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Early morning, the rising sun.
All streets around Star Luo Plaza were blockaded, especially near the Star Emperor Hotel, where martial law was fully enforced. Only participating teams from various academies exiting the hotel were allowed to pass.
It was an exclusive pathway.
Today was the opening ceremony of the Continental Soul Master Academy Grand Competition.
Early in the morning, the leading teachers from various academies had already arrived at the imperial city for the drawing ceremony. By now, the drawing ceremony had concluded, awaiting the Star Luo Empire's announcement of the match order.
Around nine in the morning, the doors of the Great Soul Arena slowly opened, and countless citizens who had purchased tickets streamed in.
Atop the Imperial City wall, a middle-aged man in a bright yellow robe and a purple-gold crown stood with his hands behind his back. Beside him, a beautiful woman in palace attire respectfully accompanied him. Behind the beautiful woman was the stunning golden-haired young lady who had previously met Yuwen Tuo.
These two were the current Empress of Star Luo, and Princess Xu Jiujiu. She was Emperor Xu Jiawei's youngest sister, ranking ninth, hence both "Jiujiu" and "ninth sister." She was also the captain of this year's Star Luo National Academy team.
Behind them were the civil and military officials of the Star Luo Empire.
"Your Majesty." An elder in a large red Dragon robe. (python-patterned robe, typically worn by high-ranking officials) swiftly stepped forward, bowing respectfully to the Star Luo Great Emperor. This elder's status was clearly extremely noble, as not everyone had the privilege to wear a Dragon robe..
"Prime Minister, how are the arrangements?" Xu Jiawei inquired with a smile.
The Prime Minister respectfully replied, "Everything has been arranged properly. Your Majesty, please rest assured!"
Xu Jiawei smiled and nodded. "Good. Pass on my order: the opening ceremony of the Continental Soul Master Academy Grand Competition now begins."
"Yes." The Prime Minister took a few steps back, then turned to relay His Majesty's command.
Xu Jiawei looked at the beautiful woman beside him and said, "Empress, Jiujiu, the Grand Competition is the continent's foremost event. I truly miss my youth! If not for the many imperial rules, and my Imperial Father's concern about me having an accident in the competition back then, forbidding my participation, I truly would have wanted to enter and compete against the prodigies of the great nations."
The Empress smiled faintly. "Your Majesty, you always have the heart of a Soul Master."
"Imperial Brother, rest assured. This time, Jiujiu will definitely lead our Star Luo National Academy to achieve good results." Although Xu Jiujiu was a very confident person, with Shrek Academy and the Sun and Moon Empire's Royal Soul Engineer Academy leading the way, she didn't dare to boast about winning the championship. She could only say that she would try her best to secure a good result.
For instance, getting into the top eight or top four, she was quite confident in that.
"By the way, Jiujiu, that child..." The Empress looked at Xu Jiujiu hesitantly, unsure whether to ask. She knew Xu Jiujiu had met that child not long ago, and she also knew that for Star Luo, that child's existence was, in fact, a form of shame.
Therefore, they had previously thought the child was dead and weren't overly saddened, feeling a sense of relief instead. But now that he had "died and come back to life," they didn't know how to handle it.
"Not just me, but people from the Sun and Moon Empire and the Dou Spirit Empire have also contacted him," Xu Jiujiu said. "That child has a very peculiar personality, so calm it's unlike a child, as if he doesn't care about anything. What a pity, there are some things he cannot choose to be indifferent to. This child's background is complex enough to cause continental upheaval."
"Achoo!"
At the Heavenly Soul Royal Academy's Di'ao Academy, the large man Jiang Peng couldn't help but sneeze. With a body even stronger than an ox, theoretically, he shouldn't be able to get sick.
A subordinate quickly asked, "Boss, what's wrong?"
"I don't know, I suddenly feel a sense of isolation, like I'm being excluded," Jiang Peng said.
"Boss, His Majesty once said that you're good in every way, but your personality is too simple and straightforward. It must be some conspiracy from the other countries, but don't worry. His Majesty also said that simpletons are blessed, and we might even win by doing nothing," the subordinate consoled.
"Mm, that's true!" Jiang Peng nodded, then suddenly realized something was off. He slapped his subordinate's head fiercely. "You rascal, who are you calling simple-minded? At most, I'm just 'great wisdom disguised as foolishness'!"
"Haha, Brother Jiang, you're still as interesting as ever."
A laugh suddenly came from the shadows. A man and a woman emerged from behind Jiang Peng. The two appeared to be around the same age as Xiao Hongchen and the others, but the man was unusually tall, probably close to two meters, with broad shoulders and a muscular physique. He had brown-red hair parted down the middle. Although not particularly handsome, he exuded a sense of security. He was the one who had just spoken.
The woman had long silver hair cascading behind her, and her appearance was also very beautiful. However, she looked very delicate, with clear, flowing water in her beautiful large eyes.
Jiang Peng turned around and said, "Oh, you arrived so quickly. And it's actually you two who came in person. Perfect, today is the day the competition begins. You'll soon be able to confirm whether that piece of intelligence is true or false."
The man smiled. "It's because of Vina's stubbornness. His Majesty was worried about her getting hurt and wouldn't let her participate in this Grand Competition. I thought there was no real danger this time, just confirming intelligence, so I asked His Majesty for permission to bring her along to observe."
This man was clearly pursuing Vina, and Vina's willingness to come with him showed that she didn't reject his pursuit. Coupled with the intentional matchmaking of their elders, the success rate seemed quite high.
At this moment, Xu Jiawei stepped onto the highest platform and proclaimed loudly, "The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Grand Competition is the most important quinquennial event on our Douluo Continent. This year, it is held in my Star Luo, and I am very pleased. Here, I, representing Star Luo, welcome the representatives of all academies who have traveled far. I hope you will display your strength and compete fairly and justly in the one-month competition to follow."
"Thank Your Majesty." All the people present bowed in unison once again.
Xu Jiawei also smiled and gestured to his subjects, then loudly announced, "Good, then now, the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Grand Competition officially begins!"
"Long live, long live, long live!" The citizens cheered in unison, instantly igniting the atmosphere of the entire venue.
"Boom, boom, boom..." The ceremonial cannons roared continuously. After one hundred and eight blasts, Star Luo Plaza had transformed into a sea of excitement.
Xu Jiawei led his civil and military officials to retreat slightly. Chairs had already been set up. He, the Empress, and the Princess took the honored seats, and he waved his hand towards the Imperial Prime Minister beside him.
The Prime Minister immediately understood and issued the command for the first match of the competition to begin immediately.
"Big Brother Jiang, where is that child with the Spiritual Eye Martial Soul mentioned in the intelligence? Before we came, the Sect Master told us that any child possessing a Body Martial Soul is a child of our Body Sect, and we must bring him back." Vina said softly.
"He's right there. He's from Shrek. Look, he's appearing!" Jiang Peng pointed towards the Great Soul Arena.