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After learning about the rules of the preliminaries, every competing team was in utter shock.
"Seven teams per group."
"The location is an uninhabited island overseas?"
"We have to reach the competition site on our own?"
"But why?"
"Could it be due to the Sun-Moon Empire's invasion, making the other empires feel the urgency and causing them to turn their attention overseas?"
"Damn! We'll need to start using our brains!"
Soul Masters naturally have better physical abilities than ordinary people, and while they've often relied on force to solve problems, once they start thinking, they can deduce logical assumptions based on their knowledge.
For instance, setting the preliminary rules this way might indeed be related to the Sun-Moon Continent's invasion, which has heightened the vigilance of major forces.
"Alright, enough talking. Now, the participating teams can set off," Tang San announced loudly. "Oh, and don't worry, spectators—there's no need to worry about missing the action. Those Soul Guide cameras in the sky, designed by Master 'Chasing the Sun,' incorporate part of my martial soul's power to clearly project the scenes onto the big screen."
With that, the screens above the Great Spirit Arena lit up, showing multiple teams on the field, and even when zoomed in, the images remained crystal clear.
"Therefore, during the competition, every move you make is being watched by audiences across the entire continent. So, for those of you thinking about sneaky tricks, consider whether your reputation can withstand the criticism of the entire continent's inhabitants."
"Now, off you go! Reach the competition grounds within two days!"
"We've cleared the obstacles along the way. From Spirit City to the island, it would take an ordinary person about three months, but for you, as Spirit Masters and Spirit Elders, a long-distance race like this should be doable in two days, right?"
"Of course, taking a carriage is allowed as well."
At his words, many of the competing teams quickly left the arena, following the direction set by the Soul Guide cameras in the sky, sprinting toward the island.
As for taking a carriage?
Ha! The speed of a horse might not even be as fast as theirs, let alone sitting in a carriage.
Before long, the arena was left with only the spectators and a few top-tier teams who watched the screen, showing teams demonstrating their unique talents while hearing the passionate commentary from the Spirit Hall referees—
Some transformed into raging lions, running on all fours, leaping and sprinting past competitors.
Some extended their wings, soaring through the sky, glancing down at the smoky landscape below with disdain and mockery.
One competitor even drove a Soul Guide steam-powered vehicle, leading an entire team and kicking up a storm of dust, an incredibly dashing sight.
Another rode a bicycle, pedaling furiously like a whirlwind, moving almost as fast as a Spirit Elder in martial soul possession form.
In short, those with martial soul advantages took full advantage of them, while those with wit used the recently developed Soul Guide vehicles.
And those who had neither could only run with all their might.
Though the scene on the screen looked a bit chaotic, the novelty of it fascinated figures like Bibi Dong and Xue Qinghe. In fact, some parts, such as the bicycle racing, seemed so appealing that if held as a separate event, it might turn out to be quite a spectacle.
Furthermore, bicycles, powered by a Soul Master's strength, can go even faster than horses and are much easier to control.
The only drawback is that bicycles are only suited to relatively flat terrain and are unsuited for the ever-changing conditions of the battlefield…
"I feel like these rules are just made to torment us!" one of the Seven Elders from the Haotian Clan muttered, barely containing his anger. Still, since the others had accepted the rules, they couldn't argue. He turned to Tang Xiao and asked, "Clan Leader, shouldn't we have the Haotian disciples set off as well?"
Tang Xiao tore his gaze from the screen and addressed the Haotian disciples. "Go! Catch up to them! And then—"
"Surpass them!"
"Surpass them!" the Haotian disciples shouted in unison, raising their right hands as they summoned their Haotian Hammers.
The united shout drowned out the noise of the arena and caught the attention of Tang San, Bibi Dong, and others.
Xue Beng, meanwhile, saw this as an opportunity to sow discord between Tang San and the Spirit Hall and Tian Dou Empire. Smiling, he asked, "Your Holiness, there's a rumor that you hail from the Haotian Clan. Is there any truth to it?"
Tang San gave Xue Beng a calm glance, understanding the man's intention to sow doubt between him and Bibi Dong, Xue Qinghe, and others. He responded mildly, "A rumor, naturally, is not to be trusted. Everyone knows I was born in Holy Spirit Village. Why would the Federal Lord ignore established facts and entertain a baseless rumor? That's hardly fitting for a ruler."
Xue Beng paused, then chuckled. "Yet Your Holiness possesses the Haotian Hammer martial soul, the Haotian Clan's ancestral spirit."
"And how do you know it's called the Haotian Hammer?"
Tang San lifted his left hand, summoning a dark purple hammer that slowly morphed into a nine-headed chimera, the size of a common housecat, which nestled on Tang San's lap and hissed dismissively at Xue Beng as if mocking him.
"Does this look like a Haotian Hammer to you?"
"Federal Lord, you shouldn't make baseless claims."
Faced with the nine-headed chimera acting as docile as a cat, Xue Beng had no choice but to concede, given that he wasn't a martial soul expert, and the authority of Tang San's words held more weight.
Realizing it would be unwise to push further, Xue Beng gave a light laugh and said, "I admit my mistake. I hope Your Holiness doesn't take offense."
After this brief exchange, the others refrained from pressing Tang San further and continued watching the screen, observing the competing teams displaying their various abilities. Meanwhile, Jiu Hao, unable to tolerate Xue Beng's hostility, whispered telepathically, "Master, would you like me to teach that troublemaker a lesson?"
"Forget it; he won't be causing trouble for much longer," Tang San replied with a calm smile, stroking Tian Guang, one of Jiu Hao's heads.
The Moonlight Elf Luo Qiu had already returned with intelligence, sharing updates on the New Tian Dou Federation with Tang San. Based on that information, he deduced:
For Xue Beng, unable to wield real power within the New Tian Dou Federation, he was essentially a puppet. If he had continued to disguise himself as a hedonistic prince like in the old Tian Dou Empire, he might have been able to live a carefree life in the future.
But he had shown his political ambition and talent, and the monarchs of the New Tian Dou Federation were bound to be wary of him. Were it not for the lack of a "legitimate" alternative, Xue Beng might already have been removed.
Once this competition concludes, Qian Renxue, disguised as Emperor Qinghe, would undoubtedly take drastic action against the New Tian Dou Federation. Although outright conflict among its leaders was rare, internal squabbles were constant, guaranteeing instability.
Thus, Tang San wouldn't need to lift a finger!
(End of Chapter)