The second round concluded, and the third round followed shortly after. However, the third round held little excitement for the spectators, as none of the top-tier powerhouse teams were drawn against each other.
The round ended swiftly, though many were disappointed that Dugu Yan, the captain of the Seven Treasure Team, still hadn't taken the field because their opponents were simply too weak. Similarly, Gu Xuan and Ye Lingling of the Heaven Dou Imperial Team won their match without revealing their true strength. The two of them looked more like a young couple walking a runway than competitors, striking a few poses and securing victory with ease.
By the end of it, the weaker teams had been filtered out, leaving only the final six. No matter how the lots fell now, the upcoming matches were bound to be spectacular. These final six teams were the Heaven Dou Imperial Team, the Spirit Hall Team, the Seven Treasure Team, the New Godwind Team, the Shrek Team, and the Skywater Team.
Remarkably, five of these six teams hailed from the Heaven Dou Empire. Every single Star Luo Empire team had been eliminated by the end of the third round. This outcome naturally sent the morale of the Heaven Dou contingent soaring. Once the news reached the capital, Emperor Xue Ye would likely be too excited to sleep for three days and nights. Finally, they had completely eclipsed the Star Luo Empire, and with teams this strong, they were more than capable of challenging Spirit Hall for the championship.
After a day of rest, the fourth round of the Grand Finals began. Qin Ming, acting as the team leader, went to draw the lots early in the morning. For this round, the Heaven Dou Imperial Team was drawn against the New Godwind Team, the Seven Treasure Team would face the Skywater Team, and Shrek Academy was pitted against the Spirit Hall Team. Each match promised to be a heart-stopping battle that would capture the attention of everyone in the city.
As the match between the Heaven Dou Imperial Team and the New Godwind Team was scheduled first, Gu Xuan and Ye Lingling walked onto the stage hand-in-hand following the referee's announcement. Yu Tianheng and the other four followed closely behind, flanking the couple like a royal guard.
After the "five-lady gathering" two nights ago and a day spent bonding, the five girls had—to Gu Xuan's shock—actually become close as sisters. This was exactly the result he had hoped for. He had even taken all five of them out for a day of fun yesterday, which left the rest of the Imperial Team members green with envy.
Dai Mubai, in particular, had been in a state of impotent rage for quite a while after learning that Zhu Zhuqing had stayed with Gu Xuan and hadn't returned. However, he no longer had the standing to confront Gu Xuan about "stealing his fiancée." Given Tang San's current relationship with Gu Xuan, Dai Mubai didn't dare risk offending Tang San by causing a scene.
When Zhu Zhuqing finally returned to the Shrek team for the match today, Dai Mubai didn't say a single word to her. He watched her with a mixture of annoyance and fury. Fortunately, Tang San, the soul of the team and the ultimate mediator, managed to smooth over the atmosphere. After all, their opponent today was the Spirit Hall Team.
Spirit Hall boasted three Soul Kings who had yet to even make an appearance because their previous opponents hadn't required such power. Tang San wasn't taking any chances; although he had become the most talked-about figure in the tournament thanks to his Clear Sky Hammer and its terrifying rings, he knew the challenge ahead was immense. His fame had even eclipsed Gu Xuan's Rank 56 status, as the crowd loved a "cheat code" like Tang San's ring configuration.
On the stage, Gu Xuan stood at the very front of his team, smiling as he locked eyes with Feng Xiaotian. The New Godwind team was now composed entirely of Soul Ancestors. With the addition of Huo Wu and Huo Wushuang from Blazing Academy, alongside the newly promoted Soul Ancestors Huo Yun and Huo Yu, plus Godwind's original two Soul Ancestors and the Soul King Feng Xiaotian, their strength was formidable.
However, they were facing the Heaven Dou Imperial Team.
"Both sides, announce your names," the referee commanded.
"Feng Xiaotian. Martial Soul: Stormwind Doubleheaded Wolf. Rank 51 Power Attack Type Soul King." Five rings—two yellow, two purple, one black—rose as he transformed.
"Huo Wu. Martial Soul: Fire Shadow. Rank 46 Control Type Soul Ancestor."
"Huo Wushuang. Martial Soul: One Horned Fire Dragon. Rank 44 Power Attack Type Soul Ancestor."
The remaining four Godwind members were all Soul Ancestors around Rank 42, each possessing the optimal two-yellow, two-purple ring configuration.
Gu Xuan offered a slight smile. He didn't summon his Martial Soul; he chose to remain hidden to avoid exposing his ring configuration if possible. Instead, the eight dragon swords expanded from his back. The subtle vibration of the blades generated a visible aura of sword intent, forming eight pairs of wings that looked incredibly domineering. Gu Xuan radiated a sharp, terrifying sword intent that made Feng Xiaotian and the others feel as if they were facing a grandmaster of the blade.
"Gu Xuan. Rank 56 Power Attack Type Soul King."
His introduction was brief. He didn't even mention his Martial Soul since he had no intention of using it. Despite this, Feng Xiaotian didn't think he was bluffing; a man like Gu Xuan wouldn't make such a move unless he had absolute certainty.
Watching from the stands, the three Soul Kings of the Spirit Hall Team raised their eyebrows. 'No Martial Soul? And is that a spirit bone? An External Spirit Bone?' Countless questions swirled in their minds, but no one doubted his strength. Given the power Yu Tianheng and the others had shown, they wouldn't follow Gu Xuan if he weren't the strongest among them.
In the VIP section, Xue Qinghe's expression flickered. 'Xiao Xuan, just how much are you hiding? To not even use your Martial Soul against the current Godwind... is it trust in your teammates, or absolute confidence in yourself?' he thought.
The rest of the Imperial Team announced themselves:
"Yu Tianheng. Martial Soul: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. Rank 51 Power Attack Type Soul King."
"Shi Mo. Martial Soul: Black Tortoise. Rank 49 Defense Type Soul Ancestor."
"Shi Mo. Martial Soul: Black Tortoise. Rank 48 Defense Type Soul Ancestor."
"Osler. Martial Soul: Black Leopard. Rank 48 Agility Attack Type Soul Ancestor."
"Yu Feng. Martial Soul: Wind Chime Bird. Rank 48 Agility Attack Type Soul Ancestor."
"Ye Lingling. Martial Soul: Nine-Hearted Begonia. Rank 53 Support Type Soul King."
Aside from Gu Xuan, the other six released their martial souls. The two black ten-thousand-year rings belonging to Yu Tianheng and Ye Lingling were dazzling. This was Ye Lingling's first official release in the tournament, though her rank had been leaked when she healed Zhu Zhuqing. With a Soul King-level Nine-Hearted Begonia, the Imperial Team was essentially immortal as long as she stood.
With a full lineup of high-level Soul Ancestors and three Soul Kings, the gap between them and Godwind was massive. Yet, Feng Xiaotian didn't concede. He and Huo Wu still had their final ace: their Spirit Fusion Skill. A Rank 51 Soul King and a Rank 46 Control Type Soul Master—their fusion would be powerful enough to rival a Soul Emperor. It was their only chance to turn the tide.
(End of Chapter)
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