The second day of the tournament was even more intense than the first. In just the first five matches, several contestants were severely injured, and two had already died—painting a gruesome scene. It was clear that the upcoming battles would only become bloodier and more chaotic.
Match 6: Tang Sect vs. Earth Dragon Sect.
Upon hearing the referee announce the two teams for the next match, Zhu Ziyang—seated in the rest area—uncharacteristically revealed a serious expression. He wasn't surprised by Tang Sect's presence, but the Earth Dragon Sect piqued his interest.
The Earth Dragon Sect hailed from Long City, the main city of the Northern Province of the Heaven Soul Empire. It was an old and established sect—one that Zhu Ziyang actually had personal ties to. His maternal grandfather had been a member of the Earth Dragon Sect, and several disciples within the sect still shared blood relations with his mother, Liang Ying. However, none of that really mattered anymore. Liang Ying had never spoken to him about the sect, and his grandfather had long since passed away. The past, as far as he was concerned, had already faded into oblivion.
As for this match—Tang Sect versus Earth Dragon Sect—Zhu Ziyang fully expected a clean victory for Tang Sect. There was no need to consider anyone else; Beibei alone would be more than enough. The natural suppression of a True Dragon over a Sub-Dragon was not just for show.
As expected, Tang Sect's first contestant was none other than their captain and senior brother, Beibei. As Tang Sect's strongest member, having him go first was a predictable strategic choice.
This was Tang Sect's return to the continental stage—their first battle. A dazzling victory would be the best way to reclaim the glory of the once-great sect. A full 1v7 sweep would be ideal. Only such a performance could remind the world of the former number one sect that had long faded into history.
Beibei's entrance achieved precisely that. Two yellow, two purple, and three black rings—seven in total—radiated from him. He was a Soul Sage. His body gleamed with pure white dragon scales, the mark of his Light Holy Dragon martial soul.
A seven-ring Soul Sage. The audience was collectively stunned. Who could have expected such power from an obscure sect like Tang Sect? Or rather, a sect believed to be long since fallen? Yet here they were—with a prodigious twenty-year-old Soul Sage. That fact alone sent a strong signal to all present: Tang Sect was rising again.
It could be said that fortune favored Tang Sect. Beibei had only broken through to the Soul Sage realm half a month before the tournament began. After absorbing the soul ring of a 50,000-year Golden Earth Dragon, he fully inherited Mu En's Light Holy Dragon power. Not only had his cultivation skyrocketed to Rank 75, but his martial soul also evolved into the true Light Holy Dragon—solidifying Mu En's legacy within him.
As the tournament's first Soul Sage-level contestant, Beibei received even more attention than Meng Hongchen had the day before. Nearly every team with high ambitions immediately began inquiring into Tang Sect's background. Even Xu Tianran—on the platform above—narrowed his eyes and ordered his subordinates to investigate.
Meanwhile, the members of Earth Dragon Sect didn't respond with suspicion or conspiracy, but simple shock and dismay. They were helpless—and they knew it. Every contestant went all out, only to be thoroughly defeated, one after another.
Eventually, their captain, the young sect master Nan Qiuqiu, appeared. As a Rouge Dragon Soul King, she represented their last hope. After she too was defeated, the Earth Dragon Sect conceded. Beibei hadn't achieved a full 1v7 sweep—but it made little difference. Tang Sect had already left an unforgettable impression.
The moment Earth Dragon Sect conceded, the information file on Tang Sect was delivered to Xu Tianran. As he flipped through the data, his expression shifted repeatedly before finally settling into a thoughtful, knowing smile.
"Heh… Tang Sect? No… this is Shrek Academy!"
Xu Tianran tossed the file over to Juzi. Her expression also changed subtly after reading it. Without saying a word, she passed the file to Jing Hongchen, who, after a brief skim, understood the reason behind the regent couple's reactions.
"Your Highness, all the members of this Tang Sect team were part of Shrek Academy's previous reserve team," Jing Hongchen said grimly. "What is Shrek trying to do here? Are they that confident? Or do they now have enough talent to field two separate teams?"
"Shrek Academy… truly fascinating," Xu Tianran mused rather than respond. "I've heard that Zhu Ziyang is here this time too. Is that him over there?"
