Last night's turmoil did not affect today's competition. Or rather, it was because Xu Tianran, the leader of the Sun Moon Empire's authorities, dismissed the unrest as insignificant. To him, it was merely the last gasps of a few desperate rebels. As for his brother, who had been rescued, Xu Tianran secretly hoped the fool would rise in rebellion. How else could he justifiably eliminate his rivals?
Today marked the start of the first round of the quarterfinals. The eight strongest teams were already waiting in their respective rest areas, and the draw for the matches had concluded.
The morning's first match pitted the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy against the Holy Ghost Sect. The second morning match featured Shrek Academy versus Sky Dragon Gate. In the afternoon, the Snow Demon Sect would face off against the Proud Sword Sect, followed by Tang Sect versus Mingdu Soul Engineer Academy.
Yes, all quarterfinal matches would be completed today, determining the top four teams. The semifinals, the second round, were scheduled for the day after tomorrow, with the final round—the championship match—set for three days after that.
It was too early to talk about the finals. For now, attention turned to the current matches. The first contest, Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy versus Holy Ghost Sect, was nominally an internal conflict within the Sun Moon Empire. This matchup alone proved the draw was free of manipulation; such a self-destructive pairing would never have been allowed otherwise.
This match drew significant attention from the competing teams. Not only would it decide the first semifinalist, but it was also the Holy Ghost Sect's first encounter with a truly formidable opponent. In the group stage, they had surrendered immediately against Shrek Academy. But in the quarterfinals, surrender was not an option. Everyone was eager to see whether this team of evil soul masters would maintain their ferocious nature when facing a genuine powerhouse.
Of course, most hoped the Sun Moon team would eliminate the Holy Ghost Sect. Even teams confident in their own strength preferred to avoid the Holy Ghost Sect. It was human nature to steer clear of lunatics, especially ones like the Holy Ghost Sect—reckless madmen who didn't care for their own lives but could easily take others' with them.
On the stage, Chief Referee Zheng Zhan had taken his position, his expression tinged with frustration. Though he disapproved of the Holy Ghost Sect, they were still a Sun Moon Empire team. For them to face the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy in an internal clash was disheartening. His thoughts swirled as he announced, "Quarterfinals, first match: Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy versus Holy Ghost Sect. First round of the individual elimination match—both competitors, take your places!"
At Zheng Zhan's words, the arena fell silent. The Sun Moon team and the Holy Ghost Sect each sent out a competitor.
"Wu Fei, safety first!" In the Sun Moon team's rest area, Xiao Hongchen spoke gravely to his teammate preparing to take the stage. He knew a thing or two about the Holy Ghost Sect's capabilities, so he held no absolute confidence in this match.
"Don't worry, Captain!" The young man named Wu Fei replied with a smile.
Both competitors ascended the stage. The Holy Ghost Sect's representative was a short-statured youth who moved with eerie grace. In a flash, he landed on the stage as lightly as a leaf, weightless and captivating the audience's attention.
From the viewing platform, Xu Tianran gazed at the two teams about to clash and let out a sigh. He hadn't anticipated this scenario. The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy and the Holy Ghost Sect were his right and left hands, yet now they were pitted against each other. Though it was just a competition, if tempers flared and relations soured, it could complicate his grand unification plans.
"State Preceptor, Hallmaster Hongchen, this is quite the unfortunate turn of events," he remarked, lightening the tense atmosphere on the platform.
"Jie jie jie, Your Highness, my disciples will handle Hallmaster Hongchen's students with care," the black-robed State Preceptor said with a chilling laugh, his words causing Meng Hongchen's brows to twitch. Were it not for the setting, Meng Hongchen might have exploded in anger.
For now, he could only force a smile. "Then I must thank the State Preceptor on behalf of my students," he said through gritted teeth.
"Hahaha, no need for thanks!" The State Preceptor's smile remained, cold and unsettling.
"Gentlemen, let's watch the match," Juzi interjected, sensing the undercurrent of tension in their exchange. Both men restrained themselves and focused on the stage.
Xu Tianran maintained his ever-present smile, seemingly unbothered by the conversation between the State Preceptor and Meng Hongchen.
