Chapitre 314: Preselection First Match, Begins (1)
The officiant on the side of the VIP platform said in a clear voice:
"Next, please welcome his majesty, Heaven Dou Empire's emperor, to declare this tournament open."
Just like Tang San guessed, the person seated in the center of the VIP section's first row, his majesty the Heaven Dou Empire's emperor wearing gold and red robes, slowly stood amidst thunderous applause.
Raising his right hand to wave at the spectator seats as well as the competing Spirit Masters below, the applause quickly stopped, and the vast space became quiet.
A grave and clear voice transmitted to the entire audience via sound amplifying spirit tools,
"I, emperor of Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Ye, represents Heaven Dou Empire, and also this time's tournament host to declare, the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament now open."
Applause thundered once again, cheers rising and falling. But in the center of the arena, Tang San suddenly discovered that this emperor's smiling expression was a bit forced, as if he himself wasn't particularly excited for this tournament.
After waiting for this round of applause to die down once again, the emperor continued:
"Here, I hope, the Spirit Masters participating in this tournament, can amply display their strength, and obtain good records. You are all the pride of Heaven Dou Empire. For the sake of the Empire's glory, display your brilliance."
Applause rose for a third time, and this time the eyes of the Spirit Masters in the center revealed a scorching brightness. To them, this tournament was the best stage to reveal themselves.
The emperor sat back in his seat, and the officiant's voice rose once again,
"Next, please welcome the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's school master, mister Ning Fengzhi, to address this time's tournament."
Along with Ning Fengzhi getting up, applause rose once again, and there were even more attentive gazes. Who didn't want to take a look at the grace of the Spirit Master world's number one Support Spirit Master.
Ning Fengzhi smiled slightly, holding both hands together,
"I'm very happy to be invited as an honored guest to this tournament opening. As school master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, I have already seen very many Spirit Masters grow. As the Continent's noblest vocation, each Spirit Master must experience many things to grow. In my experience, a sword's point comes from sharpening, and plum blossom fragrance follows bitter cold. The Spirit Masters joining this tournament are undoubtedly the elite of the young generation. Just as his majesty just said, I hope you can win honor for the Empire, and also for your own academies. The Empire needs your talent. Thank you."
Listening to Ning Fengzhi's address, the Heaven Dou emperor finally revealed a sincere smile.
The officiant said:
"School master Ning, you are the most formidable support system Spirit Master, so I represent the spectators of the battles this time to ask, among the twenty eight teams joining the Heaven Dou City district's preselection competition, which one do you support?"
Ning Fengzhi still wore a slight smile,
"Besides Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's first team entering the finals as seeds, among these twenty eight teams, I still think highly of one other. I think that they possess not only the capability to pass the preselection tournament, but at the same time may very possibly obtain the final victory of this Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament."
"Eh?"
The officiant said, astonished:
"May we know which team could gain school master Ning's favor?"
Ning Fengzhi smiled mysteriously, saying:
"As for which academy this team belongs to, forgive me for holding back the climax. For the moment I can't reveal it. But I believe, that the final champions of this tournament, will certainly belong to the Empire."
Sitting next to emperor Xue Ye, the platinum bishop at this moment opened the eyes he had so far kept almost closed. His eyes appeared very turbid, without any luster, and his gaze fell on the twenty eight competing teams in the center of the arena, as if searching for the team Ning Fengzhi spoke of.
By now the spectators had already begun discussing, everyone speculating on which academy Ning Fengzhi supported. With a bit of thought it was clear that Ning Fengzhi wouldn't be indicating Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's second team. Since their strength couldn't compare to the first team, how could they be the final champions? But there were twenty eight teams in the preselection tournament, and in the end only five teams could remain, how would it be so easy to guess.
Ning Fengzhi sat back down, and the officiant smiling said:
"I regret that school master Ning won't reveal the team he supports. Next, Heaven Dou City's Spirit Temple hall master, Spirit Hall platinum bishop, lord Salas, will conduct the preselection competition's first round draw. Afterwards, Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's secondary team will fight their first drawn matchup. This is also the only match today."
Platinum bishop Salas slowly stood, and was led by a maid to the side of the officiant, starting to draw the lots. He was apparently very unwilling to speak, and each pair of opponents he drew was announced by the officiant.
