Snow Emperor said, "How about this then? Yuhao, your matches will proceed as scheduled. Auspicious Beast, the two of us will investigate the vicinity of this Star Net City."
As a super Ferocious Beast who had lived for hundreds of thousands of years, Snow Emperor was mostly just curious about this so-called greatest event of the human continent. Although her current transformed age was young enough to compete, she disdained the idea of bullying a group of children.
It was much the same for Long Qiu'er. Among the humans, only Huo Yuhao could spark her interest in fighting; the rest of their peers basically couldn't take a single punch from her...
Huo Yuhao hesitated, looking at the two beautiful girls before him. "Maybe... I should come along too. It would be more convenient to find people with my Spiritual Detection."
"No need," Long Qiu'er shook her head decisively. "The gap between your Mental Power realm and that fellow's is too large. If you can discover it, it can certainly discover you. It's better to leave it to us, as our perception is stronger. We at least need to confirm if it's friend or foe first, and if we can't win, we can always 'call for backup'."
Huo Yuhao slumped his shoulders in slight frustration. "...Fair point."
Little did the three of them know how much impact this minor deviation would have in the future.
...
After Huo Yuhao returned to the hotel, a group of figures walking slowly toward the area immediately caught the attention of the onlookers.
There were nearly twenty people, each wearing a slim, upright white school uniform. Their wrists and chests were adorned with quite exquisitely constructed Soul Tools, giving off a bit of a steampunk vibe.
A well-informed passerby recognized them instantly.
"It's the people from Sun Moon Royal Academy!"
These were old acquaintances. In fact, since the Sun Moon Continent crashed into the Douluo Continent four thousand years ago, the so-called Soul Master Elite Tournament has essentially been a battle to see whether Shrek Academy or Sun Moon Royal Academy could take first place.
Of course, after four thousand years of fighting, Sun Moon Royal Academy was still the perennial runner-up. Shrek Academy might be lacking in other areas, but they were absolute experts at winning Soul Master tournaments. They had a complete set of tactics on how to win—such as "accidentally" causing a few deaths in the individual matches to handicap the opponent for the team fights.
However, in this session, Sun Moon Royal Academy had a few more variables.
A handsome youth with short white hair stood with his hands behind his back. His heterochromatic eyes scanned the bustling streets, and he spoke somewhat arrogantly: "So this is Star Net City. It's quite backward; they're actually still using such thick city walls..."
As soon as these words came out, the surrounding passersby glared angrily at the youth. But the boy acted as if he didn't see them, carrying an air of "Heaven is number one, I am number two."
"Old Xiao, you have to follow local customs. Did you forget what Grandfather told us?"
The speaker was a girl with long white hair and azure eyes. She walked ahead of the boy, turning around to look at her older brother with a look of helplessness.
While the girl might not have been a peerless beauty, her looks were top-tier, and her figure was very well-developed.
Pride goes before a fall; Grandfather had educated her brother this way countless times, but he had never listened once.
"Hmph! All I care about is whether Shrek has an opponent who can satisfy me!"
"I'm just afraid you'll be beaten until you're looking for your teeth on the ground..."
"Tch!" The white-haired boy raised his palm in front of him, making a rubbing motion. "Sorry, but in this world, my only enemy is myself."
One could see that his hands were extremely fair and slender; even a girl would find it hard to possess such jade-like luster. He seemed to care deeply about his hands, admiring them like the most exquisite art in the world, making one wonder if he used his right hand for anything... untoward.
These two were naturally the Hongchen siblings, regarded as the trump cards of Sun Moon Royal Academy for this tournament. In reality, their strength was sufficient to join the main team, but to keep a safety net and deceive others, they were placed in the preparatory team.
As he was so entranced by his own hands, he took a few steps forward and bumped into his sister, who was standing still.
He said with some annoyance, "Meng, why aren't you moving?"
But his sister remained frozen, staring straight ahead, completely oblivious to his words.
"???"
Xiao Hongchen twitched his lips speechlessly. Was she having a fangirl moment again?
But following Meng Hongchen's gaze, Xiao Hongchen was also a bit stunned.
Even at the registration desk of the Star Net Grand Hotel, where people were coming and going, that youth was the most eye-catching.
