Final Tournament Opens

Several days later, the Final Tournament of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament finally opened under the watchful eyes of countless spectators at the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena!

As the most prestigious event in the continent's soul master world, the atmosphere of the Final Tournament was completely different from that of the Preliminary Match and Promotion Match. The entire Heaven Dou City seemed gripped by an emotion that mingled carnival-like excitement with tension.

The enormous Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena had long since been redecorated. Huge Soul Guidance Screens floated around the venue, ensuring that spectators in every corner could clearly see every detail of the matches. The Audience Seats were packed solid, with nobles, soul masters, wealthy merchants, and ordinary citizens from across the continent cramming the stands to capacity. The clamor, cheers, and sounds of countless flags waving converged into a massive roar that shot into the sky.

The VIP section was filled with Big Bosses. Though Xue Ye had been unable to attend in person due to his health, Prince Xue Xing was present on behalf of the royal family. Ning Fengzhi sat calmly to one side with Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong, carrying themselves with composed dignity. Salas, the Platinum Bishop of Spirit Hall, wore a calm expression, his gaze deep and unreadable, as though he was contemplating something. Representatives from the various major sects and Power Bases were also in attendance.

An invisible pressure and excitement hung in the air. Every team that had made it this far was elite among elites, representing the highest standard of the younger generation of soul masters. Today's matches would determine the true king!

As the Heaven Dou Empire's seeded team, the Imperial Fighting Team drew even more attention. When they entered the arena beneath the spotlights in their gorgeous team uniforms, deafening cheers erupted throughout the venue.

"Imperial Fighting Team! Imperial Fighting Team! Unrivaled under heaven!"

"Yu Tianheng! Dugu Yan! Zhang Bufan!"

Walking among the team, Zhang Bufan still looked lazy, as though he had not fully woken up. He stood in stark contrast to the tense, serious expressions of his teammates. He did not even glance at the frenzied spectators, nor did he care about the Big Bosses in the VIP section. Instead, like an unerring compass, his gaze shot directly toward the opposite stands, where Blazing Fire Academy was seated.

His gaze pierced through the crowd and easily found that familiar red figure, dazzling like a Flame—Huo Wu.

Huo Wu seemed to have dressed up especially for today. Her red team uniform made her skin look as white as snow, while making her already beautiful features appear even more radiant. She sensed that scorching, impossible-to-ignore gaze as well. Raising her head, she met Zhang Bufan's eyes in midair.

Their eyes met.

Huo Wu's heartbeat involuntarily quickened. Remembering that domineering hug and declaration on the street a few days ago, her cheeks began to burn again. Instinctively, she wanted to avoid his gaze, but the pride belonging to a soul master deep within her forced her to meet his eyes. She even raised her chin slightly in provocation.

As if she were saying: What are you looking at? Focus on your match!

Zhang Bufan received her "signal," and a meaningful smile slowly curled across his lips. He raised a hand, lightly tapped his lips in Huo Wu's direction, then pointed at her and silently formed a few words.

Though no sound came out, Huo Wu's exceptional eyesight as a soul master allowed her to clearly "read" his lips.

He said, "Wait for it, my reward."

"Boom—!"

Huo Wu's mind instantly went blank, as though all the blood in her body had rushed to her face! This bastard! Pervert! Shameless rogue! How could he... how could he make such a frivolous gesture and say something so... so utterly shameless in public?!

She trembled with anger, wishing she could rush down immediately and beat him senseless! But under everyone's watchful eyes, she could only glare fiercely back at him, using her eyes to express her fury and "killing intent."

Yet her flushed cheeks and flickering eyes looked more like bashful flirting to others.

At least, Brother Huo Wushuang, Feng Xiaotian, and the others seated beside her did not look pleased. Feng Xiaotian clenched his fists, his gaze toward Zhang Bufan filled with hostility.

Zhang Bufan paid no attention to the "death stares" coming from Blazing Fire Academy. Instead, he found Huo Wu's puffed-up, angry look especially vivid and adorable. In a good mood, he withdrew his gaze, as though he had merely completed an everyday task.

His inner monologue sounded at just the right moment:

Hmm, she looks pretty good. Her little face is rosy—looks like she's been eating plenty of the snacks I bought her these past few days. I've raised her well.

Tsk, that brat Feng Xiaotian still dares glare at me? Seems the last lesson wasn't harsh enough. But whatever. A defeated opponent is nothing to worry about.

As for the reward... of course it has to be a kiss. If I win the championship, it isn't too much to ask for one, right? Mm, perfectly reasonable.

He was completely immersed in his own logic, without the slightest thought as to whether she was willing.

"Silence!"

At that moment, a dignified voice spread across the entire arena through an amplifying Soul Tool, suppressing all the clamor. The chief referee stepped onto the central platform, announced the Rules of the Final Tournament, and began drawing lots for the first round of matchups.

All eyes in the venue focused forward, and the atmosphere instantly turned solemn.

The Final Tournament had officially begun!

Zhang Bufan finally put away that carefree expression, and a sharp glint flashed through his eyes. Although his opponents still were not worth much in his eyes, since this was a match Wu'er cared about, he would reluctantly get a little serious.

His path of crushing victory would officially begin from this world-renowned stage.