"Preselection competition first round, Blue Sunshine Academy versus Purple Star Academy."
"Preselection competition first round, Auckland Academy versus Blazing Radiance Academy."
"Preselection competition first round, Heaven Dou Imperial Academy versus Shrek Academy."
The Shrek Academy group didn't pay much attention to the rest of the matchups. When they heard their first opponent would actually be Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's second team, everyone couldn't help their expressions becoming grotesque.
Oscar muttered:
"Such an unlikely coincidence."
Ma Hongjun squeezed his fingers, issuing bone popping noises,
"Excellent. They aren't rushing us off. This time we'll let them have a look at what's called strength."
Tang San and Dai Mubai smiled wryly. They were naturally looking forward to fighting Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, but becoming the focus of the tournament's first day in their present attire, was really somewhat...
Not just the Shrek Academy people were astonished, the audience was too. The other academies might not have paid attention, but the Shrek Academy was really too gaudy, how couldn't they attract notice?
For a moment, jeers flowed continuously. Very many spectators were all shouting the word 'fraud', Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's second team was clearly looking for pushovers, and Shrek Academy didn't seem like a Spirit Master team as much as a pack of clowns.
The lottery done, that platinum bishop Salas swept his gaze across everyone, indifferently saying:
"I drew the lots, and sensed no falsehood. I swear on the honor of Spirit Hall. At the same time, I hereby declare, of the participating Spirit Master academy students, Spirit Hall will make an exception for anyone capable of reaching the finals, letting them directly enter Spirit Temple."
These words weren't anything to the spectators, but the Spirit Masters were already in an uproar.
What kind of place was Spirit Temple? It was the highest place in Spirit Hall apart from Supreme Pontiff Palace and Douluo Palace, in the entire Continent only the two great imperial capitals had one each. Supreme Pontiff Palace was for the Supreme Pontiff's use, and Douluo Palace was a symbolic existence. Therefore, the Spirit Temples' position were in fact the highest ranked institutions in Spirit Hall. To a Spirit Master, being able to directly enter Spirit Temple could be a shortcut to improving his strength. Not only would he have the best treatment, but all kinds of cultivation aids as well as Spirit Temple's prestige, no part lacked extreme attraction to ordinary Spirit Masters.
Hearing the platinum bishop's words, emperor Xue Ye's expression clearly dropped. Ning Fengzhi on his side softly shook his head at the emperor, and emperor Xue Ye's complexion eased somewhat.
The people nearby were behind them and naturally didn't catch this little exchange, and the Spirit Masters below were very far away. But, this didn't escape Tang San's Purple Demon Eye. He clearly saw the subtleties within, and combined with what Grandmaster had once told him about some matters, Tang San understood that the conflict between Spirit Hall and the Empire was already growing deeper and deeper, almost to the degree where it couldn't be reconciled. Otherwise, that platinum bishop wouldn't dare recruit outstanding Spirit Masters right in front of this emperor.
"Good, then next we will conduct the first match of the first round of the preselection competition, Heaven Dou Imperial Academy facing Shrek Academy. All competing academies leave the field. The two academies taking part in the match later please prepare. In one hour, the match will formally begin."
"Third brother, let me go up."
Fatty didn't pay the slightest attention to those contemptuous expressions in their surroundings, and spoke to Tang San while rubbing his fists and wiping his palms[4].
Tang San glared at him,
"We'll follow the original plan. No need to argue."
Tai Long laughed out loud and clapped Fatty's shoulder,
"Junior, don't worry. Later big brother will help you properly teach those Heaven Dou Imperial Academy fellows a lesson."
Fatty deflated like a ball. If one described his current expression with two words, it would be 'secret grudges'.
As a result of the other academies not competing today, after stepping off the field they directly left the rest area, guided by functionaries to specially prepared viewing platforms for competitors to watch the fights. Because the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy was the symbol of the Heaven Dou imperial family, they were naturally treated different from normal academies and didn't rest here. Inside the vast rest area, very quickly remained only the Shrek Academy team.
Flender, Grandmaster, and Liu Erlong weren't here. Clearly, this match was left in their control.
Dai Mubai lowered his voice:
"Little San, you plan it."
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone