If the strength of the four elemental academy teams in this tournament was lacking, wouldn't that mean at least a 25-in-2 chance of advancing, or even a return to the original 28-in-5 format?
Even if it was just 25 teams fighting for two spots, compared to 24 teams fighting for one, the probability had nearly doubled.
Once a team made it past the preliminaries, they could compete in the promotion matches and ultimately the finals.
For non-elemental academies and the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's secondary team, this was extremely significant.
After all, among the 22 advanced soul master academies, some had never qualified for the Soul Master Tournament's promotion rounds since their founding.
Although their chances were as slim as the national men's soccer team making it to the World Cup again, as long as there was even the slightest hope, it couldn't be said to be completely impossible.
"Hiss—"
The next moment, the silent waiting area was filled with the sound of people sharply inhaling.
Clearly, some of the academy instructors with strong spiritual power had just sensed the general strength of the Blazing, Skywater, and Divine Wind teams.
Their eyes were opened.
The main members of these teams all had soul power above rank 40, but most importantly—Divine Wind Academy had a rank 50 Soul King, Skywater Academy had two Soul Kings, and Blazing Academy had three!
Even though their perception wasn't entirely precise, and they couldn't determine the exact levels of Mu Yang and the others, even if they were just rank 51 Soul Kings, that was already beyond what the other teams could handle.
Unless they had martial soul fusion techniques or some other trump cards, these three elemental academy teams were simply overwhelming in raw strength.
It turned out the legendary reputation of the elemental academies wasn't just talk—it was backed by real power!
Sweeping her gaze across the area, Mu Xiyue led her team to the front row of the waiting area and took their seats.
Blazing Academy sat in the center, flanked by Sky Water Academy and Divine Wind Academy.
As for sitting in the corners? That was something only teams that wanted to keep a low profile or lacked confidence would do.
As one of the seeded teams in the preliminary round, the elemental academy teams were destined to stand out—low profile was never an option.
After taking their seats, the group quietly waited for the opening ceremony to begin.
Of course, today wasn't just about the ceremony—there was also a match.
The Heaven Dou Royal Academy's secondary team would randomly draw an opponent for the first round of the preliminary group stage.
After all, if the event was just an opening ceremony with no real competition, it wouldn't be fair to the ticket-paying audience.
As for the registration process, Mu Xiyue, Feng Zhen, and Qiu Shuping—who led the three teams—didn't have to worry about such trivial tasks.
Everything had been arranged in advance by other teachers, including booking hotels, handling registration, and gathering intelligence on opponents—all of which were handled by specialists.
The only responsibility Mu Xiyue and the other two instructors had was to deter troublemakers, preventing sore losers from resorting to underhanded tactics outside the arena.
Not long after they sat down, Thunderclap Academy's team arrived, led by Thunderclap Academy's headmaster, Lei Batian, himself.
Hu Yan Hong (Elephant Armored Academy's Headmaster): Four elemental academies? Where's my Elephant Armored Academy?!
"Hm? Fire Academy's headmaster and Water Academy's headmaster aren't—uh, y-you…?"
Lei Batian had originally planned to ask about Huo Lie and Shui Yanyu, but when he saw that Blazing Academy and Sky Water Academy were instead led by Mu Xiyue and Qiu Shuping, he stopped mid-sentence.
It wasn't just their presence that shocked him—it was the aura Mu Xiyue was radiating.
In Lei Batian's memory, Mu Xiyue had only been an eight-ring Soul Douluo—at least, that was the case during the last Soul Master Tournament.
Back then, she had just reached rank 80.
Before that, during the Five Elemental Academies Conference concerning the whale glue issue, Mu Xiyue had still been a seven-ring Soul Sage.
But now, her strength had undergone a complete transformation.
Although Lei Batian couldn't pinpoint her exact level, he could faintly sense a fire attribute aura strong enough to pose a fatal threat to him.
And Lei Batian himself was a rank 88 Soul Douluo!
Though he wasn't a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, his martial soul was still powerful, and his soul ring configuration was optimal—making him one of the strongest eight-ring Soul Douluos.
For someone to threaten his life, they had to be either an extraordinarily talented Soul Douluo of the same level or a Titled Douluo!
"Phew—Mu Headmaster, congratulations!"
Taking a deep breath to suppress his shock, Lei Batian slightly bowed and clasped his hands in congratulations.
Although it was hard to believe, the weak had no right to question the strong.
No matter what, from this moment onward, he and Mu Xiyue, who had become a Titled Douluo, were no longer on the same level.
If he hadn't noticed, that was one thing—but now that he had, it was only natural to show the proper respect.
"You're too kind, Headmaster Lei. Huo Lie and Yan Yu had matters to attend to and aren't at the academy, so Shuping and I are leading the two teams."
Mu Xiyue smiled and nodded before taking a moment to size up Thunderclap Academy's team behind Lei Batian.
Hmm… confirmed.
Not a single Soul King.
The highest-ranked member, one of the "Blue Lightning Twin Stars," Yu Tianxin, was only a rank 45 Soul Ancestor.
It seemed that among the Four Elemental Academies, Thunderclap Academy was at the bottom this time.
But then again, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had the "Blue Lightning Twin Stars," the Haotian Clan once had the "Haotian Twin Stars," and even the Spirit Hall had pushed the title of the "Golden Generation".
Did that mean her Blazing Academy should have something like the "Blazing Trio"?
As she pondered this, Mu Xiyue subtly glanced at Mu Yang, Huo Wu, and Huo Wushuang.
Mu Yang, Huo Wu, and Huo Wushuang: "..."
Coincidentally, Qiu Shuping was thinking about something similar.
With how outstanding Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er were in Sky Water Academy, wouldn't it be fitting to call them the "Sky Twin Beauties"?
Not only were the sisters younger than the Blue Lightning Twin Stars, but they were also stronger.
It was only natural for them to have a resounding title.
Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er: "..."
As the 28 participating teams of the Heaven Dou Division gradually arrived, it wasn't long before the tournament staff entered the waiting area to organize the teams for the opening ceremony.
The first to enter wasn't Blazing Academy, Divine Wind Academy, or Sky Water Academy—instead, it was Thunderclap Academy.
There was no other reason for this.
In the previous Soul Master Tournament, Thunderclap Academy had ranked right below the Royal Battle Team.
And since the Royal Battle Team's main Team wasn't present, the honor of leading the procession naturally fell to Thunderclap Academy.
Of course, the entry order of the teams wasn't entirely based on past rankings—only the first team to enter was selected this way.
Following Thunderclap Academy, the next teams to enter were Divine Wind Academy, Blazing Academy, Sky Water Academy, and Elephant Armored Academy—the Four Elemental Academies showcasing their prestige in the Heaven Dou Division of the tournament.
The sixth team to enter was the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's secondary team, followed by the 22 advanced soul master academies within the Heaven Dou Empire's jurisdiction.
For additional chapters....
Versatile mage {40 chapters}
Douluo Dalu:This Soul Master is to Weird {30 Chapters}
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