The Peerless Tang Sect: Possessing Huo Yuhao at the Start

Chapter 26 The Grand Tournament

As the capital of the Star Luo Empire, Star Luo City is undoubtedly the largest city in the empire. The competition is held in Star Luo Square in front of the Star Luo Imperial City. Star Luo Square is extremely large and can accommodate the most spectators.

Not far to the east of Xingluo Square stands a grand seven-story hotel. This hotel, named Xinghuang, is owned by the royal family. It has been specially set aside to accommodate participants from advanced Soul Master academies or Soul Master trainees from various countries.

The Shrek Academy team was holding a meeting, and almost all the participating academies were also mobilizing their teams. The Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, which shared a floor with Shrek Academy, was doing the same.

At this moment, all eleven team members, along with their coach Wang Yan, were sitting in the conference room for a pre-competition mobilization meeting.

They arrived in Star Luo City yesterday, which is considered quite late among the participating academies. However, as the defending champion and the number one academy on the continent, in the eyes of others, this was simply due to Shrek Academy's pride.

Wang Yan sat at the head of the table, with Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, and Ling Luochen, whose faces were still pale, to his left. Under such circumstances, it was no wonder that Wang Yan looked unwell.

The deadline for college registration is today. Wang Yan has already registered with the competition organizers, but the college's reinforcements are nowhere to be seen. The competition, which starts tomorrow, will depend entirely on them.

Wang Yan calmed himself down, a smile appearing on his face, and said, "How did everyone sleep last night? The treatment in the Star Luo Empire is really quite good."

[Ding! System has issued a mission: Clear the Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament. Reward: Divine Seed]

"The seed of divinity? The opportunity to become a god has arrived," Huo Zhanji murmured to himself.

Beibei, sitting in the first seat, said, "I rested quite well. Teacher Wang, do you need any tactical arrangements?"

Wang Yan said irritably, "What tactical arrangements do we need? With Huo Zhanji's self-fusion martial soul technique as a backup, what do we have to worry about? The ones who are afraid are the opponents, not us. Let's all go. Xiao Tao, you three stay here for a bit, I'll find you some more pills."

After all seven people had left, Wang Yan stood up and closed the conference room door, the relaxed look on his face vanishing instantly. He let out a long sigh, and when he sat back down at the head of the table, his expression was extremely serious.

Dai Yueheng sighed and said, "Teacher Wang, is it meaningful for you to comfort them like this? Tomorrow's first match is an elimination round. Facing our college, our opponents will definitely fight with all their might."

Ma Xiaotao said, "Teacher Wang did the right thing. We have no choice but to trust them completely now. Whose turn is it now, yours or mine?"

Wang Yan said in a deep voice, "I kept the three of you behind because I need to ask how long it will take for your injuries to allow you to rejoin the battle. I need the exact time."

Ma Xiaotao said, "If we focus all our efforts on cultivation and recuperation, it will take at least fifteen days."

Dai Yueheng said, "My cultivation is not as good as Xiao Tao's, so it will probably take a little longer, about seventeen days."

Wang Yan's mood grew heavier and heavier. This was his first time leading a team to participate in a major competition, and he had absolutely no idea what to expect!

Ling Luochen said, "My injuries are relatively minor, and I estimate I will recover in about ten days."

After a quick calculation, Wang Yan said, "In other words, if everything goes smoothly, you can play in the third or fourth match of the knockout stage."

"In the previous few matches, Huo Zhanji was there to cover for us. Elder Lin has already assessed his self-fusion martial soul skill, and his initial combat strength is at the Soul Emperor level, so we don't need to worry about the previous few matches."

"A level 29 Great Soul Master can reach the strength of a low-level Soul Emperor?" Dai Yueheng said.

"Surprised? But that's the truth..." Wang Yan said.

.........

The following morning, as the first rays of sunlight shone into Star Luo City, the capital of the Star Luo Empire exuded a solemn atmosphere.

All the streets around Xingluo Square were blocked off by soldiers in bright armor, especially near the Xinghuang Hotel, where thousands of soldiers were stationed. The streets leading to Xingluo Square from there were completely under martial law, and only participating students from various academies who came out of the Xinghuang Hotel were allowed to pass.

The arena used for this year's Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Battle Tournament is not located in the center of Star Luo Square, but in front of the main gate of the Imperial City. His Majesty the Emperor of the Star Luo Empire can then watch the battle directly from the top of the Imperial City wall with his civil and military officials.

The entire arena is 100 meters long and wide, and 5 meters high. There are 108 metal pillars around the arena. After the competition begins, 108 Soul Masters will be in charge of protecting the arena. These metal pillars will release a protective shield to prevent any Soul Skills from leaking out, so as to prevent damage to the imperial city or harm to innocent people.

The imperial city is located on the north side, facing south, while a luxurious rest area has been set up on the west side of the competition stage, specifically for the use of the participating teams from various colleges.

