Chapter 1443: The Contention Crossing Platform

"How could we run into Cangming Outer Shenzhou in the very first round!"

When they saw the opposite side indicated by the light, the teams from the various Holy Academies on the East Domain Outer Shenzhou side all wore ugly expressions. Even Vice Principals like Wang Xu and Chen Chi had shifting, unsettled expressions on their faces, which finally resolved into a bitter laugh.

"Vice Principal Guo Guo Jiufeng's hand was really underhanded," Mentor Cao Sheng also said helplessly.

The overall strength of Cangming Outer Shenzhou was second only to Thunder Fire Outer Shenzhou. Their side possessed three Upper Six-Pillars Marquis Realm powerhouses, and especially that Shui Baoping, who was at the very top tier among Upper Six-Pillars Marquis, extremely difficult to deal with.

"It looks like we're going to drop into the loser's bracket," Mentor Mi Er sighed.

Once they fell into the loser's bracket, they could only fight for the two-tier Heavenly Domain platter, which almost symbolized that their East Domain Outer Shenzhou would gain very little from this trip into the Heavenly Mirror Pagoda.

"No matter who the opponent is, we have to clash before we know the result," Mentor Xi Chan, however, did not become discouraged, and offered comfort instead.

But this comfort didn't have much effect, because at this moment the atmosphere among the other Holy Academy teams also turned subdued.

And at the drawing lot spot, Guo Guo Jiufeng also wore an awkward expression. At the same time, he heard a teasing laugh drift over from not far away: "Guo Guo Jiufeng, thank you for sending our Cangming Outer Shenzhou into the winner's bracket."

Guo Guo Jiufeng looked over and saw that petite figure, yet laden with abundant fruits, Shui Baoping, watching him with a smiling face. Clearly, she was very satisfied with this drawing result, because East Domain Outer Shenzhou was a lower three state, and with their Cangming Outer Shenzhou's strength, winning would not be difficult.

This way, they could smoothly enter the winner's bracket.

Guo Guo Jiufeng's face darkened with displeasure as he gave a cold snort and said, "Shui Baoping, don't get too cocky either. What the result will be is still unknown."

Having said that, he flicked his sleeve and turned back to the East Domain Outer Shenzhou's platform.

Although his words were tough, the speechlessness in Guo Guo Jiufeng's eyes also revealed his lack of confidence. After all, Cangming Outer Shenzhou's strength was second only to Thunder Fire Outer Shenzhou, and for them to encounter them in the very first round could only be said to be the absolute worst luck.

Shui Baoping gazed at Guo Guo Jiufeng's retreating back and disdainfully curled her lip. Among the six major Outer Shenzhou, East Domain Outer Shenzhou was not exactly at the very bottom, but it was in the bottom three. In past history, the two sides had also collided, but without exception, it always ended in East Domain Outer Shenzhou's defeat.

"The wailing of incompetent losers."

Shui Baoping smiled faintly. She had reviewed the materials on East Domain Outer Shenzhou's Holy Academies. Among the major main roster seats, the strongest, apart from Guo Guo Jiufeng and that Wang Xu who had a little bit of strength, the rest were all Lower Six-Pillars Marquis Realm. And what was most laughable of all was that there was even a Two-Pillars Marquis Realm mentor among them.

Although that young man was a Dual-Heavenly Two-Pillars, with extremely stunning talent, in this kind of occasion, the fire of a Dual-Heavenly Two-Pillars was still not enough.

Perhaps in the future East Domain Outer Shenzhou would rise in this young man's hands, but regrettably, it would not be this session.

Thinking this, Shui Baoping turned around and returned to Cangming Outer Shenzhou's platform, beginning to make preparations for the great battle.

At the same time, Guo Guo Jiufeng, wearing a sullen expression, descended back to the East Domain Outer Shenzhou side. He looked at the listless crowd, gave a bitter laugh, and said, "Everyone, although we drew a terrible lot, we still have to give it our all. Otherwise, if we lose too disgracefully, it will let the Academy Alliance look down on our East Domain Outer Shenzhou's Holy Academies."

Everyone sighed, and could only accept it.

"Vice Principal Guo Guo Jiufeng, let's still discuss how to meet the battle ahead," Li Luo spoke up. His expression was very calm, and he was not as dejected as the others, because to achieve his goal, whether it was Thunder Fire Outer Shenzhou or Cangming Outer Shenzhou, they were opponents that could not be skipped. So right now, it was merely advancing this by one round.

Guo Guo Jiufeng nodded and said, "According to past convention, the battlefield should still be on the 'Contention Crossing Platform'."

Then he looked at Li Luo and smiled, saying, "Mentor Li Luo is participating for the first time, so perhaps you're still not entirely clear on what the 'Contention Crossing Platform' is. Simply put, it's a small spatial realm opened up within the Heavenly Mirror Pagoda."

Guo Guo Jiufeng swept his sleeve, and a stream of phase force flowed out, directly transforming into a spatial realm before Li Luo. Within this spatial realm were towering mountains, vast oceans, and lakes and marshes, the terrain complex.

And at the same time, Li Luo also saw that within this spatial realm, stone pillars rose from the ground one after another. The tops of these stone pillars were extremely spacious, just like battle platforms.

Among these stone pillar battle platforms, the five in the central area were the most magnificent and spectacular, like pillars supporting the heavens, thrusting straight into the clouds.

