Finals Finale? Sword at the Throat

Finals Finale? Sword at the Throat

The air over Star Dou Arena still trembled from the oppressive aura left behind by Bibi Dong's departure, but Hu Liena, slumped on the ground, suddenly moved. Supporting herself with her remaining Soul Power, she slowly rose to her feet. The black blood at her severed tail had already clotted, yet the fox mark at her brow center glowed faintly pink once more. Even with Xie Yue unconscious, Yan fallen, and Spirit Hall's reinforcements gone with Bibi Dong, she still refused to let the name of the "Golden Generation" be disgraced in her hands.

"Want me to admit defeat? Not so easily." Hu Liena's voice was hoarse, yet it carried an innate pride. She raised a hand and wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth. A wisp of pale pink Soul Power gathered at her fingertips—the last trace of strength she could summon, drawn from the source of the Charm Domain. "Even if I'm the only one left, I'll make you understand that Spirit Hall's dignity cannot be trampled upon!"

The pale pink Soul Power condensed in her palm into a tiny blade of light, mixed with Soul Devouring Spider Poison that had not fully dissipated. Though far weaker than before, it carried the resolve to perish together. She stared at Lin Che, her former contempt gone, leaving only ruthless desperation. "Lin Che, do you dare fight me one-on-one? If you win, I'll surrender willingly. If you lose, you'll stay here in Star Dou Arena with me!"

The stands instantly fell silent. No one had expected Hu Liena, already at the end of her rope, to make such a demand. Some held their breath, while others could not help but shake their heads—when every member of the Cauldron Sword Team remained intact and Hu Liena's Soul Power was exhausted, this "one-on-one fight" had never been fair to begin with.

"There's no need." Lin Che's voice was calm, yet it carried unquestionable force. He did not accept the challenge. Instead, holding the Azure Water Sword, he slowly stepped forward. Azure Sword Qi gathered on the blade, but he did not attack, merely maintaining sufficient intimidation. "The victor was decided long ago. There's no need for you to make a meaningless sacrifice."

"Sacrifice?" Hu Liena suddenly laughed, her laughter full of self-mockery. "In your eyes, am I, Hu Liena, someone who gives up so easily? Either fight me one-on-one, or..." She abruptly pointed the blade of light in her palm at her own throat. "I'll kill myself right here and let the entire continent see that the Cauldron Sword Team only won by outnumbering us!"

Even Tang San frowned at that. He knew Hu Liena was gambling—gambling that the Cauldron Sword Team would not dare bear the stigma of "driving their opponent to death," gambling that Heaven Dou City would intervene for the sake of the competition's reputation and stop this extreme standoff. Dai Mubai could not help stepping forward, his White Tiger Claw tightening slightly. "Don't go too far! You were the ones who set up the Soul Erosion Array first, and now that you've lost, you're pulling this stunt!"

"Too far?" Hu Liena's gaze turned icy cold. "Compared to Spirit Hall's glory, what does this little bit of 'going too far' amount to?" Her fingers tightened slightly, and the blade of light had already cut a thin line of blood across her throat. The ripples of pink Soul Power made the surrounding air seem oppressive.

Lin Che stopped. He looked at the determination in Hu Liena's eyes, then swept his gaze over the complicated expressions in the stands—some were worried, some furious, and others were quietly discussing how the Cauldron Sword Team's victory was "undeserved." He took a deep breath, suddenly converging the Sword Qi of the Azure Water Sword until only the blade's sharp edge remained. Then he slowly walked towards Hu Liena. "I won't fight you one-on-one, but I'll give you a choice."

The sword finally stopped before Hu Liena's throat, only an inch from her skin. The chill of the azure blade made Hu Liena tremble. She could clearly feel that if Lin Che advanced even half an inch, the sharp blade would pierce her Soul Power barrier and sever her windpipe.

"Surrender, or die." Lin Che's voice did not waver in the slightest, yet it bore crushing weight. He was not threatening her. He was merely stating the facts—if she kept resisting, death was her only path; if she surrendered, she could at least preserve her life and Spirit Hall's last shred of dignity.

Hu Liena's body stiffened. She looked at the Azure Water Sword so close before her, its blade reflecting her disheveled appearance: a severed tail, bloodstains, tangled hair. Where was even a trace of the Golden Generation's pride? Instinctively, she gazed toward the direction Bibi Dong had left. Spirit Hall's seats in the VIP area had long been empty. Only the sound of the wind stirring the curtains remained, like Bibi Dong's silent shake of the head—the His Majesty the Pope she had always depended on had ultimately abandoned her.

"Xie Yue... Yan..." Hu Liena turned her gaze toward her companions lying on the ground. Xie Yue was still unconscious, and Yan's chest rose and fell faintly. They had given so much for this match. Could she let all their efforts be wasted because of her own stubbornness? A tear slid from the corner of her eye and fell onto the Azure Water Sword, sending out tiny ripples.

She slowly closed her eyes, her voice filled with exhaustion and humiliation she could not conceal. "Spirit Hall... surrenders."

