At that moment
Standing beside Ning Fengzhi, Xue Qinghe glanced at Ning Rongrong and the others. Seeing they were all fairly injured, he spoke up.
"Teacher, Rongrong seems to be hurt quite badly. Shouldn't we treat them first?"
Ning Fengzhi calmly nodded. "Seven Treasures True Form!"
In an instant, a crystalline, radiant pagoda appeared above the Shrek team on the arena. It released a far more dazzling rainbow aura than anything Ning Rongrong had ever summoned.
"Three says soul, six says amplify!"
The multicolored radiance instantly enveloped Lin Fan and the others.
"Hmm?" Lin Fan frowned. Suddenly, the aura of a soul beast surged forth, emanating from the mist.
He immediately turned toward Xiao Wu—the aura of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast was now fully exposed.
"What the hell is Ning Fengzhi doing?! Tang Hao worked so hard to conceal Xiao Wu's presence. Now she's completely exposed!" Lin Fan didn't even need to look around; he could already feel the gazes of Bibi Dong and the others locking onto Xiao Wu.
"Damn it... ruined things at the last moment."
"Fengzhi, stop immediately!" Sword Douluo Chenxin snapped in alarm, cutting off Ning Fengzhi before he could continue.
"Huh? What is it, Uncle Jian?" Ning Fengzhi paused in confusion and quickly retracted the Seven Treasures True Form.
"That girl—Xiao Wu—she's a soul beast in human form," Chenxin whispered grimly.
"W-What?!" Ning Fengzhi gasped, turning to look at Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu sensed something. She instinctively backed behind Tang San, lowering her head, not daring to meet anyone's eyes.
"So the moment has come." Lin Fan sighed inwardly. A full-blown conflict was now inevitable.
But one thing confused him: why had Ning Fengzhi's Seven Treasures True Form exposed Xiao Wu's aura, when Ning Rongrong had never triggered it before?
"Hmph. We lost three ten-thousand-year soul bones, but in exchange, we uncovered a hundred-thousand-year soul beast in human form? Not a bad deal." Bibi Dong sneered inwardly. "Still, I never noticed her beast aura before…"
Even Tang Hao hadn't predicted that Ning Fengzhi's Seven Treasures True Form could pierce through the disguise provided by a hundred-thousand-year soul bone.
The truth was, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda naturally had a treasure-inspecting ability. Ning Rongrong hadn't detected anything because her level was too low. But Ning Fengzhi, empowered by Lin Fan's help to reach the eighth level of the pagoda and the Soul Douluo stage, had not only activated Seven Treasures True Form but also triggered two amplification skills.
This forced the treasure-inspecting effect, and the soul beast aura hidden behind Xiao Wu's hundred-thousand-year soul bone was fully revealed.
All the Titled Douluo present instantly sensed the unmistakable aura of a soul beast radiating from Xiao Wu.
"Damn you, Ning Fengzhi!" Tang Hao cursed silently from the shadows. He hadn't expected a problem to arise at this critical moment.
Ning Fengzhi looked utterly innocent—how could he have known that one of the students on stage was secretly a soul beast?
"Something's wrong… Why is everyone staring at me?" Tang San activated his Purple Demon Eye, and sure enough, the focus of everyone's attention was now on him and Xiao Wu.
"Thank you for your assistance, Sect Master Ning," Bibi Dong called from the Supreme Pontiff Hall steps as she approached.
"It was nothing... happy to help," Ning Fengzhi replied awkwardly with a forced smile.
"A hundred-thousand-year soul beast in human form? Interesting…" Xue Qinghe had already quietly retreated to the back of the crowd.
Though she held some grudge against Bibi Dong, she wasn't going to step in and save Xiao Wu now.
"Let's continue with the awards ceremony. Your Holiness, please present the prizes to the winning academy," announced host Hess as Bibi Dong stepped forward.
Holding the Pope's scepter, Bibi Dong smiled and announced, "The champion of this year's Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament is—Shrek Academy."
"Congratulations, young geniuses!"
She then brought out the three previously promised ten-thousand-year soul bones, which hovered before her.
Ma Hongjun, Dai Mubai, and the others still didn't understand the situation. They were clapping and celebrating, completely immersed in their victory.
Host Hess continued, "Shrek Academy, please send a representative to receive your championship rewards."
Dai Mubai turned to Lin Fan and said, "Lin Xuan, although I'm the team captain, everyone knows that you are the one who carried us to this victory. Without you, we wouldn't be standing here."
"Yeah! Brother Lin Xuan, this honor belongs to you!" Oscar and Ma Hongjun echoed.
"Lin Xuan, stop being modest," Ning Rongrong added with a smile.
By the time Hess had declared the tournament over, Lin Fan had already put on his long black robe again.
"Then I won't refuse," Lin Fan said with a nod, stepping forward to receive the award.
Bibi Dong looked at him and said, "Truly impressive. You've even surpassed your uncle. Once the tournament ends, I hope you'll remain as a guest of Spirit Hall."
Lin Fan smiled calmly. "Thank you, Your Holiness. But my training journey has come to an end. I won't be staying."
Bibi Dong didn't push further. She handed him the three soul bones—her top priority now was ending the ceremony quickly so she could capture Xiao Wu.
Lin Fan returned to his teammates and said, "As I said before, I don't want the championship rewards. I only joined to complete a clan trial. These soul bones belong to you all."
He had no use for them—he already had head and left arm soul bones, and the leg bone's level wasn't even high enough to matter to him.
"If I get that head soul bone, maybe I can finally break through to the Micro realm with my Purple Demon Eye," Tang San silently hoped.
Yu Xiaogang stepped forward. "Lin Xuan, the soul bones are now in your hands. How do you plan to distribute them?"
He wanted the head bone for Tang San.
"I've already made my decision," Lin Fan replied with a nod.
"The Windchasing Leg Bone is perfect for agility-type soul masters—it goes to Zhu Zhuqing."
Naturally, Lin Fan wouldn't treat his student poorly, especially since the bone was suited to her.
"The Explosive Flame Soul Bone—only Ma Hongjun, a fire-attribute soul master, can use it."
"Wow! I knew Brother Lin Xuan wouldn't forget about me!" Ma Hongjun cheered.
"As for this 50,000-year Spirit-Concentrating Head Bone... It's more contested, so give me a moment."
Yu Xiaogang couldn't help himself. "I believe this head bone should go to Tang San. He's a control-type soul master and needs powerful mental strength."
"Control-type, huh?" Lin Fan looked at Tang San thoughtfully, then turned to Ning Rongrong. "I think Rongrong needs it more. She's supported us through this tournament."
"As she grows, her support skills will get stronger and last longer—for the benefit of everyone."
"Then it's settled. The Spirit-Concentrating Head Bone goes to Ning Rongrong."
"You…!" Yu Xiaogang's face darkened.
Tang San quickly reached out and stopped him. "It's true. Rongrong needs it more than I do."
"Smart man, this Lin Xuan. Giving a 50,000-year soul bone to my daughter? I see what you're up to." Ning Fengzhi chuckled to himself from the sidelines.
Lin Fan handed the three soul bones to Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Ma Hongjun, completing the distribution.