After the elimination rounds came the advancement matches. There would be no more eliminations after these,this stage was the best opportunity for teams and individuals alike to display their true strength.
Thus, performance during the advancement matches would become a key factor in determining final rankings. The top ten individual performers would even receive special advantages.
The advancement matches were not only a team competition but also the best stage to showcase individual power.
Over the years, many teams had fallen apart after these matches. Once their blood was up, even teammates would turn on each other.
Still, the main format of the advancement matches remained team-based, divided into three modes:
The first was one-on-one duels. The seven members of each team would go up one by one; the side with the last person standing on the Soul Battle Stage would win.
The second was the two-two-three team format, where seven Soul Masters were divided into three groups to fight. It followed a best-of-three rule.
The final mode was full team battles, identical in format to the elimination rounds.
The mode for each match was determined by drawing lots. Although no teams were eliminated, the winning team would not only earn individual points for their members but also gain ten bonus points for every participant.
For example, if the Third Prince's team drew the one-on-one format and Ma Hongjun managed to defeat all seven opponents, he would receive seven points,one for each victory,plus ten more for the team win, totaling seventeen points.
Even teammates who hadn't fought would receive ten points from the team victory.
In the two-two-three format, if Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing's Nether White Tiger won two straight rounds, each would gain four points from the individual kills, plus ten from the overall victory, for a total of fourteen points, while others would get ten.
In full team battles, a win meant seven points for the seven defeated opponents, plus ten for the team victory,again totaling seventeen points.
Among the three modes, team battles yielded the most stable points for everyone, while the other two modes were less predictable, depending on strategy and individual skill.
The inclusion of the two-two-three and team battle modes was mainly to accommodate support-type Soul Masters with little attack or defense power, since the national tournament only allowed seven official members and no substitutes.
Only under extreme and difficult conditions could a Soul Master's limits be pushed.
Thus, before even qualifying for this tournament, many participants had already gone through countless battles,only the strongest could stand on this national stage.
When Oscar learned about the advancement system of the Star Luo Empire's national tournament, he couldn't help but be surprised. Wasn't this the same as the rules of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament tens of thousands of years later? Could it be that it was modeled after this very era?
Speaking of Oscar,he had already completed his fusion with the Snow Empress. In the Far North, within the Heavenly Ice Ravine, Oscar sat cross-legged. His Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion spirit was possessed upon him, and nine blood-red spirit rings floated quietly around his body, radiating an aura as terrifying as that of a ferocious beast.
After successfully merging with the Snow Empress's spirit, his soul power broke through level ninety, and the Snow Empress's seven-hundred-thousand-year cultivation granted him five additional hundred-thousand-year spirit rings besides the fourth one.
Oscar had stepped into the realm of Titled Douluo, and with the fusion of the Snow Empress's spirit bone, his level instantly rose to ninety-three.
The absorption of the spirit rings and bone had increased his level by five,a massive leap even for someone with such deep reserves of power.
When Oscar opened his eyes, the petite and exquisite Ice Empress and Snow Empress appeared on his shoulders, while the Skydream Iceworm could only look on pitifully from the side.
With all three spirit souls present, the entire ice cavern was filled with an overwhelming aura. The Titan Snow Demon King and the Ice Bear King glanced at the Snow Empress's form, both trying to suppress their laughter.
The Snow Empress noticed their expressions and glared at them. "Xiaobai! What are you laughing at?"
Though she was now a spirit soul, her memories remained intact, and her strength seemed hardly diminished. Oscar, now at level ninety-three, was nearly as strong as she had been at her peak.
Despite her delicate and cute appearance, one glare from her small eyes made Xiaobai immediately fall silent. "I wasn't laughing, Mother…"
The Titan Snow Demon King chuckled. "Snow Empress, it seems your power hasn't weakened at all,perhaps even grown stronger. Has Oscar truly become that powerful?"
The Snow Empress sat on Oscar's left shoulder and replied calmly, "Though he's only at level ninety-three, his strength is not inferior to my peak. Moreover…"
She glanced at Oscar, and after he nodded, she continued, "He also possesses a spirit core. With that, he can completely digest the power from both me and Bingbing. It won't take long for him to fully master it."
