As the Shrek Team defeated the new Divine Wind Team, they finally entered the top three. The other two teams were the Spirit Hall Team and the Star Luo Royal Academy Team, both widely recognized as the strongest teams.
It was clear to anyone with discerning eyes that the Shrek Team's victory over the new Divine Wind Team was a tactical triumph. Otherwise, given the Shrek Team's strength, winning would not have been so simple, or rather, it would have been very difficult.
Outsiders looked at Yu Xiaogang and Qin Ming with strange expressions, some with admiration, some with respect, and a hint of confusion. After all, it was the finals, and no team would willingly change their lineup easily.
But the Shrek Team's leader and deputy leader had the courage to change the lineup at this point, abandoning two Soul Ancestors and choosing Ye Lingling, who had never appeared before.
Yu Xiaogang seemed to enjoy these gazes, but Yang Xiong didn't care much. As he had said, a new Divine Wind Academy that had abandoned its advantage was nothing. The truly difficult opponents were these last two strong teams. He just didn't know if Yu Xiaogang could come up with any tactics.
Anyway, from the start of the competition until now, Yu Xiaogang had never proposed any Seven-in-One Martial Soul Fusion Skill. It was estimated that the most stunning moment from the original work would likely not happen again.
While everyone else was tense, Yang Xiong was dragged out by the lickspittle Feng Xiaotian for a night of drinking. Even Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu, who were always by their side, didn't show up.
The two of them felt a sense of mutual appreciation. Feng Xiaotian was reckless in his pursuit of love, completely disregarding any external opinions, while Yang Xiong was the opposite, calculating everything he did, acting cautiously and hesitantly in his dealings with others.
Yang Xiong envied Feng Xiaotian's carefree nature and his courage to love and hate, to go all out for his goals.
As they drank more and more, it seemed as if they had opened up their hearts. Yang Xiong complained that Feng Xiaotian, as a lickspittle, had lost himself too much, while Feng Xiaotian complained that Yang Xiong, at such a young age, thought too much and lacked the vitality of a young person.
They praised each other and criticized each other, filling the air with laughter.
Three days passed quickly, and the final championship was finally about to begin. Many people were extremely excited. This was, after all, the place known as the most sacred. But Yu Xiaogang's eyes were bloodshot, as if he hadn't slept for days, likely thinking about how to face the two strong teams.
Compared to the three teams, the Spirit Hall Team seemed exceptionally relaxed and excited. Clearly, they had absolute confidence in their own strength and were full of faith in the Papal Hall.
The Star Luo Royal Academy seemed exceptionally solemn, each member looking arrogant, especially Dai Weisi, who looked like a challenger.
Yang Xiong observed carefully. Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun indeed looked very similar to Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing. Dai Weisi also had golden hair and a handsome face, as arrogant as Dai Mubai, but with a bit more calmness and depth.
Zhu Zhuyun had a more voluptuous figure and lacked Zhu Zhuqing's childishness, appearing more mature.
The Shrek Team members had various expressions. Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing seemed relatively nervous, Yu Tianheng also had a slightly arrogant look, Tang San was relatively calm, and the others had a hint of fervor.
The three teams participating in the finals stood quietly at the entrance of the Papal Hall, which was also the location of the final championship.
The scene was incredibly solemn, and even all the high-level Soul Masters were very quiet.
Just then, the gate of the Papal Hall opened. Eight Cardinals walked in the front, and the leader shouted: "Your Majesty the Pope has arrived!"
All the Spirit Hall personnel present shouted: "Long live Your Majesty the Pope!"
The sound was like a mountain roaring and a sea surging, even echoing throughout Spirit City. It was clear that everyone was very respectful and also very fanatical. Yang Xiong's heart sank. This kind of fanaticism seemed a bit like that of cult members on Earth.
Several people walked out of the Papal Hall. Leading them was a woman holding a scepter and wearing a golden crown. It was Pope Bibi Dong.
Pope Bibi Dong was incredibly beautiful, but even more powerful was her terrifying aura, which at this moment was incredibly majestic.
Behind Bibi Dong followed four people: Sword Douluo, Ning Fengzhi, Chrysanthemum Douluo, and Ghost Douluo.
Yang Xiong looked at Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo with great interest. Chrysanthemum Douluo's Martial Soul was the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, a rare plant-type Titled Douluo. Ghost Douluo was completely black, emitting a black aura, appearing even more mysterious and unpredictable.
Upon seeing these five people emerge, all those belonging to Spirit Hall, whether Soul Masters or Palace Knights, and even the Cardinals, all knelt on one knee and shouted: "Greetings, Your Highness the Pope!"
Even the original Spirit Hall Team all knelt on one knee.
However, neither the Star Luo Royal Academy Team nor the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Shrek Team knelt. These two teams now represented the two great empires and were not subordinate to Spirit Hall.
The originally extremely majestic Bibi Dong now appeared exceptionally gentle.
"Rise!"
Everyone in Spirit Hall instantly stood up, their movements perfectly synchronized.
Yang Xiong stared intently at Bibi Dong. In both his past and present lives, there had been various evaluations of Bibi Dong: exceptionally talented, immensely powerful, ruthless in her methods, ambitious and strategic...
But at this moment, Yang Xiong couldn't think of all that. He only felt an immense pressure from this person, like a venomous snake, or a poppy – beautiful in appearance, but invisibly full of potent poison.
Bibi Dong appeared unusually calm, a smile gracing her face as she looked at the crowd.
"From you, I see the hope of Soul Masters. I hope you will showcase your talent and strength, and the final victor will receive all the rewards."
With a wave of her hand, three beams of light appeared before Bibi Dong. Though not large, they were shaped like infant skeletons and emitted alluring glows.
