Contest Among Three Powers

On the plaza before the Pope's Palace, the twenty-one students from the three teams stood quietly.

The gates of the Pope's Palace slowly opened, and Bibi Dong emerged from the main entrance alongside three Title Douluo and Ning Fengzhi.

At that moment, apart from the Shrek Seven Devils, Liu Xiaoxiao, Chen Fang, and Li Hong also remained standing. Even as the surrounding team members cast glances their way, they did not care.

In their eyes, backbone mattered more than anything. Even if a thousand people pointed fingers at them, they would not kneel.

Everyone from Spirit Hall glared angrily, and a cardinal even rebuked them, "How dare you show such disrespect to His Holiness the Pope!"

Bibi Dong raised a hand, and the cardinal immediately fell silent.

Just as Liu Xiaoxiao and the others had predicted, Bibi Dong exchanged a few words with Tang San before announcing the competition rewards and rules. Then, the finals officially began.

As expected, Shrek Academy sent Jing Ling out first and drew a bye for the first round.

Godwind Academy's first contestant was a Three-Ring Soul Elder, who was swiftly defeated under the fierce assault of Spirit Hall's Soul Ancestor.

Then Jing Ling took the stage. He too was no match for Spirit Hall's Soul Ancestor and was defeated.

Godwind Academy's second contestant was still a Soul Elder. After draining most of Spirit Hall's Soul Ancestor's Soul Power, he was defeated.

Shrek Academy sent out Tailong second. With strength close to that of a Soul Ancestor, he defeated Spirit Hall's greatly weakened Soul Ancestor, only to be defeated by Godwind Academy's third Soul Elder.

Then, without surprise, Spirit Hall's second Soul Ancestor took the stage and successfully defeated Godwind Academy's third Soul Elder.

Shrek Academy sent Xiao Wu out third. At the Grandmaster's request, Xiao Wu defeated Spirit Hall's second Soul Ancestor before voluntarily conceding.

Godwind Academy's fourth contestant was a Soul Ancestor. After battling Spirit Hall's third Soul Ancestor and draining most of his Soul Power, he voluntarily conceded.

Then Shrek Academy sent out Zhu Zhuqing fourth. After easily defeating Spirit Hall's third Soul Ancestor, she likewise conceded.

Liu Xiaoxiao frowned slightly at this point, because he could vaguely tell that Shrek Academy and Godwind Academy seemed to have reached an understanding and were joining forces against the Spirit Hall Academy team.

Godwind Academy's fifth contestant was also a Soul Ancestor. He was defeated after tangling with Spirit Hall's fourth Soul Ancestor, but immediately afterward, Shrek Academy's Dai Mubai took the stage and defeated that Soul Ancestor.

After Dai Mubai conceded, Godwind Academy's sixth Soul Ancestor took the stage. His opponent was Hu Liena, one of Spirit Hall's three Soul Kings.

Relying on the difference in their Soul Power Levels, Hu Liena easily defeated Godwind Academy's sixth member. Shrek Academy, meanwhile, sent out Little Fatty.

Not long after Tang San joined Shrek Academy, Little Fatty had specifically sought Tang San's guidance. At Tang San's request, he joined the Tang Sect and learned the Mysterious Jade Hand, Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, Mysterious Heaven Skill, and Purple Demon Eyes from the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record.

All of Hu Liena's Soul Skills were based on Charm, which naturally had no effect on Little Fatty, whose Purple Demon Eyes had just reached the second realm, Insight. As a result, Hu Liena could only fight Little Fatty with Soul Power.

However, Hu Liena was a Control System Soul Master. Without Soul Skills, her fox martial soul alone was naturally no match for Little Fatty, and she was defeated.

Little Fatty had also expended quite a bit of Soul Power to defeat Hu Liena, so after defeating her, he directly conceded.

The next battle was between Li Hong and Chen Fang. Li Hong had never intended to advance in the individual matches. Instead, he wanted to drain as much of Chen Fang's Soul Power as possible. That way, Tang San would naturally be able to defeat Chen Fang before entering a grueling battle with Liu Xiaoxiao.

No matter whether Tang San or Liu Xiaoxiao ultimately won, both would be severely depleted, their Soul Power and injuries absolutely unable to fully recover in a short time. Without these two mainstays, Godwind Academy would have every chance of consecutively defeating Shrek Academy and the Spirit Hall team, thereby claiming the championship.

Li Hong's Soul Power was Level 47, while Chen Fang's was Level 53. Of course, the gap between them was far more than six levels of Soul Power. Most importantly, they were separated by one Soul Ring—a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, at that.

Why had Tang San drawn so much attention? Aside from his own abilities, one important reason was that he had absorbed a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring with only four rings.

The reason the Spirit Hall team was held in such high regard was not merely because they had three Soul Kings. More importantly, all three Soul Kings possessed the optimal Soul Ring configuration, and their Fifth Soul Rings were all Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings.

As the referee announced the start of the match, Li Hong's Second Spirit Ring rapidly lit up. He unleashed Twin Wolf Possession and charged toward Chen Fang.

Chen Fang remained calm. He activated his First Spirit Ability, Flame Body, and threw a flaming punch to meet Li Hong head-on.

The collision knocked both of them back a step, and they immediately continued their fight.

Close-quarters combat was most dangerous because once one side fell into a disadvantage, they could very likely be crushed outright, left with no ability to resist.

Though Chen Fang's Soul Power was higher, he did not hold an absolute advantage and could only keep defending. Li Hong's attacks were fierce, but he could not break through Chen Fang's defenses anytime soon.

Just then, Li Hong's Third Spirit Ring lit up. He activated Gale Twin Wings and rose into the air.

Next, Li Hong's First Soul Ring lit up as well, and ten wind blades attacked Chen Fang from different directions.

Chen Fang's Third Soul Ring lit up. He activated Titan Body, his body rapidly expanding as he threw a punch to block the wind blades.

The instant the wind blades struck Chen Fang, blood streamed from his arm, and he was forced back at the same time.

"The power of this First Spirit Ability, Wind Blade Array, is so great that even my Third Spirit Ability can't block it?" Chen Fang reacted instantly. "Could it be a soul bone?"

Yes, it was Li Hong's Five-Thousand-Year Gale Demon Wolf Left Arm Bone. Its effect was Wind attribute enhancement. With the soul bone's aid, Li Hong's First Spirit Ability could become so powerful.