Word Count: 2,840 Words
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Star Luo City, the capital and largest city of the Star Luo Empire, had been experiencing unprecedented congestion for several consecutive days.
From the moment the two semifinals of the Continental Elite Spirit Master Academy Tournament concluded, a long queue formed outside Star Luo Plaza. Some people had been waiting in line for three days and nights to witness the grand showdown between Shrek Academy and the Sun Moon Imperial Academy.
The Star Luo Empire had dispatched ten thousand elite soldiers into the city to maintain order, while urgently mobilizing resources from its major cities to accommodate the sudden influx of visitors. The city's prosperity reached an unprecedented peak, and the empire seized this opportunity to fill its coffers. Officials and merchants alike were grinning from ear to ear.
The two teams about to engage in this pinnacle battle were walking toward Star Luo Plaza. Soldiers clad in heavy armor lined the streets. Many citizens who couldn't get into the plaza gathered on both sides of the road, loudly shouting the names of Shrek Academy and powerful Martial Spirits such as the Seraphim and Evil Fire Phoenix.
Of course, a smattering of Sun Moon supporters also called out in favor of their own team, but their voices were overpowered by the groundswell rooting for Shrek, their numbers too few to be heard.
"The weather's a bit dreary today..."
Ling Bai looked up at the sky. Dark clouds loomed overhead, thick fog swirled, and fine drizzle fell, adding a touch of chill to this ancient city that had stood for millennia, almost as if it were an omen of things to come.
"No, the weather is excellent, very favorable for us."
Walking beside Ling Bai, Ling Luochen spoke softly. The moist air and the likelihood of a downpour were excellent news for her Ice Element Martial Spirit. It was as if even the heavens wanted Shrek Academy to claim the championship.
Everyone else marched wordlessly toward Star Luo Plaza, tension etched on their faces. From time to time, they wiped the sweat from their palms onto their sleeves.
Except for Dai Yueheng and Ling Luochen, the entire Shrek lineup was experiencing a Spirit Master Tournament final for the first time. A single match would decide whether they soared to the heavens or crashed to the depths; nerves and anxiety were nigh unavoidable.
Compared to Shrek Academy, the Sun Moon Imperial Academy team members were even more tense, because this was the closest the Sun Moon Empire had come to the championship in ten thousand years.
Ma Rulong and the Hongchen siblings were the most outstanding geniuses in the history of the Sun Moon Empire. Meanwhile, their opponents from Shrek Academy fielded an incomplete lineup with only two Spirit Emperors and two Spirit Kings. Such an opportunity was truly once in a millennium.
Upon receiving Elder Ma's message, Jing Hongchen, the Hall Master of Illustrious Virtue Hall, waved his hand and sent them a batch of powerful high-level Spirit Guidance Devices. At the same time, he issued a dead order: the Sun Moon Imperial Academy must defeat Shrek Academy at all costs and claim the championship of the Spirit Master Tournament!
Emperor Xu Jiawei of the Star Luo Empire arrived early at Star Luo Plaza with the Empress, Princess Xu Jiujiu, and the empire's civil and military officials to show respect to both finalist teams.
The White Tiger Duke, Dai Hao, who was stationed at the Ming Dou Mountain Range, had also returned to the capital. His tall and stalwart figure stood beside Emperor Xu Jiawei.
Dai Yueheng saw his revered father when he entered the competition area. His heterochromatic eyes immediately burned with fighting spirit. Even Huo Yuhao felt an unexpected surge of determination to defeat the Sun Moon Empire's representatives and prove his worth in front of the White Tiger Duke.
Once both teams were in their respective rest areas, Wang Yan stood up. His dark gaze swept over the eleven students of Shrek Academy as he spoke in a low voice:
"Follow the plan. Shrek must win!"
"Shrek must win!"
As their voices fell, Ling Bai, Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luochen, Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, Ning Tian, and Huo Yuhao strode onto the competition stage with heads held high. Opposite them, led by Captain Ma Rulong, were six other members, including four Class 5 Spirit Guidance Masters and two Class 4 Spirit Guidance Masters.
