Chapter 118: The Finals Begin
It was unclear whether this was due to some behind-the-scenes manipulation by the host, but the Star Luo Royal Academy ended up drawing Oakland Academy—another academy from the Heaven Dou Empire.
Aside from the Elemental Academies, Oakland Academy was considered the strongest among the rest, having secured nine points in the promotion round.
As for the Spirit Hall team, they directly drew Elephant Armored Academy—one of the Elemental Academies—as their first-round opponent.
By comparison, the Royal Fighting Team could be said to have drawn the weakest opponent in the finals, an academy that had managed to earn only a single point in the promotion round.
Lin Beiya had never even heard of this academy's name before.
Watching the Little Angel, disguised as Xue Qinghe, on the high platform, a mischievous smile played on her lips, and Lin Beiya immediately understood that she was in a playful mood.
At the same time, this also reflected her absolute confidence in her own man. She firmly believed that Elephant Armored Academy posed no real threat to Lin Beiya.
After learning the results of the first-round draw, unlike Ye Lüsuo and Lei Ying—who were indifferent—or Wei Xu, whose eyes brimmed with excitement, both Yu Quan and Si Min wore rather grim expressions.
As the saying goes, agility-attack–type soul masters feared nothing more than being unable to break through an opponent's defenses. And against Elephant Armored Academy, the two of them were forced to face exactly that awkward reality.
Taking in their expressions, Lin Beiya naturally understood why they were feeling so uncomfortable.
After all, their strength ranked at the bottom of the team. If they failed to get a chance to take the field in the early rounds, then as the opponents grew stronger later on, their chances of appearing would become even slimmer.
"It's fine," Lin Beiya said calmly. "Elephant Armored Sect really does counter you two. For the wheel battles, let the seniors go first. You'll have your chance to shine in the team battle."
"Understood, Boss."
Despite their disappointment, Yu Quan and Si Min both secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
They represented the face of Spirit Hall. If they were completely helpless in the very first match, it would be humiliating beyond measure.
By contrast, upon hearing that she would be able to take the field first, the loli senior sister immediately patted her flat chest with confidence.
"Don't worry—this big sister will make sure the team battle starts as soon as possible."
The finals adopted a dual-format system consisting of wheel battles and team battles. If both sides ended up with one win and one loss, an additional team battle would be held to decide the victor.
This was another point that made Lin Beiya want to complain endlessly. Since they already knew ties were possible, why not just hold a single team battle from the start?
But then again, the rules had already been set. As a participant, all he could do was follow them.
After a few days of rest, the day of the finals' opening ceremony arrived in the blink of an eye.
Arriving early at the venue, the Spirit Hall group discovered that the competition grounds had already been packed to the brim by the citizens of Heaven Dou City. Scalpers were overjoyed, weaving through the crowd while shamelessly jacking up ticket prices.
Clearly, all three seeded academies would be making their appearance today, greatly fueling the public's enthusiasm for the event.
After all, what followed would be nothing but brutal elimination matches. This format only made things even more exciting for the spectators.
Upon entering the arena, the completely packed stands exuded an overwhelming sense of momentum. Thunderous cheers rolled like waves, never ceasing for even a moment.
Lin Beiya swept his gaze around and spotted Dugu Yan near the front of the northern stands. When she noticed him looking over, the little girl cupped her hands around her rosy lips and shouted, clearly cheering him on.
Smiling, Lin Beiya nodded toward Dugu Yan before leading his teammates straight to the contestants' rest area.
On the high platform, Spirit Hall's Platinum Bishop Salas, Emperor Xue Ye, and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect Master Ning Fengzhi stood side by side.
Among the team, Mo Xue clenched her delicate fists as she stared at that refined figure on the platform, her silver teeth grinding with audible crackling sounds.
Clearly, seeing this man—called her biological father yet truly her enemy—left her far from calm.
"Senior Sister, calm down. Just prove yourself with your performance later," Lin Beiya said in a low voice.
"I know."
Though she said she understood, the murderous gaze never once left Ning Fengzhi.
As a Soul Saint–level powerhouse, Ning Fengzhi quickly sensed that direct, piercing stare and turned his eyes toward the Spirit Hall team.
When he realized it was Mo Xue, the sect master—who usually wore a gentle smile toward everyone—he rarely frowned.
This, in turn, drew the curiosity of Emperor Xue Ye beside him.
