Word Count: 2,911 Words
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"Long live the Prince Regent! Long live! Long, long live!"
The Sun Moon Empire's contingent roared in unison, performing the grand ceremony of kneeling tribute to Xu Tianran, the man who now held the power of Prince Regent and would soon ascend as Sun Moon Emperor.
Xu Tianran's style was as crisp and decisive as ever. Once he finished presiding over the opening ceremony, he led his civil and military officials to their seats. Crown Princess Ju Zi naturally took her place at his right. To his left, however, sat not the high-ranking Illustrious Virtue Hall Master Jing Hongchen, but a middle-aged man in a gold-trimmed black robe.
The Sun Moon Empire's Imperial Preceptor, Holy Spirit Cult Leader Zhongli Wu!
The previous day, Scorpion Tiger Douluo Zhang Peng had reported the Seraphim's appearance at the Spirit Master Tournament. Zhongli Wu had been unable to sit still for a single moment after that. He shattered his twin Spirit Guidance Device to recall every Holy Spirit Cult Evil Spirit Master, then set out personally alongside Dragon Emperor Douluo Long Xiaoyao for the tournament grounds, where he and Xu Tianran revised their kill-trap plans from scratch.
The Seraphim's abilities were the ultimate counter to Evil Spirit Masters. As Ling Bai's strength continued to climb, Zhongli Wu could neither eat nor sleep in peace. In his eyes, eliminating the Seraphim took precedence even over killing continental top-tier powers like Taotie Douluo Elder Xuan or Body Douluo Du Busi.
The referee stepped onto the stage and read the rules aloud. One hundred sixty-seven teams in total would compete through elimination-style pairings. Roughly twenty would advance comfortably into the top thirty-two; the remaining slots would be decided by accumulated points.
Individual matches were worth seven points and team battles five, for a total of twelve. If a team built a lead of five or more points during the individual segment, they would claim victory outright and take all five team battle points as well.
With an odd number of participants, one team received a bye in the first round. Shrek Academy had claimed every championship for ten thousand years. After deliberation, the organizing committee awarded the bye to Shrek, granting them an automatic twelve-point victory.
With Shrek at rest, the curtain rose instead on last tournament's runner-up and host team, the Sun Moon Imperial Academy, who cruised to an effortless opening win.
…
"So many people..."
In the competitors' rest area, Nanmen Yun Er propped her chin on her small hands and loosed an enormous yawn, hugging Wu Feng's arm as a makeshift pillow. She, Ning Tian, and Wu Feng had been classmates and teammates during the freshman assessment. Their bond had always been close, which was exactly why she had been the first to agree to join the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
More than eighty first-round matches followed one after another. Every participating team fought with everything they had, and more than a few brutally intense scenes played out on stage. By the time dusk crept across the sky, the referee stepped up and called out:
"Preliminary round, match twenty-five: Angelic Sanctuary versus Earthdragon Sect! Both teams, please prepare. The match will begin once field repairs are complete!"
The spectator stands remained calm. To the citizens of the Sun Moon Empire, both sects were completely unfamiliar. The rest area, however, rippled with tension.
The Tang Sect and Shrek Academy grew solemn in an instant. Angelic Sanctuary had long been marked as their most formidable opponent. The Earthdragon Sect's side, by contrast, radiated nothing but confidence. A captivating young woman with her black hair styled in a high bun, framed by sweeping bangs and loose tendrils, pumped her fists, cheering her teammates on:
"This 'Angelic' whatever? Never even heard of them! They're definitely just here to see the world. Running into our Earthdragon Sect is their bad luck! Xu Shenshu, you're up first. Show them what the Earthdragon Sect is made of!"
"Relax, Sister Qiuqiu! Just watch me pound them so hard they'll be searching the ground for their teeth!"
Xu Shenshu was not tall, but he was exceptionally broad and thick. His massive, fan-sized hands hammered against his chest, each strike producing a deep, booming thud.
"Qiuqiu... do you think this 'Angelic' thing has anything to do with that Seraphim from the last tournament, five years ago?" A black-haired youth beside her spoke up, an inexplicable unease stirring in his chest.
"Impossible!"
