Tang San's spirit power had already reached level forty-four, and because his martial spirit had evolved into the Blue Silver King, his control ability had improved greatly.
If before he could only be considered a pseudo-control system spirit master, now his control ability could be considered top-tier among spirit masters of the same level.
The evolution of his martial spirit had greatly improved the toughness and vitality of his Blue Silver King. Unless restrained by attributes or martial spirits, it was no longer easy to break his Blue Silver King.
After Xiao Wu broke through level thirty-nine, she spent two months advancing to level forty. Oscar personally took her to "hunt" for a spirit ring.
In reality, he just helped her find a place to condense a spirit ring herself. Xiao Wu's fourth spirit ring reached seven thousand years, and her spirit power rose to level forty-one. Now, after a few months, she had reached level forty-three.
The eight monsters of Shrek Academy had all at least reached the Soul Sect level. Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun had even reached the Soul King level.
The members of the Shrek team left the academy early and arrived at the Great Spirit Arena to prepare for the opening ceremony of the tournament.
…
The opening ceremony proceeded as scheduled. Vice Dean Zhao Wuji led the Shrek team. Flender and Liu Erlong were nowhere to be seen, seemingly leaving everything to Zhao Wuji.
As Zhao Wuji led the students into the arena, he explained the rules of the tournament and the important points to note.
The Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Tournament was initiated and hosted by the imperial families of the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire, co-hosted by Spirit Hall, and was the largest spirit master competition on the continent. All the participants were the most outstanding young spirit masters.
There were several rules that had to be strictly followed.
First, the students sent by each academy must be under the age of twenty-five, and each team must have exactly seven members for each team battle.
Second, since the competition's purpose was friendly sparring, competitors should try to avoid causing permanent injuries and were strictly forbidden to kill.
If a competitor killed an opponent, their academy would not only bear the corresponding loss but would also be expelled from the tournament.
Aside from these hard rules, there were other standardized rules, all based on fairness.
For example, during the matches, no medicine or food prepared by anyone other than food-type or healing-type spirit masters could be used. Only food or healing spirit masters present on the battlefield could replenish their teammates' strength.
This meant that if a team wanted supplies during a match, they had to use one of their seven slots on a support spirit master, preventing teams with food spirit masters from cheating.
There was also a rule about weapons: no weapons other than those that were part of a spirit could be used. This was a disadvantage to Tang San, who specialized in hidden weapons, but it wasn't a big issue. After all, this competition was a test of real talent and strength.
The preliminary rounds were held in different regions. In the Heaven Dou Empire, all advanced spirit master academies that did not belong to other kingdoms or duchies would compete in the Heaven Dou City division.
Each kingdom and duchy had its own preliminaries. The Heaven Dou Empire had four kingdoms and one duchy.
This meant that including the Heaven Dou City division, there were six divisions in the Heaven Dou Empire.
Aside from the team from the Emperor's Battle Team, which was directly qualified for the finals, the six divisions competed for fifteen spots.
Because Heaven Dou City had the most academies and was the imperial division, it had five spots.
The other four kingdoms and one duchy each had two spots.
The Star Luo Empire's situation was almost the same.
After the preliminaries, aside from the two empires' seed teams and Spirit Hall's seed team, thirty teams would advance to the finals.
But before the finals, there was a ranking match to determine the order of appearance in the finals.
The preliminaries and the ranking match had different formats.
The preliminaries used a team battle format that academies were most familiar with, in a single round-robin format. The team with the highest points in each division advanced to the ranking match.
The ranking match, however, was different. Although each team still sent seven members, the battles were fought one-on-one in a survival format.
The winner stayed on the field, the loser's team sent another member, until one team's members were all defeated.
Thus, the preliminaries were a display of teamwork, while the ranking match was a showcase for individual strength.
The ranking match existed so the two empires and Spirit Hall could better identify exceptional young spirit masters for recruitment.
The finals had thirty-three teams. The competition was a knockout format.
