Douluo: Yu Hao is reborn, this Tang San is different

Chapter 134 The Continental Elite Tournament of Advanced Soul Masters

Before the dawn had even painted the eaves of Tiandou City red, the renovated Tiandou Grand Arena was already packed with people. All 80,000 seats had been sold out months in advance, and now, outside the arena, noble carriages and commoners' cloth shoes crisscrossed the cobblestones, creating a breathtaking wave of people.

A third of the city was in a frenzy of revelry, and only five thousand city guards, like a black chain, could barely maintain order amidst the chaos.

Ning Rongrong's embroidered shoes stepped on the scorching ground. Looking at the dense crowd of people in front of her, her pearl hair ornaments trembled slightly in the morning breeze: "Oscar, look at the colorful flags on that tower. It's even more lively than the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's celebration."

Oscar smiled wryly and tugged at his sleeve, trying to cover the menacing Shrek monster on his chest—his camouflage school uniform, somewhere between olive green and mustard yellow, was now bathed in an eerie halo of the rising sun, and the huge emerald green monster totem on his chest seemed to come alive, standing out conspicuously in the crowd.

Even more lethal was the glaring crimson lettering on the back: "Seeking Naming Sponsorship," with tiny print below stating, "For advertising inquiries, please contact Dean Flander."

Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Martial Soul stirred within him, his chubby face turning bright red: "I should have let the Dean wear this outfit himself!" His complaints were drowned out by the rising and falling sneers.

"Look at those weirdos!" A shrill female voice drifted from the silk carriage, revealing half a face covered in lead powder through the window. "Their clothes look like they've been stained with the saliva of a Poison Douluo, and the words on the back are more glaring than auction house price tags." The surrounding noble youths burst into laughter, and someone raised a monocular telescope to take in the Shrek Academy students' embarrassment.

Tang San was the first to take out a glazed mask and put it on his face. The Shrek totem with its blue face and fangs covered half of his face, but it couldn't hide the bright red tips of his ears.

Dai Mubai's white tiger earrings shimmered in the sunlight. He tugged at Zhu Zhuqing's sleeve, but her cat-eared martial spirit was already alertly attached to her hair. "If I had known this would happen, I should have asked Teacher Liu Erlong to plead for us," Zhu Zhuqing complained softly, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt.

Dean Flanders walked at the front, his pale yellow top hat pulled low, his gold-rimmed glasses slipping down to the tip of his nose, seemingly oblivious to the fact that he was wearing a crisp, new tuxedo, a stark contrast to the eleven "walking billboards" behind him.

The master walked side by side with Liu Erlong. The former had only a Shrek badge the size of a thumb pinned to his gray robe, while the latter's dragon-patterned skirt billowed with each step, with nine electric dragon phantoms appearing and disappearing, finally adding a bit of intimidation to the group.

As Tang San passed through the main gate, the metal detector emitted a piercing beep. He unfastened his Twenty-Four Bridges Under the Moon Soul Guidance Device, only to hear the ticket inspector gasp:

Shrek Academy? The one whose uniforms can scare away spirit beasts?

Feeling the piercing gazes around them, Tyrone clenched his fists so tightly they cracked, while the four new students simply covered their faces with straw hats, wishing they could shrink themselves into their martial spirit forms.

Finally squeezing into the inner area, Dai Mubai looked at the sea of ​​crystal chandeliers hanging from the dome and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

But when he saw the participating teams on the central battle stage, his heart, which had just settled down, jumped again—the silver scale armor of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy shimmered under the lights, the leather battle uniforms of the Star Luo White Tiger Academy were embroidered with dark gold emblems, and even the pure black outfits of the Spirit Hall Academy exuded solemnity and majesty.

Only Shrek's camouflage school uniform stood out like an incongruous patch in this magnificent sea of ​​colors.

"Rongrong, put the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda away a bit," Oscar whispered a reminder. "Don't let others see our support martial soul." Ning Rongrong, as if in a fit of pique, raised the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda even higher. The gemstone light at the top of the pagoda reflected on her poop-green school uniform, creating an eerie sense of harmony.

The emcee's announcement came from afar, signaling the start of the first exhibition match. But all the Shrek Seven Devils wanted to do was hide in the players' lounge and escape those piercing gazes.

Ma Hongjun stared at the prize money list on the wall, the preliminary prize of 5,000 gold soul coins shimmering in the sunlight: "Once I've earned enough advertising fees, I'll definitely order ten sets of the same school uniform for the dean."

His mutterings drew wry smiles from the crowd, but no one noticed that the commotion in the VIP section, caused by the poop-green school uniform, would eventually become the most unforgettable opening scene of this competition.

As the first team entered the arena on the red carpet, the Shrek Academy students hid behind the pillars, watching those dashing figures, their initial embarrassment gradually turning into fighting spirit. Tang San touched the patterns on his mask, recalling Grandmaster's words from the previous night: "True strength is not defined by clothing."

He turned to look at his teammates and saw that Dai Mubai's evil eyes were burning brightly behind his mask, while Xiao Wu's rabbit ears were drooping, but she was secretly clenching her fists.