Clearly, the Sun Moon team had held back some students for the individual round and the 2-2-3 showdown similarly scheduled for the final. The Hongchen siblings, who had never set foot on stage throughout the tournament, were their trump cards.
The referee for the final was once more Heavenfiend Douluo Huang Jinxu, his face wearing its customary stern expression:
"I won't repeat the team battle rules. The match ends when one side completely loses the ability to fight or calls out 'I surrender' to me. Both teams, take your positions."
The team members gradually moved to the edges of the competition area. Shrek Academy arranged their formation with Ling Bai and Ma Xiaotao, the powerful assault-type Spirit Masters, at the front. Directly behind them was Ling Luochen. To their flanks were Xu Sanshi and Jiang Nannan, while Ning Tian and Huo Yuhao were tucked safely at the rear.
The Sun Moon Imperial Academy, however, stood in two horizontal lines in a rather strange manner. Ma Rulong and two Class 4 Spirit Guidance Masters formed one line, while the four Class 5 Spirit Guidance Masters formed another, as if the front three were protecting the four behind.
Both sides were highly focused. As they reached the edge of the competition stage, the thunderous voice of Heavenfiend Douluo announcing the start of the match rang in their ears. The first team battle that would decide the championship officially began.
Xu Sanshi hefted his pitch-black Mystic Deep Turtle Shield. The purple spirit ring at the end of his two yellow and two purple spirit rings shone brilliantly. He took a deep breath, stepped forward, and shouted:
"Mystic Deep Replacement!"
The moment these words rang out, one of the Class 4 Spirit Guidance Masters beside Ma Rulong swiftly pulled out a Spirit Guidance Device. It was a yellow metal shield. Light gleamed across its surface, and an earthy-yellow halo rippled outward. A circular shield with a diameter of five meters heavily embedded itself into the ground.
Class 4 Spirit Guidance Device: Earth Shield, which came with the attached skill 'Immovable Mountain.'
Mystic Deep Replacement had played a crucial role in Shrek Academy's match against the Thousand Spirits Advanced Spirit Master Academy. If Xu Sanshi were allowed to complete the replacement, continual successive replacements would disrupt the Sun Moon team's deployment. Therefore, the Sun Moon team had prepared the Earth Shield. As long as a person stood behind the shield with both feet on the ground, they would gain the 'Immovable Mountain' effect, greatly restraining Xu Sanshi's Mystic Deep Replacement.
What the Sun Moon team did not expect was that the glow of Mystic Deep Replacement on Xu Sanshi lasted barely a second before vanishing. Xu Sanshi chuckled:
"Fooled you! I knew you'd be prepared!"
These words infuriated the Class 4 Spirit Guidance Master, who grew so angry that steam almost came out of his ears. Gritting his teeth, he activated the Spirit Guidance Master's exclusive large-scale skill, the Spirit Fortress Formation. Over thirty Class 4 Spirit Cannons extended from slots all over his body, roaring as they spat out wave after wave of light spheres that tore through the air toward the seven from Shrek.
Unlike the mediocre Spirit Guidance Masters from other empires, these were elites of the Sun Moon Imperial Academy. Their light spheres could accelerate midair and cluster together on the fly. From their trajectory, it was clear that each sphere would crash accurately on top of the seven Shrek team members.
In the semifinals, the Sun Moon team had transformed seven members into Spirit Fortresses. With one concentrated sweep, they instantly suppressed the Imperial Mystical Academy. After three consecutive rounds, the Imperial Mystical Academy was forcibly blasted off the competition stage.
Now, however, only a single Class 4 Spirit Guidance Master had taken the form of a Spirit Fortress, posing no lethal threat to Shrek. All of a sudden, golden pinpoints flickered overhead, stretching into rail-thin, radiant shapes. A series of long, gleaming golden sword blades bristling with sharp edges formed in the sky.
Ling Bai had made his move. His fourth spirit skill, Ten Thousand Blades Radiant Glory, summoned more sword-lights than the Spirit Cannon shells bombarding them. At almost the exact middle of the arena, both sides' attacks collided. Ling Bai's sword-lights ferociously pierced through the spheres of energy, continuing on their path straight toward the Sun Moon formation.
