The next day, the first round of the round-robin tournament ended.
When compared to the elimination round, the round-robin tournament was much more peaceful. Every single team continuously revised their battle tactics, and the strategies used in every single round of the tournament were more detailed than the last.
However, it wasn't as exciting as the elimination round. But anyone could tell that the first round of the round-robin tournament was the calm before the storm.
Many of the teams couldn't afford to lose the coming matches anymore.
Night
"Teacher Wang Yan, where are we going?" Bei Bei asked.
The entire Shrek team are out of the Grand Star Luo Hotel and in the streets of the Star Luo Plaza, their eyes wandering around, eyeing stores, vendors, and street performers.
The Star Luo Plaza was bustling with people and activity, it was as if a grand festival was happening, and it sort of was.
The tournament was just that exciting for everyone in the entire continent, it was the one activity that would make any nation hold a truce over.
Wang Yan smiled lightly and said, "I'm bringing you to a very special place. It's a place where everyone can relax. C'mon, follow me. I'll explain everything when we get there."
Relaxing? In their current situation?
Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong'er, and the rest all exchanged an uneasy glance with each other and reluctantly nodded.
Due to the tournament, the streets of Star Luo City was incredibly dense and crowded. It was very hard to maintain one's speed within the crowd.
"Ah!"
"Sorry!"
"Kyaa! W-Who touched my bum?!"
"Xu Sanshi!"
"It wasn't me! Gah!"
Even the great Shrek team were completely helpless against crowded streets. They all yelled, pushed around, and was almost swallowed in the sea of humans.
Well, that was case of non-Akatsuki members and the newcomers. Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, Tang Ya, Bei Bei, and Ma Xiaotao effortlessly navigated through the thick masses like they were phantoms.
After passing through another few streets, and waiting for the others briefly, they finally stopped at a pointed-looking building.
It was a prominent building and low-key grand. A sign with the design of a hammer was placed above its door, and the image of a golden, veined tabletop was under the hammer.
"An auction?" Huo Yuhao muttered, raising an eyebrow.
Having accumulated a lot of knowledge, thanks to his shadow clones, Huo Yuhao wasn't familiar with the building but its unique sign revealed to him its identity.
That elaborately carved hammer is the symbol of an auction. Only auctions and blacksmiths use a hammer as a sign, but the hammer of a blacksmith tends to be much rougher and larger. Also, one could typically hear the sounds of hammering when near a blacksmith store.
There wasn't, so it could only mean that this was an auction house.
Wang Yan fixed his glasses, showing a bright glimmer and said. "That's correct. Although most of you have already guessed it, but I have to tell you all that this time's tournament is very different than the previous ones."
"The difference lies in the fact that there are now very few pure soul master academies left. All of the other academies have been growing in the direction of a fusion between soul engineers and soul masters."
It was true. In the match against the Cloud Soul Engineering Academy, the opponents that Xu Sanshi were a fusion between a soul master and a soul engineer.
If it weren't for his wits and skills, and that his opponent was somewhat lacking in combat experience, Xu Sanshi would've terribly lost against Situ Yu—and they're at the same cultivation level.
"Practically every student from a soul academy has a soul tool, yet, despite being the best academy in the entire continent, most of you guys are lacking in soul tools!" Wang Yan shook his head, feeling somewhat disappointed.
Xu Sanshi furrowed his brows, "But teacher Wang Yan, what about the honor of being a soul master? Aren't battles between soul masters meant to be pure? The most reliable tool we have at our disposal is the strength we've cultivated, and the martial soul is our most trustworthy tool. After all, a soul tool is a foreign object."
"That just sounds foolish talk," Huo Yuhao interjected, a cold look in eyes as he glanced at Xu Sanshi. "Senior Sanshi, tell me, what is the first rule in combat?"
Xu Sanshi frowned, pondering the question for a moment. "... Nothing, there are no rules in combat."
Huo Yuhao nodded. "Looks like I don't have to smack your head after all. That's right, there are no rules in combat. Honor of a Soul Master? That kind of logic is saved for either fools or bigger fools."
"Absolute strength is the greatest honor and privilege there is in this world, any other logic is tossed aside."
Huo Yuhao crossed his arms, looking at his teammates with a cold analytic glare. "Tell me, is it so bad to use a soul tool? Other than the pathetic excuse of it not being fair? Because let this junior of yours tell you, life isn't fucking fair."
"Soul tools are the weapons of soul masters, it is what it is. They are created with all kinds of purposes, but most of them are for the sake of increasing a soul master's capabilities."
"Can you imagine it? With a certain soul tool in hand, certain abilities of yours are enhanced by probably two folds! Isn't that the most joyous thing to have? To have more power to help out others, to increase the chance of your survival, and to further your path of cultivation."
He narrowed his eyes, "Or are you saying that you're fighting for sake of honor, glory, and fame?"
"If so, you should just drop out now and go to either military school or the entertainment industry. Those are the places where you'll find such cravings."
His teammates were all silent by his words, which sounded like they were being taught a lesson by a teacher.
"Yuhao, we..." Xi Xi weakly tried to make a retort.
But Huo Yuhao was having none of that.
"And with a soul tool, they probably would be alive right now." Huo Yuhao finishing words stunned them speechless. Even Wang Yan didn't think he would mentioned that incident at this moment.
"Let's just stand to the side first." Wang Yan brought them to a corner of the auction house so as to not block the other guests who were attending the auction.
"Yuhao, why do you sound so... aggressive about this?" Wang Dong'er worriedly asked, whispering by his side.
Huo Yuhao sighed as he explains, "I'm not mad, I'm just... worried about all of you. I'm not wrong to say that if we had soul tools, if they had soul tools, then things would be different right now."
