The matches proceeded swiftly.
Two months passed, and the round of 16 advancing to 8 had concluded several days prior. Every team was now recuperating and conserving their strength.
Today marked the quarterfinals, and it was said that a major figure would be attending.
Based on the schedule, within roughly a week, the champion of this year's unprecedented Elite Soul Master Tournament would be decided.
Currently, several teams displayed formidable strength. Even a certain "Grandmaster" skilled in analysis dared not claim that Shrek Academy was guaranteed victory.
Yes, that would be Grandmaster Yu, who had been ransomed back by Yu Yuanzhen.
Liu Erlong, selfless and devoted, willingly withdrew from Shrek Academy and returned to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan as part of the bargain.
In exchange for Yu Xiaogang's release, Yu Yuanzhen, after careful consideration, agreed to Liu Erlong's actions. However, he explicitly warned Yu Xiaogang not to go around biting people again.
Next time, no one would come to bail him out.
To avoid antagonizing the Haotian Sect, Yu Yuanzhen personally sought out Tang Xiao and gave him a heads-up.
He didn't outright state that Yu Xiaogang was a fraud, but he did mention that Yu Xiaogang intended to seek the cultivation method for twin martial souls from the Spirit Hall, among other things.
In short, he left it to Tang Xiao to read between the lines. The message was clear: if something happened later, don't come knocking on their door.
Tang Xiao was no fool. As the sect master who had led the Haotian Sect—once secluded in the remote mountains—back to prominence, producing several Title Douluo under his leadership, how could he fail to grasp Yu Yuanzhen's implications?
Without elaborating, he simply replied:
"We'll be cautious."
At this moment, Tang Xiao held the quarterfinal match bracket, his expression troubled.
"Shrek, Glazed, Spirit Hall, Blazing Wind, Thunder, Plant, Beast Taming, and Canghui."
However, Shrek only needed to seriously watch out for three of these academy teams.
"Glazed, Spirit Hall, and Blazing Wind."
Glazed Academy's Dugu Yan, a 68th-ranked Soul Emperor, could only be defeated if Shrek replicated the Seven-in-One Martial Soul Fusion Skill they had developed based on Canghui Academy's research.
As for Blazing Wind…
For some reason, their strength seemed to increase with every match.
Their captain, Huo Wu, had actually reached the 49th rank as a Soul Ancestor. More importantly, they possessed both a Martial Soul Fusion Skill and Ring Fusion.
Like Glazed Academy, they posed a slightly lesser but still significant threat.
Beyond them, there was also the enigmatic Spirit Hall Academy team.
The Spirit Hall's willingness to offer a 100,000-year soul bone as a prize demonstrated their absolute confidence in their team.
Yet, so far, Tang Xiao couldn't discern the source of that confidence.
Three Soul Kings and four Soul Ancestors.
Strong?
Undoubtedly. Compared to previous Elite Soul Master Tournaments, this lineup would have practically secured the championship.
But this time, disregarding Glazed Academy's 68th-ranked Dugu Yan, even Shrek Academy had two Soul Kings.
Even Blazing Wind Academy, with their Ring Fusion and Martial Soul Fusion Skill, could threaten Spirit Hall Academy.
Moreover, the unexpected appearance of a silver-haired girl named Gu Yuena added another layer of uncertainty.
"The captain of the Spirit Hall team…"
Tang Xiao frowned, staring at the name on the roster.
The sole unknown variable, someone who hadn't appeared yet but was listed as a participant.
Qian Renxue!
Originally, Tang Xiao hadn't known this name. However, since Xue Qinghe the Great's beloved was Qian Renxue, it was hard not to associate the two.
"Is it her?"
If so, what was her strength?
A Soul Sage? Or perhaps…
Tang Xiao didn't dare dwell on it—the gap was simply too vast.
Years ago, in the Shrek Academy of the Barak Kingdom, his younger brother Hao had his kidneys and Ah Yin's soul ring taken by an unknown Title Douluo.
Back then, the girl named Qian Renxue who appeared already possessed the strength of a Soul Sage.
Now, after another two and a half years, her power would have only grown.
"Sigh… This won't be easy."
He could only hope that when the patriarch arrived, he could find a way to turn the tables for Tang San!
By now, the participants and spectators for the finals had mostly arrived.
Pope Bibi Dong herself made an appearance, delivering a speech on the significance of the tournament.
She then displayed the 100,000-year soul bone, along with a dozen other soul bones, on an exhibition platform.
The most eye-catching item was the pristine 100,000-year soul bone, placed prominently on a cushion and exuding a faint crimson mist. Many soul masters in attendance gasped in shock.
Someone couldn't help but exclaim:
"A 100,000-year soul bone! They really brought out a 100,000-year soul bone!"
