The Grand Colosseum of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy was a masterpiece of imperial engineering.
Built from pristine white marble and reinforced by countless stone arrays, the enormous open-air arena could comfortably seat more than ten thousand spectators. Towering pillars encircled the structure, banners bearing the Heaven Dou crest fluttered proudly in the breeze, and high above the arena floor, shimmering defensive formations quietly hummed with dormant power.
Today, however, the seats were not open to the public. This was an event reserved for the elite.
The Royal Team walked through the broad gladiator-style entrance tunnel, the echo of their footsteps bouncing off the polished stone walls.
Unlike their training uniforms, today they wore formal black-and-gold academy attire. It looked impressive.
"These tunics are too stiff," Osler complained for what was likely the fifth time in ten minutes as he tugged at his collar.
"How am I supposed to assassinate anyone with this level of restricted shoulder?"
"You are not assassinating anyone today, Osler," Yu Tianheng replied with practiced patience.
Captain stood at the front of the group, looking every bit the image of a royal heir. He adjusted his sleeves before instinctively counting the members of his team.
One.
Two.
...
...
Seven.
His brow slowly furrowed.
"...We're missing someone."
He looked around.
"Where's Arthev?"
Teacher Qin Ming, walking beside the team in his finest formal robes, released the weary sigh of a man who had already explained this several times.
"Student Arthev informed me this morning," Qin Ming began, rubbing his temples,
"that standing in direct sunlight while listening to a three-hour political address would constitute a 'critical waste of caloric expenditure and neural bandwidth.'"
The Royal Team collectively winced. That absolutely sounded like him.
Yu Feng burst out laughing first.
"He said that with a straight face, didn't he?"
"He did," Qin Ming confirmed.
"He also submitted a written report."
Osler blinked.
"He wrote a report to skip a ceremony?"
"He attached graphs."
The entire team stared Qin Ming rubbed his temples.
"He further claimed he was needed in the banquet preparation area to supervise post-ceremony nutritional logistics and monitor the kitchen's supply chain for dietary requirements."
A brief silence followed.
Then Dugu Yan smirked.
"He just wanted to skip the boring parts."
"He is avoiding the sun like a mushroom," Yu Feng corrected.
Ye Lingling covered her mouth, unsuccessfully hiding a small smile. The Shi brothers simply nodded.
That explanation also sounded completely reasonable coming from Arthev.
Walking silently on Qin Ming's other side was Instructor Silas.
Dressed in his usual immaculate grey suit, his expression remained perfectly neutral behind his wire-rimmed glasses.
Outwardly, he appeared entirely uninterested.
Inside his mind, however, Whisper was already analyzing.
He avoids unnecessary attention. Interesting. Let the dragons stand beneath the spotlight while the anomaly remains unseen.
Smart.
As the Heaven Dou delegation emerged from the tunnel and stepped onto the arena floor, the scale of the Grand Colosseum fully revealed itself.
The vast seating sections rose high above them. Sunlight reflected off the polished marble.
Across the arena, the other academies were already assembling near the designated marshalling area alongside their instructors.
Teacher Huo of Blazing Academy was the first to notice them.
"Ah! Teacher Qin Ming!"
His booming voice carried easily across the arena.
"It has been far too long."
His eyes swept over the Royal Team. Then paused. Then narrowed slightly.
"Your students look... remarkably sturdy this year."
That was a polite way of saying they looked terrifying.
Yu Tianheng stood straighter. Dugu Yan folded her arms confidently. The Shi brothers looked like mobile fortresses.
Even Osler somehow appeared significantly more dangerous than a normal agility-type Soul Master had any right to be.
Qin Ming smiled politely.
"Teacher Huo."
He offered a respectful bow.
"Teacher Hu Yan. Teacher Leng."
The instructors returned the gesture.
Teacher Leng Qingxue of Tianshui Academy quietly studied the Heaven Dou Royal Team from across the marshalling grounds. Her gaze was as sharp as ever.
She noticed the details almost immediately. The way they stood. The way they breathed.
The way every student's center of gravity rested naturally on the balls of their feet, their shoulders loose and relaxed while every muscle remained ready to explode into motion without warning.
This was not the posture of pampered nobles.
It was the posture of fighters who had been forced to earn every meal.
"They seem to have undergone a rather rigorous paradigm shift," Teacher Leng observed in her calm, measured voice.
Her eyes shifted past Qin Ming and settled on the tall man standing quietly beside him.
