Empire's arranged competition venue wasn't inside Star Luo Square; that square was more like a passageway and spectator area.
The actual competition stage was directly in front of the palace gates, designed to allow the emperor, civil and military officials, and high-ranking nobles like dukes to watch the matches from a high vantage point, ensuring optimal visibility and safety.
Of course, Huo Yuhao didn't think this design guaranteed the safety of the nobility.
It only made them more conspicuous.
It was only because, apart from Xilu City, no other place had developed soul-guided guns for long-range sniping, and because hidden weapons in this world had completely declined, that they had this mentality.
If Emiya Kiritsugu were here, he had a hundred ways to make these nobles standing on the city walls have their minds blown, unless they possessed a head-shaking technique like a certain "King of Knowledge."
Around the entire competition stage were 108 metal pillars, all defensive soul-guided devices, of average grade, around level six.
However, this was sufficient for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament, since the highest level of the participants was only Soul Emperor.
Soon, the audience began to arrive at the venue, guided by soldiers. Two hundred thousand people gathered at Xingluo Square. Huo Yuhao led Dai Ying and the others straight to the front viewing area.
He had already taken off his black trench coat, revealing his purple support shirt.
Huo Zhanji, standing beside him, also puffed out his chest, imitating Huo Yuhao's walk.
Dai Ying and Bai Xiuxiu silently followed behind, hoping that the two in front wouldn't cause any more trouble.
They were already desensitized to the stares of the passersby.
"What pretty girls, why are they dressed like that?"
"Is that the other side's father? He looks a lot like him. What kind of taste is that?"
"Hmm~ I feel like that man looks familiar. He seems to be a celebrity, but I can't quite remember."
"Those two guys walk so arrogantly!"
The surrounding gossip didn't affect Huo Yuhao and his group.
Dai Ying now only hoped that her younger brother wouldn't get beaten to death for walking like that when he returned to his original timeline.
Huo Yuhao led Dai Ying and the others to a prime viewing spot, and from his storage soul tool, he gave each of them a small stool, saying,
"Sit down and watch the match."
"Is the Star Luo Empire out of their minds?"
"We spent hundreds of gold soul coins, and there's not even a single chair."
"Did they learn this from Shrek Academy's cafeteria?"
Huo Yuhao couldn't help but complain wildly.
Hundreds of gold soul coins and not even a single chair?
No wonder the Star Luo Empire's All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Tournament was receiving a flood of negative reviews online.
Would it kill them to provide a few chairs? Or is the lack of chairs some kind of bizarre, fundamental logic of the Douluo Continent?
Xu Jiawei, the emperor of the Star Luo Empire, did indeed attend Shrek Academy in his early years, and might have really learned something from the cafeteria.
Dai Ying chimed in from the side,
"Exactly."
"Even Shrek Academy's Soul Fighting Area has seats."
Huo Yuhao ignored the envious looks from those around him, but many others suddenly realized they could bring their own chairs.
"Please sit down, all of you."
"You kind-hearted little devil from the Huo family, do you know what to shout when your sister goes on stage?"
Huo Zhanji nodded vigorously, his black eyes seemingly burning with flames as he said,
"I know!"
"I'll shout it out loud!"
"And then hone a strong heart!"
"No need!"
"Mom and Dad, if my little brother becomes a muscle-bound man, a superman of Star Luo City, you won't blame me, right?!"
Dai Ying's heart screamed with a sharp crack. Her little brother was already completely shaped like her father in this timeline.
She could only silently pray that Huo Zhanji hadn't gone too far astray, and that he could be corrected back to his original timeline.
After all the spectators had taken their seats, representatives from 133 academies arrived at the contestants' area.
Shrek Academy was the most eye-catching.
"Maidemus, everyone's watching us!"
Bai E smiled brightly, turning around to wave and greet the people around him, like a white smiling Samoyed.
Medemos crossed his arms and said calmly,
"Stop grinning like an idiot."
"Those people's eyes weren't friendly."
"Scrutiny, hostility, incomprehension—they're not friends."
Medemos's golden eyes gleamed slightly as he glared at the surrounding gazes, which clearly shifted, obviously intimidated.
Even without his Martial Soul, the Golden Lion King's majesty remained undiminished.
