Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament part 2

Flender nodded

"That old man is called Shi Nian, his spirit is extremely unusual. It's a kind of special intangible spirit, capable of causing all kinds of illusions, losing people inside. His current strength should be enough to disable and kill people within the illusions. We call his spirit Cruel Dream. This old fellow is extremely sinister, don't just look at his calm and collected surface, it's actually the corners of the eyes that will tell. You must all be a bit careful for me. When I knew him his spirit power was more than sixtieth rank, by now it might have reached more than the seventieth.

His spirit is extremely difficult to deal with, even Spirit Masters more powerful than him wouldn't want to fight him. Alright, the opening ceremonies are about to begin, prepare to enter. Mubai, Tang San, the two of you lead everyone inside. I'll leave first to see your heroic appearance from the stands."

Before anyone had the chance to protest, this dean had already taken to his feet and disappeared in the blink of an eye. Sure enough, the tournament functionaries soon entered the rest area, organizing the now all present academies to enter the arena.

Making the Shrek Academy team somewhat pissed was that those functionaries apparently ignored their existence. One after another the other teams were sent into the arena, but they alone were forgotten. Only finally, when they were the only team remaining in the rest area, did a functionary walk over, taking them to the passage into the arena.

If it wasn't for JoyBoy suppressing him, the fire choked back in Fatty's belly would already have had signs of erupting. Even though they were last to enter the arena, the instant they arrived they were still shocked by everything they saw.

Around the enormous wide open space were countless shouting and cheering spectators. Just ahead in the middle was a platform against a golden backdrop, and behind the platform were the remodeled VIP seats.

The diameter of the expansive space surpassed a hundred fifty meters, and in the center the academies that had already entered were arranged in neat formations. Each academy that entered was introduced by the master of ceremonies on the platform.

Finally all the teams had entered the arena, the Shrek Academy group stood furthest back. JoyBoy didn't pay any attention to the jeers, and constantly observed his surroundings. This Great Spirit Arena was undoubtedly the biggest he had ever seen. Enough stands to hold eighty thousand spectators, backed with silver decorations. Even though it was morning, the specially suspended magic tool illumination didn't only seem lavish, but still gave a feeling of vast space.

As his gaze fell on the VIP platform, he saw a few acquaintances. One of them was the one who originally drove them away from Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, prince Xue Xing, and also Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's three committee members. They all sat in the second row of the VIP seats, and in the first row were only three people.

The man in the middle wore gold and red robes, on his head a brilliant gold crown and though apparently a bit older than prince Xue Xing, they still resembled one another. The difference was, this man's bearing was far from what prince Xue Xing could compare to.

Without need to ask, JoyBoy could guess this man's identity as the Heaven Dou Empire's emperor. The person on the emperor's right was Ning Rongrong's father, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's master, Ning Fengzhi.

Today Ning Fengzhi wore white robes, on his head the emblematic seven treasures purple and gold hat. As school master of one of the upper three sects of the seven great schools, he was perfectly entitled to sitting here. As for the red robed man on the other side, from the pentagonal platinum hat, JoyBoy could determine that this was Spirit Hall's platinum bishop.

Spirit Hall's highest ruler was no doubt the Supreme Pontiff, and under the Supreme Pontiff were four archbishops, their identity symbolized by the pentagonal platinum hat. This person here was no doubt one of the platinum bishops. Able to qualify as platinum bishop, this person should be the hall master of Heaven Dou City's Spirit Temple.

The official on the side of the VIP platform said in a clear voice

"Next, please welcome his majesty, Heaven Dou Empire's emperor, to declare this tournament open."

The Heaven Dou Empire's emperor wearing gold and red robes, slowly stood amidst thunderous applause. Raising his right hand to wave at the spectator seats as well as the competing spirit masters below, the applause quickly stopped, and the vast space became quiet. A grave and clear voice transmitted to the entire audience via sound amplifying spirit tools.

"I, emperor of Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Ye, represents Heaven Dou Empire, and also this time's tournament host to declare, the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament now open."

Applause thundered once again, cheers rising and falling. But in the center of the arena, JoyBoy noticed that this emperor's smiling expression was a bit forced, as if he himself wasn't particularly excited for this tournament. After waiting for this round of applause to die down once again, the emperor continued

"Here, I hope, the Spirit Masters participating in this tournament, can amply display their strength, and obtain good records. You are all the pride of Heaven Dou Empire. For the sake of the Empire's glory, display your brilliance."

Applause rose for a third time, and this time the eyes of the Spirit Masters in the center revealed a scorching brightness. To them, this tournament was the best stage to reveal themselves. The emperor sat back in his seat, and the official's voice rose once again

"Next, please welcome the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's school master, mister Ning Fengzhi, to address this time's tournament."

"I'm very happy to be invited as an honored guest to this tournament opening. As school master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, I have already seen very many Spirit Masters grow. As the Continent's noblest vocation, each Spirit Master must experience many things to grow. In my experience, a sword's point comes from sharpening, and plum blossom fragrance follows bitter cold. The Spirit Masters joining this tournament are undoubtedly the elite of the young generation. Just as his majesty just said, I hope you can win honor for the Empire, and also for your own academies. The Empire needs your talent. Thank you."

Listening to Ning Fengzhi's address, the Heaven Dou emperor finally revealed a sincere smile. The official asked

"School master Ning, you are the most formidable support system Spirit Master, so I represent the spectators of the battles this time to ask, among the twenty eight teams joining the Heaven Dou City district's preselection competition, which one do you support?"

Ning Fengzhi still wore a slight smile

"Besides Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's first team entering the finals as seeds, among these twenty eight teams, I still think highly of one other. I think that they possess not only the capability to pass the preselection tournament, but at the same time may very possibly obtain the final victory of this Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament."

The official asked, astonished

"May we know which team could gain school master Ning's favor?"

Ning Fengzhi smiled mysteriously, saying

"As for which academy this team belongs to, forgive me for holding back the climax. For the moment I can't reveal it. But I believe, that the final champions of this tournament, will certainly belong to the Empire."

JoyBoy noticed that sitting next to emperor Xue Ye, the platinum bishop at this moment opened the eyes he had so far kept almost closed. His eyes appeared very turbid, without any luster, and his gaze fell on the twenty eight competing teams in the center of the arena, as if searching for the team Ning Fengzhi spoke of.

Ning Fengzhi sat back down, and the official smiling said

"I regret that school master Ning won't reveal the team he supports. Next, Heaven Dou City's Spirit Temple hall master, Spirit Hall platinum bishop, lord Salas, will conduct the preselection competition's first round draw. Afterwards, Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's secondary team will fight their first drawn matchup. This is also the only match today."

Platinum bishop Salas slowly stood, and was led by a maid to the side of the official, starting to draw the lots. He was apparently very unwilling to speak, and each pair of opponents he drew was announced by the official.

"Preselection competition first round, Blue Sunshine Academy versus Purple Star Academy."

"Preselection competition first round, Auckland Academy versus Blazing Radiance Academy."

"Preselection competition first round, Heaven Dou Imperial Academy versus Shrek Academy."

The Shrek Academy group didn't pay much attention to the rest of the matchups. When they heard their first opponent would actually be Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's second team, everyone except JoyBoy couldn't help their expressions becoming grotesque.

Oscar muttered

"Such an unlikely coincidence."

Ma Hongjun squeezed his fingers, issuing bone popping noises.

"Excellent. They aren't rushing us off. This time we'll let them have a look at what's called strength."

Not just the Shrek Academy people were astonished, the audience was too. The other academies might not have paid attention, but the Shrek Academy was really too gaudy, how couldn't they attract notice?

For a moment, jeers flowed continuously. Very many spectators were all shouting the word 'fraud', Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's second team was clearly looking for pushovers, and Shrek Academy didn't seem like a Spirit Master team as much as a pack of clowns. The lottery done, that platinum bishop Salas swept his gaze across everyone, indifferently saying

"I drew the lots, and sensed no falsehood. I swear on the honor of Spirit Hall. At the same time, I hereby declare, of the participating Spirit Master academy students, Spirit Hall will make an exception for anyone capable of reaching the finals, letting them directly enter Spirit Temple."

Hearing the platinum bishop's words, emperor Xue Ye's expression clearly dropped. Ning Fengzhi on his side softly shook his head at the emperor, and emperor Xue Ye's complexion eased somewhat.

The people nearby were behind them and naturally didn't catch this little exchange, and the Spirit Masters below were very far away. But, this didn't escape JoyBoy who was observing everything. He clearly saw the subtleties within, and combined with what Grandmaster had once told him and Tang San about some matters, He knew from his knowledge of novel that the conflict between Spirit Hall and the Empire was already growing deeper and deeper, almost to the degree where it couldn't be reconciled. Otherwise, that platinum bishop wouldn't dare recruit outstanding Spirit Masters right in front of this emperor.

"Good, then next we will conduct the first match of the first round of the preselection competition, Heaven Dou Imperial Academy facing Shrek Academy. All competing academies leave the field. The two academies taking part in the match later please prepare. In one hour, the match will formally begin."