Douluo Continent: The Peerless Tang Sect, Angels and Rakshasa Return

Chapter 372 433434 — Shocking! Shrek Academy unexpectedly encounters a Soul Douluo in the first round!

"It's really kind of you to go to such lengths. The Queen herself has come to check on the problems that have arisen with such a small team!" Huo Zhongxian smiled awkwardly, thinking to himself: These evil spirit masters are truly powerful. They actually managed to get the Queen to come and trick me into revealing information!

Then, Huo Zhongxian jokingly added, "However, if Her Majesty the Empress is truly willing to compensate, she could have the person who caused the injury apologize; that would show more sincerity..."

"This is a bit tricky! Then I, the Empress, will apologize on her behalf!" Qian Lingyun picked up the iron box in her hand, a half-smile on her face, and stuffed it into Huo Zhanji's arms. "This is an apology from Tang Ya. Want to open it and take a look?"

Squeak!

Huo Zhanji subconsciously opened the iron box. As soon as he opened the lid, a cool, white mist overflowed from inside the box.

Inside the thick block of ice in the box, there was a pair of neatly cut woman's arms.

"This is?!"

Huo Zhongxian and the others stared at Qian Lingyun in shock, their eyes filled with astonishment!

"Tsk, look at you all, so easily surprised! Didn't Tang Ya strike first? Just chop off her hands as an apology."

"Do you want it? If not, I'll take it back to her!"

After speaking, Qian Lingyun snatched the iron box from Huo Zhan's hand and tossed it to the black-robed woman behind her, gesturing, "Xiaoyu, return it! Don't delay her taking over!"

"Yes!" The woman in black on the right took the iron box and disappeared from the room in a few breaths, leaving only the Tang Clan members staring at Qian Lingyun with deep and solemn expressions.

"What? You think that without any backing, I can become Empress just because of my face?"

Casually counting on her fingers, Qian Lingyun watched with interest the amused expressions of the crowd, some subtle, some puzzled, and teased them with a smile:

"I gave you a chance, but you didn't take it! Since you don't want it, then goodbye, don't bother seeing me off!"

Amidst the bewildered gazes of the Tang Clan members, Qian Lingyun led Wu Yun out of their room with an air of nonchalance.

Wu Yun asked in a low voice, "Master, what's going on? Did you really cut off the Holy Maiden's arm?"

"Tsk! You've been with me for so long and you're still so stupid!" Qian Lingyun pouted, giving me a "you're not funny" look, before finally uttering, "She did it willingly!"

"This can be voluntary!" Wu Yun's lips twitched, her red eyes gleaming with a strange light. She asked softly, "How voluntary?"

"I asked her if she agreed or not, and since she didn't answer, I'll take that as a yes!"

Wu Yun: "6"

The competition rules were finally announced early the next morning.

Each participating team received a competition rules explanation from the organizing committee. When Huo Yuhao received the explanation, he couldn't help but frown.

This competition format is clearly different from before!

As per the competition rules, the entire competition is divided into two stages: preliminary rounds and finals. Both clan and college teams participate in mixed-team format.

The preliminary stage was indeed an elimination round.

But the knockout stage seemed to have changed its flavor. The competition venue was set in the outskirts of Mingdu, instead of the city center where the original competition should have been held.

One of the instructions that caught Huo Zhongxian's attention the most stated that, for both the preliminary and final rounds, only the diameter of the playing field would be limited, but the height would not.

Despite its simplicity, this explanation greatly increased Huo Zhongxian's vigilance. What did "no height limit" mean?

Are there any Soul Saint level experts among the participants? Obviously not. (Of course there are.)

The Soul Emperor realm is already the pinnacle at twenty years old. This means that there is no limit to the height a Soul Master can reach.

It's meaningless, because apart from some Soul Masters with flying Martial Souls, the vast majority of people can't fly! However, the same situation becomes completely different for Soul Masters.

And that is indeed the case. The Sun Moon Empire's explanation was that the previous competition system was too unfair to Soul Masters. Why couldn't Soul Masters fly high? This was bullying Soul Masters!

Due to the changes in the competition format, many Soul Master sects have united to protest!

Qian Lingyun's opinion on this is:

Fight if you want, don't fight back. I, as the host, will indulge you bunch of brainless idiots!

