"Brother, look, such a handsome guy!" Meng Hongchen's eyes sparkled with excitement, her voice trembling as she tugged hard at Xiao Hongchen's arm, pointing toward Lu Jingming.
Xiao Hongchen rolled his eyes helplessly. He was long used to his little sister's obsession with good looks—whenever she encountered an attractive person, Meng Hongchen would instantly turn into a fangirl.
"It's him!" Bei Bei's pupils shrank sharply in surprise the moment he saw Lu Jingming.
He clearly remembered a brief encounter they'd had outside the Star Dou Forest.
"Hmm? Bei Bei, you know him?"
"Not really. We just met once outside the Star Dou Forest. Actually, it was then that Xiao Ya and I met little junior brother for the first time," Bei Bei explained to Xu Sanshi and the others.
"Yuhao, have you met him too?" Wang Dong looked at Huo Yuhao curiously. Lu Jingming's looks were so outstanding—it was the first time he'd met a boy who could rival his own appearance.
Of course, as a girl, he knew having such looks wasn't so rare, but for a boy to be so outrageously handsome—it was really hard to ignore.
"I was unconscious at the time, absorbing my first soul ring, so I didn't see him!" Huo Yuhao scratched his head, a little embarrassed.
"He really is handsome. It's the first time I've seen a guy who can compare to you, Wang Dong!" Xiao Xiao also stared at Lu Jingming, admiration clear in her eyes.
It had to be admitted—good looks always held a unique attraction. Without words or any other qualities, just appearance alone could naturally draw the gaze of the opposite sex.
"That's March 7th and Ye Guyi! They're also on the Saint Freya Academy team?"
Soon, they spotted two other familiar faces—Ye Guyi and March 7th, who had helped them in the Ming Dou Mountains.
"They don't have a full team either!"
Noticing that Saint Freya Academy only had ten people, just like them, it was clear their team was also incomplete.
'Where are their main team members?'
Wang Dong and the others wondered.
"They are the main team. Saint Freya Academy hasn't been around for more than ten years. The champions from the last tournament already graduated," Ma Xiaotao, who knew something about Saint Freya Academy, explained.
"But you shouldn't underestimate them. Even though they're about the same age as you, they're not to be taken lightly."
Ma Xiaotao spoke seriously. She didn't know the others well, but she did know Lu Jingming. If he chose someone to be his teammate, that person couldn't be weak.
"Really?" Bei Bei and the others exchanged looks, finding it hard to believe that peers their own age could warrant such attention from Ma Xiaotao.
"Ma Xiaotao is right. Have you forgotten how much this city has shocked us? As last tournament's champions, we cannot underestimate them," Wang Yan said gravely, pushing up his glasses.
As a teacher, he knew how powerful the previous Shrek Academy lineup was—yet they still lost to Saint Freya Academy.
So, no matter how young Lu Jingming and the others were, he didn't dare look down on them.
With Haiyuan City's soul tool technology and the miracle of the Eye of the Abyss, he was sure the soul tools on the Saint Freya team might be even more formidable than those of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.
Unlike other soul masters, Wang Yan didn't reject soul tools; he even encouraged his students to use them and considered proposing reforms at Shrek Academy, but his words carried little weight and he couldn't convince the higher-ups.
So, compared to others, he better understood the power of soul tools.
…
Lu Jingming walked steadily, leading the Saint Freya team into their exclusive rest area.
Their rest area was perfectly situated—right between the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy and Shrek Academy.
This was the core area of the Eye of the Abyss, offering the best views and symbolizing the academy's status.
Apart from the continent's top soul master and soul engineer academies and host Saint Freya, the Star Luo Royal Academy's rest area was also here.
However, the Star Luo Royal team's captain, Xu Jiujiu, was nowhere to be seen.
The sun hung high, its scorching light bathing every corner of the Eye of the Abyss.
Suddenly, a clear phoenix cry pierced the sky, echoing for miles.
Everyone turned toward the sound to see a massive Vermilion Bird illusion blotting out the sun, radiating a powerful aura. The pressure of a Title Douluo instantly covered the entire Eye of the Abyss, stunning the hundreds of thousands of spectators.
Amid exclamations, a high platform slowly rose from below the Eye of the Abyss.
The Vermilion Bird's illusion gradually shrank, revealing a peerless beauty.
She had long hair that faded from red to white, floating in the breeze like burning flames.
She stepped lightly, every step in midair blooming into a vivid red lotus beneath her feet—dreamlike and ethereal.
At last, she stood steadily on the huge floating main platform, her figure elegant and poised.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Haiyuan City. I am Changli, currently acting as lord of Haiyuan City and the host of this year's Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament." Changli's voice was clear and sweet, yet carried authority.
Amplified by soul tool technology, her voice reached every corner of the Eye of the Abyss, even penetrating the streets and alleys of Haiyuan City.
With her appearance, the noisy scene fell instantly silent—hundreds of thousands of spectators held their breath, awed by her presence.
"Now, please welcome the Emperor of Star Luo Empire!" Changli turned slightly, making an elegant gesture.
As soon as she finished, another platform rose quickly. Xu Jiawei, dressed in golden dragon robes and a crown, exuded the majesty of a sovereign.
