Morning arrived quietly over the capital of the Sun and Moon Empire.
For the first time in days, the sky above the city was calm.
No storms of spiritual power shook the horizon. No alarm formations echoed through the streets. The massive stadium that had hosted the Continental Elite Tournament stood silent beneath the pale light of dawn, its once-glorious arena floor still under reconstruction after the devastating battle.
Workers and formation engineers had already begun repairing the damage.
Reinforced marble plates floated slowly into position while intricate stabilization arrays hummed faintly beneath the surface of the arena.
The battle that had taken place there was already becoming legend.
But for now—
The city was simply recovering.
Inside the residential compound assigned to the Sun Moon Advanced Soul Engineering Academy, the atmosphere was far more relaxed.
The courtyard garden behind the academy's residence had become the group's temporary training ground.
Morning mist drifted lazily through the stone paths while faint traces of spiritual energy lingered in the air.
Several members of the team were already awake.
Ji Juechen practiced silent sword strikes beneath a tall tree.
Each swing of his blade cut through the air with almost imperceptible precision.
Nearby, Wu Feng leaned against a stone railing while slowly circulating her soul power, the faint outline of draconic aura flickering occasionally behind her.
Xu Tianzhen sat comfortably on the edge of the courtyard fountain, polishing her bow while humming quietly to herself.
Meng Hongchen stood a few meters away, adjusting the crystalline core of a small soul tool device.
None of them were speaking much.
The calm after such an intense battle always carried a strange quiet.
At the center of the courtyard—
Lin Huang sat cross-legged.
His eyes were closed.
His breathing slow and steady.
Around him, faint streams of spiritual energy flowed through the air like invisible currents being drawn toward his body.
Honghong rested comfortably nearby.
The cerulean fox spirit had curled up on Su Mei's lap, her ten tails lazily draped across the girl's legs while she slept peacefully.
Su Mei sat beneath the shade of a tree, gently brushing the fox's fur while observing Lin Huang's cultivation with calm attention.
At first, nothing unusual happened.
Then—
A ripple spread through the air.
Qiu'er's head lifted immediately.
Her golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Again?"
The spiritual energy surrounding Lin Huang suddenly accelerated.
The circulation of his soul power intensified rapidly, drawing in the surrounding energy like a whirlpool forming in calm water.
A faint pressure spread across the courtyard.
Not violent.
But unmistakable.
Xu Tianzhen looked over.
"Is he—?"
Meng Hongchen stopped adjusting her device.
"…Advancing."
The spiritual energy converged.
Lin Huang's aura expanded outward in a brief, controlled wave before stabilizing again.
Then the energy slowly settled.
The courtyard returned to normal.
A moment later—
Lin Huang opened his eyes.
Qiu'er crossed her arms immediately.
"…You advanced again."
Lin Huang blinked once.
Then he tilted his head slightly.
"…Looks like it."
Silence filled the courtyard.
Then Qiu'er sighed in visible frustration.
"This is ridiculous."
She turned away slightly, running a hand through her golden hair.
"I train constantly."
Her voice carried clear irritation.
"And you still advance first."
Xu Tianzhen laughed.
"Well… you're competing with the wrong person."
Meng Hongchen smirked faintly.
"At this rate you'll never catch him."
Qiu'er shot both of them a glare.
"Just wait."
Then she looked back at Lin Huang.
"I will."
Lin Huang shrugged casually.
"I'm not stopping you."
Nearby, Honghong stirred slightly.
The fox spirit stretched lazily on Su Mei's lap before opening one golden eye.
"…Hmph."
She yawned softly and curled back up again.
Clearly unconcerned with cultivation competitions.
Su Mei sighed quietly as she continued brushing Honghong's fur.
"Young Master."
Lin Huang looked over.
"Yes?"
She gave him a calm but slightly exasperated look.
"You just fought a Rank 95 Title Douluo yesterday."
"And now you've already advanced."
Lin Huang shrugged again.
"That tends to happen."
Su Mei shook her head slowly.
"…Monstrous."
Across the courtyard, Tang Ya laughed softly.
"Well, at least now the rankings are settled again."
Meng Hongchen folded her arms.
"Rank 68 already."
She glanced toward Qiu'er with a teasing smile.
"Sorry."
Qiu'er looked like she wanted to argue.
Then she sighed again.
"…Just wait."
Her golden eyes moved back toward Lin Huang.
"I will surpass you eventually."
Lin Huang smiled faintly.
"I'm looking forward to it."
Above the quiet courtyard, the morning sun rose slowly over the capital.
The battle that had shaken the entire continent was over.
But its consequences—
Had only just begun.
