Chapter 233: The Final Three
In the past few days, Feng Wutong had begun training with both Titled Douluo, making the rest of the Oakland team envious. Though she hadn't officially been accepted as a disciple, her treatment was no less than that of a direct protégé.
Time flew by, and the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament neared its end. Oakland swept through the rounds, advancing to the final six teams, where they now faced their current opponent, Tianshui Academy.
Under the eyes of the entire audience, the combined might of Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu's Martial Spirit Fusion was shattered by several bolts of lightning from the sky. The seven beauties of Tianshui Academy were left looking utterly defeated.
Spectators watched in awe. From the top sixteen teams to this point, no one could withstand Dai Yao's unrelenting attacks. Against his ten-thousand-year soul skill, all resistance crumbled to dust. Today, the audience witnessed that legendary skill once more, feeling as though they were watching the rise of a new star in the soul master world—a legend being forged, step by step.
After the Shattering of Water's Soaring Phoenix, Shui Bing'er stood alone in the middle of the stage, looking both disappointed and relieved. She had done her best. Supporting a drained Xue Wu, she took a long breath, looking over at Dai Yao, her delicate face filled with bittersweet admiration.
"Congratulations to you and your team, Oakland. Congratulations, Dai Yao—you've made it to the top three," she said with a soft sigh.
Dai Yao withdrew his soul skill and landed in front of her with a smile.
"It's just luck," he replied modestly.
It was a stroke of luck indeed that they hadn't yet encountered the Spirit Hall team. Though he looked forward to facing the Golden Generation of the Spirit Hall, fighting them now would have been premature.
Shui Bing'er shook her head and chuckled.
"No need to be so humble." Then, glancing towards the Star Luo Empire's soul masters, she added wistfully, "Dai Yao, I didn't expect you to have such a complicated background. To achieve all this under such hardships… compared to you, I…"
A hint of embarrassment showed on Shui Bing'er's face, and Dai Yao could only smile wryly. Should he tell her that his achievements were largely due to his Blue Lotus spirit and ability points? It was simpler to accept her admiration. So he changed the topic, saying, "For an all-girls team to make it this far is impressive."
Shui Bing'er gave him a playful glare.
"Oh? Then why do we keep losing to you? From the qualifiers to the finals, it's always your team that eliminates us."
Losing to Dai Yao was understandable, but being knocked out by his team every time left her with a bit of a grudge.
After a brief exchange, Shui Bing'er turned to the red-robed bishop who was serving as referee and announced, "We surrender!"
"Oakland Academy vs. Tianshui Academy—the victory goes to Oakland!" the bishop proclaimed in a powerful voice.
Both teams lined up for a final salute and then exited the stage together. The next match saw two teams making their way up: Shrek Academy and Kamikaze Academy.
As Oakland and Tianshui descended from the stage, Dai Yuanyi couldn't resist chatting up one of the Tianshui beauties, only to have Luo Ling yank his ear, prompting laughter from both teams.
The power gap between the teams had been apparent, and Tianshui had little resentment about their loss. Together with Oakland, they stayed to watch the next match.
Watching the two teams on the verge of combat, Shui Bing'er's interested gaze settled on Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing. She turned to Dai Yao, asking, "Dai Yao, that Dai Mubai—he's a prince of the Star Luo Empire too, isn't he? Is he your brother?"
"By blood, yes," Dai Yao replied simply. He and Dai Mubai were half-brothers, but he didn't feel any need to mention that particular familial tie.
On the stage, Shrek Academy and Kamikaze Academy had assumed their positions, and the fight was about to begin.
Shui Bing'er sighed.
"I never expected that not only would your empire produce a powerhouse like Oakland, but Shrek would also emerge as a dark horse. This tournament is truly full of surprises."
Dai Yao's gaze shifted, and he nodded.
"Yes, after us, it's Shrek versus Kamikaze, and the last match will be Spirit Hall's highly anticipated showdown with the Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Out of the top six, there isn't a single team from the Star Luo Empire."
