The next day, besides the pre-qualified Heaven Dou Royal Second Team, Spirit Hall Seven Shines Battle Team, and Star Luo Royal Battle Team, the teams that advanced normally were the Heaven Dou Royal First Team, and the Thunder Academy reserve team, which was considered a disgrace in past Soul Master Competitions.
When the finals officially began, the Heaven Dou Royal Second Team was the first to announce their withdrawal from the competition; they forfeited without even competing.
There was no other choice; a team without a single Spirit Ancestor would indeed find it very difficult to achieve good results in the final round.
"Now, I will announce the competing teams."
"The first round will be the Spirit Hall Seven Shines Battle Team against the Thunder Academy reserve team."
"The second round will be the Heaven Dou Royal First Team against the Star Luo Royal Battle Team."
As soon as the words fell, a man in a long gown, with a short buzz cut, dead fish eyes, and a stern expression, suddenly walked out from the Thunder Academy team.
It was Yu Xiaogang, who had already devised his strategy in advance.
Yu Xiaogang adjusted his clothes, his eyes now gleaming with determination, holding a worn-out book in his hand.
Like a diligent scholar, he stepped forward and confidently declared, "Wait a moment, our Thunder Academy reserve team concedes and voluntarily enters the loser's bracket for the revival match this afternoon."
After speaking, he raised his head and puffed out his chest, looking towards Qian Xunfeng on the VIP platform, awaiting questions so he could reveal his wisdom and astonish everyone present.
However, Qian Xunfeng couldn't be bothered with Yu Xiaogang, knowing full well that Yu Xiaogang wanted to make a fool of himself in front of everyone.
So, he decided to go against convention and simply said softly, "Alright, Thunder Academy concedes and enters the loser's bracket for the revival match this afternoon."
For him, it was just a bit of fun; he wasn't so impatient. The matter was thus settled.
However, this left Yu Xiaogang, who had prepared his next speech, stunned. What was going on? Shouldn't they be curious why they suddenly entered the loser's bracket?
He was supposed to confidently slap Qian Xunfeng's Face and prove his wisdom to the world.
Yet, they just agreed directly. Did Tang San and the others have no Face at all?
They really didn't. A team that had fought twice from the semi-finals to now and hadn't won once, what expectations could be placed on them?
Facing the powerful and unknown Spirit Hall Seven Shines Battle Team, wasn't conceding the obvious choice? Were they supposed to go up and get beaten again?
So, in the eyes of the audience, if Tang San and the others didn't concede, they would be the crazy ones.
While Yu Xiaogang was secretly feeling down, the Shrek Seven Devils, on the other hand, breathed a sigh of relief. After all, they still didn't know the strength of the Spirit Hall team.
Rashly confronting them would lead to a great loss. They could only hope that in tomorrow's draw, their team would get a bye.
"That's good. Now we can go and inquire thoroughly about the members of the Spirit Hall Seven Shines Battle Team, so we can prepare in advance."
Tang San also let out a faint sigh of relief. After all, just knowing about Yan, Xie Yue, and the currently unknown strength of Qian Renchuan, already put immense pressure on them.
And the other four teammates, whose strength was unknown, made them even more hesitant to act rashly.
...
Because Thunder Academy surrendered, it was directly the Heaven Dou Royal First Team against the Star Luo Royal Battle Team.
As both teams ascended the stage, the little civet, Zhu Zhuqing, returned to her original appearance and walked to the front of her team.
Dai Mubai, who was watching, instantly widened his pupils, as if he had seen a ghost, muttering incessantly, "Impossible, impossible. With her talent, how could she have reached Spirit King cultivation now?"
At this moment, Dai Mubai's heart was filled with intense regret. If he had Zhu Zhuqing's help now, securing the throne would undoubtedly be within reach.
In his frustration, he punched the railing of the viewing platform, only to find that the railing was made of refined iron, and the recoil made his hand ache.
