As the last guest departed, dusk was approaching. Tang Xiao slowly sat back in the main seat, a hint of fatigue on his face, but his eyes remained sharp.
He looked at Tang Feng and asked in a deep voice, " Feng'er, what are your thoughts on what you saw and heard today?"
Tang Feng pondered for a moment, then, after gathering his thoughts, replied, "Sect Master, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is worth befriending, but we must be wary of their political maneuvering; the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan can be considered a strong ally, as they are relatively straightforward and most reliable when our interests align. The Heaven Dou Imperial Family is cautious, prioritizing appeasement and utilization; the Star Luo Empire values strength more, offering room for cooperation, but we must exercise discretion. Ultimately, our sect's foundation lies in its own strength. Only with sufficient power can we earn respect at the negotiating table."
Upon hearing this, Tang Xiao's eyes showed satisfaction, and he nodded. "You've made a very accurate judgment. Remember, diplomacy is an extension of power. From today onwards, you must not only improve your cultivation, but also learn how to wield this heavy hammer in your hand, placing our pieces on the chessboard of the continent."
"Yes, Sect Master!" Tang Feng solemnly replied. Tang Feng knew that from this day forward, in addition to cultivation and family ties, he would also bear a heavy responsibility concerning the rise and fall of the sect.
The situation on the mainland has become even more unpredictable and volatile due to the arrival of the Clear Sky Sect, a significant piece in the game.
The news of the Clear Sky Sect reopening its gates is like a boulder thrown into a calm lake; the ripples it creates are spreading across the continent at an astonishing speed.
However, when this shocking news finally reached Spirit City, another focal point of the Soul Master World on the mainland, five days later, the atmosphere there was dominated by another major event.
The finals of the Continental Elite Tournament for Advanced Soul Master Academy have officially begun!
The format of the finals had already been announced by the Spirit Hall; it was rigorous and brutal, aiming to select the true strongest through a series of rounds.
Round 1: A total of 33 teams participated. The three "seed teams" selected by the two empires and the Spirit Hall respectively enjoyed the privilege of receiving a bye. The remaining 30 teams will compete in one-on-one matches, with the winners advancing and the losers being eliminated! After the first round, only 15 teams remained out of the 30, and together with the three seed teams, a total of 18 teams advanced to the next round.
Round Two: In this round, the bye was given to the academy that won first place in the "advancement tournament" of each of the two empires. In the Heaven Dou Empire region, it was Shrek Academy, and in the Star Luo Empire region, it was another strong team. The remaining sixteen teams fought each other, and half of them were eliminated, leaving only eight winning teams. With the two teams that received byes, a total of ten teams advanced to the third round.
Round 3: The bye is awarded to the second-place team in the qualifying round. The eight teams that did not receive a bye will compete to determine four winners. Together with the two teams that received a bye, a total of six teams will advance to the fourth round.
Round Four: No more byes. Six teams compete in a brutal elimination tournament, and only three teams will ultimately emerge victorious and stand on the final stage.
Round Five: The format is even more unique. First, the three teams will compete in an individual Soul Fighting round-robin tournament, with each team sending one representative to fight one-on-one. The team with the strongest individual performance will be determined based on the results, and that team will directly qualify for the finals. The remaining two teams will then compete in a team battle, with the winner securing the other finals spot. Finally, these two teams will engage in a final team showdown to determine the overall champion of this tournament!
This tightly-knit, increasingly stressful competition format not only tests a team's overall strength, depth, and tactics, but also the players' willpower, endurance, and performance under pressure. A mistake in any link could lead to the loss of all previous efforts.
At this moment, the Shrek Team members, who had just finished the draw ceremony and learned their first-round opponents, were gathered in the rest area arranged for them by the Spirit Hall to adjust their state.
Flender stood in the center of the group, next to Grandmaster Yu, who was sitting in a wheelchair, his body wrapped in bandages and his legs in splints. You couldn't tell who he was unless you looked closely.
Flender adjusted his glasses, his gaze sweeping over his teammates as he began to calmly analyze the situation:
Currently, the main lineup of our team has the following Soul Power Level:
Zhu Zhuqing, Class of 1944.
Oscar, Level 43.
Dai Mubai, Level 43.
Tang San, level 42.