The Titan Snow Demon King was stunned. "A spirit core?"
The Ice Empress explained, "It's similar to the origin power we can condense. If we refine ourselves further, perhaps we too could form one."
The Titan Snow Demon King nodded thoughtfully. Oscar said slowly, "Thank you both for your help. In the near future, you'll realize this was the wisest choice of your lives."
The Skydream Iceworm nodded quickly. "Yes, yes! With Bingbing and the Snow Maiden's help, we'll definitely achieve godhood one day!"
The Ice Empress rolled her eyes, too annoyed to reply to the talkative worm.
The Snow Empress said calmly, "Though I can see hope, godhood is still far away. Once, we didn't even dare to dream of it. I only hope you can truly make it happen this time."
Oscar smiled slightly. "Rest easy. Just watch how I lead you all to legend."
He took a deep breath. "This breakthrough was enormous for me. I'll need time to stabilize my cultivation to avoid a weak foundation later. Use this time to adapt to your spirit forms."
The three spirit souls nodded, understanding his intent.
Oscar then closed his eyes and began stabilizing his rapidly increased power while familiarizing himself with the Snow Empress's hundred-thousand-year spirit abilities.
The Titan Snow Demon King and Xiaobai exchanged a glance, silently turning away. They already knew,once Oscar finished consolidating his strength, he would need combat training to adapt to his new powers.
Before, he had the Ice Empress and Snow Empress to spar with. Now that both had become his spirit souls, only the Titan Snow Demon King and Xiaobai remained as his sparring partners.
And since the Titan Snow Demon King had just said the Snow Empress hadn't grown weaker, it meant Oscar's strength was now nearly on par with her peak.
Though the Titan Snow Demon King was also a fierce beast, it was still far weaker than the Ice and Snow Empresses. Being Oscar's training partner now meant life was about to get much harder.
For Oscar, this improvement far surpassed even his fusion with the Ice Empress. His level had risen by five, reaching level ninety-three, and just from physical and spiritual strength alone, he could already rival a level ninety-seven Super Douluo.
In actual combat, he might even match a level ninety-eight Super Douluo, for the power of nine hundred-thousand-year rings was utterly genuine.
Though seven of those came from spirit souls and only one carried a spirit ability, its might surpassed that of ordinary hundred-thousand-year skills.
It was precisely because of the spirit rings bestowed by the Snow and Ice Empresses that Oscar's body wasn't torn apart by the immense power.
Unlike the Skydream Iceworm's vast but gentle energy, the Snow and Ice Empresses' power was more violent and fierce,only through their balance could he absorb it perfectly.
Besides the boosts to body and mind, Oscar had also gained a seventy-thousand-year left arm bone from the Snow Empress.
He now possessed three of the six main soul bones: a 150,000-year Wisdom Skull of Spiritual Focus, a 400,000-year right arm bone from the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion, and a 700,000-year left arm bone from the Snow Empress.
Originally, his head bone had been his strongest, but now, before the two Empresses, it seemed lacking.
Oscar had considered turning the Snow Empress's bone into a torso bone, since its cultivation was so great,but he had a better option: the Deep Sea Demon Whale King, a being with power nearing a million years.
Its spirit bone, embodying pure strength, would serve as the perfect torso bone.
Oscar's power had grown so rapidly that he was no longer the same man. Once his foundation stabilized, he would complete all his spirit rings at once and, with the might of a king, unify the continent.
At his current rate, that would take no more than five years.
Of course, many obstacles still remained: Bibi Dong, heir to the Rakshasa God; Qian Renxue, heir to the Angel God; and the 99th-level Ultimate Douluo Qian Daoliu, worship hall elder of Spirit Hall.
But Oscar already had countermeasures. As long as he could match a level-99 Ultimate Douluo in power, all difficulties would vanish.
After all, his fourth spirit ability could make up for any lack of peak-level force.
…
Northeast of the Star Luo Empire, the Sacred Flame Mountains.
Though remote, the range stretched for ten thousand miles and was filled with active volcanoes that constantly erupted. The mountains were home only to fire-attributed spirit beasts,few humans ever set foot there.