His short blue-and-white hair fell softly across his cheeks, giving him a somewhat obedient, "younger brother" look. Although his picturesque face still looked somewhat childish due to his youth, it was nonetheless stunning.
He sat on a sofa in the corner, propping his chin with his hand, seemingly lost in thought.
Xiao Hongchen's first reaction upon seeing this person was...
Impossible! Absolutely impossible!
How could there be someone more handsome than me in this world!
Then, refusing to give up, Xiao Hongchen looked down and saw the youth's hands...
His hands look better than mine too... Xiao Hongchen gnashed his teeth, unconsciously clenching his fists.
What about his cultivation?
He couldn't sense any Soul Power fluctuations from him. Could he be an ordinary person?
As if sensing their gaze, Huo Yuhao looked up and saw two people he didn't know at all staring intensely at him.
Uh... the girl is one thing, I'm somewhat used to that, but what's with that guy's expression? It's like I have some blood feud with him.
Huo Yuhao shrank his neck slightly, gave the two a brief nod, and then, without staying any longer, stood up and left the hall without hesitation.
It wasn't until Huo Yuhao entered the elevator that Xiao Hongchen withdrew his gaze.
Seeing his sister looking like she had lost her soul, Xiao Hongchen irritably slapped her on the head. "Stop looking, he's already gone."
Meng Hongchen immediately clutched her head and pounced on Xiao Hongchen. "Damn it! Old Xiao, if you dare hit my head again, I'll fight you to the death!"
The siblings had a good relationship, and they began bickering and playing around, ignoring everyone else.
...
The Continental Elite Young Soul Master Tournament is the ultimate battle between academies of various nations. Based on the principles of fairness and justice, it tests the comprehensive strength of each academy through rich and flexible competition formats.
The first round of the preliminaries is a direct knockout match. The losing side is eliminated immediately.
The format for the first round is always a team battle (seven-on-seven). It is estimated that the first round will take three days to complete.
After the first round, teams will be grouped for a round-robin tournament.
The round-robin tournament uses a random system, drawing from three modes: single-elimination, three-versus-two, two-versus-two, and seven-versus-seven team battles.
One could say that since the tournament adopted this current system, the most exciting part—besides the finals—is actually this first round of knockouts.
The brilliance and even the tragic intensity far exceed the subsequent round-robin matches. In the round-robin, one can have tactical arrangements or even tactical losses. But in this first round, if you lose, you leave. Even for the perennial champion, Shrek Academy, there are no exceptions or privileges.
It must be said that the tournament is truly the number one event of the Douluo Continent. Even though it was still the early hours of the morning, people had already begun entering from all directions of Star Net Square.
From the entrance fees alone, the Star Net Empire could collect about two million Gold Soul Coins per day. Over a month, that would be sixty million. After deducting military expenses and investments, the Empire could still make a massive profit. This is one reason why all four major empires are very willing to host the tournament. You should know that the annual tax revenue of Star Net City is only about that much.
Watching the matches isn't free; the daily entrance fee is not cheap, requiring two Gold Soul Coins.
For some merchants and nobles, it's nothing. But for commoners, it's a large sum—yet it's worth it.
As the commoners say, you never get to see those high-and-mighty Soul Master lords normally, but for just two Gold Soul Coins, you can watch them fight to the death for victory. Isn't that worth it?
Gua! I want to see rivers of blood!
"So that's how it is. That kid is a member of the Shrek team."
Sitting early in the Sun Moon Royal Academy waiting area, Xiao Hongchen murmured thoughtfully as he saw Huo Yuhao walking out of the competitor passage with the Shrek team, his heterochromatic eyes filled with intense battle intent.
Good, you are qualified to be my opponent!
Meanwhile, Meng Hongchen's gaze drifted back and forth between Huo Yuhao and a youth with pinkish-blue hair, seemingly struggling to make a choice.
The two were similar in terms of attractiveness, but upon closer inspection, the pinkish-blue-haired one looked a bit... a bit girly, whereas Huo Yuhao did not give off that feeling.
What a feast for the eyes...
After taking his seat, Huo Yuhao nervously loosened his clothes, trying his best to ignore the surrounding gazes.
Having truly participated in such an event, Huo Yuhao realized it wasn't actually that interesting. How should he put it... it felt like being surrounded by a cage, fighting desperately inside just to entertain the audience.