Meng Yiran, Level 42.
Tai Long, level 39.
Ning Rongrong, Class of '38.
Ma Hongjun, Class of '36.
Jiang Zhu, level 36.
Jing Ling, Level 36.
Huang Yuan, Level 36.
Flender continued, "With this lineup, excluding those three mysterious and unpredictable seeded teams carefully nurtured by the two great empires and the Spirit Hall, our overall strength is absolutely among the top tier of all the thirty non-seeded teams participating! In fact, we're not inferior to many of the previous quarterfinal and semifinal teams!"
"However," he changed his tone and said in a deep voice, "There are no weaklings on the stage of the finals. The teams that have made it this far are either top academies like ours with multiple Soul Ancestor, or prodigy teams with unique tactics, bizarre Martial Soul, or exceptionally strong individuals. Especially those three seeded teams, who enjoy the privilege of direct advancement, their foundation and strength are probably unfathomable."
"Don't be arrogant, and don't underestimate your enemy."
Upon hearing this, all the Shrek Academy students nodded solemnly.
Just then, a commotion arose outside the lounge. It seemed that teams from other academies were passing by. In the midst of the discussion, one could vaguely hear words like " Clear Sky Sect " and "reopening the mountain gate."
The Shrek members had different expressions. Ning Rongrong and Oscar exchanged a glance, while Zhu Zhuqing lowered her eyes, seemingly lost in thought.
The atmosphere Pope's Hall was unusually oppressive at this moment.
Bibi Dong sat high on her throne, clutching the urgent report that had just been sent by the Heaven Dou Temple. The letter detailed the grand opening ceremony of the Clear Sky Sect. Every word felt like a red-hot needle, piercing her heart.
" Cloud Mist Mountain... The Four Single-Attribute Clans have returned... Ning Fengzhi and Yu Yuanzhen have personally arrived... Support from two major empires... Current strength unknown."
The cold words strung together painted a picture that ignited her anger and a faint sense of unease.
The Clear Sky Sect has not only returned, but it has returned with a much stronger presence than she anticipated!
This is not only a blatant provocation against the authority of the Spirit Hall, but also a complete denial and mockery of the Spirit Hall's "victorious" history of hunting down Tang Hao and forcing the Clear Sky Sect to close its gates!
What Bibi Dong found even more unbearable was that Tang San, who possessed the Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul and was exceptionally talented, was actually participating in the finals hosted by the Spirit Hall right under her nose!
This is simply a blatant insult to the Spirit Hall!
"Bang!"
With a muffled thud, a slender, jade-like hand slammed onto the hard armrest of the throne. Bibi Dong's exquisite face was now covered in frost, her eyes burning with raging fury.
"What a Clear Sky Sect! What a Tang Xiao! What a Tang San!" she shouted through gritted teeth.
She suddenly stood up, her magnificent Pope robes drawing a sharp arc in the air, transforming into a streak of purple-gold light, and sped straight towards the Hall of the Worship Hall, the most mysterious and revered place in the Spirit Hall!
Meanwhile, Worship Hall.
Seven figures, their auras as solid as mountains, had gathered in this solemn hall. They were the Great Enshrined, the true foundation and highest symbol of martial power of the Spirit Hall.
They had clearly just received the same message. The air was heavy, and the invisible pressure was stronger than ever before.
The seventh-ranked Demon Subduing Douluo, with the most violent temper, broke the silence first, his voice filled with undisguised anger and contempt. "Hmph! These Clear Sky Sect, they were beaten so badly back then that they sealed off their mountain and vowed never to appear again. Now they dare to break their promise and reopen their mountain gates? It seems they've forgotten the pain once the wound has healed. Wasn't the lesson they learned last time profound enough? Do they really think the Spirit Hall's blade has lost its edge?"
Although the other worshippers did not speak out in agreement, their eyes were filled with disdain for the Clear Sky Sect. Only Qian Daoliu closed his eyes, as if he were deep in thought.
Just then, a respectful but urgent report came from outside the hall, "Your Excellencies, His Holiness the His Holiness the Pope outside requesting an audience."
The sixth-ranked Qian Jun Douluo frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "What is that woman doing here? The matter of the Clear Sky Sect is a matter for our Worship Hall to decide."