Chapter 234: The Final Three – Individual Matches
Three days later, as dawn's first light bathed the ancient city, it was as if the entire place awakened. Armored soldiers flooded the streets, lining up with disciplined precision. From the center of Spirit City, a deep and ancient bell tolled, its reverberations spreading throughout the town.
At that precise moment, in the Pope's Palace, and at the inn where the Heaven Dou Empire's soul masters rested, more than twenty competitors from different academies and backgrounds opened their eyes, each gaze burning with battle fervor that only intensified with each resonating chime.
In one room, a golden-haired young man sat cross-legged on his bed, slowly exhaling, his golden eyes calm yet intense as he suppressed something simmering within. Ending his morning cultivation, he clenched his right fist, absorbing his four spirit rings—yellow, purple, purple, black—back into his body, his lips parting as a soft, tiger-like growl escaped.
Dai Yao opened the door to find his team already waiting, their gazes bright with anticipation. He nodded to them solemnly, saying,
"It's time. Let's go."
Leading the Oakland team of nine, Dai Yao stepped onto the city's ancient streets. All around them, heavily armored soul masters stood at attention, their eyes fixed straight ahead, unmoving and disciplined, each one projecting a sense of deadly seriousness. Rows of these soul masters lined the streets all the way to the Pope's Palace, forming a path brimming with unseen pressure.
The entire city was steeped in utter silence.
Today, the Spirit Tournament finals were the city's sole focus.
Looking up at the Pope's Palace, perched like a divine sanctuary atop the mountain, everyone in Oakland felt a surge of respect, almost as if drawn by its majesty. Each member subconsciously held their breath, as though not daring to disturb the sacred atmosphere around them. Even Dai Yuanyi, normally the team's comic relief, bore a rare look of seriousness on his face.
Their footsteps were the only sounds echoing through the streets as the Oakland team made its way toward the palace. Behind them came the Shrek team, both teams briefly exchanging glances, each detecting the intense determination in the other's eyes before looking away and continuing toward the Pope's Palace in silence.
A sudden coughing fit broke the quiet—Ning Rongrong's.
Both teams halted in unison, all eyes turning toward her as she tried to stifle the cough with an apologetic look.
Dai Yao observed her for a moment but decided to press on, quickening Oakland's pace as they advanced toward the Pope's Palace.
The final three—here we come.
As they neared the palace, the soul masters lining the street became increasingly powerful, each one now at the rank of Soul Elder or above. Regular soldiers had been replaced by knights in gleaming silver armor, wielding heavy swords and exuding a stronger aura of menace. Their presence, combined with the grandeur of the Pope's Palace towering above, made it impossible not to feel awe.
…
Outside the Pope's Palace
At the massive, arched doors of the palace, twelve red-robed bishops stood in two rows, silent and unmoving, their posture as strict as the knights'. Spectators were forbidden from the final three matches, and all eliminated teams had already departed. Only the high-ranking officials of Spirit Hall and renowned soul masters from across the continent were permitted here.
Two Platinum Bishops, second only to the Pope herself, stood among the gathered officials. One of them was tall and lean like a spear, the other round as a ball. These were Salas, head of the Spirit Temple in Heaven Dou, and Ferdinand, head of the Spirit Temple in Star Luo.
The bishops shared a meaningful look as they saw Oakland's team approaching up the stone steps. There was an unmistakable sense of anticipation between them.
"Six years ago, we made a promise to Dai Yao," murmured Ferdinand. "And now, he's here."
Gazing up at the mountainside temple, Ferdinand recalled the young boy and girl who had once sought refuge in Spirit Hall, asking for help in escaping their fates.
Below the Pope's Palace, the Spirit Hall team led by the Golden Generation sat calmly, some with eyes closed in meditation. Whenever they glanced at the grand doors, an unspoken reverence flickered in their eyes, a testament to their devotion to the Pope.
Time slipped by in silence, the morning breeze stirring the treetops, making the forest around the palace appear like waves upon the ocean. At last, a figure with bright golden hair appeared over the final steps, radiant under the dawn light.
"Oakland is here."
The Spirit Hall team opened their eyes, and a flicker of recognition crossed Xie Yue's face when he saw Dai Yao.
