"Teacher Wang, we qualified from the round-robin round in first place, and with their strength, the Dou Ling Imperial Soul Academy should've done the same as well. If that's the case, why are we fighting them? Aren't the number one teams supposed to only get the second place teams in the round of 16?" Dai Yueheng asked suspiciously.
Wang Yan said, "In terms of overall strength, the Dou Ling Imperial Academy should've been first place in their group. However, that wasn't the case. A black horse which also had a streak of consecutive wins and no losses appeared in their group. Yet, the Dou Ling Imperial Academy forfeited their match with that black horse for no reason. That's why they qualified in second place. I didn't think that we'd meet them."
"Was there a problem?" Ma Xiaotao asked, "The Dou Ling Imperial Academy is also a well-known school. They must've known the importance of the group matches, and what first place signifies. Just what would make them give up that first place spot? Are they trying to preserve their strength for a single attack?"
Wang Yan replied, "I've also thought about this. The only difference between first and second place in the qualifier rounds lies in the round of 16. It doesn't hold any significance after this match. The Dou Ling Imperial Soul Academy must've done this for a reason, and they must've concealed it well. We'll only be able to see why in the match. Fortunately, we've kept the fact that you and Yueheng are participating in this match a secret as well. With you guys leading the team, there shouldn't be too big of a problem. Okay, I'm going to explain the rules of our next elimination round."
"Over the ten thousand years that the Continental Advanced Soul Duelling Tournament has been held, its rules have never changed. This is especially so for the final elimination rounds. To make the tournament more interesting, as well as to better display the comprehensive strengths of the participating academies, the tournament format will change slightly from previous matches. The elimination rounds won't be decided using lot-drawing as per previous matches. Each match will be held over two days, and both a team battle and an individual knockout round will be held. Winning the team fight doesn't mean that you'll definitely proceed to the next round; if you can defeat all seven of your opponents using only three members, you'll be able to overturn the outcome of the team match. On the other hand, the team that wins the team fight can guarantee their advance into the next stage by defeating three of their opponents using seven team members."
"These tournament rules both illustrate the importance of a team's overall strength and give a chance to teams which have strong individuals. For example, our team has Soul Emperors like Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng. Even if we lose the team fight, they might be able to shine in the individual matches and defeat all seven of their opponents by themselves. In that case, we could still win the elimination round. Because of that, although the elimination round tests our strength as a complete whole, it gives a great chance to strong individuals. Truly powerful academies will definitely try extremely hard to nurture their best students, and one reason for that is to allow them to turn the tides in the elimination round's individual matches."
The fact that the elimination round was actually held in a way like this was something that nobody had imagined. Huo Yuhao asked, "Teacher Wang, then what happens in the 1v1 fights if a team member is injured or over-exhausted from the team fight?"
Wang Yan replied, "Then it'll depend on the strength of that team's bench. Every academy that's participating in this tournament has to have a preparatory team, just like what you guys originally were. If something like what you've just said occurs to an official team member, a member from the preparatory team will have to take their place."
"Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi. The two of you should've recovered already. Would it be possible for the two of you to use your abilities if you were to participate in the elimination round?"
Wang Yan was naturally referring to Bei Bei's Golden Holy Dragon and Xu Sanshi's Xuanwu.
Bei Bei nodded. "I should be able to. My martial soul doesn't get strengthened as much as Xu Sanshi's. However, it all depends on whether I can make it come out. After using it once, I'll have to wait three days to use it again, just like the fusion skill my junior brothers use. Also, I'll only have the power to unleash a single attack. I'll only be able to stabilise this power once I become a seven-ringed Soul Sage."
Xu Sanshi had a bitter look on his face as he said, "I can't say for sure, because I can't control it. A variation like that only occurs to my martial soul when I receive an especially intense stimulation. However, I'm the same as Bei Bei. Once I become a Soul Sage, everything will be fine."
Wang Yan nodded slightly. "I understand. Now, I'll make arrangements for the team members who are participating in tomorrow's match. Once we enter the elimination round, we can't be sloppy at all. Our upcoming opponents were within the top 4 of the last tournament, and so we'll definitely have to go all-out. Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, Ling Luochen, Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, Huo Yuhao, and Wang Dong. The seven of you are participating in the team fight tomorrow. Ling Luochen and Huo Yuhao will be the main controllers in the team, and everyone else will launch frontal attacks to smash our opponents with our strength. Caitou, you'll have to go make a few cigars and distribute them to everyone so they'll be able to use them during the match."
