Chapter 117 The Finals Begin! Shrek Team vs. Heavenly Soul Team!
The discussions at Xingluo Square did not subside as night fell; on the contrary, they intensified as the date of the finals approached.
Originally, after the Heavenly Soul Royal Academy defeated the Sun Moon Royal Academy, public opinion across the continent almost unanimously supported Liu Yuan.
However, with Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng's strong performances in the quarterfinals and semifinals, this trend has been drastically reversed.
In the eyes of most ordinary Soul Masters and viewers, the gap in Soul Power level remains an insurmountable ironclad rule.
As a level 67 offensive Soul Emperor, Ma Xiaotao's extreme explosive power brought by her Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul has been fully demonstrated in previous matches.
So at this moment, the audience's attitude changed again:
"Although Liu Yuan is strong, he is ultimately only a four-ring Soul Master. Even if he has double pupils and that strange regenerative ability, he probably won't even be able to get close to the Evil Fire Phoenix's Absolute Domain."
"Yes, there's also Dai Yueheng, the eldest son of the White Tiger Duke's Mansion, who is also a Soul Emperor. Having two Soul Emperors in charge is extremely rare in the history of the Advanced Soul Master Academy Battle Tournament across the entire continent. Although the Heavenly Soul Team has Long Aotian who can put up a fight, their overall strength is far inferior."
This viewpoint quickly became mainstream.
Among the odds offered by various gambling dens in Xingluo City, the odds of Shrek Academy winning the championship have dropped to an extremely low level, with almost everyone betting frantically on Shrek to win.
The flow of money best reflects the public's true thoughts. Faced with absolute data on strength, Liu Yuan's previous "miracle" was interpreted as luck and his opponent's carelessness.
Xuanzi sat on the hotel terrace, listening to his subordinates report on public opinion. His previously tense face finally relaxed completely, revealing his arrogant and smug expression once again.
In his view, the eyes of the masses are discerning. The situation is now completely back under Shrek's control.
Xuanzi's gaze swept across the street, fixed intently on the hotel where the Heavenly Soul Royal Academy was staying not far away.
He could almost see Liu Yuan wailing in Ma Xiaotao's phoenix flames, and he could see Du Busi's arrogant face turn deathly pale after his defeat.
"Poison won't kill you, Liu Yuan, you'll all just wait and see." Xuanzi snorted coldly, gripping the wine pot tightly in his hand, and muttered to himself.
"I hope that after you lose tomorrow, you will keep your promise. At that time, I will watch you two damned bastards make a fool of yourselves under the watchful eyes of the entire continent."
"I will make you pay a hundredfold for the humiliation you have inflicted on me."
Time flew by amidst the excitement and anticipation of everyone, and soon it was the morning of the second day.
This is the day of the finals of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Battle Tournament.
The streets surrounding Xingluo Square were completely blocked off at dawn, and hundreds of thousands of spectators lined up outside the square in the morning dew.
The Star Luo Empire officially attached unprecedented importance to this final battle. As this was the ultimate showdown to determine the title of the continent's number one academy, Emperor Xu Jiawei directly ordered the mobilization of sixteen level-seven panoramic imaging soul guides treasured in the Imperial Treasury.
These expensive soul tools were evenly distributed around the arena. When activated, they could transmit every fluctuation of soul power and every subtle movement on the arena to a distance of thousands of miles via special wavelengths.
This means that at this moment, not only in Xingluo Square, but also in the major city centers of the Tianhun Empire, Douling Empire, and even the Sun Moon Empire, any top-tier power with the corresponding receiving device can watch this peak match in real time.
Xuanzi was extremely satisfied with the Star Luo Empire's arrangement.
In Xuanzi's logic, the Shrek team will inevitably win today with an overwhelming victory.
With so many level-seven soul tools being broadcast live across the entire continent, it was just the right time to spread the image of Xuanzi leading his team to turn the tide to every corner.
He especially hoped that the elders within Shrek Academy, as well as Moon, who sat deep within the Sea God Pavilion, could witness this scene.
He wanted to prove to everyone that he, Xuanzi, had not only led the right team, but had also won Shrek even greater glory in this most difficult game.
At this moment, at Shrek Academy, in the Sea God Pavilion.
The atmosphere inside this ancient building, which symbolizes the highest holy place in the world of Soul Masters, is solemn and dignified.
Inside the spacious council hall, a huge light screen was suspended in mid-air, displaying the image of the devastated yet chilling arena in Xingluo Square.
Almost all the elders of the Sea God Pavilion were present.
Elder Song, Elder Lin, and other powerful figures who usually kept to themselves were all seated, their eyes fixed on the light screen.
At the head of the long table, Moon sat quietly in his wheelchair, his seemingly cloudy eyes now revealing a profound brilliance.
"Although Xuanzi had some setbacks this time, the return of Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng has indeed preserved Shrek Academy's confidence," an elder whispered.
"Barring any unforeseen circumstances, our chances of winning this final are over 90%."
"Not necessarily." Old Lin shook his head slightly, his tone carrying a hint of caution.
"I've watched the battle replays of that boy named Liu Yuan. The power contained in his double pupils seems to be more than just mental. It will be quite difficult for him to defeat them."
"Any tricks are futile in front of two Soul Emperors at their peak," another elder retorted.
Just as the elders were discussing among themselves, the referee in the light screen finally walked to the center of the arena, and his extremely penetrating voice resounded throughout the entire continent through the soul tool.
"The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Battle Tournament, Finals—officially begins!"
"Please bring your players onto the field!"
With this command, Xingluo Square erupted with the most enthusiastic sound waves since the start of the competition.
On the left side of the arena, the seven members of the Shrek team walked out side by side.
Ma Xiaotao walked at the front, her red hair dancing like flames. With each step she took, the stone slabs under her feet seemed to emit wisps of white smoke due to the extreme heat.
Behind her, Dai Yueheng was like a tiger ready to pounce at any moment, his powerful and domineering soul energy constantly pulsating across his body.
Ling Luochen quickly emerged as well, her aura icy.
Huo Yuhao, Bei Bei, Wang Dong, Xu Sanshi and others followed closely behind. Although they were only supporting, under the leadership of the two Soul Emperors, the aura of the entire team was connected, like Mount Tai pressing down, giving people a suffocating sense of oppression.
On the right side of the arena, the team from the Heavenly Soul Royal Academy slowly appeared.
Liu Yuan walked at the very front. He wasn't wearing heavy armor today, but rather a neat dark purple robe.
Compared to the overwhelming momentum of Shrek Academy, Liu Yuan's side was extremely quiet.
But beneath this silence, in Liu Yuan's slowly opening double pupils, a purple-gold light and a shadowy green hue were flashing alternately.
Behind him, Long Aotian stood with a cold expression, his arms crossed, like a Vajra statue.
The two stood in the center of the ring, fifty meters apart.
Xuanzi sat in the leader's seat, leaning forward, his eyes fixed on Liu Yuan, a cruel smile on his lips.
The referee raised his right hand, his gaze sweeping over both sides, sensing the almost explosive tension of soul power in the air.
"Both sides, step back, prepare—!"
At this moment, all eyes on the continent were fixed on the entire arena due to the presence of those sixteen level-seven soul tools.
(End of chapter)