The Soul Master Competition Begins! A Grand Event!

A few days later

Today was the opening day of the Pan-continental Advanced Soul Master Competition's Heaven Dou Division.

Bing Jiu rose early. For a grand event concerning the entire empire, she had to attend as the Crown Princess.

Of course, that was not the only reason she had to go.

Dugu Yan excitedly burst through the door. "Saintess, the detailed competition procedures for the Spirit Hall Review Team have been issued. Hehe, lots of people want to challenge us."

"Very good."

The Spirit Hall Review Team was a rule Bing Jiu had come up with, a benefit she had offered the Heaven Dou region as the Spirit Hall Saintess.

Specifically, she, Dugu Yan, and Ning Rongrong would form a team to face seven opponents!

And as long as their side lost, the opposing team would directly earn a ticket to Spirit City for the final tournament!

It was something the major academies of the Heaven Dou Empire had never even dared dream of!

After all, there were only a few slots to compete in the Heaven Dou Division. The path Bing Jiu had opened for them allowed them to directly enjoy the same treatment as Heaven Dou Royal Academy!

Those young students would probably worship Bing Jiu as their idol.

Dugu Yan raised her head and rubbed against Bing Jiu's arm. "Hehe, Saintess, those people actually want to challenge you. They're seriously overestimating themselves."

"That's true."

Bing Jiu hooked a finger under Dugu Yan's chin and smiled.

"Let's go. For the opening ceremony, to spare someone's pride, this Crown Princess must make a grand appearance."

"Yes."

Heaven Dou Empire Central Great Spirit Arena.

The major academies entered one after another. Among them, the ones drawing the most attention were undoubtedly the Four Element Academies and powerful schools such as the Elephant Armor Sect.

As for Tang San and the others, they were part of Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team Two.

Since this academy had previously been made up of a bunch of spoiled playboys, no one paid them any attention at all.

Naturally, they were assigned to the very back.

"This is where you'll be," the person receiving them said impatiently.

Seeing the sea of people ahead and unable to make out anything at all, Tang San immediately flew into a rage. "Those bastards! They actually put us this far back. Do they not know how strong we are?"

"Exactly!"

Ma Hongjun patted his big belly, just about to curse a few times when an inexplicable wave of heat rose through his body.

He hurriedly patted Oscar on the shoulder.

Seeing Ma Hongjun's flushed face, Oscar understood that his condition had acted up again. He rolled his eyes and immediately grabbed some ice, stuffing it against Ma Hongjun's body.

Only then did Ma Hongjun's complexion improve.

Just then, Ning Rongrong returned and led everyone toward the highest level.

The group passed through the various teams participating in the competition and headed straight to the second floor of the arena.

This was a privileged area reserved for the royal family and nobility. It was not somewhere they should have been able to enter.

Tang San looked like an awestruck country bumpkin. "Rongrong, you're amazing."

Faced with Tang San and the others' envious looks, Ning Rongrong proudly lifted her little upturned nose.

"Hehe, you didn't know? This young lady is the Crown Princess's own little sister. Finding a spot is such an easy matter. Come on, it's right here."

When the door opened, Bing Jiu appeared before them, dressed in magnificent formal attire and beautiful enough to take their breath away.

This gown had been crafted using the finest techniques on all of Douluo Continent.

It was made with moon-white heavenly silkworm ice gauze as its base, its dark silver butterfly-wing patterns shifting with the light. At the cinched waist was a stream of star diamonds, woven like falling teardrops.

Everyone present froze in place at the sight, including Xiao Wu and the other beauties.

There was no other reason. Bing Jiu's attire, paired with her peerless figure, had brought both her elegance and beauty to their absolute peak. She was simply the goddess of everyone's dreams—even girls were momentarily dazzled by her.

"Oh? You're here."

Bing Jiu turned around and gave Tang San and the others a radiant smile. "I'm very pleased to meet you, future rising stars in whom I place great hopes."

"Rising stars?"

Hearing that, Tang San revealed an excited expression and immediately bowed deeply to Bing Jiu.

"Saintess, you are so magnanimous. We will certainly give it our all and seize the championship for the Heaven Dou Empire. We will not disappoint the Saintess and the Crown Prince's earnest expectations."

Those words practically had flattery written all over them.

Bing Jiu could not help breaking out in goosebumps, but she still smiled along with him.

"That's wonderful. I'll be looking forward to your performance, hehe."

The two chatted and laughed together. Xiao Wu stamped her foot nearby and kept giving Tang San meaningful looks, but Tang San acted as though he had not seen them at all. His eyes seemed to hold no one but Bing Jiu.

Dai Mubai curled his lip disdainfully. "Pathetic."

Though he said that, his tightly clenched hands and constantly trembling legs revealed the anxiety in his heart.

Not to mention how often he kept glancing toward Zhu Zhuqing.

Zhu Zhuqing was dressed beautifully today as well. Her fitted black leather outfit perfectly accentuated her figure.

From time to time, she also glanced at Bing Jiu, a faint blush staining her face...

Soon, the opening ceremony of the Pan-continental Advanced Soul Master Competition officially began.

Xue Ye walked heavily, supported by others as he made his way onto the elevated platform. After coughing violently several times, his voice rang out, loud but lacking strength.

"Thank you to the future rising stars of my empire for participating in this competition. On this stage, you will shine with the most dazzling brilliance of your lives. And at this moment, I am also honored to announce something."

As his words fell, an elevated platform slowly rose from the center of the arena.

Standing atop it were Bing Jiu and Xue Qinghe, both dressed magnificently.

They warmly greeted everyone, continually making all kinds of intimate gestures.

Xue Ye watched the scene with a face full of gratification.

"My son, the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, has decided to enter into marriage with the Spirit Hall Saintess. When the Saintess reaches adulthood at eighteen, I will hand over my throne! At that time, the Saintess will become the Empress of the Heaven Dou Empire!"

"What?! His Majesty actually plans to hand over the throne!"

The news immediately shocked everyone present.

None of them had expected Xue Ye to announce this at such a time.

Everyone knew that the Pan-continental Advanced Soul Master Competition was a grand event for the entire continent and also the fiercest competition of all. There was only one reason Xue Ye had chosen this moment to announce it!

To intimidate the Star Luo Empire!

Seeing this, the nobles present practically pointed their noses at the sky.

They thought that once they were joined to Spirit Hall by marriage, all of Spirit Hall would become their private garden. By then, would destroying the Star Luo Empire not be an incredibly easy matter?

"Damn it! That bastard Xue Qinghe—how can Father not see through his scheme?!"

On the platform, Xue Beng gritted his teeth, his gaze fixed on Xue Qinghe, who had an arm tightly around Bing Jiu's waist.

But as his eyes gradually reddened, the figure embracing Bing Jiu slowly became him in his daze!

He saw himself holding Bing Jiu's slender waist, kissing her passionately and without restraint, standing there with her as they received everyone's respect and applause like a celestial couple.

That kind of blissful scene.

No...

Xue Beng suddenly shook his head.

What... had he just been thinking?! It was utterly treasonous!