The group stage was still ongoing, but with more than half of the matches completed, the qualification situation for each group was already very clear.
In Group 1, the Shrek Academy team was in the lead, being the first to secure a promotion spot with a perfect record of five wins. Following them was the Holy Spirit Sect, also with five wins. However, everyone knew that only one of these two teams, Shrek Academy and Holy Spirit Sect, would be able to advance to the quarterfinals with a perfect record. Their match would take place on the last day of the group stage, as the final and most anticipated match.
In Group 2, the most promising teams to qualify were naturally the Tang Sect and the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. The Tang Sect currently had a perfect record, while the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy had four wins out of five matches. The other teams in the same group basically had no chance.
In Group 3, the teams with a chance to qualify were two Sect teams: Proud Sword Sect and Heaven Dragon Gate.
As for Group 4, it was interesting. The Snow Demon Sect and the Mingdu Soul Engineer Academy were both contenders. The Snow Demon Sect, as a front for the Body Sect, needed no further explanation. The Mingdu Soul Engineer Academy, on the other hand, was the Sun Moon Empire's second-ranked academy, only surpassed by the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. It had never participated in previous Soul Master Competitions. This year, it was said that a once-in-a-millennium genius student had emerged, so they specifically entered this competition.
How to put it, the Mingdu Soul Engineer Academy was a purely aristocratic school, only accepting children of nobles above the rank of Count from the Sun Moon Empire. The genius they relied on had not yet appeared in any matches. Their ability to reach this stage was entirely due to their 'approachable' nature; the strength of their students was not particularly outstanding.
Soon, the last day of the group stage arrived. Everyone's attention was on the final match of the day, including Zhu Ziyang and the other members of Shrek Academy.
In the Shrek Academy resting area, Zhu Ziyang, with a murderous glint in his eyes, gave instructions to Qian Lingyi, who was about to enter the arena. For this match against the Holy Spirit Sect, Qian Lingyi, with her Six-Winged Angel Spirit, was undoubtedly the best choice. The Six-Winged Angel was absolutely the most effective Spirit against Evil Soul Masters, without a doubt. As early as ancient times on the Douluo Continent, the original wielder of the Six-Winged Angel Spirit was able to gather the faith of the populace and ascend to Godhood after suppressing the rampant Evil Soul Masters on the continent.
Now, although the Angel God's God Position was shattered and no longer possessed its former glory, Qian Lingyi could completely retrace the path her ancestor once walked. In fact, it would be even easier for her. And facing the Holy Spirit Sect was naturally her starting point.
Zhu Ziyang had only one demand for Qian Lingyi: leave no survivors!
For a standard Evil Soul Master Sect like the Holy Spirit Sect, Zhu Ziyang would not show the slightest mercy. Not to mention the Holy Spirit Sect's cruel actions in recent matches, just their true identity behind the scenes meant they were doomed to die. Moreover, Zhu Ziyang was planning to use them to put on a grand show!
However, to Zhu Ziyang's disappointment, the Holy Spirit Sect directly announced their forfeiture of the match, surrendering outright. Regardless of their considerations, Zhu Ziyang's plan would inevitably be postponed, which was a great pity.
"What a pity. Then I'll let you all jump around for a few more days," Zhu Ziyang sighed regretfully, saying.
With the Holy Spirit Sect's surrender, the fourteen-day group stage officially concluded, and the eight qualifying teams were announced. The first and second-place teams from each group advanced, while the others were eliminated.
The eight qualifying teams for this competition were Shrek Academy, Holy Spirit Sect, Tang Sect, Sun Moon Soul Engineer Academy, Snow Demon Sect, Mingdu Soul Engineer Academy, Proud Sword Sect, and Heaven Dragon Gate.
After the group stage, the eight qualifying teams received three days of rest. Three days later, the first round of the finals, the quarterfinals, officially began, lasting one day. The draw for the groupings would also take place live on the morning of that day.
——
That night, Zhu Ziyang appeared alone in a hotel in Mingdu. There, he met three people: Zhang Lexuan, Old Song, and Xu Jianwei.
"Sister Lexuan!" Zhu Ziyang's face broke into a smile as he called out.
"Ziyang, we're here," Zhang Lexuan's face also showed a gentle smile as she said.
"I was just wondering yesterday when you would arrive, and then today I received your message. We truly have a telepathic connection," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile.
"There were a lot of things in the military camp, so it delayed us a bit," Zhang Lexuan explained after hearing Zhu Ziyang's words, first showing a happy smile, then adding, "But don't worry, we've handled everything and made all the arrangements. We can launch at any time!"
"That's great!" Zhu Ziyang couldn't help but step forward and grasp Zhang Lexuan's hand, saying affectionately, "You've worked hard, Sister Lexuan."
