The rules for the finals were much harsher: losing a single match meant immediate elimination, with no chance to advance to the next round.
To ensure the competition remained exciting, the three guaranteed teams (Spirit Hall, Heaven Dou, and Star Luo) would skip the first round and directly advance to the second.
The top-ranked teams from the two empires' elimination rounds would skip the second round and directly advance to the third, while the second-ranked teams would skip the third round and go straight to the fourth.
This rule aimed to prevent strong teams from clashing too early, leading to one's elimination and the other being severely weakened.
When Yu Xiaogang woke up, he was utterly dumbfounded.
He had gone through hell to "escape" Spirit City, only to be carried back into the city by his own disciple.
Seeing Tang San sitting nearby, Yu Xiaogang's frustration boiled over.
"Xiao San! What were you thinking?!"
The pain Yu Xiaogang felt was indescribable.
Even when Xiao Gang Gang had left him, it hadn't hurt this much.
Tang San, head bowed and silent, said nothing in his defense. Yu Xiaogang wanted to lash out, but words failed him.
Before setting off for Spirit City, Yu Xiaogang had warned Tang San to stay away unless he returned. He had even intercepted Tang San en route. Yet here they were—Tang San had come to Spirit City anyway!
Was Tang San so eager to die? Couldn't he just stay safely in Heaven Dou City?
If Tang San fell, the hope of reviving the Clear Sky Clan would be lost. While that might not directly affect Yu Xiaogang, Tang San was also his hope to prove himself.
Ignoring Yu Xiaogang's guidance, Tang San had already violated his teachings by adding spirit rings to his second martial spirit. Now, he had defied him again by coming to Spirit City—a place that might very well kill him.
After a long silence, Tang San raised his head, his expression resolute.
"Teacher, I have reasons I cannot ignore for coming to Spirit City."
"If I miss this year's Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, I'll regret it for the rest of my life."
"Please forgive my selfishness, Teacher. I had no choice," Tang San said, his voice choked with emotion.
His decision went against the principle of respecting one's teacher, but what could he do?
In his previous life, he had broken the rules of the Tang Sect. Disobeying Yu Xiaogang now felt trivial by comparison.
After all, what could Yu Xiaogang do to him?
This thought gave Tang San a sense of relief. Yu Xiaogang wasn't strong enough to stop him, after all.
Still, he couldn't openly retaliate; Yu Xiaogang was his teacher, whom he respected like a father.
Moreover, with a father like Tang Hao, would Spirit Hall dare to harm him? Tang San didn't believe they would.
"Ah, there's no point talking about it now," Yu Xiaogang sighed, his tone heavy with disappointment.
Bibi Dong had already shattered their former bond by refusing to share the secrets of cultivating twin martial spirits, crippling his legs, and revoking his honorary elder status.
If she wouldn't show him mercy, why would she spare Tang San or his father?
Yu Xiaogang had little hope left in Tang San.
"Who else could I place my hopes in if not Tang San?"
Yu Xiaogang's reputation was in tatters. Aside from Tang San, who had once trusted him, no one else did.
Even his nephew, Yu Tianheng, had recently glanced at him with a furrowed brow before failing to recognize him entirely.
The memory left Yu Xiaogang feeling a mix of anger and despair.
Why did the heavens give him hope, only to crush it?
Yu Xiaogang hadn't felt this hopeless since his martial spirit awakening.
Seeing Yu Xiaogang's shifting expressions, Tang San frowned but remained silent.
The finals would be his moment of glory.
He had worked tirelessly for this chance to make a name for himself in the tournament. Such fame would be invaluable in establishing the Tang Sect later on.
And the championship prize? Tang San was determined to claim at least one of the 10,000-year soul bones.
The mere thought filled his eyes with golden light. A soul bone over 10,000 years old was a treasure he had never even seen before.
Scene Shift
Dai Mubai wasn't in the Shrek Academy rest area but in a teahouse within Spirit City.
For once, he wasn't accompanied by women but by a young man who bore a striking resemblance to him—around seven or eight points of similarity.
The young man appeared more mature than Dai Mubai, his face set with a determined expression. Despite his stern demeanor, a hint of softness flickered in his eyes.
"The crybaby grew up. So, ready to face me this time? Or are you planning to run away again?"
The man's tone was light but laced with mockery, his lips curling into a faint smile.
This was none other than Dai Weisi, Crown Prince of the Star Luo Empire and Dai Mubai's elder brother.
The distance between the two was roughly two meters, with no one else present within a 20-meter radius. Dai Weisi had rented out the entire teahouse.
"Dai Weisi, my dear brother. Has it been five years since we last met?" Dai Mubai said casually.
He had left Star Luo City over five years ago. Reflecting on it now, his life during that time had been far easier than Dai Weisi's.
Dai Weisi had to juggle rigorous training with the responsibilities of managing ministers and various affairs. His days were so busy that he often got no more than three hours of rest per day.
Just thinking about such a life made Dai Mubai shudder. It wasn't a lifestyle he could ever embrace. He had no intention of becoming Crown Prince!
No matter what, he would see to it that Dai Weisi was firmly seated on the throne.
"Yes, it's been five years since you fled the Star Luo Empire. Let's see if you've made any progress during that time."
Dai Weisi's expression remained neutral as he crossed his arms. "This time, I won't hold back…"
"Enough, my dear brother. Stop pretending," Dai Mubai interrupted, waving dismissively.
Dai Weisi froze, then said defensively, "What are you talking about? I don't understand."
Dai Mubai rolled his eyes. "Don't understand? What a joke. You and Father probably know exactly how I've spent these past five years."
Even if they didn't know everything, they certainly had a clear picture of the basics.
(End of Chapter)