Yu Yuanzhen held the grouping list for the finals of the Continental Soul Master Grand Tournament, his expression extremely vivid.
He wasn't expecting the Thunderclap Academy to make it into the top three, but surely they had a shot at the top eight, right?
This grouping… was it specifically targeting them?
Their very first match was against the Glazed Academy.
How were they supposed to play this?
Could they even have a proper match at this point?
"Tianxin, take a look."
Handing the grouping list to Yu Tianxin, Yu Yuanzhen interlaced his fingers and sighed.
"If it really comes down to it, we can forfeit this match. Consider it giving the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan face."
After all, they owed the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan a favor from the incident a few days ago. If they could use this to repay that debt, it would be worth it.
"Is that really appropriate?" Yu Tianxin and the other team members looked at the registration form, their enthusiasm visibly low. In the end, it was Yu Tianxin who voiced the question.
"We might not be able to compete for the top three, but there are still many matches left for the top eight. If we forfeit now…"
"Consider it giving Ning Fengzhi face. A few days ago, when I retrieved Xiaogang, I ended up owing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan a favor."
"Oh…" Yu Tianxin nodded. "If Grandfather has already made up his mind, Tianxin will naturally follow."
Compared to Yu Tianheng's arrogance, Yu Tianxin had mellowed considerably after becoming the young sect master, learning to think things through more carefully.
Besides, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect was in no position to antagonize the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, let alone the Spirit Hall.
Especially after roughly understanding the strength of the major factions, even if the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect was a dragon, it had no choice but to coil up.
Yu Yuanzhen, who had spent his entire life refusing to admit inferiority to anyone, had suffered enough setbacks to calmly declare, "I am no match for them."
"Sigh…" Yu Tianxin inwardly sighed. "The loser's bracket can still get us into the top eight, but if we lose even once, it's over."
"That won't happen," Yu Yuanzhen said. "Glazed, Shrek, Blazing Wind, and the Spirit Hall Academy have all been separated. You won't run into them in the top eight."
"As for Star Luo's side, there might be one or two strong teams, but your strength in past tournaments has always been enough to compete for the championship."
"This year's participants are just abnormally strong."
"Let's settle it like this. Call the tournament committee over and inform them that we're forfeiting the match…" Yu Yuanzhen finally made his decision.
Glazed Academy VIP Room
Just as everyone was preparing to take the stage…
"For this match, neither I nor Dugu Yan will be participating. Bing'er, Ning Tian, the match's outcome will depend on you."
"Father has agreed to allow Ning Tian to use soul tools. Consider this a grand debut for soul tools. Besides, our opponents are the Thunderclap Academy—we can't afford to be careless."
Everyone nodded.
They had defeated the Thunderclap Academy before, but the strength of Yu Tianxin, the heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, was still terrifying.
Despite only being a Soul Ancestor, his Dragonization skill allowed him to reach a level close to that of a Soul King.
To borrow a phrase from another world—Dragonization is truly terrifying to this extent.
Ding-dong—
Ding-dong——
Who could that be?
All eyes turned toward the door.
Ning Rongrong walked over and opened it. The visitor was a long-haired woman who appeared to be in her twenties, though her strength was at the Soul Ancestor level.
"Hello, I'm a staff member from the Soul Master Grand Tournament committee."
"What's the matter?" Ning Rongrong got straight to the point.
"Well, Sect Master Yu of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect has decided to forfeit the match between Thunderclap Academy and Glazed Academy. Thunderclap Academy has voluntarily entered the loser's bracket. We're here to inform you."
"Understood."
Ning Rongrong blinked in surprise before nodding.
"Oh, Sect Master Yu also asked me to convey his friendly greetings to everyone at Glazed Academy, as well as to Sect Master Ning."
"Uh… okay." Ning Rongrong blinked again, somewhat baffled.
What is Yu Yuanzhen playing at?
You forfeit the match, and then you send friendly greetings?
Wait—
A sudden realization flashed through Ning Rongrong's mind.
Tsk—
You old fox, Yu Yuanzhen!