The thirty-three teams were made up of the thirty who advanced through the preliminaries plus the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy team, the Star Luo Imperial Academy team, and Spirit Hall's team.
Although this was a privilege, the champion was almost always one of these three teams, and the other academies were basically there to gain experience.
The ranking match determined positions one through fifteen for each empire.
This ranking determined the advantage of byes in the knockout tournament.
In the first round, the three seed teams got byes. The remaining thirty teams paired off, leaving fifteen winners for the next round.
In the second round, there were eighteen teams including the three seed teams. The top two ranked teams from the ranking match got byes, and the other sixteen fought for eight spots.
In the third round, there were ten teams. Again, the two top-ranked teams got byes, leaving six teams after this round.
At this point, no more byes were given. The six teams fought for the top three.
The top three then determined their final placement through a mix of team battles and individual battles.
First was the individual elimination battle, following the ranking match rules.
The three teams took turns sending players into the arena. The last team with members standing directly advanced.
The other two teams then fought a team battle to decide the second finalist. The winner faced the first team in the final team battle to decide the champion.
These rules were well known to every academy before the tournament started, and some academies even tried to exploit loopholes to gain an advantage.
…
At this moment, the tournament staff entered the rest area to organize the students for entry.
The enormous plaza was surrounded by cheering spectators. In the center stood a golden-robed stage, with a remodeled VIP area behind it.
The arena was over 150 meters wide. The academies that had entered earlier were already lined up in the center. Each academy was introduced by the master of ceremonies as they entered.
At this time, the last academy entered.
"The last team to enter is the Shrek Academy team. Shrek Academy, formerly known as Blue Tyrant Academy, changed its name one year ago."
"Look at their dark uniforms — such a striking visual. There are twelve competitors in total. Their registration slogan is 'Champion Without Opponents.' What a bold statement. Let's hope they perform well."
Hearing this, the audience became even more excited, cheering loudly.
After all, once the matches began, betting would open, and everyone would place wagers on their favorite team.
Every year at this time, some people who had inside information — or simply good luck — would get rich overnight.
In the VIP box, Flender and Liu Erlong smiled as they watched from behind the glass.
Liu Erlong glanced at Flender and raised an eyebrow. "You didn't bet all your money, did you?"
Flender smiled confidently. "You know how strong these little monsters are. This tournament is just a bit of training for them. I can't imagine any academy beating them."
Liu Erlong nodded in agreement. "These little monsters really are unbelievable. Even without Xiao Ao and Yan Yan, as long as Hongjun, Dai Mubai, and Zhuqing are there, I think we can already reserve the championship."
Flender chuckled. "So… how much are you betting?"
Liu Erlong coughed awkwardly. "Let's not talk about that…"
Flender could tell she was planning to bet everything as well.
Unlike Flender and Liu Erlong's confidence, a red-haired man in another VIP box seemed unsettled.
He looked around thirty years old, not particularly handsome, but he had a presence that made him seem very approachable.
Looking down at Zhao Wuji leading the Shrek team into the arena, the red-haired man sighed. "Dean Flender, you have finally achieved the dream I couldn't fulfill back then. Let's see whether your little monsters are stronger, or my students."
…
Finally, all academies had entered.
The arena could hold eighty thousand spectators, decorated in silver. Though it was morning, soul tool lighting illuminated everything, adding grandeur.
In the center seat of the VIP area sat an elderly man in a gold-and-red robe, wearing a golden crown. His presence made him seem like the center of the world.
This was Emperor Xue Ye of the Heaven Dou Empire.
To his left sat an even older man in a red robe, wearing a five-pointed platinum crown. His eyes were closed, his shoulders narrow, and his body straight like a spear.
This was Platinum Bishop Salas of Spirit Hall, a Spirit Douluo.
To the emperor's right sat Ning Fengzhi, Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Ning Fengzhi wore a white robe and a purple-gold crown, fully worthy of his seat among the top three sects.
Standing beside him was an old man with silver hair, who did not sit, but stood like an unsheathed sword.
