On the second morning after the top sixteen to top eight matches concluded, the first rays of dawn gently touched the horizon, and the sun slowly began to rise. The soft, rosy light spread across the land, bathing the entire Sea Abyss City in a golden glow. A gentle sea breeze caressed, carrying faint traces of humid air.
After this period of competition, all the members of St. Freya Academy, with the exception of Robin, had more or less gained some support and affection from the audience. After all, the members of St. Freya Academy were all handsome men and beautiful women, possessing outstanding looks that naturally garnered favor from the audience. Humans are, for the most part, visual creatures; beautiful things always tend to attract attention more easily.
Indeed, the moment Lu Jingming and his team ascended to the Eye of the Sea Abyss arena, a wave of fervent cheers immediately erupted from the stands. The cheering surged like a tidal wave, one after another, as if threatening to overturn the entire stadium. Of course, when the Star Luo Royal Academy team, clad in golden uniforms, made their entrance, they also triggered a thunderous applause. After all, this was on the Star Luo Empire's home ground, and the Star Luo Royal Academy also boasted a considerable number of supporters.
The top eight to top four competition format remained consistent with the top sixteen to top eight, still beginning with team battles, followed by individual elimination matches. As time passed, the sky gradually brightened. Today's weather was exceptionally clear, with a spotless azure sky stretching endlessly, like a pristine gem, uplifting one's spirits. It was unclear whether this was due to the soul tools of Sea Abyss City regulating the climate, or simply excellent luck, coinciding with such a beautiful and pleasant day.
Soon, to the audience's eager anticipation, the match time finally arrived. Lu Jingming led Robin, Firefly, Gu Yue, Castorice, March 7th, Jinshi, and other team members onto the arena. On the opposite side, Xu Jiujiu, dressed in a sharp, capable outfit, took the lead and ascended the stage with her team. Compared to her usual noble and elegant demeanor, she now possessed a touch of heroism, a unique charm that made Lu Jingming's eyes light up.
Xu Jiujiu, as the Star Luo Princess and also the captain of the Star Luo Royal Academy team, was making her first appearance in this tournament. What was even more special was that her very first battle would be against her lover, Lu Jingming. This situation made her feel a little amused, and her gaze towards Lu Jingming unconsciously carried a hint of provocation.
"A'Ming, Sister Jiujiu is provoking you!" March 7th exclaimed excitedly, unconcerned about stirring up trouble, purely watching the spectacle unfold as she edged closer to Lu Jingming.
"You wouldn't go easy on her, would you? You've never shown us mercy during training," Gu Yue subtly glanced at Lu Jingming, her tone flat. If Lu Jingming truly went easy on Xu Jiujiu due to their relationship, then she would definitely have to have a serious talk with him. After all, during their training in the Simulated Universe, Lu Jingming had never held back against her!
"It's a competition; it needs to be treated like one. No emotions involved. I won't go easy!" Lu Jingming said calmly. This was a competition after all. Even if he accidentally roughed up Sister Jiujiu on the field, she probably wouldn't truly hold it against him, right? Moreover, Lu Jingming glanced again at the provocative Xu Jiujiu. Since she had taken the initiative to provoke him, she must have been prepared for a beating, he thought!
"St. Freya Academy, Star Luo Royal Academy, prepare for team battle!" Dan Heng stood in the center of the arena, his voice steady.
The two teams quickly took their positions opposite each other. Surprisingly, the atmosphere in the arena held no hint of tension. March 7th, standing behind Lu Jingming, playfully winked at Xu Jiujiu, looking very cute. Meanwhile, the members of the Star Luo Royal Academy team behind Xu Jiujiu continuously shifted their gaze between their princess and Lu Jingming, their eyes filled with curiosity and scrutiny. As key students cultivated by Star Luo Royal Academy, they would all pledge allegiance to the imperial family upon graduation. They had also, more or less, heard about the relationship between Xu Jiujiu and Lu Jingming.
"Both sides, retreat." Dan Heng's expression remained calm as he issued the command.
Xu Jiujiu and Lu Jingming exchanged glances, then each led their teams to quickly retreat a hundred meters. Unlike Xu Jiujiu, who directly retreated to the very back of her team, Lu Jingming, as always, stood at the very front of his team, his posture tall and unyielding, like an indestructible spear.
"Match start!" With Dan Heng's command, his figure instantly vanished from the arena. Simultaneously, both teams' members swiftly released their respective martial souls and soul rings.
As a clear and melodious song rang out, Robin, for the first time in this Soul Master Tournament, released her martial soul and unleashed a soul skill. In an instant, a pair of pristine white wings slowly unfurled behind her. The wings, illuminated by the sunlight, shimmered with a soft glow, like two pure white clouds. At the same time, a pure white halo, radiating sacred light, appeared above her head. Her first soul ring shone with a bright purple light, and as her melodious song gently spread, a white halo quietly enveloped Lu Jingming and the others. Simultaneously, their originally stable soul power fluctuations instantly intensified somewhat. This was Robin's first soul skill—Fluttering White Voice. This soul skill could temporarily increase the soul power level of the entire team, providing powerful assistance to her teammates.