"Brother, who do you think will win—Holy Ghost Sect or Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy?" Jiang Nanan asked.
"It's hard to say," Zhu Ziyang replied. "But I'm leaning toward the Holy Ghost Sect. They're a bunch of reckless lunatics, after all. Xiao Hongchen and his team can handle ordinary opponents with ease, but against the Holy Ghost Sect? Tsk tsk, I don't think so. All of you, pay close attention to this match. As students of Shrek Academy, you'll inevitably face evil soul masters in the future. The Sun Moon team's reactions in this match are worth studying and reflecting on. Understood?"
"Yes!" the group responded in unison.
On the stage, the competitors had announced their names, and the battle was about to erupt.
Wu Fei of the Sun Moon team unleashed his martial soul and soul tool. His martial soul was a spear, surrounded by two yellow, two purple, and one black soul ring—five in total. His body was clad in an exquisitely crafted soul tool armor that covered him entirely, leaving only his eyes exposed. Truly armed to the teeth, Wu Fei's armor was a level-six soul tool. Combined with his Red Tassel Spear martial soul, his combat strength rivaled that of a high-level Soul Emperor.
The Holy Ghost Sect's competitor, named Jili, also released his martial soul. His small frame swelled, covered in blue scales, with pale blue airflow swirling around him. His upper body grew unnaturally robust, while his lower body became even shorter, giving him a bizarre appearance. His head transformed into an inverted triangle, lips protruding with sharp, menacing teeth—an utterly grotesque sight.
Jili's martial soul was profoundly strange, and Wu Fei couldn't discern what it was. But that didn't deter his attack. No matter how odd his opponent's martial soul, Jili was only a Soul King, while Wu Fei could match a Soul Emperor. So, Wu Fei struck first. His first and second soul skills activated simultaneously, his Red Tassel Spear glowing faintly with soul power. Clad in armor, he charged forward, thrusting his spear with a gust of wind, not to be underestimated.
Facing Wu Fei's assault, Jili showed no fear. A eerie smile crept across his face as he advanced instead of retreating. His short legs moved with surprising speed, closing the distance to Wu Fei's spear tip in a few steps. With a lift of his hand, his disproportionately thick arm blocked the spear. Then, sticking close to the spear's shaft, Jili rapidly approached Wu Fei.
Wu Fei retreated, unwilling to let Jili get close. As he stepped back, he gripped the spear with both hands, attempting to fling Jili away. But Jili's steps were unnervingly steady, and Wu Fei's retreat did nothing to slow his advance.
With Jili less than half a meter away, Wu Fei knew he couldn't let him get any closer. Without hesitation, he activated his fifth soul skill. His armor glowed, and his strength surged several times over. His spear began to whip rapidly, aiming to throw Jili off.
Jili was indeed flung away—but not by Wu Fei's strength. He had used Wu Fei's force to propel himself, soaring over ten meters into the air. His action caused Wu Fei to hesitate, his spear pausing instinctively. That moment of hesitation gave Jili his chance.
In midair, Jili's eyes flashed with golden light. He adjusted his trajectory, diving headfirst toward Wu Fei. Closing in swiftly, he launched his attack. From his mouth shot a purple-black tongue, sharp as an arrow, aimed directly at Wu Fei's exposed forehead.
Such a bizarre attack was unlike anything Wu Fei had seen, but he reacted instinctively, raising his arm to block. Then, tragedy struck.
A soul ring lit up behind Jili, and his tongue, like an impossibly sharp blade, pierced through Wu Fei's soul tool armor, through his arm, through the armor on his head, and straight into his forehead. A chilling slurping sound followed.
It all happened so fast that Chief Referee Zheng Zhan, the Sun Moon team below, Xu Tianran and Jing Hongchen on the viewing platform, the competitors in the rest areas, and the thousands of spectators in the stands couldn't react in time.
"Stop!" By the time Zheng Zhan intervened, Jili had already retreated to the edge of the stage, his face brimming with satisfaction. Wu Fei, meanwhile, had a gruesome hole in his forehead, with traces of blood still lingering.
