Chapter 160: Battling the Royal Fighting Second Team? Advantage Is Mine!
As the earth-shattering cheers from the entire arena gradually subsided, the Great Soul Fighting Arena, capable of holding eighty thousand people, finally settled into a moment of solemnity.
At the very center of the VIP stand, the announcer's voice, amplified by Soul Power, resonated throughout the venue:
"Next, we invite His Majesty the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire to officially announce the opening of the Continental High-Rank Soul Master Elite Tournament!"
Surrounded by thunderous applause, Emperor Xue Ye, dressed in a crimson-gold dragon robe, slowly rose.
Although elderly, the Emperor stood tall at this moment. He raised his right hand, waving to the surrounding stands and the assembled teams below.
In an instant, the vast square fell silent enough to hear a pin drop.
"I, Xue Ye, Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, on behalf of the Heaven Dou Empire and as the host of this Tournament, announce..."
Emperor Xue Ye's voice was loud and majestic, imbued with an undeniable imperial authority:
"The Continental High-Rank Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament is now open!"
The applause erupted like breaking thunder, echoing endlessly.
When the sound waves slightly subsided, Emperor Xue Ye continued to inspire the young Soul Masters below, his words filled with expectations for the Empire's future.
Subsequently, Niu Gao and Ye Renxin, guests from the Tang Sect, also delivered brief speeches.
However, when it was the turn of Ning Fengzhi, the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the inconsiderate announcer dug a massive 'pit' for him.
The announcer asked with a beaming smile,
"Sect Master Ning, as everyone knows, you are the most powerful support system Soul Master on the Continent. On behalf of all the audience here, I ask you, among the twenty-eight teams in this Heaven Dou division, which one do you favor the most?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the previously noisy VIP section instantly fell into an eerie silence.
If this were in the past, Ning Fengzhi would have accepted the compliment of being the 'Continent's Number One Support, " as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, one of the Upper Three Sects, certainly had the standing for it.
But today was different!
Ning Fengzhi's mouth twitched violently, and his peripheral vision involuntarily glanced at the white-haired elder sitting next to him.
To call himself the 'Number One Support' in front of Ye Renxin, a Titled Douluo?
Damn it, this announcer was so tactless!
Furthermore, the Tang Sect representatives sitting not far away were currently looking at him with half-smiles, as if to say: Sect Master Ning, you are quite bold?
"Cough, cough..."
Ning Fengzhi quickly coughed strategically to mask the awkwardness on his Face, then waved his hand humbly,
"Announcer, your words are mistaken. Now that His Excellency Ye Renxin has ascended to the Titled realm, his Nine Heart Begonia possesses the ability to bring the dead back to life. Fengzhi absolutely dares not claim the title of 'Continent's Number One.""
After giving ample respect to Ye Renxin and the Tang Sect, Ning Fengzhi shifted his topic to answer the second question,
"As for the champion of this tournament... Fengzhi does indeed have a team he favors greatly in his heart. However, to maintain an air of mystery, please allow me to keep it under wraps. But I dare guarantee it with the reputation of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect: they will definitely be the most stunning presence in this tournament."
These words were ambiguous, yet they carried different interpretations for different listeners.
In the Shrek Academy area below.
Flender pushed up his glasses, the wrinkles on his Face spreading into a wide grin.
Oscar, Ma Hongjun, and the others puffed out their chests, wearing expressions of shared glory.
Since Ning Rongrong was on their team, the team Ning Fengzhi mentioned was self-evident.
Next, the announcer threw the same question to the Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe.
"My view is consistent with my teacher's; I shall also leave it as a suspense."
Qian Renxue, wearing the guise of the Crown Prince, smiled gently and elegantly, though her heart remained utterly calm.
The team she favored was naturally the Royal Fighting Team formed by the Tang Sect.
Moreover, the official roster for the Royal Fighting Team was still missing one member. When they eventually faced the Spirit Hall Battle Team, she was even contemplating whether she should use the alias Xue Qian to step onto the stage and thoroughly slap the Face of her foolish older sister!
After a round of uninformative 'riddler' segments, the announcer finally brought the topic back on track,
"It is regrettable that we could not extract any intelligence from these distinguished figures. Now, the exciting moment arrives—we invite His Excellency Salas, the Platinum Bishop of the Spirit Hall, to conduct the draw for the first round of the preliminaries!"
"After the draw concludes, the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team will Face their opponent in the opening match, which will also be the only match today!"
Salas, clad in his platinum robe, slowly stood up. His sinister eyes swept across the venue before he reached his hand into the massive drawing box.
The atmosphere in the entire arena instantly tightened, and all the teams held their breath.
"First match of the preliminaries: Canghui Academy versus Purple Star Academy!"
"Second match: Auckland Academy versus Flame Radiance Academy!"
...As names were called out one by one, the hearts of the Shrek group gradually rose into their throats.
"Why aren't we called yet?" Ma Hongjun nervously wiped the sweat from his palms.
"What's the rush? The finale is usually reserved for the protagonist," Yu Xiaogang said, hands clasped behind his back, maintaining his inscrutable demeanor.
Through his astonishing wisdom and analysis, he felt that Bibi Dong could not possibly be unaware that he, The Continents Number One Theory Master, was participating in this year's Soul Master Tournament.
Even if it was just to see him one last time during the finals and feel the impact of his world-shaking wisdom, she would grant some convenience to their Shrek Academy at an appropriate time.
Of course, if something unexpected occurred, for the sake of his disciple Dai Mubai (and certainly not for his own ambition to make a name for himself across the Continent and become the Imperial Tutor of Star Luo), he, Grandmaster Yu, would not hesitate to swallow his pride and seek an audience with Bibi Dong in Spirit City.
Finally, when Salas drew his hand out of the box for the last time, he looked at the name on the slip, a strange smile curling his lips.
The opponent for Shrek Academy had been specifically arranged by Qian Renxue. Playing tricks under the noses of those few Titled Douluo present was indeed making things difficult for him.
"The final round of the preliminaries—"
"Shrek Academy versus the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team!"
As the words fell, Dai Mubai and the others felt their spirits instantly lift.
The Heaven Dou First Team had Tang San and the others—they couldn't beat them. Defeating a mere Royal Fighting Second Team should be child's play!
Moreover, Qin Ming had previously informed them that the Royal Fighting Second Team was almost entirely composed of incompetents. The chance for the Shrek Seven Devils to make a name for themselves had finally arrived!
"Little Monsters, we must make our Monster Academy's name known in this first match!"
"Let those second-generation rich brats of the Royal Fighting Second Team see what a true Genius looks like!" Flender declared proudly.
He could already imagine the merchants rushing to seek them out for endorsements after the match. He had never fought such a lucrative battle in his life!
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