Douluo Continent: The Twin Sons of the Styx River, Shaking the World and Destroying the Heavens

Chapter 190 Mingdu Competition
The months of grueling training were finally drawing to a close, with only three days left until the opening of the Soul Master Competition. The moment Xia Die stopped training, Wang Dong'er and the others instantly relaxed. Their clothes, soaked with sweat, clung to their bodies, but they didn't bother to wipe it away, their faces beaming with the joy of surviving a close call.

Finally, I don't have to suffer like this anymore!

The first seven days were physical training with forbidden martial spirits, from dawn till dusk, my skin ached so much it felt like it was going to fall apart; then came seven days of non-stop combat, the roar of clashing martial spirits still echoing in my ears, every inch of my bones screaming with exhaustion. These past two weeks have felt like I've been through hell, and now I can finally catch my breath.

Mingdu, a megacity with a permanent population of twenty million, serves as the heart of the Sun Moon Empire, and its carrying capacity far exceeds the limits of Star Luo City. Since the start of the Soul Battle Tournament's promotion, crowds have poured in from all directions like a tidal wave, and the streets and alleys are packed with expectant Soul Masters and spectators.

The registration was unprecedented, with major sects flocking to the event, forcing the organizing committee to urgently add a rule—participating teams must have at least five Soul Masters with Soul Rings of four or higher. Even so, the number of participating teams this year still far exceeded that of the previous Star Luo City tournament. Thanks to its abundant financial resources, the Sun Moon Empire was able to organize the tournament with far greater ease than the relatively resource-scarce Star Luo Empire, quickly arranging the venue and procedures in a well-organized manner.

Unlike traditional competitions that prioritize soul bones, the Sun Moon Empire has set the champion's prize as a soul tool: the champion team will receive a level nine soul tool, a strategic weapon capable of rewriting the battlefield; the runner-up will take home a level eight soul tool, and the third-place team will receive a level seven soul tool. Even those placing fourth through tenth will receive a level six soul tool as a reward. These soul tools are priceless, especially the level nine ones, whose strategic significance and economic value even surpass the total prizes of the previous competition. The generous rewards not only attract countless soul masters eager to achieve fame in one battle, but also allow those forces that sense business opportunities to secretly calculate the immeasurable profits they could make by winning the prizes, whether for personal use or resale.

Xia Die had already registered in advance, so they didn't need to spend time on the registration process and could go directly to the hotel. They set off from St. Freya Academy to Mingdu, enduring a long and arduous journey, arriving at their destination on the second day. In the blink of an eye, the registration channel officially closed. Compared to the somewhat rushed Soul Battle Tournament in Xingluo City five years ago, Mingdu, with its vast urban scale and meticulous planning, arranged the event in an orderly manner. Wide streets and ample facilities prevented the capital from becoming crowded and chaotic despite the influx of participants.

The participating teams proceeded to the Mingyue Hotel in the city center to register. As the officially designated registration point, this eight-story building, though not towering, still stood out on the city skyline due to its exceptionally high ceilings on each floor. The participants' accommodations and meals were all arranged by the Sun Moon Empire, saving them time and effort while also showcasing the host country's strength.

The students from St. Freya Academy, however, didn't need to squeeze into a hotel with other teams—their team leader, Xia Die, had secured unparalleled conveniences for the group thanks to her private properties in the Sun Moon Empire. Thanks to their advance planning, they were among the first teams to complete registration. The competition organizing committee's arrangements for the participating forces were subtly calculated: renowned academies and major sects naturally received preferential treatment, while reclusive sects or smaller forces were assigned rooms based on the cultivation level of their team leaders.

Xia Die's residence is a paragon of luxury, a sky villa specially provided by Empress Xu Tianzhen of the Sun Moon Empire. The reception room is exceptionally grand, the large conference room is fully equipped, and over twenty bedrooms each possess unique characteristics. The interior also features a private training ground, an exquisite garden, and a private swimming pool, with every detail exuding prestige. Furthermore, the cleverly designed partitions between the villas perfectly isolate them from outside views, maximizing privacy and comfort.

Meanwhile, ten thousand years ago, the Douluo Continent was also watching this event. Inside the Pope's Palace of the Spirit Hall on the Douluo Continent, the atmosphere was solemn and dignified. Bibi Dong sat languidly yet majestically on the Pope's throne, her gaze fixed on the image projected by a soul tool in the hall—an image depicting a strange scene from another world.

"Teacher, is this a soul tool from another world? It's so amazing!" A clear, curious voice broke the silence. It was Hu Liena, a girl of only fifteen or sixteen. She had dazzling blonde hair, a graceful figure, and every movement exuded innate charm. Her perfect physique and unique aura were unforgettable. At this moment, she was staring intently at the soul tool screen, her eyes gleaming with curiosity and amazement.

