Star Lou City, Star Lou Soul Arena.
This massive structure—capable of seating 100,000—was more vibrant than ever on the tournament finals' opening day. The enormous circular stands, stacked like a colosseum, rose high, each level packed with enthusiastic spectators. Flags waved, the sound like surging tides, the air thick with excitement, tension, and the scent of gunpowder. Sunlight streamed through the special crystal dome, scattering dazzling lights across the mirror-smooth center stage.
As Chen Yi led the Grand Martial Academy team to the entrance tunnel, countless gazes from the stands instantly converged on them. Curiosity, scrutiny, awe, and fear—all tangled in an invisible net.
This year, Grand Martial Academy had shown overwhelming strength in the Heaven Dou Division, backed by formidable teachers and the powerful Body Sect, making them faintly the "number one academy on the continent."
The passageway was dim, a stark contrast to the noise outside. Chen Yi's face was calm as he strode forward, dressed in the academy's standard dark suit—well-tailored, devoid of excess decoration. It made him seem straighter, his temperament more striking. Behind him, his six main teammates—Yang Zhantian, Che Lang, Long Xiao, Niu Yun, Meng Yutong, Ding Xian—and the five substitutes, including Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan, all wore solemn expressions, their eyes sharp, their auras united and invisible, like drawn swords that made people avert their gaze.
Amid the roaring crowd, a middle-aged man in the official attire of the Star Lou Empire and a serious expression approached the main stage. Using a soul guide to amplify his voice, he began introducing the teams.
One by one, the standout teams from the division tournaments entered from different passages, greeted by applause or polite acknowledgment.
"…Next, let's warmly welcome the defending champions of the previous Continental Senior Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament—the Spirit Hall Academy Team, from Spirit City!"
The announcer's voice soared with excitement.
Chen Yi's steps paused slightly, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly as he gazed coolly at the host. According to custom, unless the host academy decided otherwise, the previous champions should appear last, as a sign of respect. Yet now, with Grand Martial Academy still waiting in the tunnel, Star Lou had brought out the Spirit Hall team first—an "unintentional" arrangement that was anything but.
"What a boring trick," Chen Yi sneered inwardly. The Star Lou royal family's ploys were transparent to him.
Amid deafening cheers, the Spirit Hall Academy team entered. They all wore beautiful white uniforms with gold trim, the Seraphim emblem—symbol of Spirit Hall—embroidered on their chests, shining in the sun.
At the front was a tall girl with a cold face, her expression indifferent, as if the surrounding noise had nothing to do with her. Her blue eyes swept the crowd, exuding innate nobility and distance.
Just then, Dugu Yan, who had come up beside Chen Yi, whispered at the perfect moment, her green snake eyes glinting:
"According to our information, Spirit Hall's captain is called Qing Yao, a level 56 assault-type Battle Soul King with the top beast martial soul—Azure Luan. The youngest, baby-faced one behind her is Vice-Captain Guang Yu, with the extremely rare Glowing Feather Bow martial soul, also an assault-type level 53 Battle Soul King, and said to possess tremendous spiritual power.
"Then there's Wang Jie, with the Coiling Dragon Staff martial soul, an assault-type level 51 Soul King. The tall, humanoid, violent one is Kuang Shi, with the Explosive Lion martial soul, also a level 51 assault-type. And the petite girl is Jin Yue, with the Golden Crocodile martial soul, a level 52 assault-type Soul King."
"These five are their core main force, all at the Soul King level."
A flash of clarity appeared in Chen Yi's eyes—Azure Luan, Glowing Feather, Coiling Dragon Staff, Golden Crocodile… These martial souls were all legacies of Worhsip Hall's old monsters. If they were direct descendants, it was astonishing for them to be so powerful at this age, but not incomprehensible. Spirit Hall's depth of heritage was truly extraordinary.
The host, clearly pleased with the effect, paused before announcing with even more enthusiasm:
"…Next, let's welcome the Grand Martial Academy Team, now famous and known as the continent's number one academy, with a warm round of applause!"
Premier academy? Such a timely flattery.
A cold, ironic smile crept across Chen Yi's lips. Star Lou feared going unnoticed, eager to fan the flames.
However, when Chen Yi led the Grand Martial team out onto the stage, the entire Star Lou Soul Arena instantly fell silent. Then, the cheers and shouts that followed were no weaker than those for Spirit Hall—perhaps even louder!
In recent years, Grand Martial Academy and the Body Sect's achievements had spread across the continent. Especially in Star Lou, a nation that worshipped strength, a sect cultivating the once-abolished Body martial soul had risen to produce multiple Titled Douluo, ascending to the world's top sect. Their legend and inspirational power were unmatched.