Flying soul tools aren't expensive. You're just being stubborn and suffering for it. Don't blame me if you don't get beaten up by someone who can fly!

The clerk in charge of posting the message sighed silently as he looked at the Empress's explanation, which was incredibly full of clichés, thinking to himself: This money is really hard to earn...

Finally, the official document, which had been revised overnight, was:

The competition format can't be changed, but there's an off-field flying soul tool rental service. You can rent one before the competition for 500 gold soul coins, and you'll get a full refund if it's damaged!

The draw ceremony took place the day before the start of the competition.

Xu Sanshi represented the Tang Clan in drawing lots. Out of the 167 participating teams, the luckiest team would draw a bye.

Xu Sanshi's luck, however, was clearly not that good.

Therefore, as the runners-up of the previous competition, they will be making their appearance in the first round.

The spot that was initially given a bye in the first round was, by official decision of the Sun Moon Empire, directly awarded to the previous year's champion, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy team.

Xiao Hongchen's team advanced directly to the next round, and they earned the maximum score of twelve points.

Shrek Academy's team was much less fortunate; they faced the Holy Soul Hall team, led by Captain Qian Lingyu, an 85th-level Soul Douluo…

Early morning. As the first rays of sunlight shone in the east, a strange scene unfolded on the streets of Mingdu.

Soldiers, clad entirely in silver armor, stood in two rows, extending outwards from the entrance of the Mingyue Hotel.

As far as the eye could see, the path stretched endlessly. The area they had formed was now completely cordoned off. People were ordered to stay at least thirty meters away and were forbidden to approach.

Protected by the soldiers' disciplined formation, the 167 participating teams, totaling nearly 2,000 people, set off from Mingdu. The competition venue was located on the outskirts east of Mingdu, and could be seen in the distance once outside the city's buildings.

On the north side of the competition venue, there is a raised platform, which is entirely constructed of metal.

It appears to be able to accommodate over a thousand people. The competition arena itself is even more imposing. The platform is ten meters high and over a hundred meters in diameter, estimated to be around one hundred and twenty meters.

The wide platform had a silvery-white metallic sheen, making it look as if it were made of metal.

Even just applying a single layer of metal plate would be a massive undertaking! Not to mention the entire platform has no seams whatsoever.

Even more strangely, there seemed to be a groove around the competition venue, and from within that groove, a transparent light curtain with a slight yellowish tint rose into the sky.

Looking up at the sky, there was no end in sight. How much soul power would it take to support this! Moreover, just from the light screen that was right next to the competition stage, one could see that it was different from the previous competition.

At least there won't be a situation where simply knocking the opponent off the stage constitutes a victory. A complete defeat is required. Besides the arena itself, extending outwards from the arena, every hundred meters there's a ring of enormous soul-guided screens supported by tall frames. Each screen is over twenty square meters in size.

Currently, only the Sun Moon Empire possesses such soul tool technology.

There are more than a hundred such screens around the competition area.

The rest area is located on the east side of the competition platform. It is mainly divided into two areas.

Near the competition stage was a covered area that could accommodate about twenty participating teams.

All that's left are some outdoor chairs, arranged in rows.

Located towards the back on both sides of the pavilion. Judging from the reception provided by the Sun and Moon Empire, every detail reveals the distinction between classes; those pavilion rest areas are undoubtedly reserved for prestigious academies and clans.

As for the unknown Tang Clan, no, the members of the Shrek Tang Clan, they were undoubtedly led to the bench area, and in a very remote corner at that.

Qian Lingyun: "Don't ask! We're just following procedure! If you're not happy, keep it to yourself! Just watch as Shrek Academy gets eliminated in the first round!"

By this time, the sky was already bright, and the rising sun from the east shone down on everyone, as if gilding all the contestants.

There were so many teams participating that it took almost half an hour just to get everyone seated. The clamor of the crowd in the distance continued to echo.

Looking down from the podium, Qian Lingyun immediately spotted her team.

That was a team that seemed completely out of place with the rest of the team.

Leading the way was Zhang Peng, the Scorpion Tiger Douluo. Behind him followed a group of people.

They were all dressed in black, with straw hats and black veils covering their faces.

Following closely behind Zhang Peng was Tang Ya. Although Tang Ya was also wearing a veil, the power of imagination is limitless!

With just a little thought, you can press your face against it...

