Surrounded by soldiers, the large contingent marched towards the main gate of the Imperial City.
The competition arena for this tournament was not set up in Star Luo Plaza like in previous years, but in front of the main gate of the Imperial City.
The Star Luo Emperor and his ministers could sit atop the city wall to watch the matches, providing an excellent view and absolute safety.
The Imperial City was on the north side, facing south. On the west side of the arena, a luxurious rest area was also constructed, specifically for the participating team members of various academies. However, the rest area could only accommodate about seventy academies.
Because he was walking at the front of the line, Wang Lin could see the competition arena from afar.
The entire arena was one hundred meters wide and long, and five meters high. The periphery of the arena was surrounded by one hundred and eight metal pillars shaped like defensive soul tools.
When the match began, a protective shield would form to envelop the entire arena, preventing the aftermath of the battles from affecting the spectators.
The Imperial City was on the north side, facing south. On the west side of the arena, a luxurious rest area was also constructed, specifically for the participating team members of various academies.
However, the rest area could only accommodate about seventy academies, clearly not providing seats for the academies eliminated in the first round.
Therefore, for the first round of elimination matches, all academy students had to stand in the spectator area to watch the matches. No team was an exception, including Shrek Academy.
However, according to previous years' conventions, Shrek Academy was always the first to appear, so they had already taken their positions in the competing area early on.
Wang Lin looked at the Shrek students in their dark green school uniforms, his gaze finally resting on Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong. He immediately turned and left his position, walking toward Ma Rulong.
"What's wrong, Senior?" Ma Rulong looked at Wang Lin, who was standing in front of him, unsure what the silent senior wanted.
"Go stand in my place. Let me stand here." Wang Lin said in a deep voice.
In the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy team, the reserve team and the leading teachers stood in front, and the main team members stood behind.
Xiao Hongchen, as the reserve team captain, stood directly in front of Ma Rulong, and Jing Hongchen stood next to Xiao Hongchen.
Wang Lin, who was assigned by Jing Hongchen to stand at the other end, couldn't easily switch positions with Jing Hongchen, but he could switch with Ma Rulong.
"Okay." Ma Rulong was a little confused, not understanding what Wang Lin wanted to do, but he obediently gave up his position and stood next to his grandfather, after all, Wang Lin was a Titled Douluo.
All members of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, including Jing Hongchen, looked at Wang Lin, who had suddenly switched positions, wondering what he intended.
Especially Mika, who was standing next to Ma Rulong, was about to ask.
"Shut up. Watch the match quietly."
As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Lin's voice simultaneously rang out in the ears of Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen: "In a moment, don't resist."
The Hongchen siblings, standing together, nodded subtly. Meng Hongchen was not surprised why Wang Lin's voice suddenly appeared in her ear; Xiao Hongchen had told her that Wang Lin could use "voice transmission through soul power."
"Don't pull any tricks!" Jing Hongchen noticed the movements of his grandson and granddaughter, turned his head, and said to Wang Lin.
"Mm." Wang Lin nodded, unconcerned.
Just then, all the competing teams had entered the venue. The Star Luo Emperor on the Imperial City wall stood up, and his voice was transmitted through a sound amplification soul tool across the entire plaza.
"The All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Competition is the most important grand event in the Soul Master world of our Douluo Continent..."
After a segment of useless pleasantries, the Star Luo Emperor loudly announced that the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Competition was officially commencing.
"Long live! Long live! Long live!" The citizens cheered in unison.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!..." Salvoes of cannons roared from the city wall, continuing for one hundred and eight rounds before stopping.
Subsequently, the referee walked onto the stage and began to explain the rules of the competition.
"According to the rules of the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Competition, the first round will be an elimination tournament. In this session, a total of one hundred and thirty-three Advanced Soul Master and Soul Engineering Academies have registered.
"After the draw, one academy has a bye in the first round. A total of sixty-six matches will be held. The first round is an elimination system; the losers will be eliminated immediately."
After briefly explaining the rules, the referee immediately called out the two sides for the first match.
"Now, please welcome the representative team from the Heaven Spirit Advanced Soul Master Academy from the Dou Ling Empire, and the representative team from the continent's number one academy, Shrek Academy, which boasts countless honors and has nearly swept all the championships in the past millennium."
As soon as the referee's words fell.
"Shrek! Shrek! Shrek!..."
The shouts for Shrek Academy almost resonated in every corner of the plaza.
Wang Lin was somewhat dumbfounded seeing this. He had indeed underestimated the influence of the continent's number one academy.
Soon, both teams entered the arena. Compared to the excitement of Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and the others from Shrek Academy, the members of the Heaven Spirit Advanced Soul Master Academy looked as if they were attending a funeral.
"As expected, they ran into trouble."
Xiao Hongchen looked at the extremely young team entering the stage, a mischievous smile appearing on his face.
For the most important elimination round, only reserve team members were fielded, which could only mean that the three main Shrek team members were indeed unable to compete.
Wang Lin, on the other hand, stared at the excited look of Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and the others, preparing to make things a little more difficult for them.
After both teams reached the arena, the referee announced: "Both sides, retreat to the sides of the arena and prepare."
As the referee's voice sounded, the one hundred and eight metal pillars simultaneously burst into light. Instantly, streaks of white light shot up, forming an arc that converged in the air.
The light finally gathered twenty meters above the center of the arena, and a layer of white light screen instantly sprinkled down, enveloping the entire arena.
The seven members of Heaven Spirit Academy quickly spread out, three in the front and four in the back. On Shrek's side, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong stood at the very front.
The other five stood in a single line behind them.
As both sides took their formations, the referee's voice followed: "Begin the match."
As soon as the words fell, the students on both sides released their martial souls and soul rings almost simultaneously, brilliant, dazzling light illuminating the scene.
But at this moment, everyone's attention was fixed on Huo Yuhao, who stood at the very front of the Shrek Academy side.
A terrifying aura of a ferocious beast flashed past, and a blood-red light instantly lit up the entire arena.
Six soul rings—red, red, red, red, red, red—simultaneously encircled Huo Yuhao. Gasps of astonishment rose and fell.
But at that very moment, the gasps suddenly grew louder. All the spectators in the entire venue shifted their gaze from the arena to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy side, where a pair of handsome young siblings also had six blood-red soul rings surrounding them.
Then, to their astonished gaze, another blood-red soul ring appeared around the siblings—it was the seventh ten-thousand-year soul ring.
"Seven!!!" Shouts of shock immediately reverberated throughout the entire stadium.