The first round of the elimination matches for the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament – Finals quickly came to an end.
In this first round, many of the participating teams were from the subordinate kingdoms and duchies of the two great empires. These teams were generally much weaker than those who had emerged from the preliminary trials of the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires—essentially just there to make up the numbers.
The Heaven Dou Imperial Team, to which Ye Yu belonged, had good luck. Their first match was against the Silvis Team from the Silvis Kingdom and was won with ease.
After a one-day rest period, the second round of elimination matches began.
Upon arrival at the Supreme Spirit Arena in Spirit City, Ye Yu led Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing to the private viewing booth reserved for the Heaven Dou Imperial Team to rest and prepare.
Zhao Wuji went off to draw lots on behalf of the team.
Ten minutes later, he returned to the booth.
"Teacher Zhao, who are we facing this round?"
As soon as Zhao Wuji returned, Yufeng asked eagerly, filled with anticipation. Since the start of the tournament, the Heaven Dou Imperial Team had not yet fought a single match. Yufeng was itching to get on stage and show off his strength.
"Your opponent this round is the Tianshui Team," Zhao Wuji said, scratching his head.
"Tianshui Team?"
Upon hearing the opponent's name, the team members looked slightly disappointed.
As both were teams from the Heaven Dou Empire, they had hoped to face a team from the Star Luo Empire instead. But since the lot had determined it, there was nothing to be done.
That said, the Tianshui Team wasn't weak. Their lineup included Shui Bing'er, Xue Wu, and Yu Hairou, all of whom were Spirit Ancestors (Spirit Masters at the Spirit Ancestor rank).
Including Shui Yue'er, the remaining team members were all Spirit Elders, with Spirit Power above Rank 35.
Notably, Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu could perform a Martial Soul Fusion Ability—Drifting Snow, a fusion technique strong enough to rival the might of a Spirit King's ten-thousand-year Spirit Ability!
"I'll join the match this round as well."
Ye Yu made the decision after considering that sending only Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan might not be enough to defeat the Tianshui Team. Even though Dugu Yan had reached the rank of Spirit King, and her abilities were quite powerful, they mostly relied on poison.
But the Tianshui Team members all had Water- and Ice-attributed Martial Souls, with several possessing freezing-type Spirit Abilities. Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphor Black Poison and Jade Phosphor Gray Poison were mostly spread through vapor and liquid—rendered ineffective once frozen solid.
Worse, Shui Bing'er's First Spirit Ability: Ice Seal had mental locking—it couldn't be dodged. It also greatly restrained Zhu Zhuqing.
To play it safe, Ye Yu decided to join the match personally.
After all, the champion reward of this year's tournament was three ten-thousand-year Spirit Bones—something he could not afford to miss!
"Next up: The Heaven Dou Imperial Team versus the Tianshui Team!"
After several other matches concluded, it was finally their turn.
The tournament host stood atop the platform, holding a voice-amplifying Soul Tool, and announced loudly:
"Let's go."
Ye Yu stood up and led the lineup for this match: Zhu Zhuqing, Shi Mo, Shi Mo's brother, Ning Rongrong, Yufeng, and Dugu Yan, walking out of the booth together.
As they entered the arena, the spectators in the stands burst into enthusiastic cheers:
"Go Heaven Dou Imperial Team!"
"Victory to Heaven Dou!"
"Tianshui Team, you're the best!"
At that moment, the soul-guided floodlights overhead lit up, casting their beams onto both teams—Ye Yu's group from the Heaven Dou Imperial Team and the all-female Tianshui Team entering from another passage.
Both sides stepped onto the Spirit Arena stage.
As per etiquette, they approached the center of the platform and cupped their fists in salute.
"Big Brother Ye Yu, you're so handsome!"
"Did you know? During the opening ceremony, my sister was secretly watching you!"
Although it was an official match, Shui Yue'er was her usual lively self. Giggling, she directly revealed her sister Shui Bing'er's little secret.
This left Shui Bing'er completely speechless, her face flushed with embarrassment.
"Yue'er! Stop spouting nonsense!"
"I've said it before—it was just a coincidence! Our eyes met by accident, not because I was watching!"
"I understand, sis! I really understand~" Shui Yue'er nodded with a mischievous smile, clearly not believing a word of her sister's defense.
Ye Yu chuckled inwardly at the scene but still stepped in to help clarify:
"It's a misunderstanding, Miss Yue'er. Back at the opening ceremony, Bing'er and I simply happened to make eye contact—it wasn't intentional."
Hearing this, Shui Bing'er gave Ye Yu a grateful glance.
"The match is about to begin. Both teams, please prepare to summon your Martial Souls."
The host's voice rang out again.
Ye Yu and Shui Bing'er quickly led their teams to opposite ends of the stage and assumed formation.
"Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, Possess!"
"Black Turle, Possess!"
"Wind Chime Bird, Possess!"
"Ice Phoenix, Possess!"
"Jade Dolphin, Possess!"
"Coral Barracuda, Possess!"
With a chorus of shouts and battle cries, all participants from both teams activated their Martial Souls—either weapon-type or beast-type—and entered Martial Soul Possession states.
Brilliant auras of various colors flared across the stage as Spirit Rings rose from beneath everyone's feet.
The Tianshui Team had a solid showing: Shui Bing'er, Xue Wu, and Yu Hairou each bore the two yellow, two purple ring configuration—signifying the rank of Spirit Ancestor.
The others were Spirit Elders, each with two yellow and one purple ring.
But on the Heaven Dou side—
Ye Yu activated his Blue Silver Domain, summoning his Blue Silver Jade Tree Martial Soul, and under its camouflage, five Spirit Rings appeared beneath him: two yellow, two purple, and one black—a standard Spirit King configuration.
Dugu Yan likewise summoned her Jade Phosphor Serpent Martial Soul and revealed her own two yellow, two purple, one black ring configuration.
"Spirit Kings?!"
From the crowd came a wave of shocked gasps. To see two Spirit Kings emerge from a non-Spirit Hall team—this was unprecedented!
In past decades of the Continental Elite Tournament, only the Spirit Hall Team had fielded Spirit Kings. Even then, it was rare to see more than two appear in the same year.
That the Heaven Dou Imperial Team—who hadn't even reached the finals in five straight tournaments—could suddenly field two Spirit Kings?
That was a serious power move.
Even Bibi Dong, seated on the platform, furrowed her brows in displeasure. Her expression darkened slightly.
In the viewing booth of the Star Luo Imperial Team, Zhu Zhuyun was dumbfounded. She had never expected that her younger sister Zhu Zhuqing would summon a Martial Soul that wasn't the Hell Spirit Cat.
Instead, it was something similar in aura and form—but clearly more powerful and distinctly tiger-type. A formidable beast-type Martial Soul, wholly unlike anything Zhu Zhuyun had ever seen.
She was utterly stunned.