At the front of the eight teams stood a temporary podium.
On it was the referee who had presided over many matches—Titled Douluo Zheng Zhan—and several officials from the Sun Moon Empire.
After a bunch of grandiose, empty words from the officials, the real topic finally began.
"Next, we will hold the quarterfinal draw. The rules are as follows."
"First, the four teams who placed first in their groups will each draw lots to determine which half of the bracket they're in."
"Next, each group's first-place team will draw a second-place team as their quarterfinal opponent."
"In principle, the only rule is that teams should not draw opponents whom they have already faced in the round-robin stage."
"After the groups are set, the two winners from the upper and lower halves will move on to the semifinals."
"Alright, will the representatives of the four first-place teams please come up to draw lots."
As the words fell, several figures stepped out from their teams. Su Yu, of course, took the lead and stepped forward.
Four people went on stage.
Representing the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy was Xiao Hongchen; representing the Snow Demon Sect was a girl named Mu Xue.
The Holy Spirit Cult's representative was Tang Ya.
Su Yu narrowed his eyes and glanced at Tang Ya beside him. Tang Ya's temperament had changed drastically.
That aura of gloom and murderous intent was as glaring as a lamp in the darkness to his senses.
Her cold, forbidding appearance was nothing like the Tang Ya of the past—no longer a living person, but rather a soulless, cold shell.
Her soul power fluctuations were considerable, even greater than Xiao Hongchen's.
Su Yu glanced over and then withdrew his gaze.
After all, he didn't have much connection with Tang Ya and honestly didn't care much about her fate.
He had already agreed with Zhang Lexuan and the others—not to rush handling Tang Ya.
The four drew lots.
Su Yu drew first.
"Holy Slayer Palace, upper bracket."
He drew a spot in the upper half.
Next was Xiao Hongchen.
Xiao Hongchen fumbled around for a bit before drawing his lot.
"Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, lower bracket."
Xiao Hongchen grinned and winked at Su Yu.
Su Yu's mouth twitched, and he turned away, too lazy to respond.
Next was Tang Ya for the Holy Spirit Cult—she drew the lower bracket.
Finally, the Snow Demon Sect was left with the upper bracket.
"Alright, the bracket draw is complete. Now, we'll draw the quarterfinal matchups. First is Holy Slayer Palace."
Su Yu reached out and drew a card.
"Holy Slayer Palace will face Radiant Soul Engineer Academy."
Su Yu's eyes flickered, and Xiao Hongchen didn't hide his gloating smile as he looked toward the team below.
Following Xiao Hongchen's gaze, Su Yu saw a young girl leading the Radiant Soul Engineer Academy team and fell into thought.
Xiao Hongchen was overjoyed, despite both teams being from the Sun Moon Empire.
But the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy and Radiant Soul Engineer Academy were not exactly on friendly terms.
With Su Yu's strength, it was almost certain that Radiant Academy's journey ended here.
Thinking of this, Xiao Hongchen couldn't help but be delighted.
After all, the two academies were competitors.
After Su Yu's draw, it was Xiao Hongchen's turn.
Xiao Hongchen drew the Ao Jian Sect.
Being in the top eight, Ao Jian Sect was certainly not weak.
But among the remaining teams, Ao Jian Sect was the weakest.
Drawing the weakest opponent, Xiao Hongchen would have no trouble advancing.
Then Tang Ya drew the Heavenly Dragon Sect.
"Heavenly Dragon Sect, huh? Their captain is Yu Tianlong?"
"Surname Yu?"
"Interesting."
Su Yu's eyes showed a trace of curiosity.
The captain of Heavenly Dragon Sect, Yu Tianlong, inherited the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect ten thousand years ago—possessing the purest bloodline.
By contrast, Bei Bei's martial soul, though also Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, was a mutation from Yu Xiaogang's line.
The pure bloodline was more destructive and aggressive than Beibei's, though Bei Bei had the Holy Ligh Dragon bloodline stabilized by Mu En before his death.
When Bei Bei's Light Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon is triggered, even the pure-blooded version might not be able to win.
Su Yu remembered that Yu Tianlong was strong in the original, but how strong now was uncertain.
But facing the Holy Spirit Cult, even Yu Tianlong would be helpless.
They simply weren't on the same level.
With Tang Ya drawing Heavenly Dragon Sect, the only team left for the Snow Demon Sect was Shrek Academy.
Thus, the draw was complete.
When it ended, the officials left, and the eight teams headed out toward the banquet hall.
"Xiao Yu!"
Zhang Lexuan called out to Su Yu as Shrek Academy approached.
Su Yu first noticed her serene beauty, then the relaxed expressions of Wu Ming and the others.
They seemed in an exceptionally good mood.
Just as he was about to speak, another voice caught his attention.
The Radiant Soul Engineer Academy team came up from the other side.
"You're Su Yu?"
The girl in the lead stood with arms akimbo, chest out, looking fierce.
"I am. What do you want?"
Su Yu recognized her instantly, but his expression didn't change.
"I heard you're strong. Dare to duel me one-on-one?"
The girl challenged him directly.
Su Yu didn't reply, just shook his head with a smile.
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean? Are you looking down on me?"
"I'm really strong, you know!"
The girl seemed angered by his attitude, looking defiant.
Su Yu said nothing, but behind him, Wang Dong'er couldn't help herself: "You think you can duel Su Yu?"
"Get past us first."
