At the Shrek Academy suite, Liu Erlong pulled Yu Xiaogang into her room. "Xiaogang, how did it go?"
"She has changed." Yu Xiaogang's face dimmed with sorrow as he sighed. "After twenty years, people are bound to change. Now she is the Pope of Spirit Hall, no longer the Bibi Dong of the past. Looking at the outcome… I shouldn't have gone to her this time."
Liu Erlong let out a small sigh of relief. "So she didn't tell you how to cultivate twin Martial Souls."
"She is the Pope now, standing above ten thousand." Yu Xiaogang gave a self-mocking smile. "But so what if she didn't say? I've already guessed some things. If I can lure her into making a move, I'll know whether I'm right."
'This… might require Tang Hao himself to step forward.' He thought, then pulled Liu Erlong into his arms, his voice softening. "Erlong, this is Spirit City, her domain. From now on, don't ever leave my side. I fear she may try to harm you."
"Let her come. Do you think I'm afraid of her?" Liu Erlong snorted coldly.
"So what if she's the Pope? She still lost to me once. As long as she can't take you from me, I'm not afraid of anything."
Yu Xiaogang smiled faintly and kissed her forehead. "Don't worry. She'll never take me away. After all, we are husband and wife now—even if only in name."
'Once the Soul Master Tournament ends, it will be more than just in name.' A hint of sorrow flickered in Liu Erlong's eyes, but she quickly steadied herself, gently pushed him away, and smiled. "Xiaogang, when I took Xiao San out, I obtained a 10,000 year left leg bone. It came from a Man-Faced Demon Spider. Though it's just over 10,000 years, the quality is good. Xiao San suggested you absorb it, to help you break through to rank 30."
As she spoke, she opened her hand, revealing the soul bone.
"Erlong, put it away." Yu Xiaogang shook his head. "I've long passed my prime cultivation age. Even if I absorbed this soul bone and reached rank 30, I wouldn't go far. It's meaningless and would be a waste."
He paused, then added, "Besides… if our team truly wins the championship, the distribution of the three soul bones will be an issue. I want Xiao San to take the wisdom-type skull. The fire-attribute bone should go to Ma Hongjun, and the agility-type one to Tianheng. As for Ning Rongrong—she is Ning Fengzhi's daughter. Building ties with her is only good for Xiao San's future. So, this soul bone can serve as compensation."
If he were to absorb one, it would only be a dragon-type. Only that might suit him.
Liu Erlong frowned, lips curling in displeasure. "But Ning Rongrong barely even fights in the matches."
"Enough. It's decided." Yu Xiaogang said coolly. Ning Rongrong might not have fought much, but she still represented the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
"…Fine." Seeing his determination, Liu Erlong reluctantly put away the soul bone, then embraced him again and looked up. "Xiaogang, stay tonight?"
"Mm."
---
Two days later, at the center of Spirit City.
Early in the morning, all participating teams were led by staff to the tournament grounds.
To host the finals, Spirit Hall had specially constructed an arena in the city center.
Perhaps to accommodate soul skills with wide coverage, this arena was massive—150 meters in diameter, paved entirely with granite.
It had also been reinforced with soul tool technology. According to Spirit Hall, it could withstand any attack below Soul Emperor level without damage.
Such feats were possible only for Spirit Hall. Compared with it, the two empires lacked high-end powerhouses and depth. This was especially evident in the application of soul tool technology—most of the continent's remnants were firmly in Spirit Hall's hands.
On a mountain a thousand meters away stood the Pope Hall. The final three matches of the tournament would be held there, before the Pope herself. She would personally present the rewards to the champion.
Ta, ta, ta—
their steps echoed as Yang Yunhai and his team were led to their rest area.
Soon after, the leaders were summoned to draw lots.
"Alright." Meng Shenshou nodded and went to the judges' platform opposite the Pope Hall.
Not long after, he returned. "Our first-round opponent is Skywater Academy. We're in the third match."
Yang Yunhai nodded. He didn't particularly care who the opponent was.
"Straight to battle?" Yu Feng muttered in surprise, glancing at the stands. "There's no opening ceremony? And the crowd is so small—only a few thousand. Compared to the tens of thousands in the qualifiers, this feels weak."
Yang Yunhai shook his head. "Though only a few thousand, remember—all who enter Spirit City are soul masters."
"And most of them are from Spirit Hall." Dugu Yan added.
"No wonder it's Spirit Hall." Yu Feng clicked his tongue.
If Spirit City alone had so many, how many more remained across the empires? Spirit Hall's control over soul masters was staggering.
As they talked, a red-clad cardinal stepped onto the judges' stage, announcing the day's matches and byes.
