Battle of the Twin Gods, Eve of the Finals

In the other semifinal, the Spirit Hall Team faced the Shrek Academy Team. There was no suspense whatsoever. The Golden Generation was simply too powerful. Xie Yue's Moon Blades, Yan's Flame Lord, and Hu Liena's Fox Demon Charm—the three joined forces and effortlessly defeated the Shrek Seven Devils at their utmost, without even needing the other team members to intervene.

Tang San's Blue Silver Grass appeared feeble and powerless before such an absolute gap in strength. Even with the Eight Spider Lances, he could not reverse the defeat. In the end, Shrek Academy stopped at the semifinals, but their performance had earned everyone's respect.

The finals would be fought between the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team and the Spirit Hall Team!

On one side stood a veteran powerhouse transformed through Ling Yun's special training; on the other was the Golden Generation, painstakingly cultivated by Spirit Hall and unfathomably strong! This final was destined to be a clash of titans!

The tournament paused for a day to give both teams time to adjust their condition.

At night, Heaven Dou City blazed with lights, and everyone was heatedly discussing the next day's final. Within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi was making final tactical arrangements and offering psychological guidance to Yu Tianheng and the others.

Meanwhile, Ling Yun went alone to the cliff at the back of Glazed Mountain, gazing at the brilliant stars in the night sky. He did not care much about the outcome of the final. For the Heaven Dou Team to have come this far had already exceeded expectations. Against Spirit Hall's Golden Generation, their chances of victory were slim. Unless he intervened in secret again—but that would be meaningless.

What he was considering was what would happen after the tournament. The Holy Spirit Cult had already revealed itself, and undercurrents were stirring across the continent. He needed to raise his strength as soon as possible to face the changes to come. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's resources were excellent, but some opportunities still had to be sought out himself. For example, the Lake of Life in the Star Dou Great Forest, and the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes in the Extreme North...

Just as he was lost in thought, two powerful auras rapidly approached from afar.

Ling Yun raised an eyebrow slightly and turned around. Under the moonlight, two figures drifted down onto the cliff.

The person on the left wore a simple gray robe. His hair was meticulously combed, his face ancient and weathered, and a faint trace of Chaos Qi seemed to flicker in his eyes whenever they opened and closed. His aura was as deep as the sea. He was the Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Hao!

The person on the right wore an immaculate white robe. He was handsome, with a somewhat feminine air, yet his eyes were filled with majesty and fiery intensity. She was Spirit Hall's Pope, Bibi Dong!

Two Titled Douluo standing at the pinnacle of the continent had actually appeared here at the same time!

Ling Yun remained calm as he looked at them, showing no surprise. He had long sensed two powerful streams of Spiritual Sense watching the tournament—and watching him.

"Ling Yun?" Tang Hao spoke first. His voice was low and hoarse, carrying an oppressive force. His sharp gaze scrutinized Ling Yun, as though trying to see through him completely.

"That is me," Ling Yun replied calmly.

Bibi Dong also sized Ling Yun up and down. A trace of astonishment—and... a nearly imperceptible hint of greed?—flashed through her beautiful eyes. Her red lips parted, and her voice carried a strange charm. "As expected, heroes emerge in their youth. An eleven-year-old Soul Elder with Twin Martial Souls? I am very curious. How did you manage it?"

Ling Yun looked at Bibi Dong. From her, he could sense an extremely powerful yet somewhat impure aura, one that even carried a trace of evil. The aura of the Rakshasa God? And that deeply buried madness.

"You flatter me, Your Holiness. It was merely a bit of luck," Ling Yun said, neither humble nor overbearing.

Tang Hao snorted coldly. "Kid, I do not care what fortuitous encounter you have had. I only want to ask: what exactly is going on between you and Tang San?"

It seemed Tang Hao had come to stand up for his son. Ling Yun smiled. "Nothing much. It is merely normal competition. Tang San is quite talented. He is a good opponent."

"Competition?" Tang Hao's gaze turned cold. "I hope this competition is fair. If you dare use despicable methods against Little San, my Clear Sky Hammer will never allow it!"

The terrifying Divine Slaughter's Domain erupted instantly, engulfing Ling Yun! The surrounding air seemed to solidify, filled with the stench of blood and slaughter!

Yet within the Divine Slaughter's Domain, Ling Yun seemed as though a gentle breeze had brushed past him. Even the corner of his clothes did not stir. The Chaos Dragon God Martial Soul within him shifted slightly, and that faint killing aura melted away like ice and snow, unable to affect him in the slightest.

"Hmm?" Tang Hao's pupils contracted, and an incredulous expression appeared on his face. His Divine Slaughter's Domain was actually ineffective against this kid?!

Bibi Dong's beautiful eyes flickered, and her interest deepened. To ignore the Divine Slaughter's Domain, this boy's Martial Soul quality was likely beyond imagination!

"Tang Hao, attacking a junior is beneath your status, is it not?" Bibi Dong said indifferently. An equally powerful pressure spread from her, faintly confronting Tang Hao's Divine Slaughter's Domain.

Tang Hao withdrew his domain and gave Ling Yun a long, deep look. "Kid, watch yourself!" With that, his figure flashed and vanished into the night.

Only Ling Yun and Bibi Dong remained on the cliff.

Bibi Dong looked at Ling Yun, a captivating smile appearing on her face. "Ling Yun, Spirit Hall is where you truly belong. Join Spirit Hall, and I can personally take you as my disciple, teach you supreme divine arts, and perhaps even pass the position of Pope on to you in the future. What do you say?"

The terms were incredibly tempting! To become the Pope's disciple, perhaps even the future Pope!

Yet Ling Yun shook his head. "Thank you for your favor, Your Holiness. But I have grown used to freedom and cannot bear restraints."

Bibi Dong's smile did not change, but her gaze cooled somewhat. "Is that so? Then that truly is regrettable. Still, my doors will always remain open for you. If you change your mind, you may come find me at any time."

With that, she did not linger either. She transformed into a streak of white light and disappeared.

Silence returned to the cliffside. Ling Yun watched the directions in which the two had vanished, a cold smile curling on his lips.

One had come to stand up for his son, while the other wanted to claim him for her own use. Did they both think he was a chess piece they could manipulate at will?

Unfortunately, I, Ling Yun, am destined to be the one playing the game, not a piece on the board.

The finals? They were merely an appetizer. The real show was still to come.

He turned and walked down the mountain. Let tomorrow's final unfold as it would. His gaze had already turned toward a far more distant future.

The Divine Realm? Perhaps it was time to pay it a visit.