Chapter 42 I Don't Care, I Just Want to Win_2

Aside from that, among the 133 academies, there will be one spot that gets a bye, meaning no need to participate in the elimination round and advancing directly to the next round of the round-robin tournament.

The round-robin tournament will divide the teams advancing from the elimination round into groups, with each group containing about eight or nine teams. Pay attention, everyone, the round-robin will adopt a random match system.

There are three types of matchups in the random match system: one is the single-elimination format, the second is a 3-2-2 cooperative battle mode, and the third is a seven-on-seven team fight. This will test overall strength. Each match will involve a draw to determine the mode, and then the match will proceed in that format. It's the ultimate test of comprehensive capabilities."

While the host was speaking, no one interrupted; it was very quiet.

Everyone perked up their ears, afraid to miss any detail.

However, when the host finished explaining the competition format and rules, there was an uproar throughout the venue.

Especially on the side of Shrek Academy.

Everyone had a confused look on their faces.

The elimination round was up to chance, and they might have lucked out and advanced.

But... the round-robin was utterly absurd.

Three different types of matches...

Especially the one-on-one matches, wouldn't a Soul King be able to wipe them out?

They had absolutely no dignity left.

Subconsciously, all seven of them looked up at Xuan Zi on the city wall, who attended the opening ceremony as a VIP.

That old guy had come back from the imperial palace that day and assured them with great confidence, "This is in the bag, we can advance to the top four even if we lie down."

They had thought at the time that there really might be a turnaround.

But now...

Was the old guy really framing them?

At this moment, Wang Yan walked over.

"Teacher Wang?"

Everyone looked at Wang Yan together, as if they had found their pillar of strength.

"Alas, Xiao Tao's condition is still quite pessimistic. The opening ceremony of the Soul Master competition still did not restore her consciousness, and she remains in her dazed and foolish state. So, this time's competition will have to rely on you guys alone."

Wang Yan sighed.

"What?"

"Xiao Tao Sister can't compete?"

Everyone's faces changed again.

Unlike Xuan Zi, who always bragged and blustered, Ma Xiaotao, a 76th level Soul Emperor, was their last hope.

If Ma Xiaotao couldn't compete... they saw no chance of winning.

Besides, the Soul Master competition has another tradition.

That is, on the first day of the competition, during the opening ceremony, the champion team of the previous edition will perform a warm-up match.

Normally, this is akin to an exhibition match.

To liven up the atmosphere, to add to the festivities.

However.

They were the champions of the last edition...

Realizing this, everyone looked at each other.

They all saw the worry in each other's eyes.

How should they put it.

The atmosphere may not become lively.

But it definitely got everyone's attention.

And it could even be said to be an embarrassment.

"Kids, cheer up."

"You stand here as the pride of the academy. Though the future looks dark, I believe in you. You can definitely overcome this hardship and carry the name of Shrek into the light."

Seeing that everyone was lacking confidence, Wang Yan encouraged them in a firm voice.

"Teacher Wang, we are confident now."

Beibei, temporarily acting as the captain, replied solemnly.

He knew that at times like these, someone had to stand up.

However.

With Beibei rallying the morale, it indeed had an effect.

Everyone nodded vigorously and spoke up, expressing their determination to give their all.

"Good, Shrek is proud to have you."

Wang Yan was deeply moved, "Come on, kids, follow me to the backstage to prepare."

With that, he led everyone to the backstage.

...

"Eh, something's off, guys, look at the Shrek Academy contestants; they don't seem like our old rivals."

At that moment, on Qin Xiao's side, Lin Xi, who had clashed with Shrek before, noticed something was amiss.

Originally, they held deep disdain and disgust for Shrek Academy.

But a casual glance revealed something unusual to him.

"That's right, over at Shrek's side, except for the school uniform and that disgusting green monstrosity, not a single participant is one we recognize."

"Where are Ma Xiaotiao, Dai Yueheng, and the others? This year, they should be the main players competing, right?"