By mid-morning, the capital of the Sun and Moon Empire had fully awakened.
The quiet calm of dawn gave way to the familiar rhythm of a massive imperial city returning to life. Markets reopened. Soul-guided transport platforms moved steadily along the aerial routes between districts. Merchants shouted prices in crowded streets while officials hurried between administrative buildings carrying sealed reports.
Yet beneath that normal activity, an unmistakable tension remained.
Everyone in the city knew what had happened.
The tournament had ended in a way no one had expected.
The Holy Spirit Church had launched an attack in the middle of the Continental Elite Tournament.
And the entire continent had watched it unfold.
News spread quickly.
Faster than rumors.
Because the empire itself had chosen not to hide the event.
Instead, information had been released deliberately.
Controlled.
In one of the major plazas near the academy district, a young newspaper vendor waved a stack of freshly printed broadsheets in the air.
"Latest reports!"
"Official statement from the Imperial Palace!"
"Compensation announcement!"
Passersby quickly gathered around the stand.
A man purchased one copy and unfolded the paper immediately.
The headline was impossible to miss.
HOLY SPIRIT CHURCH ATTACK FOILED DURING CONTINENTAL TOURNAMENT
IMPERIAL FAMILY AND LIN CLAN ANNOUNCE COMPENSATION FOR ALL ATTENDEES
Several people murmured in surprise.
"Compensation?"
"For everyone?"
The article explained clearly.
Although the attack had been stopped quickly and no civilians had been injured, the Imperial Family and the Lin Clan had jointly announced that all spectators present during the incident would receive financial compensation.
Not because they were required to.
But because the danger had existed.
And responsibility mattered.
The reaction from the public was immediate.
"That's… unexpected."
"They're actually acknowledging the risk."
"That's good governance."
Nearby, an elderly merchant nodded approvingly.
"The Lin Clan understands reputation."
Indeed.
The decision had not been random.
Inside the Imperial Administrative Hall, the discussion had been far more calculated.
A group of high-ranking officials stood around a long table covered with reports.
Representatives of the Imperial Family and the Lin Clan were both present.
Among them was Lin Zhenyuan, the patriarch of the Lin Clan.
A younger official spoke first.
"The public reaction has been overwhelmingly positive."
Another added:
"The newspapers are already spreading the story across the capital."
Lin Zhenyuan remained silent for a moment.
Then he nodded slightly.
"As expected."
One of the imperial ministers frowned thoughtfully.
"The compensation will cost a considerable amount."
Lin Zhenyuan looked at him calmly.
"Yes."
"But the cost of public trust is far greater if you lose it."
Another official glanced down at the report in his hand.
"There is already another development."
He placed the document on the table.
"Several noble families have begun announcing similar compensation measures."
The room fell quiet.
One of the ministers sighed.
"They're copying the idea."
Lin Zhenyuan allowed himself a faint smile.
"Of course they are."
Politics moved quickly.
Even faster when public reputation was involved.
No noble family wanted to appear indifferent while the Lin Clan and the Imperial Family took visible responsibility for the safety of thousands of spectators.
Within hours of the original announcement, multiple other influential houses had released their own statements offering small relief funds or public safety contributions.
Not because they had been involved in the decision.
But because they understood the optics.
Outside the palace complex, the city continued discussing the incident.
Some conversations focused on the danger.
Others focused on the response.
But one topic appeared again and again.
The battle.
More specifically—
The young man who had defeated a Rank 95 Title Douluo in front of the entire continent.
In a quiet teahouse near the academy district, two traveling soul masters sat near a window overlooking the street.
One of them lowered his newspaper slowly.
"…You saw the broadcast too, right?"
His companion nodded.
"I did."
The first man tapped the headline thoughtfully.
"Rank 95."
He looked back up.
"And he killed him."
The second man sighed softly.
"That boy…"
He paused.
"…is going to change the balance of power on this continent."
Back at the academy residence—
The members of the Sun Moon team had already heard the news.
Xu Tianzhen leaned comfortably against the courtyard railing while reading one of the newspapers.
She raised an eyebrow.
"Well."
She folded the paper halfway.
"This is impressive."
Meng Hongchen glanced over.
"What?"
Xu Tianzhen pointed to the article.
"Compensation for everyone in the stadium."
Tang Ya looked surprised.
"Really?"
Ji Juechen spoke without looking up from his sword maintenance.
"Public trust."
Xu Tianzhen nodded.
"Exactly."
She tapped the newspaper.
"The Imperial Family and the Lin Clan just earned a lot of goodwill."
Meng Hongchen smirked slightly.
"And every other noble house is panicking now."
