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Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
With only one day left until the opening ceremony of the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, the makeshift team assembled by Xuan Ming, led by Xue Qinghe, finally had its first gathering.
However, the atmosphere on site was particularly eerie!
Looking at the silver-haired girl standing beside Xuan Ming, with an ethereal aura yet inexplicably compatible with him, everyone's expressions varied.
Ning Rongrong and the others' eyes flickered, as they felt an inferiority they had never experienced before in front of another woman.
Xue Qinghe's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of imperceptible jealousy flashing within, but it was quickly masked by his gentle, jade-like smile.
He stepped forward lightly, asking in a tone that was both graceful and somewhat probing: "Xuan Ming, who is this young lady?"
"Gu Yuena, the last team member," Xuan Ming said.
"Team member?" Xue Qinghe raised an eyebrow slightly.
"May I ask where this young lady comes from? I don't seem to have heard of her before."
"She has amnesia," Xuan Ming said.
Xue Qinghe frowned slightly, "Amnesia?"
"May I ask what this young lady's cultivation level is?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Yuena, who had been standing quietly behind Xuan Ming, stepped forward, summoned her Silver Dragon Spear, and six spirit rings—yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black—slowly rose. A terrifying aura suddenly spread, forcing Xue Qinghe to retreat half a step.
"Gu Yuena, Spirit Silver Dragon Spear, a sixty-third-level attack system Spirit Emperor."
Seeing this terrifying spirit ring configuration, identical to Xuan Ming's, Ning Rongrong and the others were dumbfounded.
No way! How were they supposed to play like this?!
Xuan Ming looked at Gu Yuena, then at the spirit rings beneath her.
Age, cultivation, spirit ring configuration—all exactly like his!
Was it necessary to be so deliberate?
Xue Qinghe steadied himself, a hint of shock and solemnity flashing in his eyes.
He quickly adjusted his demeanor, his signature gentle smile returning to his lips. He scrutinized Gu Yuena and said, "To possess such strength at such a young age is truly astonishing. I imagine you must have put in considerable effort to find this team member."
"Not really, I picked her up," Xuan Ming said, feeling a bit exhausted.
Xue Qinghe paused slightly, "Picked up?"
"He picked me up too..." Xiao Wu couldn't help but mumble softly.
To make those powerful fierce beasts show such respect, this person was the true Dragon Race Transformed!
Xue Qinghe looked at everyone, clapped his hands to get their attention, "Since the team has assembled, let's discuss the arrangements for tomorrow's opening ceremony and the subsequent competition."
"This competition brings together many advanced Spirit Master academies from across the continent, so the competition is bound to be extremely fierce. We cannot let our guard down."
..."You rejected me because of her?"
After arranging the matters for tomorrow's opening ceremony, Xue Qinghe dragged Xuan Ming away.
"Crown Prince, you're too close," Xuan Ming reminded him.
Xue Qinghe paused slightly, released Xuan Ming's collar, and created an appropriate distance, repeating his question: "Was it because of her that you rejected me?"
When he asked this question, Xue Qinghe no longer had his previous self-righteousness, and even felt a bit guilty.
In terms of talent and appearance, she had always believed she wouldn't lose to anyone, but today, facing this girl who suddenly appeared, she felt defeated for the first time!
"What if I said yes?" Xuan Ming said.
"You!" Xue Qinghe's eyes narrowed, glaring at Xuan Ming through gritted teeth.
But unlike the previous resentment, now there was more frustration and grievance.
Xuan Ming looked at Qian Renxue calmly, "I can't say much else, but her personality is definitely a thousand times better than yours."
After these two days of interaction, he had discovered a very strange problem!
Although Gu Yuena had always seemed naive, she understood him very well!
No need to guess, this was a hundred percent Ice Dragon King's doing!
During the nearly half a year at the Lake of Life, Ice Dragon King and Fire Dragon King had always been beneath the Lake of Life. Previously, he had always thought they were helping Silver Dragon King recover, but now, he strongly suspected that Ice Dragon King was running a training class with Silver Dragon King down there!
The current Gu Yuena was most likely a clone of Silver Dragon King, merely infused with information about him by Ice Dragon King, and possibly even a puppet created for him by Silver Dragon King!
He was a bit unsure what Ice Dragon King and Silver Dragon King were really trying to do, but he didn't have much time to think about it now.
Xue Qinghe took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, "A thousand times better... Do you really think so little of me?"
"I never compare my friends because I believe these things have no meaning in comparison. Everyone has their own way, there's no need to compare with others, and certainly no need to change yourself because of others," Xuan Ming said.
"But if you insist on comparing, I can only say some unpleasant things."
"You..." Xue Qinghe was momentarily speechless.
"I know you are a strong-willed person, and I know you don't like to lose, but not everything can be a contest of win or lose, high or low," Xuan Ming said.
