Although both techniques require stacking to unleash their true power, Li Chang'an's Triple strike exists on a completely different level from Feng Xiaotian's Thirty-Six Consecutive Strikes. The moment Feng realized the gap, he decisively conceded. Li Chang'an did not press the attack; his strikes could start and stop at will.
The bout was brief, but the display on both sides left the crowd awestruck—especially Li Chang'an's three linked slashes at the end, which seared themselves into everyone's mind.
Conclusion shared by all: this young man remains unfathomable.
There was still one crucial match scheduled for tomorrow: Crimson Rose Academy vs. Shrek Academy. Shrek had been the other big dark horse, with Dai Mubai and Tang San impressing many spectators. Anticipation was high.
But as the audience dispersed, Shrek suddenly announced they would forfeit tomorrow's match.
Uproar followed in the VIP section, but calm reasoning prevailed. Even if Shrek forced a win, it would likely be pyrrhic. With the finals only three days after the qualifiers, they could not afford injuries. Strategically, bowing out made sense.
And so the qualifiers—which should have ended tomorrow—concluded today.
Fourteen matches, fourteen victories. Out of fifteen teams, Crimson Rose Academy finished first in the Heaven Dou bracket.
They had beaten a gauntlet of powerhouses—Blazing, Plant, Skywater, Thunderclap, Godwind, and even Shrek by forfeit—proving through results what their reputation suggested: Heaven Dou's strongest academy team, without dispute. It was a triumph built by everyone on the roster.
Under this relentless pressure, Meng Yiran and Xiao Wu both grew markedly stronger. The only one still sulking was Hu Liena, who'd been allowed to release her martial soul but forbidden to reveal her soul rings.
After the closing speech, Emperor Xue Ye—unable to leave the capital—announced that Crown Prince Xue Qinghe would serve as Heaven Dou's envoy and sit on the finals' judging panel.
Li Chang'an's waist ached at the news.
The fifteen Heaven Dou teams would travel under the prince's escort to a city on the imperial borderlands for the final stage—hosted by the Spirit Hall.
Adjustment time: three days. Then more than a thousand people—fifteen academy teams, their instructors, and five hundred Royal Knights—would set out for the venue: Spirit City.
Originally, the finals weren't slated for Spirit City. For reasons unknown, the Spirit Hall abruptly changed course and moved the event to its own stronghold.
Spirit City belongs effectively to the Spirit Hall. It lies between the two empires and under neither's jurisdiction. Most importantly, the newly built Hall of the Supreme Pontiff—one of the Hall's two most sacred sites—stands there. The structure is touted as the most magnificent building on the continent. Spirit City, crowned by that temple, is a holy land for spirit masters—essentially the Hall's capital.
From Heaven Dou City to Spirit City is roughly twenty days by road. The finals will be short: a pure knockout among thirty-three teams, deciding a champion in under ten days.
The Spirit Hall has attached great importance to this tournament. During the qualifiers, Spirit City set aside a dedicated area and built a venue specifically for the finals. At the same time, it issued a decree: anyone may come watch—commoners and nobles alike. Ticket quotas would be allocated proportionally to cities, with commoners receiving twenty percent more slots than nobles.
The announcement caused a sensation. In past tournaments, nobles attended and commoners were barred. This was unprecedented. Many commoners cheered—the Spirit Hall had long been seen tilting toward the people, but this policy was an unmistakable signal: the Spirit Hall is the people's Hall, not a noble's club.
In private, the imperial heirs of both empires met to discuss the implications.
None of this, for the moment, concerned Li Chang'an directly. His current headache was how to face Qian Renxue, and how to use the long trip to talk with Huo Wu and Shui Bing'er.
The caravan—over a thousand strong—rolled out. Though each academy kept to itself, the tension of earlier stages had eased; they were all representing Heaven Dou now. Teams with good relations marched together. Crimson Rose drew the most attention as always, but lesser factions kept their distance; the Four Elements academies had gone quiet after their losses, and approaching Crimson Rose, whose members obviously orbited Li Chang'an, would only invite awkwardness.
To ensure the competitors could rest, Heaven Dou prepared fifteen custom-built, luxurious wagons for the teams, fitted with basic soul tool shock absorbers for exceptional smoothness.
To Li Chang'an, such tech was child's play. The Spirit Hall had already laid city rail lines. The two empires had begun their own research, but they remained far behind.
"Captain Li Changsheng of Crimson Rose—His Highness the Crown Prince invites you."
The soldier's voice came from outside the carriage, cutting off the conversation inside.
"All right. I'll go at once," Li Chang'an replied, rubbing his lower back as he stepped down from the wagon.