Jing Hongchen remained calm, smiling lightly as he said, "It's like this, Your Highness."
"For this tournament, Student Su Yu is leading his sect to participate, so he won't be representing the academy."
"Oh?"
Xu Tiannan raised his eyebrows slightly and said blandly, "But as a member of Illustrious Virtue Hall, isn't Student Su Yu's decision a bit inconsiderate?"
"After all, his strength is indispensable. If our Royal Academy fails to win the championship because of this, it might have a negative impact."
At these words, Jing Hongchen's gaze flickered slightly.
From just a few words, he could sense hostility from Xu Tiannan.
It seemed Xu Tiannan didn't have good intentions toward Su Yu.
Did Su Yu offend Xu Tiannan at some point?
Jing Hongchen had no idea that Xu Tiannan's feelings toward Su Yu were far more than mere hostility.
He wished for nothing more than Su Yu's death.
After all, Su Yu held Xu Tiannan's greatest secret.
If Su Yu were to make that secret public, Xu Tiannan would be finished—he'd have no chance at the throne.
After all, how could a eunuch with no ability to produce heirs become emperor?
But Su Yu was too well-protected, and Xu Tiannan didn't know how many backup plans Su Yu had in place.
So he was forced to be cautious.
But that didn't mean Xu Tiannan didn't hate Su Yu—in fact, he hated him to the core.
Zhongli Wu's bold appearance already spoke volumes.
Jing Hongchen's expression didn't change as he replied, "Your Highness, you may not know, but Su Yu is no ordinary student."
"He not only has an extraordinary background, but he's also an eighth-level Soul Engineer."
"His talent is almost unheard of. Even Illustrious Virtue Hall can't afford to restrain a genius like him too much."
"To put it bluntly, Su Yu has the potential to become an Ultimate Douluo and a level ten Soul Engineer."
"Your Highness, compared to a potential loss in the Soul Dueling Tournament, I think winning the favor of a future super powerhouse is more important."
"I'm sure you don't want Su Yu to hold a grudge against the Empire, do you?"
Jing Hongchen didn't back down at all, confronting Xu Tiannan head-on.
If you're going to use a potential loss at the Soul Dueling Tournament to make trouble, then I'll use the Empire's future to shut you up.
Which is more important—a mere tournament championship, or the friendship of a future super powerhouse?
You don't want the Ice God Palace to stand against the Empire, do you?
If, because of your nitpicking, you offend Su Yu and the Ice God Palace, can you bear that responsibility?
Xu Tiannan's face darkened, a shadow flickering in his eyes.
Jing Hongchen's words had completely shut him down.
He understood the implication and was even angrier about it.
Jing Hongchen was being realistic—there was nothing he could say to refute it.
He'd intended to give Su Yu some trouble but was instead outmaneuvered by Jing Hongchen.
But at least he'd learned one thing: the relationship between Jing Hongchen and Su Yu was close.
Winning Jing Hongchen over to his side was probably a lost cause.
Xu Tiannan didn't speak, his gaze growing colder.
"Hall Master Hongchen, I think you're a bit wrong here."
"Even if Su Yu is extremely talented, it will still take time for him to grow."
"And he may not even develop as smoothly as you imagine, right?"
Zhongli Wu suddenly chimed in.
Jing Hongchen gave him a deep look and said slowly, "Whether he will or not, it's not up to me."
"If you have time, Sect Master, you could ask the Ice Emperor Hai Bodong. You might get an answer."
"You…"
Zhongli Wu's misty face suddenly rippled violently, clearly agitated.
Jing Hongchen's words had stabbed straight into his heart.
You, Zhongli Wu, acting so arrogant, and you want to stop Su Yu from growing?
Do you think Hai Bodong is dead?
Go ask your own Grand Elder if he dares to say such nonsense.
Jing Hongchen scoffed inwardly—what a poser.
Seeing that Zhongli Wu and Jing Hongchen were about to clash, Xu Tiannan hurried to intervene.
"Let's all calm down. Harmony brings prosperity."