Chen Fei's and Chen An's expressions changed at once.

"If I'm not mistaken, these guys must be members of the reserve team."

"Hmph, Shrek has really become too arrogant, they are showing contempt for our Imperial Sun Moon Soul Academy.

It seems that their easy victories in the past have made them even more conceited, now believing that a mere reserve team can crush us. This is contempt, naked contempt."

At the very front of the team, Elder Ma spoke coldly with his back to everyone.

He was already not one with a good temper.

Seeing this scene, he was burning with rage.

From the view of his back, one could tell that Elder Ma's body was trembling, evidently suppressing the fury within him.

"Ma Rulong!"

"Present."

"If you lose to a lineup like Shrek Academy's in this competition, you, as the captain, can roll out of Mingde Hall."

"Understood."

Ma Rulong's response was still just a single word, but his booming voice was filled with murderous intent.

Seeing this, Qin Xiao's gaze flickered, but he didn't reveal why Shrek had sent the reserve team.

Firstly, he knew too much, which would make things seem suspicious.

Secondly, maintaining a certain level of anger towards the Imperial Sun Moon Soul Academy's folks was good, it was like giving them a BUFF.

Anyone who has played games knows, can a person with Berserk and one without be the same?

...

The entire competition stage spanned one hundred meters in both length and width, with a height of five meters. Around the perimeter, a total of one hundred and eight metal columns stood. These weren't just for show; they were actual protective-type soul tools.

After the competition began, one hundred and eight Soul Masters would manage the platform's defenses, and these metal pillars would create a protective barrier, preventing any soul skills from leaking out and causing damage to the imperial palace or injuring innocents.

The construction of this arena alone had cost a vast amount of money. Coupled with mobilizing one hundred and eight Soul Masters to serve the tournament for over a month, such a feat would indeed be difficult without state-level power.

Of course.

Compared to the profits brought by the Soul Master competition, this investment wasn't much at all.

After all, just the daily entrance fee income alone could net about two million golden soul coins.

In a month, that's sixty million golden soul coins. Keep in mind, that's roughly the annual tax revenue of Xingluo City!

Be aware.

That's just the income on the surface.

The black accounts of underground banks, casinos, and other series are even more astonishing.

This is also one of the reasons why the four great Empires are so willing to host the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament.

Upon seeing the financial officer report these huge figures, Xu Jiawei half-jokingly said, "I'm not greedy, if only we could host the Soul Master competition in Xingluo for one year..."

The financial officer was drenched in sweat at the time.

A year-long Soul Master competition?

Your Majesty, what a bold thought.

And at this moment.

The Shrek squad, under the referee's encouragement, had already taken the stage.

Their opponents were from the Sky Spirit Advanced Soul Master Academy.

The referee announced solemnly, "First round, elimination match, team fight. Both sides may use most soul tools during the competition. However, during the battle, stop when a hit is scored, and if one side concedes, the other must not continue attacking. Soul Masters cannot use fixed-mount soul guidance devices and other high-lethality equipment in battle. Do you all understand?"

"Understood." Beibei was the first to respond, his face stern.

The captain of the Sky Spirit Advanced Soul Master Academy was a tall and slender youth, who looked to be around twenty years old, and followed Beibei's lead in responding.

However.

As one of the audience, Qin Xiao, upon hearing this, felt no stir inside but even wanted to laugh a little.

This so-called "stop when a hit is scored" was a joke.

A typical case where the rules for royalty differ from those for commoners.

If we're talking about the most accidental kills, Shrek must top the list, right?

...

And at this time.

The team members from both sides were ready.

With the referee raising his hand, the one hundred and eight Soul Masters waiting under the stage simultaneously exerted their power.

Suddenly, the metal pillars in front of them shone brilliantly, and one hundred and eight beams of white light shot into the sky, converging in the air. Eventually, over the competition arena, they formed a white light screen that cascaded down, enveloping the entire stage.

The first match had officially begun.