Douluo: Martial Soul of Lightning

On the VIP platform, the master of ceremonies glanced around the now-filled stadium before raising his voice to address the audience:

"Next, we welcome His Majesty, the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, to officially declare the opening of the All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament!"

Applause erupted like thunder, shaking the entire arena.

As the cheers echoed, the Heaven Dou Emperor, seated at the center of the VIP platform, slowly stood and lifted his hand slightly. The moment he raised his hand, the thunderous applause quieted instantly, and the arena fell into solemn silence.

Facing the soul tool microphone before him, the Emperor announced:

"I, Xue Ye, Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, hereby declare the official opening of the All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament."

At his words, a deafening wave of cheers and applause once again swept through the stands, filled with excitement and celebration.

Xue Ye raised his hand again, and the audience quieted a second time. He continued:

"Here, I hope that every participating student will fully display their strength and spirit. You are the future of the empire—our pride and our hope."

For the third time, the crowd erupted into applause. Many of the young Spirit Masters visibly trembled with excitement. For them, this tournament was a true stage to showcase their potential.

Once Emperor Xue Ye returned to his seat, the master of ceremonies continued:

"Now, let us welcome the guest of honor and Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Ning Fengzhi, to deliver the opening address!"

Ning Fengzhi stood up gracefully, his expression warm and calm. The crowd once again responded with thunderous applause.

Ning Fengzhi raised his hand gently, and the applause died down.

He spoke:

"It is my honor to be the opening guest for this grand event. As the head of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, I deeply understand the path of cultivation for every Spirit Master—it is one of hardship and trial. As the saying goes, 'Only through grinding does the sharpest blade emerge, only in bitter cold does the plum blossom bloom.' The participants of this tournament are the elites of our empire. As His Majesty just said, you are the future pillars of our realm. I wish you all the best. Thank you."

Even the Heaven Dou Emperor, who had remained rather solemn, revealed a rare smile at Ning Fengzhi's words.

Then, the master of ceremonies followed up with a question:

"Sect Master Ning, as the most powerful auxiliary-type Spirit Master on the continent and the leader of one of the Three Upper Sect, I believe I speak for everyone when I ask—which of the twenty-eight teams in the preliminary round do you favor the most?"

Because his own daughter, Ning Rongrong, was participating as a member of Shrek Academy, Ning Fengzhi had been paying extremely close attention to the academy. He had already investigated the backgrounds of their key members—not just Lin Jie, but also Tang San from the Clear Sky Clan. Both were rare prodigies. During her recent visit home, Rongrong had shared some details about the Shrek team's strength. Though he noticed she had changed somewhat, the little "witch" had brought him many pleasant surprises, so he hadn't thought too deeply about it.

With a mild smile, Ning Fengzhi replied:

"Being called the continent's strongest auxiliary-type Spirit Master is a bit of an exaggeration, but I appreciate the compliment. Besides the seeded team from Heaven Dou Royal Academy, there is indeed one team among the twenty-eight in the preliminaries that I'm particularly optimistic about. I believe not only will they advance, but they also have a real chance at winning the entire Elite Tournament."

The master of ceremonies brightened at his words. As the leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Ning Fengzhi would not say such things lightly.

"May I ask which team has earned such high praise from Sect Master Ning?" the announcer asked eagerly.

Ning Fengzhi simply shook his head, smiling mysteriously. "I won't name them just yet. But I am certain that this year's champion will belong to our Heaven Dou Empire."

With that, he sat back down, still smiling.

On the other side of the VIP platform, an elderly man who had been sitting with his eyes closed suddenly opened them. His gaze, once clouded with age, was now sharp as lightning as he scanned the participating teams below, clearly trying to deduce which team Ning Fengzhi had meant. But no matter how he looked, none of them, in his view, could rival Spirit Hall's representative team.

The emcee composed himself and continued:

"Although we didn't get an answer from Sect Master Ning, I believe we'll all find out soon enough. Next, let's welcome the Platinum Bishop of Spirit Hall's Heaven Dou City Branch Temple, Salas, to conduct the draw for the first match!"

Salas slowly rose, his face stern and expressionless. Rather than announce the draw himself, he handed the result to the emcee to read aloud.

"First Round, Preliminary Match: Shrek Academy vs. Heaven Dou Royal Academy (Second Team)!"

"First Round: Canghui Academy vs. Purple Star Academy!"

"First Round: Auckland Academy vs. Blazing Radiance Academy!"

When the Shrek team heard their first match was against Heaven Dou Royal Academy, they exchanged surprised looks.

Oscar couldn't help blurting out, "That can't be a coincidence, right?"

"Way too convenient," someone else muttered.

Zhu Zhuqing had already told Lin Jie about their previous clash with Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Facing them in the very first round—it might be chance, but it also might not. Either way, whether by fate or manipulation, Shrek wasn't about to let the Royal Academy's second team off easy.

Salas's stiff expression barely shifted, but he still spoke coldly from the stage:

"As the Platinum Bishop of Spirit Hall, I swear on the honor of the Hall that this draw was entirely fair and without manipulation. Furthermore, I declare this now: any Spirit Master or team who makes it to the finals will be given the opportunity to join Spirit Hall's Sacred Temple, bypassing the usual requirements."

His words carried heavy weight—and a not-so-subtle challenge.

Sitting on the main throne, Emperor Xue Ye's expression darkened slightly at this blatant poaching attempt.

Ning Fengzhi caught his reaction and gave a slight shake of his head.

Meanwhile, excitement rippled through the teams below. Spirit Hall, in the eyes of many, was a holy place—far more revered than the nobility of the Heaven Dou Empire.

The emcee announced once more:

"That concludes the drawing. Now, we proceed to the first match of the preliminary round! Heaven Dou Royal Academy's second team vs. Shrek Academy! All other academies, please exit the stage and proceed to the spectator stands."

Hearing this, Ma Hongjun turned to Lin Jie, eyes burning with anticipation. "Let me go! I've been dying to beat down those arrogant Heaven Dou guys ever since they kicked us out like trash. I'm ready to make them eat dirt!"

Lin Jie shot him a look. "Stick to the plan."

With that, the Shrek team returned to the rest area. Since their teachers—Flender, Yu Xiaogang, Liu Erlong, and Zhao Wuji—were absent, they had to organize this match on their own.

One by one, all eyes turned toward Lin Jie.

PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin