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The two turned and walked off the stage, concluding today's competition.
Tang San returned to the Shrek Team's lounge area, and Dai Mubai and the others immediately gathered around him.
"Little San, are you alright?" Dai Mubai asked with concern.
Tang San shook his head, "I'm fine. It's all thanks to Xuan Ming helping me suppress the backlash at the end."
"What? He helped you?" Everyone looked surprised.
Tang San briefly recounted the situation during the match. After hearing it, everyone had a new understanding of Xuan Ming.
"I told you long ago, he's not a bad person at all," Liu Erlong said with a complex tone.
"Flender, quickly check Little San to see if there's anything unusual," Yu Xiaogang said in a deep voice.
Flender was startled, "Anything unusual?"
"Don't forget the methods Xuan Ming used against us before. Is he really that kind-hearted?" Yu Xiaogang said coldly.
Although Flender didn't believe Xuan Ming would secretly act, he still checked carefully, "No problems."
"Your cultivation isn't high enough. Later, we'll go ask School Master Ning to have Sword Douluo take a look," Yu Xiaogang insisted.
"Teacher, I'm really fine." Tang San looked at Yu Xiaogang with a complex expression, "After you were injured by Xuan Ming last time, did... anything else happen?"
Yu Xiaogang's gaze changed slightly, "Little San, are you doubting me?"
"That's not what I mean, it's just..." Tang San lowered his head.
Would a person who respects his opponent honorably in battle truly do the things his teacher described?
He didn't want to doubt his esteemed teacher, but he also couldn't ignore his own intuition.
The moment the Clear Sky Hammer collided with the Blood Spear, he could feel Xuan Ming's character—he was definitely not a treacherous and cunning person.
Yu Xiaogang looked at Tang San's bowed head and sighed inwardly. He knew that Tang San had already begun to waver in his perception of Xuan Ming, as he had described him before.
"Little San, I understand your confusion." Yu Xiaogang spoke slowly, his voice low, "But you must understand that the human heart is far more complex than you imagine. The respect and power Xuan Ming displayed in battle are indeed admirable, but that doesn't mean he is always upright in all matters. My previous experience, though difficult to speak of, is entirely true."
"That's right, Little San. Are you really willing to believe him over us?" Dai Mubai stepped forward and patted Tang San's shoulder.
Tang San didn't respond.
He wasn't sure if there were more grievances between Dai Mubai and Xuan Ming, but regarding Dai Mubai abandoning Zhu Zhuqing and fleeing from Xingluo, he sided with Xiao Wu.
As a man, if he didn't even have the courage to protect his own woman, what kind of man was he? And what right did he have to claim that the other person belonged to him?
The promotion rounds continued. In the subsequent matches, Xuan Ming did not go on stage again; Dugu Yan and Gu Yuena were sufficient to handle them. Of course, if Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu were interested, they would also go up and play a bit.
Half a month passed quickly, and the promotion rounds came to an end. After the conclusion of the promotion round speeches, Emperor Xue Ye also announced that Crown Prince Xue Qinghe would represent them, leading the fifteen teams from the Tiandou Empire to Spirit City for the final grand finals after three days of rest and adjustment.
"Is this the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud you mentioned?"
While the promotion rounds were being held, Xuan Ming, based on the information provided by Xue Qinghe, managed to steal the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, which was deeply hidden in the Tiandou Imperial Family's treasury, on the night the promotion rounds ended, without alarming anyone.
This item was extremely peculiar, entirely crystal clear and azure, shaped like a three-dimensional triangle, resembling a palm-sized sapphire carving. Blue light shimmered, imbued with a strange energy fluctuation. Water-like patterns on its surface seemed alive, and the flickering blue light cast a faint treasure glow in the room, making it appear like an ordinary sapphire.
Upon seeing this item, for some reason, Bibi Dong always felt a strange energy within it—not spirit power, not mental fluctuations, nor the energy fluctuations of a Spirit Bone.
"What's this thing for?" Bibi Dong asked.
It certainly looked like a treasure; even Spirit Hall didn't possess a spirit tool of this caliber, and the Tiandou Imperial Family hid it so deeply, which was enough to prove its preciousness.
"I haven't used it yet. Why don't you try?" Xuan Ming said.
Bibi Dong raised an eyebrow slightly, somewhat curiously inputting her spirit power into the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. Immediately after, the blue light gradually intensified, and a simple piece of information was injected into Bibi Dong's mind from the spirit tool.
"Interesting. The Tiandou Imperial Family actually has such a treasure," Bibi Dong seemed a bit surprised.
"This thing is practically a god-tier spirit tool; it definitely couldn't have been made by mortals."
Saying that, Bibi Dong directly demonstrated two skills to Xuan Ming: the Vast Sea Body Protection Shield and the Cosmic Soul Calming Shield.
"Besides these, there are also two other skills: Cosmic Demon Shatter and Vast Sea Raging Waves. The former is a single-target attack, and the latter is an area-of-effect attack," Bibi Dong said.
"No wonder the Tiandou Imperial Family was able to command large armies and unify the north a thousand years ago. It seems to be inseparable from this item."
The Tiandou Imperial Family's inherited Spirit, the Heavenly Swan, had stable quality. Although its combat power wasn't strong, its innate spirit power was generally above rank five, with occasional individuals reaching rank seven, eight, or even nine.