A second Class 4 Spirit Guidance Master hurriedly deployed a second Spirit Fortress, attempting to counter Ten Thousand Blades Radiant Glory. Yet the might of Ling Bai's skill was even more fearsome than that of a Spirit King-level Spirit Guidance Master. Both men were forced to pool their defensive power. At the center of the stage, these staggered attacks all exploded in a frenzy.
"Screeech—!"
A shrill phoenix cry tore the air as a blazing Fire Phoenix soared into the heights. Following in the wake of Ten Thousand Blades Radiant Glory was Ma Xiaotao's most potent spirit skill, Phoenix Meteor Shower.
The searing flames caused the temperature beneath the tournament's grand protective barrier to skyrocket. One by one, blazing meteors, each twice as large as Ling Bai's sword-lights, hurled down from the sky. Though not quite as dense as Ten Thousand Blades Radiant Glory, each meteor exploded with fearsome force. The air above the stage was utterly distorted. The one hundred eight arrayed Spirit Masters exerted all their strength to maintain the protective barrier to prevent innocent spectators from being harmed.
The Class 4 Spirit Guidance Masters were merely at the Spirit Ancestor rank. They were already scrambling to deal with Ten Thousand Blades Radiant Glory; where would they find the energy to counter Phoenix Meteor Shower? Thus, the arduous task fell on Captain Ma Rulong.
Two yellow, two purple, and two black spirit rings emerged around Ma Rulong's body one after another. Once his Martial Spirit Manifestation took effect, his head appeared noticeably enlarged, somewhat disproportional to his frame. This was the Bigheaded Spirit Ape, an auxiliary-type beast Martial Spirit.
Like the vast majority of Spirit Guidance Masters, in order to maintain longer durations when operating Spirit Guidance Devices, all six of Ma Rulong's spirit rings offered auxiliary effects. As they flashed, his Spirit Guidance Devices shifted through multiple configurations, revealing over a hundred metal cannon barrels of different shapes and sizes sprouting from all over his body.
Faced with the Phoenix Meteor Shower plummeting his way, those barrels shone with resplendent light. A bowl-sized, bright red main cannon located at Ma Rulong's chest ignited first. This was his personally crafted Class 7 Spirit Blaster Cannon. Before departing, Hall Master Jing Hongchen of the Illustrious Virtue Hall had commented that if Ma Rulong's own spirit power had reached Rank 70, he would already be recognized as a Class 7 Spirit Guidance Master.
Fire spewed from that red cannon, blasting a dazzling ray that shattered ten fiery meteors in a line. Crisp crackling followed, like a sudden burst of firecrackers in midair. After easing that first wave of pressure, Ma Rulong unleashed countless beams of light, each precisely targeting one of the incoming Phoenix meteors.
Meanwhile, Ling Bai spread his Seraphim wings and took flight. He found the Sun Moon team's arrangement suspicious. The Spirit Fortresses were Ma Rulong and two Class 4 Spirit Guidance Masters, so what were the four Class 5 Spirit Guidance Masters hiding behind the Earth Shield up to?
Of course, Ling Bai wasn't the only one who noticed this. Ling Luochen pointed her ice staff and instantly solidified the abundant water elements in the sky into ice, which she hurled toward the hidden Class 5 Spirit Guidance Masters.
Huo Yuhao and Ning Tian also performed their respective support roles, assisting their teammates. Xu Sanshi and Jiang Nannan exchanged glances; Xu Sanshi stayed behind to prevent the Sun Moon team from launching a surprise attack on Ning Tian and Huo Yuhao, while Jiang Nannan bent her long legs and leaped forward, intending to bypass the three Spirit Fortresses to charge straight at the Class 5 Spirit Guidance Masters.
Soaring in the sky, Ling Bai looked down upon the battlefield. The actions of the Class 5 Spirit Guidance Masters were laid bare before him. The four of them were performing identical movements. Each had a circular, purple-black Spirit Guidance Device on their back, while each arm featured a long, lance-shaped piece of purple-black metal. With four people and two lances apiece, they had a total of eight such lances. Fierce light shimmered across their surfaces, exuding a terrifyingly malignant aura.
