15 days later, the two-nation challenge officially began.
The Heaven Dou royal family had already announced the news to the public, including the schedule and rules of the challenge.
After nearly a month of anticipation, every resident of Heaven Dou was eagerly awaiting the competition.
Although most of them were not Soul Masters.
Although the initial purpose of the competition was just a secret rivalry between two emperors,
the scale of this national competition still firmly hooked the curiosity of every resident.
After all, such a competition involving national affairs would naturally ignite everyone's enthusiasm without reservation.
Who wouldn't want their empire to win? Let
's talk more about this two-nation challenge.
This is a real-time competition, with each country sending seven outstanding young Soul Masters, required to be under 20 years old, organized by academy.
The purpose is to put the fresh blood of the two countries together for comparison, with the participants representing the academies, and the academies representing the empires.
The outcome is no longer a simple matter of who wins the bet, but rather a comparison of the two nations' Soul Master levels and national strength.
Each representative team must participate in a challenge match every three days, with the target randomly drawn on the first day.
If a team fails to initiate a challenge within three days, it automatically loses, and the next target is selected.
The results of each match, including the details, are summarized and broadcast on the second day.
Flying Soul Masters accompanying the team travel between the two nations, posting descriptions of the matches on bulletin boards in their respective imperial capitals, allowing residents to learn about the battles from afar.
Following the masquerade social event held by the Spirit Hall, this is the second incredibly grand and widely anticipated event in recent years.
For the Heaven Dou Empire, the most anticipated question is: who will be the representative team sent by the empire?
This has not been publicly announced beforehand.
Many people wait at the gates of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, ready to see off the Heaven Dou Empire's representative team as they head to the "battlefield."
But when the imperial army drove its carriages past the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy, everyone was stunned…
The Heavenly Dou Empire hadn't even sent students from the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy this time?!
Anyone on the street would know that the academy representing the Heavenly Dou Empire was the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy!
People began to follow the imperial army through the streets of Heavenly Dou City, eager to see which academy the empire had chosen this time.
The imperial army marched further and further away, almost out of the city center, and the expressions on the faces of the people following behind grew increasingly varied.
Finally, the imperial army stopped in front of an academy whose name was almost unheard of.
Purple Star Academy?
The people stood blankly at the entrance of Purple Star Academy, watching the imperial army stop there.
The leading soldier shouted a command, and the armored soldiers quickly dispersed, forming two neat columns at the entrance, a welcoming formation.
…
Inside Purple Star Academy.
Song Ming extended his trembling right hand and placed it on Chi Xiu's shoulder. He swallowed hard, looking excitedly at the seven neatly dressed people before him.
"Children, children, don't be nervous... It's our honor to bring glory to the empire..."
Chi Xiu twitched his lips. "Teacher Song, could you please stop shaking your legs..."
"Sorry!"
Song Ming quickly exhaled and straightened up.
As the team leader, he was a little flustered; he hadn't slept well last night, feeling like he was carrying the weight of an entire nation on his shoulders.
Soon, the leader of the imperial army entered the academy gate.
"Please, the seven members of the Heaven Dou Empire team, board the carriage. We will take you to Wuhun City for the handover ceremony with the Star Luo Empire team."
"Thank you for your help. Hello, I am Song Ming, the team leader."
Song Ming quickly smiled and stepped forward to shake hands.
The army leader, however, remained unmoved: "Please board the carriage as soon as possible."
Song Ming awkwardly withdrew his hand, becoming even more nervous.
Chi Xiu then turned to the six team members behind him and ordered:
"Everyone, perk up! If nothing unexpected happens, there will be a match today! Get ready to fight!"
"Yes, Captain!"
...
"Look, look! The team is coming out!"
"Is that the captain wearing the black mask? That's so strange, why is he wearing a mask?"
"But don't you guys think he has a lot of charisma?!"
"I think so too... wearing white clothes and a black mask, he looks like a very clean-cut young man."
"So what if he has charisma? Can he use it in battle?"
"I don't know what the Empire was thinking, sending an academy I've never even heard of to participate. This captain doesn't seem like he'll be able to take a hit."
"Wow! Look at those four girls following behind! They're so beautiful!"
"Holy crap! I remember three of them were the top five beauties in the masquerade ballot!"
"Wow! They're actually from Purple Star Academy!"
Ning Rongrong frowned slightly upon hearing this: "I really want to punch these people. Can't we just wait and see how good we are? They're already making random comments before the match even starts!"
She was mainly angry at these people's evaluation of Chi Xiu.
Chi Xiu remained expressionless: "Get in the carriage."
