The entire audience, including all the participating teams present, remained immersed in the shock of Xu Zihuang's overwhelming victory, unable to snap out of it for a long time.
This was the foundation of the number one academy on the continent.
The citizens of the Sun Moon Empire, who had previously held high hopes for the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy team, felt their illusions shatter in an instant.
This year's Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy representative team was indeed the most outstanding in thousands of years, especially the brother-sister pair Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen. Even so, they were probably still unable to contend against Yu Tianhuang with such terrifying soul ring ratios.
As a result, the subsequent matches continued with noticeably less enthusiasm from the crowd.
Not long after, Xu Zihuang once again became the focus of everyone's attention.
After a brief exchange with Zhang Lexuan, Xu Zihuang left the venue early, accompanied by Ye Guyi and Ning Tian. Whether it had been arranged in advance or not, both Ye Guyi and Ning Tian wore smiles as they openly linked arms with Xu Zihuang, one on each side, appearing intimately close in front of everyone.
The entire venue erupted in an uproar. The burst of discussion this time was even more heated than before.
Up on the high platform, watching the backs of the three depart, Juzi's nose involuntarily stung with bitterness. But now, her status was the Crown Princess of the Sun Moon Empire—what right did she have to regret anything?
It was she who had chosen that path.
Moreover, she had anticipated such a situation from the very beginning. Someone as outstanding as Yu Tianhuang deserved better girls. All she had ever hoped for was to hold a place in Yu Tianhuang's heart.
In that brief moment when their gazes had crossed earlier, though Yu Tianhuang had remained calm throughout, she felt that her secret departure, only to later appear before him as the Crown Princess of the Sun Moon Empire, had thoroughly broken his heart.
"I'm sorry, Tianhuang…" Juzi murmured in her heart.
But then, a single sentence from Zhongli Wu made her body tremble, a trace of icy coldness instantly flashing deep in her eyes.
"This child's talent surpasses even that of the Dragon God Douluo back then. Given enough time to grow, he will surely become the next Dragon God Douluo, and a Limit Douluo with twin martial souls at that," Zhongli Wu said coldly.
"We should make preparations early."
Zhongli Wu had known for a long time that Yu Tianhuang possessed twin martial souls. After all, this was no longer any secret.
Moreover, from the information he had gathered, he knew that Yu Tianhuang's second martial soul was far from being just a simple Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. If his guess was correct, Yu Tianhuang's second martial soul was a benevolent mutant evolution based on the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, surpassing it in every aspect.
Lightning was the embodiment of heaven and earth's righteous qi, innately countering evil soul masters like them. If Yu Tianhuang were allowed to grow, it would spell the end for the Holy Spirit Cult.
In a sense, he feared Yu Tianhuang's existence even more than Xu Tianran did.
Hearing Zhongli Wu's commanding tone, Xu Tianran's heart sank slightly. Toward these sinister, evil soul masters, he only harbored thoughts of mutual exploitation. He greatly disliked Zhongli Wu's tone and manner of speaking.
Of course, he showed none of this outwardly.
"According to the National Teacher, that would mean completely offending Shrek Academy. Shrek Academy's ten-thousand-year heritage cannot be taken lightly. Unless necessary, confronting them head-on would bring no benefit to the empire at present."
"His Highness speaks wisely. At this stage, it is not yet appropriate to completely break ties with Shrek Academy," Jing Hongchen, ever quick-witted, added with a smiling face.
"The National Teacher need not be anxious. I believe His Highness has already prepared a foolproof plan," he continued.
A glint flashed in Xu Tianran's eyes as he smiled faintly. "Let's continue watching the matches."
He was very satisfied with Jing Hongchen's response. Even if they had to clash with Shrek Academy, it should be the Holy Spirit Cult who acted openly.
After all, his goal was to unify the continent and force Shrek Academy into submission—not to destroy this ten-thousand-year-old number one academy on the continent.
Zhongli Wu did not insist further and silently lowered his head, lost in thought.
…
Meanwhile, in the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy rest area.
Only after the figures of Xu Zihuang, Ye Guyi, and Ning Tian disappeared did Meng Hongchen withdraw her gaze, her face cold as frost.
Xiao Hongchen slumped back onto the sofa, fists clenched tightly.
The pressure brought by Yu Tianhuang's ten-thousand-year sixth soul ring was still far too heavy for him. Five years of hard work had allowed him to regain his confidence and greatly improve his strength.
Yet in front of Yu Tianhuang, it all seemed like a joke.
He closed his eyes and pondered for a long time, carefully recalling every scene from the past five years of bitter cultivation, gradually calming his emotions.
