Chapter 187 The Grand Tournament Opens
One year later.
The Continental Elite Tournament of Advanced Soul Master Academies officially begins.
Nearly a hundred advanced soul master academies are engaged in fierce preliminary and qualifying rounds across various regions, vying for a spot in the finals.
Heaven Dou City, Star Luo City, and the core cities of various kingdoms and duchies are all hosting this grandest youth soul master event on the entire continent.
During this year, Jiang Li’er was not idle either.
After stabilizing her level 86 cultivation, she absorbed another golden dragon soul bone, over 200,000 years old.
After absorbing it, her soul power surged to level 90.
Then she absorbed a 100,000-year soul ring, the Golden Earth Dragon.
Her soul power skyrocketed from level 90 to level 94!
Instantly, she became on par with Jiang Bai, both reaching level 94 as a Title Douluo!
This made Jiang Li’er extremely proud.
"Hehehe... I’m level 94 too!"
"Jiang Bai, now we’re the same level, let’s see how arrogant you are now!"
From then on, almost every night, she would challenge Jiang Bai to a soul duel.
Unfortunately...
She always lost.
Each time, Jiang Bai would leave her sore and weak, and she wouldn’t get up until late the next day.
But she never tired of it.
"One day, I will win!"
She would say this confidently every time.
Then she would challenge him again, and lose again.
...
This day.
Martial Soul City, Papal Palace.
The atmosphere in the council hall was tense.
A faint scent of incense filled the air, but it couldn’t suppress the heavy atmosphere.
More than ten figures stood on both sides.
On the right, the six great elders of the Hall of Worship—Golden Crocodile, Azure Phoenix, Lion, Light Feather, Thousand Pounds, and Demon Subduer—stood in order.
Each and every one of them was a Super Douluo of level 95 or higher, their auras as solid and imposing as mountains.
To the left, the seven elders of the Papal Palace—Yue Guan, Gui Mei, Mo Xiong, Ling Yuan, Ci Tun, Gui Bao, and Yu Long—also exuded an imposing presence.
Although their cultivation was not as high as the Venerables, they were still powerful figures at the Title Douluo level.
Above the steps, the Papal Throne gleamed in the sunlight.
Qian Renxue sat upon it.
Today, she wore a white-gold papal robe, her golden hair tied up with an angelic crown, making her appear majestic and holy.
Jiang Bai sat slightly below and to the side of her.
Qian Renxue’s gaze swept over the crowd, and she slowly spoke: "Do you all know why I have summoned you today?"
The crowd exchanged glances, all understanding without uttering a word.
Golden Crocodile Douluo stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, is this about the campaign against the Clear Sky Sect?"
Qian Renxue nodded. "That’s right."
She stood up, walked down the steps, and stood before the crowd.
Her exquisite high heels clicked on the cold floor.
"The Clear Sky Sect, ostensibly in seclusion, secretly sent disciples to infiltrate the continent, attacking my Spirit Hall’s transport convoy and killing my Spirit Hall’s steward."
Her voice was cold, yet carried an undeniable authority: "This grudge must be avenged!"
A reason?
Any excuse will do.
Anyway, the Clear Sky Sect’s disciples did attack the transport convoy; that was a fact.
Yue Guan stepped forward, his effeminate face bearing a hint of obsequiousness: "Your Majesty is right! Although the Clear Sky Sect has been in seclusion for years, they’ve been constantly making underhanded moves. Do they really think the Spirit Hall is unaware?"
He sneered: "Now that His Majesty has ascended the throne, it’s the perfect time to use them as an example, to make an example of them!"
The Gui Mei figure added sinisterly: "The Clear Sky Sect claims to be the number one sect in the world. But that title is from decades ago."
He paused, his voice tinged with disdain: "Now, it’s time for a change."
Qian Renxue looked at Jiang Bai: "Elder Jiang, what do you think?"
Jiang Bai smiled and stood up.
He walked to the front of the group, standing with his hands behind his back.
"Fight, of course we must fight."
His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable certainty: "And this battle cannot be a war of attrition where both sides are severely weakened, nor can it be a protracted stalemate."
