The last match of the fourth round was Shrek Academy versus Xuanyuan Crystal Academy. Although Xuanyuan Crystal Academy was fairly strong, they were still crushed and defeated under Shrek Academy's terrifying lineup.
With this, the fourth round ended. Spirit Hall Academy, Frost Academy, and Shrek Academy , the three strongest academies , advanced to the fifth round, which was also the final round of the grand finals.
They each had three days to rest and study their opponents. Three days later, the three teams would decide the final champion in front of the Pope's Palace.
The members of Shrek Academy returned to their hotel to rest and recover, and nothing unexpected happened. However, at the hotel where Frost Academy was staying, two people arrived.
After disguising themselves, Hu Liena and Xie Yue quietly found Ailan. At this time, the three of them were sitting in a small tavern drinking wine. Hu Liena's eyes were full of affection , clearly, Ailan's seven-sword technique to defeat his enemies earlier in the day had left a deep impression on her.
Ailan poured juice for Hu Liena and asked softly, "I know you didn't just come to see me. We've finished eating, so why don't you tell me what's on your mind?"
Hu Liena rolled her eyes at Ailan, took a sip of juice, and then slowly said, "I came to discuss something with you."
"Discuss what?"
Xie Yue said, "Brother Ao, now that we and Shrek Academy are both in the top three, I think we should join forces in the finals three days from now."
Ailan raised an eyebrow. "Join forces how?"
Xie Yue said, "Before the team battle, the three teams will compete in individual matches. When the time comes, I think we should work together to target Shrek Academy."
Ailan frowned slightly and looked at Xie Yue.
Xie Yue continued, "If it's a team battle, we naturally have nothing to fear. But in the individual matches, we may not win against Shrek one-on-one. You saw it yourself , even if we ignore the others, Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun are both peerless geniuses like us, and they have both already reached level fifty-five."
"And that's not even counting Oscar and their vice-captain, Dugu Yan. If their strength is the same as Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun, then our chances one-on-one are slim."
"If we lose the individual matches, then we will have to fight one more team battle just to earn the right to face Shrek. That is not the outcome we want."
Hearing this, Ailan looked at Hu Liena. "You think so too?"
Hu Liena nodded.
Ailan smiled. "I heard you wanted to personally defeat me. Are you giving up such a good chance?"
Hu Liena's face turned red when she heard this. She knew it must have been Yan who secretly told Ailan, but it didn't matter anymore.
Hu Liena said, "But if we both end up badly hurt, won't Shrek benefit in the end?"
Ailan nodded. "If we assume the worst-case scenario, yes. But why do you assume we will definitely lose?"
"Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun may both be level fifty-five, but there are still differences between geniuses. I don't take them seriously. I only have one opponent."
Hearing Ailan's words, Hu Liena and Xie Yue understood that the only person in Ailan's eyes was Oscar. Judging by his earlier seven-sword technique, Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun were indeed not on his level.
But what if he lost?
Ailan waved his hand. "I understand what you're thinking, but I want to defeat my younger brother openly and honorably. If we win using such underhanded tactics, I will feel uneasy , and he may not accept the result."
With that, Ailan drained his cup in one go, an invisible aura of dominance radiating from him. "I want to defeat him myself, defeat Shrek Academy, and crush his confidence completely in this battle. Only then will I have absolute advantage when it comes to inheriting the family position."
Hu Liena and Xie Yue opened their mouths, but didn't know what to say.
They had considered that Ailan might refuse , after all, he was an extremely proud person , but this result was still not what they had hoped for.
Ailan reached out and patted Hu Liena's head. "Don't worry, I'm not being reckless."
"And you two are geniuses as well. If you use such a method to win, can you really face yourselves?"
"Sometimes, yes, we can use any means necessary to win, but since this is a battle of prodigies, why not use our real strength to win?"
"A true genius never fears hardship. Even if we really lose in the end, that only means we weren't strong enough yet, doesn't it?"
Hearing Ailan's words, Hu Liena held his hand. "I understand. I will tell our teacher what you said. Today, we were never here. Three days later, we will each rely on our own abilities to win or lose."
Ailan smiled. "Only this version of you is worth me giving it my all for. Even if I lose to Oscar, I will still move forward without hesitation."
Hu Liena's face turned bright red at his words. She quickly took a sip of juice, grabbed Xie Yue, and left.
Ailan was left alone in the room, all traces of affection gone. If Oscar had really been his brother, perhaps today he would have joined forces with Spirit Hall.