"In the end, this is my fault—I didn't think it through."
"The Hall Master is right. Offending such a promising new star would be unwise."
Xu Tiannan forced a smile, suppressing his displeasure.
No matter what, now was not the time to completely offend Jing Hongchen.
If Jing Hongchen sided with another prince, it would be a huge disadvantage for him.
His plan was at a critical stage—he couldn't afford any slip-ups.
He was willing to do anything to climb to the top.
A little humiliation? He could endure it.
Who didn't know Xu Tiannan was a master at enduring things!
"Hmph!"
Zhongli Wu snorted and turned away.
Jing Hongchen glanced at him and curled his lip.
His gaze shifted to the rest area, landing on Su Yu.
His years of political experience told him that Radiant City was full of undercurrents, and a storm was coming.
He needed to find time to warn Su Yu.
He had no choice—he and Su Yu were deeply entangled now.
Meng Hongchen had long been won over by Su Yu; there was no breaking that connection.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have stood up to Zhongli Wu for Su Yu just now.
That alone showed he'd already picked a side between the Holy Spirit Sect and Su Yu.
In the future, the Holy Spirit Sect would likely treat him as an enemy as well.
He wasn't afraid, but he needed to make preparations.
Xu Tiannan said nothing, his already dark face growing even gloomier.
Behind them, Juzi, who had witnessed everything, had a fleeting strange look in her beautiful eyes.
...
...
In the arena.
After defeating three opponents, the Royal Sun Moon Soul Engineer Academy's soul engineer stepped down.
Another soul engineer took over.
This one was also a Soul Emperor, a level six Soul Engineer.
On the other side, the Dragon Slayer Sect's three strongest had already been taken out by the previous Royal Sun Moon Academy member.
The remaining four were only Soul Ancestors, no match for a level six Soul Engineer.
All four were defeated.
The Royal Sun Moon Academy team only used two people to win.
It wasn't a one-on-seven, but the display of strength was still shocking.
In the end, the Royal Sun Moon Soul Engineer Academy advanced to the next elimination round with eleven points.
In the rest area.
Wu Ming and the others watched the display, all looking grim.
The Shrek Academy team behind them looked even more tense.
The Royal Sun Moon Academy's strength was truly formidable.
Wu Ming took a deep breath and said seriously, "Senior Sister, Sister Ruoruo, this Royal Sun Moon Academy is a real threat."
Han Ruoruo nodded in agreement, speaking softly, "These two level six Soul Engineers are both outstanding. For soul masters of the same rank, they're tough opponents."
"More importantly, the strongest—Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen—haven't even appeared yet."
"Their strength is at least Soul Emperor, which means the Royal Sun Moon Academy has at least four Soul Emperors."
"With such a lineup…"
Her tone tightened; clearly, this was a huge challenge for Shrek Academy.
Zhang Lexuan shook her head. "Not four, but five."
"There's another Soul Emperor on their team."
Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen's soul tools masked their specific levels, but the other three Soul Emperors' auras were obvious.
She could sense them.
"What?"
"Five Soul Emperors?"
Wu Ming cried out, as did the others from Shrek—they all turned pale.
Five Soul Emperors—the pressure was enormous.
They only had three Soul Emperors.
"Five Soul Emperors, that's astonishing. The Royal Sun Moon Academy is getting harder to deal with."
Wu Ming's gaze grew cold.
In her year, the Royal Sun Moon Academy hadn't been worth mentioning.
With Zhang Lexuan leading, they had swept through easily.
In Ma Xiaotao's year, they lost to the Royal Sun Moon Academy.
But that was because of Su Yu.
Wu Ming and the others believed that Shrek lost to Su Yu, not to the Royal Sun Moon Academy.
They had always looked down on the Royal Sun Moon Academy.
If not for Su Yu, how could they have beaten Shrek?
But today's showing from the Royal Sun Moon Academy was truly shocking.
Five Soul Emperors—that was formidable!
Even with confidence in Shrek's team, they couldn't guarantee victory against such a lineup.