As for why Tang Ya is currently the captain of the Holy Spirit Tang Sect, that's a question for Qian Lingyun.

As the Empress and a powerful weapon equivalent to a Limit Douluo, she needed to be on the podium, so it was impossible for her to sit with the Holy Spirit Cult team all the time.

Just then, a group of people arrived from afar. Also escorted by the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Corps, a procession of carriages came to the foot of the platform.

The procession was entirely golden, with the lead carriage, pulled by thirty-two horned-scaled horses, resembling a small palace.

Following behind were guards and a large number of officials from the Sun Moon Empire, dressed in magnificent robes. The imperial carriage stopped in front of the platform, and two maids standing on it lifted a curtain embroidered with anemone lotus patterns.

Immediately afterwards, a handsome and extraordinary young man stepped down from above.

Qian Renxue looked up at Qian Lingyun on the platform and then walked into a soul tool elevator with the others around her.

As the elevator ascended, people in the distance could see their young emperor.

Cheers immediately erupted one after another.

Clearly, Qian Renxue is capable of governing a country. After all, ten thousand years ago, she was the rightful first heir to the throne of the Heaven Dou Empire!

"Everyone, please sit down!" Qian Renxue waved her hand, gesturing for the surrounding ministers to sit down. Soon, only Qian Lingyun was standing on the platform.

"quiet!"

Qian Lingyun cleared her throat, and her melodious voice was amplified and transmitted to everyone's ears through the soul guide device.

"Citizens of the Sun and Moon Empire and guests from afar, on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor and the Empire, I hereby welcome you."

"At the same time, on behalf of His Majesty, I hereby announce that the Continental Elite Youth Soul Master Tournament shall now begin."

The opening remarks were very simple, without any unnecessary words or high-sounding official airs, because in Qian Lingyun's opinion, a dog that bites doesn't bark!

It's usually the poodle that barks the most.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress! Long live the Empress!"

The people of the Sun and Moon Empire knelt down and bowed to the Emperor and Empress on the platform.

Next, Jing Hongchen stood up, read out the competition rules, and announced the start of the competition.

The first match is between Shrek Academy, the runner-up of the previous competition, and the Holy Soul Team!

To everyone's surprise, the Holy Soul team only sent one player to face the runner-up of the previous tournament.

The beautiful, sunny blonde girl entered the waiting area alone.

What's even more bizarre is that this young girl didn't show the slightest fear despite having seven opponents.

"Could the Holy Soul Team be giving up because they're facing Shrek Academy?" Xiao Xiao asked, looking at the lone girl on the Holy Soul Team, somewhat puzzled. "Even if they think they'll lose, they shouldn't only send one person!"

Watching Qian Lingyu slowly walk onto the arena, Huo Zhan's face showed an expression of disbelief—his Eye of Destiny felt a faint pull.

Surprised, he looked around and, seeing that no one was paying attention, his spirit rings lit up.

"Third Soul Skill, Mental Appraisal!"

"Qian Lingyu/Soul Emperor, female, Holy Maiden of the Holy Soul Palace, Imperial Concubine of the Sun Moon Empire!"

"Martial Soul: Golden Dragon! Stats: ? Combat Power: ?"

"What? The combat stats and all the other stats are question marks?" Huo Zhan was stunned and stood there dumbfounded.

You should know that he only identifies question marks if the combat power is above the Title Douluo level!

But this imperial concubine is only a few years old, how could she possibly possess the stats of a Title Douluo!

"Referees, enter the arena. The first-place finishers from each individual elimination round will now enter the arena," came the voice of the elderly man presiding over the proceedings from the podium.

In Qian Lingyun's eyes, this man named Dai Huabin was more robust than before (compared to five years ago).

Stepping onto the competition stage, he displayed a commanding presence. Both sides bowed to each other before the referee. "Shrek Academy, Dai Huabin."

"Holy Soul Team, Qian Lingyu." Qian Lingyu didn't even bother to lift her head, her mind only on finishing the match and going to the podium for some snacks.

The referee gave a familiar, brief explanation of the rules, emphasizing that intentionally killing an opponent was strictly prohibited and would result in a loss. Only then did he allow both players to step back and prepare for the match.

Although Dai Huabin appeared calm on the surface, his emotions were in turmoil. They had finally arrived at the arena for the Continental Elite Youth Soul Master Tournament.

(End of this chapter)