After leaving the Star Dou Great Forest, Qin Ming traveled day and night, leading everyone back to Soto City.
Yu Xiaowei explained his unauthorized departure by saying he had a stomachache and went to the forest to relieve himself, only to find everyone gone when he returned.
Qin Ming was very dissatisfied with this perfunctory explanation but didn't say anything more.
After arriving in Soto City, they rested for only one night before setting off again.
Three days later, the group finally arrived at Star Luo City, the capital of the Star Luo Empire.
"Carriages are prohibited from entering Star Luo City."
They were stopped by the guards at the city gate.
The people in the carriage exchanged glances. Qin Ming got out and took out the academy certificate issued by Meng Shenji, politely saying,
"We are students of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy invited by the Star Luo Royal Academy to participate in an academy exchange. Please make way."
After seeing the certificate, the soldier showed a look of disgust, speaking with a look of disdain.
"So what? This is Star Luo City, and you have to follow our rules, especially you Tian Dou people. No carriages are allowed in the city. You either store your carriages in our stables, or go back to Tian Dou." "
You—"
Qin Ming was speechless with anger. It wasn't his first time in Star Luo City; when did this rule come about? He hadn't known about it.
But, thinking it best to avoid trouble, he still left his carriages in the stables.
The group had no choice but to walk to the Star Luo Royal Academy.
Seeing carriages constantly coming and going on the streets of Star Luo City, Qin Ming bit his lip, seething with anger.
The other students were also red-faced, their fists clenched tightly.
Tian Dou people had always been subjected to various forms of unequal treatment in the Star Luo Empire.
Whether in terms of national strength or military power, the Star Luo Empire far surpassed the Tian Dou Empire.
Within the Tian Dou Empire, there were also five kingdoms within a kingdom—four great kingdoms and one great duchy. Let alone dealing with the Star Luo Empire, they were lucky if they didn't just avoid internal strife.
The Star Luo Empire was different. Their competition for the throne was exceptionally fierce, though the methods were brutal. However, the emperors who rose through this process were all outstanding.
The major kingdoms within its borders, though called kingdoms, were practically no different from provinces.
If it weren't for the Spirit Hall standing between the two countries, hindering their conflict, the Star Luo Empire would likely have already launched an offensive against the Heaven Dou Empire.
Therefore, the Star Luo people held the Heaven Dou people in utter contempt, considering them lackeys hiding behind the Spirit Hall, otherwise they would have been wiped out long ago.
"Backwardness invites aggression,"
Yu Xiaowei understood this principle well. Although equally displeased, he didn't react as intensely as Qin Ming and the others.
The Heaven Dou Empire had indeed fallen into disrepair in recent years.
Not only was imperial power fragmented, but the royal family was also thrown into chaos by Qian Renxue.
And the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, which should have been cultivating talent for the empire, had become a place where anyone could enter by paying money, with student quality that was utterly garbage, getting utterly thrashed in every exchange meeting. It
was normal for them to be looked down upon.
Yu Xiaowei clenched his fist tightly. "If you want face, your fist has to be strong."
As they strolled through the streets of Xingluo City, the group clearly noticed the high proportion of Soul Masters.
Unlike the dazzling lights and bustling activity of Tiandou City, Xingluo City had a much more somber atmosphere. There were few shops offering entertainment; instead, most catered to Soul Masters.
The atmosphere in the group became somewhat somber. The group, who had been chatting and laughing before, walked in silence until they reached Xingluo Royal Academy.
Unlike Tiandou Royal Academy, which was located outside the city, Xingluo Royal Academy was situated in the heart of Xingluo City.
A lazy, blond-haired youth was waiting for them at the entrance. Behind him stood a tall, slender girl, smiling, clinging tightly to his arm.
Seeing Qin Ming and the others' distinctive school uniforms, the youth smiled and said,
"Welcome to Xingluo Royal Academy, please follow me."
"Okay,"
Qin Ming replied indifferently, leading the group into the academy with the youth.
The difference became even more apparent upon entering.
At the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy, couples were everywhere, hugging and cuddling, calling out to friends—only a handful of people were seriously cultivating.
Here, however, people were either rushing about, heading straight into the simulation zone, or returning exhausted from it.
Yu Tianheng and his group fell even more silent. Without comparison, there's no hurt; their pride had been utterly shattered.
