Jiang Jue looked at the passionate crowd around him, listening to the waves of cheers rolling like tides, yet inside he remained calm and peaceful.
He clearly knew that none of this could be taken seriously until he had broken free from his cage.
Moreover, he noticed that since the last time he had gone to the Extreme North and returned, nothing had changed.
This meant that the Tang God King of the Divine Realm was not planning to make a move on him yet—or at least, the time to act had not come.
Of course, Jiang Jue suspected another possibility: that the Tang God King was playing a long game, keeping him and Huo Yuhao together to see who would ultimately swallow up the fortune accumulated by the Douluo world over thousands of years.
On this timeline, Tang God King had enough confidence to arrange things this way.
"A chess player must be prepared for the board to be flipped over. When the board falls on your head, breaking your skull and spilling blood, just don't regret it."
After all, who plays chess without wearing a helmet?
"The Divine Realm Committee, I hope you don't disappoint..."
Jiang Jue clenched his fists and thought silently.
Soon, they arrived at the competition arena.
The entire arena was 100 meters long and 100 meters wide, five meters high. Surrounding it were 108 metal pillars—these were solid defensive soul devices.
Once the match started, 108 soul masters would manage these devices to form a protective shield, preventing soul skills from overflowing outside and damaging the imperial city or harming innocent bystanders.
At this moment, Xingluo Square was completely empty except for soldiers stationed far away.
Iron fences about 1.5 meters tall stood densely around the square—high enough to not obstruct most people's views, but enough to divide the square into separate areas.
There were designated entrances and exits for the audience, making it easier for the soldiers to maintain order and control the number of people in each section.
On the west side of the arena was a luxurious rest area reserved for competing academy teams.
However, the rest area only had seats for about seventy academies, while more than 130 academies were participating—clearly no seats for those eliminated in the first round. This was to further motivate the participants.
The sun slowly rose from the east, casting warmth over Xingluo City located in the center of the continent.
On the city wall of the imperial city, a middle-aged man in a bright yellow robe and wearing an eight-treasure purple-gold crown stood with hands behind his back. His position was the very center of the city gate wall—the best vantage point to watch the arena below.
Jiang Jue looked up and saw this man clearly.
"Xu Jiawei, Emperor of the Xingluo Empire."
Since the collision of the Sun-Moon Continent and Douluo Continent, the emperor of Xingluo Empire had changed from the White Tiger Dai family to the Xingguan Xu family.
Xu family had treated the Dai family well, allowing them to keep their ducal title for generations. Even the neighboring Sun-Moon Empire's royal family envied this.
Xu Jiawei's eyes scanned all the teams below, lingering briefly on the Sun-Moon Royal Soul Master Academy's team.
"The Sun-Moon Empire... getting more restless. That matter must be dealt with..."
Xu Jiawei's expression did not change, but he thought silently.
Then his gaze moved to the Shrek Academy team. He frowned—this time Shrek Academy sent a rather young team.
Time passed, and the sun was high in the sky.
What was once an empty Xingluo Square was now packed with people. Fortunately, the iron fences divided the crowd into sections, and soldiers maintained order, so it was not chaotic.
"Silence!"
A loud voice suddenly echoed through the square.
All soldiers stood at attention and raised their spears, a killing intent spreading across the arena. The once noisy square fell silent.
"His Majesty the Emperor has arrived."
"Ahhh!"
The crowd immediately dropped to their knees—hundreds of thousands of people in perfect unison, a truly magnificent scene.
Of course, the competing teams including Jiang Jue's did not need to kneel—only a bow was required.
After all, this was not an ancient world. Imperial power did not completely override strength.
"Rise, everyone."
Xu Jiawei's gaze was gentle but authoritative as he surveyed his people.
"On behalf of the Xingluo Empire, I welcome you all. The All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Fighting Tournament is a grand event that has lasted for tens of thousands of years."
"I'm glad this year's tournament is held here in Xingluo City. I hope you all show your true prowess in the coming month's matches."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Leaders and students of 133 academies bowed in response.
"Good. I hereby declare the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Fighting Tournament officially started."
With Emperor Xu Jiawei's loud announcement, the grand event was officially underway.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Cannon fire thundered from the city wall, firing 108 shots. Xingluo Square turned into a sea of excitement and cheers.
"Next, the first round of matches will begin. The competing teams are the Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy representing the Douling Empire..."
"And the continent's number one academy, Shrek Academy, which boasts countless honors and nearly every championship for the past thousand years."
The loud voice echoed, and the atmosphere reached a fever pitch.
"Shrek! Shrek! Shrek!"
The shouts for Shrek Academy echoed through every corner of the square.
Jiang Jue's eyes flickered.
This was faith. Shrek Academy was deeply rooted in the hearts of those from the three empires it originally belonged to. These people took pride in it; it represented the pinnacle of traditional soul masters!
"What if we shatter this faith bit by bit? How would those people react?"
"What if we defeat them using soul devices they despise? What then?"
Jiang Jue slowly shook his head. Once he put these ideas into practice, he would find out.
"Envy! I, Xiao Hongchen, will be like this someday!"
Beside him, Xiao Hongchen's eyes sparkled with gold light. This kind of prestige was exactly what he dreamed of!
At this time, Shrek Academy's team had already taken the field.
Beibei led the front, followed by He Caitou, then Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, Xiao Xiao, Huo Yuhao, and Wang Dong.
They all carried a glow of honor. After Wang Yan's pep talk and the crowd's cheers, they truly felt the prestige of Shrek Academy.
The seven players on both sides quickly gathered in the center. Getting closer, Huo Yuhao could see the unpleasant looks on their opponents' faces more clearly.
Countless historical records had already proven the result of encountering Shrek Academy in the first round.
The referee spoke solemnly in the center.
"First round, elimination match, team battle! Both sides may use most soul devices in the match, but if one side admits defeat, the other must stop attacking. Soul masters are not allowed to use high-lethality fixed equipment-type soul devices."
"Good. Both sides retreat to their respective sides of the arena. Follow my order to start. No one may release their martial souls before I announce the start, or it will be a forfeit."
Both teams slowly retreated. During this, Huo Yuhao turned and muttered something to Beibei's group, wearing a confident smile.
At the referee's signal, players took their positions.
Meanwhile, 108 soul masters of the Xingluo Empire holding the metal pillars pressed down.
Suddenly, white light shot up, tracing arcs and converging twenty meters above the arena. A white light screen spread down, enveloping the entire arena.
Huo Yuhao stood at the front of this formation, his youthful face filled with pride.
The other six stayed behind him in a fan shape, like stars surrounding the moon, highlighting him in front.
"The match begins!"
At the referee's command, both sides released their martial souls almost simultaneously.
At this moment, an indescribably terrifying aura suddenly appeared above the arena.
Black and blood-red light instantly illuminated the whole arena.
Three black and three red spirit rings appeared on Huo Yuhao.
Shouts erupted like a storm from the crowd of hundreds of thousands—an overwhelming, deafening roar.
Even the emperor, empress, and officials atop the city wall rose in shock.
But Jiang Jue smiled upon sensing that aura.
Huo Yuhao's second martial soul was, as expected, ice attribute—and it was extreme ice.
Besides the Snow Emperor, only the Ice Scorpion clan from the Extreme North had extreme ice attributes.
Now that the Ice Emperor was Jiang Jue's first spirit ring, he completely surpassed Huo Yuhao in attribute and bloodline, and didn't even need to act.
"Looks like I have to keep a good rein on you."
(End of chapter)