Douluo: In an extraordinary world, with unparallel understanding!

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It wasn't a matter of lacking funds, but rather that they wouldn't have enough rare metals to squander.

Over a thousand meters away from the competition platform, intense beams of energy shot in from eight directions, converging above the platform.

Energy flowed through the eight beams of light, and where they met, a canopy formed, enveloping the entire platform.

This canopy was several hundred meters above the platform, ensuring that even soul masters with flight abilities wouldn't be affected during the competition.

"How much soul power must be used to power this?" Fan Yu was shocked as he sensed the energy fluctuations emanating from the eight light beams.

From over a kilometer away, numerous soul tools were operating in each of the eight directions. The energy of the heavens and earth gathered and flowed into these soul tools.

Each individual soul tool was at least level six, and when they were combined, they formed an eighth-grade array!

Eight eighth-grade soul tools!

This was the Sun Moon Empire's most advanced technology, utilizing the energy of the heavens and earth for continuous power supply.

The competitors' resting area was on the east side of the arena, divided into two sections. The more luxurious area was near the north, smaller in size, but with fewer spots, reserved for the top eight teams from the previous tournament.

The southern resting area was for the remaining competitors, further divided into zones for sects and academies.

As a team that hadn't competed last time, Tang Sect was assigned to the sect area, and their position was rather remote.

"This is too unfair!" Ning Tian, the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, was furious, unaccustomed to such treatment.

The teams entered in an orderly fashion, and the atmosphere was incredibly intense.

A group of five hundred soldiers in golden armor marched to the front of the stage. With a loud clang, they set up large soul cannon platforms, their ominous barrels pointing outward.

These were members of the Royal Soul Engineer Corps, who only answered to the emperor's commands.

After the Royal Soul Engineer Corps took their positions, a team of carriages entered. Thirty-two horn-scaled horses pulled a dragon chariot that resembled a small palace. The chariot stopped in front of the stage, and Xu Tianran was helped out of the chariot and slowly ascended to the podium.

Behind Xu Tianran, Orange personally pushed a wheelchair forward. Once Xu Tianran was placed at the emperor's viewing seat on the podium, Orange sat beside him.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness the Empress!"

After Xu Tianran entered, Jing Hongchen and four other elderly men followed, making their way to the podium.

"Silence!"

A deep voice suddenly rang out, and an immense pressure immediately spread throughout the arena. Everyone felt a darkness before their eyes, as though a heavy cloud was bearing down on them.

Su Yu felt the overwhelming pressure and turned his gaze toward the previously unnoticed tall elder. The source of this immense pressure emanated from him, and Su Yu had already started to guess the man's identity.

Long Xiaoyao.

At the same moment Su Yu looked up at Long Xiaoyao, the elder also glanced at Su Yu in surprise.

"Such powerful spiritual energy… Is he the disciple of Kong Deming?"

When Long Xiaoyao appeared, hidden in the shadows, Qian Duoduo and many Super Douluo were also deeply shocked.

How could it be him?

The Medical Immortal Douluo had reached the limit of their lifespan. Having lived for such a long time, they had naturally experienced the era of Mu En.

Or rather, it wasn't about being from the same generation, but during their youth, in the time just before the Light and Dark Sacred Dragons disappeared from the soul master world. That was also the period when the Light and Dark Sacred Dragons were at the height of their fame.

Long Xiaoyao actually joined the Sun Moon Empire?

The soul power pressure emanating from Long Xiaoyao swept through the entire arena, and the loud chatter abruptly quieted.

Orange handed the microphone to Xu Tianran, whose voice soon echoed across the arena.

"Welcome everyone to the Sun Moon Empire's Soul Fighting Tournament."

"I now declare the Continental Youth Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament officially begin!"

As Xu Tianran announced the start of the competition, a middle-aged man in a black robe with gold trim stepped forward.

"Now, let me read the rules of the competition."

The competition format remained unchanged. It was still a preliminary elimination format. Those who lost would be completely eliminated. The final 36 contestants would be grouped into four groups, with two spots for each group to qualify through round-robin matches.

"First match of the preliminary rounds: Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy vs. Dragon Slaying Sect!"

The rules for the Soul Fighting Tournament usually dictate that the first match feature the previous year's champion. Last year's champion was, indeed, the Sun Moon Royal Team.

Watching the Sun Moon Royal Team enter the waiting area, the Shrek Academy members couldn't suppress their irritation.

In the past, the first match had always been theirs.

Yet today, it was handed to the Sun Moon Royal Team.

The outcome of last year's tournament had set the stage for this competition from the very start.

For the glory of Shrek, they had to win this time.

The Dragon Slaying Sect was a traditional soul master sect from the Douling Empire, one that was somewhat averse to soul tools and had a disdainful attitude toward the Sun Moon Royal Team.

Even though the Sun Moon Royal Team was the defending champion, this sect's disdain was apparent.

Part of it was their rejection of soul engineers, and part of it stemmed from their sect's general disregard for academy students.

In the early days of the Soul Fighting Tournament, sects participated as well. However, over time, for reasons unknown, sects were excluded, leaving only academies to compete.

Sects poured everything into nurturing their disciples, and their disciples would dedicate their lives to the sect. Academies, however, only served as a temporary haven for students who left after graduation.

The distinction between them was inherent.

Therefore, sects looked down on academies.

The first match was an individual elimination battle, where each side could only send one person. The loser would be eliminated, and this process would continue until all seven members of a team were eliminated.

For the Sun Moon Royal Team, Su Yu was sent.

It wasn't so much because the Sun Moon Royal Team held the Dragon Slaying Sect in high regard, but because the first match had to stoke the audience's excitement for the defending champions.

Su Yu was the perfect choice for that.

The Dragon Slaying Sect sent out a young man of average height.

"This is an individual elimination match. The match will end when one side loses their combat ability or concedes defeat, or if the referee determines the winner. Please avoid seriously injuring your opponent. Do you understand?"

"Understood."

Both sides moved one hundred meters apart, and the referee fired a shot.

"The match begins!"

With the signal from the referee, both sides summoned their martial spirits.

Soul rings appeared in a series of circles.

The arena fell silent.

(End of chapter)