Nan Qiuqiu tipped her delicate chin, her face brimming with confidence. "That Seraphim was supposedly a Shrek student. He competed for Shrek Academy! This 'Angelic Sanctuary' is just riding the Seraphim's coattails for attention!"
The black-haired youth nodded, only half convinced, while Xu Shenshu began his warm-up stretches, loosening muscles and joints.
On Angelic Sanctuary's side, Ling Bai glanced at the six pairs of eyes staring straight at him. The corner of his mouth twitched.
"Why are you all looking at me? Do I really need to handle something this trivial in person?"
"Then I'll go."
Ling Qiuxi's knuckles crackled as she clenched her fists, and she flipped her hand to draw the Golden Dragon Spear.
"No, I'm going first!"
Wu Feng's crimson pupils burned like two smoldering sparks. This was her Spirit Master Tournament, five years late but finally here!
"I would share Master's burdens!"
Na Na rose and bowed respectfully. Xie Huanyue watched the eager scramble, scratched the back of his head, and grinned. "I'll follow Ling-ge's lead."
Nanmen Yun Er glanced left and right at the ring of big brothers and big sisters surrounding her. She said weakly:
"I... don't think I get a vote here."
Ning Tian produced a cylindrical tube with a smile. "Stop arguing. Let's keep the first bout fair. We draw lots. Whatever number you pull decides the order you go in."
"Deal!" ×6
Spirit Masters were born combative, and genius Spirit Masters doubly so. Every one of them was champing at the bit to claim a triumphant opening.
Ling Bai had a clear sense of the Earthdragon Sect's strength. Bullying the weak held no interest for him. He stood calmly to one side while the others drew their lots, leaving the final stick for himself.
'Hmm?'
The bright red '1' on the wooden stick's tip made him suck in a sharp breath. Whether his own luck qualified as good was debatable. The Earthdragon Sect's luck, on the other hand, was looking decidedly grim!
"Field repairs complete! Individual match contestants from Angelic Sanctuary and the Earthdragon Sect, please take the stage!"
The referee's voice carried through the Amplification Devices.
Xu Shenshu strode onto the platform in long, confident steps. Gasps and exclamations rang out from every direction. He looked around at the spectators' wide eyes and the infatuated expressions that practically glowed on their faces and found himself utterly baffled.
Then he saw the golden-haired, golden-eyed young man standing at the opposite end, and everything clicked. Good grief. This whole crowd is nothing but appearance-crazed fans!
A full day of matches had left the spectators mentally drained, their enthusiasm all but spent on the final few bouts. The instant Ling Bai appeared, however, the entire arena erupted as though a stimulant had been injected into every vein. A thunderous, coordinated roar of cheers shot skyward!
Across the rest area, the bored expressions on the faces of many academy squads vanished in an instant, replaced by razor-sharp focus. Most of this year's starters had served as reserves five years ago. Every one of them had witnessed Ling Bai's brilliant performance at the previous tournament firsthand!
Five years ago, Ling Bai had been a high-rank Spirit King. Now, returning to the arena, what realm had he reached? Spirit Emperor? Spirit Saint? Or... they did not dare follow that thought to its end!
"Damn it, he's mine! Mine! None of you are allowed to look!"
In the Sun Moon Imperial Academy's section, Meng Hongchen glared murderously at the infatuated female students scattered across the other squads, itching to start a husband-claiming martial contest on the spot.
Xiao Hongchen grabbed his sister by the back of her collar with one hand and spoke with a glow of reflected pride. "Having a handsome brother-in-law has its drawbacks, huh. Look at all these lovestruck fools..."
"You weren't like this before..."
The tidal wave of cheers crashed down with almost physical force. Xu Shenshu had never experienced such a spectacle in his life. He tried to steady himself by glancing around, only for a scene that nearly made him spit blood to unfold before his eyes. His own captain, Nan Qiuqiu, pretty face flushed pink, had cupped both hands around her mouth like a megaphone and was shouting at the top of her lungs:
"Xu Shenshu! Traditional Spirit Masters show restraint!
Whatever you do, DON'T HIT THE FACE!!!"
