Finally.
All participating academies had entered.
The Blue Tyrant Academy group stood in the last row.
Ye Qiu ignored the noisy surroundings and looked up at the VIP platform.
This Great Soul Arena was undoubtedly the largest he had ever seen.
It could accommodate 80,000 spectators.
The entire arena was decorated with a silver background.
Although it was morning, special soul-guiding device lighting was installed all around,
giving it not only a luxurious feel but also a grand and majestic one.
When Ye Qiu's gaze fell on the VIP platform, his eyes immediately met those of Qian Renxue, who was sitting in the first row, resembling Xue Qinghe.
Qian Renxue gritted her teeth inwardly.
This bastard, what kind of bullshit slogan is this? Looking at the girl beside Ye Qiu, her eyes practically spitting fire.
She angrily looked away.
"Husband, what's wrong?"
Dugu Yan looked at Ye Qiu's face and couldn't help but reach out to touch his forehead.
"I'm fine, just looking around."
Ye Qiu shook his head slightly.
"Hmph! Ye Qiu, don't tell me you're picking out new sisters for us, or I'll bite you to death!"
Ning Rongrong gritted her teeth fiercely.
Ye Qiu rolled his eyes at her.
He then looked at the others on the VIP table.
Xue Ke was actually sitting in the second row of the VIP table, excitedly waving at Ye Qiu.
Ye Qiu smiled and nodded slightly.
Qian Renxue frowned as she watched this scene.
She was only able to sit here because Emperor Xue Ye had some health problems and would occasionally lose focus.
Qian Renxue hadn't expected Xue Ye to agree to let Xue Ke come here.
Logically speaking,
Xue Ye shouldn't have allowed Xue Ke to show her face in public.
After greeting Xue Ke, Ye Qiu looked at the person next to her, someone he knew well.
The Fourth Prince, Xue Beng.
Now, with the support of the Evil Blood, he had gained some influence in the court.
Ye Qiu wasn't surprised that he was sitting here.
Further on were Xue Xing, Title Douluo Mo Wuchang, and the three academic committee members of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Meng Shenji, among others.
Qian Renxue suddenly stood up, gently helping an elderly man to a seat that was taller and more luxurious than hers.
This man wore a long, golden-red robe and a golden-diamond crown, his face as round as the moon. He appeared slightly older than Prince Xue Xing, though their features shared some similarities.
However, this man's bearing was far superior to that of Prince Xue Xing. Although he appeared somewhat aged, his presence gave off a sense of centrality.
It seemed that everything around him revolved around him.
Without much thought, Ye Qiu knew this man's identity:
Emperor Xue Ye of the Heaven Dou Empire!
To Emperor Xue Ye's left sat an even taller old man.
He was covered in a long, crimson robe and wore a five-pointed platinum crown. His eyes were slightly closed, as if he were asleep. His shoulders were narrow, and his slender body resembled a javelin.
He must be Salas, the Platinum Bishop of the Spirit Hall.
To the right of Emperor Xue Ye, separated by a seat from Qian Renxue, sat another acquaintance of Ye Qiu's:
Ning Fengzhi, the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and his adoptive father-in-law.
Ning Fengzhi was wearing a white robe and the Seven Treasures Purple-Gold Crown, a symbol of his status.
As one of the top three sect masters of the seven major sects, he was fully qualified to sit in this position.
At this moment,
Ning Fengzhi seemed to sense Ye Qiu looking at him; his gaze shifted, meeting Ye Qiu's eyes.
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She smiled slightly and nodded gently.
Ning Rongrong, standing beside Ye Qiu, waved happily to Ning Fengzhi.
Ye Qiu and Ning Fengzhi exchanged glances.
Emperor Xue Ye took it all in. Although the entrance of the Blue Tyrant Academy team surprised him,
what truly caught his attention was when Xue Ke greeted Ye Qiu.
Ye Qiu's interaction with Ning Fengzhi, and Ning Rongrong nestled beside Ye Qiu, made Xue Ye take Ye Qiu more seriously.
Blue hair, blue eyes...
Xue Ye couldn't help but look at his Crown Prince.
As the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, he naturally had his own methods. He couldn't speak for other places, but within Heaven Dou City, his information network was quite extensive.
He knew perfectly well that a blue-haired boy frequently visited the Crown Prince's residence.
Xue Ye remained expressionless.
He glanced at Xue Ke, who was still looking at Ye Qiu, lost in thought.
The emcee on one side of the VIP platform announced loudly, "Now, please welcome His Majesty the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire to declare the opening of this competition."
As the emcee finished speaking
, Emperor Xue Ye of the Heaven Dou Empire, seated in the center of the first row of the VIP section, clad in a crimson-gold robe,
slowly rose amidst thunderous applause.
He raised his right hand and lightly waved to the audience and the participating Soul Masters below. The applause quickly ceased, and the vast plaza fell silent.
His deep and resonant voice, amplified by the Soul Guidance Device, resounded throughout the entire arena.
"I, Emperor Xue Ye of the Heaven Dou Empire, on behalf of the Heaven Dou Empire and the organizers of this competition, declare the Pan-Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Competition now open."
Applause thundered again, and cheers rose and fell.
However, the sharp-eyed Ye Qiu suddenly noticed that Emperor Xue Ye's expression had become somewhat dazed, and his smile was gradually becoming forced.
Fortunately, Qian Renxue beside him gently nudged his arm in time.
Xue Ye then regained his composure and continued to smile subtly, though the smile remained somewhat strained.
When the applause subsided again,
Xue Ye continued,
"Here, I hope that all the Soul Masters participating in this competition will fully demonstrate their strength and achieve excellent results."
"You are all the pride of the Empire. For the glory of the Empire, show your brilliance!"
Applause rang out for the third time.
This time, most of the Soul Masters in the arena had burning eyes.
For them, this competition was the best stage to showcase themselves.
Xue Ye sat back down.
The emcee's voice rang out again.
"Next, please welcome the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, Mr. Ning Fengzhi, to give a speech for this competition."
As Ning Fengzhi stood up, applause erupted once more.
Compared to Emperor Xue Ye, Ning Fengzhi attracted more attention from the Soul Masters.
As the number one support Soul Master in the Soul Master world, he naturally enjoyed a great reputation; who wouldn't want to see his brilliance?
Ning Fengzhi smiled slightly, his face as gentle as ever.
Leaning on his cane, he pressed one hand lightly.
"It is a great pleasure to be invited as a guest to open this competition."
"As the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, I have witnessed the growth of countless Soul Masters. They have never lacked trials, and this competition is an excellent stage for them."
"As Your Majesty just said, those participating in this Soul Master Competition are undoubtedly the elite of the younger generation."
"I hope you can bring glory to the Empire and to your respective academies. The Empire needs talents like you. Thank you."
Listening to Ning Fengzhi's speech,
Emperor Xueye's face also showed a sincere smile.