The tournament had entered its later rhythm.
Nearly four hours had passed since the opening ceremony, and the sunlight pouring over the Sun Moon capital had begun to soften slightly as the afternoon continued.
Yet inside the colossal stadium, the energy of the crowd showed no sign of fading.
If anything—
The excitement had grown even stronger.
Match after match had passed across the battlefield, and the early elimination phase was steadily thinning the number of competing academies.
Medical teams moved quickly along the lower corridors, assisting injured participants while officials directed the flow of the tournament.
Above the arena floor, the massive projection arrays constantly updated the bracket.
Names vanished.
New matchups appeared.
And again and again—
The same academy continued carving its way through the competition.
Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy.
Beneath the stadium stands, the team's preparation chamber remained calm in contrast to the roaring arena above.
The distant cheers filtered through the corridor entrance like muffled thunder.
Ju Zi stood beside the projection disk reviewing the updated bracket.
Another set of results appeared across the surface.
She tapped the display once.
"Two more academies eliminated."
Xiao Hongchen glanced toward the screen from where he sat.
"The pace is accelerating."
"With this many participants, it has to," Ju Zi replied calmly.
Nearby, Su Mei placed several bowls of light spiritual food across the table.
"Eat while you can," she said.
"These matches are long."
Wu Feng stretched her arms lazily.
"Feels like we've been here all day already."
Xu Tianzhen leaned back against the wall.
"That's because we have."
Another wave of cheering erupted from the arena above.
The stone floor trembled faintly.
Long Xiaoyi rested her palm against the ground again, feeling the vibration.
"Another big match."
Ji Juechen stood near the corridor entrance, watching the faint light from the arena spill across the hallway.
His sword rested quietly across his shoulder.
At the center of the chamber, Lin Huang remained seated.
His mask still hid his expression.
In his arms—
Tushan Honghong rested comfortably.
Her cerulean-blue hair shimmered softly under the chamber lights while her ten fox tails swayed lazily behind her.
One tail curled loosely around Lin Huang's arm.
Another brushed slowly across the bench.
Honghong looked half asleep.
The noise of the tournament clearly did not interest her.
Meng Hongchen leaned forward curiously.
"She's getting even more comfortable."
One fox ear twitched.
Honghong opened one eye slowly.
"…Hmph."
Wu Feng laughed.
"She heard that."
Meng Hongchen reached forward and brushed one of the tails with her fingers.
Honghong immediately turned her head toward her with visible annoyance.
Then she buried her face against Lin Huang's shoulder again.
Ignoring everyone.
Xu Tianzhen walked closer, studying the fox spirit.
"She acts like she owns the place."
Honghong lifted her head slightly.
"…Hmph."
One tail wrapped possessively around Lin Huang's sleeve.
Xu Tianzhen chuckled.
"See?"
Even Ning Tian observed the fox spirit calmly.
"She's stable like this."
Lin Huang nodded once.
"Yes."
At that moment, Jiang Nannan had quietly walked closer to the corridor entrance.
Her gaze lifted toward the distant arena stands.
For a moment she simply stood there.
Watching.
Then she turned back toward the group.
Her eyes were slightly brighter than usual.
Lin Huang noticed immediately.
"You saw her."
Nannan nodded softly.
"My mother."
She took a step forward.
Then suddenly—
She wrapped her arms around Lin Huang.
The movement surprised several people in the room.
Her voice was quiet.
"…Thank you."
She lowered her head slightly.
"If not for you… my mother wouldn't be here today."
For a moment the room was silent.
Lin Huang placed one hand lightly on her shoulder.
"You earned that moment yourself."
Nannan smiled faintly.
Then she stepped back again.
Nearby, Tang Ya had been watching the arena projection thoughtfully.
Her eyes lingered on the battlefield where another match had begun.
Lin Huang glanced at her.
"I don't know if you still want to rebuild the Tang Sect."
Tang Ya didn't answer immediately.
He continued calmly.
"But if one day you decide you want revenge…"
His voice remained steady.
"We'll go with you."
Tang Ya looked at him.
For a moment, something deep flickered in her eyes.
"…I know."
Then Lin Huang added casually:
"Though if you really want to rebuild the Tang Sect…"
He leaned back slightly.
"We could always fill it with our children."
The room went silent.
For exactly one second.