“Yes! The soul tool technology of the other world is very advanced, but the reason I sent you here is to let you witness the young talents of other worlds.” Bibi Dong nodded slightly, her tone tinged with emotion. She knew that the soul tool technology of the other world had far exceeded the current understanding of Douluo Continent, and those incredible effects filled her with imagination and anticipation for the future fusion of the two worlds.

Thinking of the goodwill extended by certain forces in another world, a barely perceptible smile flashed in Bibi Dong's eyes. She knew that behind this goodwill might lie unrest in that world. The initial worries caused by the power of the soul tool gradually dissipated with the arrival of some cryptic information. "A young genius from another world? I'll see who's better, him or our Spirit Hall's Golden Generation." Hu Liena proudly raised her head, her eyes filled with confidence and arrogance. As a member of the Spirit Hall's Golden Generation, she was full of confidence in herself and her companions' strength. In her mind, the Spirit Hall's Golden Generation was strong enough to stand out anywhere.

Standing beside Hu Liena, Xie Yue and Yan nodded in agreement. As members of the same Golden Generation, their pride was no less than Hu Liena's. Xie Yue's face was cold and stern, his eyes revealing an innate sharpness that seemed to see through everything. Yan, on the other hand, was burly, with long, fiery red hair flying wildly, and a powerful aura emanating from his Flame Lord Martial Soul.

As the golden generation of the Spirit Hall, the three were already renowned among the younger generation of Douluo Continent. They displayed astonishing talent from a young age, reaching level twenty-three in spirit power by the age of nine. They stood out in the Spirit Hall's training camp and were chosen by Bibi Dong to be sent to the Spirit Hall Academy for intensive training. Years of diligent cultivation and countless trials have allowed their strength to advance by leaps and bounds. Now, at only fifteen or sixteen years old, they have become awe-inspiring Spirit Kings.

Hu Liena's martial soul is the Celestial Fox, an extremely powerful and rare martial soul. Every ten levels she gains, her martial soul acquires an additional tail, significantly increasing its strength. Furthermore, her martial soul possesses a powerful charm ability, capable of bewitching opponents and trapping them in illusions, thus allowing her to control the battle. Xie Yue's Moon Blade martial soul boasts astonishing attack power, and combined with his self-created soul skill, Full Moon, its power is not to be underestimated. Yan's Flame Lord martial soul possesses both fire and earth attributes and is one of the ancient martial souls. Each of his soul skills contains powerful fire energy and robust earth defense, allowing him to deliver a fatal blow to enemies while protecting himself and his allies in battle.

"Our Spirit Hall's Golden Generation is not just a name without substance." Yan clenched his fist, and the flame patterns on his body seemed to shine even brighter because of his excitement. "Even if we face geniuses from another world, we will never back down."

Xie Yue narrowed his eyes slightly, a faint smile appearing on his lips. "Let them witness the true strength of the Golden Generation of the Spirit Hall in Douluo Continent." His voice was deep and firm, as if issuing a silent challenge to the young heroes of another world.

It should be noted that in the long history of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament, Soul Masters at the Soul Grandmaster level have always been the core fighting force of each participating academy, not to mention that the main members of most academies only reach the Soul Venerable level. Under such a competitive landscape, the appearance of three Soul King level powerhouses is undoubtedly like a towering mountain standing between hills, creating an almost overwhelming gap in strength, which can be described as a dimensional reduction attack.

It's particularly worth mentioning that the current Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament has an age limit of under 25, giving young Soul Masters relatively ample room to grow. In contrast, the Soul Master Tournament in another world has a strict age limit of under 20, making Soul Masters capable of reaching high-level strength extremely rare.

In an environment where powerful individuals are scarce, these three stood out with their exceptional strength, attracting attention like cranes among chickens. Their outstanding talent and potential even caught the eye of Pope Bibi of the Spirit Hall, who ultimately made an exception and accepted Hu Liena as his disciple, demonstrating the astonishing strength and far-reaching influence of their abilities. It should be noted that the position of Pope of the Spirit Hall has always represented supreme power and glory, and becoming a direct disciple of the Pope means holding a crucial key to the pinnacle of power. Looking at the lineage of the Spirit Hall, the Pope's mantle is often chosen from among his most accomplished students; therefore, the Pope's disciples are always considered strong contenders for the next Pope, with the potential to one day wield power within the Spirit Hall and command all heroes. Such an opportunity and prospect is the ultimate honor that countless spirit masters dream of.

Tiandou Empire Palace.

The morning sun slanted through the gilded eaves, turning the white marble steps amber. Dewdrops clinging to the glazed tiles refracted into dappled patterns of light, tumbling down with the hurried skirts of palace maids. The bronze bells tinkled softly on the vermilion palace gates, the gleam of the armor of the imperial guards mingling with the golden tassels hanging from the eaves, dividing the majestic palace walls into a chessboard of light and shadow. From the distant imperial garden came the clear chirping of birds, startling a few dew-kissed magnolia petals, which drifted and floated into the moat, flowing with the shimmering waves deeper into the imperial city.

(End of this chapter)