Fixing his gaze on the solemn majesty of the Pope's Palace, Dai Yao clenched his fists slightly, his eyes bright with determination. He spotted the familiar figure of Ferdinand among the bishops and acknowledged him with a respectful nod. How strange to reunite here, six years after that day in Spirit Hall.
Guided by a red-robed bishop, Oakland stood beside the Spirit Hall team. Shortly after, the Shrek team arrived, taking up their positions as the final trio prepared to face off.
Three teams, more than twenty soul masters, stood silently.
The final battle was about to begin.
As the knights around them moved into formation, fourteen bishops took up positions on either side of the palace's main entrance, adding a palpable tension to the air.
After a moment, the soft tap of a staff echoed from behind the stone doors, its steady beat growing louder.
Ferdinand took a step forward, his round form shifting as he called out in a powerful voice,
"Her Excellency the Pope has arrived!"
"Long live the Pope! Long live the Pope! Long live the Pope!" The cry resounded across Spirit City like an avalanche, as every soldier raised their voice, faces flush with pride and devotion.
The enormous palace doors swung open.
All eyes were fixed on the entrance, hearts racing in anticipation.
With each steady step of her staff, the Pope's silhouette slowly emerged, and under the awe-filled gaze of all, Pope Bibi Dong appeared.
She was resplendent in her golden ceremonial robes, crowned in gold and purple, with a scepter of matching hues in her hand. Her expression was solemn, her beauty peerless, exuding a regal dignity that demanded reverence.
The golden robe clung to her figure, adorned with hundreds of precious gems that sparkled with hues of red, blue, and gold. Her crown shone even brighter, its elegant form rivaling the splendor of the palace itself.
It was as if all light had gathered around her.
"We greet Her Excellency, the Pope!"
As one, all of Spirit Hall's followers dropped to one knee. Their synchronized shout thundered through the air, sending a chill down Dai Yao's spine.
"So, this is the authority of the Pope," he thought, feeling the intensity of their devotion.
Behind Bibi Dong stood five red-robed figures, each emanating an imposing aura. Among them were Sword Douluo Chenxin, his presence sharp as a blade; Chrysanthemum Douluo with his ambiguous elegance; Ghost Douluo, enshrouded in an eerie fog; and Poison Douluo, his pale hair stark against his dark robes.
These were some of the most powerful titled douluo on the continent, their red robes marking their status.
The last figure to emerge was not a Titled Douluo, but his refined aura unmistakably marked him as a figure of importance. He was Ning Fengzhi, head of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
At that moment, all present under the Pope's watch knelt in homage, yet two teams remained standing: the Oakland and Shrek Academies. The attention of the entire assembly immediately fell upon these two squads.
Dai Yao himself had no qualms about kneeling—eventually, he would join Spirit Hall, and it would be expected of him. But for his teammates, things were different. They were soul masters of the Heaven Dou Empire, not beholden to Spirit Hall. If Dai Yao kneeled, his teammates would be forced into a dilemma: if they followed him, they risked betraying their homeland.
With Tang San and his group defiantly holding their ground, Dai Yao decided against kneeling as well.
Their nonconformity quickly drew Bibi Dong's attention, her indifferent gaze sweeping over them. Just her look alone sent a powerful tremor through Dai Yao's mind, rendering it blank for an instant. He barely suppressed a shudder. Bibi Dong was indeed worthy of the title of future Rakshasa God. How on earth had Yu Xiaogang ever captured her heart?
Thankfully, Chrysanthemum Douluo, Yue Guan, whispered something to Bibi Dong, shifting her gaze from Dai Yao to Tang San. With that, the hostility from the Spirit Hall followers began to subside.
"You are the strongest of your generation," Bibi Dong began, her serene smile belying the weight of her words. "Emerging from the ranks of so many competitors proves your strength and potential. You are the future of the soul master world. To encourage you, the ultimate champion will receive Spirit Hall's highest reward."
With a light wave of her scepter, three gleaming objects appeared before her, floating in midair.
Three spirit bones.
The moment they materialized, nearly everyone present could not help but stare in awe and desire. The Golden Generation clenched their fists in quiet determination. These spirit bones had been selected for them, and they could not afford to lose.
The worth of spirit bones was known throughout the entire continent; there was no need to explain their value. Had it not been for the presence of several Titled Douluo, the crowd might have been unable to contain their greed.