Since the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Battle Tournament adopted its current format, apart from the final stage of the competition, the most exciting part is actually the first round of elimination matches, which is far more exciting and even brutal than the subsequent round-robin matches.

The round-robin tournament allows for tactical arrangements and even tactical failures. But the first round is a direct knockout tournament; if you lose, you're out. Every participating academy must get through this stage.

Early in the morning, the teachers leading the teams from each college arrived at the capital city and drew lots using the competition number plates they received during registration.

Meanwhile, the drawing ceremony was complete, and officials from the Star Luo Empire would tally the results. Once the competition order was announced, the final preparatory work for the major tournament would be finished.

As the sun slowly rose into the sky from the east, a warm feeling instantly spread through Xingluo City, located in the central part of the continent, and the participating students from various academies began to enter the arena.

Today, all the students of Shrek Academy are wearing the traditional dark green school uniform, which is the standard color of Shrek Academy. Moreover, they are standing in the first row of all the academies, and no academy has any objection to this.

"Dark green clothes, I really can't compliment this sense of style." Although Huo Zhanji's face remained expressionless, he had already cursed it countless times in his heart.

The students from the academies standing at the back looked at Shrek Academy's lineup and couldn't help but show surprise. Only eleven people had come, and most of them looked far from twenty years old. You could tell they were young without even testing their bone age. Only the three at the front looked about right.

For most academies, they were secretly praying that they wouldn't encounter powerhouses like Shrek Academy or Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy in the first round. Otherwise, it would practically mean they were eliminated.

The Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy team members stood behind Shrek Academy. This made it easier for them to observe the Shrek Academy students in front of them.

The youngest students at Shrek Academy are Huo Zhanji, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao. Huo Zhanji is alright; he looks about fourteen or fifteen years old. But Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao still have a bit of a childish look on their faces.

Even the usually arrogant Xiao Hongchen was filled with doubt at this moment: What exactly does Shrek Academy want to do by sending such a lineup?

It took nearly half an hour for the audience to enter; there were simply too many people. The once empty Xingluo Square was now packed with people.

"Silence!" A loud voice suddenly echoed throughout the room.

Upon hearing this voice, all the soldiers stood at attention and raised their spears. Instantly, a chilling atmosphere filled the entire area, and the previously noisy Xingluo Square fell silent.

"His Majesty the Emperor has arrived."

"Whoosh..." The crowd immediately knelt down in large numbers. Hundreds of thousands of people made the same synchronized movement at the same time, and the scene was indeed extremely spectacular.

"All of you may rise." The voice of the Star Luo Empire Emperor was amplified and transmitted through the amplified soul guide device.

The crowd rose to their feet, and the students from the participating academies straightened their backs. All eyes were fixed on the city walls directly ahead.

Emperor Xingluo, accompanied by his empress and civil and military officials, arrived at the forefront of the city wall, surveying his people with a gentle yet dignified gaze.

"The All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament is the most important event in the Soul Master world of Douluo Continent. This year, it's our Star Luo Empire's turn to host it, and I'm very pleased. Here, on behalf of the Star Luo Empire, I welcome the representatives from various academies, led by Shrek Academy, who have traveled from afar. I hope you will demonstrate your true prowess in the competition over the next month."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." The leaders and students from the 133 academies bowed again, and the Star Luo Emperor smiled and nodded in their direction.

"Alright, I hereby declare the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Battle Tournament officially open." With the Star Luo Emperor's resounding announcement, the curtain was finally raised on this grand event.

"Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom..." The booming sound of cannons rang out from the city wall and continued for one hundred and eight shots before stopping.

Emperor Xingluo led his officials to step back slightly. The seats had already been arranged, and he and the Empress took their seats, waving to the Prime Minister beside them.

"According to the competition rules of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament, the first round will be an elimination tournament. A total of 133 advanced soul master and soul master academies have registered for this tournament."

"Through a draw, one school will receive a bye in the first round. A total of sixty-six matches will be played. The first round will be a knockout tournament. The loser will be eliminated from the competition."

"Now, the first match will begin immediately. The two sides are the Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy team from the Douling Empire, and the Shrek Academy team, the number one academy on the continent, with countless honors and having won almost all the major championships in the past thousand years."

The moment the host announced the start of the competition, the atmosphere at Xingluo Square reached its peak.

"Shrek, Shrek, Shrek..."

The shouts of Shrek Academy echoed almost every corner of the square, leaving the players about to enter the game somewhat dumbfounded.

Just then, the host's voice rang out, "Let's first invite the team members from Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy to the stage."

In the back of the players' area, a group of pale-faced young players walked out. When they left the players' area, they even looked like they were walking on air.

Ma Xiaotao chuckled and said to Huo Zhanji and the others, "Look, these are your opponents. Did you notice? Some of your legs are trembling. Show your courage and strength, Shrek Academy will win!"

"Shrek will win!"

.........

(End of this chapter)