One-on-one, Shrek Academy had nothing to fear, but if Frost Academy and Spirit Hall teamed up, they might not have been able to win.
After all, Oscar had no intention of holding back.
…
The fourth round had ended, and the finals were about to begin. The last three teams were only one step away from the championship. To everyone else, the fifth-round final was destined to be a battle of titans.
The eliminated teams had already left. They were not even allowed to watch the last day's battle. Only the true young powerhouses had the right to step onto the square before the Pope's Palace.
The bright sunlight shone down on the land, making the Pope's Palace appear even more magnificent and towering.
In front of the palace, two rows of palace knights stood in formation from the palace gates all the way down the mountain. Clad in shining silver armor and holding heavy knight swords, they made the entire mountain seem even more imposing.
Early in the morning, the three teams that made it into the finals were already waiting quietly in front of the Pope's Palace. The teachers of the three academies were not allowed to stand on the square and could only wait in the viewing area outside.
All twenty-one finalists stood quietly in the square, waiting for the final moment to arrive.
The square in front of the Pope's Palace was no smaller than the competition platforms used in earlier rounds. The ground was paved with special stone slabs, faintly glowing when examined closely.
They weren't real jade, but were far superior to ordinary stone , a testament to Spirit Hall's astonishing wealth.
After a long wait, a group of twenty-four people came out of the side gate of the Pope's Palace. They were the red-clothed cardinals, second in rank only to the platinum bishops. They lined up twelve on each side in front of the palace doors.
The leader called out loudly, "The Pope arrives!"
At that moment, a cry like a landslide and tsunami resounded throughout Spirit City: "Long live, long live, long live!"
It was not just the voices of the palace knights but also those of every spirit master in Spirit City who was not allowed to approach the mountain. To them, the Pope of Spirit Hall was their highest faith.
The enormous palace gates slowly opened, and everyone's eyes instinctively focused on them.
Bibi Dong emerged first, wearing a golden gown that covered her from head to toe, a purple-gold crown on her head, and a scepter in her hand. Her face was solemn.
Her presence felt almost unreal, as though infinitely tall. No one even noticed her stunning beauty, because at this moment, she represented the majesty of Spirit Hall's Pope.
Her golden gown fit her perfectly, the dazzling robe inlaid with over a hundred red, blue, and gold gemstones. The crown on her head gleamed brilliantly, and all light seemed to converge on her.
Oscar had always thought Bibi Dong was unhinged when reading the original story , not only crazy but also obsessed with love.
But what surprised Oscar most was the plainly dressed man beside her , with his short-cropped hair, who could it be but Yu Xiaogang?
Tang San, standing beside Oscar, froze when he saw Yu Xiaogang. The last shred of hope in his heart disappeared completely.
Aside from Yu Xiaogang, there was no one else who could have orchestrated the assassination.
While Oscar's mind was racing, every member of Spirit Hall knelt on one knee. "We greet the Pope."
The atmosphere was indescribable. Surrounded by the shouting voices from all directions, everyone felt an urge to bow down and worship.
Behind Bibi Dong were four people.
Three of them were dressed in bright red robes, different from those of ordinary cardinals, with gold and silver patterns embroidered across them. The huge gem on their chests glowed brilliantly.
For ordinary people, the robes merely symbolized nobility, but for spirit masters, they represented the highest honor , these were robes only Title Douluo were qualified to wear.
Oscar immediately recognized one of them , Chen Xin, the Sword Douluo.
The man on the left had a faint, illusory aura around him, and his face was indistinguishable.
The last one had skin as smooth as a baby's and a strange, seductive face. If not for the Adam's apple on his neck, no one would have believed he was a man.
These two were the Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, Spirit Hall's famed "Odd Couple."
The fourth person behind Bibi Dong did not wear the robe of a Title Douluo, so clearly he was not one, but the fact that he came out of the gate with them showed that his identity was extraordinary.
He was Ning Fengzhi, master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, serving as an honorary elder of Spirit Hall.
When the cry of "We greet the Pope" sounded, the seven members of Spirit Hall Academy knelt immediately.
Oscar did not imitate Tang San from the original story by staying standing , no matter what he thought of Bibi Dong, her position was real, and it would be foolish to openly show disrespect.
With Oscar leading the way, Tang San did not remain standing either. The fourteen people of Shrek Academy and Frost Academy all knelt on one knee as well, showing respect.
