's seven team members in the Continental Elite Soul Master Tournament three years later, there had been a contestant named Sun Chuantao. Since he had been the first member defeated by the Shrek Seven Devils, Su Chen remembered him rather clearly.
"Sun Chuantao, a student of the South District Intermediate Soul Master Academy, age seventeen, a level-twenty-seven, two-ring Power Attack System Battle Soul Ancestor. His martial soul is the Ring-Shaped Great Blade."
"Brother Tao! Brother Tao! Brother Tao!"
As soon as the host finished speaking, some female students from the South District began cheering his name.
"Su Chen, a student of the East District Junior Soul Master Academy, age twelve, a level-twenty, one-ring Power Attack System Battle Soul Master."
"Level twenty? Why didn't he get another soul ring before coming to compete?"
"Exactly. At level twenty, he could easily add a second soul ring. One more soul ring would give his combat strength a huge boost."
"One has one ring, and the other has two; one has level-twenty soul power, and the other has level-twenty-seven soul power. It looks like there won't be any suspense in this first match."
Many spectators in the stands felt puzzled by the masked youth walking onto the fighting platform. Anyone thinking normally would have acquired two soul rings before entering the tournament. In their eyes, Su Chen's chances of losing the first match were very high.
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