"It's no hardship, I did it willingly," Zhang Lexuan's nose twitched slightly upon hearing Zhu Ziyang's words, but then she smiled and said, "Let's discuss the next plan."
"Good!" Zhu Ziyang nodded, then looked at Xu Jianwei and said, "Elder Xu, Sister Lexuan must have already told you about our plan, right?"
"Mm!" Xu Jianwei nodded and said, "Whatever your requirements, this old woman will do her best to help you."
"Good, with your words, our next plan will proceed very smoothly," Zhu Ziyang said, his eyes gleaming, "Assassinating Xu Tianran is easy, but calming the anger of the Sun Moon Empire's populace over the emperor's assassination is difficult, and this is unfavorable to our subsequent actions. Therefore, while both are assassinations, an assassination from an opposing force would lead to public anger and a common hatred for the enemy, but if it comes from within, it would lead to public confusion and turmoil. The former is unfavorable for the Moon Lineage to seize power; the latter is the method we should choose."
"So… Ziyang, you mean…" A thoughtful expression appeared on Zhang Lexuan's pretty face, and she looked at Zhu Ziyang with burning eyes.
"Sister Lexuan should understand what I mean," Zhu Ziyang chuckled lightly, saying, "If we assassinate Xu Tianran under the name of that Second Prince, then this isn't an assassination, but a palace coup!"
"!" Old Song and Xu Jianwei's eyes lit up simultaneously. They clearly realized the benefits of doing so. Xu Jianwei said, "This way, not only can this assassination be attributed to fraternal strife, but it can also directly expose the turmoil of the Sun Lineage over the years to the public, greatly reducing their prestige among the people!"
"More importantly, it can remove our Shrek Academy from this assassination, and the presence of the Tianhun Empire and Star Luo Empire will also be significantly reduced, which can delay the outbreak of war and buy time for Le Xuan," Old Song also said.
"So, what we need to do now is to rescue Xu Tianci first, and only then can we proceed with the next step of the plan," Zhang Lexuan stated the most crucial step of the plan.
"Exactly, this is also why I came to find you all," Zhu Ziyang nodded and said, "The Second Prince, Xu Tianci, is confined within the Sun Moon Imperial Palace, but his exact location requires intelligence from you."
"No problem!" Xu Jianwei nodded and said, "Regarding this, we have long been prepared."
Saying this, Xu Jianwei pulled out a map, handed it to Zhu Ziyang, and said, "This is the Mingdu city defense map. It marks the locations where Xu Tianran holds other Sun Lineage members, as well as the location of the old emperor."
"Understood!" Zhu Ziyang took the map, glanced at it, and said, "Then we'll act tonight, to avoid any complications. Sister Lexuan, you and I will go rescue Xu Tianci. Old Song, Elder Xu, you two create some commotion outside Mingdu, preferably enough for Xu Tianran to know."
"Understood!" Old Song and Xu Jianwei responded, then immediately began to act.
"Sister Lexuan, let's go too!" Zhu Ziyang said, then took Zhang Lexuan's small hand. A light flashed in his eyes, and the two instantly disappeared.
——
Outside the Sun Moon Empire Imperial Palace, in a secluded corner, a silver light flashed, and then two figures appeared: it was Zhu Ziyang and Zhang Lexuan.
"Sister Lexuan, let's go in. Be ready for battle!" Zhu Ziyang said cautiously.
"Always ready!" Zhang Lexuan said.
Without hesitation, the two directly climbed into the Imperial Palace. Soon after they entered, sirens suddenly blared throughout Mingdu City, becoming lively.
The two inside the Imperial Palace exchanged glances. Zhu Ziyang said, "It seems Old Song and Elder Xu have already acted. Let's hurry."
Due to the turmoil in Mingdu City, security within the Imperial Palace was heightened. The two encountered more than one patrol of guards, but as Titled Douluo, they consciously concealed their tracks. Unless met by another Titled Douluo or someone with strong mental force, it was difficult to discover them.
Soon, they found Xu Tianci, who was confined. He was guarded by two Spirit Saints and four Spirit Emperors. Zhu Ziyang waved his hand, and the six individuals were immediately frozen into ice blocks. However, Zhu Ziyang did not take their lives; after all, they were still needed to report back to Xu Tianran.
Presumably, Xu Tianran was still speculating about the cause of the turmoil in Mingdu City at this moment. Soon, he would understand everything, hehe.
Zhu Ziyang and Zhang Lexuan, carrying the now somewhat deranged Xu Tianci, left the Imperial Palace and rendezvoused with Xu Jianwei and Old Song. Now, they just had to wait until the day of the Soul Master Competition finals for the grand show to begin.