For one frozen instant, Xu Shenshu felt as though he had been struck by Medusa's Gaze. With his own captain defecting on the spot, how was he supposed to fight?!
The referee cast him a look of genuine sympathy, then announced dutifully: "Individual elimination matches are decided by the referee. A bout ends when one side loses combat capability or concedes defeat. Please refrain from seriously injuring your opponent.
Both sides, take your positions and await the start signal."
Per the rules, each contestant began at their respective end of the platform, ensuring a degree of fairness for Spirit Masters and Spirit Guidance Masters who specialized in ranged attacks.
Xu Shenshu trudged to the far edge with his head down. His shattered composure had driven even the basic courtesy of exchanging names clean from his mind. Ling Bai, naturally, could not have cared less. He never bothered with opponents' names anyway.
Bang!
The referee's hand fell. A deep rumble erupted beneath Xu Shenshu's feet as the hard metal surface caved under his explosive launch. His short, stocky frame rocketed toward Ling Bai like a cannonball.
The Earthdragon Sect specialized in various earth dragon Martial Spirits. Mid-charge, Xu Shenshu's body rapidly swelled. A layer of black keratin surfaced along his skin, and thick, jagged dorsal fins rose in ridges along his spine.
Sabertooth Earth Dragon. A strength-type Beast Martial Spirit that excelled in both offense and defense, though it fared poorly at range.
Two yellow, three purple. Five brilliantly glowing spirit rings blazed to life around him. In the history of the Continental Youth Elite Spirit Master Grand Tournament, Spirit King cultivation was quite respectable. Last tournament's top-eight team from Justsky Academy had fielded only three five-ringed Spirit Kings. Spirit Emperors under the age of twenty remained the exclusive province of a handful of truly elite academies.
The Sabertooth Earth Dragon dictated Xu Shenshu's fighting style: all-out, straight ahead, no retreat. Burning fury left room for only one thought in his mind, to end Ling Bai in a single blow. His fourth and fifth spirit rings ignited in rapid succession.
A low dragon's roar resounded. His powerful muscles swelled and tore clean through his shirt, baring bronze flesh that looked as though it had been forged from molten metal!
He would show these shallow, appearance-obsessed fools what the beauty of true strength looked like!
BOOM—
Ling Bai vanished. Xu Shenshu's brain stalled for half a heartbeat before searing pain detonated in his lower abdomen!
An irresistible, overwhelming force!
His body flew backward with a heavy thud, rear-first, fast as chasing lightning!
He plunged straight off the stage, tumbled more than a dozen times across the ground, and came to a dazed halt. Familiar faces swam into view above him.
"Huh? Wasn't I in the middle of a match?"
"He didn't even release his Martial Spirit before you went rolling off," the black-haired youth said faintly.
"Waaaah!"
Xu Shenshu burst into tears.
One punch shattered my Spirit Master dream!
His Spirit King cultivation surpassed at least half the competitors present, yet he hadn't survived a single exchange against Ling Bai. Many in the audience hadn't even managed to follow Ling Bai's movements. Cold sweat soaked their backs; every hair stood on end. Those reclusive old sects with little knowledge of the outside world hurriedly plastered ingratiating smiles on their faces and quietly asked around about Ling Bai's identity, only to respond with sharp, hissing intakes of breath.
The Earthdragon Sect's second contestant climbed onto the stage. With the strength-type Sabertooth Earth Dragon user defeated in an instant, they decided to try a speed-type Spirit Master instead!
The referee's arm had barely fallen when a pale blue blur rocketed skyward. Broad, light blue wings unfurled from the Spirit Master's back, carrying him to a height of thirty meters in the blink of an eye. Facing Ling Bai far below, he activated his final spirit ring without hesitation and plunged earthward, trailing a dazzling arc of light in his wake.
His Martial Spirit was the Wind Dragon, famed above all else for speed. As he dove, friction between his body and the air produced a shrieking sonic boom. He looked like a blue meteor plummeting toward the earth.
Terrifying energy erupted into violent vortexes that battered the defensive barrier, sending great ripples cascading across its surface. In that instant, the Wind Dragon Spirit Master saw Ling Bai reach out a hand. Those brilliant golden eyes burned with a quiet, steady light. He tried to lean back and dodge, but the shadow of that reaching palm only continued to swell in his vision.
