When the black coastline appeared in everyone's sight, an intense wave of cheers erupted without exception on both giant ships.
After nearly three months of sailing across the distant seas, even Soul Masters would feel restless, so the members of the Douluo Exchange Group were excited. The members of the Star Luo Exchange Group were even more excited than those from the Douluo Continent because they were finally home.
The two giant ships docked one after another at Hanhai Port in Hanhai City on the Star Luo Continent. Jing Shaoyu and his group followed the main team as they disembarked from the Star Luo ship, curiously observing this unfamiliar yet familiar continent and city.
Unfamiliar? Of course, it was unfamiliar—this was a brand-new continent, after all.
Familiar? It was also quite familiar. The beaches of the Star Luo Continent were no different from those of the Douluo Continent, and the architectural style of the city felt comforting to them. The port city, named Hanhai City, bore a striking resemblance to the southern-style architecture of the Douluo Continent.
The so-called southern-style architecture was actually the architectural style of the former Star Luo Empire. That's why Jing Shaoyu and Xu Xiaoyan found the buildings in Hanhai City so familiar—it felt like coming home.
Donghai City had been part of the Star Luo Empire ten thousand years ago, and even Tianhai City, where they had set off from, was once called Hanhai City.
Heh… so you're also a new hometown.
The Star Luo side held a grand welcoming ceremony, but for Jing Shaoyu and the others, it was merely a formality. If it weren't for the sake of maintaining the dignity of the Federation and the Star Luo Empire, they wouldn't have even attended.
After the welcoming ceremony, the two exchange groups went their separate ways. The Star Luo Exchange Group disbanded on the spot, with all members going home for a break, while the work of the Douluo Exchange Group was just beginning.
"This is our upcoming itinerary. Take a look at it," Wu Zhangkong said in a cold, emotionless voice. "Our first stop is Star Luo City, the capital of the Star Luo Empire on the Star Luo Continent, where we will engage in a series of exchange matches. After that, we will proceed to…"
As everyone listened to Wu Zhangkong's explanation, they couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. Their schedule was packed to the brim, with the majority of it dedicated to exchanges with academies on the Star Luo Continent, leaving only a small portion for sightseeing and leisure activities.
Jing Shaoyu frowned upon hearing this and instinctively rubbed the corner of his eye as a sign of respect.
"Teacher Wu, are we really going to have our entire time on the Star Luo Continent consumed by endless matches?" Xu Xiaoyan complained.
"Exactly!" Wu Siduo chimed in. "I was hoping to experience the local culture and customs of the Star Luo Continent. If we follow this schedule, we won't have any free time at all!"
"This is the arrangement made by the exchange group," Wu Zhangkong said coldly. "The specific details will depend on Elder Cai's opinion. There's no need for you to be so anxious."
Hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Mo Hentian patted his chest and said, "Let's hope Elder Cai is on the same page as us!"
Under the arrangements of the Star Luo Empire, the Shrek Academy group rested in Hanhai City for the night before boarding the Star Luo Empire's soul-guided train the next day, heading straight for the imperial capital, Star Luo City.
On the train, Sima Lanxiao, the Foreign Affairs Minister of the Star Luo Empire, appeared before Cai Yue'er.
"Elder Cai, greetings," Sima Lanxiao called out respectfully. Faced with a powerhouse of Super Douluo level, he dared not maintain the demeanor of a high-ranking imperial official. If Cai Yue'er were to take action against him, the empire would likely choose to convict him.
"Hello," Cai Yue'er responded, her tone indifferent.
Sima Lanxiao smiled and said, "Elder Cai, I've just received news from the capital. A grand and prestigious Youth Soul Master Competition is about to be held in Star Luo City. I've heard from Vice Chairman Tang that the first stop of your journey is Star Luo City. The students you've brought from Shrek Academy are all outstanding talents of the younger generation. I wonder if they would be interested in participating in this Youth Soul Master Competition?
Although your students might be at a slight disadvantage in terms of age, I can personally guarantee that this is the highest-level, largest-scale, and most prestigious competition for the younger generation on the Star Luo Continent. If your academy were to participate, it would undoubtedly become the greatest honor of this competition and be forever recorded in the annals of our empire!"
Cai Yue'er smiled faintly, unmoved by Sima Lanxiao's words. She said, "We are here for an exchange, not to compete."
Sima Lanxiao was undeterred and continued to persuade, "Elder Cai, it's really no trouble. I believe in the abilities of the Shrek Academy students. They wouldn't need to participate in the preliminary rounds and could directly enter the elimination stage. This wouldn't take up much time, and we can absolutely guarantee their safety!"
Cai Yue'er glanced at Sima Lanxiao lightly, her tone still calm. "I've never been concerned about that."
Sima Lanxiao was momentarily stunned but quickly recovered, his eyes flickering as he asked, "Then, Elder Cai, what exactly are your concerns?"
"Heh!" Cai Yue'er let out a soft laugh and said, "If the championship prize were a Soul Bone, I might consider having my students participate."
Upon hearing this, Sima Lanxiao's expression shifted slightly, and he forced a smile. "Elder Cai, it seems you have great confidence in your students."
"Confidence comes from strength," Cai Yue'er replied.
"Elder Cai, to be honest, our competition is called the Continental Youth Elite Soul Master Competition," Sima Lanxiao explained. "It includes various events, such as individual matches, team matches, Mecha matches, and more.
As for the Soul Bone reward you mentioned, it's extremely precious. Only the ultimate champion of the individual matches will receive a Soul Bone. For other types of competitions, the team match champions will each receive a piece of soul-forged metal. The Mecha match champion will receive a Black-level Mecha. Therefore, there's only one Soul Bone reward. What do you think…?"
Cai Yue'er raised an eyebrow. She had only asked casually, but she hadn't expected the Star Luo Empire's Continental Youth Elite Soul Master Competition to actually offer a Soul Bone as a reward. Moreover, the other prizes were also quite impressive.
"It sounds interesting," Cai Yue'er said, expressing a slight hint of curiosity. "However, the disparity in prizes between the different competitions seems quite significant, doesn't it?"
Even so, a Soul Bone was undoubtedly the most precious treasure of this era.
Sima Lanxiao, upon hearing Cai Yue'er's question, smiled and explained, "Elder Cai, you may not be aware, but in our Star Luo Empire, we hold heroism in the highest regard. We firmly believe that heroes are omnipotent, which is why the prize for the individual competition is so substantial.
Adhering to the philosophy of selecting heroes, the individual competition is also known as the Unlimited Challenge. In this competition, participants can use any means to compete, including but not limited to Mecha, Battle Armor, Soul Guidance Devices, and all other external aids.
Moreover, participants in the individual competition are required to sign a life-and-death waiver. If the prize isn't enticing enough, how could we attract so many talented young individuals to participate?
The one-on-one, single Soul Duel of the individual competition is the most important of all the matches."
Cai Yue'er nodded subtly and then asked, "Are there any restrictions on participation?"
Sima Lanxiao's heart leapt with joy, and he immediately replied, "As long as the participant is not over twenty years old, they are eligible. All of you from Shrek Academy meet the criteria."
"Good," Cai Yue'er said.
The train continued to move forward, with Jing Shaoyu and the others savoring the delicacies of the Star Luo Empire and admiring the ever-changing scenery outside the window.
The development of the Star Luo Continent was evidently not as advanced as that of the Douluo Continent, so this land still retained its primitive forests and lakes, and the sky was even bluer and clearer than that of the Douluo Continent. Jing Shaoyu, looking at the scenery outside the train, felt an unparalleled sense of relaxation. Such a natural environment was undoubtedly excellent for him.
In the carriage where Jing Shaoyu and his six companions were seated, apart from them, there were also students from the Star Luo Royal Academy. Both parties kept to themselves, maintaining a peaceful atmosphere.
The train seats were arranged in pairs facing each other, with a table in between. Jing Shaoyu, Gu Yue, Na'er, and Xu Xiaoyan sat at one table, while Ye Xinglan, Wu Siduo, and Mo Hentian sat at the adjacent table.
A murmur of whispers reached their ears.
"He's so handsome!" a female student from the Star Luo Royal Academy murmured, her eyes fixed unwaveringly on Jing Shaoyu.
"Stop being infatuated. Didn't you see the six girls around him? He's clearly a playboy!" the girl opposite her said.
"Nonsense! How could someone so handsome be a playboy? He must just want to give all the girls in the world a home," the infatuated girl said, shocking her companion.
"You're hopeless!" the girl opposite had never been so speechless.
Hearing these words, Xu Xiaoyan covered her mouth and chuckled, "Brother Shaoyu, I didn't know your ambition was so grand. It seems I've wronged you."
What could Jing Shaoyu say? He could only offer a helpless smile.
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