But… why does that aura feel so familiar?
Suddenly, Yan Feng became intensely curious about Gu Tianchen.
Yet before he could investigate further, all participating teams had finished entering the arena. At the same time, a squad of elite soldiers approached the northern grandstand at astonishing speed.
Clad head-to-toe in golden combat uniforms, each soldier radiated vigor and discipline.
Upon reaching the base of the grandstand, they deployed fifty soul-engineered artillery platforms, encircling it completely. The menacing barrels—combined with other guards activating various types of soul tools—formed intricate, shifting battle formations.
Their military precision and soul engineering technology far surpassed any ordinary soul engineer legion. Though only five hundred strong, they projected an aura so formidable it seemed they could stand against an army of ten thousand without faltering.
This was the Imperial Soul Engineer Corps—one of Sun Moon Empire's core elite forces. Composed solely of soul engineers ranked Grade 5 or higher, equipped with the empire's finest soul tools, and led by a Grade 9 soul engineer as commander.
This legion answered to none but the Emperor himself.
Now, under the protection of these five hundred elite guards, Xu Tianran arrived—escorted by officials and attendants, riding in a magnificent dragon-pulled imperial carriage drawn by thirty-two Hornscale Horses.
The carriage halted. Xu Tianran slowly revealed himself—seated in a wheelchair.
"Wolf-hearted ambition," Ning Tian murmured, her crimson lips barely moving as she watched him.
With the Imperial Soul Engineer Corps clearing his path, Grade 9 soul engineer Jing Hongchen as personal guard, and arriving in a dragon-drawn carriage—if one didn't know Xu Tianran was still Crown Prince, they'd assume the old emperor was already dead.
"What a 'filial' son indeed," Chen Junting scoffed lightly—though there was a trace of reluctant admiration in his tone. "Still… to command such presence? Truly the bearing of an emperor."
His eyes also swept behind Xu Tianran—but saw no sign of Ju Zi.
So… she really is dead.
"All hail the Prince Regent!"
Every official present—except the deployed Imperial Soul Engineers—knelt in unison, bowing deeply to Crown Prince Xu Tianran.
Under the obeisance of Sun Moon's entire court, a handmaiden wheeled Xu Tianran into a soul-engineered elevator. Jing Hongchen and four elderly figures followed him inside.
As the elevator ascended, the distant crowds finally caught sight of their young Prince Regent. Cheers erupted instantly—clearly, he enjoyed immense popular support.
Scattered cries of "Long live the Regent!" even rang out.
It was, undeniably, a scene steeped in bitter irony.
The old emperor is still alive!
With Xu Tianran's arrival, the officials took their seats on stage—and thus, the Continental Youth Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament officially commenced.
Once Xu Tianran reached the central platform, he gave a subtle signal. Jing Hongchen stepped forward toward the prepared soul-engineered amplifier.
"Silence!"
In the next instant, a deep, thunderous voice boomed across the arena!
Accompanying it was an overwhelming pressure that crushed down upon every soul present.
Almost simultaneously, everyone felt as if darkness had swallowed the sky—like storm clouds pressing down to shatter the city walls.
Breaths grew shallow. All chatter vanished in an instant.
Hundreds of thousands of spectators and soldiers—across the entire battlefield and viewing zones—fell into absolute silence. Not even a needle's drop could be heard.
"Long Xiaoyao…" Chen Junting whispered softly, his expression unchanged. He then reached out mentally to Snow Empress within his sea of consciousness. "Snow Empress."
Her form gradually materialized, voice cool as frost. "What is it?"
"Help me sense Long Xiaoyao's current condition."
Snow Empress didn't refuse. As a peak-tier expert, one could mask their state perfectly from ordinary observers—but against peers of equal rank, such concealment was nearly useless.
"He took a direct hit from Di Tian's Dragon God Claw," she said, analyzing as she spoke. "That's not something easily endured. Even the Evil Emperor needed a full millennium to recover."
She paused, then concluded: "This human remains gravely wounded. Because his martial soul is the Darkness Holy Dragon, the Dragon God Claw's corruption affects him far worse than it did the Evil Emperor back then. Right now, his strength is halved. Even Xiong Jun could fight him to a draw."
Then the chances of our plan succeeding just increased significantly, Chen Junting thought inwardly.
He trusted Di Tian's power—but evil soul masters were infamous for their grotesque, unnatural healing methods. Perhaps they'd found a way to accelerate recovery.
But now it was clear:
Whether such methods existed or not, Long Xiaoyao hadn't used them.
As for Ye Xishui… that remained uncertain.
After Long Xiaoyao's display of authority silenced the crowd, Jing Hongchen—now acting as the MC—spoke into the amplifier:
"To the citizens of Sun Moon Empire and honored guests from afar! On behalf of His Highness the Prince Regent, I welcome you—and hereby declare: the Continental Youth Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament… begins now!"
At the conclusion of this brief opening, the entire Sun Moon populace knelt once more, bowing to Xu Tianran—the wheelchair-bound prince who would soon ascend the throne.
"May the Prince Regent live ten thousand years! Ten thousand years! Ten thousand times ten thousand years!"
Seated in his wheelchair, Xu Tianran smiled—calm yet brimming with ambition—as he surveyed the sea of prostrated subjects. With a graceful motion, he raised his right hand.
"Rise, all of you."
Then, with impassive eyes, he glanced at the assembled officials.
"My loyal ministers—please be seated."
As the officials settled, a middle-aged man in a black robe edged with golden thread silently appeared beside Xu Tianran. Mist swirled around his face, obscuring his features.
This was none other than Zhongli Wu, Patriarch of the Holy Spirit Cult.
"So, Master Zhongli has come as well," Xu Tianran said—cautious, yet composed.
"How could I miss such a grand occasion?" Zhongli Wu's voice dripped with chilling malice as his gaze fell upon the Holy Spirit Cult's team below. "Besides, since my sect is competing, we must deliver results worthy of Your Highness."
"I trust you won't disappoint me," Xu Tianran replied, his eyes glacial. "Your first match—against Di Ao Academy—is your first test. The Three Great Empires have far too many talented soul masters. It's time for a generational purge."
Beneath the mist, Zhongli Wu's cruel lips curled upward.
"Ke ke ke… Rest assured, Your Highness."
Xu Tianran's intentions aligned perfectly with his own.
Meanwhile—
"The tournament rules will now be announced."
As Xu Tianran and Zhongli Wu plotted in shadow, a resonant voice echoed across the arena. Rule recitation was standard procedure before the first match.
Once the rules were read, Unbreakable Douluo Zheng Zhan—the head referee—took the stage to officiate the opening bout.
Approaching the amplifier at the front of the grandstand, he declared in a booming voice:
"Preliminary elimination round, Match One: Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy versus Dragon Slayer Sect! Each team, send seven members to the ready zone!"
As host nation, Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy naturally opened the tournament—tasked with delivering a resounding victory.
And the Dragon Slayer Sect?
They were merely the sacrificial offering to christen the games.
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