When he opened his eyes again, the sense of defeat had vanished completely, replaced by blazing battle intent.
No matter the outcome, he would fight Yu Tianhuang with everything he had.
For the glory of the Sun Moon Empire, and for that trace of youthful obsession from years ago.
"Meng, and everyone. If we encounter Shrek Academy, please let me take the field first," Xiao Hongchen raised his head and said earnestly to the members of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy team.
"Brother?" Meng Hongchen, snapping back to reality, looked at him in surprise. She could hardly believe her incomparably proud brother would say such words. But before she could continue, Xiao Hongchen waved his hand to stop her.
The other members of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy team seemed to understand something and simultaneously showed encouraging smiles.
"Captain, we believe in you."
"Among us, the only one qualified to face Yu Tianhuang is you, Captain."
"…"
Back in Mingdu, Xu Zihuang and the others did not immediately return to the Mingyue Hotel to rest. Instead, they stopped in front of a shop in the center of Mingdu.
Ning Tian was respectfully escorted out by the shop owner.
This shop was one of the properties of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Though not as luxurious as the Nine Treasure Pavilion, it was still quite sizable.
The three returned tacitly to Suite No. 1 on the top floor of the Mingyue Hotel before beginning their conversation.
"Tianhuang, the situation is like this," Ning Tian said softly. "It's been difficult to purchase rare metals in Mingdu recently because the three largest black markets in Mingdu have organized an underground soul engineer tournament. The prizes for this underground competition are extremely generous, and rare metals have always been hard currency in the underground world; many people are using them as betting stakes."
As expected.
Xu Zihuang understood inwardly.
Ye Guyi frowned and asked, "Tianhuang, you're gathering this information, don't tell me you're planning to participate in this so-called underground soul engineer tournament?"
"No, I'm not going to participate. I just want to gather some information. During this Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, the Sun Moon Empire is very likely brewing some kind of conspiracy. To be safe, we must keep constant watch on the movements of various forces in Mingdu," Xu Zihuang replied calmly, shaking his head.
"If it's just about rare metals, I'm sure the academy has its own channels. And isn't Ning Tian here as well?"
Hearing this, a charming smile bloomed on Ning Tian's pretty face. For Yu Tianhuang to say this showed that he did not treat her as an outsider; her heart was filled only with sweetness.
However, Xu Zihuang's main reason for doing this was still to monitor the movements of the evil soul masters in the Sunset Water Alliance, so that he could conveniently assassinate Xu Tianran later.
With the backing of Shrek Academy, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, and Wei Na along with the Heavenly Soul Empire imperial family behind her, he did not need to steal rare metals and soul tools from the Sun Moon Empire like Huo Yuhao in his previous life's memories, nor did he need to risk himself by participating in this so-called underground soul engineer tournament.
At present, his most urgent goal was to break through the Level 70 bottleneck as soon as possible and fuse with Tianmeng Iceworm's million-year soul ring.
"So you're only with Ning Tian because of this, right?" Ye Guyi rolled her eyes at Xu Zihuang in mock annoyance, then picked up her teacup and took a light sip.
"Why don't you just marry into Ning Tian's Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan?"
Sensing Ye Guyi's jealousy, Xu Zihuang felt somewhat helpless.
From Ning Tian's perspective, however, Ye Guyi was purely teasing her and Yu Tianhuang. She shyly leaned against Ye Guyi.
"Sister Guyi"
"Alright, enough of that."
Ye Guyi smiled and stroked Ning Tian's head, gently smoothing her hair.
"Let's go back to the room and have a drink to relax."
"Mm." Ning Tian obediently stood up hand-in-hand with Ye Guyi. Though her alcohol tolerance was poor, she didn't want to dampen Ye Guyi's mood at a time like this.
Ye Guyi led Ning Tian toward her own room. Before entering, she turned back meaningfully.
"Tianhuang, what are you standing there for? Aren't you coming?"
"Uh…" Xu Zihuang could only stiffen slightly and follow after them.
…
The Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament's second preliminary round lasted two days. A total of forty-two teams advanced to the third round. Among them, thirty-two teams would enter the subsequent group stage cycle.
Winning in the third round of preliminaries guaranteed advancement to the group stage. Losing still offered a chance through minor points.
With Shrek Academy's performance in the first two rounds, even if they skipped the third round entirely, they could advance to the group stage smoothly based on minor points alone.
Xu Zihuang had originally planned to stay in the hotel and cultivate, but the opponent Zhang Lexuan drew for the third round made him change his mind on the spot.
Because Shrek Academy's opponent in the third round of the preliminary elimination was none other than the Heavenly Dragon Gate.