Beside him stood the dignified Empress, the elegant Xu Jiujiu, and the Skyhawk Douluo, standing guard at their side.
They ascended the main platform steadily.
Changli smiled and handed the amplifying soul tool to Xu Jiawei, then gracefully stepped aside to give him the seat of honor.
Xu Jiawei took the microphone, cleared his throat, and his voice echoed through the arena.
As emperor, he had left Star Luo City and traveled far with the Empress to attend this tournament in person, showing how much he valued Haiyuan City and this event.
On arrival, he was deeply impressed by the city's strength and the miracle of the Eye of the Abyss—he knew the journey was worth it.
With Xu Jiawei's appearance, Star Luo's citizens all knelt, offering the highest respect to their emperor.
The entire shoreline became a sea of kneeling people—a grand sight, demonstrating the emperor's supreme authority.
The contestants from each academy also stood and bowed to Xu Jiawei.
As soul masters, they didn't need to kneel, but showing respect for imperial power was necessary.
"The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament is a grand event for all of Douluo Continent. This year, it is held in our Star Luo Empire. I am delighted. On behalf of Star Luo, I welcome all academy representatives from afar. I hope you display your best in the coming month of competition!"
Xu Jiawei's voice was loud and powerful, filled with anticipation and encouragement.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Over a hundred academy representatives replied in unison, their voices echoing through the sky.
Their eyes were filled with fighting spirit and determination—this tournament was not only about strength but also about honor.
Xu Jiawei smiled in satisfaction, then solemnly declared, "I won't say anything unnecessary. I know you've all been waiting for this, and so have I. Therefore, I hereby announce—the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament officially begins!"
As soon as he finished, salutes and fireworks erupted, raining down in every color.
The dazzling fireworks complemented the technological brilliance of the Eye of the Abyss, creating a dreamlike spectacle.
Spectators in the arena and throughout Haiyuan City shouted "Long live!" at the top of their lungs. Millions of voices merged into a mighty wave, echoing across the sky as if cheering for this grand soul master feast and heralding the start of the tournament.
Xu Jiawei led the Empress to their seats on the main platform—the best spot for watching the matches.
Changli once again stood at the center, clearing her throat. With a steady, clear voice, she announced: "According to the established rules, the first round will use the knockout system. This tournament has 133 soul master and soul engineer academies registered. After a fair draw, one academy gets a bye, and the rest will compete in sixty-six matches. Winners advance, losers are eliminated."
"Now, please welcome the Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy from Dou Ling Empire, and the last tournament's champion—Saint Freya Academy from Star Luo Empire!"
As soon as Changli finished, the entire Haiyuan City was ignited, falling into a frenzy.
Deafening cheers swept through the arena, but surprisingly, they were not for any academy in particular—everyone shouted a single name in unison: "Robin! Robin! Robin!"
The sheer momentum of the chant showed Robin's immense popularity among the people. The scene was overwhelming.
Other contestants listened in astonishment.
As soul masters, they usually devoted themselves to study and cultivation, rarely paying attention to outside affairs.
Even if they'd heard of Robin, they couldn't appreciate how much she meant to the common people.
"Sigh! If we accidentally hurt Miss Robin during the match, these crazy fans might just eat us alive!" Xiao Xiao shrank her neck, her face worried as she whispered.
Bei Bei and the others twitched their lips, silently agreeing.
With fans this zealous, what Xiao Xiao said might really come true.
And it wasn't just Bei Bei and his group—contestants from other academies felt the same.
Everyone understood—if anyone hurt Robin during the match and angered these passionate fans, they'd be despised by all.
Faced with such fanaticism, the seven Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy contestants were dumbstruck.
It was already stressful to face the previous champions in the first match; now, with the crowd's one-sided support, the pressure was crushing.
Under the burning gaze of hundreds of thousands, Tianling's seven contestants walked to the stage with trembling steps.
Their faces were pale, their steps unsteady, but they still managed to keep their composure.
After all, just having the courage to step on stage under such circumstances was already remarkable.
"Let's go, it's our turn." Lu Jingming wore a faint smile as he spoke calmly.
Although it was his first time stepping onto the tournament stage, and his first time performing before so many people, oddly, he felt no nerves at all—his heart was as calm as a still lake.
In contrast, Castorice and March 7th were less composed.
Castorice, being introverted and somewhat socially anxious, was uncomfortable in such a huge, noisy crowd and didn't know what to do with her hands and feet.
March 7th was purely nervous, gripping her clothes tightly and forcing a stiff smile.
Jinhsi and Robin, who were often in the public eye, were long used to such attention, carrying themselves with poise and confidence.
Gu Yue was cold and aloof, focusing only on the match itself, and ignoring the audience entirely.
Firefly had seen even grander scenes—she wasn't fazed by millions of insects, let alone this.
As reserve members, Lan Susu, Lan Luoluo, and Ye Guyi weren't especially nervous, since they only needed to be ready to substitute if needed.
As the last tournament's champions, Saint Freya was required by tradition to be the first to compete—they were mentally prepared and had thoroughly readied themselves.
So, the seven, led by Lu Jingming, strode confidently toward the arena.