Tang Ya's face instantly turned bright red.
Ma Xiaotao burst out laughing.
"You shameless bastard!"
Wu Feng grinned.
"That's one way to rebuild a sect."
Xu Tianzhen chuckled.
Meng Hongchen covered her mouth trying not to laugh.
Tang Ya glared at Lin Huang, her face still flushed.
"…You're impossible."
At that moment—
A cerulean fox tail slapped lightly against Lin Huang's arm.
Honghong had lifted her head.
"…Hmph."
As if scolding him.
And then—
Su Mei's voice cut cleanly through the laughter.
"Young Master."
Everyone turned toward her.
She stood with her arms crossed.
"You should show some restraint when speaking to the ladies."
Lin Huang raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, Su Mei."
The group laughed again.
The tension in the room eased.
Ju Zi tapped the projection disk again.
The bracket shifted once more.
"Our next match will begin shortly."
She glanced up.
"Five minutes."
Wu Feng cracked her knuckles.
"Finally."
Above them—
The roar of the arena surged once again.
And the tournament continued.
The arena roared again.
Another match had just ended, and the crowd's excitement had not faded in the slightest. Instead, the energy inside the stadium seemed to build with every passing battle.
Above the battlefield, the selection formation activated once more.
Four glowing symbols rotated across the massive projection screens.
1 vs 1
2 vs 2
3 vs 3
7 vs 7
The symbols spun slowly at first.
Then faster.
The crowd leaned forward.
Everyone knew that the moment Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy appeared again, something unusual would happen.
The symbols began to slow.
Light gathered.
Then—
They stopped.
2 vs 2
The announcer's voice echoed across the stadium.
"Next match!"
"Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy versus Iron Sand Academy!"
Cheers exploded across the arena.
Inside the Sun Moon preparation chamber, Ju Zi glanced at the projection disk.
"Two versus two."
Ning Tian stood.
"I'll go."
Ye Guyi immediately followed.
"I'll join."
Wu Feng tilted her head.
"First real team fight today."
Ma Xiaotao smirked.
"Try not to break the arena."
Ning Tian smiled faintly.
"I'll try."
Lin Huang simply nodded once.
Honghong lifted her head slightly in his arms as Ning Tian passed.
One cerulean ear twitched.
Then she relaxed again.
The arena gates opened.
The crowd reacted immediately.
"That's the Seven Treasure Pagoda!"
"She's from the Nine Treasure lineage!"
On the opposite side, the two fighters from Iron Sand Academy stepped forward.
Both carried heavy martial souls.
One manifested iron chains wrapped around his arms.
The other summoned a massive iron hammer.
Both radiated powerful defensive energy.
Clearly frontline fighters.
The referee raised his hand.
"Match begin!"
The Iron Sand fighters attacked immediately.
The hammer wielder charged first, smashing his weapon toward the ground as a wave of iron-colored spiritual energy surged forward.
At the same moment, the chain user lashed his weapon outward, iron links slicing through the air toward Ye Guyi.
But Ning Tian raised her hand calmly.
Behind her—
A radiant pagoda appeared.
Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda.
Light spread across the battlefield as the pagoda released waves of amplifying energy.
Ye Guyi moved instantly.
Her body surged forward like a streak of light.
The iron chains missed completely.
A spear of radiant light formed in her hand and struck the hammer wielder's defense with explosive force.
The man staggered backward.
Meanwhile Ning Tian had already deployed several compact Soul Tools from the device ring on her wrist.
Small energy turrets unfolded in the air beside her.
They fired simultaneously.
Bright beams forced the chain user to retreat.
The crowd gasped.
"She's fighting with Soul Tools too!"
Back inside the Shrek observation section, Ling Luochen nodded slightly.
"Smart."
Wu Ming leaned forward.
"The support is controlling the field."
Back on the battlefield, Ning Tian raised her hand again.
The pagoda behind her expanded.
The illusionary structure grew larger.
Taller.
Its golden light spreading across the battlefield like a descending tower.
The Iron Sand fighters hesitated.
Then the pagoda moved.
With a slow but unstoppable motion, the massive spiritual structure descended toward them.
Ye Guyi surged forward again at the same time.
A blade of sacred light slashed across the battlefield.
The hammer fighter tried to block.
But the pressure of the descending pagoda forced him backward.
