Hearing Gu Yuena's words, Liuying smiled lightly and said, "It's fine, as long as we stay together, everything will be okay."
Upon hearing this, Gu Yuena rolled her eyes in exasperation. It seemed to her that Liuying was almost hoping to spoil him to the point of dependency, so he would never leave her side!
For this grand competition, the Star Luo Empire had gone to great lengths, even selecting a beautiful host to energize the crowd and announce the match list and group arrangements.
As expected by Liuxing and the others, the top four teams from the previous tournament were mostly placed in different groups.
As the number one academy on the continent, Shrek Academy was once again scheduled to compete in the first match.
Shrek Academy's opponent today was Cloud Luo Advanced Soul Engineering Academy from the Star Luo Empire.
This academy was one of the rare soul engineer academies in the Star Luo Empire, and making it to the round-robin stage was no small feat.
Of course, when it came to soul tools, they were still no match for the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy.
The captains of Shrek Academy and Cloud Luo Advanced Soul Engineering Academy were called forward to draw lots to determine the match format.
Under the supervision of the referee and the Star Luo Emperor Xu Jiawei, the two academies drew the individual elimination match format.
Hearing that it was an individual elimination match, the audience's eyes lit up.
This format tested individual strength to the utmost, and if one was strong enough, they could potentially defeat all seven opponents single-handedly.
The crowd's gaze turned to Shrek Academy's Huo Yuhao, clearly hoping to witness the six 100,000-year soul rings again.
Unfortunately, they were going to be disappointed today.
Facing a soul engineer academy, Shrek Academy sent out Xu Sanshi, a defensive-type soul master who was particularly effective against soul engineers at lower levels.
Cloud Luo Advanced Soul Engineering Academy's strength was not particularly high, with their strongest member being only a Soul Ancestor.
Xu Sanshi, an elite from Shrek Academy, lived up to his reputation. With the cultivation of a Soul Ancestor, he defeated three opponents in a row.
Although his soul skills gave him an advantage and caught his opponents off guard, his strength was still undeniable.
At the very least, many could see that he was fighting with ease, not even using his full strength.
To many, this level of performance was expected. After all, he was from Shrek Academy.
If he weren't strong, how could he have the qualifications to represent Shrek Academy in the competition?
Even as a reserve team member, he had to be exceptional.
After Xu Sanshi won three matches in a row, Cloud Luo Advanced Soul Engineering Academy wisely conceded defeat.
They had already sent out their strongest three members, and continuing to fight would only bring more humiliation.
Conceding was better than being defeated by a single player.
Being the first academy to be swept by a single player in the tournament would have been a devastating blow to their reputation.
Although conceding wasn't much better, losing to Shrek Academy wasn't exactly shameful.
Winning three matches in a row and forcing the opponent to concede, this performance once again stirred up cheers from the audience.
Apart from Huo Yuhao, the Soul Emperor with the 100,000-year soul rings who had made an appearance on the first day, all the other academies took note of this cheeky defensive-type soul master.
"This guy is worth paying attention to. His soul skills are quite troublesome," Xiao Hongchen said solemnly.
Liuxing nodded in agreement. Indeed, spatial-type soul skills were notoriously tricky.
Of course, that was all there was to it. He feared defensive-type soul masters the least.
When it came to offense, he was the strongest. No defensive-type soul master could withstand his Blazing Spear.
After Shrek Academy's match, they didn't stay to watch the subsequent matches.
They left, leaving behind an aloof impression on the audience.
Several other academies took the stage for their matches, and after about two hours, it was finally time for the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy's first match.
The Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy was paired against the Thousand Spirits Advanced Soul Academy from the Dou Ling Empire.
According to Elder Ma's intelligence, this Thousand Spirits Advanced Soul Academy was ranked among the top three in the Dou Ling Empire and was particularly strong in team battles.
Thanks to their spies in the Star Luo Empire, the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy had detailed information on some of the competing teams.
This Thousand Spirits Advanced Soul Academy had one Soul King and six Soul Ancestors, placing them among the top-tier academies in the tournament.
Of course, facing the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy was just their bad luck. Even without Liuxing and the others taking action, Ma Rulong and his team could easily handle them.
However, if Ye Guyi wanted to compete, drawing the individual elimination match format would be the best option.
At this moment, the host took the stage.
With an enthusiastic voice, the host announced the upcoming match between the two academy teams.
On the competition stage, the referee walked to the center and, using an amplification soul tool, loudly declared, "Both teams enter the waiting area. The team captains will come forward to draw lots."