Grey suit. Wire-rimmed glasses. Ordinary appearance. So ordinary that he almost disappeared into the background.
"And who," she asked politely, "might this gentleman be? I do not recall seeing him among the Imperial Academy's instructors in previous years."
Qin Ming smiled.
"Allow me to introduce Instructor Silas."
He gestured toward the man beside him.
"He recently joined the academy as my assistant. His specialties are tactical assessment, battlefield analysis, and logistical theory."
Silas stepped forward with an almost mechanical level of precision before offering a courteous bow.
"It is an honor to meet the esteemed instructors of the Five Elements Academies."
His voice remained perfectly even.
"I am merely an analyst."
Teacher Huo gave him another look.
Teacher Hu Yan quietly folded his arms.
Teacher Leng's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.
An analyst...
She examined him again.
No intimidating aura. No warrior's bearing.
No unnecessary confidence.
Just an exceptionally plain man in a perfectly tailored suit.
Interesting...
Her thoughts continued to turn.
According to my intelligence, the Royal Team underwent a hellish survival camp, dragging boulders through mud . Qin Ming is too traditional for that. Is this 'boring' man the sadist responsible for breaking their noble egos?
Her gaze lingered on Silas.
He looks like an tax collector.
A tiny smile almost reached her lips.
Which means... he may be far more dangerous than he appears.
Standing nearby, Whisper remained blissfully unaware that he had just received full credit for Arthev's entire training program.
He simply adjusted his glasses and returned to standing quietly beside Qin Ming, looking every bit the forgettable assistant instructor.
At that very moment, a deep ceremonial horn echoed throughout the Grand Colosseum. The sound rolled across the marble arena like distant thunder.
"All participating academies," the herald's amplified voice rang across the stadium.
"Assemble!"
The instructors immediately stepped aside.
The six academy teams moved with disciplined precision toward the center of the arena, arranging themselves into perfectly aligned military formations.
The Royal Team.
Blazing Academy.
Elephant Armored Academy.
Thunder Academy.
Kamikaze Academy.
Tianshui Academy.
Each occupied its designated position beneath the watchful eyes of the Empire's highest authorities.
Above them, the grand imperial platform overlooked the entire colosseum.
Its arrangement reflected Heaven Dou's hierarchy with unmistakable clarity. At the very center sat the primary throne of state.
Upon it was Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.
Dressed in immaculate golden robes embroidered with the Imperial Swan, the Crown Prince projected calm dignity and effortless authority. Although Emperor Xue Ye was absent, everyone present understood that the Crown Prince represented the Empire itself.
Seated immediately to his left was Prince Xue Xing.
As Imperial Supervisor of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, his stern gaze swept slowly across every student gathered below, silently evaluating each academy with the scrutiny of an experienced statesman.
To the Crown Prince's right sat the highest-ranking honored guest.
Ning Fengzhi.
The Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. One of the most respected figures on the continent.
His refined smile carried neither arrogance nor pressure, yet no one could mistake the weight of his presence.
Standing quietly behind his chair, hands resting upon the hilt of his sheathed sword, was a figure who required no introduction.
Sword Douluo Chen Xin.
His eyes remained closed. His expression was tranquil. Yet every Soul Master present instinctively felt the invisible edge surrounding him. He resembled a peerless sword returned to its sheath.
Silent. Motionless. Lethal.
Finally, seated beside Prince Xue Xing were the hosts of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.
The three members of the Education Committee.
Meng Shenji.
Bai Baoshan.
Zhilin.
All three were veteran Soul Douluos whose cultivation had reached the 8 ring, and together they represented the academy's highest military authority.
Their expressions remained solemn as they observed the gathering below.
The herald stepped forward once more, his voice resonating throughout the vast arena.
"Let the Parade of Delegations commence!"
Polite applause swept across the upper stands. Unlike a public tournament, today's audience was carefully selected.
Senior students. Academy instructors. Imperial officials. Influential nobles.
Although restrained by etiquette, the quiet applause still echoed impressively throughout the Grand Colosseum.
The herald raised his staff.
"The delegations will now present themselves before His Highness."
The Heaven Dou Royal Team stepped forward first.
Their black-and-gold uniforms contrasted sharply against the brilliant white marble of the arena floor, and the disciplined way they carried themselves immediately attracted attention.
Whispers spread through the surrounding viewing sections.
"Those are Heaven Dou's royal students?"
A Kamikaze Academy student blinked.
"I thought they were supposed to be pampered nobles."