"Actually, it's nothing."
"We're just opponents, not mortal enemies."
"We each have our own stance. After the fight, we might even become friends."
"Just like Xiao Hongchen, we became friends after the fight too."
Bai E scratched his head, a smile on his face.
Medemos didn't say anything more and followed the group to the Shrek Academy's contestant area.
After a brief moment of fear, the surrounding contestants re-examined Shrek Academy.
"So young!"
"Are all the Shrek Academy contestants this year under fifteen?"
"Are they crazy?!"
"Could the reforms have ruined Shrek Academy?"
"This year, I think our Yunluo Academy might just crush Shrek!"
At this moment, Xu Jiawei and the Star Luo Empress silently arrived at the city wall, their gazes purposefully fixed on the Shrek Academy area.
"Shrek Academy really chose to send these kids to the competition."
"Fourteen kids, the highest cultivation level is only Soul King. This time, Shrek Academy's chances are slim."
Xu Jiawei shook his head.
He was very responsible towards Shrek Academy, partly because he had once been a student there and greatly admired them, and partly because he was wary of such a powerful neighbor.
"Chen Ze, come here for a moment."
A man wearing a python robe, whose high status was immediately apparent,
was the Prime Minister of the Star Luo Empire.
The Prime Minister bowed respectfully and said,
"Your Majesty, what are your orders?"
Xu Jiawei pointed to the area near Shrek Academy and said,
"Go quietly over there and ask the leader of Shrek Academy. Tell him that the Star Luo Empire can find a way to grant them a special privilege, allowing them to skip the elimination rounds."
The Prime Minister was startled, but as a high-ranking official, he quickly understood the Emperor's meaning.
This was to give Shrek Academy face; if they agreed, Shrek Academy would owe a favor; even if they didn't, they would still leave a good impression.
"Yes!"
No sooner had the Prime Minister left than Di Tian led the ferocious beasts from the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest to the imperial city.
They had been personally invited by Xu Jiawei to the palace to witness this grand event for humanity.
Xu Jiawei and the Star Luo Empress immediately greeted them with smiles.
"Beast God Crown..."
When the two of them saw the situation of these ferocious beasts, their smiles froze instantly, and their lips twitched involuntarily.
"Your Majesty, Beast God, what's going on with them?"
Xu Jiawei received a message from Di Tian last night, knowing that the other party had caused a great commotion and had even helped him cover it up through the magic network. He didn't know the specifics, as Di Tian hadn't told him.
Now he probably knew, because all the male beasts behind Di Tian were injured.
Xiong Jun's right cheek was visibly swollen, Wan Yao Wang was pale, and Chi Wang appeared fine on the surface, but his legs were trembling.
Di Tian said nonchalantly,
"It's nothing serious."
"They were sick, so I helped treat them."
"Xiong Jun had a toothache, so I pulled one for him."
"Wan Yao Wang got love-struck, so I corrected it with the Black Dragon Sword."
"Chi Wang had a stomachache, so I cured him with bloodletting therapy."
Xu Jiawei suppressed his twitching lips and said, "It's good that they're cured."
"Otherwise, I have the imperial physicians here who can help."
Di Tian waved his hand, stood on the city wall looking at the arena ahead, his golden eyes watching the group of human prodigies, lost in thought.
Soon, Di Tian felt a strange, yet undisguised gaze upon him.
Somewhat puzzled, he looked towards the audience area, then froze. He saw Gu Yuena, holding a small flag and leading her students.
Behind her, a familiar little blond boy stared at him.
Gu Yuena's lips moved slightly, and Di Tian immediately deciphered the message.
"What are you doing in the Star Luo Imperial City?"
"Weren't you in the Star Dou Great Forest?"
Di Tian scratched his head sheepishly. He suddenly remembered that his master had indeed messaged him yesterday saying he was coming to Star Luo City.
After indulging in a feast yesterday, he had been busy educating Xiong Jun and the others, neglecting his master and forgetting to reply to his message.
He hadn't expected the two of them to meet under these circumstances—the subordinate enjoying luxury on high ground while his master was busy working on the ground.
Moreover, there were actually seats on the Imperial City walls, and Di Tian now didn't know whether he should sit down or not.
(End of Chapter)
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