About ten minutes later, all participating academy teams had entered the venue. They lined up in the center of the huge Fighting Soul Arena according to the instructions.
Due to the previous commotion and their overly conspicuous school uniforms, the Shrek Academy A group of people were arranged at the very back of all the teams, appearing out of place and somewhat isolated.
On the VIP platform not far away, several important figures with extraordinary Aura were already seated.
The most striking were the three in the central main seats.
In the middle was an old man, dressed in a luxurious long robe embroidered with golden-red swan patterns, wearing a brilliant jeweled crown. Although his face showed a hint of age, his brows exuded an undeniable majesty and dignified Aura, looking somewhat similar to Xue Qinghe.
This person was none other than the supreme ruler of the Heaven Dou Empire—Emperor Xue Ye.
To Emperor Xue Ye's left, sat a middle-aged man with a refined and gentle temperament.
Although he wore a simple blue long robe, it could not conceal his extraordinary and refined temperament. His gaze was wise and profound. This person was Ning Fengzhi, the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, one of the Upper Three Sects.
And to Emperor Xue Ye's right was an old man dressed in the Spirit Hall's iconic red robe.
His face was thin, his eyes sharp with a hint of malice, and his fingers gently tapped the armrest. He was Salas, the Platinum Bishop of Spirit Hall stationed in the Heaven Dou Empire.
At this moment, Ning Fengzhi seemed to sense something. His gaze shifted and accurately landed on Dugu Bo and Tang Chuan, who were looking at him not far away.
Immediately after, he subtly nodded in their direction.
Just then, on one side of the VIP platform.
A middle-aged host, dressed in a tuxedo and full of vigor, walked out quickly. He held an exquisite amplification spirit tool, and his voice clearly spread throughout the entire Great Spirit Arena:
"Next, we invite His Majesty the Emperor, the supreme ruler of our Heaven Dou Empire, to declare the opening of this competition!"
As his resonant voice fell, all eyes instantly focused on the center of the VIP platform.
Emperor Xue Ye, seated in the main seat, slowly stood up with a majestic yet gentle smile. Immediately after, he raised his right hand and waved steadily and powerfully at the dense crowd of participating Soul Masters below and the countless spectators in the stands.
"Boom—!"
Instantly, thunderous applause and cheers, like a mountain roar and a tsunami, resounded throughout the Great Spirit Arena, and the atmosphere was instantly pushed to a climax.
Calmly taking the amplification spirit tool from the host's hand, Emperor Xue Ye placed it to his lips. Then, his gaze swept across the entire venue, and his majestic voice, imbued with Soul Power, was amplified by the spirit tool and clearly entered everyone's ears:
"I, Xue Ye, Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, on behalf of the Heaven Dou Empire and the organizers of this competition, solemnly declare—"
He paused slightly, then settled his Qi in his Dantian, and his voice suddenly rose, full of power and anticipation.
"The All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament is now open!"
Immediately, applause thundered again, and cheers rose and fell.
After declaring the opening, Emperor Xue Ye smiled and turned his gaze to the elegant Ning Fengzhi beside him, continuing in a steady voice: "Next, we invite School Master Ning, the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, one of our Upper Three Sects, to deliver a speech for this competition."
With that, he personally handed the amplification spirit tool to Ning Fengzhi.
Upon hearing this, Ning Fengzhi elegantly took the spirit tool and slowly stood up.
He did not speak immediately, but first lightly pressed his hands down, signaling for the still-boiling applause and cheers to temporarily subside.
Once the venue gradually quieted down and all eyes were focused on him, Ning Fengzhi placed the amplification spirit tool to his lips, his voice gentle yet extremely penetrating:
"I am delighted to be invited to speak at this grand event for young talents across the continent..."
He then delivered an official speech, encouraging young Soul Masters, looking forward to the exciting duels of the competition, and wishing glory to the Empire. His words were appropriate and his demeanor graceful.
As Ning Fengzhi's voice fell, he was about to return the amplification spirit tool when Salas, the Platinum Bishop of Spirit Hall, who had been sitting silently on the other side of Emperor Xue Ye, suddenly spoke: "School Master Ning, wait a moment. I wonder which of the twenty-eight teams in the Heaven Dou Empire's preliminary round you favor this time?"
His voice carried a subtle hint of provocation, and through the amplification spirit tool that Ning Fengzhi had not yet put down, it clearly spread throughout the entire venue.
Upon hearing this, Ning Fengzhi's face still maintained that gentle and refined smile, seemingly unsurprised by Salas's question. His gaze swept over the many academy teams below, and his voice, clear and undisguised, spread through the amplification spirit tool:
"Thank you, Bishop Salas, for asking. As for which team I favor…"
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