Time flew by, and the fourth round of the All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament Finals had arrived.
In this round, no team would receive a bye. Six remaining teams would face off, with the winners advancing to the top three. As for the losers? Who cares about losers? Even second place was a form of defeat.
Tang San had not fully recovered from his injuries. He really shouldn't have participated in this match, but he couldn't stay away.
What if Dai Mubai messed things up and lost? If that happened, Tang San's plans would crumble completely!
Flander walked over with a peculiar expression and announced:
"Your opponent for this round is the Godwind Academy."
"The Spirit Hall team will face Star Luo's top-ranked team from the elimination rounds."
"Star Luo Royal Academy will battle…"
If there wasn't some behind-the-scenes maneuvering, even Flander wouldn't believe it. By this stage, the three strongest teams still hadn't faced each other!
Indeed, by now, the tournament's strongest teams had already been identified:
Shrek Academy, Spirit Hall, and Star Luo Royal Academy.
"Oh, by the way, Godwind Academy has surrendered, so you're directly advancing to the top three."
Godwind Academy hadn't even considered putting up a fight. They had no desire to experience what Dai Mubai had done to Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
The faster we surrender, the less chance there is to humiliate us!
That's what Feng Xiaotian and his team thought. Besides, fighting Dai Mubai's team wasn't about honor—it was just asking for a beating. And on top of that, they'd probably end up injured.
What? They could fly? As if Dai Mubai couldn't fly as well!
Meanwhile, Star Luo Royal Academy faced another team from the Star Luo Empire and similarly saw their opponents surrender outright. The intention was clear: keep Davis and his team in peak condition for the finals!
As for the Spirit Hall team, they weren't as lucky. The top-ranked elimination team from Star Luo Empire knew they couldn't win, so they went all out, aiming to create opportunities for Star Luo Royal Academy.
Compared to Heaven Dou Empire, the Star Luo Empire was far more united.
Although Hu Liena and her team won their match, they were left with splitting headaches and injuries. The opposing team's desperate tactics had been designed solely to inflict damage.
If Hu Liena and Xie Yue had used their martial soul fusion technique, they could have easily defeated their opponents. However, with the finals just two days away, the fusion technique had a cooldown period. If they couldn't use it during the finals, they might even lose to Star Luo Royal Academy!
"Don't worry. These injuries will definitely heal in two days," Xie Yue said solemnly. They understood the opponent's motives, but what could they do about it?
After all, the opponent hadn't broken any rules—and they had still lost the match.
In the blink of an eye, the finals arrived.
The championship venue was moved to the plaza in front of the Pope's Palace. Apart from the top three teams and their leading instructors, no other participants or ordinary spectators were allowed.
Of course, some "special" guests were permitted, such as Ning Fengzhi, Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Chen Xin (Sword Douluo), Crown Prince Xue Qinghe of Heaven Dou Empire, and the deans of the Elemental Academies.
Only those with exceptional strength or significant backing could watch this grand event.
As the Pope, Bibi Dong made a grand entrance befitting the occasion.
First came two rows of palace knights, clad in gleaming silver armor and wielding long spears. These weren't ordinary knights—the weakest among them were Spirit Emperors.
For today's special occasion, all knights had been replaced with Spirit Sages.
Over a hundred Spirit Sages stood guard—an overwhelming display of power.
A Spirit Sage, who could dominate entire regions outside, was reduced to a mere "doorman" in Spirit Hall.
Next came the red-robed cardinals.
When Bibi Dong finally appeared, adorned in ceremonial attire, her gaze lingered on Dai Mubai, the blond-haired youth.
"You are all the pride of the Douluo Continent…"
After delivering some polite opening remarks, Bibi Dong revealed the championship rewards: the same three spirit bones as before. Despite knowing that Hu Liena's team was unlikely to win, Bibi Dong had not altered the rewards, showing she wasn't one to fear loss.
Sitting beside Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin's expression grew grave as he carefully observed the golden-armored Title Douluos present. They were elders of Spirit Hall.
Why… why were there so many of them?
Excluding Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo, there were at least seven or eight others!
For Spirit Hall to display so many Title Douluos publicly suggested they had even more hidden away.
Wait, those individuals…?
Chen Xin's pupils constricted as he recognized Qian Daoliu and several others he thought long dead.
"Qian Daoliu!"
It wasn't just Qian Daoliu—there were also others Chen Xin had never expected to see again!
He swallowed hard, cold sweat forming on his forehead. Spirit Hall was far more terrifying than he had imagined.
"And their attention… hmm? They're focused on Dai Mubai, that kid?"
This puzzled Chen Xin. Why were these "old monsters" watching Dai Mubai?
Despite their youthful appearances, some resembling middle-aged individuals or even children, their true ages were over 130 years.
The "child" among them exuded an aura far stronger than Chen Xin's own—a staggering realization for a Level 96 Title Douluo.
Ning Fengzhi noticed Chen Xin's unease and asked in concern:
"Uncle Sword, what's wrong?"
Chen Xin snapped out of his daze, his face still tinged with shock.
"Spirit Hall… its depth is unimaginable! At least seventeen Title Douluos—maybe more!"
"Qian Daoliu, the former High Priest, is still alive. And those near him are at least Level 95!"
As he spoke, Chen Xin shuddered. Both Qian Daoliu and the person closest to him had briefly glanced in his direction.
What baffled him was that after a single glance, they seemed to lose interest, turning their attention back to Dai Mubai.
Their gaze toward Dai Mubai was surprisingly gentle—not the kind of look one gives a target to eliminate.
Ning Fengzhi: "…"
"Big Brother, that kid must be the son of the Sword Monarch. Hard to believe he's already Level 96."
Qian Daoliu nodded slightly, his gaze steady.
"Still, he falls far short of his father. The Sword Monarch was a worthy adversary, singularly devoted to the path of the sword. In the way of the blade…"
(Chapter ends)