He looked at everyone, enunciating each word clearly: "If we’re going to fight, we must fight a crushing, annihilating war."
"We must let the entire continent know that offending the Spirit Hall results in this."
He paused, then continued: "Even if the five elders of the Clear Sky Sect are strong, can they be stronger than your six elders and seven senior elders?"
Jin E was even more puzzled: "We...we all have to go?"
Thirteen Title Douluos coming out in full force?
Isn’t this...a bit too serious?
Qian Renxue spoke, "The Hall of Offerings will send the Second and Third Elders to accompany us. The Papal Palace will deploy a Soul Master Legion."
She looked at Yue Guan and the others, "Elders... Demon Bear, Porcupine, and Yu Long will remain to handle state affairs. The rest of you will all go to battle."
Demon Bear Douluo looked puzzled, "Huh? We’ll stay... to handle state affairs?"
He scratched his head, "Your Majesty... you wouldn’t also... go to war, would you?"
Qian Renxue looked at him, a slight smile playing on her lips, "I will personally kill those evil Tang family members."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over everyone, "Is there a problem?"
"Hmm?!"
That "hmm" carried a hint of playfulness, but also an undeniable air of authority.
Everyone bowed, "Yes, Your Majesty!"
...
One month later.
Heaven Dou City.
The Heaven Dou Division qualifying rounds of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament were in full swing at the Royal Hunting Grounds, fifty miles southwest of Heaven Dou City.
Meanwhile, three hundred miles east of Heaven Dou City, nestled in the mountains...
Another "competition" was unfolding.
The Clear Sky Sect.
This once-powerful sect, hidden deep within the mountains, its gates precipitous and easily defended.
Several iron chain bridges connected the main peak to several surrounding side peaks. The cliffs were sheer and bottomless. Any army attempting to storm the mountain would pay a heavy price.
But at this moment...
Thousands of Soul Masters clad in silver standard armor had completely surrounded the mountain.
That was the newly formed Soul Master Legion of the Spirit Hall.
This was a truly elite force.
At the foot of the mountain lay a small village.
Willow smoke rose from various parts of the village; it was lunchtime. At the village entrance, several children were playing. In the nearby fields, many people were tidying up their farm tools, preparing to return to the village for lunch.
It looked like an ordinary little mountain village. Everything seemed so peaceful and serene.
Until an army appeared at the village entrance.
Leading them were two figures.
A man and a woman.
Ghost Leopard Douluo and Spirit Kite Douluo.
Behind them were fully armed Soul Masters.
Several villagers saw the approaching army.
They paused for a moment, then reacted, stepping forward to block their path.
"Halt!"
A burly middle-aged man stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Are you the army of the Heaven Dou Empire? Get out! You are not welcome here!"
His gaze held a hint of doubt as he looked up and down at the leaders, Spirit Kite and Ghost Leopard.
Spirit Kite Douluo looked at this ignorant fool before her, a slight smile playing on her lips.
She turned to look at Ghost Leopard, and the two exchanged a smile.
That smile sent a chill down the middle-aged man’s spine.
"Ah—!!!"
A scream suddenly rang out!
The villagers who had blocked the way hadn’t even had time to unleash their martial spirits before Ling Yuan and Ghost Leopard instantly killed them!
Blood gushed out, staining the ground at the village entrance red!
The playful children stood frozen in terror, then let out piercing cries!
Ling Yuan Douluo kicked at the corpses at her feet, raised her right hand, and lightly waved it: "Kill!"
Her voice was as cold as a knife: "Leave no one alive!"
The Soul Master legion behind her surged towards the village like a tidal wave!
The slaughter began!
Screams, cries, and pleas for mercy mingled together!
Blood stained every inch of the land!
This seemingly ordinary little village was actually anything but ordinary.
It was an outpost of the Clear Sky Sect at the foot of the mountain.
And the people living there weren’t ordinary civilians.
They were collateral disciples of the Clear Sky Sect and their families.
They were responsible for guarding the mountain gate, relAh Ying messages, and providing supplies to the direct descendants on the mountain.
Now, they became the first to be sacrificed.
...
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