Time passed quickly, and a month later…
The promotion matches of the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament were not as lively as the preliminary rounds. To protect the privacy and safety of the participating students, spectators were not allowed to watch, except for a few distinguished guests.
The promotion matches were still divided into the two major empires. The thirty teams that passed the preliminary rounds competed in their respective empire's matches, while the teams that had received direct promotion—Spirit Hall Team, Heaven Dou Imperial Academy Team, and Star Luo Imperial Academy Team—did not participate in the promotion matches.
Under the jurisdiction of the Heaven Dou Empire, there were ten teams from the five kingdoms and duchies participating in the promotion matches. Adding the five teams that advanced from the Heaven Dou City preliminary rounds, a total of fifteen teams had already completed their registration and headed to the designated venue for the promotion matches.
The competition venue for the Heaven Dou division's promotion matches was located fifty kilometers southwest of Heaven Dou City, within the Royal Hunting Grounds. The terrain of the hunting grounds was varied and expansive, serving as a place for royal members to hunt and train.
On regular days, commoners were not allowed to approach the Heaven Dou Royal Hunting Grounds. The area was patrolled and guarded by a force of ten thousand Royal Knights, who also trained there. The knights rotated every three months to maintain their combat effectiveness.
Aside from the Royal Guest Elder Group, composed of experts at level 80 and above, the Royal Knights were undoubtedly the strongest force under the direct control of the Heaven Dou Royal Family.
Although the Heaven Dou Royal Knights consisted of only fifty thousand troops, all officers at the rank of centurion and above were soul masters. Their strength surpassed any elite one-hundred-thousand-strong army within the Heaven Dou Empire's military. Even if two elite armies of one hundred thousand soldiers each were sent against them, victory was far from guaranteed.
At the entrance of the Royal Hunting Grounds, after presenting their promotion credentials, the members of Blazing Academy, Sky Water Academy, and Divine Wind Academy were escorted into a military camp within the hunting grounds by a battalion of the Royal Knights.
The promotion matches, which would last for half a month, would be held within this military camp.
Soon, Blazing Academy's team was assigned a courtyard to rest in, while Sky Water Academy and Divine Wind Academy were housed in neighboring courtyards.
The courtyard was not particularly large, containing only five barracks. Huo Lie and Mu Xiyue shared a room, the noble Huo Wu had a room to herself, Huo Wushuang shared a room with Huo Yun and Huo Yu, while Mu Yang shared a room with Huo Jun. The remaining three substitute members shared the last room.
Well, if possible, Mu Yang would have preferred to stay in the next courtyard—with Shui Bing'er.
After settling in,Huo Lie gathered the Blazing Academy team members in the courtyard.
"The promotion matches follow an individual elimination format. With your strength, there shouldn't be any problems. Xiao Yang, you're the captain, so I'll leave the arrangements to you."
Huo Lie swept his gaze over the team before speaking to Mu Yang.
Compared to the beginning of the preliminary rounds, the team had improved significantly over the past two months.
Only a few days after the preliminary rounds ended, Mu Yang had broken through to level 59. Huo Wu and Huo Wushuang's progress was slightly slower, but even Huo Wushuang had reached level 59 three days ago.
Besides the three of them,Huo Yun and two of the substitutes had also advanced in soul power.
As for Huo Yu, Huo Hammer, Huo Jun, and substitute Huo Lie, they had not yet broken through due to the short time frame.
"In that case,Huo Yu will start, followed by Huo Hammer, Huo Jun, Huo Lie, HuoYun, and Huo Yu. Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu will rotate as our final fighters. I won't be participating."
Without much deliberation, Mu Yang decided on the lineup.
The rules for the promotion matches were simple. Each side sent seven contestants, and each contestant fought until they were defeated. If victorious, they would continue fighting the next opponent until one team's seven members were all eliminated.
Mu Yang's choice of lineup was mainly to prepare for the finals. As substitutes, Huo Yu and Huo Lie would likely not have a chance to participate in the finals, making the promotion matches their last stage. They deserved a chance to shine rather than just being benchwarmers.
As for the other substitute,Huo Lin, he was a healing-type soul master and unsuitable for the promotion matches.
Since the promotion matches were individual battles rather than team battles, sending an ordinary support-type soul master into a match would essentially be sending them to their defeat.
As soon as Mu Yang finished speaking, he was met with grateful looks from his teammates.
They were all young, eager to prove themselves. Their captain's thoughtful arrangements showed that he was undoubtedly a great leader.
By arranging their lineup in order of strength, with Huo Dance or Huo Wushuang as the final fighters instead of starting the match, Mu Yang ensured that his teammates could showcase their skills without affecting their team's overall ranking in the promotion matches.
Under the sparse moonlight, on a grassy hillside, two figures sat together, whispering softly.
"Mu Yang, what are your plans after the Soul Master Tournament ends?"
Resting her head on Mu Yang's shoulder, Shui Bing'er asked.
"Plans? Of course! I need to have my aunt go to Bing'er's house to propose marriage."
Mu Yang said with a smile.
"Oh, come on~ I'm asking a serious question!"
Shui Bing'er's face reddened as she playfully scolded him.
"Isn't this a serious matter?"
Mu Yang blinked innocently.
The next second, a slender jade hand reached for his waist, pinching a small portion of soft flesh and giving it a ninety-degree twist.
"Hiss—ouch, ouch, ouch! Bing'er, let go!"
Mu Yang hurriedly grabbed the mischievous girl's hand.
"Bing'er, having my aunt propose is a must. But after the Soul Master Tournament, we still need to train hard. Once the time is right, I plan to take you to a rather dangerous place for training."
Mu Yang said seriously.
"A rather dangerous place for training? Where is it?"
Shui Bing'er asked curiously.
"I haven't been there either, so I'll tell you when the time comes.
But one thing is certain—it is a place filled with bloodshed. For the weak, it is hell.
At the same time, it is also a place that could allow us to soar to the heavens in one step."
Mu Yang's expression turned solemn.
The so-called training ground was naturally the Slaughter City, a place known for having no return.
Looking at the original story, there were three confirmed locations with divine inheritance. One was the Angel God's inheritance in Spirit City, the second was the Sea God's inheritance on Sea God Island, and the third was the Asura God's inheritance in the Slaughter City.
The Angel God's inheritance was out of the question—that belonged to Qian Renxue. It was a family legacy, impossible to be passed to an outsider.
In fact, from the moment Qian Renxue awakened her martial soul, the successor of the Angel God's inheritance had already been determined.
After all, Qian Renxue's innate rank 20 soul power was unheard of in history. Mu Yang didn't believe it had nothing to do with the Angel God.
Most likely, Qian Renxue was originally just born with innate full soul power, but due to a divine blessing from the Angel God, she became the first person with innate rank 20 soul power.
For additional chapters
Versatile mage {40 chapters}
Douluo Dalu:This Soul Master is to Weird {30 Chapters}
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