"Death attribute..."
Ling Bai caught a familiar scent. The moment he saw the purple-black lances, his Spider Emperor Sense instantly sent back a strong sense of crisis that made his hair stand on end. Including Ma Rulong, those three Spirit Fortresses were clearly just a diversion; the real killing move of the Sun Moon team lay in these four!
"Seraphim! Experience the might of our Death Lance!"
One of the Class 5 Spirit Guidance Masters grinned as he raised the purple-black lance on his left arm and took aim at Ling Bai high above. At that moment, a circular brand representing death imprinted itself upon Ling Bai's forehead.
Death Lance's additional effect: Lock On!
The circular Spirit Guidance Device on the back of the Class 5 Spirit Guidance Master suddenly transformed into a purple-black spider. Its sharp fangs effortlessly pierced his skin, continuously draining his blood and spirit power. Yet, the man's face grew more excited!
He bent his knees—
Leaned back—
And hurled the lance!
The three movements were executed in one fluid motion. The Death Lance shot toward Ling Bai like a bolt of lightning, trailing a dark purple corridor of death in its wake. Ling Bai reacted almost by instinct, angling the Angel Sword before his brow. The Class 8 triggered Spirit Barrier he had inherited from Xu Cong also instantly activated upon sensing the danger.
Boom—
A small hole bored through that Class 8 Spirit Barrier. The Death Lance pierced through the barrier and struck the Angel Sword. Sparks flew as sword and spear collided. The second spirit ring of the Seraphim lit up, and the Angel Sword unleashed an Evil-Banishing Slash that knocked the Death Lance aside. Even so, the lance carried enough leftover force to pierce through the protective barrier jointly maintained by the one hundred eight arrayed Spirit Masters, and it coincidentally fell into Shrek's resting area.
"Caitou, quickly!"
Wang Yan shouted, and He Caitou immediately stepped forward. A metal arm extended from his body to pick up the Death Lance. He carefully examined it, flipping it over repeatedly. Finally, with a solemn expression, he announced its name:
"Class 8 Spirit Guidance Device, Death Lance! Legend states that a complete set consists of eight such lances. The core material is the extremely rare spider lance produced by the Death Spider Emperor. A Class 8 Death Lance even strictly requires spider spears from a Death Spider Emperor of at least 50,000 years."
"Class 8 Spirit Guidance Device?!"
Wang Yan was dumbfounded. He had clearly underestimated the wealth of the Illustrious Virtue Hall and just how far they were willing to go to defeat Shrek Academy.
"Caitou, how can Class 5 Spirit Guidance Masters use Class 8 Spirit Guidance Devices?"
Bei Bei's tone was urgent. Typically, operating a Class 8 Spirit Guidance Device required at least a Spirit Douluo. The mere notion of a Class 5 Spirit Guidance Master controlling such a weapon was unbelievable.
He Caitou let out a sigh and explained, "The Illustrious Virtue Hall modified these particular Death Lances by adding a charging core array. But due to time constraints, they couldn't turn it into a true rechargeable Spirit Guidance Device and had to settle for a semi-charged version. The lives and spirit power of those four Class 5 Spirit Guidance Masters serve as the other half of the Death Lance's energy source.
Two lances per person are their limit. Eight Death Lances... Evidently, they want to wipe out our entire Shrek seven-member team right here in the team battle!"
"Captain, the Seraphim has a triggered Class 8 Spirit Barrier!"
The Class 5 Spirit Guidance Master who had fired the first Death Lance was now pale and gasping for breath as he reported loudly to Ma Rulong.
"A Class 8 Spirit Barrier? Hidden quite deep..."
Ma Rulong's eyes flickered slightly. In a calm tone, he said, "Since the Death Lance can't kill the Seraphim, proceed with the second plan. Redirect the remaining seven Death Lances to new targets. Ignore the Seraphim; concentrate fire on the other six and take them down in one strike!"