His companion scratched his cheek.
"...Why do they look like they're about to invade someone?"
"They're standing like veterans."
"They're glaring like veterans too."
The Heaven Dou team remained perfectly composed, seemingly oblivious to the comments.
Behind them came Elephant Armored Academy.
Every synchronized step seemed heavy enough to make the marble vibrate beneath their boots.
Their sheer physical presence made even experienced Soul Masters instinctively take them seriously.
Thunder Academy followed.
Faint blue arcs of electricity occasionally danced across Yu Tianxin's sleeves before disappearing into the air with soft crackles, lending the entire team an aggressive, intimidating aura.
Next came Blazing Academy.
The crimson-and-gold uniforms almost resembled living flames beneath the morning sun.
Huo Wu walked confidently at the front beside her brother, every movement radiating pride.
Kamikaze Academy entered after them.
Compared to the other teams, their formation appeared noticeably lighter.
Relaxed. Fluid.
Almost as though the wind itself carried them across the arena.
Finally...
Tianshui Academy stepped forward.
The all-female squad advanced in flawless unison, their pale-blue uniforms fluttering gently with each synchronized step.
At their center walked Shui Bing'er.
Calm. Graceful. Composed.
Her quiet presence naturally drew countless eyes despite her making no effort to attract attention.
Across the arena, Yu Tianheng watched her carefully.
His dragon instincts stirred almost immediately.
She's strong.
Not simply talented. Dangerous.
Beside him, Dugu Yan quietly reached the same conclusion.
That captain...She's hiding far more than she's showing.
Meanwhile, Bing'er's sapphire eyes swept across Heaven Dou's formation one final time.
Yu Tianheng. Dugu Yan. Ye Lingling.
The Shi brothers. Yu Feng. Osler.
Without another glance, she calmly returned her attention to the imperial platform.
At that moment, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe rose gracefully from his throne.
He raised one hand.
Instantly...
The entire Grand Colosseum fell silent.
Even the distant conversations in the viewing stands disappeared.
"Students."
"Instructors."
"Honored guests."
His voice, amplified by a high-grade sound-type tool, carried effortlessly throughout the enormous arena.
"On behalf of His Majesty, Emperor Xue Ye, I welcome the future pillars of our continent to Heaven Dou Imperial Academy."
Every participating student instinctively straightened. Pride shone plainly across countless young faces.
Xue Qinghe smiled warmly.
"Since the founding of our Empire..."
"Our understanding of cultivation has been built upon the harmony between soul and spirit."
"The Five Elements are not merely attributes. They are the fundamental principles through which heaven and earth express themselves."
"Fire tempers.
Earth nurtures.
Water adapts.
Wind guides.
Lightning transforms."
His calm, eloquent voice echoed across the arena.
Ten minutes passed.
The Crown Prince had smoothly transitioned into the historical significance of the First Heaven Dou Emperor's diplomatic relationship with an ancient water-attributed soul beast.
Twenty minutes passed.
".....Therefore, lasting prosperity requires not only martial excellence but also the careful cultivation of mutual trust, political stability, and meaningful academic exchange..."
Several students blinked.
Thirty minutes passed.
".....and it is precisely through these exchanges that future generations may strengthen both inter-academy understanding and continental harmony..."
In Blazing Academy's formation, Huo Wu's right eye twitched.
A tiny ribbon of flame escaped between her tightly clenched fingers before she quietly extinguished it. She looked increasingly tempted to launch a fireball toward the podium.
Not out of disrespect. Simply to accelerate the schedule.
Beside her, Huo Wushuang subtly cleared his throat.
"...Sister."
She inhaled slowly.
"I know."
"...Don't."
"I know."
Thirty-five minutes passed.
Shi Mo remained standing at perfect military attention. His posture was flawless. His breathing steady.
His eyes...
Had quietly rolled upward. He was unquestionably asleep.
Shi Mu noticed.
"Oh..."
He leaned slightly without moving the rest of his body.
"I think Brother's unconscious."
"...No."
Yu Feng whispered back.
"He transcended."
Above them, Yu Feng's magnificent wings drooped lower and lower until the tips brushed helplessly across the marble floor behind him.
Over in Kamikaze Academy's formation, Feng Xiaotian maintained what he believed was an exceptionally handsome and attentive expression.
After all...
Huo Wu might glance in his direction at any moment. He refused to appear bored.
Then....
His jaw stretched open despite every effort to suppress it. A massive yawn nearly escaped.
