At that moment, Xie Yue moved as well.
Two blood-red crescent blades—shaped like curved moons—were tightly gripped in his hands. As he spread his arms, his entire body surged forward, crashing into Hu Liena.
The instant Xie Yue collided with Hu Liena, a crimson light barrier appeared, expanding outward with explosive force, spreading across half the arena in the blink of an eye.
Xie Yue, Hu Liena, and the seven members of the opposing team were all enveloped within that red glow.
As the red light pulsed, the sibling pair fused into a long-haired figure whose appearance was neither male nor female.
"A Martial Soul Fusion Skill!"
Tang San blurted out.
Yu Xiaogang nodded.
"Correct. It's a Martial Soul Fusion Skill. Unlike Mubai and Zhuqing's fusion technique, the fusion skill of those siblings specializes in control."
"Control?"
As a control-type spirit master himself, Tang San understood better than anyone how crucial control was on the battlefield.
No matter how powerful one's offense, once restrained, it could not be unleashed to its fullest.
What Hu Liena and Xie Yue had unleashed together was precisely their fusion skill—Demonic Enchantment.
Within the domain created by this fusion skill, all of the opponent's senses would be reduced by fifty percent, all actions slowed by fifty percent, and their spirit power suppressed by fifty percent.
Inside the thick red glow, the members of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy could not even make out their opponents' figures. They were completely on the passive side.
As the red light grew denser, even spectators outside the arena could no longer see what was happening inside.
"Ah—!"
With a series of agonized screams, one figure after another was flung out of the crimson shroud, blood spraying everywhere—truly a horrific sight.
At this moment, Dugu Bo became tense, for his granddaughter Dugu Yan was still inside.
Of the seven members of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy team, five had already been thrown out. Only Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan remained within the red glow.
Suddenly, Dugu Bo's brows furrowed.
A patch of violet appeared within the red light.
Immediately after, a strange voice echoed from within the shroud:
"Dugu Yan, don't waste your strength. Your poison is suppressed by fifty percent inside our domain—you won't be able to harm us."
Before the voice even faded, Dugu Yan's body was hurled out of the red glow.
For Dugu Bo's sake, she hadn't been seriously injured, but she still vomited blood and was thrown straight off the arena.
"Yan'er!"
Dugu Bo shouted, his figure flashing as a green blur descended beside Dugu Yan.
Tang San stared at the center of the arena filled with crimson.
"So even poison gets weakened inside their domain…"
With a loud boom, the red shroud finally dissipated. Xie Yue and Hu Liena separated and returned to their own bodies.
At that moment, Yu Tianheng was still standing before them, trembling uncontrollably. Blood dripped down his dragon-shaped arm, splattering across the arena floor.
Seeing this, both Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong felt a stab of pain.
Though Yu Xiaogang had left the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Yu Tianheng was still his nephew.
"Tianheng…"
Xie Yue snorted coldly.
"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon… is nothing special after all."
After speaking, he ruthlessly kicked Yu Tianheng off the arena.
Liu Erlong trembled with fury at the scene, glaring fiercely at Xie Yue and Hu Liena. She nearly rushed onto the stage to teach them a lesson.
Yu Xiaogang, though equally angry, remained rational.
He tugged on Liu Erlong's sleeve and said:
"Erlong, calm down. This is just a competition. It's possible they're acting under Bibi Dong's orders—deliberately provoking us. If we lose control in front of everyone, we'll be playing right into her hands."
"Bibi Dong? That vile, detestable woman!"
Xie Yue raised his moon blades and looked toward Shrek Academy's rest area.
Yan and Hu Liena also turned their gazes that way.
Tang San met their eyes without fear—but when he locked eyes with Yan, his body trembled uncontrollably.
"What's with his gaze…? Why does it resemble the Purple Demon Eye? Could his spiritual power truly be that strong?"
When Tang San regained his senses, the Spirit Hall Academy team had already left the stage.
In the following match, Godwind Academy also defeated their opponents.
Thus, the top six teams of this year's Advanced Spirit Master Tournament were decided: Spirit Hall, Godwind, Thunderclap, Tianshui, Blazing, and Shrek Academy.
Aside from Spirit Hall Academy, the remaining five teams all belonged to the Heaven Dou Empire.
Coincidentally, they hadn't faced each other in earlier rounds.
But in the upcoming top-six-to-top-three elimination, three teams would have to be cut.
There was no doubt—among the six, Spirit Hall Academy stood far above the rest.
No one wanted to draw them in tomorrow's matchups.
After dinner, Yan, Xie Yue, and Hu Liena were once again summoned by Pope Bibi Dong.
The three arrived together at the vast Pope's Palace.
Bibi Dong rose from her throne and spoke gently:
"I heard your performance today was quite good. You've already entered the top six."
Hu Liena replied respectfully:
"This is all thanks to Your Holiness and our teachers for cultivating us."
Bibi Dong chuckled softly.
"Win one more match, and you will enter the final top three. The venue will move to the plaza before the Pope's Palace. Then, I will be able to witness your performance personally."
Hu Liena and Xie Yue were visibly excited.
All three said in unison:
"Please rest assured, Your Holiness. We will definitely win."
Bibi Dong nodded with satisfaction. Her gaze lingered on the three before finally settling on Yan.
"Yan, I've heard you have a good relationship with members of Godwind, Tianshui, and Blazing Academies?"
Yan lifted his head and answered:
"Reporting to Your Holiness, I met Shui Bing'er, captain of Tianshui Academy, and Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu, the captain and vice-captain of Blazing Academy, when I was training at the Silves Great Spirit Arena. I became acquainted with Feng Xiaotian of Godwind Academy more recently."
Bibi Dong nodded, clearly pleased.
"Good. Godwind, Tianshui, and Blazing are long-established elemental academies with strong foundations and excellent strength. They have always been closely aligned with one another. Keep up your good relations with those captains. If you can bring them into Spirit Hall someday, all the better."
Yan nodded:
"Your Holiness, we may be parting ways soon. The three elemental academies seem to have reached a consensus—whoever draws Spirit Hall Academy will forfeit immediately."
"Oh? They do know their limits."
"From what I know, the only team bold enough to challenge Spirit Hall Academy… seems to be Shrek Academy."
At the mention of "Shrek," Bibi Dong's brows twitched slightly.
Shrek, led by Yu Xiaogang…? I want to see what they are capable of.
Recovering her composure, Bibi Dong said:
"Yan, tell those captains that regardless of tomorrow's results, they are welcome to attend the final round of the tournament."
Yan was stunned.
The final matches between the top three teams would be held at the plaza before the Pope's Palace—and personally overseen by the Pope herself. Eliminated academies normally had no right to spectate.
Bibi Dong was making an exception.