By now, Liuxing and the others, led by Elder Ma, had already entered the waiting area.
Ma Rulong stepped forward without hesitation, ready to draw the lots.
From the Thousand Spirits Advanced Soul Academy side, a male student around twenty years old stepped forward.
He had a tall and slender build, with a cold and rigid expression. He looked like a spear, sharp and unyielding.
The draw has begun!
Perhaps due to Ye Guyi's good luck, Ma Rulong drew the exact match she had hoped for.
"Royal Sun Moon Soul Engineer Academy versus Thousand Spirits Advanced Soul Academy, individual elimination match."
The referee loudly announced the result of the draw.
The captain of Thousand Spirit Academy remained expressionless. Regardless of the match format, they stood no chance of winning; the gap was too vast.
The strength displayed by the Royal Sun Moon Soul Engineer Academy was second only to Shrek Academy. How could they possibly win?
Having resigned themselves to their fate, their attitude towards the upcoming match was simply to do their best.
At least they wouldn't have come all this way for nothing, and they were also prepared to compete for the second qualifying spot.
"Please have the first team members step forward."
The referee solemnly announced.
Elder Ma nodded to Ye Guyi and said, "Go ahead, but don't push yourself too hard. Make sure you don't get injured."
Ye Guyi nodded in acknowledgment. She knew this was just a training exercise for her.
With so many capable teammates behind her, all she needed to do was fight to her heart's content.
As for victory, wasn't that already in the bag?
Ye Guyi, holding the Angel's Holy Sword, stepped onto the stage one step at a time.
Opposite her, a blue-haired ice beauty, appearing to be around eighteen or nineteen years old from Thousand Spirits Advanced Soul Academy, silently stood on the stage.
The referee called both of them forward and said gravely, "The rules of the individual elimination match are as follows: the losing side must immediately step down, while the winner can choose to either continue the match or withdraw and switch players. Each side will send out seven members, and the match continues until all seven members of one side have lost. Understood?"
"Understood."
Ye Guyi and the blue-haired girl opposite her responded simultaneously.
The referee said, "Alright, both of you step back. Wait for my command to start the match. The use of high-destructive soul tools that rely on material quality for victory, such as fixed soul tools, is prohibited."
Ye Guyi and the blue-haired girl stood facing each other. The blue-haired girl suddenly spoke, "Thousand Spirits Advanced Soul Academy, An Lengye."
Ye Guyi was momentarily taken aback, then responded, "Royal Sun Moon Soul Engineer Academy, Ye Guyi."
After introducing themselves, they each walked to the edge of the stage. As the referee announced the start of the match, both released their soul rings simultaneously.
Ye Guyi's body was illuminated by one yellow and two purple soul rings.
A beautiful and sacred angelic figure appeared behind her, cradling Ye Guyi in its palms. A pair of pure white wings also emerged on Ye Guyi's back, allowing her to hover mid-air above the stage.
Meanwhile, An Lengye's body was surrounded by two yellow and two purple soul rings. A three-meter-tall blue bear roared as it stood in front of her.
An Lengye did not use a soul possession but instead released a mimicry soul.
When a soul master begins cultivation after awakening their soul and obtains a soul ring that matches the form of their soul, there's a possibility to cultivate a mimicry soul.
Unlike soul possession, which enhances the body, a mimicry soul can operate autonomously but does not provide enhancements to the soul master. It's simply a different combat style with its own pros and cons.
"Is that... an angel?"
"It really is an angel, so beautiful!"
As both released their souls, the audience's attention was drawn to Ye Guyi, who was flying mid-air with her golden hair fluttering.
The sacred and beautiful angel behind her captivated everyone's gaze.
In the competitors' rest area, a golden-haired girl who appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen years old also had a sparkle in her eyes.
She stared intently at Ye Guyi on the stage and murmured, "Is that... a Holy Angel? Even stronger than my Two-Winged Angel."
In front of the soul screen, Xue Qinghe's eyes flashed with surprise.
She hadn't expected that there would also be an angel soul in the opposing world, and this soul was second only to her Six-Winged Angel.
Even within their angel clan, this would be considered a top-tier genius.
Within the Spirit Hall, not every member of the Angel Clan possesses the Six-Winged Angel soul.
Only those blessed by the Angel God are granted this divine-level soul.
Other angelic souls pale in comparison to the Six-Winged Angel.
Beneath the Six-Winged Angel, the strongest is undoubtedly the Sacred Angel.
