I've also recently started a new translation, please check it out and show your support! Douluo: Seven Kill Shock the World
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After spending a few days in a large city far from Tian Dou City, Chu Chengzhou finally returned to Lan Ba Academy with Xiao Wu.
Soul hunting always required time. It wouldn't make sense to leave in the morning and return on the same night.
Of course, Chu Chengzhou ultimately didn't follow in the footsteps of Oscar's father.
In the end, he hadn't even turned fifteen yet, and Xiao Wu was a year and a half younger than him. One couldn't be too beastly—let's not say more; sixteen years old was the minimum.
After all, he wasn't like Ma Hongjun, who at just twelve years old frequently visited brothels and had already gone through multiple girlfriends with whom he'd had deep exchanges.
Ma Hongjun: ???
That evening, Liu Erlong, Flender, and Zhao Wuji gathered Chu Chengzhou's seven-member team and the four substitutes—Tai Long, Jiang Zhu, Huang Yuan, and Jing Ling—in the academy's conference room.
Standing on the podium, Liu Erlong looked over the eleven most outstanding students from her academy, especially Chu Chengzhou's group, and nodded inwardly in satisfaction. She waved her hand: "Alright, take your seats!"
The group quickly found their seats.
Liu Erlong scanned the room and began, "In three days, the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament will begin. Today, I'll explain the rules to you.
Though I know your strength is impressive, don't underestimate them.
In the competition, strength is undoubtedly important, but you must also understand all the rule restrictions. Otherwise, others may exploit them, leading to failure.
First, the participants sent by each academy must be under twenty-five years old, and they must maintain a team of seven for every match.
Second, during the matches, the goal is to foster friendship and avoid causing injuries or disabilities to opponents. Fatalities are absolutely forbidden.
If there's an incident where a participant kills an opponent, the academy involved will bear the corresponding losses and will be disqualified from the tournament."
As soon as she finished speaking, Chu Chengzhou raised his hand.
"Chu boy, what's your question?"
Liu Erlong turned her gaze toward Chu Chengzhou.
"Principal Liu, you should understand that battle conditions are unpredictable. If there's a significant difference in strength, it's not always possible to hold back.
For example, my spiritual power is quite formidable. If an opponent uses a spirit-type soul skill against me, and they're instead harmed by backlash, becoming an idiot or even dying on the spot, would this responsibility fall on us?"
Chu Chengzhou spoke calmly.
Upon hearing this, Liu Erlong paused, thought for a moment, and said hesitantly, "The rules are as they are. The Soul Master Tournament isn't something I have control over. If you encounter such an opponent, just try to avoid them."
Chu Chengzhou: "..."
Good grief—avoid them?
If the opponent is weak, avoiding them makes sense.
But if I'm strong, I still need to avoid them? To prevent someone from seeking death?
Ignoring Chu Chengzhou, Liu Erlong continued, "Aside from these two strict rules, there are some standardized regulations. The Soul Master Tournament is based entirely on fairness.
For instance, during the matches, participants are not allowed to use any food or recovery medicines created by non-food-type soul masters. Only the food-type soul master on the field has the authority to provide soul power food to their teammates.
This means that if a team wants to receive supplies during the match, a food-type soul master must occupy one of the active slots, preventing teams with food-type soul masters from cheating.
Additionally, the Soul Master Tournament prohibits participants from using any weapons or equipment outside of their spirit weapons.
Thus, items like bows, arrows, armor, or anything else are banned from this tournament.
These are the rules of the Soul Master Tournament. Do you have any questions?"
Upon hearing this, everyone, including Chu Chengzhou, shook their heads, indicating they understood.
Chu Chengzhou already knew the rules of the Soul Master Tournament. He was aware that refined bows and armor couldn't be used, but he didn't rely solely on those tools.
Not being able to use a refined bow or armor only limited his options in combat—it didn't significantly affect his maximum combat potential.
Seeing no confusion among the group, Liu Erlong nodded and continued, "That's all for the participation rules. If there are further updates, I'll inform you during the subsequent matches.
Next, I'll explain the format of the Soul Master Tournament.
In the two great empires, there are nearly a hundred advanced soul master academies, each with one entry slot. The two official advanced soul master academies of the empires will each occupy two slots.
For example, in the Tian Dou Empire, the Tian Dou Imperial Academy has two slots: the main team and the reserve team. The main team will directly advance to the finals, while the reserve team will compete in the preliminary rounds alongside other academies.
The reason for this preferential treatment is not only to honor the imperial families of the two empires but also because the official academies concentrate many talented soul masters. The main team is exceptionally strong and considered a championship seed team."
After Liu Erlong's lengthy explanation, everyone gained a basic understanding of the tournament format and regulations.
Of course, none of this was the most critical factor. Winning the final championship of the Soul Master Tournament still depended on strength.
If one lacked the necessary strength, studying the rules thoroughly wouldn't help.
"That's all I have to say.
As for specific tactical arrangements for each match, Chu Chengzhou, as the captain of the Lan Ba Academy team, you will decide.
Regardless of your tactics, my only requirement is that you win the final championship!"
Liu Erlong spoke sternly.
"Yes!"
Everyone responded in unison.
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Three days later.
The opening ceremony of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, Tian Dou Empire division, was held in Tian Dou City with a grand celebration.
As the largest event in the soul master world, the tournament attracted not only the attention of soul masters but also nobles and commoners alike. For the citizens of Tian Dou City, this event was the grandest festival.
The opening ceremony took place in the Tian Dou Grand Arena. A month ago, tickets for the ceremony were already sold out.
As the main venue for the Tian Dou division, the Tian Dou Grand Arena had ceased all dueling matches a month prior for internal renovations. All the sub-arenas were merged into one enormous competition area.
Apart from the VIP section retained on the northern side of the arena, the renovated Grand Arena could accommodate eighty thousand spectators simultaneously. All preliminary matches for the Tian Dou division would be held here for the next period of time.
Early in the morning, before the sun rose in the east, the renovated Tian Dou Grand Arena already welcomed a massive number of spectators.
Arriving so early, the audience wasn't there to enter the venue ahead of time, as each ticket had a designated seat number and didn't require rushing.
Their purpose was to see the young soul master participants up close on the first day of the opening ceremony.
Among them were many love-struck young women.
After all, there were roughly a hundred thousand soul masters across the continent, and those representing advanced soul master academies in the tournament were undoubtedly the cream of the crop. With the age limit set at twenty-five, the male participants became ideal romantic interests for countless young women.
Marrying a promising young soul master would bring both fame and fortune—a perfect match.
Of course, compared to love-struck young women, the number of LSPs (Lonely Single People) was countless.
However, while love-struck women had a chance to realize their dreams, LSPs could only drool in envy.
Beautiful young maidens were hard for most male participants to resist, but LSPs were certainly not appealing to talented female participants.
Unless they were exceptional youths like Chu Chengzhou, who excelled in both talent and appearance.
At this moment, almost one-third of Tian Dou City was deserted, with crowds flocking to the Tian Dou Grand Arena.
Starting several days ago, all hotels in Tian Dou City were fully booked, and the city's population surged by over fifty percent.
This demonstrated just how attractive this Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament was to people.
To ensure order for this event, the Tian Dou Empire mobilized five thousand city defense troops, minimizing the risk of chaos.
"Wow! So many people!"
Xiao Wu couldn't help but exclaim, looking around in awe. This bustling scene was her first experience.
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing also nodded. Such lively scenes were rare even in the bustling Tian Dou City, perhaps only seen once every five years during the Soul Master Tournament.
As for Chu Chengzhou, he was currently playing the role of a protector, standing guard beside the three girls to prevent any unwanted advances.
Unlike the original storyline, where the principal of Shrek Academy was Flender, Lan Ba Academy's principal was Liu Erlong, who had normal aesthetic standards. Everyone wore white-and-blue uniforms.
Though the design and color of the uniforms weren't particularly high-end, at least they avoided the ridicule brought on by Shrek Academy's infamous green outfits in the original story.
Just then, turning a street corner, a group of girls wearing turquoise uniforms approached, heading toward the Tian Dou Grand Arena alongside Lan Ba Academy.
"Whoa, Fatty, is this the all-girl Tian Shui (Sky Water) Team?!"
Oscar's flirtatious eyes immediately locked onto the vibrant beauties of the Tian Shui Team.
Ma Hongjun ignored Oscar—he was busy.
His attention was completely captured by the long legs of the Tian Shui Team girls wrapped in blue stockings.
Staring at those swaying blue-stocking-clad legs, Ma Hongjun, a seasoned pervert, was practically drooling.
Perhaps sensing Ma Hongjun's intense gaze, two girls from the Tian Shui Team glared fiercely at them.
"Fatty, Oscar, can you two mind your manners in public?"
Seeing this, Chu Chengzhou couldn't help but address the two.
Still, it had to be admitted—the girls from the Tian Shui Team were indeed tempting.
However, when it came to resisting temptation, Chu Chengzhou's self-control far surpassed Oscar and Ma Hongjun's. At the very least, he managed to keep his eyes from wandering.
"Cough cough, Brother Chu, you're full, so you don't understand our hunger."
Retracting his gaze, Ma Hongjun awkwardly replied.
"That's right, Brother Chu, you've got to sympathize with us!"
Oscar chimed in with a nod.
Chu Chengzhou: "..."
I'm full, and you two are hungry?
Don't think I don't know about your frequent visits to mid- and low-tier clubs in Tian Dou City.
The reason they weren't high-end clubs was simple—their financial situation didn't allow it. After all, Tian Dou City was the capital of the Tian Dou Empire, and its high-end clubs' prices far exceeded those in Suotuo City.
Hmm, I heard they even have fox-eared girls...
Skipping past this little episode, under Principal Liu Erlong's guidance, the group strode proudly into the Tian Dou Grand Arena.
Inside the resting area of the Tian Dou Grand Arena, all participating teams from the Tian Dou division, including Lan Ba Academy, awaited the subsequent opening ceremony.
With numerous participating teams, the check-in and registration process wasn't something that could be completed quickly.
However, this had nothing to do with Chu Chengzhou and the others. These trivial matters would be handled by Liu Erlong and Flender.
It wasn't long before the tournament staff entered the resting area to organize the teams for entry.
Perhaps due to good luck, or maybe the tournament organizers mistook Lan Ba Academy's name as being backed by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family, following the Tian Dou Imperial Academy reserve team and the Five Elements Academy team, it was Lan Ba Academy's turn to enter.
Though mentally prepared, the group was still awestruck the moment they stepped in.
Surrounding the vast and open square were countless cheering and shouting spectators. Directly ahead of the central field stood a golden-background stage, behind which was the renovated VIP section.
The spacious arena had a diameter exceeding 150 meters. The six teams that had already entered were neatly arranged in formation in the center.
Moreover, for each academy's entry, there was a dedicated announcer on the stage introducing them.
"The seventh team to enter is Lan Ba Academy's team, consisting of eleven participants... Their slogan is: Victory will belong to Lan Ba Academy!
What an inspiring slogan! Let's hope they deliver an outstanding performance!"
The announcer shouted Lan Ba Academy's slogan with enthusiasm, but the crowd's response was lukewarm, even accompanied by boos.
With the presence of the Tian Dou Imperial Academy's main team and the renowned Five Elements Academy team, who was Lan Ba Academy?
In the stands, facing the booing and skepticism from the surrounding audience, Liu Erlong clenched her fists tightly.
"Erlong, relax—facts will prove everything!"
Sensing his sister's indignation, Flender consoled her from the side.
Hearing this, Liu Erlong nodded, feeling somewhat better.
It wasn't that Flender's words were particularly reassuring—it was her belief in Chu Chengzhou and the others' strength. This Soul Master Tournament's ultimate winner would undoubtedly be her personally founded Lan Ba Academy!
Meanwhile, Chu Chengzhou was surveying the surroundings.
He had to admit—the Soul Master Tournament truly was the grandest event on the continent.
The spectator stands, decorated with a silver tone, were already filled with eighty thousand spectators.
Though eighty thousand might not sound like much, in reality, once the number surpassed ten thousand, the scene became overwhelming. Everywhere you looked, the stands were packed with heads.
Moreover, the number of spectators was immense, and the VIP section was also crowded.
In the first row of the VIP section, only three people sat.
In the center was a man dressed in crimson-gold robes, wearing a diamond-encrusted crown, with a face like the ancient moon, white hair and beard. Though he appeared somewhat aged, he exuded dignity and majesty.
Needless to say, this was Emperor Xue Ye of the Tian Dou Empire.
To Xue Ye's left sat an elderly man who appeared even older. Dressed in a bright red robe and wearing a five-point platinum crown, his eyes were slightly closed as if asleep. His narrow shoulders and lean frame made him look like a spear.
Without a doubt, this was Saris, the Platinum Bishop of the Tian Dou Holy Spirit Hall—one of the antagonists from the original storyline.
