Chapter 159: The Soul Master Tournament Begins
The Heaven Dou Great Soul Fighting Arena, a structure symbolizing the highest honor for the Empire's Soul Masters, was packed to the rafters at this moment.
The earth-shaking cheers almost lifted the dome; the highly anticipated All-Continent High-Level Soul Master Elite Tournament opening ceremony was in full swing.
As the announcer's voice rang out loudly, teams from various kingdoms and duchies entered the arena one by one.
However, when it was the turn of the obscure " Shrek Academy " to enter, the originally noisy venue fell into a moment of eerie silence.
Immediately following, the sound that erupted was not cheers, but the collective gasp of countless spectators, followed by a tide of mockery and boos.
"My heavens! My eyes! Is that an acrobat troupe that crawled out of some slum?"
"Shit green? Someone actually chose this color for their school uniform? Ugh... this aesthetic is too morbid!"
"Look, look! What's written on that Fatty's back?'Sole Sponsor Wanted'? Is this academy starving for money? This is the biggest joke under the sun!"
Among the group of brightly dressed and spirited competing teams, the members of Shrek Academy looked like a group of toads mixed in with a flock of cranes.
It wasn't just simple ugliness; it was a provocation against normal human aesthetics.
The shit-green uniforms tightly encased their bodies, possessing no beauty whatsoever. Worse, the most conspicuous spots on their backs and chests were embroidered with various business advertisements using red thread. The visual shock of red against green made one's scalp tingle.
Facing the scornful gazes cast from all directions, Flender, the originator of this spectacle, felt no shame.
He pushed up the crystal glasses on his nose, the corner of his mouth instead curving into a meaningful smile.
Flender had immense confidence in the Little Monsters he had trained.
Even though Shrek Academy now possessed the core of the Blue Blue Tyrant Academy, it couldn't change the fact that it was once a Third-rate Academy.
Only such an extremely controversial appearance could instantly capture everyone's attention! This was called 'reverse marketing'!
Even infamy is still fame!
Once his Little Monsters turned the tables on the field, this sense of contrast would be enough to make Shrek instantly legendary!
Flender was immersed in his own Genius business logic, but it brought misery to the students behind him.
Ning Rongrong kept her head down, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into. As the little princess of the dignified Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, when had she ever suffered such humiliation? Yu Tianheng, whose Family was the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, also had a grim expression, feeling the gazes of those around him pierce his skin like needles. Even the usually aloof Zhu Zhuqing was stiff all over, wishing she could bury her face in her peaks.
And the most 'eye-catching' was Dai Mubai, walking at the very front of the line.
The side effect of his hair turning green from forcibly absorbing a Soul Ring had not yet faded. Now, paired with this shit-green school uniform, the entire person was green from head to toe, looking exactly like a walking, fully matured... big... big cucumber?
"Damn it... damn it!"
Dai Mubai clenched his fists tightly, hearing the faint taunts like 'green-haired turtle' from the surroundings. Fire was almost spitting from his eyes.
He had to remember, his identity was the Fourth Prince of the Star Luo Empire!
If what happened today reached the ears of his foolish older brother, who knew how much he would be mocked!
Especially since Master Yu, who was standing next to Flender with his hands behind his back, looking as detached as an immortal master, had not spoken, he couldn't lash out.
"Hmph, a bunch of blind wastes."
Dai Mubai gritted his teeth, a ferocious sneer appearing on his face. He growled at Ma Hongjun and Oscar beside him: "Let them laugh! When we get on the stage, I will tear apart every single person who mocked us! Let them know that only strength is the undeniable truth!"
"Boss Dai is right! We'll blind their dog eyes then!" Although Ma Hongjun also felt it was shameful, he agreed. "Right, Oscar, who is our opponent in the first match?"
"I don't know. Who cares?" Oscar shrugged. "Anyway, with Master's invincible tactical arrangements, what do we have to fear?"
Just as the Shrek members were comforting themselves with 'mental victory, " the announcer's voice rang out again, this time with a clear note of solemnity and reverence in his tone.
"Next to enter the arena... is the pride of the Heaven Dou Empire, the Royal Fighting Team!"
"As the Empire's seed team, the Royal Fighting Team will be directly advanced to the finals stage!"
Whoosh—
This time, the venue erupted with thunderous applause and cheers.
Under the gaze of thousands, the Tang Sect Battle Team, led by Tang San, slowly walked into the venue.
There were no flashy advertisements, nor any colors designed to attract cheap attention.
They wore the moon-white team uniforms specially made for the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, with golden silk thread outlining simple yet noble patterns.
Tang San walked at the very front, his posture as straight and upright as a pine tree, his demeanor gentle and refined like jade. The people behind him—Dugu Yan, Xiao Wu, Ye Lingling, and the others—all possessed stunning beauty and extraordinary temperament. Even the burly Tai Long appeared imposing and majestic, rather than crude, under the fit of the uniform.
The two teams stood one before the other: one like a comical clown, the other like Heavenly Gods descended to the mortal realm.
This stark contrast instantly made Dai Mubai, who had been about to utter some harsh words, look like a duck whose neck had been squeezed—his face turned extremely ugly.
And in the VIP box, Emperor Xue Ye nodded with satisfaction as he watched the scene. "Qinghe, I wonder if His Highness Jiang Li can be present?"
Hearing the Emperor call his name, Xue Qinghe stood up and respectfully bowed. "Reporting to Father Emperor, His Highness Jiang Li is naturally here, but he is serving as the team leader in the Royal Fighting Second Team's resting room."
"His Highness said that since Yu Feng and the others were students he taught, there is some connection, and this first battle must be won beautifully."
Upon hearing this, Xue Ye looked at Xue Qinghe with unstoppable satisfaction.
As the Emperor of the Empire, even though he was old and perhaps somewhat muddle-headed now, he clearly felt the signs of impending turmoil.
His Crown Prince managing to win over a powerhouse like Jiang Li and the limitless potential of the Tang Sect was undoubtedly injecting a powerful stimulant into the Empire.
As for suspicions that Xue Qinghe was involved in the death of the previous prince?
Xue Ye expressed that when he was the Crown Prince back then, he hadn't been entirely innocent of such matters either!
If this were a time of peace, he might have considered replacing Xue Qinghe as the Crown Prince. However, right now, what the Heaven Dou Empire needed was precisely this kind of heir apparent!
Not to mention that he could clearly feel his own end was not far off.
"Very good, Qinghe, remember to maintain a good relationship with His Highness Jiang Li and the Tang Sect in the future."
"I approve what you said earlier regarding the Vast Sea Universe Cover. Given the current situation of the Tang Sect, the championship is basically secured. Remember to let His Highness Jiang Li collect it then."
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