Xu Tianhao reached out to take the form and slowly unfurled it. His gaze quickly swept over the contents, though he wasn't particularly surprised.
According to the original plot line he knew from his past life, the current Zhang Lexuan had indeed reached the level of a Seventh Ring Soul Sage, possessing extraordinary talent and startling potential.
She was the same age as his elder brother, Xu Tianran, so it was only natural for her to represent Shrek Academy in this session of the All-Continent High-Level Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament.
Xu Tianhao thought to himself: If his elder brother wasn't participating, then with Shrek Academy's strength and Zhang Lexuan's talent, the championship of this tournament would likely belong to them without any suspense.
After all, Shrek Academy's foundation was right there; it would be extremely difficult for other academies to compete with them.
But now, the situation might not be so certain.
Was Shrek Academy strong?
The answer was naturally a resounding yes.
As a legendary academy that had stood tall for ten thousand years in the Spirit Master's world, every single person capable of representing Shrek Academy in a tournament was a top-tier expert among those of the same level.
The fact that Zhang Lexuan could become the captain was proof enough of her ability.
But Xu Tianran was also very strong.
Xu Tianhao knew his elder brother's strength better than anyone.
A nineteen-year-old Seventh Ring Soul Sage, a peak rank seven Soul Engineer, and the possessor of the Purple Bright Heaven Extinguishing Dragon Spirit—the Ancestor of Sub-Dragons that commanded destruction—Xu Tianran himself held a massive advantage.
If he truly faced off against Zhang Lexuan, it was hard to say who would emerge victorious.
Xu Tianhao casually flipped through the other information on the form, which recorded the names, ages, Spirits, and spirit power levels of the other Shrek Academy team members in detail. It was clear that every member possessed impressive talent.
When his gaze returned to the column after Zhang Lexuan's name that read Spirit: Moon Martial Soul, he purposefully feigned a look of surprise and looked up at Xu Tianran.
"Zhang Lexuan's Spirit is the Moon? Is it the one I'm thinking of? Is it related to the Astrology Martial Soul inherited by our royal family?"
Seeing his surprised expression, Xu Tianran gave a meaningful smile. "Probably not."
He paused, picked up the tea on the table to take a sip, and said slowly, "The Astrology Martial Soul has an extremely stable inheritance within our Sun Moon Empire's royal family. It has been passed down from our ancestors to the present day without interruption, and its characteristics and potential bear unique marks."
"While Spirits related to the stars and moon do occasionally appear here on the original Douluo Continent, most are accidental awakenings without a complete system of inheritance."
He set down his teacup, his gaze carrying a hint of confidence. "Although Zhang Lexuan's Spirit is the Moon and shares the same source as our inherited Spirit, it is not of the same lineage."
Hearing this, Xu Tianhao nodded with feigned understanding.
His feigned surprise just now was merely to confirm whether his elder brother had already figured out the opponent's background.
Now that he had heard Xu Tianran's words, he didn't need to say anything more.
The light in the room gradually dimmed as the sky outside turned completely dark, with only the lanterns on the distant streets emitting a faint glow.
The two brothers sat opposite each other, the air filled with the faint scent of tea and a subtle, invisible fighting Spirit.
"Brother, do you think we can win this tournament?" Xu Tianhao set down the form and looked at Xu Tianran with burning eyes, his tone carrying a hint of anticipation.
Xu Tianran looked up, meeting his gaze, a flash of determination in his eyes. "We can."
His tone was calm yet filled with confidence. "Shrek Academy is certainly powerful, but we aren't bad either."
"I am confident that in a battle between those of the same level, I am not inferior to anyone, including this Zhang Lexuan."
Looking at his confident brother, Xu Tianhao also broke into a smile. "True. Brother, you are the most outstanding Crown Prince our Sun Moon Empire has seen in nearly a thousand years."
Listening to his younger brother's flattery, Xu Tianran didn't get carried away, but instead said, "There's a reason why I'm this confident."
"Although Zhang Lexuan's Moon Martial Soul isn't of the same lineage as our inherited Spirit, it shares the same source."
"I understand the Moon Martial Soul very well, yet she knows very little about my Purple Bright Heaven Extinguishing Dragon. From this point alone, I inherently hold a thirty percent advantage."
"What's more, I am also a Soul Engineer. With the synergy between my Spirit and spirit tools, I am confident in being invincible among those of the same rank!"
Hearing his brother's words, Xu Tianhao finally nodded.
That was more like it.
This elder brother of his wasn't just a cultivation genius; he was a genius who possessed wisdom.
How could he possibly get carried away so easily?
This was confidence in his own strength!
...
