Yu Xiaogang's words were hardly wind from an empty cave-he had grounds for saying them.
He had even researched it specifically! A single army could stand against a Titled Douluo!
Otherwise, why had the two great empires been able to contend with Spirit Hall?
Hadn't they relied on human-wave tactics?
He was ready and waiting for Luo Chen to get slapped in the face!
The next day,
The Star Luo Grand Stadium was already packed beyond capacity.
Cheers rose one after another-the voices of a full three hundred thousand people!
Just as announced before the tournament, contestants could only compete after signing the Life-and-Death Agreement.
The entire day was devoted to the Individual Competition, in which contestants could fight using any method they wished.
Luo Chen had no idea whether the organizers had rigged things behind the scenes, but he was actually the very first contestant to take the stage!
In the spectator stands, Tang Wulin was leisurely munching on snacks.
"I wonder who's unlucky enough to face Luo Chen first."
"Whoever it is, it'll be the same. He'll knock them down in a few quick moves."
Xie Xie nodded in agreement. A fifteen-year-old Titled Douluo-that cultivation speed was terrifying. How was it any different from riding a rocket?
Outside the sky screen, Yu Xiaogang was deeply displeased as he listened to Tang Wulin and Xie Xie's conversation.
"As Shrek students, how can you turn your elbows outward and side with outsiders?"
"You don't deserve to be students of my Shrek!"
Meanwhile, every television station in the Star Luo Empire was broadcasting this scene live.
The first match, commonly called the Opening Ceremony, attracted the most viewers.
To ensure high ratings, Dai Tianling, emperor of the Star Luo Empire, had deliberately adjusted the lineup, making Dai Yun'er the first contestant to appear.
Luo Chen, too, had been carefully selected by them.
Their intelligence had told them that Luo Chen had previously applied to Shrek Academy but failed to get in.
He was also someone with connections who had been forcibly shoehorned into this Diplomatic Mission. He had a flamboyant personality and was young, only a little older than Yun'er.
When Dai Tianling read this information, he chose Luo Chen without hesitation.
Someone from the Douluo Continent, with connections rather than much actual strength.
How could he pass up such a perfect publicity opportunity?
At that moment, the announcer happened to begin introducing the two contestants.
"First to appear is the most popular person in our Star Luo Empire, Princess Dai Yun'er!"
"Some of you may not know that Her Highness will turn fifteen this year and is already preparing to get engaged! I wonder which fortunate young talent will become the son-in-law of our Star Luo Imperial Family!"
The host's patter whipped the atmosphere, both in the stadium and on the live broadcast, to its peak.
"The Star Luo Empire actually picked its princess as Luo Chen's opponent. Boss, you can relax now. Someone who draws more hatred than you has arrived," Xie Xie said.
Tang Wulin still hadn't recovered from his surprise. Was the matter he had worried about all last night going to be settled in today's very first match?
The announcer continued the introduction.
"And Her Highness's opponent is Luo Chen, from the Douluo Continent!"
"Some viewers may not know that a Diplomatic Mission from the Douluo Continent is currently visiting our Star Luo Continent. To increase the distance between our two continents, we have specially invited them to participate in this All-Continent Young Advanced Soul Master Tournament."
Once Luo Chen's introduction was finished, the stands erupted.
The conflict between the Douluo Continent and the Star Luo Continent was known to practically everyone.
Upon hearing that Luo Chen came from the Douluo Continent, almost everyone from the Star Luo Empire wore an expression of fury.
"Make those people from the Douluo Continent get the hell off our Star Luo Continent!"
"Go, Your Highness! Beat this clown from the Douluo Continent!"
"Show the soul masters of the Douluo Continent how powerful our Star Luo Continent is!"
All sorts of shouts erupted from the stands, startling both Tang Wulin and Xie Xie.
"I didn't expect the people of the Star Luo Empire to react so strongly."
Tang Wulin sighed. Fortunately, he wasn't the first to compete. Otherwise, he had no idea whether he could withstand that torrent of abuse.
"Boss, I think I'm getting drawn into this. For the first time, I want to cheer for Luo Chen. What should I do?"
As someone born and raised on the Douluo Continent, Xie Xie felt his patriotic heart deeply stirred when he heard his country being insulted.
In the Soul Fighting Arena, Luo Chen looked at the mischievous princess before him.
"Looks like you're pretty famous in your Star Luo Empire."
"Of course," Dai Yun'er said confidently.
"I just wonder whether, if you die here, your Star Luo Empire will dare declare war on our Sun Moon Federation!"
The moment Luo Chen said that, the entire stadium fell silent for three seconds.
It wasn't just the stadium. Outside the sky screen, everyone was stunned by Luo Chen's words.
How could anyone be this arrogant?
Did he hold the Star Luo Empire in no regard whatsoever?
"What is Luo Chen saying?"
"Boss, did I hear that right?"
Xie Xie had thought Luo Chen was already arrogant enough when he went to Shrek Academy. He hadn't expected him to throw off all restraint in the Star Luo Empire!
"Captain, he's dead meat. How dare he say that?" the short, stocky student from Star Luo Royal Academy said on the other side of the stadium.
If not for Luo Chen, he wouldn't have been sitting here watching. He would have been competing!
He had spent five whole years preparing for today! Five years!
Do you know how I spent those five years? Do you?
Luo Chen had ruined it all just like that. How could he not hate him?
Little did he know that Luo Chen had already planted the Ice Ancestral Talisman's soul mark inside him.
Whenever Luo Chen wished, he could remotely unleash the Ice Explosion Technique on any of those marked people!
Its power was far greater than the Holy Spirit Cult's lousy Human Bomb.
After all, a human bomb could only explode once. His Ice Explosion Technique could keep exploding!
As long as there were people near the victim, any ice fragments that landed on them after the Ice Explosion Technique detonated could freeze them instantly, fulfilling the conditions for another Ice Explosion Technique!
After those three seconds of silence, the entire stadium erupted in furious curses!
Even the television host dropped all pretense and began cursing Luo Chen.
To their surprise, Luo Chen merely said mildly, "I was only joking. Surely you people of the Star Luo Empire aren't such sore losers?"
Even the normally good-tempered emperor of the Star Luo Empire, Dai Tianling, had turned livid as he looked at the Federation Deputy Speaker beside him.
"You arranged for someone like this to join the Diplomatic Mission? Is this the attitude of your Sun Moon Federation?"
The Deputy Speaker was laughing wildly inside. What standing did he have to reprimand Luo Chen? Even Chen Xinjie probably wouldn't dare.
Besides, he wholeheartedly supported Luo Chen's behavior! He was making the Sun Moon Federation look so damned good!
Still, appearances had to be maintained. "Yes, yes. I'll be sure to reprimand him when we return."
How shrewd was Dai Tianling, emperor of the Star Luo Empire? How could he fail to realize that the Deputy Speaker was merely paying lip service?
He turned toward the dean of Monster Academy, the Star Luo Empire's imperial preceptor, the man acknowledged by the entire Star Luo Empire's soul master world as the empire's foremost expert-Holy Dragon Douluo En Ci!
En Ci's eyes were filled with murderous intent. As he looked at Luo Chen, he hadn't expected Luo Chen to seemingly sense his gaze.
Luo Chen actually turned to look at him and raised his middle finger at him!
En Ci: ?
Was it a coincidence?
Before you continue