Chapter 148: The Finals Begin, Opening Match Against Tianshui

According to the tournament schedule, after arriving in Spirit City, the teams representing the Heaven Dou Empire had three days of rest.

After traveling for more than twenty days and surviving a large-scale attack on the road, all the contestants from the Heaven Dou division were exhausted in both body and mind. Naturally, they intended to make full use of those three days, adjusting themselves to the best possible condition.

Three days later, the finals officially began.

In the first round, apart from the three seeded teams originally designated, there was one additional bye because Elephant Armored Academy had been disqualified for violating the rules.

After discussion, the organizing committee decided that the fourth bye would be determined by drawing lots. In the end, Shrek Academy received it.

The draw appeared fair enough, but Xiao Yu clearly sensed a powerful mental fluctuation during the process.

When the result was announced, Xiao Yu cast a thoughtful glance toward the distant Papal Palace. An almost imperceptible cold smile touched the corners of his mouth.

Bibi Dong, to make a name for your old lover, you really are willing to pay any price.

Nine Star Academy’s opponent in the first round was Tianshui Academy. In team battles, Tianshui Academy, which possessed a martial-soul fusion technique, was unquestionably among the strongest of all the participating academies. Even the Heaven Dou Empire’s seeded team, the Imperial Battle Team, might not have been able to defeat them.

Compared with the original story, the Imperial Battle Team was considerably weaker. Only Yu Tianheng, Stone Ink, and Stone Grinder had reached the Soul Ancestor rank. Their number of Soul Ancestors was equal to Tianshui Academy’s, and although Yu Tianheng and the Stone brothers possessed higher soul power than Shui Bing’er and the other two, they lacked a devastating trump card like a martial-soul fusion technique. If they truly fought, the outcome would be evenly matched.

The battle between Nine Star Academy and Tianshui Academy was the second match. The previous match was between Gale Academy and an academy from the Star Luo Empire. Led by the Soul King Feng Xiaotian, Gale Academy won with overwhelming ease.

“The second match of the first round of the finals: Nine Star Academy versus Tianshui Academy. Both teams, please enter the arena!”

At the referee’s announcement, seven members from each side stepped onto the platform. Xiao Yu walked at the very front, accompanied by Cang Mo, Huo Wu, Xie Wu, Mi Yimei, Mei Yi, and Yi Ao.

The two teams stood in neat lines, facing one another. Standing opposite Xiao Yu was Tianshui Academy’s captain, Shui Bing’er, who possessed the top-tier beast martial soul, the Ice Phoenix.

Since Tianshui Academy had chosen to concede directly during the earlier promotion tournament, this was Xiao Yu’s first opportunity to examine the girl who, in the original story, had once driven Tang San to question his entire life.

Shui Bing’er was around five feet five inches tall, with a perfectly proportioned figure—any more would have been too plump, any less too thin. Her beauty was flawless. Long water-blue hair fell down her back, while delicate features adorned her fair face. Her limpid eyes were like deep pools, carrying an indescribable air of mystery.

“Big Brother Xiao Yu, you’ll go easy on us later, won’t you?”

The speaker was Shui Yue’er, standing beside Shui Bing’er and sharing only one parent with her. This famous admirer at Tianshui Academy blinked her large, water-blue eyes and stared straight at Xiao Yu, making no effort to conceal her fondness for him.

The remaining members of Tianshui Academy lowered their gazes, looking for all the world as though they did not know her.

It was not that the other girls excluded Shui Yue’er. The truth was simply that her infatuation was far too severe. During the qualifiers, she had already taken an interest in Dai Mubai, the powerful and handsome captain of Shrek’s team. Now that she had encountered someone even stronger and more handsome in the form of Xiao Yu, who knew which garbage heap she had thrown Dai Mubai into?

Xiao Yu nodded at Shui Yue’er and gave her a gentlemanly smile. Then he turned his gaze back to Shui Bing’er and said, “Miss Shui Bing’er, you should know that your team has no chance of winning this match.”

Shui Bing’er was not the sort of girl who willingly admitted defeat, but neither was she incapable of seeing the situation clearly. Otherwise, she would not have conceded when Tianshui Academy faced Nine Star Academy in the promotion tournament.

She smiled sweetly. “Captain Xiao, I admit that Tianshui Academy is indeed no match for Nine Star Academy. But this is no longer the promotion tournament. Once we lose, we will be eliminated. I don’t think any academy is willing to accept such an abrupt ending. Even if we must lose, we want to lose without regrets!”

“In that case, why don’t you let me experience your martial-soul fusion technique?”

Xiao Yu raised one finger toward Shui Bing’er. “For this round, we’ll decide the outcome with a single move. Use your strongest attack. That way, you won’t have any regrets. Miss Shui Bing’er, what do you think?”

Shui Bing’er glanced at Cang Mo, Huo Wu, and the others beside Xiao Yu, then nodded without hesitation.

Xiao Yu’s proposal clearly gave Tianshui Academy a tremendous advantage. Cang Mo possessed Soul King-level strength and had an attribute that completely countered her ice element. Huo Wu, Xie Wu, and Yi Ao were all outstanding Soul Ancestors as well. If the opposing team unleashed their full strength, Shui Bing’er and Xue Wu would need time to prepare their martial-soul fusion technique. Under normal circumstances, they would never have the opportunity to use it.

“Begin.”

The referee did not attempt to stop Xiao Yu and Shui Bing’er from changing the rules for determining victory on their own. In a team battle, the method of deciding the winner was ultimately a matter for the two teams themselves. For one side to lose all combat ability was merely the most common arrangement...

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