The others also looked solemn. Tang San looked at Zhu Zhuqing, who had revealed her true Face, a hint of killing intent flashing in his eyes as he clenched his fists.
He remembered clearly that he had been defeated by Zhu Zhuqing, which was something his proud heart could not tolerate.
As for Zhu Zhuqing, her gaze swept across the Star Luo Royal Battle Team opposite, until she finally saw a familiar figure, and her eyes couldn't help but freeze for a moment.
She couldn't help but feel a little nostalgic; that was her older sister. If it weren't for the constraints of the Star Luo Imperial Family back then, they might have been good sisters for life.
And it should have been so. Before she Awoken her Spirit at six years old, Zhu Zhuyun was good to Zhu Zhuqing, but unfortunately, after Zhu Zhuqing Awoken the Hell Civet, Zhu Zhuyun gradually became cold towards her.
Later, when she fled, Zhu Zhuyun sent several Spirit Kings to hunt her down, but she unexpectedly managed to escape.
Originally, she thought it was just good luck, but now that she thought about it, perhaps her elder sister still cared for her in her heart.
She also wanted her to leave, and after Dai Mubai died, Zhu Zhuqing would no longer be a threat, and she could marry someone else.
So, Zhu Zhuqing's feelings for her sister were complex now. She wanted to have a good talk, but now was clearly not the time.
Subsequently, Zhu Zhuyun's figure also gradually walked out from the Star Luo Royal Battle Team, looking at Zhu Zhuqing with similarly complex eyes.
But neither of them acknowledged each other upon meeting; instead, they planned to properly reminisce after the competition ended.
Zhu Zhuyun, however, was observing Zhu Zhuqing with interest, her tone quite calm, showing no anger at all that Zhu Zhuqing had fled and joined the Heaven Dou Empire.
After all, a Dai Mubai without Zhu Zhuqing was not qualified to compete with him, which put her mind at ease. She was even grateful to Zhu Zhuqing.
Moreover, in this generation, only Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhuyun, the two sisters, had Awoken the Hell Civet, unless another person suddenly appeared who was willing to unite with Dai Mubai, but how could that be possible?
"The match begins!"
As the referee's voice fell, only Zhu Zhuqing activated her Spirit Possession.
"Shadow Stealth."
As soon as the words fell, Zhu Zhuqing's figure instantly vanished from her original spot. In a moment, a dark purple cat claw suddenly struck Dai Weisi, who was at the forefront.
"White Tiger Possession."
The intense sense of danger instantly triggered Dai Weisi's response. His muscles tensed all over, and just as his Spirit had possessed him, he was kicked flying.
Feeling the constant dull pain and numbness in his arms, Dai Weisi grimaced, somewhat questioning his life. Was it necessary to hit so hard?
But he certainly couldn't concede so easily. He had to at least try to see how strong Zhu Zhuqing in front of him really was, otherwise, wouldn't it be a wasted trip?
Immediately, his third spirit ring lit up.
"White Tiger Light Wave."
Before he finished speaking, Zhu Zhuqing kicked him again, almost causing the White Tiger Light Wave to hit himself.
"Stop, stop, stop!"
Seeing that he had no power to retaliate and Zhu Zhuqing was about to strike again, he also realized that they could not possibly win this match, and he said with a sense of relief, "Enough, we concede and enter the loser's bracket."
Dai Weisi threw his hands up, giving up. One person was already so difficult to deal with, what about the other teammates? It was better to obediently enter the loser's bracket.
As the referee announced the result, Zhu Zhuqing temporarily separated from the Heaven Dou Royal First Team and went to a quiet area.
She found Zhu Zhuyun waiting for her there.
"My dear sister, it's been years. It seems you've been living well recently, haven't you?"
Zhu Zhuyun said, a hint of a smile flashing in her eyes, quite relieved that Zhu Zhuqing had her own life, but still somewhat regretful that she herself would ultimately be bound by the Imperial Family.