The Tournament

The Tournament

Night was as black as ink, a bright moon hanging high overhead. After finishing a day of cultivation, Feng Yao followed the starlight to the Mimicry Training Ground of Heaven Dou Royal Academy as usual. When he pushed open the familiar door to the cultivation room, he saw a familiar figure already seated inside—Qian Renxue wore a plain white robe that gleamed softly beneath the moonlight, like a jade sculpture.

Feng Yao's pupils contracted slightly as he quietly closed the door. "Your Highness handles countless affairs each day. If you remain at the academy for too long, I fear—" Before he could finish, Qian Renxue calmly cut him off. "No need for your concern." With that, she closed her eyes, and a faint golden glow rose around her.

Looking at her already meditative figure, Feng Yao shook his head with a bitter smile. Still, Qian Renxue's arrival was a good thing for him. Feng Yao soon entered his own cultivation state as well.

The days passed one by one. Ever since Feng Yao had been kicked off the carriage, Qian Renxue came every day without fail, yet she always remained taciturn. Her distant yet lingering attitude only set off alarm bells in Feng Yao's heart—now that he was bound to Spirit Hall, if he could not repair his relationship with Qian Renxue...

At dusk the next day, Feng Yao took out the Innate Bagua Plate, his fingers moving across the Hexagram Symbols. "Wood gives rise to fire. I should seek where Li and Zhen intersect..." he murmured. In the end, he found a special cultivation room in the academy's northeastern corner. The terrain there was unusual. Ancient trees towered outside the windows, while the materials used inside gave the room an inherent blazing solar aura. It was the ideal place for the two of them to cultivate together.

Soon, Feng Yao lightly knocked on the familiar cultivation room door. Sure enough, Qian Renxue was already seated inside. Moonlight filtered through the lattice window, covering her cool silhouette in a layer of silver radiance.

When Qian Renxue saw Feng Yao enter, she did not even raise her eyelids. Just as she was about to circulate her Soul Power, the youth's gentle voice sounded. "Your Highness, I found a place in the Mimicry Training Ground that is more suitable for cultivation. Would you be willing to take a look?"

Only then did Qian Renxue raise her eyes, a half-smile playing on her lips. "Oh? So Student Feng has such abilities?" Her fingertip tapped lightly against the table. "I recall someone saying that he was most accustomed to this cultivation room."

Feng Yao's ears grew faintly warm. He coughed lightly. "Times have changed. Back then, I did not know Your Highness's identity." Meeting Qian Renxue's scrutinizing gaze, he said frankly, "Interactions between people are a process of mutual understanding."

Qian Renxue rose with a sweep of her sleeve, carrying a faint fragrance with her. "Lead the way." Those two brief words made Feng Yao secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

The newly found cultivation room was hidden deep within the corridors. The moment they pushed open the door, a warm, gentle aura washed over them. Feng Yao led Qian Renxue to the center of the room and pointed at the floor laid with special materials. "This place is most suitable for Your Highness's cultivation." Then he sat cross-legged three steps away, forming a complementary balance of yin and yang with Qian Renxue.

Moonlight flowed quietly through the cultivation room like water. Qian Renxue seemed to be in a rather good mood today, a faint smile lingering at the corners of her lips. "The Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament is approaching. I heard Spirit Hall Academy has three Soul Kings overseeing their team this year." Her fingertips tapped lightly against her knee. "Does the Imperial Dou Team stand a chance?"

Sitting at the Zhen position, Feng Yao raised his eyes at her words. "Before the Finals, every team member should be able to advance to Soul Ancestor." He paused, battle intent flashing in his eyes. "As for victory or defeat, we will only know after fighting."

Qian Renxue's eyes narrowed slightly. A figure that had long stuck in her throat flashed through her mind. "What if I require you to win?" Her voice was soft, but it carried unquestionable resolve.

"Then I will naturally give it my all." Feng Yao cupped his hands and answered calmly.

Qian Renxue suddenly leaned forward, faint shadows reflected across her gentle features. "You will not ask why?"

Feng Yao met her gaze, his smile warm. "Everyone has secrets. When Your Highness wishes to tell me, or perhaps when the time comes, as it did with the Sacred Oath that day, I will naturally know. Some things lose their beauty when forced."

Qian Renxue naturally understood the deeper meaning in Feng Yao's words. The corners of her lips rose slightly. She gave a soft snort and closed her eyes. A faint golden radiance rose from around her body, flowing like gauze beneath the moonlight.

Feng Yao smiled knowingly at the sight and likewise sank into cultivation.

As her Soul Power circulated, Qian Renxue keenly sensed something unusual—the efficiency had greatly improved. The Soul Power within her body flowed more smoothly than before, as though every strand of energy between heaven and earth had become distinctly easier to absorb. She was secretly shocked. The Mimicry Training Ground was built from a mixture of precious materials with many attributes in order to accommodate all Spirit Masters. Even a Title Douluo would find it difficult to locate a cultivation ground perfectly suited to them within such a chaotic energy field...

