After Li Zhexian defeated three members of the Golden Generation,
his gaze turned toward the corner of the arena,
where Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and the others were still engaged in battle.
His victory over the Golden Generation had come too swiftly.
Yet even so, Dugu Yan's group of six had already eliminated two members of the Spirit Hall team.
Only the last two remained, barely holding on.
The moment Li Zhexian's gaze swept over them,
the two turned pale.
They rushed headlong toward the edge of the arena,
and without a shred of hesitation, leapt down.
Yu Tianheng froze for a moment,
then gave a bitter laugh and raised his thumb toward Li Zhexian.
"Zhexian, you're incredible!"
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling hurried over, looking him up and down with anxious eyes:
"Brother Zhexian / Li Zhexian, are you… are you alright?!"
Li Zhexian shook his head with a smile.
Yu Tianheng, Yu Feng, and the Shi brothers also gathered close,
surrounding him at the center.
On the arena floor,
only the seven members of the Emperor Team remained.
Across the entire arena—
a heavy silence fell.
Yet countless burning gazes were now fixed on the Emperor Team…
or rather, on that white-robed youth.
Li Zhexian tilted his head slightly upward,
his eyes meeting those of the Pope, Bibi Dong, upon the high platform.
Bibi Dong, too, was looking down at him.
After a few breaths,
her calm yet commanding voice echoed through the arena:
"This Pope hereby declares—"
"The champion of this year's Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament,
in the individual matches—Emperor Team's Li Zhexian."
"The champion in the team matches—Emperor Team."
Her proclamation still lingered in the air
when a tidal roar of cheers erupted from the stands,
like a thunderous tsunami that swept across the entire Spirit City!
"They've won! The Emperor Team has truly won!"
"It's disappointing the Golden Generation lost… but that Sword and Wine… he's absurdly strong!"
"Defeating three of the Golden Generation alone! Simply unimaginable!"
"A youth from the Heaven Dou Empire could truly shake the Golden Generation of Spirit Hall?! Could it be… the monopoly of this Holy Land for Spirit Masters is about to waver?!"
"Lord Sword Wine has won! He's won! Quick, quick, send this news back to Heaven Dou! Lord Sword Wine has won glory for our empire!"
"A youth should be like Li Zhexian!"
The award ceremony proceeded as scheduled.
As captain, Li Zhexian received the three radiant Spirit Bones.
The runner-up, Spirit Hall's team, and third place, Shrek Academy,
also received rare treasures, though not as precious as Spirit Bones.
During the ceremony,
Li Zhexian's eyes swept the crowd,
falling on Zhu Zhuqing's direction.
When he saw Xiao Wu clinging affectionately to Zhu Zhuqing's arm,
a faint glimmer flickered in his gaze.
Zhu Zhuqing thought Li Zhexian was looking at her,
and unhesitatingly offered him a bright smile,
raising her thumb.
Li Zhexian arched a sword-like brow,
and returned the gesture with a smile.
The Spirit Master Tournament—
seemed as if it would conclude peacefully amid this wave of celebration.
Li Zhexian's smile shone as he listened to his friends' congratulations
and their playful demands for a banquet.
Yet—
just as they stepped down from the podium,
an unexpected change occurred.
Maids in uniform dress poured out from the side gates of the Pope's Hall
and the winding mountain path below.
Each carried trays laden with rare delicacies unseen in the outside world,
a mouthwatering aroma spreading through the air.
In the blink of an eye,
the arena, ravaged by battle,
was restored as if new.
Magnificent tables and chairs stretched across the stage in a long, unbroken line.
At that moment—
the powerful voice of Spirit Hall's Platinum Bishop thundered across the field:
"Thanks to all the talented Spirit Masters,
for presenting us with such a marvelous battle!"
"Blessings for His Holiness! Blessings for the continent!
Rejoice, for the land has gained new pillars,
and the future shall surely flourish!"
"Tonight, Spirit Hall hosts a grand feast—
may you all enjoy it to the fullest!"
Besides the academy teams,
some powerful spectators were also invited to remain.
Excited cheers rolled like thunder.
"Blessings for His Holiness! Blessings for the continent!"
Bai Baoshan let out a sigh,
urging the Heaven Dou team to take their seats.
Huo Wu, Feng Xiaotian, and the others sat beside them,
still lamenting as they spoke:
"Zhexian really made off with the fortune this time!"
"Tsk tsk, Spirit Hall's food is good,
but it still can't beat the noodles at the stalls in Heaven Dou City!"
"Shh, don't spout nonsense!"
"Hey, Zhexian, sit down already!"
Everyone relaxed now.
After all, the Pope had made no move against them.
Li Zhexian put with a cup of wine,
his gaze falling toward the single mountain path leading down.
There he saw—
Chrysanthemum Douluo standing at the pass with a smiling expression.
Sensing Li Zhexian's eyes on him,
he looked back directly,
and their gazes locked.
On that unnervingly charming face,
a faint smile curved.
At a table further back,
a Spirit Master from Heaven Dou City trembled with excitement,
clutching tightly the scrolls on which he had recorded every detail.
"Who would've thought… thanks to Lord Sword Wine,
I get to taste the Pope's feast!"
"Write it all down! Every word!"
"Bring it to the storyteller!"
"Today's grand event…
must be spread across the land!"
Meanwhile—
Heaven Dou Empire's Imperial City.
At the center of the Imperial City, before the Fragrant Pavilion (Zhanxiang Pavilion),
a resplendent platform three meters high and a hundred square meters wide had been erected.
Its carved beams and painted rafters gleamed,
decorated with brilliant star-patterns, symbol of the royal house.
It was built specially by the Heaven Dou royal family in celebration.
The news of Sword Wine's dazzling performance in the finals
had already spread like wildfire through the capital.
On the platform,
a storyteller shed his faded azure robe,
donning a festive crimson silk coat.
As the man once rewarded with gold by Lord Sword Wine,
he now lived on imperial stipends.
Before him lay a case table,
with freshly inked scrolls recording in bold strokes
the splendor Sword Wine had shown in the final.
Pa!
His waking wood struck the table, exploding like thunder.
The storyteller snapped his fan open like a sword,
his robe sleeves billowing, his stance unfolding.
In that instant,
even his bent figure seemed to carry a trace of sharp sword aura.
"Honored audience! Hear now of Lord Sword Wine,
who stood alone upon the Spirit City arena!
Clad in white brighter than snow, azure sword in hand!"
"With but a single sweep of his sword,
cold light burst forth as if the stars themselves fell from the heavens!
The seven prodigies of Spirit Hall's second team—
all were no better than clay chickens and earthen dogs,
not one could withstand his edge!"
"Where the sword-light passed,
the seven fell like autumn leaves before the wind,
rolling off the stage with only a violet mark across their throats!
Were it not for the strict rules of the tournament,
that single strike would have left Spirit Hall's youths—
blood spilled within five steps, souls severed on the spot!"
"When he sheathed his sword,
his eyes shone like lightning,
piercing straight toward the Golden Generation and Shrek's elites on the stands!"
"And guess what?!"
With a swish, the storyteller snapped open his fan,
his voice suddenly soaring.
"Of all the proud geniuses present,
not a single one dared meet his gaze for even half a breath!"
"This is—"
"With a single sword he suppressed Spirit Hall,
and with his eyes alone, he cowed every hero!"
Pa!
The waking wood struck again, the echo lingering.
"If you want to know what happens next, listen to the next part!"