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

Chapter 192 Opening Ceremony of the Competition
Looking at the figures not far away, Beibei smiled meaningfully. "Hehe, I didn't expect them to come too." As she finished speaking, her fingertips unconsciously rubbed the hem of her clothes, and complex emotions surged in her eyes.

The reactions of the others in the team were almost identical: their knuckles clenched so tightly they turned white, and their joints bulged slightly from the force. For He Caitou and Xu Sanshi, past memories were like sharp blades piercing their nerves—the shame of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy snatching the championship in the previous competition had not yet faded, and the act of Jiu Li, Wang Dong'er, and others leading the rebellion against the academy had etched an indelible mark of hatred into their hearts. The anger brought about by this double "betrayal" had long been deeply rooted in their hearts.

Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu, members of the team, undisguisedly burned with flames of humiliation and hatred in their eyes, as if they would incinerate their "enemy" at any moment. While the other team members and reserve members didn't outwardly display their emotions, the daily exposure and influence had subtly fostered a sense of discontent and resentment, even if they hadn't fully internalized the hostility. The atmosphere grew increasingly heavy in the silence. Stepping out of the Mingdu city gates, a majestic arena came into view. The entire arena was constructed of cast metal, its cold, hard luster gleaming sharply in the sunlight. A groove ran along the perimeter of the arena, from which a transparent light screen, tinged with a faint yellow hue, rose straight upwards until it disappeared into the clouds, silently demonstrating the severity and awe-inspiring nature of the "no height limit" rule. This light screen was perfectly fitted to the arena, completely avoiding the controversial situation five years ago in the Star Luo City Soul Fighting Tournament, where a contestant was disqualified simply for falling off the platform.

To the north of the arena stands a similarly high platform, constructed of metal, its structure both orderly and imposing, clearly designed specifically for spectators. The east side is planned as a rest area for the participating teams, also neatly organized. Furthermore, several gigantic soul-guided screens float in mid-air, securely supported by metal frames, providing real-time updates on the battles, ensuring a clear view for every spectator. Such a sophisticated and massive undertaking could only be accomplished by the Sun Moon Empire, possessing cutting-edge technology and immense financial resources.

After all the participating teams were seated in the rest area, a group of guards dressed in golden uniforms marched in perfect unison to the foot of the high platform on the north side of the competition arena. They quickly dispersed, forming a tight ring to guard the platform, while other guards swiftly retrieved soul-guided cannons. With the clanging of metal against metal, the cannons pointed straight to the sky, exuding a powerful and intimidating aura.

In the rest area of ​​Shrek Academy, He Caitou looked at the group of golden-clad guards and explained to his companion in a low voice, "This is one of the true core combat forces of the Sun Moon Empire—the Royal Soul Master Corps." As he spoke, a tense atmosphere seemed to permeate the air.

He Caitou added solemnly, "The members of the Royal Soul Master Corps are all at least level five Soul Masters, and each of them is equipped with the most advanced and sophisticated Soul Guidance Devices in the Empire. Their Soul Master Corps leader is an unfathomable level nine Soul Master. Moreover, this Soul Master Corps only obeys the orders of the Emperor of the Sun Moon Empire, and those present here now represent half of its combat strength."

"Only obey the Emperor's orders?" Bei Bei frowned, his eyes filled with doubt. His question was quickly answered—the sound of carriages approached from afar. Under the tight protection of another Royal Soul Master Corps, a convoy slowly made its way to the platform to the north. At the very front was an extremely ornate dragon carriage, its surface carved with lifelike dragon patterns, exuding nobility and majesty; behind it followed a group of Sun Moon Empire officials in their official robes, their presence imposing.

As the imperial carriage came to a stop, two graceful maids stepped lightly onto it and slowly lifted the heavy curtains. In an instant, a woman dressed in magnificent imperial attire appeared before everyone. It was none other than Xu Tianzhen, the ruler of the Sun Moon Empire, who sat regally atop the imperial carriage.

As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Tianzhen, accompanied by her maid, gracefully stepped into the elevator and slowly ascended to the platform. At the same time, Jing Hongchen, leading several white-haired elders, also steadily ascended via another elevator. In contrast, the other officials did not receive this special treatment and could only climb the stone steps along the edge of the platform.

Once everyone was in place, Xu Tianzhen was respectfully ushered to the central seat on the platform, while her maidservant moved gracefully to the amplifying soul guide device.

Before the maid could speak, a deep, authoritative voice pierced the air, accompanied by a chillingly powerful pressure that swept across the entire area like a surging tide: "Silence!"

The sharp shout was like a heavy hammer blow. Everyone present saw a flash of white light, and an invisible, powerful force pressed down on them from above. Their breathing became rapid, and their chests felt as if they were being squeezed by a giant force. The once bustling and noisy arena fell into dead silence in an instant. Even the slightest sound of a pin dropping could be clearly heard. The entire arena was filled with a suffocating and chilling atmosphere.

“A demigod Douluo,” Yan Shaozhe said.

Looking at Ni Ye in the audience, everything seemed normal.

Meanwhile, in another world, the Douluo Continent.

Everyone was absolutely shocked.

Niye looked at the screen in front of the offering hall.