Thanks to Oakland's impact, the tournament's trajectory had shifted significantly. Originally, Spirit Hall's match against the Heaven Dou Royal Academy would have occurred in the round of six, but it had been pushed to the semifinals. Meanwhile, the showdown between Shrek and Kamikaze—originally set for the finals—had been moved up as well.
Without the defection of Fire Dance to Kamikaze Academy, there was no fusion of Blazing Fire and Kamikaze as in the original story. Kamikaze's power was significantly reduced, so Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang opted not to reveal Shrek's Seven-in-One Martial Spirit Fusion. They decided to face Kamikaze with their regular formation instead, saving their trump card for future battles.
Meanwhile, Oakland had forged an unbroken path of victories, though their luck hadn't granted them a bye round. For Oakland, a lack of luck was simply more bad news for everyone else. Every team they met was inevitably eliminated, including several strong teams from the Star Luo Empire, leaving none in the final six.
Shui Bing'er chuckled, covering her mouth.
"Yes, Star Luo came out of this empty-handed. I bet someone's losing their temper back there."
Dai Yao couldn't help but laugh as well. With five of the top six teams from the Heaven Dou Empire, the tournament had thoroughly reversed the downward trend of previous years. Public sentiment was shifting, and the Heaven Dou Empire's supporters were taunting the Star Luo Empire without restraint.
"People expected a legendary clash between the two empires' teams. Turns out, all they got was this!"
"Oh, come on! The soul masters from the Star Luo Empire worked really hard, okay? Just bad luck—unlike us, with five out of six teams in the finals thanks to good fortune!"
"And you say Star Luo's Royal Academy is impressive? Just unlucky? Didn't our very own Oakland Academy sweep them aside with ease, even after all their boasting?"
Dai Yao couldn't help but laugh, picturing the furious expressions of the Star Luo nobility.
Meanwhile, the competition raged on. Under Feng Xiaotian's leadership, Kamikaze Academy took to the skies, executing their signature airborne strategy. But Shrek Academy countered with a surprising tactic of their own, using Oscar's soul skill to deploy their "Celestial Flow" formation. Anchored by Tang San, the team linked up using his Blue Silver Grass and took to the air as well, hunting down isolated Kamikaze soul masters one by one with the aid of their Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's enhancements.
Shrek's tactics quickly put Kamikaze on the defensive, but Feng Xiaotian was no novice. Leading a counterattack, he focused on eliminating Oscar and Ning Rongrong—their key support. But Tang San was ever the strategist, using Kamikaze's ferocious assaults against them. His control over the battlefield amazed even seasoned soul masters, as Kamikaze found themselves unable to regroup after each attack. Without an auxiliary support system to sustain them, they began to falter.
Eventually, Feng Xiaotian's spirit power ran out, and he landed on the stage, worn down. The moment Tang San summoned his Clear Sky Hammer, the arena buzzed with excitement. Seeing the massive, black-gleaming weapon, Feng Xiaotian reluctantly gritted his teeth and admitted defeat:
"I surrender."
Thus, Shrek claimed another spot in the final three.
"Who would've thought that this newly emerged Shrek Academy could make it this far? It's truly something to envy," Shui Bing'er commented, her eyes full of admiration.
Beside her, Xue Wu looped her arm through Shui Bing'er's, offering reassurance.
"We've made history ourselves this tournament; we don't need to feel disappointed."
Shui Bing'er clenched her hands, sighing, "But as a soul master, isn't it natural to want to go even further?"
Hearing their conversation and watching Kamikaze and Shrek's retreat from the stage, Dai Yao reflected in silence. Kamikaze and Shrek were very close in strength; without the Celestial Herbs that boosted Shrek in the original timeline, they might even have been a bit stronger. However, Kamikaze's outdated extreme-style approach ultimately led to their downfall.
The Heaven Dou Empire strongly emphasized the "extreme flow" strategy, which focused on maximizing a single attribute but left glaring weaknesses. Once an opponent exploited these weaknesses, there was little chance of recovery. On the other hand, the Star Luo Empire favored a balanced approach, aiming for well-rounded development in offense and defense—a strategy common in the soul master world.
