"Welcome, everyone, to the second half of the final match of this year's Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament!"
"Next, let us welcome the Spirit Hall Team and the Heaven Dou Imperial Team to the stage!"
The voice echoed loudly through the grand square adjacent to the Pontiff's Palace in Spirit City. Standing in front of the Spirit Arena, the red-clad cardinal acting as host raised his arm as he made the formal announcement.
Ye Yu had long been ready. He stood at the front, flanked by Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and teammates Yufeng, Shi Mo, and others. Once the announcement rang out, Ye Yu led Dugu Yan, Zhu Zhuqing, Shi Mo, Shi Mo, Yu Feng, and Ning Rongrong onto the stage.
On the opposite side, Xie Yue, Yan, and Hu Liena—faces visibly grim—also led the Spirit Hall team forward from the other side of the stage.
In the VIP platform, seated atop a golden throne, was Bibi Dong herself. She wore an opulent purple ceremonial robe, her alluring figure emphasized beneath the regal attire. Her exquisitely beautiful face, noble and dignified, remained expressionless, though her golden scepter and nine-curved purple-gold crown clearly marked her authority. Her gaze was fixed sharply on the Spirit Arena below.
For this tournament, Bibi Dong had personally trained Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan, who had all reached the Spirit King level before turning twenty-five, each earning the prestigious Purple Record Medal.
In particular, Hu Liena and Xie Yue had even mastered their powerful Spirit Fusion Ability – Charm Demon, a technique strong enough to rival a Spirit Emperor.
In Bibi Dong's original vision, this trio would undoubtedly secure victory in the finals for the Spirit Hall team.
As a reward and incentive, she had prepared three precious 10,000-year Spirit Bones to be awarded to the champions of this year's tournament.
But unexpectedly—out popped a wild card!
A monstrous genius named Ye Yu emerged, not only having reached the Spirit King level but also evolving his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul to a terrifying level with immunity to both fire and ice. He had even developed his own powerful Self-Created Spirit Ability.
This greatly disrupted Bibi Dong's mood.
The thought that Ye Yu might win and take the three 10,000-year Spirit Bones meant for her disciples made her heart bleed.
But she still held hope—after all, Xie Yue and Hu Liena could unleash Charm Demon, the Fusion Ability that suppressed senses and spirit power with a pink mist and boosted them to Spirit Emperor level during battle.
They should be more than enough to crush Ye Yu!
Behind Bibi Dong, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei, her two most loyal Title Douluo guards, stood silently.
They knew the truth: there was no suspense left in this match.
Although Ye Yu had only revealed his Spirit King-level cultivation, in reality, his true power was at the Spirit Saint level—and even capable of defeating Title Douluo like them!
In this tournament, Ye Yu had clearly been holding back most of his power. Even revealing just a fraction would be enough to ensure victory.
Seated nearby, disguised as Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, Qian Renxue, along with Ning Fengzhi, also wore gentle smiles.
They had both witnessed Ye Yu defeat Flander and Zhao Wuji, two Spirit Saints, barehanded.
To them, Ye Yu's victory was guaranteed.
Although Qian Renxue was nominally part of Spirit Hall, she harbored no desire to see the Spirit Hall team win. Her allegiance had shifted.
The three 10,000-year Spirit Bones—if awarded to the Spirit Hall team—would go to Bibi Dong's "Golden Generation," and not benefit Qian Renxue in the slightest.
But if Ye Yu won, then those Spirit Bones would fall into her camp's hands. This, she wholeheartedly supported.
Her once-childhood yearning for Bibi Dong's approval and motherly affection had long since withered. She no longer saw Bibi Dong as her mother—only referred to her as "that woman."
Meanwhile, high atop the Douluo Hall, a tall, dignified man in a golden robe stood watching from above.
His golden hair cascaded over his shoulders, and his handsome, mature face was lined with solemnity. This was none other than Qian Daoliu, Grand Priest of the Spirit Hall.
He silently gazed down upon the Spirit Arena, watching Ye Yu ascend with the Heaven Dou Imperial Team, while Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan approached from the opposite side.
The moment he laid eyes on Ye Yu, a flicker of emotion passed through his eyes.
He had recently learned something surprising: before the finals, his granddaughter Qian Renxue had cast off her disguise as Xue Qinghe and stormed into the Pontiff's Palace to confront Bibi Dong—all for Ye Yu.
Though Qian Renxue's words had been restrained, as her grandfather, Qian Daoliu could tell:
His precious granddaughter might just… like this Ye Yu.
And upon learning more about Ye Yu's background, Qian Daoliu was stunned.
Ye Yu's Martial Soul had originally been just ordinary Blue Silver Grass, with an initial Spirit Power of less than one.
He was considered a complete failure during his five years at Nuoding Academy.
Everything changed when he moved to Heaven Dou City, where he encountered Qian Renxue.
After that, with the help of Dugu Yan, granddaughter of Poison Douluo, Ye Yu's strength skyrocketed.
He defeated Yu Tianheng, grandson of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's patriarch, and rose to fame in Heaven Dou Imperial Academy as a top genius.
He evolved his Martial Soul, created his own Spirit Ability, and rapidly grew in strength—all on his own.
After reading all this, Qian Daoliu was struck with a strange feeling.
"Why does this Ye Yu… remind me so much of Yu Xiaogang?"
Of course, Yu Xiaogang had ambition but no substance—weak, hypocritical, and useless. All talk, no skill.
But Ye Yu?
Ye Yu was the successful version of Yu Xiaogang—driven, brilliant, and truly talented.