"Weisi!"
"Captain!"
When they saw Dai Weisi get kicked flying by Ye Yu, Zhu Zhuyun and the other members of the Star Luo Royal Team couldn't help but shout anxiously and rushed forward to help him up.
"I'm fine!"
Dai Weisi shook off Zhu Zhuyun's hand, who was trying to support him, his eyes bloodshot and his breathing heavy like a raging bull as he forced himself to stand, gritting his teeth.
"You brat! You're asking for death!!"
But before Dai Weisi could retaliate in his fury, a powerful fluctuation of Soul Power suddenly erupted nearby.
A middle-aged man surrounded by seven Spirit Rings strode over quickly.
"Gentlemen, please calm down!"
"This is a restaurant, not a place for duels."
"If you have a grudge to settle, please take it outside."
"Inside this establishment, I ask that you both restrain yourselves—on my behalf, at least?"
The man spoke politely, but his tone left no room for argument.
Seeing that this man was a Spirit Sage-level Spirit Master, Dai Weisi also quickly cooled his head. He thought back to the moment Ye Yu had attacked—he hadn't even been able to react. That deeply unsettled him.
This guy... is his cultivation even higher than mine?
Could he be a Spirit King?
Still, since he had managed to get back on his feet, Dai Weisi assumed the gap wasn't that huge. Even if Ye Yu was stronger, at best he was just a Spirit King.
But if he's only a Spirit King...
Dai Weisi sneered inwardly. As long as he and Zhu Zhuyun unleashed their Martial Soul Fusion Technique: Hell White Tiger, they would definitely crush this guy into the dirt!
"You brat! I'll let you off this time for this elder's sake," Dai Weisi growled.
"But you'd better pray we don't meet in the tournament."
"Otherwise..."
He narrowed his eyes with chilling intent.
"And you'd better make Zhu Zhuqing return to my third brother, Dai Mubai."
"Or else, the Star Luo Imperial Family will make you pay dearly."
Clutching his chest, his face dark with malice, Dai Weisi sneered viciously.
"What are you even bragging about?"
"Ye Yu kicked you flying with one hit. You, a defeated dog, still have the nerve to act tough here?"
"Absolutely laughable!"
Ning Rongrong, unable to tolerate his arrogance, stepped forward with her hands on her hips, her delicate and noble face filled with disdain as she spoke coldly.
"You...!"
Dai Weisi flushed with anger, but was at a loss for words.
He might be confident about defeating Ye Yu, but that was only when using his Fusion Technique with his fiancée. Alone, he was no match.
"You're called Ye Yu, right?"
"I'll remember that name. Let's go!"
Furious, Dai Weisi turned to leave, dragging Zhu Zhuyun and the rest of the Star Luo Team with him.
"My dear little sister~"
"I wonder whether your lover can really protect you."
"If not, you'd better leave soon."
"Don't drag him into this mess!"
Zhu Zhuyun chuckled, covering her lips with her hand in feigned amusement as she followed Dai Weisi down the stairs.
"...Ye Yu."
At Ye Yu's side, Zhu Zhuqing clutched his arm, her stunningly beautiful face showing traces of concern.
Although she firmly believed in Ye Yu's potential, right now he was still only a Spirit King. Even if he could defeat Spirit Sages barehanded...
If the Star Luo Empire and the Duke Hell Spirit Cat Family sent the Hell White Tiger couple—whose strength could rival a Titled Douluo—to deal with Ye Yu... what then?
Ye Yu smiled gently and ran his fingers through Zhu Zhuqing's hair.
"Don't worry. Even if they send a Titled Douluo, they won't be able to touch me."
"Zhuqing, relax!"
"You're my good sister. If the Star Luo Royal Family dares lay a finger on you..."
"I'll bring my father, and Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bone to back you up!" said Ning Rongrong fiercely.
Zhu Zhuqing felt a weight lift from her chest. With the support of Ning Rongrong, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, and Dugu Bo, her unease finally faded.
After leaving the Tian Yue Pavilion, Dai Weisi fumed over being kicked in public by Ye Yu and losing face.
Once back at their hotel, he immediately contacted their team leader, demanding an investigation into Ye Yu's identity and background.
Meanwhile, after arriving in Spirit City, Tang San, Dai Mubai, and the others went out sightseeing.
Flender and Liu Erlong waited at the Welcoming Guest Grand Hotel for Yu Xiaogang to join them, having arrived in Spirit City a few days earlier.
But even after waiting an entire day, there was still no sign of him.
This made Flender and Liu Erlong increasingly uneasy.
Something's wrong.
If Xiaogang knew they had arrived, he would've come to meet them already.
Why isn't he here yet?
Over the next few days, they scoured Spirit City searching for any sign of Yu Xiaogang.
But there wasn't even a trace.
It was as if he had never entered the city at all!
"It has to be Bibi Dong! She must've hidden Xiaogang away!"
"I'm going to confront her!"
Liu Erlong's fury erupted.
She was certain Bibi Dong had rekindled her feelings for Yu Xiaogang. After meeting him in Spirit City, she must've locked him away, not allowing him to leave.
"Erlong, calm down! Let's search more before jumping to conclusions."
Flender quickly stopped her.
Bibi Dong was the Supreme Pontiff of Spirit Hall, a Titled Douluo. And this was Spirit City.
Even if she didn't act against them for Xiaogang's sake, Spirit Hall's other Spirit Masters might not be so merciful.
Under Flender's urging, Liu Erlong reluctantly agreed to continue the search.
But if they scoured the entire city and still found no trace of Xiaogang…
She would go confront Bibi Dong herself, no matter what.
Soon, the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament finals began.
The finals were held at Spirit City's Grand Spirit Arena, just like the qualifiers.
As usual, the matchups were determined by drawing lots.
However, unlike the points-based prelims, the finals were single-elimination. Once a team lost, their tournament journey ended.
A total of 33 teams participated in this year's tournament.
As a seeded team representing the Heaven Dou Empire, Ye Yu's Heaven Dou Royal Team, along with the Star Luo Royal Team and Spirit Hall Team, received a bye in the first round.
They would only compete starting from the second round.
Still, Ye Yu accompanied Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and the rest of the Heaven Dou Team, along with Zhao Wuji, to spectate the first round matches.
In the arena hall, they ran into Dai Weisi again.
He sneered coldly at Ye Yu and made a throat-slitting gesture.
His team leader had finished investigating Ye Yu's background: a newly advanced Spirit King.
Just a mere Spirit King.
In Dai Weisi's eyes, there was nothing to fear.
Once they faced the Heaven Dou Team, he and Zhu Zhuyun would unleash their Fusion Technique: Hell White Tiger and utterly crush Ye Yu—
—avenging the humiliation he suffered back at Tian Yue Pavilion.
This round? The advantage is mine.