At the very moment Robin displayed her martial soul and soul skill, a dragon's roar suddenly exploded. Golden light shimmered on Jinshi's forehead, and a pair of delicate, small golden dragon horns slowly grew out, exquisite and beautiful. Not only that, a slightly transparent platinum-gold divine dragon appeared out of thin air, slowly circling Jinshi. The divine dragon exuded a rich and intense aura of light, while also carrying the essence of flowing time.
In Shrek Academy's lounge, Beibei's expression instantly changed. He subconsciously clutched his chest, a look of shock on his face. At this moment, he clearly felt the blood within his body surging like boiling magma. He frowned deeply, his expression grave, and said, "What powerful light energy! Stronger than my Radiant Saint Dragon!"
Upon hearing this, Ma Xiaotao's face also couldn't help but change. Others might not know, but she understood very well that Beibei was the great-grandson of Dragon God Douluo Mu En, inheriting Mu En's incredibly powerful Radiant Saint Dragon bloodline. The light energy contained within the Radiant Saint Dragon was considered top-tier in the entire soul master world, second only to the legendary Ultimate Light. If that was the case, could this little dragon girl, Jinshi, from St. Freya Academy, possess the Ultimate Light attribute? Ma Xiaotao secretly gritted her teeth, a murmur of disquiet rising in her heart, feeling it was too unsettling. In her understanding, Ultimate Attribute Soul Masters had always been extremely rare existences. How was it that now, anyone who appeared casually seemed to be an Ultimate Attribute Soul Master?
Turning the gaze back to the competition stage, Xu Jiujiu also refused to be outdone and released her own martial soul. A brilliant golden light shone from her forehead, dazzling like a shimmering star. Following that, a golden rhomboid gem slowly emerged in the center of her forehead. The moment this golden rhomboid gem appeared, it immediately burst forth with brilliant golden light. Subsequently, the gem actually detached from her forehead, slowly floating upwards. As it floated, golden light enveloped it, creating a dreamlike and ethereal scene. Gradually, an exquisitely beautiful crown quietly formed within the light, appearing above her head. The crown slowly descended, finally settling steadily on her head.
This crown seemed to be composed of countless twinkling stars, each radiating a faint golden light. They converged rapidly backward from the rhomboid gem, forming a perfect and magnificent whole. The crown had eighteen larger stars protruding upwards, neatly arranged, forming a beautiful series of points, exuding a noble and elegant aura.
The Star Crown, this was Xu Jiujiu's martial soul, and also the inherited martial soul of the Star Crown Sect. As an auxiliary martial soul, its power was in no way inferior to the renowned Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Moreover, compared to some of the flaws of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, the Star Crown martial soul had relatively fewer shortcomings. Perhaps the only slight inconvenience was that it could only cultivate by absorbing starlight at night. The Star Crown martial soul had only three inheritors in this generation, indicating its rarity, surpassing even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
At this moment, five soul rings—two yellow, two purple, one black—appeared around Xu Jiujiu. She was indeed a powerful Soul King, with her soul power level reaching as high as Level 59, just a step away from breaking through to become a Soul Emperor.
After Xu Jiujiu displayed her martial soul and soul rings, the other members of the Star Luo Royal Academy team also released their respective martial souls. Huang Heyun, as the vice-captain of the Star Luo Royal Academy team, had carried the responsibility of captain before Xu Jiujiu's appearance, leading the team to overcome challenges throughout the competition. His martial soul was the Dark Demon Tiger, and as a Level 57 Assault-type Soul King, he exuded a powerful dark aura. Yi Chen, whose martial soul was the Fire Element, was a Level 55 Control-type Soul King. Wang Shiying, whose martial soul was the Wind Element, was a Level 54 Control-type Soul King. Chen Xiaojie, whose martial soul was the Lightning Falcon, was a Level 56 Agility Attack-type Soul King. Sheng Yi, whose martial soul was the Giant Winged Vulture, was a Level 56 Defense-type Soul King. Dugu Shangshan, whose martial soul was the Netherworld Mad Lion, was a Level 56 Assault-type Soul King.
The lineup of Star Luo Royal Academy was luxurious, with all members being Soul Kings, and most of them being formidable high-level Soul Kings. Their strength was undoubtedly greater than that of Dou Ling Royal Academy. Among them, Xu Jiujiu, if not for the inherently slower cultivation speed of auxiliary martial souls, coupled with the Star Crown martial soul being limited to absorbing starlight at night for cultivation, which restricted her progress, would likely have already become a Soul Emperor powerhouse under twenty years old.