"Bastard!" Jing Hongchen exploded from the viewing platform, ignoring decorum. He leaped to his feet, pointing furiously at the black-robed State Preceptor beside Xu Tianran. "This is your idea of 'handling with care'? I'm not done with you today!"
Jing Hongchen's aura surged, ready to erupt.
"Hall Master Hongchen!" Xu Tianran's icy voice cut through, dousing Meng Hongchen's fury like a bucket of cold water. His anger extinguished instantly.
"Your Highness, I—I…" Jing Hongchen's face paled with fear, his heart gripped by dread. He tried to explain, but Xu Tianran raised a hand to stop him.
"No need to worry, Hallmaster. The State Preceptor was indeed in the wrong. I'll have him apologize to you. As for the deceased student, the empire will compensate his family generously," Xu Tianran said, his voice deceptively gentle. "However, there's no need to continue this match."
"…Understood," Jing Hongchen said reluctantly, closing his eyes.
He descended from the platform, leaving Xu Tianran and Juzi in thoughtful silence. The State Preceptor, however, acted as if nothing had happened, even remarking, "Your Highness, some subordinates shouldn't be indulged too much, or they'll grow arrogant."
"Heh, the State Preceptor speaks wisely," Xu Tianran replied with a smile, though his hand gripped the wooden armrest tightly, betraying his inner turmoil.
Meanwhile, Jing Hongchen appeared in the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy's rest area, stopping his furious teammates from rushing the stage to avenge Wu Fei.
"Grandfather, why are we conceding? Did Ah Fei die for nothing?" Xiao Hongchen was on the verge of losing control, consumed by frustration. They were the victims, yet they were forced to yield. What kind of justice was this? Just because the opponent was the State Preceptor's people? Evil soul masters? "Is it because of that damned State Preceptor and that useless prince?" he shouted.
Slap! Jing Hongchen hand struck Xiao Hongchen face. "What nonsense are you spouting? Get back and confine yourself—don't come out without my permission!"
"Grandfather, why did you hit Brother?" Meng Hongchen, startled by the slap, shouted in defiance. "I think Brother's right!"
Slap! Another strike landed on Meng Hongchen's delicate face, stunning her. Jing Hongchen showed a flicker of regret but pressed on. "You too—go confine yourself with your brother!"
"You hit me!" Meng Hongchen stared at her grandfather in disbelief, tears streaming down her cheeks. Pain and heartbreak contorted her face as she sobbed, "You actually hit me! I hate you!" Wailing, she ran from the arena.
Xiao Hongchen, sobered by the slap, saw his sister flee and chased after her. The other Sun Moon team members, trembling, followed suit. No one dared dwell on the unavenged death or the surrender. The captain and the team's darling had both been struck—Meng Hongchen, the apple of Hallmaster Hongchen eye, had never even been scolded in her life, let alone hit. Yet today… they couldn't bear to think about it.
Jing Hongchen stood alone, watching his grandchildren disappear. He seemed to age decades in that moment, his heart heavy with exhaustion. Was his decision right or wrong? After a moment, he steeled himself, walked to the stage, and retrieved Wu Fei's body. He informed Zheng Zhan of the Sun Moon team's decision to concede.
"Hallmaster Hongchen…" Zheng Zhan began, but Jing Hongchen was already walking away. With no choice, Zheng Zhan announced, "Due to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy's concession, the Holy Ghost Sect wins!"
The crowd erupted in disbelief, stunned by the outcome.
"Tsk tsk tsk, Jing Hongchen lives up to his reputation as the Hallmaster of Mingde Hall. He knows when to bend," Zhu Ziyang remarked, unsurprised. The Shrek Academy team had witnessed the conflict in the Sun Moon rest area, including the clash between the grandfather and his grandchildren.
As for Xiao Hongchen's outburst against Xu Tianran, Zhu Ziyang could only think the young man was bold—dancing on Xu Tianran's last nerve. Jing Hongchen's actions were understandable, but could he truly swallow this humiliation?
The spectators, unaware of the rest area drama, were outraged. The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, the empire's premier institution, had conceded again—after losing a teammate, no less. It was a disgrace! The crowd jeered, but no one cared.
Next up was Shrek Academy versus Sky Dragon Gate.
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