His entire face visibly contorted as he desperately forced it back down. His eyes watered.
One of his teammates sighed.
"...Captain."
"What?"
"If you're going to suffer...At least suffer quietly."
Feng Xiaotian blinked.
"...Wait.Was I that obvious?"
Even within Tianshui Academy's famously disciplined formation, cracks were beginning to appear.
Shui Yue'er had long since abandoned the battle against drowsiness.
Little by little, she leaned more and more of her weight onto Xue Wu's shoulder.
Xue Wu herself wasn't faring much better.
Her expression remained serious, but she was quietly biting the inside of her lip in a determined effort to stay awake.
Stay focused...
Stay focused...
Don't embarrass the academy...
At the center of the formation, Shui Bing'er still stood perfectly straight. Her posture remained elegant. Her breathing was calm.
From the outside, she appeared every bit the flawless captain of Tianshui Academy.
Only those who knew her exceptionally well would have noticed the faint glaze in her sapphire eyes.
Mentally...
She had drifted somewhere very far away.
Hypothetically...
How much ice would be required to freeze the Crown Prince's sound-amplifying tool?
Would localized condensation be sufficient...
...or would it require direct contact?
She blinked once.
...No. That would probably be considered treason.
Meanwhile, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe continued speaking with unwavering enthusiasm.
"...Which brings me to my final point."
Across the arena, a collective wave of hope silently swept through all thirty-five participating students.
Finally.
It's over.
The Crown Prince smiled.
"But before I conclude..."
But the hope froze.
"...it is only proper that we first recognize the structural foundations upon which our shared future has been built."
A profound silence descended over the arena.
Then...
Somewhere within Elephant Armored Academy's formation.....A long, defeated groan escaped.
Hu Yanli's broad shoulders visibly slumped.
"...Oh..."
One of his teammates whispered.
"Captain's soul left his body."
Even Teacher Hu Yan closed his eyes for a brief moment.
Another 15 painstaking minutes passed.
At long last, Xue Qinghe closed his speech with the same composed smile he had worn from the beginning.
He stepped slightly aside and extended a welcoming hand toward the distinguished guests seated behind him.
"I hereby declare the Imperial Exchange Event officially open."
A ripple of relieved applause spread through the colosseum.
"But before our activities begin, let us acknowledge those whose dedication made this gathering possible."
He turned toward the left side of the platform.
"My uncle...His Highness Prince Xue Xing."
Prince Xue Xing stood and offered a dignified nod.
Polite applause followed.
"The esteemed members of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's Education Committee..."
"Directors Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhilin."
The three veteran Soul t Douluos rose together.
Another round of applause echoed throughout the arena.
Finally, Xue Qinghe turned toward the honored guest seated at his right.
"And last..."
"Our most distinguished guest."
"The Imperial Teacher of Heaven Dou."
"Sect Master Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
Ning Fengzhi rose gracefully from his seat.
His warm smile remained gentle and approachable as he inclined his head toward the gathered students.
Standing silently behind him, Sword Douluo Chen Xin slowly opened his eyes.
He neither spoke nor moved.
Yet the invisible pressure radiating from his mere presence instantly swept away every trace of sleep lingering among the young Soul Masters below.
Several students unconsciously straightened their backs.
Even Yu Tianxin's expression grew noticeably more serious.
For the younger generation...Standing before one of the continent's legendary Titled Douluos was an unforgettable experience.
Ning Fengzhi's calm voice carried naturally across the arena.
"I hope this exchange deepens not only your understanding of cultivation..."
"...but also your understanding of one another."
"The future of the continent will one day rest in your hands."
"I wish every one of you success."
He offered one final elegant bow before returning to his seat.
Xue Qinghe stepped forward once again. His voice rang clearly throughout the Grand Colosseum.
"May your spirits burn brightly."
"May this exchange strengthen friendships, temper resolve, and inspire the next generation of Soul Masters."
The entire colosseum erupted into enthusiastic applause. Some students cheered. Some smiled. A few even exchanged excited looks with their teammates.
But beneath all of that excitement...
There was one universal feeling shared by every academy.
We can finally sit down.
Several shoulders visibly relaxed.
Shui Yue'er nearly collapsed into her chair with an exaggerated sigh of relief.
Hu Yanli looked as though he had narrowly survived a life-or-death battle.
Even Huo Wu quietly muttered,
"...Worth the wait."
High above them, the banners fluttered proudly in the morning breeze.
The exchange had officially begun.
To be continued...