The Glory of the Sun and Moon in the Peerless Tang Sect

He immediately turned around again and walked firmly toward the competition venue.

Chapter 162 Giving You One Last Chance

The shouts of "Shrek!" from the spectators echoed throughout Xingluo Square. The atmosphere was magnificent and resounding.

Those inner court disciples who had participated in the previous Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Battle Tournament as reserve team members were fine, but the expressions of the reserve team members changed drastically in the face of this situation.

With hundreds of thousands of spectators watching, it's unimaginable what would happen if Shrek Academy lost.

Beibei couldn't help but lower her voice and ask Wang Yan, "Teacher Wang, are we really only letting Tianhuang go on stage? If all seven of our reserve team members go on stage together, and only Tianhuang makes a move, the effect will be the same. This way, we'll have an extra layer of protection. After all, this concerns the honor of our Shrek Academy."

“I’ve naturally taken that into account,” Wang Yan sighed softly.

"But Beibei, have you considered that this elimination round is a team battle, and there are seven opponents in total? It's inevitable that they will have area-of-effect and ranged soul skills. As long as you step onto the field, you are very likely to be affected. At that time, you will inevitably need to use your soul power and martial soul to avoid them. If you show your cultivation level and make Tianhuang unable to have a deterrent effect, it will be a minor matter, but it will also aggravate your, Sanshi's and Caitou's injuries. This will be extremely disadvantageous for the upcoming round-robin matches."

"I've carefully analyzed your abilities. According to my plan, the three of you, along with Tianhuang, will be the main force for the round-robin tournament. The round-robin tournament is different from the knockout stage; each group will have two to three strong teams. As the champion of the previous All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Battle Tournament, Shrek Academy will likely be grouped with any other academy, except for the previous runner-up, Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy. The round-robin tournament is divided into individual matches, team battles, and 2-2-3 battles. The specific method of competition will be determined by a draw. Tianhuang alone is definitely not enough; that's where your strength comes in. So, Beibei, you, Sanshi, and Caitou cannot afford any mishaps. You must ensure you are in peak condition when the round-robin tournament begins."

"To put it bluntly, if you, Sanshi, and Caitou need to step up to win this first round of elimination matches, then even if you get through the first round, you won't go very far in the subsequent round-robin tournaments. In the end, trust Tianhuang. His true strength is greater than you think."

Although Wang Yan said this, he was also under immense pressure. Whether Shrek Academy's undefeated myth could continue depended on Yu Tianhuang's battle against Thousand Spirits Advanced Soul Master Academy.

However, what truly prompted him to make such a significant decision was the news he had learned from Elder Xuan that Yu Tianhuang's original martial soul had completed its second awakening at the silver level.

Having dedicated himself to the study of martial souls, he was well aware of the power of a true martial soul. The second awakening of a silver-level true martial soul could at least allow a soul master to leapfrog one level in strength.

During the selection competition for core disciples of the outer academy, Yu Tianhuang defeated Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi, whose individual strength was comparable to that of a Soul King. In addition, with the second awakening of his Silver-level main body martial soul, he even has the strength to confront a Soul Emperor head-on.

Hearing Wang Yan's words, Bei Bei didn't say anything more. However, his expression remained solemn, and looking at Xu Zihuang's upright figure, he felt genuine admiration.

Bearing the honor of Shrek Academy all by himself, even he probably couldn't have been so calm and decisive.

The rest of the reserve team members had similar thoughts to Beibei.

Compared to the reserve team, the four players on the starting lineup, including Ma Xiaotao, had serious expressions.

Although they had their concerns, now that they had made this choice, they would no longer question it.

Moreover, Yu Tianhuang's performance when facing the Death Messenger Corpse Explosion had already demonstrated his strength to a certain extent.

At this moment, a composed and white-haired old man landed steadily in the center of the field.

The Star Luo Empire has gone to great lengths in preparing for this Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament. A special competition platform, measuring 100 meters in length and width and 5 meters in height, was built beneath the imperial city walls. It was constructed entirely of massive, hard granite.

Around the arena stood one hundred and eight enormous metal pillars. These were not decorations, but rather protective soul tools. These one hundred and eight protective soul tools combined to form a massive soul shield completely enveloping the arena, preventing soul skills from leaking out and damaging the imperial city and Star Luo Square, or accidentally injuring the civilians present.

Behind each metal pillar stood a Soul King-level Soul Master, with all 108 Soul Kings working together to ensure the safety of the arena. The white-haired elder serving as referee was a Soul Saint-level expert. The deployment of a Soul Saint and 108 Soul Kings at once was a testament to the Star Luo Empire's grand scale.

It is said that in the later semi-finals and finals of the competition, powerful figures at the Title Douluo level will appear to serve as referees.