"Finals, round one, first match: Shrek Academy versus Long Kui Academy…"
"As expected. Not only do they avoid giving them a strong opponent, but they even arrange the opening match as their showcase." Yang Yunhai's eyes flashed coldly.
'Truly, Bibi Dong's lovesick indulgence knows no bounds. Favoring enemies, obstructing her own… laughable.'
'If Shrek really wins the championship, those soul bones would be gifts to the enemy. From another angle, she's funding the opposition. To let a rival team advance this far—is that not aiding the enemy?'
'And then she expects me to clean up her mess?'
He sneered inwardly. 'When the time comes, let's see who looks foolish.'
His gaze followed Tang San as the Shrek team took the stage.
Long Kui Academy, belonging to the Star Luo Empire, had three Soul Ancestors. Compared to Shrek, their strength was vastly inferior. Unsurprisingly, Tang San single-handedly crushed them. Xiao Wu didn't even appear.
With just his third and fourth soul skills, he poisoned them easily, then used the Eight Spider Lances to "detoxify."
'Even Soul Ancestors fell so easily… clearly, Tang San has devoured many poison-type soul beasts. Likely all of high age—otherwise his Martial Soul's poison would not have grown so strong.' Yang Yunhai thought.
As for the "detoxification," he didn't need to guess—it was another excuse to devour life force.
'So Bibi Dong, you've become an accomplice to evil!' His eyes turned icy.
He had already sent Ghost Douluo back early with word that Tang San's Martial Soul had developed devouring abilities, that his Eight Spider Lances came from a Man-Faced Demon Spider.
As someone with the Death Spider Emperor and Soul-Eating Spider Emperor Martial Souls, Bibi Dong knew spider-type soul beasts inside out. She had to know the Man-Faced Demon Spider had devouring powers. She had to know Tang San's Eight Spider Lances could devour life. And still, she arranged this—all for Yu Xiaogang.
If she truly wanted Tang San dead, she would have arranged for him to face Yang Yunhai in the first match. Her meddling was blatant.
"Who would have thought Tang San's poison attribute had grown so strong…" Zhu Zhuyun and Dai Weisi frowned deeply.
They had already investigated Shrek Academy—Tang San, Yu Tianheng, Ning Rongrong, all scions of the Upper Three Sects. Their combined strength was formidable.
And now Tang San's poison… he absolutely had the chance to defeat them.
Their team had no fire-attribute soul master to counter him.
'Hopefully Shrek meets Heaven Dou Royal Academy first.' Both thought. They had also investigated Heaven Dou Royal Academy—its strength was overwhelming, especially Yang Yunhai. And every time they fought Shrek, it was a rout.
Soon after, the next match began: Godwind Academy versus Kaiser Academy.
"What's going on!?" Seeing Godwind Academy's lineup, the Shrek members were stunned.
Among them were four Blazing Academy members—Huo Wu, Huo Wushuang, Huo Yun, Huo Yu.
"I'll go ask the committee!" Flender rushed off.
Yu Xiaogang frowned, eyes narrowing toward the Pope Hall.
'Bibi Dong, so this is your method of stopping me?'
Blazing Academy's fire attribute directly countered Tang San's Blue Silver Grass, and with Godwind's wind attribute, fire was strengthened further. Their alliance made them far more than the sum of their parts.
Beating them would be extremely difficult.
Tang San frowned too. Wind plus fire, with flight—troublesome indeed.
The match began. Godwind released their Martial Souls—every one had four rings.
The battle was a massacre. In under a minute, it was over. Huo Wu didn't even use Defying Flame Ring.
"Master, didn't you say no substitutions were allowed mid-tournament?" Dai Mubai asked gravely.
"They must have found a loophole…" Yu Xiaogang's eyes lit up as he realized.
"Then can we do the same?" Xiao Wu asked.
"It's too late." Yu Xiaogang shook his head. "The tournament has already begun. The final list is set—no changes are allowed now.
"And besides, what academy would willingly give up their final honor? Blazing must have paid a heavy price for Spirit Hall to allow this."
'All because of me.' Yu Xiaogang thought darkly.
There was no doubt—Bibi Dong didn't want him to prove himself by leading Shrek to the championship. By granting Blazing this loophole, she meant for Godwind to crush them—or at least force Shrek to reveal more of their strength, so Spirit Hall's team could counter them later.
'Bibi Dong, you calculate so well! You're trying to ruin me! But I am not unprepared!'
He looked toward the Pope Hall, defiance flashing in his eyes.
Ta, ta, ta—
Flender returned quickly, confirming it. Within the rules, the committee would not interfere.
"At this point, dwelling on it is useless. Let's keep watching." Yu Xiaogang said flatly.
"Finals, round one, third match: Heaven Dou Royal Academy versus Skywater Academy. Contestants, please enter the arena." The host's voice rang out.
(End of Chapter)
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