Is this a dog race or a cockfight?
Of course, Huo Yuhao understood that this continental tournament was also for the benefit of the students. Without asking, he knew that in every corner of the spectator stands, scouts from various Soul Master sects were already everywhere, ready to scout talent at any moment.
These young Soul Masters couldn't stay in an academy forever; they would eventually have to enter society, and the academy couldn't protect them for life. This tournament was the best opportunity to showcase themselves. Those who could participate were the cream of the crop; barring accidents, they would be recruited by major sects after the tournament, moving toward a new life and more cultivation resources.
But Huo Yuhao still didn't understand why Shrek tied the academy's glory so tightly to the outcome of this competition...
"So this is the top gathering of the human world? Truly amazing..."
Snow Emperor wore a white sun hat and a simple white dress, looking thoughtfully at the massive crowd. Under the simulation effect of the [Douluo World] sub-controller, Snow Emperor's celestial beauty was hidden, replaced by the image of an average-looking girl.
Beside her, Long Qiu'er said casually, "Hehe, from some perspectives, humans and Soul Beasts are basically the same. They both fight for resources and better survival; it's just that their methods aren't quite as bloody..."
Snow Emperor nodded thoughtfully. "True... at least on the human side, they don't eat the losing party after deciding the winner. This allows their combat power to remain at a respectable level, whereas on the Soul Beast side..."
Long Qiu'er understood her meaning without further explanation. The food source for most Soul Beasts was their own kind. Just as Huo Yuhao once said, if you want to talk about the slaughter of Soul Beasts, the primary culprits are the Soul Beasts themselves.
Perhaps the laws of survival in the Star Constellation Great Forest could be improved in this regard... but the problem of food would need to be solved first.
"I heard Yuhao has a match today. Let's watch closely! Though I don't think there's anyone among these competing humans who can match him..."
At this moment, the opening ceremony arrived. As the opening speech by the Emperor of the Star Net Empire concluded, the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament officially began.
"The first match: the Heavenly Spirit Advanced Soul Master Academy team from the Battle Spirit Empire versus the Shrek Academy team! Would the members of both teams please enter the arena."
On the high platform of the Imperial City not far away, the Star Net Emperor Xu Jiawei narrowed his eyes slightly. After scanning the crowd, his gaze slowly settled on Huo Yuhao.
"I haven't seen you in a few years; you've certainly grown up a bit."
Beside him were the Grand Princess of Star Net, Xu Jiujiu, dressed in magnificent golden palace attire, and his Empress.
Below the high platform stood the civil and military officials of the Star Net Empire. Days like this—where they could openly slack off, watch a show, and still get paid—were rare, so the officials all looked quite content.
Xu Jiawei suddenly seemed to remember something and asked, "Little sister, are the Dai brothers behaving themselves at the academy?"
Xu Jiujiu said, "Dai Huabin is quite dissatisfied in the preparatory team, but as for Dai Yueheng..."
Pausing for a moment, Xu Jiujiu lowered her voice and said, "That Dai Yueheng seems to want to get closer to me."
Xu Jiawei narrowed his eyes, his hands behind his back, a mockingly curved smile appearing on his lips. "That's not surprising. In the current Zhu family, there are no women of suitable age to match Dai Yueheng. Plus, after the incident last year caused quite a stir, I suspect Dai Hao is getting a bit anxious."
He then looked at his sister with a half-smile. "Little sister, you really don't have any thoughts?"
Xu Jiujiu rolled her eyes at her brother. "Can you stop playing matchmaker?"
Xu Jiawei just laughed. "I wasn't talking about Dai Yueheng; I was talking about Huo Yuhao."
Xu Jiujiu's face turned slightly red as she protested, "Brother~"
"Alright, alright, no more jokes." Xu Jiawei pulled back his smile. "Is Dai Hao back yet?"
"He has been notified, but the Mingdou Mountain Range is far away. Dai Hao used busy military affairs as an excuse, saying he would arrive a few days late."
"I'm not afraid of him being late; I'm afraid of him not showing up!" Xu Jiawei smiled confidently. "Little sister, after this match ends, go see Huo Yuhao personally. You know what needs to be said."
"Taking advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I must reclaim the military power of the Mingdou Mountain Range!"