After settling in, the host of the Soul Master Tournament finals, Spirit Hall, announced that the finals would officially begin in three days. With the exhaustion from the journey, this three-day rest period was more than enough for the academy teams to make their adjustments.
As for the participating teams from the Star Luo Empire, they were arranged to rest on the other side of Spirit City. Unknowingly, Spirit Hall had already divided the two empires' teams into two distinct camps.
Inside the Shrek Academy Team's Suite
Yu Xiaogang, who had arrived in Spirit City early to "reminisce" with an old lover, immediately went to find the main group. However, upon arrival, he realized that his disciple Tang San and Xiao Wu were missing. He anxiously asked, "Erlong, Flender, where are Xiaosan and Xiao Wu?"
Hearing this, Flender fell silent for a moment before recounting what had happened on their way to Spirit City.
After understanding the situation, Yu Xiaogang let out a sigh of relief. As long as things hadn't developed for the worst, it was fine.
As for missing the finals, while it was a regret, the most important thing was that his disciple Tang San was still alive. That was all that mattered.
After all, even if Tang San and Xiao Wu were present, with Shrek's current strength, they had no hope of achieving an outstanding result in the finals.
Not to mention the Spirit Hall Team and the Star Luo Royal Academy Team—just among their fellow Heaven Dou division teams, Blazing Academy, Sky Water Academy, and Divine Wind Academy were already far beyond Shrek's reach.
In other words, with the loss of their two core members, not only Yu Xiaogang and Flender but even Ning Rongrong, Ma Hongjun, and the others showed signs of giving up completely.
Of course, if anyone in the team had the most complicated emotions, it was undoubtedly Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing.
The reason was simple—this final was of great significance to them. It was the ultimate deciding battle in the Star Luo Royal Family's struggle for the throne among the princes of this generation.
Shrek Academy had never been strong on paper, and based on previous tournaments, their chances of defeating the Star Luo Royal Academy Team were slim.
Now, without Tang San and Xiao Wu, the team only had one member at the four-ring Soul Ancestor level—Dai Mubai himself—while the rest were all three-ring Soul Elders.
Judging by soul power levels alone, Shrek was now the weakest team among the thirty-three in the finals.
How could they possibly compete? They didn't even stand a chance!
"Should I just… join Spirit Hall?"
Dai Mubai couldn't help but think to himself.
There was no doubt that the White Tiger Soul was one of the top-tier beast souls in the entire continent. Spirit Hall might very well covet the White Tiger's inheritance.
Moreover, Spirit Hall's strength was far above that of the Star Luo Empire. If Spirit Hall were willing to take him in, perhaps he wouldn't have to worry about mere survival anymore.
No, this wasn't just about survival. If you can't win, join them—nothing to be ashamed of!
Besides, if he sided with Spirit Hall, and if Spirit Hall truly realized its ambitions in the future—leading to the fall of the Star Luo Empire and the eradication of the Dai family's bloodline—wouldn't that make him the last hope for the White Tiger's lineage?
In the world of soul masters, any clan with a glorious history had one deep-rooted obsession.
It wasn't about achieving personal greatness but about ensuring that their family's soul would never be lost to time.
Take Qian Renxue from the original work, for example. She once stood atop the world as the Angel God. But when her godhood shattered, no matter how unwilling she was, she never chose to end her own life.
It wasn't because she lacked the courage to do so, but because, as the only surviving member of the Angel Clan, she could not allow the Angel lineage to be severed.
The fact that angel-type soul masters still existed in later generations proved this point.
Thinking along these lines, Dai Mubai realized that this might not be such a bad backup plan.
After all, no matter what, it was still better than being dragged back to Star Luo by his eldest brother, Davis, only to have his soul power crippled, be imprisoned for life, or even be executed outright.
"Hmm, let's wait and see. I can't give up until the very last moment—maybe a miracle will happen."
Dai Mubai thought to himself, holding onto a glimmer of hope.
For the sake of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament finals, Spirit Hall had specially cleared out a dedicated competition area in the center of the city, constructing a massive arena with a diameter of a hundred meters.
This colossal stage was reinforced with numerous soul tools, ensuring that it could withstand any attack below the Soul Emperor level without sustaining damage.
The magnificent Supreme Pontiff Palace stood directly in front of the competition arena, less than a kilometer away, atop a hill.
According to Spirit Hall's official announcement, the final three teams of the tournament would compete in the grand square in front of the Supreme Pontiff Palace.
Early in the morning, all participating academy teams, under the guidance of Spirit Hall's officials, arrived at the competition venue.
Each academy was provided with a separate resting area, which was arranged around the arena.
On the side opposite the Supreme Pontiff Palace was the VIP judges' section. There, distinguished guests from both empires who had come to oversee the tournament, along with bishops from various levels of Spirit Hall, sat watching the matches.
The Draw for the First Round
Hardly had they settled in when Mu Xiyue, the team leader, was called away for the draw.
In the first round of the finals, the three teams that had been directly seeded—Spirit Hall Team, Star Luo Royal Academy Team, and Heaven Dou Imperial Team—were given byes. The remaining thirty teams were paired through a random draw.
Before long, Mu Xiyue returned.
Though she said nothing, the members of the Blazing Battle Team could all see the strange expression on her face.
"Who's our opponent? Is it Divine Wind or Thunderclap?"
Huo Lie asked curiously.
It definitely couldn't be Sky Water Battle Team. According to the tournament's standard rules, the first- and second-place teams from the same division wouldn't face each other within the first three rounds.
Of course, when they said "three rounds," it really only meant the first round.
After all, the first-place team in the qualifiers would receive a bye in the second round, and the second-place team would receive a bye in the third round.
As long as they didn't meet in the first round, the top two teams from the same division wouldn't cross paths within the first three rounds.
Excluding Sky Water Battle Team, the only reason Mu Xiyue would show such an odd expression was if Blazing Battle Team's first-round opponent was a team from the same division—one strong enough to make it far in the finals.
"Good news: it's not Divine Wind, so I won't feel guilty toward Feng Zhen. Bad news: our old big brother from the Elemental Academies, Thunderclap Academy, is going to have a one-day tour of the finals."
Mu Xiyue said with a smirk.
"Tch~, so we're up against Thunderclap Academy? Tough luck for Lei Batian!"
Clicking his tongue, Huo Lie looked gleeful.
In the past, among the five Elemental Academies, Blazing Academy was never at the bottom, but it was usually in the middle—stronger than Elephant Armored Academy, about on par with Sky Water Academy, slightly weaker than Divine Wind Academy, and far below Thunderclap Academy.
Before the academies officially merged and restructured, defeating Thunderclap Academy with absolute superiority and sending their battle team home after just one match—this was a dream come true!
When it came to friendly yet competitive rivalries between academies, Huo Lie had always enjoyed the challenge.
For additional chapters
Versatile mage {40 chapters}
Douluo Dalu:This Soul Master is to Weird {30 Chapters}
Patreon. Com/ALLISWELL123