In the Shrek Academy rest area.
Zhang Lexuan's expression was somewhat helpless. If she didn't know the drawing ceremony couldn't be rigged, she would have suspected the Sun Moon Empire officials were deliberately targeting Shrek Academy.
Though they had a bye in the first round, their second-round opponent was the Proud Sword Sect, and their third-round opponent was the Heavenly Dragon Gate, both dark horses of this tournament.
This third-round opponent, the Heavenly Dragon Gate, had even greater overall strength than the Proud Sword Sect. In the first two rounds, they had also advanced with overwhelming dominance.
Moreover, there was an inseparable connection between the Heavenly Dragon Gate and Yu Tianhuang.
Xu Zihuang pondered for a moment, then nodded toward Zhang Lexuan.
"Eldest Senior Sister, leave this match to me as well."
Just like Xiao Hongchen earlier at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, no one from Shrek Academy's team raised any objections.
As the defending champions of the previous tournament, Shrek Academy's match was still scheduled as the first one in the morning. Many teams without matches that morning came to watch. Among them were the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy team, the Haotian Sect team, and the Tang Sect team led by Bei Bei and Tang Ya.
Because of their continuous outstanding performances, the Tang Sect team had been given a closer position, right not far behind Shrek Academy.
Everyone came from Shrek Academy and got along quite harmoniously. Only Wang Qiu'er and Huo Yuhao were exceptions. Wang Qiu'er's distant coldness made her hard to approach, while Huo Yuhao's aura was too gloomy; he kept his head down and didn't interact with anyone.
On the rostrum, Xu Tianran was present today as well. He smiled faintly at Juzi beside him. "Today's match is between Shrek Academy and the Heavenly Dragon Gate. I heard from Hall Master Hongchen that Shrek Academy's team captain, Yu Tianhuang, seems to have come from this Heavenly Dragon Gate. A battle between fellow disciples should be quite interesting."
"So that's how it is. It seems his second martial soul is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon," Juzi said as if casually.
"Oh?" Hearing Juzi's tone, Xu Tianran narrowed his eyes slightly.
"You've had contact with him?"
"Yes, Your Highness," Juzi replied honestly, her pretty face showing no trace of unusual emotion.
"During the time he was studying as an exchange student at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, we were both under Teacher Xuan's tutelage. He once demonstrated powerful lightning-attribute control to smelt rare metals right in front of us."
Xu Tianran said thoughtfully, "Xuan Ziwen, right? I recall he's Mingde Hall's chief researcher. The sealed milk bottle technology was one of his achievements, wasn't it?"
"Yes, Your Highness," Jing Hongchen quickly responded from the side.
"In fact, it was my arrangement for Xuan Ziwen to personally teach Yu Tianhuang."
Xu Tianran smiled faintly, seemingly unconcerned about it.
"Then let's wait and see. Let's see what kind of performance this genius soul master from Shrek Academy will bring us in today's match."
By then, the referee had already entered the arena. Without much lengthy preamble, he went straight to the point and announced loudly:
"Preliminary elimination round, third round, Shrek Academy representative team versus Heavenly Dragon Gate team. Both sides' participating members enter the waiting area. First match of the individual elimination round, participating members, step onto the stage."
Xu Zihuang rose calmly. The Thunder Beast on his shoulder consciously jumped onto Ning Tian's shoulder, as if cheering him on. It raised its head high and let out several sharp cries.
"Squeak squeak squeak!"
Ye Guyi was the only one present who truly knew the real relationship between Xu Zihuang and the Heavenly Dragon Gate. Her gaze converged on the center of the arena.
Xu Zihuang had already stepped onto the competition platform, and from the Heavenly Dragon Gate side, only one person came forward—the same Yu Tianlong they had once encountered in Dragon City.
No one else from either side entered the waiting area.
Seeing this, even the referee was momentarily stunned. Before he could speak, the tall and burly Yu Tianlong, much more robust than Xu Zihuang, said coldly:
"Beat me, and the Heavenly Dragon Gate will forfeit all remaining matches."
In truth, this match held little significance for either side. Regardless of victory or defeat, both Shrek Academy and the Heavenly Dragon Gate were guaranteed to advance to the group stage based on their minor points from the first two rounds.
They had only stepped onto the stage for their respective reasons.
Yu Tianlong stood nearly two meters tall. His team uniform had no sleeves, revealing two arms as thick and solid as granite. His entire body exuded a terrifying, ferocious aura.
"Beat me, and Shrek Academy will also forfeit the remaining matches," Xu Zihuang replied calmly, completely unaffected by Yu Tianlong's presence.
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