Chapter 75.3. The Start of the Tournament


    This simple entrance fee they collected would earn the Star Luo Empire two million or so gold soul coins every day. Within a single month, they could earn a total of sixty million gold soul coins. After deducting the military and other various costs, the empire would still earn arge sum. This was one of the main reasons why the four empires were very willing to host the Continental Advanced Soul Duelling Tournament. It had to be known that a years worth of revenue from Star Luo City wasnt far from this number!


    Just as the spectators began to fill the arena, Huo Yuhao and hispanions were standing in the participants area.


    Today, the people from Shrek Academy were dressed in their traditional, dark-green school uniforms; these were the standard colors of the academy. Furthermore, they stood at the very front of all of the other academies. However, there were no objections to this. This was the glory that Shrek Academy had umted through their strength for over a thousand years.


    However, the other participants who stood behind them involuntarily revealed a look of astonishment as they looked at their lineup.


    It would have been fine if only ten people had turned up, but an overwhelminglyrge majority of the ten didnt seem like they were anywhere near twenty years old. They were able to see how young they were without even using a bone test. Only the three who stood at the very front seemed like they were of an appropriate age. However, they all wore cloaks that concealed their facial features.


    Arge majority of the academies were inwardly praying that they wouldnt meet Shrek Academy or the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy in their first match. Otherwise, it was practically announcing that they would be eliminated.


    The participants from the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy stood behind Shrek Academy, allowing them to get an even better view of the students from thetter.


    The youngest students from Shrek Academy were Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao. Huo Yuhao was slightly better than the other two; after fusing with the Ice Empress torso bone, his stature had changed greatly. He could now pass for a fourteen or fifteen-year-old youth. However, Wang Dong and Xiao Xiaos faces still looked somewhat infantile. This was especially true for Xiao Xiao. She was rather short, and looked like she was only a young girl. At this moment, even the proud Xiao Hongchen was filled with doubt. Just what was Shrek Academy trying to do by sending out a lineup like this?


    It took a full hour for the spectators to enter the arena; there were simply too many people.


    The originally-empty Star Luo za was now packed with people. Fortunately, the ce didnt seem too chaotic due to the iron fences partitioning it, in addition to the army maintaining order.


    It was now 9am.


    Silence. A loud voice suddenly spread throughout the entire field. After hearing this voice, every soldier in the army stood perfectly straight and raised thences in their hands.


    Immediately, as the solemn voice covered the entire field, the originally-morous Star Luo za promptly went silent.


    His Majesty, the Emperor, arrives!


    With a crash, the popce immediately knelt down inrge numbers. Several hundreds of thousands of people simultaneously made the same, orderly movements, creating a truly spectacr scene.


    The soldiers only knelt down on one knee, but the participating academies had been given special permission to not kneel. However, they had to give a ny-degree bow to show their respect to the emperor.


    Subjects, you may rise. The voice of the Star Luo Empires emperor was magnified with a loudspeaker-type soul tool. Only then did the popce get to their feet, and the participating students subsequently straightened their backs. The gazes of everyone present were cast towards the top of the imperial capitals walls.


    The Star Luo Emperor was already standing at the very front of the city walls, along with the empress and his civil and military officials. His gentle gaze didnt lose any of its grandeur as he surveyed his people.


    The Continental Advanced Academy Soul Duelling Tournament is the most important asion on our Douluo Continent. This time, its our Star Luo Empires turn to host it, and Im very happy. Now, on behalf of the Star Luo Empire, I wee each and every academy who has travelled far toe here. I wish that youll be able to reveal the elegance you should have in the tournament one month from now.


    Thank you, your majesty. The leaders and students from the hundred and thirty-three academies bowed again.


    The Star Luo Emperor nodded and smiled slightly in their direction.


    Okay, I now announce that the Continental Advanced Academy Soul Duelling Tournament has formally begun! The Star Luo Emperors loud deration opened the curtains to this grand asion.


    Long live the king, long live the king, long live the king! The masses all cheered in chorus. The atmosphere in the za seemed to have been aroused instantly.


    Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. Gun salutes rang out from the city walls, and rang out a hundred and eight times before stopping. Star Luo za had already transformed into an ocean of excitement and cheers.


    The Star Luo Emperor retreated slightly with his generals, then took a seat alongside the empress in a chair that was already prepared for him. He waved towards the prime minister beside him, who then obeyed hismand and ordered a subordinate to start the tournament.


    The sonorous voice that had previously spoken immediately rang out again, ording to the rules of the Continental Advanced Academy Soul Duelling Tournament, the first round of the tournament will be a knockout round. This year, there have been a total of a hundred and thirty-three academies who have registered so far. After drawing some lots, there will be a single team who has a bye. A total of sixty-six matches will be conducted. The first round will be a knockout round, and the loser will have to end his journey in this tournament. Now, the first match will begin. The first team consists of the participants from the Tian Ling Advanced Soul Academy, while the other is the continents number one academy, the academy that has countless feats of glory to its name, the academy that has won every single tournament for the past thousand years, Shrek Academy!


    Following the announcers deration, the atmosphere in Star Luo za immediately reached its boiling point.


    Shrek, Shrek, Shrek


    The shouts for Shrek Academy thoroughly covered every single corner of the za.


    The seven from the preparatory team were left staring nkly as they watched the scene unfurling in front of them. This was the first time theyd seen something like this, and their faces were somewhat pale for a brief moment. This was a crowd of several hundreds of thousands! If they were to lose this match, leading to Shrek Academys disqualification, they simply couldnt imagine what would happen.


    Everyone, dont panic. This is the glory that belongs to our Shrek Academy, and also the glory that will soon belong to you. During thest tournament, we too faced a scene like this. I can tell you that our opponents will definitely be ten times more nervous and panicked than us, because were Shrek Academy. Ma Xiaotaos voice rang out in the ears of every single member of the preparatory team.


    A scene like this was a first even for Wang Yan, who was leading the group! Only Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, and Ling Luochen, whod previously represented Shrek Academy as the preparatory team in thest tournament, wouldve seen something like this. At this moment, Ma Xiaotaos words were naturally most persuasive to them.


    Dai Yueheng immediately continued, Xiaotaos correct. These cheers are for us, and for the glory of Shrek Academy. Right now, we need you to burst forth and step up. Use your strength to prove how powerful our Shrek Academy is. Go. Raise your chests, and put on your most enthusiastic face to thank these supporters.


    With the morale boost from the two seniors, their incessantly excited hearts calmed down slightly. However, their palms were still sweaty. They naturally didnt know that Shrek Academys preparatory team had never appeared in the first round before. This was because the first match represented the face of Shrek Academy. Furthermore, their hearts would definitely be affected after facing such a passionate crowd for the first time. Thus, the main team would go out in full force during the first round.


    However, they simply had no other choice now!


    Right at this moment, the announcers voice rang out. May the team members from the Tian Ling Advanced Soul Academy take the field.


    A group of young, pale-faced students walked out from the far side of the contestants area. As they walked out, even their footsteps were somewhat unstable. Ma Xiaotao giggled, and turned towards Huo Yuhao and the rest, Look, these are your opponents. Have you noticed? Some of them are shaking all over. The reputation of Shrek Academy is indeed arge responsibility and a heavy burden on you, but our glory is also one of the most effective weapons you have. Bring out your courage and strength. Shrek, win.


    With that, Ma Xiaotao strode towards Bei Bei and extended her right hand. The others then stepped forth, and eleven right hands were ced atop each other.


    Wang Yan whispered, Huo Yuhao, youre in charge ofmanding the team after were up. The rest of you have to follow and maneuver ording to his Spiritual Detection. Yuhao, use your second soul skill carefully, if possible.


    Huo Yuhaos mind had originally still been somewhat nk, but he was suddenly enlightened after hearing Wang Yans reminder and the words that Ma Xiaotao had said. His Spirit Eyes immediately lit up, and he nodded heavily. Teacher Wang, I understand. Seniors, dont worry. We wont lose any of Shreks face. Shrek, win.


    As they looked at the determination in Huo Yuhaos eyes as he said the word Shrek, every single member of the preparatory team felt their blood boiling. Right, they were students of Shrek Academy, representing the ten thousands years of glory it had held. Their opponents would only feel fear towards them. What they had to do was beat every single opponent who stood in front of them.


    They no longer had an escape, nor did they need to retreat. They needed to unceasingly advance, advance, and advance!


    Okay, the members of the Tian Ling Advanced Soul Academy have stepped up. Under the eyes of the crowd, let us now have the continents number one academy, the true king of academies, Shrek Academy, take the field!


    The announcers resounding voice immediately reached its peak, and Star Luo za instantly became a sea of voices that cheered for Shrek. Even the Star Luo Emperor, who sat on the city walls, couldnt help but stand up and reveal a look of excitement on his face. Who wouldve imagined that hed studied in Shrek Academy during his youth using a pseudonym? Even now, he still deeply loved a person, the person who eternally stood guard within Shrek Academys inner courtyard