Spirit City, Pope Palace, council hall.
Pope Bibi Dong sat in the main seat. Wu Ling sat to the side. Standing before them were the seven members representing Spirit Hall in this tournament.
Cassian Glaive, Vulcan Brand, and Serena Ivory had all reached level sixty-two or higher. The remaining four, including Blair, were at least level fifty-three. It could be said that this year's Spirit Hall team had already locked down victory.
Bibi Dong looked across the team.
"Did you all understand what I said just now?"
"We understand, Your Holiness."
Serena, Cassian, and the others answered with extreme respect. As the pope who had led Spirit Hall back to its peak, Bibi Dong had already established supreme authority. Across all of Spirit Hall, the only person who dared ignore her majesty was a certain Saint sitting to the side.
"I do not want any mishaps in tomorrow's match. Go prepare."
Bibi Dong gave a few more instructions, then dismissed the contestants. Cassian and the others did not say anything unnecessary. After bowing, they left the council hall one after another.
"Sigh. I keep feeling uneasy."
Bibi Dong watched them leave and suddenly frowned. As she spoke, she glanced at Wu Ling, who was still busy with his own matters.
Wu Ling looked up at her. He gave her a reassuring smile.
"It is fine, Teacher. There is no need to worry about this Elite Tournament. According to our intelligence, the Star Stripe and Polaris seeded teams are not even as strong as the teams from my tournament back then."
"Aside from them, the only teams capable of threatening Spirit Hall's team are Divine Wind, Heavenly Water, Blazing Fire, and Elephant Armor. But those are basically our people too, so they are not worth worrying about."
"The only variable is Shrek. Or rather, Tang San. But I have made enough preparations for that too. You can simply watch the matches at ease."
Bright sunlight spilled over the earth. Under the sun, the Pope Palace looked even more radiant and majestic.
In front of the Pope Palace, two lines of knights stretched from the palace gate all the way down the mountain. Their neat silver armor made the whole of Pope Mountain even more solemn.
Early in the morning, the many teams that had entered the finals were already standing quietly before the Pope Palace. The teachers of the various academies were not allowed to stand on the plaza. They could only wait at the edge.
The finalists stood silently in the square, waiting for the final moment to arrive.
For the opening of the finals, the pope of Spirit Hall would personally appear to encourage the contestants. That was supreme honor. Naturally, the ceremony was exceptionally grand.
The Spirit Hall team stood before the papal platform, led by Cassian Glaive, at the position closest to the pope. Faith burned in their eyes. It was faith in Spirit Hall and faith in the pope.
Shrek Academy's team had been placed near the edge. The four hired members were relatively respectful, but Tang San, Alban, Ash, and the others looked quite careless.
Beside Tang San, Alban pointed toward Spirit Hall's team and said softly, "Tang San, those three are the so-called Golden Generation of Spirit Hall: Cassian Glaive, Vulcan Brand, and Serena Ivory. All of them are elites raised by Spirit Hall."
"The most difficult to deal with are those three at the front. They do not possess the inhuman talent of Spirit Hall's Saint, but they still far surpass others their age."
"They are Spirit Hall's youngest Purple Record Medal recipients. Based on current intelligence, conservative estimates place all three of them above level sixty."
"Spirit Daoists above level sixty."
Tang San narrowed his eyes and studied the three at the front of Spirit Hall's team, standing among the gathered competitors.
"Boss Alban, look. The one behind Spirit Hall's team, is that Cecilia Jewel?"
Ash, who had been peeking at the pretty girls in every team, suddenly froze. He tugged Alban and pointed to a girl at the rear of Spirit Hall's lineup.
"Right. That really is her. I never thought that girl would join Spirit Hall. No wonder she was so arrogant back then!"
While Alban cursed under his breath, Tang San noticed the blind spot.
If Cecilia Jewel, daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's sect master, had joined Spirit Hall, did that mean the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had also...
Before Tang San could continue thinking, a ceremonial procession emerged from the side door of the Pope Palace. Twelve red-robed cardinals led the way, walking to the palace entrance and separating to either side, six on each side.
"His Holiness the Pope arrives!"
With that shout, cries of long life resounded throughout Spirit City. Countless citizens of Spirit Hall cheered.
It was not only the palace knights arranged neatly on Pope Mountain. Throughout Spirit City, all Spirit Masters were shouting. To them, the pope was the highest object of faith.
The great doors of the Pope Palace slowly opened. Everyone's gaze gathered unconsciously toward the opening doors. The surrounding atmosphere was so fervent that in this moment, even Ash, the least serious member of Shrek Academy, did not dare make any small movements.
"We pay respects to His Holiness the Pope."
"We pay respects to His Highness."
When Bibi Dong and Wu Ling appeared, countless Spirit Masters under Spirit Hall's banner knelt in respect. The many teams did the same.
The pressure in the air was impossible to describe. Even Tang San, Alban, and the others felt overwhelmed.
Naturally, they did not want to kneel before their enemies. But under the shouts coming from all directions, they felt an impulse to bow down in worship.
Behind Bibi Dong and Wu Ling stood four powerful figures in ceremonial dress: Spirit Hall's left and right protector elders, Yue Guan and Ghost, along with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's sect master Alistair Jewel and his protector, Vane Ash.
Among the six people on the platform, aside from Wu Ling, every one of them was a genuine Titled Sage standing at the peak of the Spirit Master world. They were figures countless people worshiped.
"Tang San, what are you doing?"
On Shrek's side, several figures were especially eye-catching. Tang San, Alban, and Ash had not knelt. Their distinctive behavior made the other four members, who had already knelt, both confused and anxious.
Tang San and Alban were different cases. One held deep hatred for Spirit Hall. The other considered himself a Star Stripe prince and superior to others. Neither was willing to kneel.
Ash did want to kneel, but the other two had not moved, and he was very conflicted. So he stayed standing with them.
"Ethan, Tang San and the others are being too reckless."
At the edge of the square, the Shrek Academy teachers were mixed into the crowd and did not stand out. Flender looked anxiously at Tang San and the others, who refused to kneel. Ethan Drake, meanwhile, looked at Bibi Dong with a complicated expression.
Bibi Dong's gaze fell directly on the three conspicuous figures. Every Spirit Hall member looked at Shrek with anger.
Just as Bibi Dong was displeased, Wu Ling, standing at her side, suddenly sharpened his gaze. A hidden Magecraft array opened beneath the ground. Enormous pressure and a mental impact swept out like a tide.
Ash was the first to kneel. Alban lasted for a moment before his legs went soft and he dropped as well.
Tang San continued to endure. His eyes turned purple. This was the Purple Demon Eye he cultivated. He wanted to resist the mental influence from the Magecraft array.
But even Tang San himself did not notice that his knees had bent at some point. His whole body had already sunk to the ground.
"You!"
Tang San suddenly jolted, feeling his knees touch the earth. Instinctively, he wanted to stand and lash out.
Alban quickly pressed a hand against Tang San's back and said in a low voice, "Tang San, do not be impulsive. This is Spirit Hall's territory."
After what had just happened, Alban had realized how laughable his earlier resistance was. If the other side could make them kneel at will, then stubbornly refusing to kneel had no meaning at all.