After the seven boarded the carriage, the imperial army escorted them, and they headed out of the city.
At the same time, a notice was posted on the bulletin board at the city gate.
The people immediately crowded around, jostling to see it, some even reading it aloud.
"Heaven Dou Empire Team."
"Team Member Liu Dezhi, Martial Soul: Illusion, Level 31, Control-type Soul Master."
"Team Member Sun Dabao, Martial Soul: Rock Bear, Level 36, Defense-type Soul Master." "Team Member
Bi'e, Martial Soul: Emerald Swan, Level 37, Healing-type Soul Master."
"Team Member Xiao Wu, Martial Soul: Soft Bone Charming Rabbit, Level 37, Agility-type Soul Master."
"Team Member Zhu Zhuqing, Martial Soul: Netherworld Cat, Level 36, Agility-type Soul Master."
"Team Member Ning Rongrong, Martial Soul: Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, Level 37, Support-type Soul Master."
"Captain Chi Xiu, Martial Soul Unknown, Level Unknown, Power-type Soul Master!"
The contents of the notice board, read from top to bottom, seemed quite normal at first glance.
Upon seeing the last line, almost everyone's eyes widened in unison, their expressions filled with astonishment.
"This is fucking hilarious!"
"This captain is ridiculous! Two unknowns?!"
"Who exactly is Chi Xiu? Is he famous in the Soul Master world? Why would he be the captain of the Heaven Dou team?"
"The name sounds familiar, but I don't really remember him. We don't even know what he looks like, let alone his strength. Can he even compete?" "
Don't even mention the captain, I don't have high hopes for this academy. I wonder if those four beauties can even handle it..."
"The Empire made a truly foolish decision."
A chorus of sighs erupted from the onlookers; the competition hadn't even started, and they'd already given up hope.
At this moment, a young man suddenly shook his head and sighed, "Sigh, if only 0000 were here, let him be the captain representing our Heaven Dou Empire in the competition, tsk tsk..."
He laughed as he said this, as if imagining 0000 utterly dominating the opponent.
"0000 is an absolute faith!"
"Agreed, 0000 could definitely crush them!"
"But he has no intention of showing his face."
"What trash is Chi Xiu! I can't stand him anymore, damn it!"
"Didn't they say the first battle is today? The results will be tomorrow?"
"Yes, but I can't bear to watch. I heard the first match is against Star Luo Royal Academy, and he's bound to lose. I'm not going to watch the results tomorrow!"
Most of those complaining about Chi Xiu were men.They thought that although the captain was wearing a mask, he was obviously a pretty boy.
Could such a pretty boy have any strength?
Not even a dog would believe it.
...
Wuhun City.
The reception hall.
Inside, it was magnificent and spacious, with the delegations of the two countries waiting on either side for the handover.
On the Tiandou side, the head seat was occupied by an elderly man with gray hair, dressed in luxurious robes, his eyes closed in meditation.
Emperor Xue Ye!
Xue Qinghe sat in a lower seat, his brows slightly furrowed as he listened to a woman beside him speak.
"Your Highness, Tiandou has a lot of complaints about the delegation we sent, especially after they learned that the Xingluo Empire sent the Xingluo Royal Academy, while we didn't send our own royal academy..."
"It has already subtly stirred up public anger."
Upon hearing this, Xue Qinghe looked at the woman who spoke; she was an extremely hot and beautiful woman.
Xue Qinghe: "You also don't think highly of our team?"
The curvaceous woman lowered her head: "Of course not, and I don't understand Your Highness's reasons for doing this."
Xue Qinghe smiled upon hearing this: "The reason, of course, is because of that captain."
"Ah? Because of him? He's currently the most controversial person. Many people have never heard of him and think he's completely unworthy of the captain's position."
"Don't worry, his name will soon spread throughout the continent, just like 0000."
Xue Qinghe said, then looked at the woman beside him: "White Bird, the Empire sent you with the team because they value your fast wings, so they sent you to record the competition, not to make you look down on your own team."
Upon hearing this, the woman's face panicked, and she immediately knelt down: "Your subordinate knows her crime!"
Just then, a powerful voice came from outside.
"The Heavenly Dou Empire's team has arrived at Martial Soul City!"
At the same time, Emperor Xue Ye opened his eyes and turned to look at the seat in the middle of the hall.
Sitting in the highest position was a stunningly beautiful empress.
Bibi Dong awoke from her nap, her beautiful eyes opening to reveal a cold and noble aura emanating from her.
She parted her bright red lips and said calmly, "Let's begin."
The next moment, Bibi Dong rose from her seat, holding her diamond-encrusted scepter, and walked out of the hall.