Only Xiao Wu was different , she looked at Bibi Dong with hidden hatred, but after being with Oscar for so long, she had learned to hide it, and the hatred flashed by in an instant.
Bibi Dong's gaze swept over Oscar and Tang San, her expression unchanged. She waved her scepter slightly and said lightly, "Rise."
With her words, everyone stood up and looked at her with burning eyes.
Bibi Dong smiled faintly and swept her gaze across all twenty-one finalists.
"From you, I see hope. Here before the Pope's Palace, I wish to see your full talent and strength. The final victor will receive Spirit Hall's greatest reward." As she spoke, she lightly waved her scepter.
Three points of light instantly expanded in front of her, floating in midair.
They were three bones , a right arm bone, a skull, and a left leg bone , shining red, blue, and green.
They were spirit bones.
Even at the foot of the mountain, the glow of the three spirit bones could be seen clearly. Spirit City was instantly in an uproar.
Other than those who already knew about this prize, who would have imagined the reward would be three spirit bones? Judging from their glow, all three were of extraordinary quality. Even Spirit Hall members showed greedy looks in their eyes.
If not for the Pope's Palace and the deterrence of several Title Douluo, someone might have already tried to seize them.
Spirit bones were the most precious treasures to spirit masters, things that could only be encountered by chance, and these three were clearly from ten-thousand-year spirit beasts.
Ghost Douluo spoke in his deep voice. "These three are the Skull of Wisdom, the Right Arm Bone of Burning Explosion, and the Left Leg Bone of Swift Wind, all from ten-thousand-year spirit beasts."
"The Skull of Wisdom alone came from a beast over fifty-thousand years old, personally slain by the previous Pope, making it one of the rarest spirit bones, second only to external spirit bones and those from hundred-thousand-year beasts."
When he finished, Bibi Dong said calmly, "There can only be one winner, and so all three of these spirit bones will go to the champion team. I hope the three academies will do their utmost to earn this honor."
No spirit master could see such spirit bones without their eyes lighting up, let alone three at once. Fighting spirit surged within all twenty-one competitors.
Even Oscar coveted them. Even if he didn't use them himself, he could give them to his teammates.
In fact, he wouldn't even have bothered participating if not for these spirit bones, even if it was only his clone competing.
Bibi Dong continued, "This morning will be the seven-on-seven individual knockout matches. The winning team will have the advantage and advance directly to tomorrow's championship battle. The two losing teams will compete in a team match this afternoon for the second spot in the finals. You may now send out your first competitor."
With Bibi Dong's announcement, the fifth round of the grand finals officially began.
The first part of the fifth round was the individual knockout stage, but unlike before, all three teams would compete together.
Winning was critical, as it not only provided more rest but also meant entering the final battle in peak condition.
The losing teams would have to compete again in the afternoon, which would drain their energy and make full recovery by tomorrow nearly impossible , making victory today likely to determine the ultimate champion.
Spirit Hall's offer of three spirit bones made the matches even more intense. While Spirit Hall appeared fair and impartial, it was clear to anyone that they intended these prizes to go to Spirit Hall Academy.
The individual matches were therefore extremely important. Not only would they bring glory to the team, but they also allowed these young geniuses to display their strength in front of Spirit Hall's high command and the Pope.
If one of them was recognized by Spirit Hall's elders, it would be a great honor and opportunity.
A row of gilded chairs was placed in front of the palace doors. Bibi Dong sat in the center, with Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo Chen Xin on her left, and Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo on her right.
One person, however, was very special , Yu Xiaogang. Though he was only a Soul Elder, he still sat beside Chrysanthemum Douluo, showing that his status was extraordinary.
Tang San silently watched Yu Xiaogang, the last bit of teacher-student sentiment in his heart vanishing. Since Yu Xiaogang had tried to kill him, he would repay the attempt a hundredfold.
Yu Xiaogang merely looked calmly at the three academies. He even let his gaze linger on Tang San for a moment, but when he noticed Tang San's cold eyes, he looked away.
It was worth noting that Shrek Academy's lineup had changed again , Tai Long (level 41) and Ning Rongrong (level 46) were no longer present. Instead, the captain was Oscar and the vice-captain was Dugu Yan.
This made the seven members of Spirit Hall Academy narrow their eyes. Because of Ailan, they knew a little about Oscar.
But until today, Oscar had never appeared. Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun alone were already terrifying at level fifty-five. What kind of strength would their captain Oscar and vice-captain Dugu Yan display?
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