Today was the day for the first pre quarter final battle.
Sixteen to Eight, Four Matches a Day, Over Four Days
The first match on the first day was still Shrek Academy, but Shrek Academy, with its main team members fully recovered, was no longer as easy to bully as before.
Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng from the main team made a strong appearance, showcasing what it truly meant to be the number one academy on the continent.
The two Soul Emperors under the age of twenty not only shocked the audience but also stunned those watching from another continent through the screen.
"Fatty, that red-haired big sister's martial soul is the Evil Fire Phoenix, right? Compared to hers, your martial soul isn't really just a chicken, is it?" Oscar stared dumbfounded at the beautiful phoenix with fiery red wings soaring on the competition stage, poking Ma Hongjun.
"You're the chicken! I'm a phoenix!" Ma Hongjun instantly bristled.
"Fatty, your Evil Fire Phoenix martial soul has that kind of need, right? Could that big sister also...?" Thinking of Ma Hongjun's martial soul's flaw, Oscar showed a strange expression.
The thought of that red-haired big sister being like Ma Hongjun gave him a weird feeling.
"The cultivation civilization in that world might be more advanced than ours. There might be a way to resolve the flaw of the Evil Fire Phoenix martial soul," Yu Xiaogang shook his head.
"Is there really such a method?" Ma Hongjun also showed a look of anticipation. Did he really want to be like this? It was all forced by his martial soul.
---
As the competition progressed to this stage, the resting area became noticeably quieter since only sixteen teams remained.
The competition would last four days, with team matches in the first two days and individual elimination matches in the last two days. After that, there would be a day of rest before the quarterfinals.
Today, Liuxing and the others would also compete, but their match was in the afternoon.
They came in the morning mainly to watch Shrek Academy's battle, especially the remaining two main team members of Shrek Academy.
Shrek Academy did not disappoint, sending out all their main team members. The appearance of the two Soul Emperors made Ma Rulong and the others' faces darken.
Without Liuxing and the others, their original main team lineup would not have had much advantage against Shrek Academy, and this was an incomplete Shrek Academy.
Of course, compared to the lineup that left them in despair last time, this year's Shrek Academy was slightly weaker.
Time passed slowly, and the first two matches of the morning ended. The first match in the afternoon was for the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy.
At Star Luo Plaza, apart from the enthusiastic audience, the Star Luo nobles and emperor on the imperial city, the remaining sixteen strong teams came to watch.
Shrek Academy no longer displayed their arrogant attitude and also came to the resting area to watch.
There was no need for bluster anymore, and they naturally wouldn't miss the opportunity to observe their strongest opponents.
In the sixteen to eight matches, almost every team would reveal their trump cards, making it a good chance to gauge their opponents' strength.
As the match time approached, the atmosphere among the audience became increasingly heated.
The teams that made it to the top sixteen were all strong, and the clashes between strong teams were even more exciting. How could the audience not love watching?
Moreover, this match was between the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy and the previous top four team. How could they miss it?
---
"Sixteen to Eight, Third Match: Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy versus Dou Ling Royal Academy. Both teams enter the preparation area..."
The referee's voice on the competition stage sent waves of cheers from the audience, instantly igniting the atmosphere to its peak. The soldiers responsible for maintaining order were on high alert, prepared for any sudden incidents.
Liuxing stood up and led Liuying, Gu Yuena, Xue Nu, Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, and Ye Guxi to the preparation area.
"Hmm?"
Seeing Liuxing and the others entering the preparation area, everyone showed looks of confusion.
Standing on the imperial city, Xu Jiawei narrowed his eyes. What was the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy planning?
Competing with Shrek Academy? Shrek Academy's reserve team had become famous, so were they also sending their reserve team to compete?
This was the sixteen to eight match, and their opponent was Dou Ling Royal Academy, not a round-robin match!
"I knew it wasn't that simple," seeing Liuxing, Wang Yan's spirits lifted.
He had always felt that the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy was suspicious, and now it seemed he was right.
He didn't believe the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy was crazy enough to send their reserve team to their deaths.
Shrek Academy sent their reserve team out of necessity, but the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy's main team was intact. How could they make such a mistake?
The only answer was that the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy believed sending their reserve team was enough to deal with Dou Ling Royal Academy, but how could that be?
The audience, both on-site and behind the screens, perked up, curiously looking at Liuxing and the others who were making their first appearance.
"Is that... Liuxing and Liuying? They're finally taking the stage," at the Earth Dragon Sect, Nan Qiuqiu exclaimed.
"Both teams, enter the stage," the referee also looked at Liuxing and the others in surprise but still carried out his duties.
Liuxing smiled lightly and led the way onto the stage.
On the other side, the members of Dou Ling Royal Advanced Soul Master Academy also walked onto the stage.
Compared to the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy's lineup of two males and five females, Dou Ling Royal Advanced Soul Master Academy's lineup was two females and five males.
The captain of Dou Ling Royal Advanced Soul Master Academy, a tall and thin young man, stood on one side of the referee, looking at Liuxing, who was leading the opposing team, with a strange glint in his eyes.
He said in a deep voice, "Is your Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy looking down on us?"
Liuxing curled his lips into a faint smile and said lightly, "On the contrary, because you are strong, we are taking the stage."
Hearing this, the captain of Tian Ling Royal Advanced Soul Master Academy looked deeply at Liuxing and said in a deep voice, "Dou Ling Royal Advanced Soul Master Academy, Gu Zhujian."
Liuxing also said lightly, "Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy, Liuxing."
A faint smile appeared on Gu Zhujian's gaunt face as he said, "Then please give us your guidance."
Liuxing said lightly, "Likewise."
A cold light flashed in Gu Zhujian's eyes, and the members behind him also showed confident expressions, especially when they saw the youthful faces of Liuxing and the others.
Although they didn't understand why the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy was being so overconfident, since it was so, victory would be theirs.
---"Both teams step back and prepare for the match." The referee today looked to be over sixty years old, but compared to the previous referees, he exuded a more composed demeanor, clearly of higher cultivation.
With him standing in the center, both teams felt as if they were separated by a barrier.
Before the match started, Liuxing had already learned about Dou Ling Team's information from the other two teachers.
Captain Gu Zhujian, a level 57 Assault-type Soul King, martial soul: Purple Brilliance Bamboo.
Vice-captain Qian Yuan, a level 53 Assault-type Soul King, martial soul: Fear Claw Bear.
Team core, Xiao Feng, a level 54 Control-type Soul King, martial soul: Confusion Pearl, a mental-type martial soul.
Chi Hengyu, a level 52 Defense-type Soul King.
Han Linger, a level 51 Agility-type Soul King.
The remaining two Soul Ancestors were Tang Niu Niu, an auxiliary type, and Qing Feng, a control type. Each had their own unique characteristics.
Overall, their combat strength was strong, worthy of being the previous tournament's top four.
As both teams retreated, they began to form their battle formations.
Seeing that both sides were ready, the referee gestured to both captains and then shouted, "Match begin!"
As soon as his voice fell, the referee seemed to teleport away from the center of the competition stage.
All the soul masters immediately released their martial souls.
"Boom!"
Explosive flames erupted, and the air on the competition stage began to distort as the temperature rose sharply.
Two silver-white mechas appeared from the flames, and the stage began to melt, with even the protective barrier rippling.
The audience closer to the stage felt a wave of scorching heat, as if they were in a steamer, sweating profusely.
At the same time, the sunlight in the sky seemed to become even more intense.
Feeling the burning air scorching his skin, Gu Zhujian licked his dry lips, his expression extremely grim.
At this moment, Liuxing and Liuying, standing at the forefront, had two purple and two black soul rings revolving around them.
Combined with the intense flames burning on their bodies, they exuded a terrifying aura.
"Whoa!"
The audience erupted in amazement. Since learning that Huo Yuhao's six 100,000-year soul rings were fake, Liuxing and Liuying's soul ring configurations were the most eye-catching among all the participants in this tournament.
In the Shrek Academy resting area, Ma Xiaotao stared blankly at the stage, feeling the dormant evil fire within her. She murmured, "Extreme Fire!"
"Yuhao, it's Extreme Fire!"
At the same time, a male and female voice filled with astonishment echoed in Huo Yuhao's mind.
"What did you say?" Wang Yan turned around sharply, and Dai Yueheng and the others also looked at Ma Xiaotao in shock.
"They possess Extreme Fire martial souls," Ma Xiaotao said with a heavy expression.
Though reluctant to admit it, feeling the rising temperature around them, Wang Yan's face turned bitter.