"Yes." He Caitou answered.
Xiao Xiao curled her lips and said, "It's got nothing to do with me then."
Wang Yan smiled slightly. "Seeing that we're near the end of the tournament, nobody can guarantee that we won't suffer any injuries. As benchwarmers, you guys are also important. You all have already performed very well during the earlier parts of the tournament. You, Nannan, and Caitou also have to make preparations to go out and fight at any time. Now, I'll talk about the strategies we'll use in tomorrow's team fight. No matter what that Dou Ling Imperial Academy has prepared, we'll have to give them a show of strength."
With the return of the two Soul Emperors, the current Wang Yan was filled with confidence to win. They still had to go through four more elimination rounds to secure their spot as champions, and although the following matches would be very tough, it wouldn't be as tough as the preparatory team facing off against Justsky Academy.
At this exact moment, someone suddenly knocked on the door to the conference room.
Wang Yan furrowed his brows and shouted in a low voice, "Didn't we tell the service staff to not disturb us?"
A pleasant, female voice rang out from outside the door. "Sorry for the interruptions. I'm not a member of the service staff; I've come from the Starlight Auction."
The Starlight Auction? Wang Yan couldn't help but feel stunned for a brief moment after hearing this somewhat familiar voice. The person who was nearest to the door–Bei Bei–stood up and shot Wang Yan a questioning look. After seeing Wang Yan give him a nod of assurance, he walked towards the door and opened it.
A woman wearing a black cheongsam was standing outside the door. Being twenty-eight to twenty-nine years old, she possessed a mature charm and an occasional air of youth.
Huo Yuhao and the rest all recognised her; she was the auctioneer who had held the auction they'd participated in that day, Qing Ya.
Qing Ya's gaze directly landed on Wang Yan as she smiled and greeted him, "Hello, Teacher Wang Yan. I have to apologise for taking the liberty to disturb you."
Wang Yan's gaze softened somewhat as he saw that the intruder was Qing Ya. He asked in a low voice, "Do you have something for us, auctioneer Qing Ya? Also, how did you find us here?"
Qing Ya apologised, "When you came to the auction last time, you used Shrek Academy's account to settle the bill. Thus, we naturally guessed at your origins. After making a few inquiries, we were able to find where you were. Our Starlight Auction is hosting a top-ranked auction tonight, and an auction like this will only be held once or twice a year. Only our most respected honorable guests receive an invitation from us to attend. Last time, we didn't know that you came from the continent's number one academy–Shrek Academy–and thus we mistakenly neglected you. Our auction's boss has asked me to deliver this invitation card to you. If all of you have some free time tonight, you are welcome to participate in our auction. I believe that there will definitely be a few interesting things at tonight's auction."
As she spoke, she placed an invitation card on the table. Then, she held her smile as she bowed and said, "Then, I won't disturb all of you anymore. Once again, I apologise." With that, she slowly moved backwards and closed the door after her.
Wang Yan squinted his eyes as he saw the beautiful, golden invitation letter, "This Starlight Auction is impressive. Eleven invitation letters, and not one less. They were even able to ignore the Star Luo Empire's blockade around this hotel to deliver this letter. They're truly skilled!"
Dai Yueheng took an invitation letter and glanced over it. "It's actually a top-ranked auction. That auctioneer wasn't wrong–an auction like this is only held once or twice a year. In the past, even I didn't have the qualifications to participate in it. Only my dad, the members of the royal family, large businessmen, and top-ranked soul masters and engineers were allowed to participate in them. There definitely won't be a lack of good things sold there, but they're extremely expensive. The Starlight Auction should just be trying to establish a good relationship with our academy; they shouldn't have any ulterior motives. Teacher Wang, what do you think about this?"
Wang Yan looked briefly at everyone, and saw a hopeful light in all of their eyes. They were indeed the most outstanding soul masters among their peers, but they were still a bunch of kids. They were similarly interested in new things. Moreover, a top-ranked auction like this couldn't be easily entered!