Those three words were like the signal releasing a taut bowstring. Star Dou Arena instantly erupted with earth-shaking cheers. People in the stands rose to their feet and waved flags of every color. Golden flower petals poured down like a torrential rain, falling onto the seven members of the Cauldron Sword Team. The worried murmurs from before vanished, leaving only blessings and cheers for the champions.

The referee hurried to the center of the arena and raised his right hand high. His Soul Power reverberated throughout the venue. "I announce that in the finals of the Advanced All-Continent Soul Master Competition, the Cauldron Sword Team has defeated Spirit Hall's Golden Generation and claimed the championship of this competition!"

"Champions! The Cauldron Sword Team are champions!" The cheers pierced the skies. Even on the distant streets of Heaven Dou City, waves of shouts could be heard. Children ran about holding homemade Cauldron Sword Team flags, while merchants brought out their treasured wine to celebrate. The entire Heaven Dou City was immersed in the joy of victory.

The seven members of the Cauldron Sword Team could no longer restrain their excitement and embraced one another. Dai Mubai grabbed Tang San in a hug so strong that Tang San could barely breathe. Ma Hongjun threw an arm around Oscar and waved his fist excitedly. Ning Rongrong and Jiang Zhu embraced as they wept, their tears filled with joy. Lin Che stood in the middle, looking at his companions, a brilliant smile appearing on his face as well.

At that moment, the Glazed Jade Tokens at the seven's waists suddenly grew hot at the same time. Pale Golden light poured out from the tokens and intertwined in the air, forming a circular barrier of light. Four ancient characters appeared upon it: "Cauldron Sword United Heart." Soft halos flowed around the words, completely enveloping the seven of them. The warm Soul Power radiating from the barrier not only healed their minor injuries, but also caused their Soul Powers to resonate, forming an invisible Bond Power.

"This is... the resonance of the Glazed Jade Tokens!" Ning Rongrong cried in delight. She had never seen the tokens react this way. Clearly, the bond they had forged by fighting side by side and sharing life and death had awakened the hidden power of "United Heart" within the tokens.

Tang San reached out and touched the edge of the barrier. He could clearly sense the cohesion contained within it. "This power can make our coordination more seamless. We may even be able to transmit Soul Power to each other in battle."

Lin Che looked at the words "Cauldron Sword United Heart" on the barrier, and warmth surged through his heart. From their first time forming a team in the preliminaries to their life-and-death comeback in the finals, they had gone through so much: Dai Mubai's revival from severe injuries, Jiang Zhu's Epic Healing, Ma Hongjun's flame evolution, Oscar's crucial sausages, Ning Rongrong's precise enhancements, Tang San's Blue Silver Overlord Spear, and his own Dual Martial Souls coordination... Every one of them had been indispensable. It was this united effort that had brought them to the end.

In the VIP area, Emperor Xue Beng was grinning from ear to ear. He ordered the attendant beside him, "Quick! Bring the champion's trophy! I will personally crown the Cauldron Sword Team!" Ning Fengzhi watched the "Cauldron Sword United Heart" barrier on Star Dou Arena, his eyes full of satisfaction. "Old Sword Douluo, look. This is the strength of the younger generation—the strength of united hearts."

Chen Xin slowly nodded, the Sword Qi of the Seven Kill Sword completely converged. "With them here, there may yet be hope for Heaven Dou City's future, and against Spirit Hall's threat."

Hu Liena watched the celebration before her, her heart filled with mixed feelings. Supported by Heaven Dou City's guards, she walked towards Xie Yue and Yan, preparing to take them away from the arena. As she passed the Cauldron Sword Team, she stopped and looked at Lin Che. "Today, we lost. But Spirit Hall will not let this end here."

Lin Che looked at her, his gaze calm yet resolute. "We'll be waiting. But the next time we meet, we'll still win."

Hu Liena said nothing more. She simply took Xie Yue and Yan with her and silently left Star Dou Arena. Against the backdrop of golden flower petals, her figure seemed especially lonely, yet it also carried a trace of unyielding defiance—perhaps the end of this match was also the beginning of another contest.

On Star Dou Arena, the seven members of the Cauldron Sword Team still embraced one another. The "Cauldron Sword United Heart" barrier glowed dazzlingly under the sunlight. Emperor Xue Beng personally approached, holding the champion's trophy. The fragment of a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone embedded in the trophy shone brilliantly beneath the barrier's light.

"Cauldron Sword Team, congratulations!" Emperor Xue Beng handed the trophy to Lin Che. "This is the glory you deserve, and the glory of Heaven Dou City!"

Lin Che accepted the trophy and raised it high. Sunlight fell over the trophy, refracting seven-colored rays that intertwined with the "Cauldron Sword United Heart" barrier, forming a beautiful curtain of light. The surrounding cheers rose again, more fervent than ever before.

Lin Che looked at the trophy in his hand, then at the companions by his side, his heart filled with resolve. This championship was only the beginning of their legend. In the future, Spirit Hall's retaliation and unknown challenges still awaited them. But as long as they remained Cauldron Sword United Heart, there would be no obstacle they could not overcome and no enemy they could not defeat.

Golden flower petals continued to drift down, and the cheers continued. The final finale of the All-Continent Soul Master Competition came to a close amid the glory witnessed by countless people. Yet the story of the Cauldron Sword Team had only just opened a new chapter.