Chapter 573: Chapter 573: The First Contest of the Academy Begins

Violet Allen was struck by Scarlett Jennings’ speech, yet before she could express her admiration, a sudden commotion arose in the venue.

After the commotion, there was an eerie silence.

Several people instinctively looked towards the entrance and saw a group of youths, all differing in appearance, being led in by two young men.

Unlike the academy’s uniform attire, these six were dressed differently and not at all uniformly, except for the two young men in the front, who wore matching outfits.

Scarlett Jennings had seen that emblem on Spiritual Affairs before.

It was the emblem of the Mystic Regulation Office.

Looking at the unmasked demon energy on each of them, Scarlett Jennings knew these were the fourth wave of representatives participating in this year’s academy tournament.

The new generation of the Mystic Regulation Office.

In previous years, the academy tournament was merely a competition among the three academies, but this year, for some reason, the Mystic Regulation Office also proposed to participate.

The academy naturally wouldn’t refuse.

However, they didn’t expect the Mystic Regulation Office to send out such “young” demons.

Judging by their age after human transformation, they seemed as old as Dashiell.

Perhaps even younger.

Yet the longevity of demons and humans differ, despite their human-like adolescent appearance, their actual demon lifespan might be a hundred years.

At least among the academy students present, few dared to truly underestimate these “young demons.”

As soon as the Mystic Regulation Office representatives took their seats, the leading young man lazily spoke,

“Everyone’s here, let’s begin.”

The host responsible for this academy tournament from the Capital Taoist Academy, however, showed no intention of being disrupted by the sudden statement.

Displaying composure, he calmly took the stage to deliver the opening remarks and introduced the judges participating in this tournament one by one.

To Scarlett Jennings’ surprise, among the judges, besides the masters from various families, there was also a Taoist from Clear Breeze Temple.

That is, Evander Simpson’s mentor.

Scarlett Jennings and the Taoist from Clear Breeze Temple have always maintained an online partnership despite often hearing him mention his connections in the Capital Metropolitan, and his considerable standing within the Mystical Sect.

Yet Scarlett Jennings didn’t expect to actually see him here.

Perhaps seeing her looking his way, the Taoist from Clear Breeze Temple immediately struck a pose full of celestial elegance, though his hand under the table discreetly waved towards Scarlett Jennings.

This counted as a greeting.

The host from the Capital Metropolitan had already started signaling the participants from various academies to step forward.

“This year’s academy tournament will last a week, divided into three bouts, each conducted according to locations and rules set by the academy.

During the competition, students are permitted to duel within the specified range but malicious injury is forbidden. If discovered, the academy will collaborate with the Security Bureau to reprimand the offender or revoke their subsequent participation rights.

Thus, to ensure fairness and objectivity during the tournament, participating students must wear the Image Keeping Talisman throughout. Damaging or losing the talisman during the tournament will result in disqualification from the current round and subtract the corresponding team points…”

Once the host finished explaining, academy students promptly handed out pins containing the Image Keeping Talisman to the representatives from each family.

Everyone put them on methodically, and soon, a master situated in the center of the square cast an array, projecting the talisman images onto the screens within the array.

Seeing this familiar scene, everyone grew silent.

“Isn’t this just a livestream?”

Stella Gibson asked.

“This is a livestream, right?”

Ashton Todd looked at Scarlett Jennings.

Scarlett Jennings remained silent.

It was indeed a livestream.

However, unlike regular livestreams, the Image Keeping Talisman can clearly record each participant’s spiritual power fluctuations and won’t suffer from signal disruption or footage loss due to shadow energy or demon energy interference.

It belongs to the distinct “livestream” feature of the Mystical Sect.

The host continued,

“This academy tournament livestream will be open to the internal Mystical Sect, and each family can remotely view via the Spiritual Affairs APP.

Due to potential instability during the tournament, if danger arises or voluntary withdrawal occurs, the talisman can be directly torn apart.

Within your pin is a protective talisman personally drawn by the dean, which will safeguard your lives during peril.”

He paused, then solemnly said,

“Now begins the first round of the competition; the location is the teaching building not far ahead. Various arrays are set up inside the building, and your task is to break through the arrays and find four bottles containing special shadow spirits from within.

Here’s a reminder: these bottles are crucial for the smooth progression of the second round, so avoid breaking or losing them.

Now, participants from all sides, please follow the staff leading you from four directions to enter the building; you have eight hours for this round.

Failure to leave the building by breaking arrays or retrieving the bottles within eight hours will be deemed as a failure. Wish you all success.”

After the host finished speaking, four staff members from the Taoism Academy led each team away.

Soon enough, the four teams arrived at different positions around the building.

Unlike the three Taoism Academy representatives, the newcomers from the Mystic Regulation Office were visibly agitated.

As soon as they stepped into the building, curses could be heard through the livestream.

“Isn’t the competition about fighting? Why are there arrays? I hate these things the most.”

“Exactly, we demons don’t learn their Mystical Sect stuff! They’re clearly doing this on purpose!”

“Destroying this building should break those arrays, right? That shouldn’t be against the rules, right?”

“Stop talking, this is a livestream; don’t let humans laugh at us.”

The new demons swiftly went silent.

The leading young man from the Mystic Regulation Office remained seated in the audience, showing no signs of displeasure upon hearing this.

It was the newly inducted students from the Capital Taoist Academy who quietly snickered.

The earlier apprehension towards these Mystic Regulation Office contenders turned into desperate attempts to stifle laughter.

Indeed, when it comes to the mystical talisman arrays, these demons might not necessarily surpass them.

For a moment, peace settled in their hearts.

Meanwhile, several unfamiliar IDs had quietly slipped into the livestream room on the Spiritual Affairs APP.

Samuel Chalmers watched the broadcast of the building, noting how calm the scene was on Scarlett Jennings’ side.

The Image Keeping Talisman view, similar to a mobile camera, only showed the scene in front of the participants, unlike the previous livestreams where cameras followed each participant around.

This livestream style was relatively dull, but Samuel Chalmers rarely displayed patience to watch the moving images before him.

Not far from him, the Jennings Family was also covertly watching the live broadcast.

Dashiell had just opened his Spiritual Affairs ID and entered the livestream room when several heads crowded over.

Lucas Jennings was first to complain,

“Why is there only footage but no people? Where’s my sister?”

Adam Jennings said, “It seems like it’s shot with an action camera, only showing the scene.”

Alicia Sharp said, “Lucas, move over; your head is blocking my view.”

Dashiell, holding his mobile, grew frustrated, “Stop crowding me! My mobile screen’s only so big!”

At a critical moment, Donovan Jennings took the mobile, directly initiated screen mirroring, and projected the mobile footage onto the big screen.

Lucas and the others gazed at him with admiration.

Truly the big brother!

This family definitely needs their big brother!

…

Meanwhile, another person, far away at the Mystic Regulation Office, was similarly sneakily watching the screen.

Cassian Wolf glanced at the moving images on his phone, with lips slightly curled,

“After so many years, this group still engages in such a dull competition style.”

Within a defined safe range of combat, though secure, it lacks surprises.

But it’s fine,

he had prepared for them.