"Sect Master Ning, is something the matter?"
"Your Majesty, it's nothing serious," Ning Fengzhi replied calmly. "I simply saw an acquaintance."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Although curiosity stirred in his heart, Emperor Xue Ye did not pursue the matter further. It was obvious that Ning Fengzhi had no intention of saying more.
After waiting for several dozen minutes, the tournament host—riding a flying soul tool—finally appeared and began to take control of the scene.
"Ladies and gentlemen, after half a month of fierce competition, the tournament has finally reached its most thrilling stage—the finals!"
"The finals will adopt a dual system of wheel battles and team battles, with a double-elimination format. The brutal knockout matches are about to begin. Are you all ready?!"
"Cut the crap!"
"Hurry up and start already—I've been waiting so long my flowers have withered!"
Facing the jeers of tens of thousands of spectators, the host's expression did not change in the slightest, clearly accustomed to such scenes.
"Alright, it seems everyone can't wait any longer. I hereby announce—the Thirty-First Continental Elite Soul Master Tournament officially begins!"
"The opening match will be between the host academy, the Royal Fighting Team, and Dragon Tide Academy. Contestants, please take the stage!"
Amid thunderous, mountain-shaking cheers, the two academies walked one after another to the edge of the arena. As the host academy, Qin Ming and the others clearly enjoyed immense popularity.
Waving their hands to respond to the crowd's cheers, the Royal Fighting Team appeared brimming with confidence.
"Tch, what's there to show off about beating Dragon Tide Academy? They don't even have a single Soul Ancestor on their side," Qiu Tete muttered with displeasure, curling her lips in dissatisfaction at the blatantly obvious backstage manipulation.
"Alright, Senior Sister," Lin Beiya said calmly. "Since our goal is the championship, it doesn't matter who we face. We'll just crush them all the same."
"Got it, Captain."
Now that the tournament had reached the finals, Qin Ming—acting as team captain—did not choose any strategy like having one person sweep all seven opponents to conserve strength. In his view, it was far more important for the team members to adapt to the rhythm of competition as early as possible.
After the host finished introducing the lineups of both sides, the first to step onto the arena for the Royal Fighting Team was a burly, powerfully built man.
He would represent the Royal Fighting Team as the first fighter in the wheel battle. Upon taking the stage, his gaze burned like fire as he swept across the audience, waiting for his opponent to appear.
Compared to the calm composure of the burly man, the contestant sent out by Dragon Tide Academy looked extremely nervous.
A person's reputation was like a tree's shadow. As the opening fighter of a seeded academy, his opponent's strength was bound to be formidable.
And reality proved exactly that. The burly man, named Lu Yan, was one of only three Soul Ancestors in the Royal Fighting Team. As the host academy, they could not afford to lose face in the opening match.
With both sides in position, the referee quickly announced the start of the match.
Lu Yan let out a furious roar, and an enormous steel shield instantly appeared before him. Two yellow and two purple soul rings rose in succession.
Gripping the massive shield, Lu Yan slammed it heavily onto the arena floor.
Clang!
The entire stage trembled violently. The Dragon Tide Academy contestant opposite him immediately broke out in a cold sweat but quickly recovered and released his own martial soul.
As a wolf's howl echoed through the arena, one white, one yellow, and one purple soul ring appeared in sequence behind a dark-skinned jackal.
The difference in strength between the two sides was instantly apparent. After exchanging names, Lu Yan hoisted his shield and charged straight at his opponent.
"Second Soul Skill—Savage Charge!"
Originally somewhat clumsy, Lu Yan transformed into a fully fueled truck the moment he activated his second soul skill, barreling straight toward his opponent. Caught completely off guard, the jackal Soul Elder could only unleash his third soul skill, pouring all his strength into slashing at the shield, attempting to tear it apart.
But ideals were full, while reality was brutally thin. The fierce claw strikes left nothing more than two pale scratches on the shield before dissipating without a sound.
What followed was a terrifying impact.
Along with flying teeth and splattering blood, the jackal Soul Elder was sent crashing off the arena without any suspense at all.
"Royal Fighting Academy's Lu Yan wins! Dragon Tide Academy, please send out your next contestant!"
As their home team claimed victory, the cheers from the stands grew even more intense, clearly reflecting the audience's extreme satisfaction with Lu Yan's performance.
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End of Chapter