Qian Daoliu's expression became more serious.

Qingluan Douluo said, "Brother, what are your chances of defeating the powerful figures from that world?"

Qian Daoliu said, "Leaving aside everything else, the Sun Moon Empire alone is enough to crush us. That blue-haired man is as strong as me; we are both demigods."

The other elders were shocked to hear this. This person actually had the same strength as the Grand Elder, so they should not go too far in.

The moment that voice faded, Xu Tianzhen's maidservant moved gracefully beside her, her voice clear and solemn: "Distinguished subjects of the Sun Moon Empire, guests from all corners of the world, I am here on the orders of Her Majesty the Empress to warmly welcome you all. At this moment, I am honored to announce on behalf of Her Majesty the Empress that the Continental Elite Youth Advanced Soul Master Tournament has officially begun!" The concise and powerful opening remarks were succinct and without any redundancy, a result of Xia Die's meticulous design.

Normally, Xia Die would review most of Empress Xu Tianzhen's memorials on her behalf. Faced with this naturally lazy monarch, Xia Die couldn't help but feel helpless.

As the maid finished speaking, the subjects of the Sun Moon Empire knelt down in unison, shouting "Long live the Emperor!" in the direction of Xu Tianzhen, their voices shaking the heavens.

As the cheers subsided, Xu Tianzhen raised his hand to signal the assembled ministers to take their seats. The maid who had officiated at the opening ceremony sat gracefully to Xu Tianzhen's right, while to his left sat a middle-aged man in a blue robe, none other than Ni Ye, whose deep gaze and composed demeanor radiated an aura of calm. Jing Hongchen sat behind Xu Tianzhen.

Once the officials had taken their places, an official in full robes stepped forward steadily, stood before the megaphone, and began to explain the competition rules in detail. His voice was loud and clear, and he elaborated on the specifics of the competition one by one.

After the rules were explained, an elderly man with white hair and a cane approached. He shakily unfolded a list in his hand, his voice, though aged, clear and distinct: "The first match of the preliminary elimination rounds—Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy versus Dragon Slayer Sect. Please send seven members from each side to the waiting area to prepare."

The waiting area was set up in front of the rest area under the shade pavilion. It was a specially designated area, with dozens of wooden chairs neatly arranged on both sides about 20 meters apart. The simple arrangement was quite orderly.

Upon hearing this, the seven members of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy rose in unison in the rest area. Their steps were steady, their eyes resolute, as they walked towards the waiting area. Passing by the location of St. Freya Academy, Meng Hongchen suddenly stopped, turned around, and winked playfully at the group, her eyes brimming with confidence and anticipation. Seeing this, Xia Die immediately raised her hand in a cheering gesture, and Wang Dong'er beside her responded in perfect unison; the silent interaction between the three conveyed encouragement and support.

When the seven contestants from the Dragon Slayer Sect stepped into the waiting area, the crowd on the sidelines cast glances of pity or curiosity. After all, being drawn against the previous champion, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, in the first round seemed like an incredibly unlucky draw to anyone. However, to Xia Die's surprise, this team, seemingly in dire straits, exuded composure and confidence on every face. Their heads held high, they showed no regard for their formidable opponents.

"They do have some courage." Xia Die stroked her chin, her gaze sweeping over the members of the Dragon Slaying Sect. She wondered to herself, where did this team's confidence come from?

In fact, since the new competition rules allowed sects to participate, the Soul Master world has been in turmoil. In the eyes of many established sects, academies have always been "flowers in a greenhouse"—the fixed teaching cycle of academies, limited by the academic system, inevitably leads to students with unstable foundations. Of course, this "ironclad rule" does not apply to Shrek Academy—the legendary institution now renamed the Divine Soul Sect.

The biggest difference between sects and academies lies in their inheritance model. Once you step into a sect, it means a lifelong bond. Those ancient sects with profound foundations often hide secret techniques and unique cultivation systems that are difficult for outsiders to discover. Tracing back to the source, the early All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Competition did have a sect category, but it was quietly canceled at some point.

The Dragon Slaying Sect before them was an ancient sect from the Douling Empire, boasting a history spanning millennia. As a traditional Soul Master force, they harbored a deep-seated abhorrence for the emerging Soul Tool technology, even regarding its use as a "heretical path." In their eyes, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy was nothing more than a group of opportunists reliant on equipment. This ingrained arrogance made the Dragon Slaying Sect not only unafraid of powerful enemies but also eager to prove the strength of orthodox Soul Masters on the arena.

The members of the Dragon Slaying Sect stood tall and proud, their eyes flashing with contempt and confidence, as if the prestige of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy was nothing but fleeting smoke in front of them. In their minds, this duel was never a defeat without suspense.

Just then, the elderly man on the podium, who was in charge of the competition, leaned on his carved cane, slightly straightened his hunched back, and his cloudy but still sharp eyes swept across the entire arena. His aged yet loud voice resounded throughout the arena through the amplified soul guide device: "Referees, enter the arena! The first-place contestants of both individual elimination rounds, enter the arena!" With this command, the atmosphere in the arena suddenly became tense, and everyone's eyes were focused on the waiting area, waiting for the fierce battle to begin.

(End of this chapter)