The girl shrugged indifferently: "You guys don't matter. I just want to fight Su Yu."
"They all say the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy has a once-in-a-millennium genius, but I don't buy it. I want to see how strong you are. Or are you just scared?"
She taunted.
"What did you say?"
"Say that again?"
...
Her attitude angered the girls, especially Di Mingli and Wang Dong'er, whose eyes flashed with fury.
They couldn't tolerate anyone being so brazen before Su Yu.
But Su Yu waved them down and looked at the girl. "Even your useless brothers wouldn't dare shout at me."
"Little girl, put away your tricks. You don't stand a chance."
Although she seemed rash, he could see she was calculating.
The gap between Radiant Soul Engineer Academy and Holy Slayer Palace was huge—just the four revealed Soul Emperors alone were too much.
She was trying to trick Su Yu into a duel to decide the match in one go.
She thought a one-on-one might give her a shot since Su Yu hadn't shown his strength yet. But if it was team vs. team, they'd have zero chance.
Su Yu saw through it instantly.
And honestly, he had no interest in dueling someone of her strength.
Besides, he'd already arranged his strategy—he wouldn't change it because of a little provocation.
"You... I don't know what you're talking about."
The girl blushed, trying to deny it.
How could Su Yu know her identity?
"Really? Need me to call someone over to confront you?"
Su Yu narrowed his eyes.
"You... Hmph, if you're scared to duel, forget it. Let's go."
She quickly called her teammates and left.
Su Yu watched her retreating figure and sneered.
No wonder people said she was a willful little witch. Who knows what her real personality was?
Xu Tianzhen? You're not innocent at all.
"Who was that? She's so annoying."
Wang Dong'er grumbled. She didn't like this girl.
"So she has a remarkable background, and her cultivation isn't low."
Zhang Lexuan sighed.
She'd been observing Xu Tianzhen—her soul power was at least Soul Emperor, and there was something different about her.
"The emperor's favorite princess, Crown Prince Xu Tiannan's beloved sister—of course, she's not ordinary."
Su Yu said casually.
"Sun Moon Empire's princess?"
Everyone was surprised.
"No wonder she seemed to know something about you. She's the Sun Moon Empire's princess."
Wang Dong'er realized it.
Su Yu had made a big splash at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, but the other continents didn't know much.
But if she was from Radiant City and the imperial family, it was natural she'd heard of Su Yu.
He was a celebrity in Radiant City now.
The youngest level-8 soul engineer, heir to the Ice God Palace, master of Holy Slayer Palace—any one of those would draw attention.
Jiang Nannan asked: "Since she knows you, why challenge you to a duel? Isn't she afraid of being crushed?"
Xue Di explained: "Simple. If she doesn't go for a duel and picks a team fight, they have no chance."
"Not sure if you noticed, but their team only has one Soul Emperor—her."
"We've already revealed four Soul Emperors—not counting Su Yu."
"The teams are unmatched, so she feels this is her only shot."
"Su Yu hasn't shown his soul rings in ages—who knows how strong he is?"
"And that woman isn't as simple as she seems, she must have her trump cards."
The girls pondered her words.
"I don't know what trump card she has, but to challenge Su Yu to a duel... Should I call her brave or stupid?"
Wu Ming said, shaking her head.
How could a single Soul Emperor dare challenge Su Yu?
She had been a Soul Sage and, together with Ma Xiaotao, had been crushed by Su Yu.
That was years ago.
Now, after years of monstrous growth, who knew how strong Su Yu had become?
And this woman wanted to duel him?
She was gutsy.
Wu Ming admired her.
Even with her explosive temper, facing Su Yu she'd just get shut down.
If she could beat him, she'd have forced herself on him ages ago.
"Exactly. She's brave, but she just doesn't know Su Yu well enough."
Han Ruoruo chimed in, then teased, "Of course, some people are just too good at hiding."
Up to now, Su Yu hadn't fought once in the tournament, so nobody knew his real strength.
Only the Jing Hongchen family from the Sun Moon Empire knew, and they wouldn't reveal it.
So, people underestimated Su Yu.
Especially with the rule banning soul tools above level 7, Su Yu's level-8 soul engineer status was sealed off.
That's why Xu Tianzhen wanted to gamble—maybe, just maybe, she'd win.
The girls chatted. Su Yu just smiled.
When they finished, Su Yu changed the subject: "Your Shrek Academy team is up against Snow Demon Sect, right?"
Wu Ming nodded with a smile: "Yeah, pretty lucky. We drew the weakest sect."
Su Yu's expression turned odd as he glanced at Shrek's team: "Is that what you all think?"
"Yeah, why?"
Wu Ming looked confused. Zhang Lexuan caught on—Su Yu never said meaningless things.
Her eyes sharpened. "Xiao Yu, is there something wrong with Snow Demon Sect?"
Wu Ming, Han Ruoruo, and the others all looked at Su Yu.
He replied softly, "Do you remember which empire Snow Demon Sect is from?"
"Heavenly Soul Empire. Is that a problem?"
Wu Ming asked, puzzled.
"Then let me ask, which empire is the Body Sect from?"
"Heavenly Soul Empire, of course... Wait..."
Wu Ming realized something. Han Ruoruo interjected: "Su Yu, you mean..."
Su Yu said casually: "The Body Sect came to this tournament."
"But have you seen them at all?"
The girls thought for a moment and all shook their heads.