Having finished their discussion, the two brothers didn't waste any more words. With a silent understanding, they each sat cross-legged and sank into cultivation.
The next day at the crack of dawn, when only a sliver of white appeared on the eastern horizon, the entire Dou Ling City had already returned to its hustle and bustle.
Inside the Heavenly Spirit Grand Hotel, the fourteen primary and substitute members of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy had all assembled. Their expressions were solemn, yet they carried an excitement that was hard to hide.
Before long, a squad of soldiers clad in dark iron armor marched over with steady steps. They were the Dou Ling Empire Royal Guard, responsible for escorting the academy teams to Heavenly Spirit Plaza.
At the signal from the guard captain, over a hundred competing teams lined up in an orderly fashion and followed the guards toward Heavenly Spirit Plaza in the center of Dou Ling City.
The streets were already packed with citizens who had come to watch the tournament. Dressed in their finest clothes, their faces were filled with expectant smiles.
As they saw the teams from the various high-level Soul Master academies passing by, they cast curious and eager glances.
From time to time, people would shout the names of the academies they supported. Cheers and discussions intertwined, merging into a boisterous ocean of sound.
Colorful flags hung from the buildings along the way, printed with the words "All-Continent High-Level Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament." As they fluttered in the wind, they displayed the grandeur of the event.
The tournament was held every five years, hosted in rotation by the four great Empires. It had been twenty years since it was last the Dou Ling Empire's turn.
The Dou Ling Empire had clearly poured countless efforts into this quinquennial grand event.
The already wide streets were swept spotless, with a supply and rest station set up every five hundred meters. There were also soldiers in uniform providing directions to the guests, all of which highlighted the host's attentiveness.
Before long, Heavenly Spirit Plaza appeared in their field of vision.
This plaza, which usually served as a place for the citizens of Dou Ling City to relax and gather, had now been completely transformed into a magnificent competition venue.
Looking from afar, it resembled a crouching giant beast, quietly waiting for the start of a fierce struggle between dragons and tigers.
At the entrance of the plaza stood four white jade decorative columns that were dozens of meters high.
The columns were carved with lifelike White Jade Swans, their wings spread elegantly and their forms powerful, displaying a royal aura.
This was the inherited Spirit of the Dou Ling Empire's royal family.
Passing through the entrance, one was met with a space so open it was staggering.
In the center of the plaza, a massive Soul Dueling Platform with a diameter of one hundred meters rose from the ground, paved with pitch-black rocks of unknown origin.
The edges of the Soul Dueling Platform were inlaid with a ring of silver-white Spirit alloy, with complex defensive Spirit formations engraved inside the alloy.
As light flowed through them, an invisible barrier was formed, which could both protect the audience outside the arena and withstand the spirit power impacts that erupted during Soul Master battles to the maximum extent.
Surrounding the Soul Dueling Platform were tiers of spectator stands extending upward like stairs, reaching dozens of stories high. Dense rows of seats were neatly arranged, which, by a rough estimate, were enough to accommodate a hundred thousand spectators.
The seats were made of hard, comfortable nanmu wood, their surfaces polished smooth and fine. The VIP seats closer to the front were even covered with soft animal skin cushions and set with exquisite pastries and tea sets, showcasing their prestige.
Above the spectator stands was a massive sunshade canopy made of special Spirit materials. It could block the scorching sun and rain while ensuring ample light, allowing the audience to see every detail within the arena clearly.
Even more astonishing were the four massive spirit screens standing at the four corners of the Soul Dueling Platform.
Each screen was over ten zhang high and dozens of zhang wide, their surfaces crystal clear and pure as crystal.
These were top-tier spirit broadcasting devices imported from the Sun Moon Empire. Through miniature spirit cameras placed throughout the arena, every exciting moment and every spirit power collision in the match could be clearly projected onto the screens.
Even the spectators in the very last row could feel the intensity of the match as if they were right there in the arena.
In addition, spirit screens of various sizes were installed in every crowded street, plaza, and restaurant throughout Dou Ling City.
These screens were also connected to the arena's signal, broadcasting the progress of the tournament in real-time.
After all, the price of tickets to watch the matches live at Heavenly Spirit Plaza was exorbitant, far beyond what ordinary people could afford.
This move by the Dou Ling Empire was both to allow more people to witness this continent-wide event and to demonstrate the Empire's inclusiveness and magnanimity.
It allowed everyone in Dou Ling City to feel the heated atmosphere of the tournament.
At this moment, crowds of expectant citizens had already gathered under the various broadcasting screens in the city.
They discussed the upcoming matches in groups of three or five, guessing which academies would stand out, their faces full of anticipation and excitement.