She quietly opened her eyes and looked at the tranquil-faced youth opposite her, her doubts deepening. How exactly did he...

As their cultivation deepened, that unanswered question eventually became a wisp of smoke, vanishing amid the increasingly dense fluctuations of Soul Power.

As dawn began to break, Feng Yao slowly awoke from meditation. The moment he opened his eyes, his breathing halted—before him was no longer Xue Qinghe's gentle jade-like mask, but Qian Renxue's true face. Though this was not Feng Yao's first time seeing it, he was still utterly stunned by her beauty.

Morning light streamed through the lattice window, wrapping her flowing golden hair in brilliant radiance. The girl's exquisite profile was flawless amid the interwoven light and shadows, like a sculpture of a goddess. Her long lashes cast faint shadows across her cheeks, trembling softly with each breath. Feng Yao unconsciously held his breath, afraid of disturbing the painting-like scene before him.

"What are you looking at?" Qian Renxue's cold voice suddenly rang out, like an icy spring striking jade, exceptionally clear within the quiet cultivation room.

Both of them froze at the same time. Qian Renxue seemed to sense something, and brilliant golden light suddenly burst from her body. When the radiance faded, the gentle jade-like "Xue Qinghe" was seated there as before.

Feng Yao subconsciously touched the tip of his nose, a fleeting trace of disappointment passing through his eyes. Yet that breathtakingly beautiful face had already become impossible to erase from his heart, leaving him inexplicably looking forward to tomorrow's dawn.

"Nothing."

Qian Renxue caught his little concealing gesture, and the corners of her lips unconsciously lifted. Just as Feng Yao was considering what to say, her gaze gradually turned dangerous—the cold gleam within those golden eyes flowed like a blade poised to strike.

A chill ran down Feng Yao's spine. He immediately rose and cupped his hands. "I still need to cultivate, so I will take my leave first." Before his words had even faded, he had already retreated to the door.

Only after his flustered figure vanished at the end of the corridor did the icy light in Qian Renxue's eyes gradually melt away, replaced by a faint, almost imperceptible smile.

Having fled the cultivation ground, Feng Yao let out a long breath and muttered quietly, "I only looked a couple more times..." The morning breeze brushed past him, but it could not disperse the strange flutter in his heart.

When Feng Yao entered the training ground as usual, he immediately noticed something strange—the members of the Imperial Dou Team, who would normally have already begun their morning training, were now standing in neat formation. When they saw him arrive, every gaze turned toward him at once.

"What is this?" Feng Yao looked around at everyone in confusion.

Sun Buyu stepped forward with a smile. "We were discussing candidates for an important mission. It seems everyone agrees that no one is more suitable than you."

"A mission?" Feng Yao raised an eyebrow and looked toward his mentor.

Dugu Yan approached with elegant steps, a crafty gleam in her purple eyes. "The Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament is about to begin. Although we have the privilege of direct entry into the Finals, Teacher Sun believes..." She deliberately paused. "Someone needs to gather information on potential opponents. After thinking it over, this responsibility is most suitable for you."

"That's right!" Yu Feng squeezed over with a suggestive grin. "Who told you to become our captain and Control System core? Besides..." He gave a meaningful glance at Feng Yao's record of never participating in team training.

Feng Yao smiled in understanding. "In that case, I'll take the mission. Focus on training and strive to perform well before Your Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince—"

"The tournament opens in five days." Sun Buyu patted his shoulder. "You will be free to act then."

Yu Feng suddenly lowered his voice. "Remember to introduce me to a few pretty female Spirit—" Before he could finish, he sheepishly shrank his neck under Dugu Yan's dangerous gaze.

Seeing Yu Feng's embarrassed expression, Feng Yao could not help but laugh. He straightened his collar and said seriously, "In that case, I'll go cultivate first."

Watching Feng Yao's departing back, Yu Feng rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Little Feng agreed so readily. Do you think our captain might be taking this chance to go on a date?"

Oslo gave Yu Feng a disdainful look but said nothing.

"Yu Feng!" Dugu Yan's Soul Power erupted instantly. "For today's combat training, I'll personally train with you!"

Yu Feng's wail immediately rang out across the training ground, while Feng Yao had already gone to the place where he usually played the zither and begun his daily training.

Five days later, the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire welcomed an event watched by countless people—the opening ceremony of the Heaven Dou Division of the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament. This ancient city seemed to boil over overnight. From palace nobles to ordinary citizens, everyone's attention was focused on this pinnacle gathering of the Spirit Master world.

Before the first ray of morning sunlight had pierced the clouds, a sea of people had already gathered outside Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena. This enormous venue, renovated over the course of a month, had perfectly integrated the formerly separate spirit fighting grounds, creating a magnificent arena capable of accommodating eighty thousand spectators. The carefully designed VIP area on the northern side gleamed beneath the morning light, awaiting the arrival of the royal family and distinguished guests from all sides.