Everyone present widened their eyes, even the top experts in the audience were filled with fervent desire.
These were Soul Bones, the three Top-Tier Soul Bones awarded as prizes for the Soul Master Competition finals. At this moment, everyone in the audience began to stir with excitement.
Guimei, the Ghost Douluo standing behind the Pope, spoke in his low voice, "These three Soul Bones are the Spirit Condensing Wisdom Skull, the Bursting Burning Flame Right Arm, and the Rapid Advance Wind Chasing Left Leg. All three Soul Bones came from ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts and are the most top-tier Soul Bones in the world, especially this head Soul Bone, which can be called a supreme grade."
Yang Xiong's gaze upon these three Soul Bones was somewhat somber. It wasn't that he disliked treasures, but these three Soul Bones were simply not that easy to obtain. These three Soul Bones were clearly prepared for the Golden Generation.
Throughout the entire finals, although the Spirit Hall Golden Generation had shown their strength, they clearly hadn't gone all out. They had easily crushed the other teams, their power like a distinct chasm.
Especially the Martial Soul fusion skill Charm Demon formed by Xie Yue and Hu Liena. This move not only possessed spiritual attack but also had extremely strong combat ability; even a beginner Soul Emperor might not be able to defeat it.
Over the years, Yang Xiong had searched through various books but had never found what Penetrating Autumn Water Dew looked like. Even after cultivating the Purple Demon Eyes, his spiritual power had only reached the Soul King realm. One must know that Yang Xiong was currently only a level thirty-nine Soul Ancestor.
As for Tang San, Yang Xiong felt that his Purple Demon Eyes realm was similar to Tang San's, but since he had a Body Martial Soul, his spiritual power should be stronger than Tang San's. If he couldn't handle the red mist, it would be even more impossible for others. The only possibility in the entire arena was probably Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun's Netherworld White Tiger.
Just as Yang Xiong was lost in thought, Bibi Dong spoke again.
"There will only be one final champion. These three Soul Bones will be the reward for the final champion. I hope your three teams will go all out and achieve the final victory."
"This morning will be the individual elimination matches where each of your three teams will send out seven people. The final winner will gain the upper hand and directly secure a spot in tomorrow's final match. This afternoon will be the losers' match. The competition begins now."
Everyone was already clear on the competition rules. Each of the three teams sent one person forward to draw lots. The Shrek Team sent Shi Mo.
Regarding the individual matches this morning, everyone had their considerations.
The Spirit Hall team was the strongest, and they would likely take the lead in the individual matches. After all, they had three Soul Kings, and their other Soul Masters were all above level forty-five.
Although the Star Luo Royal Academy was powerful, with Dai Weisi even at level forty-nine, besides Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun, the others were only just at level forty-two or forty-three. The gap was immense.
And the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Shrek Team's gap was even larger. The highest was Yu Tianheng at level forty-three, while the others were at level forty-one or forty-two. The average Soul Power gap was even close to nine levels, which was simply an insurmountable chasm.
Just as Shi Mo finished drawing lots and was about to go on stage, Yu Xiaogang suddenly spoke.
"Please wait a moment for the match. Shi Mo, come back for now."
Bibi Dong asked with a hint of confusion, "What do you mean? Please state your reason."
Yu Xiaogang smiled coldly, "I have no other meaning. Our Heaven Dou Royal Academy Shrek Team voluntarily forfeits this morning's individual matches and will directly enter this afternoon's loser's bracket match. I believe forfeiting should be our right."
Yu Xiaogang's words were unusually calm, yet also profound and inscrutable.
However, after these words were spoken, the expressions of the Heaven Dou Empire's high-ranking officials, led by Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, became extremely unsightly. The Shrek Team represented the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, which represented the Heaven Dou Empire. Such a surrender without a fight brought a bit of shame to the entire Heaven Dou Empire.
In contrast, the faces of the Star Luo Royal Academy team members were ashen. Because if the Shrek Team conceded, the Star Luo Royal Academy would have to face the Spirit Hall team alone. No matter how arrogant Dai Weisi was, he understood the gap between them, as there was a difference of a full three ten-thousand-year Soul Rings.
Bibi Dong's slightly surprised face suddenly nodded. "You are right. Conceding is indeed your right. I was presumptuous, Elder Yu."
Everyone was startled upon hearing this. The leader of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy team was actually an Elder of the Spirit Hall. This was somewhat amusing.
One must know that Spirit Hall Elders were basically Titled Douluo. The only non-Titled Douluo Elder was Ning Fengzhi, and Ning Fengzhi was not only the Sect Leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect but also the continent's number one support Soul Master.
Everyone looked at Yu Xiaogang with strange eyes. In the eyes of the experts present, it was clear at a glance that Yu Xiaogang was merely a level twenty-nine Soul Greatmaster. Even if he had some fame in the Soul Master world back then, that fame was rather poor, at least somewhat scorned by the major powers.
Bibi Dong said, "Since the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Shrek Team has conceded, the competition will continue."
Everyone's gaze instantly fell upon Dai Weisi. It was clear that the Shrek Team intended to conserve their strength, but as the continent's strongest empire, if the Star Luo Empire conceded so easily, Dai Weisi would likely have difficulty explaining himself upon returning home.
Dai Weisi's face was ashen. He simply arranged for a Soul Ancestor to enter the arena, who suffered a crushing defeat without any suspense.
After sending out two Soul Ancestors consecutively, Dai Weisi decisively conceded as well. On one hand, it was merely to show that their strength was insufficient, and on the other hand, it was to preserve their strength. At least the image of the nation could still be maintained.
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