After sweeping the Spirit Hall Second Team, the Emperor Team stepped into the ranks of the top ten.
After a day of rest,
the third-round draw gave the Emperial Battle Team a bye—
advancing them directly into the top six.
Another day passed.
The battles to decide the top three began.
The draw revealed:
Emperor Team vs. Star Luo Team.
Shrek Team vs. Godwind Team.
Spirit Hall Team vs. Tianshui Team.
The battles were tragic and fierce
Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, Yu Tianheng, and the rest fought the Star Luo Team until the stage was dyed with blood.
The Star Luo Crown Prince Dai Weisi and his fiancée Zhu Zhuyun were overwhelmingly powerful,
bringing immense pressure to the six of the Emperor Team.
In the end, Li Zhexian made his move, and where the tip of his sword pointed, the foundation for victory was laid.
As if in direct answer to Li Zhexian—
On Spirit Hall's side, Xie Yue and Hu Liena unleashed their Martial Soul Fusion Technique.
With a single move, they reduced the entire Skywater Team to ruin.
Only Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er staggered to the edge of the arena, barely standing.
Hu Liena's final kick sent them tumbling down, their posture nothing short of humiliating.
Shrek Academy's advance was the hardest fought.
Tang San was forced to reveal all his hidden cards—
Tang Sect techniques, his Twin Martial Souls, even the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Method.
Only after a bitter struggle did they narrowly claim victory over the Godwind Team.
Thus—
the final three of this year's Continental Spirit Master Academy Tournament were set:
Emperor Team!
Spirit Hall Team!
Shrek Team!
Five days later, these three teams will unfold a battle of individual and team matches in front of the Pope's Palace on the divine peak, competing for the final championship.
...
"Heh, the money for the wine is settled!"
That evening—
Li Zhexian was in high spirits.
He brought Xue Qinghe, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and many friends
to a Soul Tool display screen along the street.
"Twenty-eight to one odds, and I put down a hundred and eighty-two gold coins!"
"Tonight's drinks are on me!"
Seeing the bright grin on Li Zhexian's face, everyone was struck speechless.
The excitement he radiated—
seemed even greater than making the top three.
Xue Qinghe frowned slightly,
lifting her gaze to the smiling Li Zhexian.
"Li Zhexian, you borrowed money from me for this?"
"Of course."
Xue Qinghe whispered softly, "If I'd known, I wouldn't have lent it to you…"
At that moment—
to everyone's surprise,
Shui Bing'er of Skywater Academy arrived with two other girls.
She too had bet on the Emperor Team.
One gold coin after another dropped into her bosom.
Shui Bing'er took out half of her gold coins and handed them to Li Zhexian.
Her face was as cold as ice without much expression, and her ombre blue and white hair floated in the wind.
"Li Zhexian, take this money. I only have one request…"
"Defeat the Spirit Hall Team—kick Hu Liena off the stage."
It was plain to see.
She and her sister had been drained of Spirit Power, barely able to stand.
That final kick from Hu Liena—
was nothing but pure humiliation.
Li Zhexian pinched up a single gold coin.
With a flick of his fingers,
it chimed crisply and dropped straight into his Hundred Treasures Pouch.
"This job, I'll take."
"One coin is enough."
The others, having earned a fortune, crowded around Li Zhexian.
Shouts of "Zhexian is generous!" and "Young Master Zhexian is invincible!"
echoed as they draped arms over each other's shoulders,
heading toward the finest restaurant in the city.
Behind them—
the Soul Tool display screen continued to flash.
Support rate first place: Spirit Hall Team.
Here in Spirit City,
the Golden Generation's reputation, bearing the Purple Record Medal, was unmatched.
Even though the name of Sword Wine was beginning to spread through Spirit City—
the Spirit Masters here still believed, unshakably,
that the Golden Generation was invincible!
...
There were five days of rest time left. And aside from the Emperor Team, the matches for the other teams had already concluded.
This drinking session was either for celebrating the Empeor Team's victory or for resolving their worries about being eliminated. In any case, everyone drank to their heart's content.
By the time they returned to their residence, it was already late at night
Li Zhexian, with a bit of drunkenness, sat cross-legged on his bed. The Spirit Power in his body was like a surging great river, faintly emitting a rumbling sound.
