Soul tools or battle armor—it didn't matter. As long as you had them and could control them, they were fair game in the competition.
Because of that, the one-on-one battles were by far the most intense and spectacular.
The Star Luo Empire had always admired personal heroism. Here, the founders of Tang Sect and the Spirit Pagoda—Tang San and Huo Yuhao—were revered as idols. Each of them had once changed the course of history by their own strength alone.
Powerful individuals could often turn the tide of war on their own. This mindset stood in contrast to the Douluo Federation, which emphasized team coordination and collective strength.
After an orderly round of registration, more than five thousand contestants had qualified for the one-on-one event—nearly every eligible Soul Master had signed up.
There were eight hundred and sixty-four pairs registered for the two-on-two matches.
One hundred and thirteen teams signed up for the seven-on-seven event.
Four hundred and sixty-one individuals enrolled in the mecha battle.
The deadline for all registration had now passed. The grand tournament was scheduled to begin in four days.
As for Shrek Academy, their registration was handled directly by the Star Luo Empire's officials. No need for lines or paperwork.
Normally, a pre-match pep talk wouldn't be necessary for the students of Shrek Academy. But this time, an unexpected issue arose—Gu Yue refused to compete.
Cai Yue'er frowned and looked at her sternly.
"You should understand, this competition is not just about representing yourself. You represent the Academy. This trip to the Star Luo Empire is a test. Your performance here will be scored. If you don't compete, not only will you lose your chance to become one of the new Seven Shrek Monsters, your entry into the Inner Court will also be uncertain."
"Alright." Gu Yue replied calmly.
"Why?"
"I'm not in the mood."
"That's not a real answer."
"I joined the Spirit Pagoda. That alone already disqualifies me from competing for a place among the Seven Shrek Monsters, doesn't it? Why pretend otherwise?"
"You..."
"The relationship between the Spirit Pagoda and Shrek Academy isn't exactly warm." Her voice turned cold as she turned and left Cai Yue'er's room.
"You're here?" she said quietly when she sensed Gu You's presence behind her.
Gu You nodded slightly and gently patted her shoulder.
"Do what your heart tells you."
Gu Yue froze for a moment. She had expected Gu You to try to persuade her to join the competition. Instead, he simply said, 'Follow your heart.'
'So… just follow my heart, huh?'
With that, Gu You gave her a half-smile and walked away, leaving her deep in thought.
At last, the long-awaited All-Continent Youth Soul Master Elite Tournament began.
The venue was the Star Luo Great Arena—Star Luo Stadium. Because of the enormous number of participants, the preliminary rounds were scheduled to last a while.
To quickly thin the ranks, the preliminaries followed a knockout format. One loss and you were out. Luck certainly played a role, but as many liked to say, 'Luck is part of strength.'
True fairness was always relative. As someone once said, there was no such thing as true fairness in this world. If you wanted fairness—if you wanted control—you had to rely on strength.
The solo matches came first, as they were the most hotly anticipated and intense. The stadium had fifty elevated stages laid out for simultaneous matches. Each stage began a new match as soon as the last ended—over and over—until all preliminaries were complete.
Every contestant had an electronic ID card with their full info and match time. Missing the scheduled match time meant instant disqualification.
The opening ceremony wouldn't take place until after the preliminaries thinned the crowd. With so many competitors, holding it at the start was impossible.
Star Luo Stadium could hold three hundred thousand spectators. It was the largest stadium in the entire empire and across the Star Luo continent, equipped with the most advanced facilities.
All tickets had sold out well in advance. Combined with the staggering number of participants, the revenue from the event had already covered all expenses and then some.
Moreover, the event was being broadcast across the continent through soul tool live feeds. Even the live streams cost money to access. The Star Luo Empire had long mastered the business side of the tournament.
Even ordinary people dreamed of becoming Soul Masters. Watching a competition of this scale was like a national holiday for them. The excitement wasn't limited to Star Luo City—it swept across the entire continent.
Because match pairings were randomized, Shrek Academy's contestants weren't scheduled on the same day. Gu You's number was especially memorable—250. A 'very special' number indeed.
And of course, his match was on the first day.
Gu You yawned lazily.
'This kind of match is no different from bullying children.'
The area around Star Luo Stadium was packed with people. Many streets had been cordoned off. Gu You had a hard time getting through even with his electronic ID badge, finally slipping into the player-exclusive tunnel that led into the stadium.
The first thing he noticed after stepping inside was the thunderous atmosphere.
The roar of the crowd echoed like crashing waves. Thirty thousand voices cheered in unison, so loud that even standing nearby, people had to shout to hear each other.
'Three hundred thousand people cheering at once… it's insane.'
The fifty battle stages stood side by side, each shielded by soul-powered protective barriers to contain stray energy and prevent interference between matches.
Gu You looked across the various battles taking place, silently observing.
Just as the rules stated, one-on-one combat allowed all forms of ability—including the use of weapons and armor. The only requirement was signing a life-or-death waiver. Actual fatalities were rare, as referees would intervene at critical moments.
Interestingly, few participants used mechas. Each ring was only fifty meters in diameter, offering little room for maneuvering. For many, a mecha became more of a burden than a help.
Soon, Gu You's number was called.
"Match Ring 25, contestant 250!"
His face darkened immediately.
'This has to be rigged! What are the odds of me pulling two-fifty and ending up in Ring 25?'
Standing on the stage was an entirely different feeling from watching from the sidelines. Down below, the matches had seemed chaotic, almost dizzying. But up here, before the soul barrier activated, he could clearly feel the weight of those three hundred thousand voices screaming around him.
The pressure was real.
And Gu You…
He just smiled faintly.
'Fine then. Let's play.'
(End of Chapter)
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