Wu Feng laughed quietly.
"They're all trying to look generous."
Nearby, Lin Huang glanced briefly at the article before handing it back.
"Smart move."
Su Mei nodded calmly.
"It was necessary."
Honghong yawned softly from her place in Su Mei's lap.
The fox spirit didn't appear particularly interested in politics.
But the ripple effects of the battle were already spreading far beyond the capital.
Across the continent—
More people were beginning to understand what had happened in that arena.
And what it meant.
Three days later, the capital of the Sun and Moon Empire looked very different from the city that had hosted the final day of the tournament.
The tension that had lingered after the attack of the Holy Spirit Church had slowly begun to fade, replaced by the orderly rhythm of a great event coming to its end.
The streets near the massive tournament stadium were no longer crowded with spectators and merchants.
Instead, they were filled with something else.
Departure.
Soul-guided transport platforms lifted slowly into the sky.
Imperial airships hovered above the outer districts while academy banners were lowered from the towers of the stadium.
Caravans began leaving through the eastern and western gates of the capital, carrying students and teachers back toward their respective regions.
The Continental Elite Tournament of the Soul Masters Academy had officially concluded.
And now the continent's rising generation was returning home.
Near the academy district, the plaza outside the Sun Moon Advanced Soul Engineering Academy had become one of the busiest areas in the city.
Delegations gathered there before departing.
Academy banners fluttered in the morning wind while soul-guided transport vehicles waited patiently in neat rows.
Students from dozens of academies moved through the plaza, saying their final farewells before beginning the long journey back across the continent.
Standing near the center of the plaza, Lin Huang and the rest of his group watched the activity quietly.
For once, no one was in a hurry.
The chaos of the tournament had ended.
Now everything moved at a slower pace.
Xu Tianzhen stretched lazily while observing the departing academies.
"Well."
She leaned slightly against the railing behind her.
"That was an interesting tournament."
Meng Hongchen crossed her arms.
"Interesting is one way to describe it."
Tang Ya laughed softly.
"I don't think anyone expected the Holy Spirit Church to show up."
Ji Juechen stood slightly apart from the group, his sword resting calmly against his shoulder as he observed the plaza.
He said nothing.
But his eyes followed every movement carefully.
Nearby, Jiang Nannan watched the departing academies quietly.
Her gaze occasionally drifted across the plaza.
Not searching for anything in particular.
Just observing.
A familiar voice spoke behind them.
"Leaving already?"
Lin Huang turned slightly.
Princess Xu Jiujiu stood a few meters away, accompanied by several members of the Star Luo Academy delegation.
Shen Ce stood beside her, his spear resting across his back.
Xu Tianzhen smiled faintly.
"Eventually."
Xu Jiujiu walked a little closer.
Her gaze lingered briefly on Lin Huang.
"You certainly made the tournament memorable."
Lin Huang shrugged casually.
"Things escalated."
Shen Ce snorted quietly.
"That's one way to say it."
His eyes moved toward Lin Huang.
Then he spoke again.
"Next time we meet, I'd like a proper fight."
Lin Huang nodded once.
"That can be arranged."
Not far away, another group approached the plaza.
The banners of the Just Sky Academy were already being lowered as their delegation prepared to leave.
At the front of the group walked Yu Tianlong.
The young descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan stopped briefly when he noticed Lin Huang.
Their eyes met across the plaza.
Neither spoke.
But the meaning was obvious.
One day—
They would fight.
Yu Tianlong gave a small nod.
Then he turned and continued walking with his team.
Back in the plaza, Xu Jiujiu smiled slightly.
"The next tournament will be very different."
Xu Tianzhen smirked.
"Let's hope so."
Xu Jiujiu's gaze moved across the rest of the group.
"You've raised the bar quite a bit."
Lin Huang didn't respond.
Instead he simply looked out across the plaza where more delegations continued preparing for departure.
The plaza was slowly becoming less crowded.
One academy after another was leaving.
The tournament that had drawn the entire continent together was ending.
But the connections formed during those few days—
Rivalries.
Alliances.
Curiosity.
Those would remain.
Xu Jiujiu stepped back slightly.
"Well."
She smiled politely.
"I suppose this is where we part ways."
Xu Tianzhen waved casually.
"Safe travels."
Shen Ce gave Lin Huang one last look.
"Next time."
Then the Star Luo delegation turned and left the plaza.
For a moment, the Sun Moon group simply watched them go.
The plaza felt quieter now.
More open.
Tang Ya stretched her arms above her head.
"Well."
She smiled.
"Time to say goodbye to the rest of the continent, I suppose."
Lin Huang glanced toward the opposite side of the plaza.