Xue Qinghe's chest heaved violently, complex emotions flickering in her eyes, "Xuan Ming, how can you be so certain she is better than me? And how can you think I can't contend with her?"
Xuan Ming sighed, "It seems everything we said before was in vain."
"Whatever you want, just be happy."
...The next day, before dawn, Heaven Dou City was already bustling.
The opening ceremony of the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament was like a giant magnet, attracting the attention of countless people.
The streets were teeming with crowds, various forces gathered here, all hoping to witness miracles and glory at this top event in the Spirit Master's world.
The Heaven Dou Royal Academy team had also prepared early, with team members dressed in neat uniforms, gathered together in high Spirits.
Gu Yuena still stood quietly beside Xuan Ming, her silver hair shimmering with a soft glow in the morning light, her ethereal presence seemingly out of place with the bustling World.
Ning Rongrong and the others looked at her. Although they still harbored the complex emotions from their first meeting yesterday, they now put those thoughts aside and focused their attention on the upcoming opening ceremony.
After all the participating teams had entered, Emperor Xue Ye of the Heaven Dou Empire officially announced the opening of the competition and delivered a speech for the event along with Sect Master Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
Subsequently, Salas, the Palace Master of the Spirit Hall in Heaven Dou City and Platinum Bishop, also began drawing lots for the first round of the preliminary competition.
"Why didn't Supreme Pontiff come?" Xiao Wu couldn't help but ask.
"Isn't she in the Spirit Hall?"
She felt that Xuan Ming and the Supreme Pontiff of the Spirit Hall had a strange relationship. At a time like this, wouldn't she come to watch Xuan Ming's competition?
Ning Rongrong's face showed a strange expression, "Supreme Pontiff, if she came, where would she sit?"
Xiao Wu looked towards the VIP section, "Can't she sit up there?"
"Watching the competition is one thing, but this is the opening ceremony, and it's the opening ceremony of the Heaven Dou Empire division. His Majesty the Emperor is in the main seat, and my father and Platinum Bishop Salas are in the Vice position. If Supreme Pontiff came, where do you think she should sit?" Ning Rongrong asked.
Xiao Wu was stunned, "This..."
"She would be overshadowing the host," Ning Rongrong said helplessly.
"The Supreme Pontiff of the Spirit Hall holds a status equal to the emperors of the Two Great Empires. In such an occasion, if Supreme Pontiff appeared, it would inevitably cause conflict with the Heaven Dou Emperor."
"Furthermore, this is only the opening ceremony of the Heaven Dou Empire division, and it's not worth Supreme Pontiff's appearance."
"Oh, I see..." Xiao Wu nodded, half-understanding, her gaze couldn't help but wander through the crowd again, muttering, "Then if Supreme Pontiff doesn't come, will Xuan Ming be a little disappointed?"
Hearing this, Xuan Ming opened his eyes and gave Xiao Wu a speechless look.
Gu Yuena's unchanging expression also showed some slight fluctuation, but she remained silent.
At this moment, all the draw results were revealed.
"Preliminary Round One, Heaven Dou Royal Academy versus Shrek Academy!"
"???"
Hearing this news, Ning Rongrong and the others were dumbfounded, instinctively turning their gaze to Xuan Ming.
"Why are you looking at me? I'm not familiar with Salas," Xuan Ming said, annoyed.
"Could it be Supreme Pontiff's arrangement?" Xiao Wu couldn't help but suspect.
"Stop guessing. Think about how you're going to fight them later," Xuan Ming closed his eyes... In the lounge area.
The Shrek Team's atmosphere was quite good after seeing the draw results. After this period of adjustment, their team's strength was actually quite good. However, this was their first team battle, and also the opening ceremony of the competition, so everyone was somewhat nervous.
"Heaven Dou Royal Academy has two participating teams. The real Royal Fighting Team is a seeded team with guaranteed qualification, not participating in the preliminary or promotion rounds. The team we are about to face should be Royal Fighting Team Two," Liu Erlong said.
"Tianheng, how strong is Royal Fighting Team Two? Is there a big gap with the Royal Fighting Team?" Yu Xiaogang asked.
"Very big, but they are not weak either," Yu Tianheng said.
"However, with our strength, winning against Royal Fighting Team Two shouldn't be difficult."
"That's right, if we can't beat the Royal Fighting Team, bullying Royal Fighting Team Two shouldn't be a problem," Ma Hongjun waved his fist. After half a year of devil training, his physique had undergone a significant change; at least he wasn't the little chubby guy he used to be.
"But why do I have a bad feeling?" Oscar felt inexplicably uneasy... As a clear bell rang, the first round of the preliminary competition officially began.
Xuan Ming led the Heaven Dou Royal Academy team members slowly into the arena. On the other side, the Shrek Team members also walked in with firm steps.
Under the illumination of the spirit tool lights, both sides saw each other's faces.
"What?!"
"How is it them?!"