The chain user attempted to escape sideways—
But the expanding structure cut off his movement.
The enormous pagoda pressed forward.
The two Iron Sand fighters stumbled back.
Another step.
Then another.
Until—
They crossed the boundary line of the arena.
The referee raised his hand instantly.
"Victory—Sun Moon Imperial Academy!"
The stadium erupted.
"That pagoda just pushed them out!"
"She didn't even need to defeat them!"
"Perfect control!"
Inside the preparation chamber, Wu Feng laughed.
"That was creative."
Ma Xiaotao grinned.
"Using the pagoda like a mountain."
Ju Zi updated the bracket calmly.
Another academy vanished from the board.
At the center of the room, Honghong lifted her head again.
One cerulean tail flicked slowly.
Then she yawned.
Apparently satisfied with the result.
The cheers for Sun Moon Academy had not yet faded when the arena formations began resetting once again.
The massive pagoda illusion created by Ning Tian slowly dissolved into streams of golden light, fading back into the spiritual aura of her martial soul as the battlefield returned to its original state.
The crowd was still talking.
"Did you see that?"
"She pushed them out with the pagoda!"
"That support-type girl is terrifying!"
Above the battlefield, the projection screens updated again.
Another academy vanished from the bracket.
Another victory recorded.
And once again—
Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy remained untouched.
Inside the preparation chamber, Ning Tian and Ye Guyi returned through the corridor entrance.
Wu Feng leaned forward immediately.
"That pagoda trick was clever."
Ning Tian sat calmly and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"It was efficient."
Ye Guyi nodded.
"The amplification helped."
Su Mei placed two bowls on the table.
"Eat."
Neither of them argued.
Meanwhile Ju Zi updated the projection disk again.
Another match indicator appeared beside Sun Moon's name.
"Our next match will begin shortly."
Wu Feng immediately stood.
"Good."
Xu Tianzhen smirked.
"You've been waiting."
Wu Feng rolled her shoulders once.
"Too long."
Ma Xiaotao laughed.
"Try not to break the stadium."
Wu Feng grabbed the massive sword resting beside the bench.
"No promises."
A few minutes later, the arena selection array spun again above the battlefield.
The four familiar symbols rotated slowly.
1 vs 1
2 vs 2
3 vs 3
7 vs 7
The lights slowed.
Then stopped.
3 vs 3
The announcer's voice echoed across the stadium.
"Next match!"
"Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy versus Iron Cliff Academy!"
Three fighters stepped forward from the opposing gate.
Their martial souls activated immediately.
All three carried heavy weapons.
Earth-aligned cultivators.
Powerful physical fighters.
The crowd murmured.
"This might actually be a real fight."
Then the Sun Moon gate opened.
Only one person stepped forward.
Wu Feng.
The crowd reacted instantly.
"Again?!"
"One person against three!"
Inside the Shrek observation section, Wu Ming laughed loudly.
"Of course."
Ling Luochen shook her head slightly.
"That academy has no restraint."
Han Ruoruo narrowed her eyes.
"This one will be different."
On the battlefield, the three Iron Cliff fighters frowned.
One of them stepped forward.
"…You're alone?"
Wu Feng rested the massive blade of her sword across her shoulder.
"Enough talking."
The referee raised his hand.
"Match begin!"
The Iron Cliff fighters charged forward immediately.
Their strategy was simple.
Overwhelm her with numbers.
Three powerful strikes descended simultaneously.
But before their attacks landed—
Wu Feng moved.
A crimson aura erupted around her.
Behind her back, a massive dragon silhouette appeared.
Red Dragon Martial Soul.
The pressure of draconic bloodline filled the battlefield instantly.
Several spectators gasped.
"Dragon martial soul!"
The Iron Cliff fighters hesitated for half a second.
That was enough.
Wu Feng stepped forward.
Her sword moved.
One swing.
The impact exploded like thunder.
The first fighter was launched backward across the arena.
Before the second could recover—
Wu Feng twisted her body and struck again.
The blade crashed into the ground.
The shockwave shattered the stone beneath them.
The third fighter staggered.
Wu Feng's dragon aura intensified.
Her eyes glowed faintly crimson.
The Red Dragon phantom roared behind her.
Another strike.
Another explosion of power.
Within seconds—
All three Iron Cliff fighters were down.
The referee raised his hand immediately.
