The sky over the central arena shimmered with multi-colored light, an aurora crafted from the soul power of over a thousand elite formations. The Continental Tournament Final—the most prestigious gathering of youth-level spirit masters under 20—had finally arrived.
Every empire had selected their best. The tournament had been brutal, testing every kind of spirit master—from control types to agility, strength, auxiliary, and defense. Teams had fallen. Alliances had shattered. Betrayals had burned their mark into many.
And now, only 12 teams remained. One from each empire's final selection, one from Spirit Hall, one from Sea God Island, one from the Starry Pavilion, one from the Central Plains, and of course, the Tang Clan Team—the most feared.
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The Rewards of the Century
The crowd knew the stakes. Broadcasters repeated the legendary prizes, their voices shaking with excitement and disbelief.
First Place:
Seven 100,000-year-old soul bones—one per team member, each uniquely attuned.
The 5-in-1 Ring Fusion Technique—capable of merging five rings of any levels, any positions, into a single godlike burst.
The Heavenly Bone-Soul Flower—a rare herb usable only below Spirit Level 40, capable of doubling one's innate talent.
Second Place:
Seven 50,000-year-old soul bones.
The Advanced 3-in-1 Ring Fusion Technique—usable with any three spirit rings, granting flexibility and power.
Third Place:
Seven 10,000-year-old soul bones.
The basic version of the 3-in-1 technique, limited to preset rings.
But it wasn't just the rewards. The winning team would earn fame for generations, and their factions would rise across the world.
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Tang Clan's Team – Cloaked in Silence
Standing in black battle robes trimmed with subtle silver, the Tang Clan's seven exuded chilling calm.
At their front stood Tang Wei, the captain. Dual spirits. A fused martial spirit hidden beneath an ancient seal. None knew the truth—even his teammates. Not even Tang San, fully.
What they did know was this: he was ruthless, precise, and had already slain two enemy team captains in single strikes during earlier stages. Not fatally—just enough to eliminate.
Beside him stood six other elites:
Mei Yun, the control-type spirit master known for weaving silent fields of gravity.
Zhou Kai, a spirit defense master, body sheathed in bone-like armor.
Lin Shuo, an agility-type wielding a shadow-step blade.
Fei Rong, a support-type healer with reversed-energy capabilities.
Li Fan and Ning Yi, dual attack-type twins who could temporarily synchronize their spirits.
None of them were above Spirit Level 70. Yet all were terrifying. Their formations were impossibly precise. Their power, honed in the Outer Plains, rivaled 90-levels in team synergy.
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From the Shadows – Tang San Watches
Deep in the Tang Clan's hidden realm, Tang San, still at peak 98-level, sat cross-legged inside the Nine-Origin Convergence Array. Each breath resonated with the world's energy, and the ground around him was slowly cracking.
But Tang San wasn't in a rush. Not anymore.
He didn't need this tournament to prove anything. Yet he had allowed the team to participate—for three reasons:
1. To shake the world again without lifting his hand.
2. To test if the 5-in-1 technique could be mastered by his bloodline.
3. To remind the new generation of their place.
Beside him, a floating spirit weapon crystal pulsed slowly. It contained the second spirit weapon prototype—half the strength of the original, but enough to kill a 97-level Douluo.
He didn't need schemes. His patience was his blade.
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The Arena of Gods – Battle Begins
The tournament format was straightforward: a 1v1, 2v2, and full 7v7 match. Points awarded based on victory. Top 3 move forward. No second chances.
First Match – Tang Clan vs. Spirit Hall
The crowd went silent.
The announcers trembled. Everyone remembered what had happened at the empire level. Could the Tang Clan be stopped?
1v1 Match
Tang Wei stepped into the arena, facing Mu Jian, the Spirit Hall's Ice Blade Prodigy. Spirit Level 79, ice affinity, known for freezing even heat-based rings.
Mu Jian launched a dome of frost the moment the battle started.
But Tang Wei didn't move.
Not until the frost reached his feet.
Then his left spirit ignited—Thorned Flame Tiger, the spirit spirit everyone knew. His flame expanded—but not wildly. It converged into his palms.
First Ring – Activation.
Then his second, third, and fifth ring all lit up in succession.
The crowd gasped. He activated three rings simultaneously, and none of them were his lowest rings.
An orange, a red, and a deep purple ring fused, creating a monstrous surge.
He hadn't used the 5-in-1 technique yet.
But even this incomplete fusion was enough.
He struck once.
The air tore.
The frost dome shattered.
Mu Jian's defensive spirit shield broke apart like paper.
He flew across the arena and crashed into the wall.
Victory: Tang Wei.
Time: 7 seconds.
The crowd screamed.
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Tang San, watching from his chamber, narrowed his eyes.
"The 5-in-1 is still unstable. But… acceptable."
He did not smile.
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End of Chapter 22