Before long, Liu Yuan led his team back to the competition venue once again.
This time, although there were fewer teams gathered in the preparation area, the number of spectators in the stands had actually increased.
As the tournament progressed, the weaker teams had already been weeded out through brutal elimination. Those who remained were all elite squads that had endured the baptism of fierce battles in the first round.
Naturally, such matches were far more thrilling to watch.
…
At this moment, Star Luo Square was packed to the brim, the noise rolling like thunder.
Countless spectators waved colorful flags, shouting and cheering for the academies they supported. In such a frenzied atmosphere, anyone with slightly weaker mental fortitude would probably feel their legs go soft just standing there.
But the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy team was different.
Their steps were steady, their expressions calm. Even the usually more lively members were unusually composed.
They arrived at the preparation area and quickly took their seats to wait.
Their position was still one of prominence. As last year's runner-up, they enjoyed the best treatment second only to Shrek Academy.
On Shrek Academy's side, Xuan Zi spotted Liu Yuan and his group almost immediately.
The instant his eyes landed on them, Xuan Zi's pupils shrank sharply.
Although he tried his best to maintain the calm demeanor of a top-tier expert, the moment his gaze fell on Liu Yuan—who wore that ever-present faint smile—the anger in his heart flared like oil poured onto fire.
It's this brat…
Because of him, Xuan Zi had utterly lost face in front of the entire team and been savagely scolded by Elder Mu!
At this moment, he even felt that the smile on Liu Yuan's face was deliberate mockery.
"Hmph!"
Xuan Zi let out a cold snort.
He glared fiercely in Liu Yuan's direction, silently praying with venom in his heart:
"Gods above, if you truly have eyes, put these people in our group!"
"If we run into them… I'll make Dai Yueheng and Ma Xiaotao go all out. They'll pay a heavy price!"
As if sensing that malicious gaze, Liu Yuan slightly turned his head and glanced toward Shrek Academy's direction.
It was only a brief glance.
The next moment, he turned away indifferently, as though he had merely seen a wisp of insignificant air.
That dismissive attitude nearly drove Xuan Zi mad with rage. His teeth itched as he almost crushed the wine gourd in his hand.
Soon after, the referee appeared once more.
To demonstrate the importance of the round-robin stage, His Majesty the Emperor of the Star Luo Empire personally ascended the city wall to watch the matches. Meanwhile, the one presiding over the lottery ceremony was the Prime Minister of the Star Luo Empire—an elderly man of immense prestige in both politics and the soul master world.
Under the gaze of countless spectators, he stepped onto the high platform, cleared his throat, and his powerful voice resounded throughout the entire venue via an amplified soul tool.
"Distinguished elites who have come from afar, citizens of the Star Luo Empire!"
"After the first round of brutal elimination matches, a total of sixty-seven teams have emerged victorious and advanced!"
"First, let us applaud these warriors!"
Thunderous applause erupted from the stands.
Once the applause subsided, the prime minister continued:
"Next, we will proceed to the second stage—the round-robin tournament. This is the most crucial and longest stage of the entire competition."
"Allow me to briefly explain the rules."
"The sixty-seven teams will be divided into eight groups. Three groups will contain nine teams each, while the remaining five groups will each contain eight teams."
He pointed behind him to the massive soul-guided screen, where the group layouts had already appeared.
"Within each group, every team will face every other team once. A win grants two points, a draw grants one point, and a loss grants zero points."
"In the end, the top two teams in each group by total score will advance to the Round of Sixteen!"
"As for the competition format…"
The prime minister paused, his expression growing solemn.
"During the round-robin stage, we will employ two completely different combat modes to comprehensively test each academy's overall strength."
"The first is the Team Elimination Match."
"This one is simple. Each side sends out seven main members to fight in a seven-versus-seven team battle. When one side is completely defeated or surrenders, the other side wins."
"This tests teamwork, tactical execution, and overall combat output."
His voice rose slightly.
"The second is the Individual Elimination Match!"
"The rules are as follows: each side also sends out seven members, but instead of fighting together, they will engage in one-on-one elimination battles!"
"The winner remains on the field and continues to face the next opponent until they are defeated or their soul power is exhausted. The loser is eliminated, and the next member steps in."
"The match continues until all seven members of one side have been eliminated!"
"This format tests individual combat strength, endurance, and the team leader's strategic deployment!"
These words immediately caused an uproar among the audience.
So which format would be used for each group?
The prime minister smiled faintly and gestured toward a massive golden lottery box on the platform.
"All of this will be decided by fate—by drawing lots."
"After the groups are determined, the first seeded team in each group will represent that group and draw the competition format for all matches within that group during this round."
The rules were now clear.
The atmosphere instantly grew tense.
This wasn't just about opponents—it was about destiny.
A team strong in group battles being forced into individual elimination would be disastrous, and the reverse was equally true.
"Enough talk."
"Let the lottery ceremony begin!"
At the prime minister's command, attendants carried the enormous lottery box onto the platform.
"Representatives of each academy, please come forward in order based on your rankings from the first round to draw lots!"
One by one, captains and leaders stepped onto the stage, nervous and solemn.
"Group One… Team Battles!"
"Group Two… Team Battles!"
"Group Five… Individual Elimination Matches!"
With each announcement, some rejoiced while others despaired.
Soon, it was the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy's turn.
"Next—Liu Yuan, captain of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy!"
The moment his name was spoken, all eyes in the venue snapped toward him.
At the preparation area, Liu Yuan slowly stood up.
He straightened his cuffs, his expression calm, and walked toward the stage.
As he passed by Shrek Academy's area, he could clearly feel Xuan Zi's near-murderous glare, as well as the complex gazes from Bei Bei, Huo Yuhao, and the others.
He did not pause.
He stepped straight onto the platform.
Standing before the massive lottery box, Liu Yuan hesitated not at all and reached inside.
A few seconds later, he withdrew his hand, holding a white sphere.
He handed it to the prime minister.
The prime minister glanced at it, then announced loudly:
"Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy—Group Six!"
Group Six!
On the massive screen, the sixth column was still empty.
This meant the Sun Moon team was the first to enter Group Six—and thus the seeded team of that group!
"Since the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy is the first team drawn for Group Six,"
the prime minister said, gesturing toward Liu Yuan,
"Captain Liu Yuan, please draw the competition format for Group Six in this round-robin stage."
Another, smaller red lottery box was brought forward.
There were only two options inside: team battles or individual elimination.
The entire audience held its breath.
For a soul engineer team like Sun Moon, most people believed they excelled in team battles. With soul tool turret formations, they could unleash terrifying firepower coverage. In individual battles, however, soul engineers often struggled if forced into close combat against agility- or defense-type experts.
From below the stage, Xuan Zi stared intently at Liu Yuan's hand, sneering inwardly.
Hmph. Soul engineers fear one-on-one fights the most. If they draw individual elimination, they're finished.
Under the intense gaze of countless spectators, Liu Yuan reached into the red box.
Necks craned.
Finally, he withdrew his hand.
In it was a folded golden card.
He flipped it open, facing both the audience—and Shrek Academy.
The prime minister saw the words clearly. His pupils contracted slightly. He took a deep breath, then roared:
"The competition format for Group Six—"
"Individual Elimination Matches!"