Extreme Fire was even more effective against Ma Xiaotao than Extreme Ice.
If Ma Xiaotao faced those two, it was likely to be a repeat of Ling Luochen's encounter with Huo Yuhao.
"Their soul rings are different from mine. They're real," Huo Yuhao said hoarsely. Unlike his simulated soul rings, the soul rings of those two on the stage were genuine.
"How is that possible? Absorbing a thousand-year soul ring for their first ring? How did they do it?" Wang Dong also couldn't believe it. Even with her twin martial souls, she only dared to absorb a hundred-year soul ring for her first ring, not daring to attempt a thousand-year one.
"What's more important is their age, isn't it?" Xiao Xiao swallowed hard.
"Exactly. At their age, they'll be your opponents in the next tournament," Wang Yan wiped the sweat from his forehead, his expression extremely grave.
Forget the next tournament; even in this one, these two were unprecedented formidable foes. Their ace, Ma Xiaotao, would be completely useless against them.
---As the silver mechas wrapped in flames stood on the stage, their terrifying aura captivated the audience, overshadowing even Xiao Hongchen and the others.
"Stick to the plan. They're only Soul Ancestors," Gu Zhujian snapped out of his shock and immediately barked an order.
Defense-type Soul King Chi Hengyu was the first to react. He swung his arm, and a massive, heavy metal shield materialized out of thin air. This was his martial soul, the Diamond Shield.
The shield was over two meters tall and nearly one and a half meters wide, shaped like a small fortress. Even with Chi Hengyu's robust physique, he had to tilt it slightly to lift it off the ground.
As he forcefully planted the shield into the stage, his fifth soul ring erupted with a dazzling purple light. Instantly, the already massive
Diamond Shield began an incredible transformation, splitting and replicating, as if the metal had come to life. In the blink of an eye, countless smaller shields connected, forming a towering silver wall.
This was his fifth soul skill, Diamond Fortress.
As Chi Hengyu solidified the defense, two other team members joined the fray.
Tang Niu Niu, a petite girl, transformed. Soft fur covered her ears, and her body filled out, her cheeks becoming round and adorable.
Without hesitation, she activated her third soul ring. A green light gathered in her hands, forming a beam that connected heaven and earth, precisely enveloping Qing Feng.
Her martial soul was the Raccoon, an auxiliary-type martial soul.
Her third soul skill could enhance her teammates' soul skills.
With her assistance, Qing Feng activated his fourth soul skill.
The ground beneath his feet suddenly glowed with a yellowish-brown light, accompanied by a slight tremor.
Then, sharp earthen spikes burst from the ground, encircling the Diamond Fortress and forming a second line of defense.
Moreover, a thick earthen wall rose from the ground, complementing the shield formation and creating a three-dimensional defense system.
Even the most resilient attack would struggle to penetrate this fortress-like defense.
Two Soul Ancestors providing support, and a Defense-type Soul King's full defense, even a Soul Emperor wouldn't be able to break through their defense quickly.
"Oh, a defense? Let's see what you're preparing," Liuxing said lightly. In the next moment, the Flame Spear appeared in his hand, engulfed in a surge of fiery energy, transforming into a spear made entirely of flames, radiating terrifying heat.
"Sun Wheel."
With those words, Liuxing hurled the Flame Spear.
"Whoosh!"
The Flame Spear shot through the air like a meteor, carrying a destructive aura as it charged toward Tian Ling Team's defensive formation.
As the Flame Spear in Liuxing's hand, trailing a wave of scorching heat, streaked across the sky and collided with the defensive formation meticulously constructed by Chi Hengyu and the others, the scene plunged into extreme tension and shock.
The audience's hearts seemed to stop beating as their eyes locked onto the imminent clash.
The Flame Spear Liuxing threw was like a miniature sun, distorting the air in its path and leaving a clear trail.
At the moment of impact, time seemed to slow.
"Boom!"
The collision between the Flame Spear and the Diamond Fortress produced a deafening roar, sending shockwaves rippling outward, churning up layers of dust from the ground.
The shield formation, like a sea wall encountering a violent hurricane, began to tremble violently.
The intense friction between metal and flames sparked countless dazzling sparks, illuminating the entire stage.
The metal melted, flowing like liquid before being vaporized by the extreme heat.
In the next moment, the Flame Spear exploded, sending a pillar of fire soaring into the sky.