This was Sword Douluo Chen Xin, one of the sect's two protectors, a level ninety-six Title Douluo.
The master of ceremonies called out, "Now, please welcome His Majesty the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire to announce the opening of the tournament."
Emperor Xue Ye rose to thunderous applause. He raised his hand slightly and the plaza fell silent.
His deep and powerful voice spread through the arena: "I, Xue Ye, Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, representing the host of this event, hereby declare the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament open."
The applause was deafening. When it subsided, the emperor continued:
"I hope that all participating spirit masters can fully display their strength and achieve good results. You are the pride of the Empire. For the glory of the Empire, show your brilliance."
Applause erupted again. In the arena, the competitors' eyes shone with excitement. For them, this tournament was the perfect stage to prove themselves.
When the emperor sat back down, the master of ceremonies announced, "Now, please welcome Ning Fengzhi, Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, to give a speech."
Ning Fengzhi rose to polite applause and smiled warmly. "I am honored to be invited as a guest for the opening of this grand tournament. As Sect Master, I have witnessed the growth of many spirit masters."
"As the most noble profession on the continent, every spirit master must endure countless trials. But just as a sharp sword is forged through grinding, and plum blossoms bloom in the bitter cold, you must endure hardship to grow."
"Those participating today are without doubt the elites of the younger generation. As His Majesty said, I hope you bring glory to the Empire and to your academies."
"Finally, the Empire needs talents like you. Thank you."
Hearing his words, Emperor Xue Ye's stern face softened into a smile.
The master of ceremonies then asked, "Sect Master Ning, as the strongest auxiliary spirit master, which of the twenty-eight teams in the Heaven Dou City division do you favor the most?"
Ning Fengzhi replied with a smile, "Aside from the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy Team One, which has already been seeded into the finals, there is another team I favor."
Pausing briefly, he continued, "I believe that not only can they pass the preliminaries, but they may even compete with Team One for the championship."
"Oh?" The master of ceremonies asked curiously, "Which academy do they belong to?"
Ning Fengzhi smiled mysteriously. "I'll keep that a secret for now. But I believe the final champion will belong to the Empire."
At this moment, the previously silent Platinum Bishop Salas opened his eyes and scanned the twenty-eight teams as if trying to guess which one Ning Fengzhi referred to.
Ning Fengzhi sat back down, and the master of ceremonies said, "Unfortunately, we couldn't get Sect Master Ning to reveal the team he favors."
"Now, please welcome the Head of the Heaven Dou City Spirit Hall, Platinum Bishop Salas, to draw lots for the first round of the preliminaries. After the draw, the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy Team Two will face their drawn opponent in the first and only match of the day."
Salas slowly stood and drew the lots, handing each result to the master of ceremonies to announce.
"First round, Blue Gold Academy vs. Purple Star Academy."
"First round, Badmu Academy vs. Odebon Academy."
"First round…"
"First round, Heaven Dou Imperial Academy Team Two vs. Shrek Academy."
The spectators roared with excitement.
But many also shouted "cheating," believing that Team Two had chosen an easy opponent.
Although Shrek Academy's entrance had been impressive, most long-time spectators knew that this was their first time competing, making them complete newcomers.
After the draw, Salas looked around and said coldly, "I swear on the honor of Spirit Hall that the draw was fair."
He then added, "Furthermore, I hereby announce that any academy whose team reaches the finals will have the special privilege of directly joining Spirit Hall."
The spectators didn't react much, but the competitors were in an uproar.
Spirit Hall's Spirit Temple was second only to the Pope's Hall and the Douluo Hall, and there were only two such temples, one in each imperial capital.
To be allowed entry into the Spirit Temple was a shortcut to both status and strength, with the best resources, training facilities, and prestige available — an irresistible lure for most spirit masters.
Emperor Xue Ye's face darkened at Salas's words. Ning Fengzhi shook his head slightly toward him, and the emperor's expression softened.
Salas's statement was clearly challenging the emperor, because if too many outstanding spirit masters joined Spirit Hall, it would be a loss for the Empire.
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