Where another familiar banner had just appeared.
The banner of Shrek Academy.
He smiled slightly.
"…Looks like we still have one farewell left."
The banner of Shrek Academy fluttered softly in the breeze as their delegation entered the plaza.
Even among the many prestigious academies gathered there, the presence of Shrek carried a certain weight. Their reputation had been built over thousands of years, and that legacy followed every student who wore their emblem.
Several students from other academies glanced in their direction instinctively.
Some out of curiosity.
Others out of respect.
At the front of the group walked several familiar faces.
Wu Ming.Ling Luochen.Han Ruoruo.Xi Xi.Chen Zifeng.Yao Haoxuan.
A few steps behind them, Dai Yaoheng spoke quietly with one of the instructors accompanying the delegation.
The moment Wu Ming noticed Lin Huang and the others standing near the center of the plaza, her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Of course they're still here."
Meng Hongchen noticed the approaching group immediately.
"Well."
She smirked faintly.
"Looks like Shrek finally decided to show up."
Xu Tianzhen stretched lazily.
"Perfect timing."
As the two groups approached each other, the plaza around them grew slightly quieter.
Not because anyone ordered silence.
But because people nearby instinctively slowed their movements.
The two strongest academy groups of the tournament meeting one last time was not something anyone wanted to miss.
Lin Huang watched them approach calmly.
Then he spoke casually.
"You know…"
The Shrek students slowed slightly.
"…maybe it's a good thing we won't see each other for a while."
Wu Ming frowned.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Lin Huang tilted his head slightly, a relaxed smile forming on his face.
"Well…"
He gestured lightly toward the group of Shrek girls.
"If the beauties of Shrek ever decided to use a beauty trap against me…"
He lifted both hands in exaggerated surrender.
"I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to resist."
For a moment—
The plaza froze.
Wu Ming's face turned bright red almost instantly.
"You—!"
She clenched her fists, her expression shifting between embarrassment and fury.
"Who would even try that on you?!"
Her voice carried the unmistakable tone of a tsundere caught completely off guard.
Beside her, Ling Luochen froze.
A faint blush appeared across her usually calm face.
She quickly turned her head away.
"T-that's ridiculous…"
Her voice came out quieter than usual, and she clearly avoided looking directly at him.
Han Ruoruo simply rolled her eyes.
But there was the slightest hint of amusement in her expression.
"Your confidence is impressive."
Despite the sarcasm in her tone, she didn't look particularly offended.
If anything, she seemed faintly satisfied by the compliment.
A few steps behind them, Xi Xi looked completely flustered.
Her face had turned red, and she awkwardly brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"That's… not something you should say so casually…"
Yet the small smile she tried to hide made it obvious she wasn't entirely displeased.
Behind Lin Huang—
Two hands suddenly grabbed his arm.
Meng Hongchen pulled him slightly closer.
"Don't even joke about that."
Her eyes narrowed toward the Shrek girls.
At the same time, Xu Tianzhen locked onto his other arm possessively.
"Try it and you're dead."
Lin Huang blinked once.
"…I was joking."
Suddenly—
Pinch.
Ma Xiaotao's fingers twisted sharply into his side.
Lin Huang winced.
"…Ow."
Xiaotao smirked.
"You really can't stop provoking people, can you?"
Behind her, Tang Ya covered her mouth to hide her laughter.
"You deserved that."
Qiu'er simply crossed her arms, watching the entire scene with an unimpressed expression.
Across from them, Wu Ming was still fuming.
"You're unbelievable!"
But the tension quickly faded.
Because despite the embarrassment and the teasing—
Everyone understood something.
The tournament was over.
And this was the last time these groups would stand in the same place for a long time.
A pair of older figures stepped forward from the Shrek delegation.
Cai Mei'er and Xian Lin'er.
Both women had witnessed the battle in the arena.
And the events outside the stadium as well.
Cai Mei'er studied Lin Huang thoughtfully.
"You've certainly caused quite a stir across the continent."
Lin Huang shrugged slightly.
"That happens sometimes."
Xian Lin'er glanced briefly toward the Sun Moon Academy buildings in the distance.
"The technological development here is… impressive."
Cai Mei'er nodded slightly.
"Perhaps in the future…"
She looked toward the Shrek students behind her.
"…an academic exchange between academies would not be impossible."
Xu Tianzhen raised an eyebrow.
"That sounds interesting."
Lin Huang smiled faintly.
"We'd be happy to host."
For a brief moment—
The two academies stood facing each other in silence.
Not as enemies.
Not as rivals.
But as representatives of the next generation.
Then Cai Mei'er spoke calmly.