The Prime Minister of the Star Luo Empire, representing Xu Jiawei, stood atop the imperial city wall, and the voice of infusing soul power once again resounded throughout the entire square.

"Now, let's first welcome the contestants from Qianling Advanced Soul Master Academy to the stage."

Upon hearing the Prime Minister of the Star Luo Empire's words, Xu Zihuang subconsciously stopped in his tracks. He had initially assumed that both teams would enter the arena simultaneously. But upon further reflection, he could understand.

The Star Luo Empire will definitely give Shrek Academy a grand entrance, making it the grand finale.

However, the area reserved for Shrek Academy was already spacious, so Xu Zihuang took a few steps forward without standing out too much.

Just as the noise that had filled the square subsided, the contestants from Qianling Advanced Soul Master Academy walked out solemnly from the center of the contestants' area.

Leading the way was a tall, slender young man with a stern face.

He is Shen Ce, the captain of Qianling Advanced Soul Master Academy, whose martial soul is the Thousand Strike Spear, and he is a level 53 power-attack type battle soul king. His temperament is very similar to that of Chen Zifeng when he releases his martial soul, both exuding an extremely sharp aura.

However, the two's control over their martial souls was clearly not on the same level. When Chen Zifeng was not using his martial soul, his sharp and ruthless aura was restrained, while Shen Ce's temperament seemed to be influenced by his own martial soul.

Compared to the disciples of Shrek Academy's inner court, Shen Ce is still quite far behind. However, this gap does not negate his strength.

He was already a rare genius from their Thousand Spirits Advanced Soul Master Academy. Without relying on those pills that squeezed out potential and accelerated cultivation, if he cultivated to the Soul King level before the age of twenty, he would have a chance to reach the Title Douluo realm in the future.

Shen Ce had his own pride, but as proud as he was, he felt heavy-hearted when he encountered Shrek Academy in the first round of elimination.

On Shrek Academy's side, sensing Shen Ce's aura, Dai Yueheng glanced at Chen Zifeng beside him.

"He seems to be the same type of Soul Master as you."

Chen Zifeng nodded.

"He should also be a weapon spirit master. Weapon spirit masters excel in a certain area, but their weaknesses are also obvious. But the premise is that Tianhuang can suppress his most outstanding ability, or not give him the opportunity to use it."

While they were talking, the other six contestants from Thousand Spirits Advanced Soul Master Academy also made their appearance.

On the competition stage, Shen Ce, as the team captain, did not stand at the front, but rather in the center of the crowd.

Behind him were two pretty girls. They were easily distinguishable; the girl on the left had blue hair and a cold expression. She was similar to Ling Luochen from Shrek Academy's regular team.

She is An Lengye, the vice-captain and main control soul master of Qianling Advanced Soul Master Academy, and the Frost Bear Soul Master.

The other red-haired girl is named Fei Yuyan, whose martial soul is the Blazing Tiger. She is also a control-type soul master. An Lengye and she, one ice and one fire, together form the Ice and Fire Dual Control team.

Leading the pack were four tall male students. These four came from a sect and possessed a mid-to-high-grade defensive martial spirit called the Spirit Rhinoceros Shield.

This is a powerful team where all members have a cultivation level of over 40. An Lengye and Fei Yuyan's soul power levels are even higher than 45.

"Now the team members from Thousand Spirits Advanced Soul Master Academy have entered the stage. Please give them a warm round of applause as they enter the stage to represent Shrek Academy, the number one academy on the continent." The Prime Minister of the Star Luo Empire, being quite accommodating, raised his voice.

In fact, if Shrek Academy hadn't been competing in the first round, he wouldn't have personally presided over the event given his status.

The previous introduction of the Thousand Spirits Advanced Soul Master Academy was just a side note.

The students from Thousand Spirits Advanced Soul Master Academy had just made their appearance, and while the crowd was very excited, most of the spectators were unfamiliar with them. After all, Thousand Spirits Advanced Soul Master Academy came from the Douling Empire, while this was the home ground of the Star Luo Empire.

When it was Shrek Academy's turn, the cheers and applause were deafening, creating a stark contrast. Shrek Academy's reputation as the number one academy on the continent had long been renowned. While the people of the Star Luo Empire might not all know about the country's top-tier Soul Master academies, they had certainly all heard of Shrek Academy's fame.

The scale of the event was comparable to that of Emperor Xu Jiawei of the Star Luo Empire announcing the start of the competition.

But then, the bustling Xingluo Square suddenly fell silent, followed by a commotion.

Because only one student representing Shrek Academy made it to the competition stage.

He was a young man with an ethereal air, his smooth, medium-length black hair flowing in the wind, interspersed with a few strands of purple. His exquisitely handsome face was flawless, and his deep purple eyes possessed an indescribable nobility; his superior demeanor seemed innate. It was as if he was born to stand atop a cloud, looking down upon all others.