As Ghost Douluo gave a brief introduction of the three bones, everyone learned their names: the Wisdom Skull of Mental Focus, the Blazing Flame Right Arm Bone, and the Swift Wind Left Leg Bone. Each was over ten thousand years old, with the Wisdom Skull, in particular, exceeding fifty thousand years in age, making it the rarest of the three.
Dai Yao could hear his teammates' breaths quicken beside him. Spirit bones were rare to begin with; three high-quality bones of this caliber were practically unheard of.
The competition between the three teams intensified, the spirit bones driving each one to the peak of readiness.
Sensing the tense energy from the three teams below, Bibi Dong nodded slightly, stating,
"All honor belongs to the victor, and second place is the greatest loser. The champion alone will claim these three spirit bones."
"I hope these bones will inspire you to bring out your fullest potential," she added. "Now, I hereby declare the commencement of the individual matches for the Final Three!"
The individual matches for the Final Three would follow a knockout format similar to previous rounds. The difference was that now all three teams would participate simultaneously. Although this round would not decide the final champion, it would determine the order of the remaining teams.
The first-place team in this round would advance directly to the final match. Later that day, the second- and third-placed teams would face off for the remaining spot in the finals, with the grand showdown to follow the next day. Given the short rest period, the winner of the individual matches would likely have an advantage going forward.
Thus, these individual matches were of utmost importance.
In the original story, Shrek Academy had been compelled to forfeit the individual matches because of the alliance between Spirit Hall and Godwind Academy, leading to an anticlimactic battle.
Curiously, in the original, Godwind Academy and Blazing Academy had agreed to join Spirit Hall after the tournament, yet for reasons unknown, they eventually returned to the Heaven Dou Empire.
This time, things were different.
All three teams were top-tier, with no side willing to yield. The lure of the three spirit bones ensured that today's individual matches would be legendary.
Not only was this a competition of teams, but it was also a resolution of personal grudges. Dai Yao's silent rivalry with Spirit Hall's Golden Generation, the feud between Tang San and Spirit Hall, and the entanglement of fates among all three teams made today's battle about much more than just victory.
As gilded chairs were arranged before the Pope's Palace, Bibi Dong took the central seat. To her left were Dustless Sword Douluo and Ning Fengzhi; to her right were Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo, and Dugu Bo.
To decide the lineup, each team's leader drew lots. By sheer luck—or misfortune—Oakland and Shrek would face each other first, leaving Spirit Hall to wait and conserve their strength. This arrangement only furthered Spirit Hall's advantage, as their team already boasted three Soul Kings.
Both Oakland and Shrek teams realized the challenge they faced. Feng Qianli, after a brief pause, bit his lip and said,
"Dai Yao, if we want to win this, we have to cooperate with Shrek Academy. Together, we may have a chance to defeat Spirit Hall."
Dai Yao looked at his teammates, then shook his head with a faint smile.
"Captain, you know that's impossible. There's no way we would team up with Shrek."
"What do we do, then?"
Dai Yao sighed, then after a pause, said, "I'll go in first."
Feng Qianli blinked in surprise. "You're our strongest card. If you go in first and lose, our chances against Spirit Hall are over."
Dai Yao smiled but offered no explanation.
Everyone acknowledged the strength of Spirit Hall's team, and most believed the individual matches would be a foregone conclusion. They assumed that even if Oakland and Shrek joined forces, they'd still be no match for Spirit Hall.
Dai Yao, however, had no interest in arguing. His priority was to eliminate Shrek Academy first, meaning he would essentially be giving Spirit Hall an advantage to ensure Shrek came in third.
At the same time, Dai Yao wanted to test the strength of the Golden Generation, to better prepare for the finals. To be absolutely certain, he had conceived a rather ambitious plan.
One versus fourteen.
He would take on both teams himself.
Gazing thoughtfully at the tournament stage, Dai Yao turned back to his team, his tone suddenly serious as he looked each of them in the eye.
"No matter what I say or do on the field, I need each of you to follow my instructions immediately. Can you promise me that?"
The team exchanged glances, with a flicker of understanding passing between them. Dugu Yan, Ye LingLing, and Feng Wutong were the first to nod in agreement. After a brief moment, Feng Qianli gave a resolute nod, saying,
"You led us to the Final Three. We'll trust you—do what you must. We'll follow your lead."
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