But the Spirit Hall had introduced a new, albeit quiet, style called "fusion flow." This approach combined individual specialization with collective synergy, allowing team members to complement one another and cover weaknesses, creating a formidable force in team battles.
Shrek had unknowingly adopted this approach, blending individual strengths to form a cohesive whole. It was no wonder that Kamikaze fell to them, despite their strength.
Dai Yao chuckled, turning to Shui Bing'er.
"Shrek Academy is no 'newly emerged' team. Among them, Tang San is a dual-spirit wielder from the Clear Sky Clan; Ning Rongrong is the daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's leader; Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing are from the Star Luo royal family. As for the others, they're far from ordinary. With a lineup like that, it would be strange if they didn't advance."
Shui Bing'er sighed in agreement, "I suppose you're right. It's incredible how people from such different backgrounds came together in a single academy. What kind of magic does Shrek Academy possess?"
Dai Yao merely shrugged. How could he explain that they were the "main characters"? What he found even more perplexing was that Oscar, with his rare innate full soul power in the food-based category, and the powerful Evil Fire Phoenix spirit, had somehow slipped past the Spirit Hall's recruitment efforts. Were the Spirit Hall's soul masters blind during awakenings?
Then something caught his attention: since entering the stage, Ning Rongrong had occasionally been coughing. After the match, she coughed more noticeably.
A cold, maybe?
No. Based on her performance, she showed no signs of illness. Then why…? Observing the Shrek members closely, Dai Yao noticed that Oscar, too, looked pale. Could it be…?
Shui Bing'er, noticing his serious expression, asked, "Dai Yao, is something wrong?"
Dai Yao shook his head, pushing down his suspicion.
"No, it's nothing," he said, focusing his attention back on the arena. Next was the most anticipated match of the tournament: Spirit Hall Academy versus Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
The seeded team from Spirit Hall was about to face the Heaven Dou Empire's top squad—a clash that had captured everyone's attention from the beginning.
The crowd fell silent, every eye fixed on the stage.
Everyone knew, however, that this wouldn't be an even fight. Spirit Hall's team boasted three Soul Kings, a trio so powerful that it crushed any hope of resistance. Facing them was almost hopeless, even more so than against Oakland Academy, with three ten-thousand-year soul rings on their side. Even prodigies like Feng Xiaotian would lose their will to fight against such overwhelming power.
In this match, the audience's hope was simple: they wanted the Heaven Dou Royal Academy team to last as long as possible against the Spirit Hall team, to see the legendary prowess of Spirit Hall's Golden Generation.
However, the swiftness of Heaven Dou's defeat stunned everyone.
As a blood-red mist engulfed the arena, one by one, the Heaven Dou Royal team members were thrown out, spraying blood in the air. The mist faded, revealing Yu Tianheng trembling, his pupils unfocused, and his arms spasming uncontrollably. A faint blade of moonlight descended, and with a final swipe, Yu Tianheng's robust body collapsed, dragon scales scattering, blood splattering the ground.
The Heaven Dou Royal Academy team had lost. The match had only lasted a few brief moments.
Spirit Hall's team had only needed two members, using a single spirit fusion technique while the rest of their team stood still. The sheer strength of the Golden Generation was terrifying.
"For the sake of your clan, I'll spare you," Xie Yue said coolly. Then, turning his gaze toward Dai Yao, he raised his moon blade, a hint of a smile at his lips.
"Dai Yao, we await your challenge!"
The seven members of the Spirit Hall team stood together, exuding an aura of dominance and self-assurance that radiated through the arena, chilling everyone who looked upon them.
Dai Yao met their gazes head-on, unflinching.
The members of Oakland Academy stepped forward in unison, lining up to face Spirit Hall's team on the stage. Oakland had vanquished countless foes to reach this point, and a similar indomitable spirit had grown within them. The confrontation between the two teams was so intense that sparks seemed to fly in the air, igniting anticipation for their next battle.
As Dai Yao returned Xie Yue's gaze, a cold smirk crossed Xie Yue's face. He drew a finger across his neck in a mocking gesture, signaling their intent, while Hu Liena's silvery laughter rang out as the Spirit Hall team departed.
"Dai Yao, can we win?" Feng Qianli asked, watching Spirit Hall's team walk away. His voice wavered with doubt, and even his usually confident expression was somber. They didn't have a single Soul King on their side, while Spirit Hall had three. Could Dai Yao truly lead them to victory?
The rest of Oakland Academy turned to Dai Yao, looking to him for reassurance. Even Dugu Yan and the others wore serious expressions.
After taking a deep breath, Dai Yao looked at each of his teammates, his eyes filled with unshakable conviction.
"We will win!" he declared firmly.
As Oakland's backbone, his determination alone lifted the entire team's spirits.
"We will win!" they echoed, their battle cry resounding.
Looking at the unwavering confidence of the Oakland team, the beauties from Tianshui Academy couldn't help but stare in admiration. Soon, the thirteen eliminated teams from the Heaven Dou Empire began to gather around.
At the right moment, Shui Bing'er approached with her team, offering encouragement.
"Oakland Academy, you must win!" she urged.
"If there's any team that can beat Spirit Hall, it's you!"
The overwhelming dominance of Spirit Hall's team had cast a shadow over many geniuses. If there was a team that could defeat Spirit Hall, they were eager to witness it.
Shui Bing'er's words echoed the collective wish of the thirteen teams, and Dai Yao could feel the weight of Heaven Dou's expectations. Ironically, his ultimate goal was still to join Spirit Hall.
Shui Bing'er spread her arms, smiling warmly.
"Dai Yao, may I give you a hug?"
Dai Yao was taken aback. This was out of character for her. Though Shui Bing'er often wore a gentle smile, her presence was usually distant and cold, much like Zhu Zhuqing's aloof beauty. Known as an "Ice Phoenix," she had been dubbed an "Ice Queen" by those who admired her from afar.
Caught off guard, Dai Yao gave her a light hug.
Tianshui Academy's members burst into laughter, while Shui Yue'er, pouting in mock jealousy, complained, "I like Dai Yao too, but my sister beat me to it!" Oakland's team watched curiously, while Dai Yuanyi waggled his eyebrows mischievously. Dugu Yan crossed her arms and, raising an eyebrow, nudged Zhu Zhuqing, saying,
"Are you going to let that slide, Zhuqing?"
Zhu Zhuqing only shook her head with a slight smile.
"It just shows how exceptional Brother Yao is."
Dugu Yan sighed, exasperated.
"You're too easy on him."
Dai Yao had intended for it to be just a quick hug, but Shui Bing'er turned and embraced him tightly. His body instinctively tensed.
Feeling his reaction, Shui Bing'er chuckled softly. Leaning close to his ear, she whispered so only he could hear:
"Thank you for saving me."
Dai Yao was startled. He had, in fact, saved Shui Bing'er during a confrontation with Tang San in the Spirit Hall, but he'd kept his identity hidden. To his surprise, she'd figured it out.
No wonder she'd been acting slightly out of character today, sticking around to watch with her team. Clearly, this was her way of expressing her gratitude.
Dai Yao held her gently, signaling he understood. With Tianshui Academy's open-back uniforms, he could feel her smooth skin like warm jade against him.
After a moment, Shui Bing'er pulled back, her ice-blue hair flowing behind her as she rejoined her team.
…
In the Shrek Academy rest area, Tang San's eyes grew cold as he watched Dai Yao, now surrounded by admirers.
Dai Mubai scoffed, saying,
"Neither Spirit Hall nor Oakland has taken us seriously."
Clenching his fist, Tang San assured him,
"Boss Dai, don't worry. We'll surprise them yet!"
Their Seven-in-One Fusion skill would be a shock to the entire continent.
Time and again, Dai Yao had defeated them, and the Shrek team was brimming with resentment, eager to turn the tables. Especially Tang San—he had endured enough defeats and was determined to even the score. He hadn't forgotten his grievances, nor the injuries he and Xiao Wu had suffered. Soon, they would settle the score.
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