The cheers from outside the arena surged like thunder, and suddenly all the crystal chandeliers on the dome were lit up, illuminating the entire arena as if it were daytime.

Eleven figures from Shrek Academy were frozen in the light and shadow, the words "Seeking Title Sponsor" behind them stretched by the lights, casting mottled shadows on the ground—these were their unique marks, which would eventually leave a strong mark on this world-renowned competition.

The bronze archway of the Heaven Dou Arena cast a huge shadow. The Shrek Academy group was hugging the wall, trying to avoid the crowd, when they suddenly heard a piercing sneer from behind.

Twelve Soul Masters, dressed in indigo robes, marched in formation. The wolf head badges of Canghui Academy gleamed coldly on their chests. The tall, thin youth at the head of the group flicked his long, silver-gray hair and deliberately raised his voice:
"Who do we have here? It's just the Shrek beggars. Did they pick these clothes out of the junkyard?"

Oscar's sausage-shaped martial spirit flickered in his palm, but Ning Rongrong quietly pressed it down. Dai Mubai's pupils showed the vertical stripes characteristic of tigers, but Grandmaster raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet. The people from Canghui Academy became even more arrogant. A boy with triangular eyes pointed at Flander's tuxedo: "I heard that your school's dean rose to power by relying on women? Isn't Teacher Liu Erlong's dragon whip particularly powerful to whip?"

Liu Erlong's dragon-patterned skirt fluttered without wind, and nine phantom electric dragons swirled behind her. The Grandmaster's fingers dug deeply into his palms, and his body trembled slightly beneath his gray robe. The leader of Canghui Academy, however, became even more aggressive, turning to Tang San and sneering, "And your teacher, how easy was it for him to steal the theories from the Spirit Hall? I heard that Yu Xiaogang made a name for himself back then by plagiarizing."

These words were like a poisoned dagger, instantly piercing the Shrek Academy members' bottom line of patience. Xiao Wu's rabbit ears suddenly stood up, and her Soft Bone Rabbit Martial Soul was fully unleashed, with phantom rabbit claws faintly visible in the pink halo; Ma Hongjun's hair stood on end, and phoenix flames erupted, scorching the corridor lamps above his head; Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing exchanged a glance, and the auras of the White Tiger and the Netherworld Cat intertwined, causing fine cracks to appear on the ground.

"Say that again?" Tang San's voice was as cold as ice. Blue Silver Grass silently peeked from his sleeve, weaving a dark golden grid on the ground. He recalled last night at the academy, Grandmaster annotating tactical diagrams word by word with his reading glasses, and the worn-out manuscripts of his martial soul research. Now, anger surged within him like magma. The people of Canghui Academy didn't back down; instead, they collectively released their martial souls. Wolf head phantoms appeared behind them, the air filled with a nauseating stench of rotting flesh. "What's wrong with me talking to you?" The leader licked his lips. "Just a bunch of useless trash, relying on women, plagiarism, and cheap tricks."

"Enough!" Liu Erlong's roar shook the crystal chandeliers in the dome, causing them to vibrate. Her dragon-transformation martial soul instantly covered her entire body, her scales gleaming blood-red in the sunlight. Dean Flander removed his top hat, revealing a rare serious expression, and the Twenty-Four Bridges Under the Moon Soul Guidance Device slid into his palm: "Insulting me is acceptable, but slandering my comrades is unacceptable."

Just as the atmosphere became tense, a one-eyed youth suddenly stepped out of Canghui Academy. His left eye was fitted with a mechanical prosthetic, gleaming with an eerie purple light: "Gentlemen, why bother arguing with trash?"

These words ignited the fuse. Tang San's Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul awakened with a roar, golden patterns crawling up his face along his veins; Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing's Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Netherworld White Tiger, instantly took shape, compressing the air within a hundred meters and causing it to explode; Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Flame transformed into nine pillars of fire that shot into the sky, distorting and deforming the protective shield on the dome.

"You're courting death!" the Shrek Academy members roared in unison. Xiao Wu activated her teleportation skill, and three rabbit claws shot straight for the one-eyed youth's throat amidst a pink afterimage; Oscar's Mirror Sausage was fully amplified by Ning Rongrong's Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, transforming into Dai Mubai's appearance and unleashing a White Tiger Meteor Shower; Tailong's Vajra Bear Martial Soul erupted in full force, and spiderweb-like cracks appeared in the ground, trapping the Canghui Academy members in the center.

The Canghui Academy team leader realized the situation was out of control and hurriedly ordered his team to form an array: "Activate the Seven Asura Illusion!" The martial souls of the twelve Soul Masters intertwined, forming a dark red barrier, attempting to trap the Shrek Academy members within. However, they underestimated the power of rage—Tang San's Blue Silver Domain expanded, and all the Blue Silver Grass instantly grew wildly, piercing through the illusion while binding the opponents' ankles; Dai Mubai's White Tiger Meteor Shower accurately hit the core of the barrier, exploding into a sky full of sparks.