The howling wind died. Two figures stood revealed. Ling Bai remained exactly where he had been, as though he had never moved at all. The Wind Dragon Spirit Master knelt before him on one knee, his transformed wings hanging limp at his sides. He gasped in ragged, heaving breaths, a slender, pale hand resting firmly atop his head.
The Earthdragon Sect's remaining contestants gaped in stunned silence. Members of other squads rose unconsciously to their feet, staring at the arena in sheer disbelief. Against Ling Bai, the Earthdragon Sect's Spirit Masters were no different from children who hadn't grown up. This was not a battle between equals!
"I'll go!"
The Wind Dragon Spirit Master stumbled off the stage like a man who had lost his soul. Nan Qiuqiu swept her gaze across her teammates' fear-stricken faces, tapped lightly off the ground, and shot onto the platform.
The referee declared the start of the bout. Nan Qiuqiu released her Martial Spirit at once. A rhomboid pink crystal materialized on her smooth forehead, and her lithe figure stretched even more slender and graceful.
She raised her right hand toward the sky. Pink dragon scales sprouted from her fingertip, spreading outward in crystalline layers, sparkling and translucent, until her entire right hand had transformed into gleaming pink crystal. Two yellow, two purple, one black. Five spirit rings in the optimal configuration rose around her, proclaiming her Spirit King cultivation.
Nan Qiuqiu made no move to attack. She puffed out a chest that was not particularly imposing, looked earnestly at Ling Bai, and spoke:
"Even if you're super pretty and seem pretty strong too, we Spirit Masters should still observe proper etiquette. Before a fight, we exchange names and cultivation at the very least.
Nan Qiuqiu, five-ringed Spirit King. Martial Spirit: Rouge Dragon. Please advise me."
"Mm, that's reasonable."
Ling Bai's brow quirked slightly. "Ling Bai, eight-ringed Spirit Douluo. Martial Spirit: Seraphim. Please advise me."
"Ling Bai... hehe, and just like that I've got your name."
Nan Qiuqiu's lips curled into a self-satisfied grin. Then his words caught up to her.
"Wait... Spirit... Spirit... Spirit Douluo?
You're joking, right?!"
She finally stammered her way to comprehension, and terror crashed down on her like a landslide. Spirit Douluo. That was her mother's realm! Panic-stricken, her gaze met those brilliant golden eyes head-on.
The instant their eyes locked, her mind buzzed as though a heavy weight had smashed into her skull. Bloodless dizziness swept through her. Even the air in her lungs seemed to vanish, cut off entirely by a suffocating pressure that bore down on her from all sides.
Spirit rings rose at Ling Bai's feet one after another, expanding outward into blazing rings of light that washed across the entire arena!
Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Red, Red, Red!
Everyone felt it. The primal, savage majesty radiating from those three hundred-thousand-year spirit rings crashed over them like a tidal wave, demolishing every assumption they had ever held!
Under twenty years old. An eight-ringed Spirit Douluo!
Each word was perfectly ordinary on its own. Strung together, they dazzled the mind to the point of helplessness. Was there any reason to keep competing? Should they just skip ahead and hand over the trophy?
On the main platform, Xu Tianran and Ju Zi stiffened in unison, their mouths forming matching O-shapes. Zhongli Wu's expression turned dark as deep water. His palm slammed into his chair's armrest and shattered it, the killing intent in his chest surging beyond all restraint. Nearby, Jing Hongchen's brow furrowed deeply.
Of everyone present, the most pitiful figure was still Nan Qiuqiu. She gazed at the sacred, awe-inspiring illusory figure of the Seraphim hovering behind Ling Bai and could only manage a bitter laugh.
Her head turned in stiff, mechanical jerks. She looked slowly toward the Earthdragon Sect's rest area, where her mother, Nan Shuishui, sat utterly dumbfounded. Nan Qiuqiu drew in a breath like a great whale swallowing the sea, then poured every last scrap of her strength into a single desperate cry:
"MAMA, I AIN'T FIGHTING NO MORE!!!"