Xu Zihuang did this not out of his own volition, but as a result of the discussion among everyone the previous night. Since it had been decided that he would take the stage alone, they might as well fully display the arrogance that belonged to Shrek Academy.

"Holy crap, Tianhuang's acting is that good?" Xu Sanshi's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.

"I feel like he's more of an emperor than that Star Luo Empire emperor from before."

This time, even Bei Bei, who always loved to banter with Xu Sanshi, fell silent. Xu Sanshi wasn't the only one who felt this way.

Looking at each other from afar, the participating students from Qianling Advanced Soul Master Academy reacted even more strongly than Xu Sanshi.

What surprised them was not Xu Zihuang's top-notch looks and temperament, but why Shrek Academy only had one person participating in the competition.

Isn't this a seven-on-seven team battle?

"What exactly is Shrek Academy trying to do?! This guy?!" On the other side of the front row of the contestants' area, Xiao Hongchen's arrogance vanished instantly, and he was on the verge of going crazy.

His ability to become a member of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy was not only due to his strong physical strength and top-notch talent, but also to his outstanding intellect.

At this moment, he couldn't understand Shrek Academy's intentions at all.

"This is the elimination round! Isn't Shrek Academy afraid of being eliminated in the first match and making a huge joke of themselves?!"

The burly young man standing at the very front of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy's regular team also fixed his gaze on Xu Zihuang. He was extremely tall, with short hair, gleaming eyes, and an astonishing aura of power emanating from his entire body.

He is Ma Rulong, the captain of the regular team of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, and also the strongest person on their side.

Not only Ma Rulong, but also the other students of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy's regular and reserve teams, and even the team leaders, all frowned slightly and turned their gazes to Xu Zihuang.

The only one who stood out from the crowd was Meng Hongchen, who was standing next to Xiao Hongchen. Her beautiful, icy blue eyes sparkled, and her thick eyelashes were damp with moisture, trembling slightly.

From childhood to adulthood, she has never lacked outstanding admirers because of her status, but Xu Zihuang is the first man whose appearance and temperament perfectly match her aesthetic.

Even Xu Jiawei looked astonished, and then waved to the prime minister.

The prime minister, who was standing to the side, bowed respectfully to Xu Jiawei, then, understanding the situation, went up to the top of the imperial city wall and loudly reminded him.

"Shrek Academy representative, please note that this is a team battle, not an individual match."

Xu Zihuang did not raise his head to look at the prime minister standing on the city wall, but instead looked indifferently at Shen Ce, who was standing in the center of the Thousand Spirits Advanced Soul Master Academy competition students, and said calmly.

“I know this is a team fight. I mean, I can participate in this team fight by myself.”

Xu Zihuang's words stirred up the emotions that had just calmed down. The crowd watching the battle in Xingluo Square began to discuss among themselves.

"One against seven? No way. Is Shrek Academy really not afraid of losing? This boy doesn't even look fifteen years old."

"What are you thinking? How could Shrek Academy be eliminated in the first round? There must be a reason for this."

"It's also possible that they genuinely don't take the Thousand Spirits Advanced Soul Master Academy seriously."

"Truly worthy of being the number one academy on the continent!"

"..."

If any other advanced soul master academy had said that, it would have been considered extremely arrogant.

But Shrek Academy, which carries countless honors, is different. Shrek Academy's reputation certainly places a heavy responsibility and burden on everyone, but Shrek Academy's glory is also its most powerful weapon.

Public opinion quickly turned one-sided.

Shen Ce and the others, representing Qianling Advanced Soul Master Academy in the competition, listened to the countless spectators' indirect denigration of their academy. Their expressions turned rather unpleasant.

However, Shen Ce, as the team leader, was not too angry about this, but instead felt a strong fighting spirit surge in his heart.

Let me test just how strong Shrek Academy really is.

On Shrek Academy's side, Ma Xiaotao burst out laughing.

"This brat's acting is really convincing."

Xu Sanshi nodded in deep agreement, and said sourly.

"I really don't know what Tianhuang isn't good at. Ever since I met him, I've almost become insecure."

Beibei noticed the frequent stares from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, and her lazy smile returned as she rolled her eyes at Xu Sanshi.

"You talk like you have something to be proud of. If you had anything that could rival Tianhuang, Nannan wouldn't look down on you so much."

"You don't know anything! I said that because—" Xu Sanshi retorted to Bei Bei, his face flushed. But before he could finish, he was interrupted by Jiang Nannan, whose face was red with embarrassment.

"you shut up!"

Jiang Nannan startled Xu Sanshi, who immediately shut his mouth.