SalsitaHabanera2k

Chapter 177 - 178 – The Lone Star of Calamity

Chapter 177: Chapter 178 – The Lone Star of Calamity


Zhou Sicheng steadily walked down from the stage. He hadn’t even had time to catch his breath before he was met head-on by Ye Guyi, Ma Xiaotao, and the other girls’ sharp gazes. Their eyes were so piercing it was as if they could strip away every layer of his thoughts.


Ye Guyi’s steps were light yet carried an oppressive weight as she quickly came to stand beside him.


With her chin slightly raised, her eyes held both reproach and scrutiny as she spoke:


"Seems like you’re getting along quite well with that Princess Jiujium, aren’t you? The two of you were practically glued together up there."


The jealousy in her tone was so thick it could be tasted even from afar.


Zhou Sicheng gave a helpless smile, his expression carrying both embarrassment and an attempt to soothe the others.


Spreading his hands, he explained:


"It was just a few casual words between friends. Don’t overthink it. Besides, look at Ma Rulong—walking up and down the stage with so much confidence. There’s a good chance the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy is hiding some powerful trump cards. We can’t afford to lower our guard. Let’s head back and rest properly, conserve our energy."


With that, Zhou Sicheng smoothly diverted the topic and led everyone quickly away from the bustling Star Luo Plaza.


Over the next two days, Shrek Academy’s reserve team members busied themselves with tending to the needs of the main squad, serving them wholeheartedly.


After all, at this stage of the tournament, their own role on the battlefield was extremely limited.


The seven official team members, on the other hand, didn’t engage in any high-intensity training. Instead, they relaxed for once, enjoying the rare tranquility before the coming storm.


Some strolled leisurely through the imperial gardens, others chatted idly with friends. All were doing their best to relax their minds and adjust their states.


Deep down, they held unshakable confidence in their strength. No matter what tricks the other academies had prepared, Shrek believed they had the power to respond.


Time flew quickly, and two days passed in the blink of an eye.


That day, the Star Luo Plaza was more lively than ever. The semi-finals had drawn crowds that packed the area to the brim.


When Shrek Academy appeared in their dark green battle uniforms, the atmosphere instantly ignited. A tidal wave of cheers erupted, like crashing waves sweeping across the plaza.


From the original hundred-plus teams, through countless brutal battles, only four now remained. The tournament had already lasted over a month.


For the final four teams, each knew clearly: at most, only two decisive battles remained. The critical moment was here, and not a single mistake could be afforded.


The rest areas near the arena had been specially modified. Only four zones were left, each spaced far apart to give every team the quiet they needed to prepare.


The eliminated teams hadn’t left the city. They no longer had resting areas, but they had joined the spectators in the stands.


Being Soul Masters, money wasn’t an issue. Except for a few academies, nearly all the original hundred-plus teams had come to watch. Though they had lost, they still wished to witness the birth of a champion.


Nearly an hour remained before the match began, yet all four teams had already gathered.


Some whispered tactical exchanges, others sat with eyes closed adjusting their states. Occasionally, their gazes clashed, and sparks seemed to flash in the air.


The atmosphere was taut and heavy, filled with fighting spirit and a faint murderous edge.


As time passed, the sun rose higher. The weather was particularly fine, golden sunlight spilling unreservedly over the Star Luo Plaza. The wide square glowed under its brilliance, as though wrapped in golden silk.


But to the four teams, this light wasn’t mere sunshine—it was the radiance of supreme glory, the prize they had fought so hard to reach, and what they were now prepared to risk everything to seize.


The first day of the semi-finals began with the team battle.


Just as the crowd brimmed with anticipation, something happened that no one expected.


A ten-meter-wide crimson carpet stretched out from the grand gates of the imperial palace, unfurling all the way to the front of the arena stage. Its vivid color and fine texture shone brilliantly under the sun, dazzling to behold.


Half an hour before the match began, the heavy palace gates creaked open with a deep rumble.


Out strode Emperor Xu Jiawei of the Star Luo Empire, flanked in neat and imposing formation by palace guards.


His figure was upright, his steps firm, his eyes calm yet filled with majesty. He walked directly toward the arena.


"Long live His Majesty! Long live, long live!"


The soldiers maintaining order immediately raised their weapons in unison, their thunderous shouts shaking the heavens.


The people quickly noticed the emperor’s arrival. Stirred by the atmosphere, they too cried out "Long live!" in unison. The entire plaza was soon drowned beneath a sea of thunderous cheers.