His gaze swept toward the rest area—specifically to the Shrek Academy section. There sat Zhu Ziyang, lounging on a sofa, arms around two beautiful women. Xu Tianran's eyes darkened with a flicker of jealousy and gloom.
Zhu Ziyang, sensing someone's gaze, looked up instinctively—and his eyes met Xu Tianran's. He smiled and gave a polite nod, though his eyes remained calm and indifferent.
Xu Tianran's heart surged with fury.
What did he see in those eyes? Indifference. Lofty condescension. The kind of look a god might give to mortals. A predator gazing at ants. That gaze burned him with humiliation. He, Xu Tianran, had never been looked at like that before!
"I'll make him pay… double!" he seethed silently.
Of course, Zhu Ziyang had no idea he had just been mentally added to Xu Tianran's blacklist—all because of a look. After watching the Tang Sect vs. Earth Dragon Sect match, Zhu Ziyang returned to his relaxed posture, only occasionally glancing at the arena.
That is, until the final match of the morning session, which sparked his interest again: Holy Spirit Sect vs. Tiandu Academy.
The Holy Spirit Sect was said to be a reclusive sect within the Sun Moon Empire. Shrouded in mystery—but their name gave them away. The Holy Spirit Sect was none other than the Holy Spirit Cult. Their actions during the match confirmed this.
Tiandu Academy hailed from the Dou Spirit Empire—a mid-tier senior soul master academy. They had previously reached the top 16 in past tournaments. Unfortunately, this time, they ran into the Holy Spirit Sect. Bad luck.
The first contestants from both sides entered the arena. Although both were Soul Kings, the difference in power was obvious. The Holy Spirit Sect's representative had optimal soul ring configuration, bizarre abilities, and was clearly an evil soul master.
The Tiandu Academy contestant never even figured out his opponent's martial soul before dying on stage—horrifically. His academy teammates were furious but helpless. It was obvious to many that something was wrong with the Holy Spirit Sect's contestant, but with the Sun Moon Empire's official backing, no one dared to speak out. Not yet.
"Brain-Eating Bug martial soul…" Zhu Ziyang narrowed his eyes, recognizing it with surprise—though not disbelief. It suited the Holy Spirit Cult's twisted style perfectly.
Tiandu Academy chose to concede. There was no point in further sacrifice.
The tournament continued. Over the next three days, more teams would advance, and others would be eliminated. That was just how it worked—nothing to mourn.
From the second afternoon onward, Shrek Academy's team rarely appeared in the rest area. Under Ma Xiaotao's orders, everyone focused on cultivating at the hotel. Ironically, it was Ma Xiaotao herself who frequently dragged Zhu Ziyang to the competition venue—ostensibly to gather intel, but clearly using it as an excuse to monopolize him.
Of course, Jiang Nannan and Qian Lingyi weren't about to let that happen. After a few "friendly discussions," the rest area became a hotspot of envy. Nearly every day, Zhu Ziyang could be seen enjoying the embrace of two beautiful girls. Even worse—for the jealous male spectators—his companions changed between morning and afternoon: golden and silver-haired noble beauties in the morning, and a pair of fiery red-haired twin sisters in the afternoon. It was enough to make teeth grind in envy.
Soon, the first round of the tournament concluded. The original 367 teams had been halved. 184 teams would now advance to the second round, which would also span five days—but only required around 18 matches per day, making it less hectic than the first round.
Among the advancing teams, sect teams made up two-thirds of the total, while academy teams accounted for just about 60. This stark contrast clearly illustrated the growing gap between sects and soul master academies. Most of the remaining academy teams were old, prestigious institutions with a strong presence in their regions. The sect teams, on the other hand, included many unfamiliar names—proving again the disparity between legacy and strength.
Surprisingly, one of the advancing academy teams was Falan Advanced Soul Master Academy, where Yang Zhenzhen studied. Their team's highest cultivation was only Rank 48, and Yang Zhenzhen herself was just Rank 35—yet she was a core member. This clearly showed how weak the team was overall. But they got lucky: their first-round opponent was another academy team even weaker than theirs, so their advancement was reasonable.
As the second round began, Shrek Academy finally made their debut. The opening match of Round Two: Shrek Academy vs. Taining Advanced Soul Master Academy.
(End of Chapter)
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