"Yuhao's right," Wang Yan placed a hand on Huo Yuhao's shoulder, supporting him. "Children. With my age, I think I can use this to refer to you all. I have to say that each and every one of you are the academy's most precious treasures."
"At the same time, you are your respective families' most precious geniuses. However, the fall of a genius is much, much easier than nurturing one. Weren't Yao Haoxuan, Chen Zifeng and Gongyang Mo geniuses as well? They all were, yet... they fell."
He then turned towards He Caitou, probably the only other person besides Huo Yuhao and himself that shared the same mindset.
"Caitou, tell us, if they had defense-type soul tools at the time, would they still be alive?"
He Caitou pondered before responding, "I'm not certain about seniors Chen Zifeng and Yao Haoxuan, but with Gongyang Mo... if he had a defense-type soul tool, I'm certain, he would've had at least 60% chance of staying alive."
"60%?!" Ma Xiaotao exclaimed, a complicated expression on her face.
"No matter how talented they were, they couldn't prevent an accident from occurring. Even with Elder Xuan's guardianship." Wang Yan's expression exceptionally serious. "However, the existence of a soul tool can dramatically reduce the possibility of an accident."
"You've already seen the uses of a soul tool. What about those flying-type soul tools? Without them, would you have been able to come here after completing your Guardian mission within such a short period of time?"
"For the sake of achieving his maximum speed, even our academy's Elder Xuan borrowed the use of a flying-type soul tool. I can tell you that the flying-type soul tool that Elder Xuan used was only a Class 8 one. That is also the strongest soul tool within our academy's reserves right now. Then, what about Class 9 and 10 soul tools?"
Almost everyone fell silent, absorbing Wang Yan's words. The weight of the discussion settled heavily on their minds.
Xu Sanshi finally broke the silence, his voice subdued. "I understand now. I never thought of it that way. I apologize for my earlier words."
Huo Yuhao nodded, his expression softening. "It's not about giving up our values, Senior Sanshi. It's about adapting and surviving. Our martial souls are powerful, but we need every advantage we can get."
Wang Dong'er silently casted a complicated gaze onto Huo Yuhao. If this was several months ago, she would've been against using soul tools.
But after the numerous training regime that Huo Yuhao(shadow clone) put her through, the uncomfortable feeling of using a soul tool had gradually dissipated.
And hearing Huo Yuhao's words made her realize that, yeah, soul tools are useful.
She really didn't understand the initial discomfort she had towards soul tools, but she just attributed it towards her uncles. Her family strangely dislikes soul tools for some reason.
"I've brought you here for that reason. It just so happens that there's a soul tool auction in this auction house today, and I hope that you guys will be able to lead the academy with your example. Naturally, I won't force you, nor do I have the capability to do so. If anyone here isn't willing to enter, you can return now." Wang Yan looked at his students.
None of them moved, their resolve clearly steeled by the discussion. Wang Yan smiled warmly at their unified determination.
Jiang Nannan hesitantly raised a hand up, "Um, isn't buying soul tools... quite expensive?"
"I'll pay for you!" Xu Sanshi said instantly.
As if she'd thought of something, she immediately furrowed her brows and flew into a rage, "Screw off!"
"Nannan, you don't have to worry about this," Wang Yan said warmly, "The academy will settle the issue of money."
"At the very least, you won't have to worry about this before graduating. Most of you are already core disciple of the academy, and the academy will even give you a generous amount of money for living expenses if you're able to enter the inner courtyard. Even moreso, completing guardian missions will give you prize money. Students of our Shrek Academy have never been troubled because of money."
Jiang Nannan and some of the others' eyes lit up, and she immediately said, "Then I have no problems as well."
"Hear that, Nannan? Hehe, looks like we're gonna buy something nice tonight!" Tang Ya giggled, hugging her friend.
Jiang Nannan gave her a look. "Yaya..."
"Hm? What? Is there something on my face?" Tang Ya blinked, then quickly realizes what her friend is thinking. "Ah, don't worry. I know that the advancement of soul tools had been one of the reasons for the decline of my sect, but most of the reason is due to internal struggle."
She snorted, a cold glint in her eyes. "If my predecessors weren't so stubborn and inflexible, refusing to accept the changing times, we might have adapted and survived. But that's all in the past. We're here to move forward."
"...Do I really need to buy one here? I already have a special soul tool I got from you." Xiao Xiao asked Huo Yuhao in a whisper tone, she wanted to keep it a secret from the others for a little while.
"Don't you want a flying-type soul tool?"
"Hell yes. Teacher Wang Yan! Let's get inside!"
Wang Yan looked at his students and nodded approvingly. "Alright, let's head inside. Stay close, everyone. This is an official auction house, so there are rules and procedures we must follow."
...
AN: Sorry, the internet was out for the whole day in our town so I wasn't able to upload this yesterday.
❄️Shout out to the great Cultivators of my patreon, may you reach the peak of the heavens and conquer the earth! Pursue immortality and receive enlightenment!
•Julien
•Swift Arrow
•SpamSubi
•matatank
•B1G_DREAM
•Albert Jojo
❄️A bigger shout out to the ones who ascended to become a One Above All!! The GOATS! THE MAJESTIES!!
•Tyler Dann
•Adrian Durand
•Gilgamos
•swift arrow
•Orion Chung
•Uncle father
•Micell Kaing
•joao goncalves
Wanna read advanced chapters, other stories, photos of the characters and support me all at the same time so I can pump out more chapters, and possibly dish out extra chaps? Well then, head on over to my pa t.reon and become enlightened cultivators!
P.a.t.r.e.o.n.com/FroztDouluo