The four teams all rose to their feet, standing tall and saluting the emperor with solemn expressions.


At the emperor’s side, Elder Xuan was nowhere to be seen. Instead, four elderly figures had taken position around him.


The four stood in a square formation, perfectly shielding the emperor at its center.


Because of them, the rest of his entourage was small—only twenty guards.


But the contestants knew full well: this was no ordinary escort.


Each of the four elders was a Titled Douluo, consecrated guardians of the Star Luo Empire.


Ever since the Spirit Hall, which had once commanded the mightiest Soul Masters on the continent, collapsed a thousand years ago, the structure of the Soul Master world had changed dramatically.


Many powerful figures had been recruited by nations, becoming pillars of state strength.


With time, understanding of Martial Spirits deepened, training methods advanced, and the chances of reaching Titled Douluo grew compared to the past.


Yet many Soul Masters who broke through with the aid of medicine were weaker than those who had ascended on their own.


Still, though Titled Douluo were more numerous than a millennium ago, they remained rare apex existences in the Soul Master world.


And even among them, differences in Martial Spirits, cultivation methods, spirit ring setups, soul bones, and quality of foundation meant enormous gaps in strength.


As Emperor Xu Jiawei appeared, the one hundred and eight Soul Masters guarding the arena simultaneously bowed toward him. Yet none knelt.


According to the empire’s rules, imperial Soul Masters of four rings and above were exempt from kneeling. This rule both honored them and reflected their special status within the empire.


Escorted closely by the four Titled Douluo, Emperor Xu Jiawei steadily ascended the arena stage.


Turning toward the plaza, he smiled kindly, his voice booming and clear:


"My people, rise."


"Long live His Majesty! Long live, long live!"


The chorus erupted again, shaking the heavens above Star Luo Plaza.


The Star Luo Plaza instantly erupted once more with thunderous cheers, a wave of sound crashing like a tidal surge. From this overwhelming clamor, one could clearly see how deeply the Emperor was loved and revered by his people.


The Emperor of the Star Luo Empire did not move to quiet the noise. Instead, he stood calmly, smiling warmly as his gaze stretched toward the distant commoners. His eyes shone with benevolence and compassion.


Only when the crowd’s clamor gradually subsided did he speak again, smiling as he said:


"The Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament is the grandest of events, held once every five years across our Douluo Continent. For this year’s tournament to be hosted in our nation—this, I consider a great honor."


"First, I must sincerely thank the more than one hundred academy representative teams who have traveled here from all nations. It is through their efforts that we have witnessed match after brilliant match, showcasing the ever-growing heights of the spirit master and soul engineer worlds. These splendid contests have not only revealed the outstanding talent of the younger generation, but also granted me, and the people, the rare joy of sharing such moments together."


"Today, the thrilling semifinals will begin. This marks the most critical stage of the tournament. I wholeheartedly hope that Shrek Academy, the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, the Imperial Ao Academy, and our own Star Luo National Academy will all give their utmost, presenting matches of even greater splendor and shock to all."


"I know you have all long awaited this moment, and I share in your anticipation. Since that is so, let us commence this exciting event. I will share this joy with my people, and together we will bear witness to this glorious moment. Here, I also offer my blessing: may my Star Luo Empire prosper for generations unending, may it flourish forever!"


The Emperor’s words carried grandeur without arrogance, humor without triviality, and clarity without unnecessary length.


As soon as he finished, another resounding wave of cheers swept through the plaza, cries of "Long live!" rolling across the masses, sending the already blazing atmosphere to a new peak.


After delivering such rousing, imperial words, Emperor Xu Jiawei’s kind and genial smile remained. His gaze slowly swept over the crowd, then his tone grew steady as he said:


"To ensure that both sides in the semifinals and finals may fight fiercely in safety, after deep consideration, I have decided that from this point on, every match will be presided over by one of the Empire’s Guardian Douluo as referee."


The moment his words fell, a ripple of astonishment and cheers surged across the crowd.


Xu Jiawei gently raised his hand, the motion elegant and full of meaning, directing attention to an elderly figure at his front-left.


"The first match today will be presided over by Senior Huang Jinxu. His Title is known far and wide in the spirit master world—Tiansha."


To the commoners below who had come only to watch, this introduction was nothing short of another joyous surprise. The plaza instantly erupted again in even wilder cheers.


In their hearts, a Titled Douluo was already a figure of mystery and power, akin to gods of legend—glimpsed rarely, if ever.


