"Is this Mingdu?"
"It feels like we're on an entirely different level from them."
Upon arriving in Mingdu, those who had never seen the city before were deeply shaken. Before them stood a metropolis without even a single city wall—its towering skyscrapers alone made the gap glaringly obvious.
Yet more than awe, what weighed heavier on their hearts was solemnity.
Zhang Lexuan's brow furrowed tightly. She'd never been to Mingdu herself—only catching glimpses of it through stories from the elders and the late Elder Mu. But now she realized: hearing about it was nothing compared to seeing it with her own eyes.
The might of the Sun Moon Empire defied simple description.
One glimpse revealed the whole leopard; one fallen leaf heralded autumn's arrival.
An empire capable of building such a city—setting aside its peak experts for a moment—already surpassed the Three Great Empires in every aspect: economy, military strength, soul engineering technology. And that wasn't even mentioning how its top-tier powerhouses also stood above theirs.
Recalling the final words Elder Mu had entrusted to her before his passing, Zhang Lexuan suddenly felt the burden on her shoulders grow even heavier.
Delaying the war—this plan was now urgent!
Her gaze subtly shifted toward Chen Junting.
I need to find a chance to talk with Junior Brother Junting.
And she wasn't the only one thinking that.
Of course, "that" referred specifically to delaying the war.
Chen Junting himself had already formed a rough strategy in his mind—though his approach differed from Zhang Lexuan's.
Still, once they actually entered Mingdu, regardless of whatever hidden intentions they harbored toward the city, everyone maintained a polite, appreciative demeanor on the surface as they walked in.
No sooner had they stepped inside than Elder Zhi Yong vanished without a trace.
Chen Junting and the others paid it no mind.
According to the registration instructions, upon entering Mingdu, teams first needed to complete check-in to confirm their arrival. Afterward, the Sun Moon Empire would arrange accommodations and tournament schedules.
Since Chen Junting and Gu Tianchen had spent quite some time in Mingdu—and with Ji Juechen among them—they knew the city well. They navigated effortlessly to the registration venue:
Mingyue Hotel—a massive, eight-story structure gleaming in pure silver, standing proudly at the heart of Mingdu.
Stepping into the lobby immediately evoked a metallic sensation.
The interior matched the exterior perfectly—everything bathed in sleek silver-white tones, with streamlined designs resembling exquisitely crafted soul engineering devices. It radiated the unmistakable aesthetic of the Sun Moon Empire: minimalist yet bold, far surpassing conventional notions of luxury.
The spacious, brilliantly lit lobby was already bustling with people—young geniuses from major factions across the continent.
Yet the moment Chen Junting's group entered, a young hostess in a shimmering silver gown approached with a warm smile. "Welcome, honored guests! Are you here together for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament?"
As she asked, a flicker of doubt crossed her mind—Isn't this team unusually large?
"No," Ning Tian replied with a gentle shake of her head. "We're actually two separate teams. We're from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect."
Hearing another prestigious sect name, the hostess quickly responded with practiced ease, "Understood! Since many teams are arriving right now, please bear with us for a short wait."
She then turned toward Zhang Lexuan.
But the moment Zhang Lexuan mentioned "Shrek Academy," the hostess's attitude shifted instantly. She informed them that as a previous top-eight finalist team, Shrek enjoyed special privileges—they could skip the queue and proceed directly through an expedited registration channel.
"In that case, we appreciate your help," Zhang Lexuan said politely.
After bidding farewell to Chen Junting's group, she led the Shrek members toward the priority lane.
Meanwhile, Chen Junting and his companions were guided by another hostess to a lounge area in the lobby to await their turn.
As they rested and chatted—
"Yuhao."
Chen Junting, who appeared to be meditating with closed eyes but was secretly scanning their surroundings, suddenly spoke up. Huo Yuhao, still conversing with Dugu Xin, instinctively froze for a split second before snapping back to attention.
"Brother Junting? What is it?"
"During this tournament, I have a task for you. Since you won't need to rush onto the battlefield in the early stages, focus your energy on this instead."
"Understood."
Without even knowing the details, Huo Yuhao agreed immediately. But soon enough, he learned exactly what Chen Junting wanted: locate Mingdu's granaries and gunpowder depots.
"Granaries and gunpowder depots?"
"Precisely—the places where Mingdu stockpiles food and vast quantities of military-grade soul tools." A strange glint flashed in Chen Junting's eyes. To him, these locations were absolutely critical.
"I got it."
"Hmm? Someone's coming."
Just as Chen Junting prepared to withdraw his spiritual probe, he sensed a team approaching—and the aura of the one leading them felt faintly stronger than Gu Tianchen's.
Ordinarily, he wouldn't be surprised if it were a team leader. But judging by the vitality signature, this person—who clearly outmatched Old Gu—was definitely under twenty years old.
In other words, likely a competitor.
"Interesting."
Suddenly, Chen Junting's spiritual connection snapped.
More accurately—it was forcibly severed.
He wasn't annoyed, though. Probing someone after they've arrived was, after all, rather impolite.
Noticing Chen Junting's shift in focus, the others quickly followed his gaze—and saw a team striding toward them from a distance.
At the front walked a man of extraordinary build: broad-shouldered, barrel-chested, muscles bulging, nearly two meters tall. One glance confirmed his exceptional nature.
His long, chestnut-red hair parted down the middle, the strands flowing smoothly along both sides. His narrow eyes gleamed with icy coldness, his nose straight, jaw firm—not classically handsome, yet carrying an air of roguish charm and untamable arrogance that drew every eye.
"He's strong," Ji Juechen murmured, four words slipping out involuntarily. Instinctively thrilled by a worthy opponent, his hand drifted toward his sword hilt.
But the moment Chen Junting placed a palm on his shoulder, Ji Juechen's surging aura instantly dissipated. "Old Ji, if you release your pressure, they'll take it as a provocation."
Chen Junting then looked back at the approaching figure—whose name was already forming on his lips.
Among competitors, Soul Saints were exceedingly rare. Given this man's profile, there was likely only one candidate: Long Aotian.
As Long Aotian stepped into Chen Junting's line of sight, he too lifted his gaze—and locked eyes with them.
Then, without hesitation, he walked straight toward them.
The sheer pressure he radiated was so intense that, aside from Chen Junting, Gu Tianchen, Ji Juechen, Huo Yuhao, and Ning Tian, everyone else instinctively rose to their feet, subconsciously trying to ease the oppressive weight.
Yet Long Aotian simply brushed past them—ignoring the group entirely—and stopped directly in front of Chen Junting.
His towering frame blocked the entire space ahead, casting a vast shadow over Chen Junting, with only faint light filtering in from the sides.
Chen Junting had no choice but to stand.
He refused to look up at someone his own age.
The moment their eyes met, Long Aotian spoke first.
"Hello."
His tone was utterly flat—devoid of emotion—but it was enough for Chen Junting to deduce he wasn't here to pick a fight.
"Hello," Chen Junting replied courteously, then waited quietly to see what Long Aotian would say next.
But after that single word, Long Aotian fell silent—just standing there like a human barricade.
The atmosphere grew unbearably awkward. Even Long Aotian's own teammates exchanged uneasy glances behind him, saying nothing.
Finally, Wu Feng—the most hot-tempered among them—could take no more. She pointed straight at Long Aotian and snapped, "Hey! You big gorilla—what exactly do you want?! Did you come here just to block people?!"
"Ahem—ahem! Xiao Feng…"
Big gorilla!?
Everyone froze at the nickname.
Chen Junting nearly choked.
Xiao Feng… your talent for nicknames is truly something else!
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