Relying on the vast resources of the Imperial Family, successive emperors could generally cultivate to the Spirit Douluo realm. Even if it was just a flashy facade with cultivation but no real combat strength, the title alone was impressive enough.
If paired with a divine artifact like the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, even if one's own combat power wasn't strong, they could still possess extremely strong dominance.
For example, if a general under their command harbored disloyal thoughts, they could be summoned to the palace, and with this item, a skill could be used to subtly 'discipline' them. Who would dare not submit?
The skills of this Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud didn't require the Spirit Master to possess immense power; merely injecting spirit power was enough.
"How did you know the Tiandou Imperial Family had this thing?" Bibi Dong asked curiously.
"Spirit Hall didn't have any information about it."
"I dreamed about it," Xuan Ming said.
Bibi Dong's eye twitched slightly, "Really?"
"Fake," Xuan Ming said.
Bibi Dong looked speechless, returning the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud to Xuan Ming, "Hurry up and get familiar with this broken thing. If anything unexpected happens in Spirit City, this thing can save your life."
"Moreover, that assassin, who knows where he is, if he comes again, you can use this thing to catch him."
That shadow, ever since he ambushed Xuan Ming on the outskirts of the Royal Hunting Grounds the night before the promotion rounds began, had made no further moves, most likely still waiting for an opportunity.
"You don't want it?" Xuan Ming asked.
Bibi Dong gave Xuan Ming an annoyed glare, "If it were anyone else, I would have just snatched it."
This item held immense appeal even for someone at her level!
"If you want it, I can give it to you," Xuan Ming said.
"I'm not very interested in this thing; it was just a whim, and it also serves as a precautionary measure."
Bibi Dong sighed, sat down, and placed her hands on Xuan Ming's shoulders, "You keep this thing with you at all times. You are not allowed to give it to those little girls!"
"If I see this thing on anyone else, I will assume it was snatched or tricked from your hands, and no matter who it is, I guarantee she won't live to see the next day!"
Xuan Ming paused, "What if Hu Liena has it?"
Thump!
Bibi Dong flicked his forehead, "Why don't you ask about Qian Renxue?"
Xuan Ming clutched his forehead, "What if Qian Renxue has it?"
Thump!!
"Be gentle!" Xuan Ming covered his forehead with both hands, feeling like it was about to explode.
"That flick from you hurt more than Tang Hao's hammer!"
"Gentle? Will you learn your lesson?" Bibi Dong pulled Xuan Ming's hands away and saw a rather large bump.
"Uh... does it hurt?" Bibi Dong felt a little guilty.
Xuan Ming's defense was truly outrageous. Without spirit power, she couldn't break through at all, but using spirit power, she wasn't sure how much to use, and she accidentally used too much.
"You asked me the same thing ten years ago," Xuan Ming said, speechless.
Bibi Dong felt a bit awkward and leaned in gently, "Don't move, I'll blow on it for you."
However, before she could blow, the bump on Xuan Ming's forehead disappeared on its own.
"..." Bibi Dong.
Can't you read the room? Can't you recover a little slower?
Thump!
"Why did you hit me again?" Xuan Ming looked bewildered.
Bibi Dong glared, "I'm annoyed, got a problem? Hit me back?"
The Ice Dragon King ran out, "Bro! You can endure this? Hit her back!"
"If you can't bear to hit her, then bite her back! Don't let this woman be so arrogant!"
"..."
The three-day rest period quickly ended. Under the escort of the Royal Knights, the fifteen participating teams soon set off.
From Tiandou City to Spirit City, the journey takes approximately twenty days. If high-level Spirit Masters traveled at full speed, the time could be greatly reduced, but this trip was for competition, requiring guaranteed rest along the way. It was impossible to travel day and night, let alone rush using spirit power.
A procession of over a thousand people, a grand scale. The Supreme Pontiff's carriage led the way, providing a strong sense of security to everyone.
This year-long inspection of the Tiandou City Spirit Hall finally came to an end at this moment.
Thump thump!
The carriage window was suddenly knocked, and Yue Guan's voice came from outside: "Xuan Ming, His Holiness the Supreme Pontiff requests your presence at the front."
Hearing the voice, Xuan Ming, who was sleeping with his head on Gu Yuena's lap, opened his eyes and sat up, "Is something wrong?"
"It concerns your safety," Yue Guan said.
"Can I not go?" Xuan Ming asked.
"His Holiness the Supreme Pontiff said, either you come to the front, or she comes here," Yue Guan said.
Upon hearing this, Ning Rongrong and the others in the carriage showed strange expressions.
Seriously, what exactly is your relationship with the Supreme Pontiff?
Xuan Ming sighed and stood up, "I'll go over."
"I'll go with you," Xue Qinghe also stood up.
"Elder Yue Guan, may I come along?"
"If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wishes to go, of course, you may," Yue Guan said.
Xuan Ming looked at Xue Qinghe, then thought about how these two might argue later, so he looked at Gu Yuena, "You come too."
"Mm," Gu Yuena softly responded and stood up.
Led by Yue Guan, the three passed through layers of guards and arrived in front of the Supreme Pontiff's extraordinarily luxurious carriage.
Around the carriage were nearly fifty Holy Imperial Warriors specifically guarding the Supreme Pontiff, densely packed and surrounding it. Among them were five Red-robed Bishops in command, creating a solemn and majestic atmosphere.