They might not clearly understand the true strength of a Titled Douluo, but they knew this much: with someone of such caliber overseeing the tournament, the matches were bound to be even more thrilling.


But among the academies’ teachers, students, and spirit masters of true strength within the audience, the reaction was entirely different.


Many had heard the name of the Tiansha Douluo before. His reputation—and the tales of his terrifying might—were not unknown. Murmurs of shock and discussion spread quickly among them.


After all, spirit master martial spirits were myriad and strange, but Huang Jinxu’s was exceptionally unique: the Tiansha Lone Star.


This spirit was like a curse of fate, yet also a mysterious gift. Due to its nature, Huang Jinxu had, through his life, lost every loved one close to him.


Yet it was precisely this martial spirit that gave him a power beyond ordinary imagination.


It was said that his cultivation path had been filled with legend. Entirely self-taught, relying only on his unique understanding of his spirit and unyielding willpower, he created his own training methods and combat techniques.


Through long, grueling years, he continuously broke through his limits, braving hardships one after another, until at last he achieved the title of Tiansha.


Even more astonishing, he was only around sixty years old—and yet his cultivation had already reached the ninety-second rank. In the spirit master world, he was a figure regarded as nothing short of a peerless genius.


But the most terrifying aspect of the Tiansha Douluo was not his martial spirit’s ability to restrain those closest to him. No—his greatest power lay in the fact that he could channel the stellar energy of the Tiansha Lone Star. With this, his ninety-second rank cultivation could erupt with combat strength rivaling even that of a ninety-fifth rank Super Douluo.


Such power, able to transcend rank, had made him famous across the spirit master world, inspiring awe in even the strongest.


And as fate would have it, the Star Luo royal family’s martial spirit was the Star Crown, able to command the power of the stars.


Between the Tiansha Lone Star and the Star Crown lay a mysterious harmony, as if made to complement one another.


Thus, Huang Jinxu’s choice to join the Star Luo Empire was no accident. He had found the home most suited to him.


Here, he gained not only the respect and support of the royal family, but also the ability to resonate with their martial spirit, unleashing even greater strength. In doing so, he contributed mightily to the Empire’s stability and prosperity.


At this moment, following Xu Jiawei’s powerful introduction, the Tiansha Douluo Huang Jinxu stepped forward with steady strides.


His figure was tall and straight, black robes flowing in the breeze. Though the lines of age marked his face, his eyes were sharp as an eagle’s, radiating an awe-inspiring presence none dared take lightly.


He lifted his head slightly, sweeping his gaze across the entire plaza. His deep, magnetic voice carried outward as he began to announce the rules.


As the tournament progressed, each key stage brought changes to the rules, though often with similar structure. Now, at the semifinals, the format had shifted significantly.


The elimination matches would now adopt a best-of-three format, abandoning the old point system.


The first battle would be a team match.


The second, a one-on-one duel.


The third, a 2-2-3 formation battle.


The schedule was clear: the team match on the first day, the solo duels on the second, and the 2-2-3 battle on the third.


Furthermore, if a team won the first two rounds consecutively, the third would not be held—they would directly advance to the finals.


The finals would follow the same best-of-three system, but condensed into a single day.


This meant that once a team’s lineup was decided, there would be no time to rest or recover.


Even if a team secured victory in two straight matches, they would still have had to endure two intense battles back-to-back.


And if the score became tied at one apiece, the third match would immediately follow.


This format placed enormous demands on the overall foundation of each team.


During such high-intensity, relentless matches, the contestants’ stamina, soul power, mental strength, combat skills, and adaptability would all be tested harshly.


A single mistake—or even just exhaustion—could lead to a sudden collapse, and thus defeat.


Though this complex and grueling format pressured the competitors, it was also the essence of the tournament’s charm.


It tested not only individual skill, but also teamwork, tactics, and mental resilience.


It pushed every young spirit master to break through themselves, to challenge their limits, and to shine brilliantly on the battlefield—offering audiences match after breathtaking, unforgettable spectacle.


Author’s Note:


Please add this story to your collections, and don’t forget to vote with recommendations and monthly tickets!


Huang Jinxu will play a role later—this is not filler.


Here I slightly adjusted his martial spirit. In the original, he could already draw on stellar energy to reach Super Douluo-level power. Here, I’ve strengthened it further: when paired with the Star Crown, he becomes even stronger.


This really isn’t filler—I thought long and hard before writing this Chapter this way.


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