"Rest assured. Although I cannot let you take revenge with your own hands, when the time comes, you will command the army, and the order will be personally issued by you."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Juzi knelt deeply, lowering her head extremely low.
"Since everything has been arranged properly in each place, let the side of the elite competition speed up a little. Otherwise, if it drags on too long, I'm afraid it will only increase unnecessary accidents."
"Yes," Juzi responded.
"Alright, get up." Xu Tianran suddenly showed a trace of a smile and reached out to help Juzi up.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Juzi stood up and naturally placed her hand on Xu Tianran's shoulder. "Your Highness, Juzi wants one person."
"Oh?" Xu Tianran slightly tilted his head. "Who is it?"
"It's the one I mentioned to you last time. I see that he has quite a good understanding of the application of soul tools in the army. I want him to stay by my side and help me command the troops."
Xu Tianran did not reply immediately after hearing this. He narrowed his eyes slightly as if thinking about something. "Very well. Since you are in the army, it is indeed necessary to have a few usable people around you. You can make the arrangements yourself."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"It's getting late. You should go back and rest first." Xu Tianran's tone was gentle. But after Juzi left, he looked at the door and softly uttered a few words:
"Holy Spirit Cult, huh…"
After Lin Xiao returned to the stronghold, some of the faster soul engineers had already finished the competition.
After all, the first day's competition was not strict; it was just the simplest qualification test. Being able to produce a single third-level soul tool was already considered passing.
For some fifth-level, or even higher-ranked soul engineers, it was naturally extremely easy.
"Who came just now?" The Dark Lightning Douluo saw Lin Xiao return and hurriedly stood up to ask.
"I saw it looked like an expert who came with the Star Luo Empire's contestants. After being discovered, they only probed a little and then quickly left."
The Dark Lightning Douluo looked Lin Xiao up and down upon hearing this. "You're not injured, right?"
"No." Lin Xiao shook his head. "They probably don't dare cause too much trouble in Mingdu either."
"That's good." The Dark Lightning Douluo let out a breath of relief and sat back down. "They can only be smug for a few more days."
Lin Xiao also sat down and followed the Dark Lightning Douluo's gaze downward.
Huo Yuhao had already finished making his soul tool long ago and was walking down the platform together with He Caitou.
"So fast and already finished? Did they realize they couldn't pass and wisely chose to withdraw themselves?"
The man from before seemed to have been waiting for a long time and appeared from who-knows-where.
"I just want to know, where do I collect the prize?" Huo Yuhao gave a light smile and opened his right hand.
The middle-aged man looked down and saw the golden badge in Huo Yuhao's hand. His voice suddenly caught in his throat.
"Th-this is impossible! It's only been such a short time, you must have cheated!"
"You'd better be responsible for your words." Huo Yuhao's expression turned serious, and a faint light flickered in his eyes.
"Wan Wang!" Someone nearby heard the commotion and hurriedly spoke up to stop the man. "These two honored guests have passed the test. Hurry up and apologize."
"I-I…"
"There's no need for an apology." Huo Yuhao spoke with a smile. "Wan Wang… really is a great name. I hope that when you reach the other world, you can truly become the king of ten thousand kings."
"What are you going to do?" Wan Wang had already sensed something was wrong and turned to leave, but after taking only two steps, his body suddenly froze in place.
"I have always prided myself on keeping my word. Since I said I couldn't win the bet, naturally, I have to fulfill what I said earlier."
"The competition isn't over yet. How do you know you can't win?" Wan Wang's tone carried a hint of urgency.
"Do you really think I didn't know what you just went to do?" Huo Yuhao laughed lightly and suddenly raised his hand, sending a seemingly gentle palm strike toward Wan Wang.
"Honored guest, you mustn't!"
Someone nearby tried to stop him, but it was already too late. With a "bang", red and white suddenly burst open. Wan Wang's neck exploded like a watermelon being smashed, "juice" splattering everywhere.
Several exclamations immediately rang out around them. However, the spectators who saw what happened did not show fear; instead, they revealed traces of fanatic excitement, wanting to see what would happen next.
But when they saw there was no follow-up, Huo Yuhao simply left together with He Caitou, and a few faintly regretful sighs could vaguely be heard.
"Hahaha!"
In the suspended room, the Dark Lightning Douluo showed no anger at Wan Wang's death. Instead, he clapped his hands and laughed heartily. He turned to look at Lin Xiao beside him. "Old Eight, look, isn't it exactly as I said?"
As he spoke, he took a few steps forward, as if wanting to see what happened below more clearly. "I already said that Tang Wu had already developed killing intent. Sure enough, just as I expected."
"Tsk tsk, ruthless, decisive, without the slightest hesitation or sloppiness. What a pity — what the Holy Cult lacks most are disciples like him."
While tsk-tsking in admiration, the Dark Lightning Douluo raised his voice slightly and turned back. "Someone!"
"Third Elder." Someone quickly walked in from outside the door.
"Go find people to keep an eye on those two, Tang Si and Tang Wu. See where they go after leaving. Also, contact the people at Mingyue Hotel and find out how many contestants left tonight."
"Yes, Elder."
"Mm." The Dark Lightning Douluo nodded in satisfaction and finally withdrew his gaze.
"Third Brother, are you really planning to let those two join the Holy Cult?" Lin Xiao gave the Dark Lightning Douluo a somewhat strange look.
"Of course. There's no harm in trying. Not every disciple in the Holy Cult has those so-called 'evil martial souls', right?"
"Then I wish Third Brother success in advance." Lin Xiao helplessly shook his head.
He didn't want to comment much on what had just happened, but he feared the Dark Lightning Douluo's plan was destined to fail.
The first round of the Soul Engineer Competition didn't end until nearly midnight. Some contestants barely finished right at the deadline; clearly, they had no chance of winning in the later rounds.
However, the smile on the Dark Lightning Douluo's face remained impossible to conceal. No matter whether those people passed or not, in his eyes, they were all treasures. As the banker, he had already made a fortune.
Whether on the surface or underground, both the Elite Competition and the Soul Engineer Competition were in full swing. Under the deliberate acceleration of the Sun Moon Empire, in just a few days, of the more than 160 teams that came to Mingdu to participate, only 32 remained to enter the subsequent round-robin stage.
As for where the eliminated teams went…
Below the arena, Lin Xiao sat in the rest area watching the last elimination match end. Just as he was about to stand up and leave, two guards suddenly approached.
"Sir, please wait."
After glancing around and seeing that not many people were paying attention here, Lin Xiao turned back. "What is it?"
"His Highness has summoned you. Please enter the palace, sir."
Lin Xiao's brows furrowed slightly upon hearing this. Ever since the Holy Spirit Cult became the state religion, the status of elders like them had risen accordingly, but this was truly the first time Xu Tianran had personally summoned him.
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