In the Pope's Hall, Bibi Dong watched Ye Guyi on the screen, a flicker of disgust in her eyes. She detested angels more than anything.
The appearance of the Angel soul stirred unease in many, but the match had to go on.
Although Ye Guyi's Angel soul was stunning and her soul ring configuration impressive, the impact of Shrek Academy's six 100,000-year soul rings had already desensitized most people.
A Soul Elder against a Soul Ancestor, most didn't hold high hopes for Ye Guyi, especially since the Royal Sun Moon Soul Engineer Academy wasn't renowned for individual combat prowess.
An Lengye struck first. Her first soul ring flashed as she pointed at the Frost Bear before her. The bear roared, and a layer of icy armor formed around its body.
This was An Lengye's first soul skill, Frost Shield, which provided defense for the Frost Bear.
The Frost Bear roared again, slamming its massive paw onto the ground.
A wave of icy energy spread, instantly freezing most of the stage.
Creating a favorable terrain right from the start, this move would have been effective against most opponents, but for Ye Guyi, it was of little consequence.
If the ground was frozen, she simply wouldn't land.
Ye Guyi, wielding the fifth-level soul tool, Angel's Holy Sword, with its blade wrapped in holy white light, flapped her wings and shot toward An Lengye like lightning.
The Angel soul's innate speed, combined with the boost from Ye Guyi's external soul bone, Heaven's Wings, made her movements so fast that only afterimages could be seen.
An Lengye saw a streak of white light flash past, instantly reaching the Frost Bear.
Dozens of sword slashes followed, and with a series of cracking sounds, her first soul skill, Frost Shield, was shattered.
The Frost Bear swung its claws at Ye Guyi, but its speed was no match for hers. This was absolute dominance in speed.
An Lengye was a control-type soul master, but without the support of her teammates, her skills couldn't lock onto Ye Guyi. Moreover, Ye Guyi's flight rendered An Lengye's large-area control skill, Ice Seal, useless.
Although she also directed the Frost Bear to exhale freezing air in an attempt to slow Ye Guyi down, Ye Guyi was no stranger to ice.
With a Xue Nu possessing Ultimate Ice in her team, she had naturally devised ways to counter it.
Her first soul skill, Sacred Hymn, and second soul skill, Holy Light Baptism, were used in succession, both enhancing herself and shielding her from the freezing air.
An Lengye frowned slightly. She had known the Royal Sun Moon Soul Engineer Academy would be tough, but she hadn't expected even a Soul Elder-level reserve member to be so troublesome.
Ye Guyi gathered the holy light on her Angel's Holy Sword, forming a massive sword beam that slashed toward An Lengye.
An Lengye pointed her fingers like a sword, her fourth soul ring glowing purple. Swords of ice materialized in the air, thrusting toward Ye Guyi.
This was her fourth soul skill, Frost Sword Thrust.
Ye Guyi swung her Angel's Holy Sword, her agile body dancing gracefully in the air. Her golden hair fluttered with each movement.
Beams of holy light clashed with the icy swords mid-air, and for a moment, the battle between the two reached a stalemate.
The fight between the two beauties was a sight to behold. Though Ye Guyi was still somewhat youthful, she was undeniably a beauty in the making.
Seeing that she couldn't break through the ice swords to get closer to An Lengye, Ye Guyi activated her third soul ring. She pointed her sword at An Lengye, and a golden hexagram appeared beneath An Lengye's feet.
"Third soul skill, Holy Light Array!"
Ye Guyi shouted, and the hexagram beneath An Lengye erupted with intense golden light, enveloping her.
Within the golden light, the Frost Bear let out a furious roar, lunging forward to scoop An Lengye into its arms and rolling out of the hexagram's range.
Even so, the Frost Bear's form grew slightly translucent after being grazed by the golden light. An Lengye spat out a mouthful of blood, her lips stained crimson, exuding a fragile beauty.
She lay sprawled in the Frost Bear's arms, raising her right hand toward the approaching Ye Guyi. Her third soul ring flashed.
"Third soul skill, Biting Cold Wind!"
With her cold shout, a fierce icy wind transformed into freezing blades that surged toward Ye Guyi.
Ye Guyi came to an abrupt halt in mid-air, her Heaven's Wings wrapping around her to form a white orb, blocking the bone-chilling wind.
Seizing the opportunity, An Lengye stood up, forming hand seals. A snow-white pattern appeared on her forehead, and the Frost Bear let out a deafening roar.
Ye Guyi, sensing danger, suddenly spread her wings wide.