For countless soul masters and ordinary folk without exceptional martial souls, the Body Sect had become a symbol of faith and hope.
Chen Yi could feel the complicated emotions in those gazes—fanaticism, expectation, scrutiny, and deep fear.
Once everyone had gathered in the waiting room, a cold snort sounded from the side. Turning, Chen Yi saw Spirit Hall's Kuang Shi, arms folded and chest out, glaring at him with a rebellious, discontented look—provocation, jealousy, and a desire to challenge all mixed together.
Qing Yao, walking ahead, glanced at Kuang Shi indifferently, saying nothing. Yet under her invisible pressure, Kuang Shi reined in much of his force, though he kept his neck stiff, refusing to fully submit.
Qing Yao's gaze soon shifted to Chen Yi. Her cold eyes were deep as a pool, unreadable. She watched him for a long moment before looking away.
Chen Yi paid all this no mind, nor did he respond to Kuang Shi's childish provocation. In his eyes, this level of posturing was meaningless.
Not convinced? So what. Everything would be decided on the soul battle stage.
The host's voice resounded once more, pushing the atmosphere to a climax:
"Next, let's welcome the honored guests attending this tournament! First, His Majesty, the Emperor of Star Lou Empire, Dai Liang! And Her Majesty, the Empress!"
Amid thunderous applause and cheers, a tall, imposing man in golden imperial robes, his face dignified, stepped onto the highest VIP platform, accompanied by a beautiful, mature woman in magnificent palace attire. This was Dai Liang, supreme ruler of Star Lou Empire, and his queen.
"Let us also welcome one of the Head Department of Grand Martial Academy, His Excellency Nine Heart Begonia Douluo Ye Cien!"
Today, Ye Cien wore moon-white robes embroidered with subtle nine-hearted begonia patterns. With a peaceful expression, he strode forward. The moment he appeared, many strong observers with keen senses could vaguely feel the natural fluctuations of soul power, brimming with dignity and life, from his body.
Title: Douluo! And he was an auxiliary Douluo!
Countless gasps and discussions rippled through the stands.
"Please also welcome Vice Dean of Spirit Hall Academy, His Excellency, Dawn Douluo of Spirit Hall!"
Dawn Douluo wore the gold-edged elder's robe unique to Spirit Hall, his eyes as sharp as an eagle's. Just standing there, he exuded an invincible edge. Unlike the other guests, he merely nodded lightly—a greeting, but clearly not a man of words.
"Lastly, let us welcome the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi!"
With a kind, warm smile, Ning Fengzhi walked out, nodding gently to those around him, showing the demeanor of a sect master.
The four heavyweight guests stood atop the grand stage, representing the continent's top forces.
Yet Ning Fengzhi, still smiling gently, repeatedly glanced sidelong at Ye Cien, his heart already in turmoil. The calm he'd maintained for years was shaken. It was true—Ye Cien had become an auxiliary Titled Douluo! This fact struck Ning Fengzhi's heart like a giant hammer. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul was powerful, but limited to seven levels, making it impossible to break through the eightieth rank—a lifelong pain for all its sect masters.
Now, the Nine-Hearted Begonia had not only broken the iron rule that auxiliary soul masters could not become Titled Douluo, but had bloomed dazzlingly in Ye Cien's hands. Ning Fengzhi now knew that, whether he admitted it or not, from this day on, the title of "world's number one auxiliary martial soul" belonged to the Nine-Hearted Begonia, and Ye Cien had become the continent's first auxiliary Titled Douluo.
A bitter sense of loss filled his heart, and his smile grew a little stiffer.
The host's voice rang out ceremoniously. "Now, we invite His Majesty, the Emperor of Star Lou Empire, to announce the opening of this tournament!"
Amid thousands of expectant eyes and earth-shaking cheers, Emperor Dai Liang of Star Lou stepped forward. His majestic voice, accompanied by soul power as strong as a tiger's roar in mountains and forests, boomed through every corner of the grand arena.
"I am Dai Liang, Emperor of Star Lou Empire!"
The soundwaves rolled with imperial majesty and force.
"This year's finals of the Continental Senior Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament—"
Dai Liang's arm fell sharply.
"—officially begin!"
Boom!
His declaration was like the final spark igniting a powder keg—the entire Star Lou Soul Arena erupted!
Cheers, shouts, and music soared, as if to lift the massive dome itself skyward. The soul masters' ultimate event—the battlefield for young geniuses to prove themselves—had, in that instant, officially begun!
...
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