"You will pay the price for your foul mouths!" Ma Hongjun's phoenix flames transformed into a fire phoenix form, and wherever his wings swept, the uniforms of Canghui Academy ignited with eerie green flames. Liu Erlong's dragon-transformed right arm slammed heavily into the ground, and nine electric dragons shot out along the cracks, electrocuting the Canghui students who tried to escape, causing them to convulse.

Just as the situation was about to spiral out of control, three golden figures descended from the sky.

The Platinum Bishop of the Spirit Hall, wielding a scepter with a six-winged angel statue at its head radiating divine pressure, declared: "Stop! This is the main arena for the tournament; private fights are not permitted!"

His gaze swept over the mess on the ground, and when it landed on the Shrek Academy team, it held a more scrutinizing look. "Shrek Academy, Canghui Academy, leave the field immediately to rectify your situation, or you will be disqualified from the competition!"

The students from Canghui Academy slunk away, not forgetting to glare at them fiercely before leaving. The Shrek Academy students, however, stood there, their chests heaving violently.

Tang San stared at the slightly warm Blue Silver Grass in his palm, and for the first time, he doubted his self-control; Dai Mubai's tiger claws dug deep into the ground, blood seeping from between his fingers; Grandmaster took off his glasses to wipe them, and the gaze behind the lenses was colder than ever before.

“Remember this day,” Dean Flander’s voice broke the silence. “True revenge is not fighting in the corridors, but crushing them on the field.”

He looked at his teammates, his usually smiling eyes flashing with a cold light. "From now on, three extra hours of training every day. I want the whole continent to know the price of slandering Shrek Academy."

Ma Hongjun suddenly grinned, flames dancing on his fingertips: "Dean, what about our advertising fees?" His words elicited a soft chuckle, easing the tense atmosphere slightly.

But everyone knows that from today onwards, this competition is no longer just about fighting for honor—it's about fighting for dignity.

A few minutes later, as dusk deepened, thousands of glass lamps lit up the dome of the Heavenly Battle Arena, illuminating the entire venue as if it were daytime.

The clamor of 80,000 spectators surged like waves until three figures appeared at the highest point of the VIP section, at which point it gradually subsided.

Emperor Xueye, clad in a purple robe embroidered with gold dragons and wearing a crown inlaid with nine pigeon-blood rubies, slowly walked to the front of the stage. His gaze swept across the entire hall, and his majestic voice resounded throughout the venue through the soul power amplifier:
"Distinguished Soul Masters, honored guests, today we gather here to witness the opening of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament! This is not only a contest of strength, but also a legacy of honor for Soul Masters!"

As soon as he finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted in the hall. Emperor Xueye slightly raised his hand to signal for silence, and then continued, "This competition will feature many outstanding academies from the Heaven Dou Empire, the Star Luo Empire, and the Spirit Hall. They represent the highest level of the younger generation of Soul Masters, and I look forward to seeing your brilliant performances!"

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Ning Fengzhi, the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, gracefully walked to the side of Emperor Xueye. He wore a moon-white robe with a jade belt inlaid with seven-colored gemstones around his waist, exuding a gentle and refined temperament.

"As one of the sponsors of this competition, on behalf of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, I would like to welcome everyone here," Ning Fengzhi said with a smile, his voice clear and pleasant. "The rewards for this competition will be extremely generous. Every victory will bring tangible rewards, and the final champion will receive unimaginable glory and wealth!"

As he spoke, the giant crystal screens on both sides of the venue lit up, displaying the competition's reward rules in detail. Each victory in the preliminary rounds would earn 500 gold soul coins, with an additional 3,000 gold soul coins awarded for advancing to the knockout stage. If a team reached the finals, each member would be granted the title of Baron and receive 1,000 gold soul coins. The champion team, in addition to a prize of 100,000 gold soul coins, would also receive an exclusive soul tool jointly crafted by the Heaven Dou Empire and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.

"Now, I will read out the competition rules!" Ning Fengzhi's expression turned solemn. "This competition is divided into three stages: the preliminary rounds, the qualifying rounds, and the finals. The preliminary rounds will use a round-robin points system, and each college will compete in multiple rounds. The college with the highest points will advance."

The use of Martial Soul Fusion Techniques and auxiliary Soul Tools is permitted during the competition, but the use of lethal attacks is strictly prohibited. Any violation will result in immediate disqualification!

His gaze swept across the entire arena as he continued, "To ensure fairness and impartiality, each match will be officiated by three referees at the Title Douluo level. Any act of cheating will be severely punished!"

Finally, Emperor Xueye stepped forward again, slamming his scepter heavily on the ground with a deafening sound: "I hereby declare the Continental Elite Tournament of Advanced Soul Master Academies officially open! May all Soul Masters shine brightly on this field!"

In an instant, dazzling fireworks burst forth above the venue, their colorful lights illuminating the entire night sky. The cheers and shouts of the audience mingled together, creating a sea of ​​excitement. Led by their guides, each participating team marched spiritedly towards their respective preparation areas, and the ultimate showdown of glory and dreams officially began.

(End of this chapter)