Tickets for the opening ceremony had sold out a month ago. Even so, countless enthusiastic spectators had gathered outside before dawn. They were not trying to seize seats—every ticket had its own designated number—but hoping to catch a glimpse of the participating Spirit Masters.

Youthful girls holding bouquets stood out especially among the crowd. The young Spirit Masters who could represent advanced Spirit Master academies were all exceptional geniuses chosen from thousands. These talented youths, none older than twenty-five, naturally became the ideal matches dreamed of by young maidens. Even the nobles in the VIP area had gathered outside early, unwilling to miss any chance to recruit talent.

Feng Yao adjusted his collar and slowly moved toward the entrance with the crowd. His eyes sharply swept through the people, then suddenly paused before a VIP passage—there, Xue Qinghe wore an elegant smile as he spoke with several royal family members.

"It really is lively," Feng Yao murmured, his fingers unconsciously brushing Fuxi in his robes. He deliberately selected a secluded seat in the VIP Seats, one from which he could clearly see the entire arena without easily attracting notice.

With a resounding blast of horns, the opening ceremony officially began. The honor guard of the Royal Knight Order marched into the arena in neat formation, their shining silver armor glittering in the sunlight. Soon after, the teams from the participating academies entered one after another, and wave after wave of cheers erupted from the stands.

Feng Yao's gaze shifted away from Xue Qinghe and met Tang San's eyes at the very front of the Shrek Academy team entering the arena. In that instant, a sharp glint flashed through both their eyes.

Tang San's Purple Demon Eye glowed with a faint violet radiance, his gaze piercing through the crowd like an arrow aimed directly at Feng Yao. Feng Yao neither dodged nor avoided it. A faint smile curved his lips as he gave Tang San a slight nod, his demeanor composed and unhurried.

"Xiao San, what are you looking at?" Xiao Wu followed Tang San's gaze, confusion flashing through her ruby-like eyes.

At the same time, Yu Tianheng, who was entering with the Shrek Team, suddenly stopped. He sharply turned toward the VIP Seats, his gaze colliding with Feng Yao's in midair as though invisible Soul Power clashed fiercely between them.

The Young Master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had turbulent emotions in his eyes—that former teammate who had once fought at his side was now here in such a manner. Feng Yao elegantly raised a gilded teacup, the amber tea within it glimmering beneath the sunlight. He toasted Yu Tianheng from afar, his eyes carrying a few layers of unfathomable meaning.

"Tianheng?" Dai Mubai keenly noticed the anomaly and followed Yu Tianheng's line of sight, just in time to see Feng Yao's profile as he took a light sip of tea. The youth dressed in a moon-white robe seemed especially detached from the world amid the noisy venue.

Yu Tianheng withdrew his gaze, his fingers unconsciously tightening. "It's nothing." He took a deep breath, his voice low and firm. "Right now, focusing on the competition is what matters."

Shrek Academy's team was especially "eye-catching" among the crowd.

Oscar kept his head lowered, using his body to block as many gazes from Ning Rongrong as possible. It was not just him. Aside from the few dazzling girls, everyone in the Shrek Team wanted to bury their faces in their chests. Their uniquely styled academy uniforms were receiving the entire arena's "attention."

This set of battle uniforms, meticulously designed by Dean Flander, came in a peculiar color somewhere between yellow and green—as Dai Mubai put it, "the fresh green color of just-shat crap." A Shrek emblem so bright green it hurt the eyes was printed across the chest, nearly covering the entire front. Worst of all was the large line of scarlet words across the back: "Sponsorship Opportunities Available," with a smaller line beneath it: "For sponsorship inquiries, contact Shrek Academy Dean Flander."

Back when these "battle uniforms" had first appeared, the Shrek Seven Devils had protested as one, only to be defeated beneath Flander's "tyranny." Their final compromise was that one-third of the sponsorship revenue would go to the team members. Thinking of the academy's strained finances, Tang San and the others could only grit their teeth and accept it.

"Look, what kind of students are those? Did they just crawl out of a dung pit?"

"Hahaha, that green monster on their chests is ridiculous!"

"They're actually running advertisements? Did they come here to compete or to perform?"

Amid the waves of ridicule, Tang San was the first to take out the mask he had worn during the spirit fighting tournament. The Shrek Seven Devils quickly followed suit, while the four newly joined members, including Tailong, could only cover their faces with their hands, wishing they could crawl into a crack in the ground.

Walking at the front, Flander held his head high and his chest out, wearing an expression that said, "I do not know these people behind me." Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong also tacitly quickened their pace, the inconspicuous little badges on their collars glimmering with a subtle light beneath the sun.

"So this is the mental fortitude training Grandmaster mentioned?" Ma Hongjun asked with a mournful face. "This is clearly training the thickness of our skin!"

Looking at the packed arena, Tang San experienced for the first time what it meant to have no will to live—at that moment, he would rather face a team of Soul Kings than serve as an "exhibit" here.

Watching the Shrek group, a faint smile appeared on Feng Yao's lips. "The show is about to begin."