"Please wait here, everyone. Chief Zhu will come to receive you shortly,"
the blond-haired youth said, leading them to a reception room before smiling and gesturing for his departure.
After he left, Qin Ming suddenly spoke up.
"This is Prince Davis of the Star Luo Empire, and behind him is the future Crown Princess, Zhu Zhuyun."
"These two are the Soul Masters from the Star Luo Royal Academy, and your main opponents in this academy exchange."
Exclamations of surprise came from Yu Tianheng and his group. They never expected that a crown prince would personally come to receive them.
Even more unexpected was that these two were already Soul Masters.
Their Royal Fighting Team's highest-ranking member, Yu Tianheng, was only level 38, having just leveled up a few days prior.
A sense of powerlessness welled up within them.
Seeing everyone's disheartened demeanor, Qin Ming gave a low shout,
"Cheer up! Even if we lose, we can't lose face for the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy, and we certainly can't disgrace the Heavenly Dou Empire!"
Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door.
A tall, stern-faced middle-aged man walked in and introduced himself immediately.
"I am Zhu Haoran, the chief student of the Star Luo Royal Academy."
Qin Ming gave a polite smile and extended his hand.
"Chief Zhu, hello, I am Qin Ming. I wonder how your school has arranged tomorrow's academy exchange meeting?"
However, Zhu Haoran did not shake his hand but stared at Qin Ming coldly as he continued.
"Tomorrow morning at eight o'clock, Star Luo Battle Arena, individual elimination rounds. We will each send seven team members to take turns on stage."
"Losers are eliminated, winners continue to face the next opponent until all are eliminated." "
The day after tomorrow morning at eight o'clock, Star Luo Battle Arena, team competition, one match to decide the winner."
"The rest of the rules are the same as in previous years."
After saying this, he turned and left, as if he had only come to inform Qin Ming and his team of the time and place of the competition.
"This is outrageous."
Qin Ming, his face flushed red, gritted his teeth and spat out these words.
The next morning at eight o'clock.
The high-ranking members of Star Luo Royal Academy, as well as some royal family members dressed in magnificent golden robes, sat in the VIP section of the audience, waiting to watch the competition.
Below the stage.
The Royal Battle Team, burdened with worries, had already entered the arena, nervously awaiting the upcoming battle.
As Star Luo Royal Academy entered, Zhu Haoran came over to inform them.
"Five minutes left, prepare your order of appearance."
Qin Ming breathed a sigh of relief and said softly.
"Let's proceed according to the plan we discussed yesterday. Tianheng will go first, and Xiaowei will be the last."
"No, I want to go first."
Yu Xiaowei said in a deep voice while warming up.
Qin Ming was taken aback. Just as he was about to stop him, Yu Xiaowei smiled.
"The two Soul Masters from Xingluo will definitely go first. I'll go and beat those two, and then my nephew and the others can go. Wouldn't that increase our chances of winning?"
"But..."
"Don't worry, this won't cost extra."
Qin Ming's lips twitched. Did this Yu Xiaowei really not know how much soul power and stamina a gauntlet battle consumes?
But seeing his insistence, and considering that there was some truth to it, Qin Ming gritted his teeth and agreed.
As Zhu Haoran announced the contestants' entrance, Yu Xiaowei slowly walked to the center of the Soul Arena.
Seeing Davis walking towards him, he revealed a strange smile and then shouted,
"Hey, Zhu Haoran, I'm talking to you!!!"
Zhu Haoran frowned and said with displeasure.
"Speak quickly, don't delay the match."
"I'm asking you, in the individual competition, if I single-handedly beat all eight of them, do I win?"
"Yes."
"Then in the team competition, if I single-handedly beat an entire team, does that count as a win?"
"Yes, what exactly do you want to say? If you don't start now, I'll kick you out for delaying the match."
Zhu Haoran stared coldly at Yu Xiaowei, as if he would be kicked off the stage if he said another word.
"I want to say, these eight oddballs aren't enough for me. Go find two more people, I want to fight ten."
Yu Xiaowei's words
stunned not only Zhu Haoran, but Qin Ming in the audience also panicked and shouted loudly.
"Xiaowei, stop messing around. If you don't want to fight, get down here."
Ignoring Qin Ming, Yu Xiaowei stared at Zhu Haoran and said, word by word.
"Are you deaf?"
"I said, I! Want! To! Fight! Ten!"
...
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