The next day, early morning.
When the first ray of sunlight hit Star Luo City, the capital of the Star Luo Empire revealed a serious atmosphere.
All the streets around Xingluo Square are blocked by soldiers with bright armor, especially near the Star Emperor Hotel, where thousands of soldiers are stationed. The streets leading from here to Xingluo Square have been completely under martial law, and only those leading from the Star Emperor Hotel are under complete martial law. Only the participating team members from each college who walked out of the hotel can pass.
The competition stage used for this continent-wide Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Competition is not built in the center of Xingluo Square, but in front of the main entrance of the Imperial City. In this way, His Majesty the Emperor of the Star Luo Empire and his civil and military ministers could directly watch the battle from a high position on the top of the imperial city. Not only does it have the best view, it's also safe and worry-free.
The entire competition stage is 100 meters long and 5 meters high. There are a total of 108 metal pillars around the competition stage. This is not a decoration, but a real protective soul guide. After the competition begins, one hundred and eight soul masters will be in charge of protecting the competition stage. These metal pillars will release protective shields to block all soul skills inside from escaping, so as not to damage the imperial city or injure innocent people.
Just building this competition platform cost a huge amount of money, and mobilizing 108 soul masters to serve the competition for more than a month. It would be difficult to do it without national-level strength.
At this time, Xingluo Square was empty. Except for the soldiers in the distance, there was no one in the square.
The last time the Star Luo Empire held the Continent-wide Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Competition, there was a stampede incident. This time, the Star Luo Empire royal family attached great importance to it. Not only did they dispatch an army to maintain order, but they also came up with many new methods.
There are many iron fences in the square. These iron fences with a height of about 1.5 meters will not affect the sight of most people, but they divide the square into different areas. There are different entrances and exits for spectators entering and exiting. This made it much easier for the soldiers to maintain order. There will also be clear limits on the number of people allowed in each area.
The Imperial City is on the north side, facing south, and a luxurious rest area is also built on the west side of the competition stage, specially provided for the use of participating players from each academy. However, the rest area can only accommodate about seventy colleges. Obviously, there are no seats for the colleges that were eliminated in the first round. This is not a waste. At the same time, it can also stimulate the fighting spirit of the participating students.
Since the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Competition switched to the current format, apart from the finals, the most exciting thing is actually the first round of knockout matches, which are far more exciting and even tragic. Round robin later.
The round robin can also have tactical arrangements and even tactical failures. But this first round is a direct elimination round. If you lose, you will leave. Every participating college must pass this level. Even the previous champion Shrek Academy is the same. There is a bye in the competition, but no college can directly enjoy the bye privilege.
Early in the morning, the leading teachers from each college had already arrived at the Imperial City to draw lots based on the competition number plates they received when registering.
At this time, the lottery ceremony has been completed, and officials from the Star Luo Empire will tally the results of the lottery. Once the order of the competition is announced, the final preparations for the early stage of the competition will be completed.
The sun slowly rose into the sky from the distant east, and a sense of warmth suddenly rose in Xingluo City, which was located in the middle of the continent.
At this time, participating students from various colleges also began to enter the venue.
Today, everyone in Shrek Academy is wearing the traditional dark green uniform, which is the standard color of Shrek Academy. Moreover, the position they were standing in was also in the first row of all the colleges. No one of the colleges had any objection to this. Because this is the glory that Shrek Academy has accumulated with its strength for thousands of years.
However, the participating students from the academy standing at the back couldn't help but look surprised when they looked at the lineup of Shrek Academy.
Even if only eleven people came, most of them seemed to be far from twenty years old. You can tell how young they are without judging their bone age. Only the three at the front looked almost old enough. But they all wore cloaks, covering their appearance.
For most colleges, they are praying secretly in their hearts that they will never encounter strong players like Shrek College or the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineer College in the first round. Otherwise it is almost equivalent to announcing that they have been eliminated.
The participating team members from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy were standing behind Shrek Academy. This also makes it easier for them to observe the Shrek Academy students in front.
The youngest ones in Shrek Academy are Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao. Huo Yuhao was a little better. After merging with the Ice Emperor's torso bones, his figure had changed a lot and he looked similar to a boy of fourteen or fifteen years old. But Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao even had a bit of childishness on their faces. Especially Xiao Xiao, she is short and looks like just a little girl.
Even Xiao Hongchen, who had always been arrogant, was filled with doubts at this time: What on earth is Shrek Academy planning to do by sending such a lineup? Also, did the Shrek student I met yesterday really just want to scare me when he made a bet with me? Or is he really sure of winning?
It took nearly half an hour for the audience to enter the venue, and there were simply too many people. The originally empty Xingluo Square was now overcrowded. Fortunately, there were some iron fences to separate the area into areas, and the soldiers maintained order, so it didn't seem so chaotic.
At this time, it was already three poles high in the sun.
"Quiet." A huge, resonant voice suddenly spread throughout the audience.
Upon hearing this voice, all the soldiers stood at attention and raised their spears high. Suddenly, a chilling atmosphere spread throughout the entire place, and the originally noisy Xingluo Square suddenly became quiet.
"His Majesty the Emperor has arrived."
"Wow...!" The people suddenly fell to their knees in large areas, and hundreds of thousands of people made the same neat movements at the same time. The scene was indeed extremely spectacular.
The soldiers knelt on one knee, and all participating colleges had been accurately informed beforehand, allowing them not to kneel, but they needed to bow ninety degrees to show respect for the emperor.
"My lords, please come to peace." The voice of the Emperor of the Star Luo Empire was amplified and transmitted by the amplified soul guide. The people then stood up one after another, and the students from the participating colleges also straightened their backs. Everyone's eyes were focused on the head of the imperial city directly ahead.
Emperor Xingluo brought his queen and civil and military officials to the front of the city, patrolling his people with soft but majestic eyes.
"The All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Competition is the most important event in our Douluo Continent soul master world. This time it is our turn to be held in our Star Luo Empire, and I am very happy. Here, on behalf of the Star Luo Empire, I welcome you from far away Representatives from various colleges including Shrek Academy are here. I hope you will show your due style in the competition in the next month."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." The leaders and students from the 133 colleges bowed again.
Emperor Xingluo also smiled and nodded in their direction.
"Okay, I announce that the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Competition has officially begun." Under the loud announcement of Emperor Xingluo, the curtain of this grand event was unveiled.
"Long live, long live, long live!" the people shouted in unison, and their emotions were aroused almost instantly.