Using the forfeit to repay a favor from the other day.
Damn, you're such a sneaky bastard!
Thunderclap Academy couldn't beat them anyway, yet he framed it as "forfeiting to repay a favor."
Have you no shame?!
I, Ning Rongrong, have never seen someone so utterly shameless!
But since they'd already forfeited, what else could she do?
Ning Fengzhi had never intended for Yu Yuanzhen—that penniless old man—to repay the favor for the incident with Yu Xiaogang anyway.
Aside from the Dragonization secret technique and the Nine Crowns of the True Dragon, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had little interest in a backwater sect like the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect.
Forget it. Ning Rongrong sighed inwardly.
She had originally planned to let Ning Tian use the seventh-ranked soul tool, the Lotus Pagoda, for a grand debut—a fitting way to give the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect a proper send-off. But since they'd forfeited, they'd have to wait until after the top eight.
Ning Rongrong looked down at the finals grouping list in her hands.
Thirty-two teams from both Heaven Dou and Star Luo would participate in the finals.
The finals would last over two months.
Moreover, each match was spaced several days apart, ensuring all participants could recover to peak condition. Thus, the finals tested overall strength rather than relying on vague luck.
After the tournament staff left, Ning Rongrong slowly closed the door.
She began carefully reviewing the grouping list.
Glazed Academy, Shrek Academy, Spirit Hall Academy, and Blazing Wind Academy—all the strong teams had been placed in different groups.
They wouldn't face each other until the top eight, preventing strong teams from being eliminated prematurely.
The loser's bracket also offered a chance to enter the top eight. Teams that lost once would be reshuffled into a new bracket, and the winner of the loser's bracket would secure the eighth spot.
Overall, it was relatively fair.
Even a single loss wouldn't mean complete elimination.
But after the top eight, the real competition would begin. The champion, runner-up, and third-place teams would all receive spirit bones.
The champion would also receive a pill developed by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's Dugu Bo—one that could raise innate soul power.
Though it could only elevate a talentless soul master from level 0 to level 1…
That was still a leap forward, wasn't it?
The champion's rewards also included a 100,000-year spirit bone and six 10,000-year spirit bones. The runner-up would receive two 10,000-year spirit bones, and the third-place team would get one.
As treasures of blood and marrow, who wouldn't be tempted by a 100,000-year spirit bone?
"Except for me."
Ning Rongrong's gaze shifted from the grouping list back to the VIP room.
"Since the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect forfeited, we don't have any matches for the next few days."
"What a letdown. I was looking forward to showing off my soul tool." Ning Tian grumbled, clearly dissatisfied. "By the way, that staff member mentioned Sect Master Yu Yuanzhen owing Father a favor. What was that about?"
"Nothing major. A few days ago, Father went to help Yu Yuanzhen retrieve someone. He never expected the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect to repay such a minor favor anyway."
"Oh, I see!" Ning Tian relaxed.
He had thought it was something serious, but it was just Ning Fengzhi accompanying Yu Yuanzhen to retrieve someone.
"Speaking of which, this afternoon is Shrek Academy's match against the Star Luo Imperial Academy. Sister Yan and I plan to watch from the audience seats. You guys don't need to worry about us."
With that, Ning Rongrong grabbed Dugu Yan's hand and headed for the door.
"Hey, don't you think their relationship seems… off?"
After Ning Rongrong closed the door behind her, Ning Tian couldn't help but mutter.
"Lesbians…" Ye Lingling murmured.
"Huh?" Ning Tian was utterly confused.
"I'm talking about those two."
Ye Lingling's words left Ning Tian stunned. Then, he shuddered. "Huh?!"
What the hell?!
Had the future sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan picked up some strange aristocratic habits?
How would the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda be passed down then?!
Ning Tian's scalp prickled. Gritting his teeth, he stomped his foot.
"No, I have to ask Father about this!"
Without waiting for a response, Ning Tian dashed out of the VIP room in a frenzy.
Leaving the rest of the team staring at each other in bewilderment.