It wasn't that they distrusted the Spirit Hall, but a 100,000-year soul bone was a treasure beyond measure.
To have one and not use it themselves, nor reward their subordinates, but instead offer it as a prize?
Had Bibi Dong been locked in a secret chamber, or had Qian Daoliu been kicked in the head by a donkey?
"All of you here are the elite among soul masters. You can surely tell that the separately displayed item is a 100,000-year soul bone—an exceedingly rare 100,000-year light-attribute torso bone."
"This torso bone shows no signs of damage and is in perfect condition. Its value needs no further explanation!"
Among soul bones, aside from external soul bones, the torso bone was the most crucial.
After all, no matter what you did, a strong core was essential!
You couldn't just rely on wolfberries soaked in water every day.
The same went for soul masters—with robust bones, even brute force could achieve miracles in battle.
"A… a 100,000-year soul bone! It really is a 100,000-year soul bone!" In Shrek Academy's VIP room, Yu Xiaogang inhaled sharply.
"Truly a grand gesture," Flender and the others murmured, their eyes bloodshot with desire.
But obtaining such a treasure wasn't just a matter of life and death—it was also a matter of whether they could even keep it.
Take Xue Ke's full soul bone set, for example. With a 99th-ranked Limit Douluo guarding her, no one dared to covet it.
But who were they?
Just insignificant Soul Sages.
"Sigh, it's not Ah Yin's soul bone," Tang Xiao muttered, partly relieved. Then, noticing the lack of reaction from the others, he changed the subject.
"Rumors say a 100,000-year soul bone can alter one's innate talent. Aiming for the championship—it seems the Spirit Hall has quite the trump card!"
With one 100,000-year soul bone and six multi-10,000-year soul bones as the champion's prize, the Spirit Hall's intentions were clear.
The second and third-place prizes were two 10,000-year soul bones and one 10,000-year soul bone, respectively.
In previous tournaments, even these would have been considered championship-worthy rewards.
But compared to this year's offerings, they seemed almost… paltry.
The moment the 100,000-year soul bone appeared, Tang Xiao, a 97th-ranked Title Douluo, felt a chill run down his spine. For an instant, he sensed the auras of over a dozen Title Douluo.
Was this the Spirit Hall's true foundation?
Terrifying!
Just as Bibi Dong finished introducing the prizes for the top three teams, a deep, resonant voice echoed from the skies above.
"As expected of the Spirit Hall! Offering a 100,000-year soul bone as a prize. How about we join in the fun as well?"
As the words faded, above the Spirit Hall's sacred grounds—the Giant Sword Mountain—five figures materialized.
All five had released their martial souls and soul rings.
Five enormous hammers rested on their shoulders, exuding immense pressure. Every one of them was a nine-ringed Title Douluo.
The four standing slightly behind the leader each bore the optimal soul ring configuration: two yellow, two purple, and five black.
But the leader was even more terrifying. His aura completely overshadowed the others, and his soul rings reached the horrifying configuration of eight black and one red.
"It's the Haotian Sect!"
Someone in the crowd recognized the iconic hammers and cried out in astonishment.
Bibi Dong slowly ascended into the air, her soul rings emerging one by one beneath her feet.
Two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red.
"If the Slaughter King, His Majesty Tang Chen, wishes to grace us with his presence, the Spirit Hall naturally welcomes him."
"Welcomes us?" Tang Chen chuckled. "I doubt that."
"Hmph, Tang Chen, don't stir up trouble."
"Have you forgotten the agreement we made regarding the Soul Master Tournament?"
A voice rang out from the distance, accompanied by the overwhelming aura of a Title Douluo. The same eight-black, one-red soul ring configuration appeared.
A golden-haired middle-aged man, followed by six other Title Douluo, flew over at incredible speed.
"It's the elders from the Elder Hall… They've actually appeared!" The spectators below recognized the distinctive attire of the elders.
"Indeed. Let's hope nothing goes wrong," another person muttered, trembling.
"Rumor has it that every elder in the Elder Hall is at least a 95th-ranked Title Douluo. Even His Majesty Yue Guan and His Majesty Gui Mei aren't qualified to enter."
Yue Guan and Gui Mei, who had just flown to Bibi Dong's side, nearly stumbled mid-air upon hearing the whispers below.
They glanced at the audience seats.
They hadn't noticed earlier, and they didn't know who had spoken—but whoever it was had been loud.
Since when did 95th-ranked Title Douluo lack prestige?
Sure, their former boss, a 95th-ranked Title Douluo, might have seemed weak—but he was gone now. Their current boss was a Limit Douluo!
When one man prospered, even his chickens and dogs ascended to heaven!
Did they not understand the weight of that?