Xiao Hongchen's pride was well-known throughout the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy.
Normally, he exuded an aura of confidence and arrogance, rarely putting anyone in his eyes.
However, this proud young man was also one of Madam Herta's most devoted admirers.
It's no exaggeration to say that in the world of soul engineers, anyone whose path to advancing their soul engineer rank was hindered by a lack of funds for soul guiding materials harbored a deep sense of gratitude towards Madam Herta.
If Madam Herta had the idea of forming a research team, just a single word from her, once the news spread, would cause the entire soul engineer world to boil over.
Countless soul engineers would swarm like a tide, vying to join.
Even among the nine-level soul engineers at the pinnacle of the soul engineer pyramid, many would probably be tempted.
After all, Madam Herta's achievements were simply too dazzling. Not only did she create the Simulated Universe, a miraculous creation, but in other soul guiding device fields, her research results were equally far ahead of the entire era, unmatched by anyone.
At the occasional auctions held by the Ordinary Alliance, whenever a soul guiding device personally crafted by Madam Herta appeared, regardless of its level, it would trigger a fierce bidding war, ultimately fetching an astonishingly high price.
The final price had long exceeded the actual value of the soul guiding device itself; it primarily carried the soul engineers' supreme reverence for Madam Herta and their ultimate adoration for her works.
Whether for collection purposes or for in-depth research to explore the soul guiding technology contained within, as long as a soul guiding device produced by Herta appeared on the market, it would be acquired at a high price immediately.
After their shock, the members of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy stepped into the two-hundred-meter-tall grand hotel.
This hotel, named Daydream Hotel, was undeniably the landmark building of Abyss City and a crucial asset under the City Lord's Mansion.
It consisted of two blue-diamond-cut towers, spiraling and intertwining, rising from the ground like two giant dragons about to take flight, majestic and magnificent.
The hotel's surface was covered with self-cleaning photovoltaic glass, reflecting shimmering light under the daytime sun, like a dreamy ocean.
At night, the built-in soul guiding devices would begin to function, projecting lifelike dynamic light and shadow images of marine creatures, decorating the entire hotel like a dream, as if one were in an underwater world.
At the top of the hotel, a soul power-driven floating transparent ring was particularly eye-catching.
Inside the ring, rare plants from all over the world were meticulously cultivated, lush and vibrant.
The built-in anti-gravity viewing platform provided guests with an excellent view. By simply standing on the platform, one could take in the entire Abyss City.
Stepping into the lobby on the first floor, the first thing that caught everyone's eye was the jellyfish-shaped soul power crystal cluster suspended in the center.
This crystal cluster emitted a soft light, as if it were a brilliant pearl nurtured in the depths of the ocean.
The ground beneath their feet was even more astonishing, being a deep-sea marvel recreated with holographic projection technology.
Nimble fish swam and played among colorful coral reefs, giant sea turtles leisurely glided by, and occasionally, fierce sharks flashed past. The realistic scene made one feel as if they were truly in the deep sea.
The reception staff, all dressed in luxurious uniforms, were tall and exceptionally handsome male attendants, and graceful and beautiful female attendants. They smiled, providing enthusiastic and professional service to every guest, exuding an air of luxury and high-end elegance in every gesture.
Compared to the other academy teams, who wore expressions of numbness and shock, unable to close their gaping mouths, Meng Hongchen and the others appeared much calmer.
Although they too were genuinely awed by the luxury and high-end nature of the Daydream Hotel, they were, after all, from the Sun Moon Empire and accustomed to seeing various high-end soul guiding devices in their daily lives. Their horizons were relatively broader, allowing them to maintain a semblance of composure.
As for the other participating academies, especially those from the original Three Douluo Empires, many disregarded their image, shamefully sprawling on the lobby floor, their eyes fixed on the deep-sea scene beneath their feet, eager to investigate whether it was a real seabed or an illusionary projection.
After all, in this world, the ocean was full of unknowns and dangers. Sea soul beasts were numerous and powerful, and many soul masters dared not venture into the sea throughout their lives, let alone admire the mysterious and beautiful scenery of the deep sea.
Therefore, the deep-sea scenery projected on the floor of the Daydream Hotel's lobby held a fatal attraction for them.
Led by Elder Ma, the group arrived at the hotel's front desk to check in.
Afterward, a service staff member led them to a suite.
