After the twenty-seven rounds of preliminaries conclude, the top five teams based on points will qualify for the promotion round.
The promotion round, however, will not eliminate any teams. Instead, it serves to rank the strength of the participating academies, preventing strong teams from clashing too early in the finals. This ensures that teams capable of achieving higher rankings do not end up at the bottom due to unfavorable matchups, allowing them to fully showcase their true strength.
That said, the nearly month-long preliminary round will be a considerable test for most teams.
This is especially true for weaker teams that must endure grueling battles in every match.
As soon as they stepped onto the stage, Shrek Academy and the Heaven Dou Battle Team's second Team immediately engaged in a war of words.
The reason was simple—the peculiar outfits of the Shrek team made them look down upon by the aristocratic members of the Heaven Dou Battle Team's second Team.
Particularly, Ma Hongjun's unabashedly lecherous gaze drew the contempt of the female members of the Heaven Dou Battle Team's second squad.
Already holding a sense of superiority over Shrek, coupled with the presence of such a depraved pervert, it was only natural that someone from the Heaven Dou Battle Team's second Team would throw out a few mocking remarks.
Meanwhile, the Shrek members, having previously been expelled from Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, harbored no goodwill toward the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy second Team. Moreover, they deeply understood Flender's famous motto: A soul master who doesn't dare to cause trouble isn't a good soul master.
As soon as they were mocked, they retaliated fiercely, with Xiao Wu being the most aggressive among them.
At this moment, the referee stepped onto the stage. Seeing the two teams engaged in a verbal battle, with their insults escalating in intensity, he couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth before announcing, "Both teams, bow to each other. Non-participating members, please leave the stage."
Upon hearing this, the trash talk came to an abrupt halt. Though reluctant, both teams begrudgingly bowed to each other, and the extra members stepped down from the stage, leaving only the seven participants for this first match of the preliminaries.
Perhaps in an effort to decisively defeat the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy second Team and wash away past humiliation, Shrek Academy fielded its strongest lineup.
Excluding Oscar, the food-type soul master, six of the original Shrek Seven Devils took the stage, along with a 38th-level Tai Long.
VIP Seating Area.
"Ning Sect Master, I see that Rongrong is also on the field. Do you think highly of Shrek Academy?"
Glancing at Ning Rongrong on the stage, Emperor Xue Ye turned to Ning Fengzhi and asked.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was a staunch ally of the Heaven Dou Empire. As the beloved daughter of Ning Fengzhi and cherished by both Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, Ning Rongrong was naturally recognized by Emperor Xue Ye.
Ning Fengzhi shook his head. "Rongrong and the others are quite talented, but if it were the next Soul Master Tournament, then perhaps they would have a great chance."
It wasn't that Shrek's team lacked potential, but rather that Tang San and the others were simply too young. Even his own daughter, Ning Rongrong, along with the seven members who had come from Soto City, were still in their teens. The oldest, Dai Mubai, was only seventeen, while the youngest was just fourteen. This meant they could still participate in the next Soul Master Tournament.
Among them, three possessed innate full soul power, and even the least gifted, Zhu Zhuqing, had an innate soul power of level 7. In terms of pure talent, no past champion team could compare to such a lineup.
However, age was ultimately a limiting factor. More importantly, this year's tournament was extraordinary—not only did the Spirit Hall have its Golden Generation, but even the Blazing Academy and Skywater Academy teams were at their strongest levels in history.
With this thought, Ning Fengzhi's gaze shifted toward the contestant stands where Mu Yang and the others sat.
If any team from the Heaven Dou Empire were to claim the championship this year, it would most likely be the Blazing Battle Team.
Among their seven main members, three were high-level five-ring Soul Kings, while the other four were four-ring Soul Ancestors. On paper, their strength far surpassed that of any previous championship team.
"Haha, they are all young and full of potential! It seems that not only in this tournament but even in the next Soul Master Tournament, the championship honor will belong to our empire."
Emperor Xue Ye laughed heartily.
With the Blazing Battle Team in this tournament and Shrek Academy maturing for the next one, he was confident that after three consecutive tournament losses, the Heaven Dou Empire would finally reclaim the championship twice in a row.
"Your Majesty, I must disagree. The strength of our Spirit Hall's Golden Generation is not weak."
Just as Emperor Xue Ye finished speaking, Salas immediately refuted.
Even if the Blazing Battle Team was strong, their Spirit Hall team was no pushover. Three Soul Kings? As if that was something only their side had.
Moreover, Hu Liena and Xie Yue possessed a soul fusion technique. The final outcome of the tournament was still undecided!
Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi retracted his gaze and said, "I am certain that this tournament's champion will belong to Heaven Dou. Lord Salas, why don't we place a bet?"
"What wager does Sect Master Ning propose?"
Salas asked.
"I won't make things difficult. If I win, you will reward the championship team with one million gold soul coins in the name of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
If you win, I will reward the Spirit Hall team with one million gold soul coins in your name."
Ning Fengzhi said with a smile.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was wealthy beyond measure. Apart from lacking top-tier talents and experts, they wanted for nothing. The real reason Ning Fengzhi proposed this bet was simply to disgust Salas.
Spirit Hall was undoubtedly the dominant force in the world of soul masters. While they commanded an enormous number of soul masters, their financial burden was equally massive.
Unlike the two great empires, Spirit Hall lacked the backing of national tax revenues.
Because of this, Spirit Hall, with its limited sources of income, had to continuously encroach on the interests of various factions—otherwise, they wouldn't even be able to pay their soul masters, let alone command their loyalty.
Meanwhile, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's industries spanned across the entire Heaven Dou Empire. As Spirit Hall's influence expanded over the years, under the leadership of Salas, the master of the Heaven Dou Spirit Temple, many of the sect's interests had been steadily eroded.
Thus, no matter how he looked at it, Ning Fengzhi found Salas displeasing.
If not for Spirit Hall's overwhelming power, making them difficult to provoke, Ning Fengzhi would have already sent Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo to secretly eliminate Salas, whom he found so irksome.
"As Sect Master Ning wishes."
After a moment of thought, Salas accepted.
Though he was not as extravagantly wealthy as Ning Fengzhi, he could still afford to put up one million gold soul coins.
If he won, not only would he see Ning Fengzhi embarrassed, but he could also use this opportunity to strengthen ties with the Golden Generation.
After all, the three members of the Golden Generation had exceptional talent and were destined to become nine-ring Titled Douluos, joining the Elder Hall in the future.
Furthermore, Hu Liena was the personal disciple of the Supreme Pontiff. Given time, as her strength grew, she was highly likely to be appointed as the Holy Maiden—essentially the heir to the next Supreme Pontiff.
Building a good relationship with the future Supreme Pontiff and two future elders? That was definitely worthwhile.
And if he lost? At worst, he would only lose some face.
Besides, he might even use this as a way to win over the tournament's champion.
Pah! As if the Golden Generation would lose? Impossible. Absolutely impossible!
Salas was convinced—victory was his!