"Until next time."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Until next time."
The Shrek delegation turned and began walking toward the transport platforms at the far side of the plaza.
One by one—
They disappeared into the crowd of departing academies.
Tang Ya watched them leave with a thoughtful expression.
"Well."
She sighed lightly.
"That was fun."
Lin Huang looked toward the far side of the plaza where the final group approaching them was just arriving.
A familiar white-robed figure walked calmly through the crowd.
Ye Guyi.
And this time—
She was walking directly toward them.
The plaza had grown quieter.
Many of the academies had already departed, and the once-crowded square now held only scattered groups preparing for their final journeys.
Soul-guided transport craft hovered above the plaza, their engines humming softly as technicians completed their last inspections.
Across the stone pavement, banners that had once represented dozens of academies were being lowered one by one.
The great gathering of the continent's rising generation was ending.
Lin Huang stood near the edge of the plaza with the rest of his group.
Honghong had already curled up comfortably in Su Mei's lap, her cerulean tails draped lazily across the girl's knees as the fox spirit slept without the slightest concern for the world around her.
Su Mei gently brushed the soft fur behind Honghong's ears while watching the plaza calmly.
A quiet set of footsteps approached.
Several members of the group noticed immediately.
Tang Ya turned first.
"…She's here."
Walking toward them through the thinning crowd was Ye Guyi.
The young woman wore the white robes of the Sun Moon Academy delegation, though the faint golden glow of her spiritual aura made her presence stand out even among the remaining soul masters in the plaza.
Her steps were steady.
But her gaze carried clear determination.
When she finally stopped a few steps away from the group, the atmosphere shifted slightly.
Several members of the team exchanged curious glances.
Ye Guyi looked directly at Lin Huang.
Then she spoke calmly.
"I would like to travel with you."
Xu Tianzhen blinked.
"…That was direct."
Ye Guyi continued without hesitation.
"My martial soul carries a strong Light attribute."
Her voice remained steady.
"That alone makes me a target for the Holy Spirit Church."
The plaza remained quiet as she spoke.
Everyone present had seen what the Holy Spirit Church had attempted to do during the tournament.
No one doubted the truth of her words.
Ye Guyi lowered her gaze slightly.
"I don't intend to spend my life running from them."
She looked back up.
"I want to grow stronger."
Then she glanced briefly toward Lin Huang and the rest of the group.
"And your group… is clearly capable of standing against them."
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Xu Tianzhen sighed dramatically.
"…Another one."
Meng Hongchen folded her arms.
"At this rate we're going to need a bigger airship."
Tang Ya laughed softly.
"Well, it's not like she's wrong."
Qiu'er remained silent, but her golden eyes studied Ye Guyi carefully.
Not with hostility.
Just quiet evaluation.
Lin Huang observed her calmly.
Then he glanced briefly toward Honghong.
The fox spirit opened one lazy golden eye.
She studied Ye Guyi for a moment.
Then flicked her tail.
"…Hmph."
Lin Huang looked back at Ye Guyi.
"Alright."
Several of the girls looked at him immediately.
Lin Huang shrugged.
"Welcome."
Ye Guyi blinked once.
Clearly she had expected more resistance.
But the simple answer seemed to catch her slightly off guard.
Xu Tianzhen shook her head.
"You say that way too easily."
Meng Hongchen glanced at Ye Guyi.
"Well."
She sighed.
"If she's joining us, she'd better keep up."
Tang Ya stepped forward with a friendly smile.
"Don't worry."
"You'll get used to the chaos."
Ye Guyi allowed herself a faint smile.
"…I hope so."
Above them, one of the academy transport craft slowly descended toward the plaza.
Its landing arrays activated with a low mechanical hum.
The signal for departure.
Ji Juechen picked up his sword.
"Time."
Wu Feng rolled her shoulders.
"Finally."
One by one, the group began walking toward the transport ramp.
Lin Huang stopped briefly before boarding.
He looked back once toward the distant skyline of the capital.
The city where the tournament had taken place.
Where the Holy Spirit Church had attempted their ambush.
And where the entire continent had watched the battle unfold.
Behind him, Honghong stirred slightly in Su Mei's lap.
The fox yawned softly.
Then returned to sleep.
Lin Huang turned back toward the transport craft.
And stepped aboard.
Moments later, the engines ignited.
The transport vessel lifted slowly into the sky.
Below them, the capital of the Sun and Moon Empire began to shrink as the aircraft turned toward the horizon.
The tournament was over.
But the ripples from what had happened there were already spreading across the continent.
And for Lin Huang and his companions—
Their journey was only becoming more complicated.