After all, a two Soul Emperor gap wasn't something that could be made up with words.
"The Royal Sun Moon Academy is indeed getting tougher, but…"
Zhang Lexuan glanced at Su Yu.
Compared to Su Yu's team, they were nothing.
Su Yu's team consisted entirely of Soul Emperors and above.
Every time she saw them, she was shocked anew.
She had no idea where Su Yu found all these geniuses.
She met Su Yu's eyes, and he just smiled.
Whether it was their team or the Royal Sun Moon Academy—
Only a team with a Soul Sage could dominate this tournament.
Teams without a Soul Sage were destined for failure.
But Su Yu didn't bother to warn them—he enjoyed watching Shrek Academy's surprised reactions.
Shrek had flaunted its reputation long enough; it was time for a taste of the new era.
...
After the Royal Sun Moon Academy advanced, the tournament continued in full swing.
Team after team took the stage.
With sects allowed to participate, the level of competition and spectacle far surpassed the previous tournament.
Overall, sects had the advantage over academies.
Especially those with deep traditions—they had unique experience and talent development methods that ordinary academies couldn't match.
As the matches went on, more sect teams advanced than academy teams.
Soon, it was afternoon.
Suddenly, a voice caught Su Yu's attention.
"For the next match, Holy Spirit Sect versus Heaven Dou Academy. Both teams, please enter the waiting area."
Su Yu, who had been dozing off, opened his eyes. "Holy Spirit Sect?"
His gaze swept over; sure enough, several figures in cloaks from the Holy Spirit Sect entered the waiting area.
"The Holy Spirit Sect is up."
Zhang Lexuan and the others narrowed their eyes.
Evil soul masters participating—this was unprecedented.
These guys were far more brazen than anyone imagined.
The match started quickly.
And ended quickly.
Although Heaven Dou Academy's Soul King captain was strong, facing evil soul masters, the outcome was already decided.
Enveloped by a black mist, his soul and brain were sucked dry on the spot.
The Holy Spirit Sect's people had blatantly killed someone in front of everyone.
And the Sun Moon Empire's referees were calm, not intervening at all.
When Heaven Dou Academy protested, it was useless.
To protect their students, Heaven Academy's teachers withdrew from the match.
So the Holy Spirit Sect advanced to the next round with twelve points.
"These bastards, that referee just ignores murder?"
Wu Ming fumed.
Han Ruoruo shook her head. "They're birds of a feather—of course, they won't care."
Wu Ming grew even angrier, wishing she could kill them all.
"Ming'er, calm down. This is Sun Moon—you can't act rashly."
Zhang Lexuan reminded her.
Wu Ming gritted her teeth and reluctantly looked away.
Zhang Lexuan habitually glanced at Su Yu, only to find his expression calm, as if nothing happened.
But knowing Su Yu, Zhang Lexuan realized—the calmer he looked, the more murderous he felt inside.
Su Yu was probably already planning how to deal with these bastards.
Just as she thought, Su Yu's killing intent surged within. The calm before the storm was always the most still.
That was Su Yu's current state.
On the field, after the Holy Spirit Sect's match, the mood was visibly heavy.
After all, an evil soul master killing someone so cruelly on stage was shocking.
That kind of emotion wouldn't fade anytime soon.
Soon, the first day ended.
...
After a night's rest, the tournament continued the next day.
Near noon, it was finally Su Yu's Holy Slayer Palace's turn.
"For the next match, Holy Slayer Palace versus Earthdragon Sect. Both teams, please enter the waiting area."
Su Yu raised an eyebrow. "Earthdragon Sect?"
After a moment's thought, he said, "Mingli, go."
Against Earthdragon Sect, there was no one more suitable than Di Mingli.
Hearing the order, Di Mingli got up and left.
No one else moved.
Even Zhang Lexuan and Meng Hongchen were surprised, looking at Su Yu.
Just sending one person?
Only those in the waiting area could compete.
Did Su Yu intend for Di Mingli to take on the entire Earthdragon Sect alone?