Now, deep within the range, a secret gate opened silently, and more than a hundred powerful Soul Masters stepped out, their auras blazing.
Each was above level sixty, and their leader was a Titled Douluo.
A young man said to the elder, "Grand Elder, the Young Sect Master has led Chi Xing and the others to participate in the national tournament. Soon, the name of our Divine Fire Sect will resound across Star Luo."
The elder nodded slightly. He had great faith in the Young Sect Master's strength. Their sect had hidden within the Sacred Flame Mountains for a thousand years,it was time to step into the world again.
Looking up at the sky, his eyes filled with reverence. "The god has descended His will. All fire-attributed Soul Masters may join our Divine Fire Sect. In this era of great struggle, our sect will have its place. Perhaps a new Fire God will be born in this age."
"This time, we shall establish the foundation of a lasting sect. Once the Young Sect Master spreads our name, we will gather every fire-attributed Soul Master under heaven and condense the most sacred flame to continue the Fire God's legacy."
Hearing the elder's words, the hundreds of Soul Masters' eyes gleamed with excitement. Even if they could not receive the Fire God's inheritance, they would still gain tremendous benefit and perhaps become legends themselves.
A similar scene unfolded a thousand miles away, within the Stormwind Canyon,three hundred miles east of the Godwind Academy. This canyon stretched for thousands of miles, filled with razor-sharp gales and violent tornadoes, making it nearly impossible for anyone but powerful wind-type spirit beasts to survive.
Even a Soul Emperor could easily perish there.
Deep in the canyon, nearly a hundred Soul Masters had gathered, seemingly controlling the howling wind and spiraling storms. Their leader was also a Titled Douluo.
He looked skyward, eyes shining. "The Wind God has delivered His decree. In this age of great contention, we cannot stand idly by. All wind-attributed Soul Masters may enter our Wind God Valley. In this coming era, our sect too shall have its place. Perhaps a new Wind God will be born."
"This time, we will swiftly establish the foundation of a lasting sect. Once the Young Sect Master spreads our name, we will gather all wind-attributed Soul Masters, forming the mightiest wind of legend to continue the Wind God's path."
A Soul Douluo spoke up, "There seems to be a genius at the Godwind Academy. He may be the only one besides the Young Sect Master with such potential."
The elder nodded. "Feng Yao once used secret methods to ask the Valley Master to take Feng Xiaotian as a disciple, but since our valley was sealed, it could not be done. Now that the Wind God has given His decree and our valley has returned to the continent, that child can finally receive proper training."
"Though he lags behind for now, under our guidance he may yet catch up to the Young Sect Master."
Another Soul Douluo replied proudly, "That is the way of our Wind God Valley,those with talent rise by strength, not scheming or factions. Surpassing the Divine Fire Sect is only a matter of time!"
The elder smiled faintly. "Enough talk. Move out. We shall begin our legend from the Godwind Academy."
…
Star Luo Empire, Star Luo Grand Soul Arena.
The elimination round had only one stage, leaving forty-two teams out of nearly a hundred. These forty-two would begin the advancement matches half a month later.
Emperor Dai Yutian of Star Luo looked at the list of teams, frowning. "The continent's undercurrents are stirring. Even this national tournament has drawn out many powerful hidden sects. The world may soon change,we must prepare early."
At his side, a gentle and elegant woman massaged his shoulders. "Everything has two sides. Since a great era is coming, Star Luo may not only endure but even rise higher."
This woman was his wife, Empress Zhu Jingxi of the Zhu Clan,his most trusted and steadfast support.
Dai Yutian took her hand, eyes glinting. "Then there's no need for the eldest and the third to fight to the death. Whoever can lead Star Luo to greater glory will inherit my throne. What do you think, my queen?"
Zhu Jingxi smiled and nodded. Whether it was the First or Third Prince, they were both her flesh and blood. She hated to see them fight. Now that the Emperor offered another path, she was overjoyed.
Her eyes curved gently. "As you command, Your Majesty. I shall prepare the decree."
Dai Yutian leaned against her waist. "No rush. Let's first see how they perform in the tournament."
Zhu Jingxi paused and bowed slightly. "As you wish, Your Majesty."
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