To Xue Ye's right sat Ning Fengzhi, the future father-in-law of Chu Chengzhou and Ning Rongrong's father, as well as the head of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
Today, Ning Fengzhi wore a moon-white robe and a symbolic Seven Treasures Purple Gold Crown. He looked like a wealthy and powerful middle-aged man, attracting the attention of naive young girls.
Even Saris, a high-ranking employee of the Holy Spirit Hall, had the qualifications to sit in the first row of the VIP section. As the head of one of the three great sects on the continent, Ning Fengzhi naturally qualified to sit in the first row alongside Emperor Xue Ye.
Skipping the first row, Chu Chengzhou focused his gaze on a blond-haired youth seated in the second row of the VIP section.
The first row of the VIP section seated Emperor Xue Ye, Ning Fengzhi, and Saris. Those in the second row were undoubtedly influential figures as well—either eighth-ring Soul Sages or high-ranking officials from the military and political spheres of the Tian Dou Empire.
As the only youth among the older crowd, the identity of this blond-haired youth was clear.
The Crown Prince of the Tian Dou Empire—Xue Qinghe.
Of course, that was his surface identity. In reality, he was Qian Renxue, the top spy planted by the Holy Spirit Hall within the Tian Dou Empire.
Chu Chengzhou had no ulterior motives—he was simply thinking of how to reel this fish into his pond.
After all, Qian Renxue was twenty-four years old now—not exactly an old maid, but it was time for her to experience romance.
Well, patience was key. First, he needed to deal with the big cat lingering around his pond.
By the way, the Holy Spirit Hall also had a little fox...
'The revolution is not yet complete, comrades must continue to work hard!'
Chu Chengzhou silently sighed.
As time passed, all the academy teams participating in the Tian Dou division's preliminary rounds entered the arena.
Then, the announcer on the VIP platform called out: "Now, let us invite Emperor Xue Ye of the Tian Dou Empire to declare the opening of this tournament!"
Seated in the center of the first row of the VIP section, Emperor Xue Ye, dressed in crimson-gold robes, slowly rose amid thunderous applause.
Raising his right hand, he lightly waved at the audience and participants below. The applause quickly died down, and the vast square fell silent. Xue Ye's deep and resonant voice echoed throughout the arena via amplification devices: "I, Xue Ye, Emperor of the Tian Dou Empire, represent the empire and the organizing committee in declaring the opening of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament!"
Applause erupted again, accompanied by cheers.
When the applause quieted, Xue Ye continued: "Here, I hope all soul masters participating in this tournament can fully display their abilities and achieve excellent results.
You are all the pride of the Tian Dou Empire. For the glory of the empire, shine with your brilliance!"
Applause broke out for the third time. This time, the young soul masters in the center of the arena had fiery determination in their eyes.
After all, for many participants, the Soul Master Tournament was the best stage to showcase themselves.
Achieving good results in the tournament meant no worries about future prospects. Plenty of major powers would extend olive branches to them.
After Xue Ye resumed his seat, the announcer's voice rang out again: "Now, let us invite Ning Fengzhi, head of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, to deliver a speech for this tournament!"
As Ning Fengzhi stood up, thunderous applause erupted once more. Many participants gazed at him with burning eyes.
After graduating from a soul master academy, if one wished to join a faction, excluding the dominant Holy Spirit Hall, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was a better choice for talented soul masters not from major powers compared to the Tian Dou Empire.
Joining the Tian Dou Empire meant being unconditionally summoned to the battlefield if war broke out between the two empires.
However, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was different. As one of the three great sects on the continent, with the legendary Sword and Bone Douluos guarding it, no foolish force dared target them.
Moreover, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was famously wealthy, and Ning Fengzhi was notoriously generous. High pay, low risk—it was undoubtedly the top career choice.
Ning Fengzhi smiled faintly and raised his hands to calm the applause. He spoke: "I am honored to be invited as a guest for this tournament's opening. As the head of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, I have witnessed the growth of countless soul masters.
As the noblest profession on the continent, every soul master's journey requires numerous trials.
But I want to say: sharp swords are forged through hardship, and plum blossoms bloom in bitter cold. You who are participating in this Soul Master Tournament are undoubtedly the elites of the younger generation. As His Majesty said earlier, I hope you bring glory to the empire and to your respective academies. The empire needs talents like you!
Thank you!"
Listening to Ning Fengzhi's speech, a faint smile appeared on Emperor Xue Ye's face.
The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was undoubtedly a highly qualified ally. Ning Fengzhi's words, spoken from the empire's perspective, touched Xue Ye deeply.
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