"Victory—Sun Moon Imperial Academy!"
The stadium erupted.
"That was pure brute force!"
"She destroyed all three!"
"Another monster!"
Back inside the preparation chamber, Ma Xiaotao laughed.
"Now that looked fun."
Xu Tianzhen nodded.
"She didn't even slow down."
Ju Zi updated the bracket once more.
Another academy vanished from the tournament.
At the center of the room, Honghong lifted her head lazily.
One cerulean tail swayed once.
Then she rested her chin back on Lin Huang's shoulder.
Completely uninterested.
As if victories like that—
Were expected.
The arena did not quiet after Wu Feng's match.
If anything, the atmosphere had grown heavier.
Three more victories.
Three more overwhelming displays of strength.
The crowd had begun to notice something beyond simple excitement now.
A pattern.
Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy had not struggled in a single match.
Not once.
And their captain—
Still had not moved.
Inside the preparation chamber beneath the arena stands, Wu Feng returned through the corridor with her massive sword resting casually across her shoulder.
Ma Xiaotao greeted her with a grin.
"That looked satisfying."
Wu Feng dropped back onto the bench.
"It was."
Xu Tianzhen stretched lazily.
"You barely needed three strikes."
Su Mei walked forward and placed another bowl of spiritual food in front of her.
"Eat."
Wu Feng sighed.
"You're worse than a drill instructor."
Su Mei folded her arms.
"Young Master ordered everyone to maintain stamina."
Wu Feng looked toward Lin Huang.
"You did?"
Lin Huang shrugged slightly.
"Seems reasonable."
Wu Feng shook her head but still picked up the bowl.
At that moment—
Honghong suddenly lifted her head.
Her cerulean ears twitched.
Then she slipped out of Lin Huang's arms.
The small fox spirit landed lightly on the floor.
Ten tails swaying slowly behind her.
The movement surprised several people in the room.
Meng Hongchen blinked.
"Where is she—"
Before she finished speaking—
Honghong walked straight toward Su Mei.
She stopped beside her.
Then sat down.
One tail wrapped around Su Mei's ankle.
Another lightly tapped the hem of her robe.
Su Mei looked down.
"…Hungry?"
Honghong tilted her head.
"…Hmph."
The fox spirit stared directly at the bowl Su Mei had been holding.
Xu Tianzhen laughed immediately.
"So that's it."
"She likes the chef."
Su Mei sighed softly.
Then she crouched slightly and placed a small portion of food onto a separate dish.
Honghong leaned forward immediately.
Her ten tails swayed contentedly behind her.
Wu Feng snorted.
"Of course."
Meng Hongchen shook her head.
"She really knows where the food comes from."
Ning Tian watched the small fox spirit calmly.
"Her instincts are very clear."
Honghong ignored the conversation completely.
Focused entirely on eating.
At that moment the stadium above erupted once again.
Another match had begun.
The projection screen inside the preparation chamber shifted.
A new academy name appeared.
Shrek Academy.
Several people in the room looked up.
Xu Tianzhen tilted her head slightly.
"Ah."
Ma Xiaotao smiled faintly.
"Looks like it's their turn."
High above the battlefield, the Shrek team stepped onto the arena floor.
The crowd responded instantly.
Even here—
The name Shrek still carried enormous reputation.
"Shrek Academy!"
"The champions!"
"They're here!"
Among the Shrek lineup stood several familiar figures.
Wu Ming.
Ling Luochen.
Xixi.
Chen Zifeng.
Yao Haoxuan.
And at the front—
Han Ruoruo.
Her presence alone drew attention.
A Soul Emperor at nineteen.
One of Shrek's strongest representatives.
Across the arena, their opponents prepared nervously.
Unlike the earlier matches—
Shrek deployed their full team.
Seven fighters moved into formation.
Han Ruoruo stood calmly at the center.
Her aura radiated quiet confidence.
The referee raised his hand.
"Match begin!"
The battle began immediately.
Shrek moved with flawless coordination.
Wu Ming's blade cut through the battlefield like lightning.
Ling Luochen's ice covered half the arena in seconds.
Xixi vanished between shadows.
Han Ruoruo's support techniques amplified the entire team.
The fight ended quickly.
Clean.
Efficient.
Another victory.
The crowd cheered loudly.
