The Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament had entered its advancement stage—but unlike the lively preliminaries, the advancement matches were held in complete secrecy.
To protect the privacy and safety of the participating Spirit Masters, no audience was permitted.
The advancement matches were still divided by the two great empires. Thirty teams that had advanced from the preliminaries would now compete within their respective empires, while the three teams that had already qualified for the grand finals were exempt from this stage.
On the Heaven Dou Empire side, fifteen teams—including the five that advanced from the Heaven Dou City preliminaries—had completed registration that morning and gathered at the designated competition site.
Though fewer in number, each of these teams represented the absolute elite of their respective academies.
The ten teams from the five subordinate kingdoms and duchies had arrived even earlier, using the time to familiarize themselves with the environment. They also came bearing grand promises from their respective rulers—rewards even greater than Emperor Xue Ye's own noble titles.
After all, these smaller nations were even more desperate for talent. As the Spirit Hall's pressure across the continent grew heavier, everyone knew war was inevitable. And in times like these, every nation wanted powerful Spirit Masters on its side.
In the wars of Douluo Continent, Spirit Masters had long become the decisive force on the battlefield.
The number of high-level Spirit Masters a nation possessed was the truest measure of its strength.
This was the reason Spirit Hall's position was so unshakable—so dominant that even the two great empires dared not offend it openly. They all knew that the lesser kingdoms and duchies secretly received Spirit Hall's support, yet none could voice their resentment.
And to make matters worse, Spirit Hall had also begun developing Soul Tools—powerful weapons that, though progressing slowly, showed terrifying effectiveness. Their research direction was always precise, almost never mistaken.
---
The Royal Hunting Grounds—located fifty kilometers southwest of Heaven Dou City—served as the imperial family's private training and hunting grounds.
The area's vast terrain was complex and diverse, a perfect training field.
Ordinary citizens were strictly forbidden to approach. A full ten thousand men of the Royal Knight Regiment patrolled and guarded the area in rotating shifts every three months, ensuring constant readiness.
This Royal Knight Regiment represented the most elite military power under the Heaven Dou royal family's direct command.
To prevent unwanted encounters or espionage, and to keep other academies from observing their rivals' strength, each of the fifteen qualified teams was housed separately in designated quarters.
Clearly, the Heaven Dou Empire had made thorough preparations.
When the members of Crimson Rose Academy arrived early that morning, the first thing they saw was the awe-inspiring sight of the Royal Knight Regiment.
Each knight wore shining silver plate armor—thick, durable, and gleaming in the sun. Even their mounts, the swift and powerful Heavenly Soul Horses, were clad in light armor. These steeds, with faint traces of magical beast blood, possessed exceptional speed, immense stamina, and impressive carrying capacity—perfect cavalry mounts.
Despite the combined weight of both rider and armor, the horses' pace was unaffected.
Once such a cavalry unit charged, its power would be overwhelming.
The Royal Knight Regiment had long been the Empire's pride—a heavily funded and rigorously trained force of fifty thousand men. Over a hundred of its captains were Spirit Masters themselves. Maintaining such an army was costly, but its deterrence was unmatched.
Under its shadow, the subordinate kingdoms and duchies of the Heaven Dou Empire never dared to act rashly.
Still, compared to the Spirit Hall's Holy Knight Legion, the Royal Knights fell short. Especially now, as they were undergoing modernization—following Li Chang'an's own recommendations—to be equipped with Soul Tools. Once complete, their combat strength would rise dramatically.
---
"Please present your credentials."
The Crimson Rose team was stopped by knights stationed at the perimeter. The "credentials" referred to their official advancement qualification passes.
Liu Erlong stepped forward and handed the document to the leading knight—a tall man clad in silver armor with a crimson plume atop his helm. He glanced over the pass, then bowed respectfully.
"Welcome, honored Spirit Masters of Crimson Rose Academy. I am Peter Parker, Captain of the Second Battalion of the Royal Knight Regiment. Please, follow me."
Peter Parker?
Li Chang'an almost blurted out, Can you shoot spider webs too? but somehow managed to restrain himself.
Captain Parker didn't mount his horse; instead, he led the group on foot.
Escorted by fifty fully armored knights, the Crimson Rose team advanced deep into the hunting grounds.
Crossing a small hill, the landscape opened wide before them—a vast, sunlit grassland stretched out into the distance. The expansive view filled everyone with a sense of lightness and calm.
In the center of the grassland, a large military encampment had been set up in a perfect circle.
Captain Parker gestured toward it.
"The advancement matches of the Continental Elite Tournament will be held at the center of this camp. Here, your safety and privacy are absolutely guaranteed."
Li Chang'an immediately understood the Empire's strategy.
By holding the matches inside a military camp, the Royal Knights themselves would act as the audience. Watching the duels between Spirit Masters would undoubtedly motivate the soldiers, inspiring them to train harder and strengthen their resolve.
Still, Li Chang'an personally preferred the training methods of the Spirit Hall's Knight Legion, where he had once served as an instructor. Their discipline—and brutality—was far superior.
The Crimson Rose team was soon led into the military camp.
Five barracks had been prepared for them—simple, but impeccably clean and organized. The accommodations might not have been luxurious, but it was clear the royal family had arranged everything in advance.
They would be living there for the entire duration of the advancement matches.
This stage of the tournament also used a round-robin system, but since the number of teams was smaller, the schedule had been shortened to half a month. Afterward, there would be a two-week rest period before the grand finals were held at Spirit City, located on the border between the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires.
Captain Parker gave Liu Erlong a precise military salute.
"Dean, please allow your students to rest early. The advancement matches will begin tomorrow. A designated officer will escort you to the arena. There will be no opening ceremony; matches will begin immediately. Victories will be jointly judged by representatives of the Empire and Spirit Hall, to ensure fairness."
"Thank you, General Parker."
Liu Erlong smiled and returned the salute gracefully. When it came to diplomacy, she was even more adept than Flender—after all, she had once been the headmistress of an academy within Heaven Dou City.
Parker waved his hands quickly, flustered.
"I dare not, Dean Liu. Please excuse me, I shall take my leave."
To hold his rank as Captain of the Second Battalion of the Royal Knights, he was naturally a Spirit Master as well—though only around the fortieth rank. Facing an academy dean of Liu Erlong's caliber, especially one so poised and striking, his respect was genuine.
---
The team quickly settled into their assigned quarters.
Liu Erlong and Xiao Miao shared a room, serving as supervisors and logistics heads.
Li Chang'an, being the only man, naturally received a room of his own.
Ye Lingling, Hu Liena, and Ning Rongrong were placed together,
while Xiao Wu, Meng Yiran, Zhu Zhuqing, and Mu Xi shared another.
The arrangement had one clear purpose—
to prevent Hu Liena and Meng Yiran, the two notorious troublemakers, from plotting mischief together. Each room had at least one quiet girl to keep the peace.
Just as everyone was settling in, two unexpected visitors arrived.
One was unsurprising—his "father-in-law," Ning Fengzhi, the Sect Master of Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Sect.
But the other guest left Li Chang'an utterly stunned.
It was Qian Renxue.
And Qian Renxue—unaware of Li Chang'an's many women around him—had no idea what kind of storm her arrival was about to stir.