"These battle platforms, large and small, are the 'Contention Crossing Platforms', and they are also the key points that decide victory and defeat. As long as you rout the opposing team on a battle platform, that counts as occupying it. And each 'Contention Crossing Platform' occupied will leverage the heaven and earth energy within this spatial realm, thereby granting one's own lineup a boost of heaven and earth energy."

"And this kind of boost is most pronounced on the five giant platforms in the center, so this is where the five main roster seats contend," Guo Guo Jiufeng said.

Li Luo was slightly surprised upon hearing this. Defeating the opponent and occupying this so-called 'Contention Crossing Platform' could actually grant one's own lineup a boost of heaven and earth energy. Such a setup was quite comprehensive; at least it allowed all the Holy Academies within both camps to contribute their share.

Those smaller 'Contention Crossing Platforms' could be left for the other non-main-roster Holy Academy teams to contest. Although the boost was relatively minor, the advantage lay in the large number, and added together, it was also quite considerable.

"These boosts can serve as the icing on the cake, but the ultimate victory or defeat still depends on each side's true ability," Guo Guo Jiufeng said.

"Among Cangming Outer Shenzhou's teams, three Holy Academies possess Upper Six-Pillars Marquis powerhouses: the Holy Kun Academy led by Shui Baoping, the Holy Sea Academy led by Zhang Yu which has the strongest strength, and the Holy Turtle Academy led by Yan Feng."

"The Holy Kun Academy will be left to our Holy Bright King Academy. However, that Shui Baoping's foundation is a notch stronger than mine, so I may not necessarily defeat her. I can only say I'll try my best to hold her off," Guo Guo Jiufeng said slowly.

"The Holy Sea Academy will be taken by our Holy Spring Academy. I'll go meet this Zhang Yu," Wang Xu said.

Guo Guo Jiufeng nodded, his gaze turning to the vice principals of the other main roster seats, and said, "Then the Holy Turtle Academy led by Yan Feng—who will hold them off?"

The vice principal of Holy Mountain Academy, named Zheng Chu, was a burly middle-aged man like an iron tower. He was also at Lower Six-Pillars Marquis strength and had no confidence in intercepting Yan Feng, so he appeared very hesitant.

In the end, Vice Principal Chen Chi of Sky Fire Holy Academy hesitated for several breaths and said, "Then we'll leave it to our Sky Fire Holy Academy. However, I may not be able to hold out too long against this Yan Feng."

The opponent was at Upper Six-Pillars Marquis Realm, and had even forged a Nine-Pillar Golden Platform, considered a capable fighter among peers. Meanwhile, he was only Lower Six-Pillars, and the strength gap was right there. Expecting their Sky Fire Holy Academy to win against the other side was honestly a bit difficult.

Guo Guo Jiufeng sighed inwardly. Everyone was holding onto the plan of merely stalling the opponent, yet no one could find a breakthrough point. Once the opponent's main roster seats won first and came to reinforce the various fronts, they would face a collapsing situation.

But this couldn't be blamed on anyone. The Holy Academies of East Domain Outer Shenzhou were inherently weaker than those of Cangming Outer Shenzhou.

However, just at this moment, Li Luo's laughter came from the side.

"If Vice Principal Chen Chi finds it troublesome, you might as well leave this Holy Turtle Academy to our Holy Mystic Star Academy to handle."

The four vice principals, Guo Guo Jiufeng, Wang Xu, and the others, all looked at Li Luo in surprise. Clearly, none of them had expected him to step forward voluntarily and choose to face such a powerful enemy.

Although Li Luo had previously displayed strength capable of matching a Six-Pillars Marquis, the Holy Mystic Star Academy's team was overall somewhat weaker, so when clashing with the Holy Turtle Academy, they might not necessarily have any advantage.

Therefore, they had planned to first assign a slightly weaker Holy Academy to Li Luo's side to let them get some practice.

"Mentor Li Luo truly lives up to his reputation as a Dual-Heavenly Chosen. This fighting spirit is admirable. Very well, the situation is already as it is anyway. The opponent is strong, so we'll just do our best," Guo Guo Jiufeng pondered slightly and finally said.

"Then, please, everyone from Holy Mystic Star Academy, go forth to meet the Holy Turtle Academy."

Li Luo smiled and nodded in acceptance.

Afterwards, Guo Guo Jiufeng also gave instructions to the other Holy Academies of East Domain Outer Shenzhou. Although they were not main roster seats, they still had to contest some smaller 'Contention Crossing Platforms' and try to obtain some heaven and earth energy boosts.

At the same time, in the other regions, the various academies were also rapidly making preparations and arrangements for the great battle.

Boom!

Finally, accompanied by the sound of a melodious bell chime.

It could be seen that the space in this region twisted violently at this moment, and then seemed to form a massive chessboard. Upon the chessboard, small spatial realms emerged, crisscrossing like chess pieces.

These small spatial realms were where the 'Contention Crossing Platforms' were located.

Everyone raised their heads to look at those constructed small spatial realms; they could even see all the scenes within those spatial realms.

At the same time, these small spatial realms, like chess pieces, flowed out pillars of light, enveloping the teams of the many academies entirely within.

Upon the high-altitude golden platform, Wang Xuanjin's gentle laughter, like the sound of a great bell, rang out.

"Everyone, please take your places."

Spatial ripples surged, and every figure transformed into a streak of light that shot skyward, plunging into the many small dimensions.

The trial of the Heaven Mirror Pagoda had finally begun.