As the participating teams gathered, the Dou Hun Arena became exceptionally lively.
The host of the Heaven Dou City Soul Master Competition, holding a sound-amplifying Soul Tool, shouted with an impassioned tone: "Next, let us warmly welcome our Tiandou Empire's guide, a devoted servant to the nation and its people, His Majesty the Emperor, whose achievements will last for ages!"
As the host's words faded, loud applause erupted, and all eyes immediately turned to Xue Xing, who had replaced Xue Ye as Emperor.
Seated in the most prominent position, Xue Xing thoroughly enjoyed the feeling, realizing how wonderful it was to be Emperor.
He gently waved his hand towards the surroundings, cleared his throat a few times, and spoke with a composed tone: "The All-Continent Soul Master Competition is a grand event held every few years across the entire Douluo Continent. As the host and maintainer of this competition, I declare the All-Continent Soul Master Competition officially open!"
Immediately, fervent applause resonated from below the stage. Some people continuously waved their hands, trying to attract the Emperor's attention.
"Long live! Long live!"
Seeing the adoration of his future subjects, Xue Xing suddenly felt the urge to say more, but without a prepared speech, he could only add a few reluctant words and abandoned the idea of continuing to speak.
Returning to his seat, Xue Xing saw Ning Fengzhi beside him calmly sipping tea, his eyes fixed on Shrek Academy.
His expression involuntarily darkened. What kind of attire was this? Wasn't the sponsorship from their Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School enough? It was so ugly, simply disgraceful.
"Sect Master Ning, you don't look too well?"
Xue Xing chuckled, following Ning Fengzhi's gaze, and saw the Shrek Seven Devils dressed in their hideous green leather outfits.
After a moment of restraint, he still laughed out loud and asked with interest: "Could it be that Sect Master Ning has an opinion on this Shrek Academy?"
Ning Fengzhi glanced at Xue Xing, his expression returning to normal. He took a sip of tea, laughed heartily, and said with a pleasant demeanor: "It's just that the students of Shrek Academy are all exceptionally talented individuals. In the future, I fear there will be several Title Douluo among them."
"Oh? Their talent is truly exceptional."
Xue Xing naturally knew that Ning Fengzhi secretly supported Shrek Academy, but he still feigned ignorance and asked: "I wonder if these Shrek Seven Devils can be used by my Heaven Dou?"
"This…"
Ning Fengzhi stiffly put his teacup back, and said somewhat unnaturally: "That depends on Shrek Academy's intentions. However, they are all young talents of the Tiandou Empire, so I presume they will also develop within the Tiandou Empire in the future."
That was as good as saying nothing.
Xue Xing didn't care. He knew very well that these people wouldn't develop in the Tiandou Empire, let alone be young talents of the Tiandou Empire.
Dai Mubai's surname and Martial Soul clearly indicated he was from Star Luo. Xue Xing believed that Shrek would most likely join Star Luo in the future.
However, since they had offended the Pope, they certainly posed no threat. After becoming Emperor, he had also inquired about Shrek Academy's information.
It was simply dismal; they were either being suppressed by the Pope's people or were on their way to being suppressed.
They were like unkillable cockroaches, every time they were beaten, they would brainwash themselves and then become re-energized.
"Hmm, it seems Sect Master Ning thinks highly of Shrek Academy?"
Xue Xing said meaningfully, intentionally bringing up a sensitive topic, just to make Ning Fengzhi choose a side.
"Cough, cough."
Ning Fengzhi's face also darkened at the question. Did he really have to press for an answer? Shrek Academy might ultimately become gods, so he would definitely side with Shrek.
Didn't they, the Tiandou Empire, know how useless they were?
"It's just that Shrek Academy feels somewhat special. They have a hope of winning the championship, Your Majesty. Let's watch the competition."
Seemingly unwilling to discuss this topic further, Ning Fengzhi hastily pointed to the teams being grouped, preparing for the first round of competition on the Dou Hun Arena.
"Hehe, let's see. This year, our Heaven Dou Royal Academy students are also far superior to before."
Xue Xing chuckled a few times. Currently, the Tian Dou Royal Team consisted almost entirely of young talents from Spirit Hall, with an average rank of Soul King.
Their leader, Dugu Yan, was even a Soul Saint. He didn't believe Shrek Academy could win, let alone claim the championship. They were dreaming beautifully.
"The Tiandou Empire is rich in talent, so it naturally has hope of winning first place."
Ning Fengzhi said a few casual words and then fell silent, secretly despising Xue Xing.
Who didn't know that their Tian Dou Royal Team was always the weakest of the three major forces, practically the worst?
Although the Tian Dou Royal Team's strength hadn't been revealed this time, it probably wouldn't be much higher than in previous years.
Otherwise, given Xue Ye's past conduct, he would have probably advertised it all over the continent long ago.
Xue Xing also knew that Ning Fengzhi looked down on the Tiandou Empire now, and couldn't help but secretly laugh. They looked down on them, yet they shamelessly asked them for troops.
He, Xue Xing, also looked down on their Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. They were always jumping around like flies, and sooner or later, they would be slapped to death by His Holiness the Pope.
At that time, he would kick them while they were down and completely wipe out their Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
Their conversation ended, and both calmly watched the referee below, who was having each team draw lots to select opponents.
"Next, the teams facing off in the preliminaries are…"
"First round preliminary match list: Canghui Academy versus Purple Lightning Brilliance Academy."
"Black Tiger Academy versus Coiling Dragon Academy."
…
"Shrek Academy versus Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
When the referee finished announcing, the Shrek Seven Devils remained expressionless.
After all, they still thought they were fighting the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's second team, as the first team had the right to be directly promoted to the semifinals at Spirit Hall.
Unless Heaven Dou Royal Academy was foolish, why would they participate in the preliminaries and prematurely reveal information and intelligence about their contestants?
"I heard that the strongest member of Heaven Dou Royal's second team is only a Soul Ancestor. We'll definitely crush Heaven Dou Royal Academy's arrogance then."
Tang San said, recalling his past experience at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. In his opinion, this Heaven Dou Royal Academy had already found its path to death and was unforgivable.
"That's right! We, the Shrek Seven Devils, must make this Heaven Dou Royal Academy understand what true cruelty is!"
Dai Mubai and Oscar, the two biggest victims, had grim expressions, clearly recalling things they shouldn't have.
Their faces were so dark that water could drip from them.
Dai Mubai even clenched his fists, trembling uncontrollably. It was the thrill of impending revenge. He wanted to shatter every single bone of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's second team, making them cripples for life.
The humiliation Heaven Dou Royal Academy inflicted upon him in the past, he, Dai Mubai, would return it twofold. This was just the first step of his revenge. Once he became the Star Luo Emperor and eliminated Spirit Hall, not a single person from the Tiandou Empire would survive! He would definitely cleanse the land for three days.
Seeing Dai-Laoda and Oscar speaking indignantly, Ma Hongjun, although he didn't know what had happened and had actually lived quite well in prison, even getting to discipline Yu Xiaogang daily, joined in the furious sentiment to fit in: "I, Ma Hongjun, have also long disliked Heaven Dou Royal Academy. They looked down on us so much back then, a bunch of blind fools. Today, we'll show them the might of our Shrek Academy."