This was no ordinary suite; it was one of the Daydream Hotel's most premium suites, named Star Sea Illusion Dream.
The entire Daydream Hotel had only seven such top-tier suites.
Given the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy's status as the continent's top soul engineer academy, staying in such a suite was naturally not a problem.
Besides the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy, only the royal academies of the Three Great Empires and Shrek Academy were qualified to enjoy such treatment.
Just as the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy was checking in, the atmosphere in another of the Daydream Hotel's top suites, Sea Rhyme Illusion Wave, was somewhat somber.
"Teacher Wang Yan, when will the academy send people? Are we really going to participate in the competition ourselves?" Bei Bei's expression was grave, his brows furrowed, his inner unease palpable.
At this moment, Shrek Academy's main team members were recuperating from their injuries, and only a few days remained until the start of the competition.
Bei Bei's concern was not isolated; Xiao Xiao, He Caitou, and others also looked uneasy. The lively scene of Abyss City had completely awed them.
A day earlier, they had arrived in Abyss City with March 7th and the others. Upon arrival, they were received by Abyss City and even assigned the city's top medical team to provide full treatment for the severely injured Xi Xi and the others.
With the aid of Abyss City's most advanced healing soul guiding devices, the injuries of Xi Xi and the four others were quickly brought under control and temporarily stabilized.
However, the situation was not optimistic. Xi Xi was relatively better off, but Gongyang Mo and Chen Zifeng's fates were tragic.
As a swordsman, Chen Zifeng lost an arm, and Gongyang Mo directly lost both his legs. For a soul master, this was almost a devastating disaster, because once a soul master's body was incomplete, it would inevitably have a significant impact on their cultivation.
Gongyang Mo's martial soul, the Rainbow Dragon, was a top-tier support-type beast martial soul, comparable to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Without special serendipity, it could usually only attach seven soul rings, which was relatively better.
Chen Zifeng, however, was completely different. He was originally exceptionally talented and had a great chance of reaching the Titled Douluo realm.
But now, with a lost arm, the hope of breaking through to Titled Douluo became very slim.
After all, Soul Emperors under twenty years old can generally break through to Titled Douluo, while Soul Kings under twenty only have the possibility of breaking through. With physical disabilities, the difficulty increases exponentially.
One must know that not everyone is like Xu Tianran, possessing extraordinary talent, tenacious perseverance, and unique cultivation resources.
Abyss City indeed had the capability to install soul guiding mechanical arms and legs for them, and Shrek Academy had sufficient funds to purchase them.
But the installation surgery required them to fully recover from their injuries, and after installation, there would be a long period of adjustment, making it impossible for them to participate in this competition.
Therefore, including Xi Xi, whose injuries were gradually recovering, only four of the main team members would ultimately be able to participate in the competition.
However, in the first few matches, the main team members needed to recuperate and detoxify. Even if they could barely fight, it would adversely affect their injury recovery.
Left with no choice, Wang Yan could only arrange for the reserve team to participate in the initial few battles, to buy more recovery time for key players like Ma Xiaotao.
However, after arriving in Abyss City and seeing the bustling scene with crowds of people, the reserve team members couldn't help but feel a hint of unease.
They all knew in their hearts that over a million spectators were coming for this competition.
Competing in front of so many people, the pressure on them, as they were participating in such a world-class event for the first time, was imaginable.
At this moment, the best news they longed to hear was that the academy's subsequent reinforcements would arrive as soon as possible, so they wouldn't have to bite the bullet and participate in the matches.
Wang Yan smiled bitterly and sighed. The academy indeed had inner court disciples under twenty years old, but in terms of strength, none could compare to Ling Luochen and the others, and most were out on supervisory missions.
Trying to recall them and send them to Abyss City would probably make it too late.
The so-called reinforcements were just words he used to comfort the team members.
Now, he could only hope that Bei Bei and the others could withstand the pressure and grit their teeth until Ma Xiaotao and the others recovered.
As long as they could hold out until then, Shrek Academy would still have a chance.
After all, Ma Xiaotao was a Soul Sage. A Soul Sage under twenty years old was an extremely dominant presence in any Soul Master Tournament.
Just like the previous St. Freya Academy, relying on two Soul Sages and five Soul Sects, they swept through the competition, overcoming all obstacles. Even the powerful Shrek Academy found it difficult to resist them.