I have added this story to my Patreon. You can support me and read the 40 latest and advanced chapters there. It also fed and motivate me to write more chapters!
Link: Patreon.com/AVRkingsTL
—------------------—
The long-awaited finals had finally arrived.
At the opening ceremony of the Spirit Master Competition, Yu Xiaogang finally caught sight of Tang Hao, one of the legendary clear sky twin stars.
His strong, tall physique and arrogant demeanor perfectly matched Yu Xiaogang's imagination of him.
Seemingly noticing Yu Xiaogang's gaze, Tang Hao turned his head to look at him while Yu Xiaogang was observing him, then shot him a look filled with coldness, contempt, and disdain.
That look was as if he were telling Yu Xiaogang to just wait for death.
"Tsk, interesting."
Yu Xiaogang felt amused.
He was truly curious what kind of expression Tang Hao would show if they actually met and Tang Hao ended up defeated by his own hands.
Just thinking about it was exciting.
Carrying this anticipation, Yu Xiaogang began his journey in the finals.
The first round's draw paired them against an ordinary team, and the Spirit Hall Academy Second Team achieved an easy victory against them.
Thus, after the match, everyone sat outside the arena to watch the remaining matches.
It had to be said that the level of this Spirit Master Competition was quite impressive.
In previous years, only top-tier teams could field an all-Spirit Ancestor lineup, but there were several more this year.
For example, in the Star Luo Imperial Academy team, the captain and vice-captain were from the Star Luo Dai Family and Zhu Family.
Their identities went without saying: the current generation's prince of the Star Luo Empire and his partner.
Therefore, a Martial Soul Fusion Skill between the two was inevitable.
So, this team could not be underestimated.
In another team from the Star Luo Empire, there was also a pair from the Dai Family and Zhu Family.
Without even looking, one knew this pair was here to compete against the pair from the Star Luo Imperial Academy team for the final spot.
Honestly, after learning about how the Star Luo Empire chose its crown prince, Yu Xiaogang could only sigh that it was truly a World where one spoke with their fists.
Yu Xiaogang somewhat appreciated this grand, public method of competing for the throne.
Because at the very least, the heir who competed and won in this manner would not be a good-for-nothing.
Although this method was unfair to those princes born later.
But it had to be said that in this model, if a later-born prince could still successfully ascend to the throne, it meant that the prince's talent and ability were definitely not lacking.
Furthermore, the first-born princes would also strive to become stronger to ensure their own status.
You could say this method of choosing an heir was bloody, cruel, and wicked, but you could not say it was bad for the Star Luo Empire.
Besides the Star Luo Empire, the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy team's lineup was also not to be underestimated.
Not only were they all Spirit Ancestors, but the captain had reached level 49, just one step away from becoming a Spirit King.
They were undoubtedly a strong team.
As for the Spirit Hall Academy team, the captain was a Spirit King, and the rest were all Spirit Ancestors.
It could be said that in previous competitions, these three seeded teams would be the top favorites to win.
But in this edition, they would only serve as foils.
"The two sides competing next are, respectively, Nalan Advanced Spirit Master Academy"
"And their opponents are the Iron Fire Advanced Spirit Master Academy from the Star Luo Empire!"
The host announced the opponents for the next match, and his voice became high-pitched when mentioning the Iron Fire Advanced Spirit Master Academy.
It was for no other reason than that the acknowledged strongest person of this Spirit Master Competition was currently in this team.
As the host's voice fell, the audience below erupted into cheers.
Amidst the cheers, Tang Hao walked onto the competition ring with six tag-along teammates.
Standing on the stage, Tang Hao enjoyed the cheers of the people around him, while he didn't even glance at his opponents.
A thoroughly arrogant posture.
"Whoa! Is this the captain's final opponent?"
Xu Xiaoxing stared wide-eyed at Tang Hao. If she hadn't seen the even more Heaven-Defying Yu Xiaogang, she might have cast a look of worship toward Tang Hao at this moment.
After all, a Spirit Emperor under the age of twenty-five was truly an astonishing talent.
"Alright, both sides are in position, I announce, the match begins!"
As the host's voice fell, the members of Nalan Academy activated their Spirits one after another; a team of five Spirit Ancestors and two Spirit Elders was already quite good.
However.
"Hmph!"
With a cold snort, the Clear Sky Hammer appeared in Tang Hao's hand, and immediately after, six spirit rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black—circled around his body.
Seeing Tang Hao display his strength as a Spirit Emperor, the audience's cheers became even more fervent.
"So strong, he really is a Spirit Emperor!"
"Oh oh oh, coming to Spirit City to watch the competition this time was really the right choice!"
"Hahaha, hit them hard, I want to see blood flow like a river!"
"..."
The fervent shouts of the audience made Tang Hao even more pleased with himself. He glanced at his opponents, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"You don't choose to surrender when facing me? That's perfect."
With a thought from Tang Hao, his fifth spirit ring lit up.
The next second, Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer glowed with a crimson light.
Under everyone's gaze, Tang Hao gripped the Clear Sky Hammer, leaped into the air, and then swung the Clear Sky Hammer down toward the ground.
Boom!!
The Clear Sky Hammer collided with the arena floor, and the next second, the arena made of special stone suddenly shattered.
Within the cracks, crimson energy surged wildly.
Driven by this crimson energy, the cracks gradually spread toward the feet of the Nalan Academy members, until they were completely surrounded.
"Taste this move of mine, Fifth Spirit Ability: Thousand-Jun Earth Split!"
"Haa!"
With a roar from Tang Hao, the crimson energy that had been shrinking within the cracks suddenly rushed out. Even though the members of Nalan Academy were prepared, how could their strength compare to Tang Hao, who was already a Spirit Emperor?
Almost instantly, their defenses were shattered, and the powerful energy surged directly into their bodies.
"Ah!"
The screams lasted only for a moment, and the next second, the members of Nalan Academy directly fainted.
By the time Tang Hao's attack subsided, all that remained on the arena were a pile of people lying on the ground, life or death unknown, and him, the arrogant culprit.
"This... someone, come quickly! Where are the healing-type Spirit Masters?"
The power of Tang Hao's strike left the entire arena in silence. It wasn't until the host regained his senses that he hurriedly called for medical personnel.
After confirming that the members of Nalan Academy were all seriously injured but not dead, the host finally announced the result with a stutter.
"This... this battle, is... is won by Iron Fire Academy."
"I protest, this is murder!"
The team leader of Nalan Academy roared with a face full of anger.
He examined his students' injuries, and could only say it was horrific to behold.
It was even hard to say if they would be able to recover in the future.
This could completely be seen as murder; such actions clearly violated the competition rules.
However, facing Nalan Academy's protest, Tang Hao didn't even give him an extra glance.
"If you are afraid of getting hurt, then don't participate in Spirit Fighting."
"I am not the kind of person who holds back. If you want to stand alongside me, Tang Hao, then be prepared to be beaten to death by me first!"