Inside the Sun Moon preparation chamber, the group watched the projection silently.
Ji Juechen spoke first.
"They improved."
Xiao Hongchen nodded.
"Their coordination is strong."
Ju Zi studied the screen thoughtfully.
"They are serious competitors."
Meanwhile—
Honghong had finished eating.
The small fox spirit looked satisfied.
She sat beside Su Mei, her cerulean tails gently swaying.
When Su Mei stood up again—
Honghong followed her.
One tail still brushing against the edge of her robe.
Xu Tianzhen laughed softly.
"You've been adopted."
Su Mei sighed.
"I noticed."
At the center of the room, Lin Huang watched the arena projection quietly.
The tournament continued.
But the early phase—
Was nearing its end.
By the time Shrek Academy's match concluded, the sun had already begun its slow descent behind the towers of the Sun Moon capital.
Golden light filtered through the upper openings of the stadium, casting long shadows across the battlefield.
Even after hours of fighting—
The arena remained full.
But the rhythm of the tournament had begun to slow.
Officials moved across the battlefield while formation arrays sealed the last traces of damage from the previous matches.
Above the arena floor, the massive projection screens flickered once more.
The tournament bracket shifted.
Several academy names disappeared.
Others advanced.
And slowly—
The first phase of the competition reached its end.
Inside the Sun Moon preparation chamber, the group watched the updated bracket quietly.
Ju Zi studied the projection disk for a moment before tapping the surface.
"The elimination round is over."
Several people looked up.
Xu Tianzhen tilted her head slightly.
"So that was the last one?"
Ju Zi nodded.
"Yes."
She expanded the projection.
The remaining academies appeared clearly on the screen.
Far fewer now.
Xiao Hongchen crossed his arms.
"Sixteen teams remain."
Ji Juechen nodded once.
"The real matches begin now."
Wu Feng stretched her shoulders lazily.
"Finally."
Ma Xiaotao smirked.
"Was getting boring."
At that moment, the voice of the announcer echoed through the stadium.
"Attention competitors!"
The entire arena quieted slightly.
"The first day of the Continental Elite Tournament is now concluded!"
Cheers still rolled through the audience.
"The remaining academies will advance to the qualification phase."
A new projection appeared above the battlefield.
Several brackets formed on the screen.
"The qualification matches will determine the final teams advancing to the upper stages of the tournament."
The announcer continued:
"Each qualification round will occur every three days to allow teams time to recover and prepare."
That announcement caused a wave of murmurs through the stadium.
Strategists.
Observers.
Teachers.
Everyone understood what that meant.
Three days between matches.
Time to rest.
Time to study opponents.
Time to plan.
Inside the preparation chamber, Ju Zi nodded slightly.
"That gives us time."
Xu Tianzhen leaned back.
"Time for what?"
Ju Zi answered calmly.
"Preparation."
Xiao Hongchen looked toward the projection again.
"Everyone will begin analyzing now."
Ji Juechen glanced toward the corridor leading to the arena.
"As they should."
At that moment, Honghong finished the last of the food Su Mei had given her.
The small fox spirit sat beside the cook calmly.
Her cerulean tails swayed lazily, brushing lightly against Su Mei's robe as if she had decided this was now her preferred place.
Su Mei sighed softly.
"You're staying there?"
Honghong glanced up.
"…Hmph."
Meng Hongchen laughed quietly.
"She definitely chose her favorite."
Wu Feng smirked.
"Food loyalty."
Ning Tian shook her head faintly.
"It makes sense."
Honghong ignored them all.
Content.
Lin Huang stood slowly.
His gaze drifted toward the projection showing the final sixteen teams.
Shrek.
Star Luo.
Thousand Spirits.
Just Sky.
Several powerful academies remained.
And the tournament—
Was only beginning.
Behind him, the group slowly gathered their equipment.
The long day of battles was finally over.
Outside the stadium, evening had begun settling across the capital.
The streets surrounding the arena buzzed with excited conversation as spectators poured out into the city.
Everywhere people talked about the same thing.
The mysterious masked captain.
The terrifying team of prodigies.
The academy that had crushed every opponent without effort.
Inside the stadium halls, the Sun Moon team began walking toward the exit corridor.
The next phase would not begin for several days.
But the entire continent—
Had already begun watching them.
And soon—
The real battles would begin.