The Clear Spring Gourd floated in front of him, emitting a hazy, clear radiance.
The body of the gourd slowly tilted, and the glowing, dazzling liquid gurgled and flowed into his slightly opened mouth.
In an instant, all kinds of strange phenomena appeared around his body: starlight swayed, the aura of ice and fire permeated, a gentle breeze slowly circled him, and arcs of lightning jumped and flickered...
Rumble—
In the unseen depths,
it was as if a flood burst through its dam.
An aura several times stronger than before suddenly swept out from Li Zhexian's body.
His white robe billowed fiercely.
Rank 40 spirit power—achieved as naturally as flowing water!
Moments later,
the aura gradually subsided.
He stretched his limbs—
a series of popping cracks like firecrackers rang out.
"Five days..." Li Zhexian's gaze flickered.
"Enough time to hunt a Spirit Ring."
"Before the final battle, I must push my strength further still."
The final clash would be before the Pope's Palace itself.
The Pope, who bore such murderous intent toward him, would be watching in person.
Though Dugu Bo and Yu Yuanzhen lurked nearby in secret protection,
with only two Titled Douluo—
they might not be able to stop that capricious Pope.
"No telling what storm will break out."
"But the stronger I am, the safer I'll be."
As his thoughts settled firm,
a soft knock came at the door.
He opened it—
Xue Qinghe stood there.
She wore a white silk nightgown, hands unconsciously clasped before her. A flush of lingering wine colored her delicate cheeks. In the moonlight, there was a haze of dreamlike charm.
"It's so late. Why aren't you resting yet?"
Li Zhexian turned sideways to let him in, gesturing for him to enter the room.
"I… have something I want to say." Xue Qinghe hesitated as she walked into the room. SHe looked up at Li Zhexian, but the words were stuck in his throat.
Actually, he was about to go to sleep. But as he lay in bed, Li Zhexian's words, "The money for the wine is settled," kept lingering in her heart and wouldn't go away.
Perhaps it was the lingering drunkenness, or perhaps it was some kind of unexplainable impulse.
But she had come to him in the haze of this drunken night.
"Li Zhexian…" Xue Qinghe drew a deep breath, speaking earnestly:
"I want to ask you something…"
Li Zhexian sat opposite her, brewing sobering tea.
He himself had no need of it—
the pleasant buzz of wine was still delightful.
But seeing her expression,
she seemed like she might.
Hearing her serious tone, Li Zhexian smiled faintly, sliding the warm tea to her.
"Mm, I'm listening."
Xue Qinghe frowned lightly, a touch of reproach in her eyes.
"I… I'm speaking to you seriously!"
"Alright, I'll listen seriously."
Xue Qinghe faltered again, stammering.
She raised her eyes to him—then quickly lowered them, cheeks flushed, voice soft:
"When I paid your wine tabs…
did you ever hesitate, even once?"
Li Zhexian blinked.
Though he didn't understand why she asked, he answered truthfully:
"No. Each time you paid readily, without a word."
"Then… was there ever a moment you were unwilling?"
"No. Each time you smiled, your mood seemed good."
Her voice wavered with sudden grievance.
"Then why, after winning tonight, did you say 'the money for the wine is settled'?"
"Is it that you don't want me to pay your wine anymore?"
Seeing that flicker of self-pity in her eyes,
Li Zhexian could only feel both amused and helpless.
A maiden's heart truly changed like summer skies.
A careless phrase—
and she was wounded this deeply.
"Qinghe, don't think too much."
Li Zhexian's voice gentled:
"Winning money naturally makes me happy."
"As for saying 'the money for the wine is settled,' it was just a casual remark."
"You asked me—if you were ever hesitant or unwilling to pay."
"Then I'll ask you—have I ever treated you with formality?"
Xue Qinghe blinked.
That small knot in her heart seemed to blow away like mist,
brightening all at once.
She lifted the tea, taking a soft sip.
"Of course you haven't."
"And I don't want you to."
Li Zhexian poured himself a cup as well.
"Then let me be informal once more."
"Tomorrow—could you bring Qian Renxue to me?"
"I want her help in hunting a Spirit Ring."