Inside the arena
"Ladies and gentlemen, walking towards us now is the Seven Treasures team, a newly established academy in recent years. Hearing the name 'Seven Treasures,' I'm sure our audience can guess that they are an academy founded by the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect."
The announcer introduced them with great enthusiasm. "Their slogan is, 'We're invincible, do as you please.' I must say, what a bold statement! But I believe they have the strength to back it up!"
As the team captain, Ning Tianchen stood front and center during their entrance.
"Ladies and gentlemen, standing before you is the captain of the Seven Treasures team, hailed as the number one genius of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect—Ning Tianchen!"
The announcer's words were carefully vetted.
If he dared to say this, it was clear that both the Tiandou Empire and Ning Fengzhi had agreed.
Ning Tianchen inwardly sighed.
He just wanted to keep a low profile, but after being introduced like this, he was bound to become the center of attention. How could he possibly stay low-key now?
However, there was a silver lining. With enough exposure, most troublemakers would think twice before targeting him. In a way, this indirectly protected his safety during the tournament.
"Sky Sword Tianchen!" The crowd erupted into thunderous cheers.
"Boss, your popularity is through the roof," Chen Huayu muttered, rubbing his nose quietly.
Yu Die chuckled. "It's only because we entered intensive training early. Otherwise, with the captain's strength, he'd surely achieve a hundred consecutive solo victories in the Grand Spirit Arena."
"And Tianchen and I could go for a hundred consecutive two-on-two victories," Ning Rongrong added with a smile.
Ning Tianchen shrugged. "We should head to the rest area now so we don't delay the other teams' entrances."
With that, he led the group off the stage.
For the teams that followed, the announcer simply provided a brief introduction of the team without singling out any specific member.
"The final team to enter is the Shrek team. Their slogan is 'Champions without opponents.'"
"What did they say? Shit Academy?"
"Champions without opponents? They're really full of themselves."
"They've never experienced the harshness of reality and just spout nonsense."
Back in the rest area, the Shrek team could still hear the jeers.
"These bastards!" Everyone clenched their fists in anger.
But Yu Xiaogang smiled. "We didn't appear in the inter-academy exchange tournament. Under the influence of the audience, other teams might look down on us."
"Our chances of advancing were slim to begin with. If we can hide our strength, it wouldn't be a bad strategy."
"The teacher is right. We'll either remain silent or shock everyone when we act. Once we achieve significant results, these people will naturally shut up," Tang San said with gritted teeth.
---
After all the teams had entered, the crowd noticed three empty seats on the high platform and instinctively turned their gaze toward the entrance.
"Next, let us welcome Patriarch Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, Lord Bone Douluo, the Platinum Bishop of the Tiandou City Spirit Hall, and His Majesty the Emperor of the Tiandou Empire!"
Amidst thunderous applause, the four entered the venue and took their seats on the high platform.
"Now, let us invite His Majesty the Emperor to speak."
As soon as the announcer finished, a servant immediately handed the sound-amplifying soul-guided device to Xue Ye.
In the Seven Treasures team's rest area, it was the first time everyone had seen the emperor in person, and they couldn't help but feel excited.
Bao Zhen analyzed, "This emperor of Tiandou is truly majestic. He must have been a warrior king."
Ning Tianchen knew little about Xue Ye and was unaware of his past.
Sun Buyu chuckled. "Before ascending the throne, His Majesty personally led troops to fight against the Star Luo Empire at the border. After ascending the throne, he rarely left the palace, which is why he began to gain weight."
But Ning Tianchen didn't see it that way.
The power structure of the Tiandou Empire was too fragmented. If Xue Ye didn't stay in the palace, the moment he left Tiandou City, chaos would likely erupt in the imperial court.
Xue Ye's speech consisted of formalities, and Ning Tianchen paid no attention to it.
"I hereby declare the opening of the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament!"
When he finished, the venue erupted into applause.
"Next, let us invite Patriarch Ning Fengzhi to deliver a speech for this tournament."
"It's Patriarch Ning's turn," Chen Huayu reminded everyone, straightening his posture.
As Ning Fengzhi stood up, applause broke out once again.
As the leader of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and the continent's foremost auxiliary-type soul master, he had never lacked attention.
Ning Fengzhi raised his hand slightly, and the applause gradually faded.
With a smile, he said, "I am very pleased to be the opening guest of this tournament. As the patriarch of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, I have personally witnessed the growth of countless soul masters…"
Ning Fengzhi's speech was standard and formal, but since the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had established the Seven Treasures Academy, he clearly had a vested interest. Such polite remarks were far from satisfying the audience's curiosity.
The announcer asked, "Patriarch Ning, among the thirty teams in the Tiandou Empire region, which team do you think will win the championship?"
Ning Fengzhi replied with a smile, "The Seven Treasures team was founded by our sect, so naturally, I hope they achieve good results. Of course, as part of the empire, the Seven Treasures team should also relieve His Majesty of worries. As for whether they can win the championship, I cannot guarantee anything."
Upon hearing this, Xue Ye on the high platform smiled faintly, clearly satisfied with Ning Fengzhi's response.
While the Soul Masters Tournament was ostensibly about determining the best soul masters of the era, behind the scenes, it was also a competition of comprehensive national strength between the two empires and the Spirit Hall. If the Seven Treasures team could win the championship, it would indirectly prove the strength of the Tiandou Empire.
"Then may I ask, Patriarch Ning, can you predict which five teams will advance from the preliminaries?" the announcer pressed further.
Ning Fengzhi smiled and waved his hand, saying nothing more.
The audience was confused, but the announcer understood his meaning. "What Patriarch Ning means is, no further words are needed. It seems Patriarch Ning has high expectations for the Seven Treasures team. So, let us wait and see how the upcoming matches unfold."
After returning to his seat, Ning Fengzhi leaned over and exchanged quiet words with Xue Ye.
"Patriarch Ning, how strong is the Seven Treasures team?"
"Your Majesty can rest assured—they will satisfy you."
---
"Next, let us invite Platinum Bishop Salas to conduct the draw for this tournament."
Salas slowly stood up and, under the guidance of a servant, walked to the drawing table below.
With his peak Soul Douluo-level perception, he already knew which team corresponded to each draw.
Though the draw appeared random, every match in the first round was under his control.
With the Spirit Hall's intelligence capabilities, how could they not know the strength of the preliminary teams?
Even before the tournament began, the list of potential advancing teams had likely already appeared on Salas's desk.
"The first match of the preliminary round: Oakland Academy vs. Flame Radiance Academy."
…
"The eighth match of the preliminary round: Seven Treasures Team vs. Purple Star Academy."
"The nineteenth match of the preliminary round: Tiandou Imperial Academy vs. Shrek Academy."
"It seems our first match will be an easy one," Sun Buyu said with a smile, looking at everyone.
The Purple Star Academy team wasn't particularly strong, and the Seven Treasures team could handle them with ease.
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