On either side of her followed the emperors of two different countries and their respective princes.
Once outside the hall, they looked down at the plaza through a railing. The Heavenly Dou Empire's delegation was slowly approaching.
Meanwhile, the Star Luo Empire's delegation had been waiting for some time.
Seven people alighted from each imperial army's carriage and walked towards the opposing force.
Bibi Dong gazed at the scene below, her eyes lingering on Chi Xiu, who wore a black mask.
"I heard the Heavenly Dou Empire didn't send a Royal Academy? And the captain of their delegation is just an unknown nobody,"
the Star Luo Emperor said with a smile, his tone teasing. After all, the captain of the Star Luo delegation was his own son.
A comparison was inevitable.
Xue Ye remained silent, instead looking at Bibi Dong standing in the center.
"What does Your Holiness think of this match?"
Xue Qinghe asked, also glancing at the woman in the center, whose figure and appearance were undeniably stunning.
Bibi Dong's red lips curved slightly.
"I recognize that boy named Chi Xiu."
The Star Luo Emperor was quite surprised. "Oh? Your Majesty knows him? What is Your Majesty's opinion of him?"
Bibi Dong replied coldly,
"No need for my evaluation. Your opinion of him will likely change drastically when he comes to challenge the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."
The Star Luo Emperor was slightly taken aback; it was rare to hear words of praise from Bibi Dong.
Could it be that the Heavenly Dou side truly had a trump card up their sleeve?
"That masked captain, whom many people don't think is their trump card?"
Xue Ye smiled upon hearing this.
He hadn't spoken before because he wasn't sure himself.
But now that Bibi Dong had said so, he could finally relax.
...
After getting off the carriage, Chi Xiu's gaze naturally drifted towards the several steps beside him.
From this angle, the woman standing in the middle seemed breathtakingly beautiful.
Qian Renxue said she cried?
Chi Xiu shook his head inwardly, wondering if Bibi Dong was in a better mood.
"Oh ho! Why isn't it Yu Tianheng?"
Just then, seven people slowly approached from the opposite direction. The man in the lead was tall with striking blond hair.
Beside him was a woman in a black leather skirt, who seemed to have a good relationship with the blond man.
Davis and Zhu Zhuyun.
If these two relied on their Martial Soul Fusion Skill, they could probably be invincible in the Heaven Dou Empire, since there weren't many powerful sects and academies there.
On the other hand, Xingluo was facing numerous difficulties.
Chi Xiu looked at Zhu Zhuqing, and as he expected, Zhu Zhuqing's face was pale, especially after seeing Zhu Zhuyun.
"Zhuqing."
Chi Xiu smiled and took Zhu Zhuqing's hand.
Her small hand was cold and trembling slightly
because Zhu Zhuyun was staring intently at her sister.
Davis's attention was entirely on Chi Xiu.
He laughed, "Your first match today should be a challenge against the Star Luo Royal Academy. Don't worry, even without us, you still can't beat the rest of the Star Luo Royal Academy."
"If they sent that kid Yu Tianheng, maybe they could win. I don't know what the Heaven Dou Empire is thinking this time, sending a rookie academy to deal with the bet? Interesting."
Chi Xiu looked at him with a cold smile, "Oh? Then you're in luck. The Heaven Dou Royal Academy is full of useless people. I bet you'll win your first challenge today."
Davis was somewhat surprised.
The two teams slowly passed each other, each member staring intently at the other.
Except for Bi Ji.
The girl's mind was blank, and she would occasionally twitch her delicate, upturned nose and sniff something.
"The Lord's aura has even followed... but why haven't I seen her at all..."
Chi Xiu led the six to the carriage on the Star Luo Empire's side before releasing Zhu Zhuqing's small hand.
"I'm sorry, my heart is already in turmoil before the competition even starts."
Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head in frustration.
Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong looked at her strangely, as they didn't know Zhu Zhuqing's identity.
Chi Xiu comforted her, "It's alright, you're not the same as before."
In the past half month, Chi Xiu had provided each of his six teammates with immortal herbs, and everyone's soul power level had successfully increased.
Liu Dezhi had increased the most, a full 10 levels.
"I'm your competition messenger, my name is Bai Niao. Get in the carriage, today's first battle is to challenge the Star Luo Royal Academy, it officially starts this afternoon."
Bai Niao looked at the seven unfamiliar young men and women in front of him with a complicated expression.
Only one member of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School could be considered reliable, the others... could they be trusted?
PS. The big plot is coming, the excitement level will not be lower than the Masked Dating Show!
The big plot is coming, the excitement level will not be lower than the Masked Dating Show!
====================
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