"Okay. Since everyone's been competing all this while, we should relax for a bit. However, we should keep our eyes open and our mouths shut to avoid trouble. Tomorrow's match is of the utmost importance. Once the auction ends, we'll immediately head back to the hotel to rest."
"Long live Teacher Wang!" Xiao Xiao was the first person to jump to her feet. Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and the others all had excited expressions on their faces.
They had been filled with curiosity the last time they had gone to the Starlight Auction. Moreover, the last auction they had attended was merely a low-ranked one which only sold a single soul tool. The auction they were about to attend was different; it was a top-ranked one. What kinds of goods would appear in it? They contrarily had no hopes of obtaining anything from this auction, and wished to participate merely to gain some knowledge.
Wang Yan chided them with a smile, "You rascals! Get your minds back to the topic at hand. I'm going to organise our strategy for tomorrow's match."
The strategic planning they underwent didn't take too much time. After that, they returned to their respective rooms to cultivate all the way till dinner time, when they switched into a set of ordinary clothes. With the invitation letters from the Starlight Auction in hand, the eleven of them went back to the auction house, with Wang Yan leading them.
Astonishingly, auctioneer Qing Ya was already waiting for them by the entrance. Clothed in a black cheongsam, she looked even more elegant and noble under the night lights. Her charming face was filled with a warm smile.
Wang Yan met her gaze, then nodded slightly. "Hello, auctioneer Qing Ya. We meet again."
Qing Ya had a delighted look on her face as she said, "Distinguished guests, welcome."
"How did you know that we'd definitely come?" Wang Yan asked.
Qing Ya shook her head. "I didn't, but I was tasked to receive all of you. Regardless of whether you turned up, I would've waited here until the auction formally started. Guests, please follow Qing Ya."
With that, she shot a sweet smile towards Wang Yan and elegantly led them forward.
Xu Sanshi, who was standing behind them, whispered to Bei Bei with a quiet laughing, "If this lady auctioneer smiles at Teacher Wang a few more times, I'm afraid that his soul will be taken away by her. She truly has a very mature charm!"
Bei Bei glanced at him. "Stupid."
As the two of them spoke, they had already entered the Starlight Auction.
The interior of the Starlight Auction was identical to their previous visit. There was no information about today's top-ranked auction that had spread to the public. Led by Qing Ya, they walked towards its inner parts, quickly passing by the auction hall they had entered last time.
After reaching the end of the corridor, two young ladies who were clad in golden cheongsams walked up to them. They bowed in Wang Yan's direction and greeted him, then exchanged a few words with Qing Ya. After that, a girl turned toward the wall and pressed on it with her right hand.
Immediately, a bizarre scene occurred. Wave-like ripples started to appear on the wall, and a few layers of light gradually stabilised on it.
As the girl pressed her hand on the wall, a pattern of light swept horizontally across it. After that, the wall slowly split into two with a buzz, revealing a path within.
Unlike the dazzling gold outside, this path was pure white. It didn't have the coldness of white, but a unique feeling that was filled with softness and realism.
The floor, roof, and walls were tiled with a semi translucent white jade, below which could be seen faintly hidden patterns. However, these hidden patterns couldn't be seen clearly. Yet, this room was clearly much more refined than the outside passage.
The soft, white light permeated the corridor from all directions, while the two sides of the room had halos of blue light that converged to form a line.
Qing Ya explained softly, "This is the Number One auction that we use to conduct top-ranked auctions. Only our most distinguished guests will be invited here to partake in an auction. I'm only here because of you distinguished guests. Otherwise, there's no way that I'd have the qualifications to enter this place with my auctioneer rank."
Wang Yan didn't bat an eyelid as he said, "Looking at what you're wearing now, it seems like you've been promoted!"
Qing Ya smiled. "I also have to thank all of you for that. I was able to accumulate enough merits to become a black-ranked auctioneer by selling the Ominous Soul-Devouring Knife last time. Everyone, please come inside." With that, she slowly led the way. Two girls in golden cheongsams, who looked to be around eighteen or nineteen, came up to greet them.
After walking a short distance forward, doors started to appear on either side of the walls. Qing Ya took them into one that was numbered seven.