The Curtain Falls

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

The Exchange Tournament of the Five Element Academies had come to an end.

The outcome held no suspense. Leading the Godwind Team, the vastly improved Feng Xiaotian claimed first place in utterly dominant fashion.

The rankings that followed were Lightning Academy, Blazing Fire Academy, Skywater Academy, and Elephant Armor Academy.

Having been severely injured by Feng Xiaotian, Elephant Armor Academy was unable to perform at full strength in the remaining matches and failed to secure a single victory.

Information regarding Feng Xiaotian's explosive rise in strength and his fourth Soul Ring exceeding the normal age limit had long since been delivered back to the Elephant Armor Sect.

Sect Master Huyan Zhen reported the matter to the Papal Palace at once.

Yet, to Huyan Zhen's great surprise, Spirit Hall gave no clear instructions or response after receiving the news.

The result left him utterly baffled, and he did not dare act rashly.

Element City, the Huo Family.

Inside the ancient council chamber, the doors and windows were tightly shut. Huo Chen had even set up a Soul Power barrier to ensure that no one could spy on them.

He sat in the seat of honor, while his son Huo Yunlie and his grandchildren, Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu, sat below.

He had not summoned the rest of the family. The time was not yet right.

"Father, has something major happened?" Huo Yunlie was the first to speak.

As part of Blazing Fire Academy's management, he was busy with affairs every day.

Yet today, his father, Huo Chen, had told him to put aside his work and attend an emergency meeting, leaving him with a vague sense of unease.

"I have gathered you here today to announce a matter that concerns the fate of the Huo Family."

"I have decided to lead the Huo Family and Blazing Fire Academy in formally pledging allegiance to Spirit Hall's future Holy Son."

Huo Chen slowly rose to his feet, his gaze sweeping across the three present, his tone brooking no doubt.

"What?" Huo Yunlie abruptly stood up. "Father, our Element Academies have always remained independent. Why should we...?"

Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu also stared at their grandfather, Huo Chen, with astonishment.

"Do you think I made this decision on impulse?"

"Just a few days ago, Dean Shui and I received treasures bestowed by His Highness the Holy Son. My Soul Power has already reached level eighty-nine, and Dean Feng has even broken through to become a Title Douluo."

"Grandfather, are you saying... Grandfather Feng has already become a Title Douluo?" Huo Wushuang drew in a sharp breath.

"That's right." Huo Chen nodded. "And the changes in that child Feng Xiaotian are also thanks to His Highness the Holy Son."

"Grandfather, is that Holy Son the white-robed youth who has been following the Godwind Team recently?"

Huo Wu's beautiful eyes flickered as she suddenly spoke.

"That's right." Huo Chen looked at Huo Wu. "Tomorrow, you two siblings will accompany me to meet His Highness the Holy Son."

"If you can follow His Highness the Holy Son, you may very well receive an opportunity like Xiaotian's."

"Yes, Grandfather." Expectation shone in the eyes of both Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu.

Their grandfather Huo Chen had already made his decision, and they could not oppose it.

Besides, Feng Xiaotian's transformation had made them exceedingly envious.

Now that they too had a chance to increase their strength, what did it matter if they joined Spirit Hall?

Huo Chen looked at his son, Huo Yunlie.

"Yunlie, manage the academy well. After the Soul Master Competition, I will hand Blazing Fire Academy over to you."

"As long as you serve His Highness the Holy Son well in the future, you will have a chance to receive rewards."

"I will obey Father's command!" Huo Yunlie respectfully bowed.

With his father Huo Chen being the family head, he naturally did not dare object.

Besides, he too knew of Feng Xiaotian's transformation, and anticipation inevitably rose in his heart.

His Soul Power was only at level sixty-five. With normal cultivation progress, the most he could achieve in this life would be the realm of a Soul Douluo.

But if he could break through to become a Title Douluo with His Highness the Holy Son's help, like Senior Feng Qingyang...

A Title Douluo was a realm dreamed of by countless Soul Masters!

If he truly had a chance to reach that level, then let alone pledging allegiance to His Highness the Holy Son, even paying a far greater price would be worth it.

"Xiao Wu, Grandfather will not oppose your relationship with Xiaotian. On the contrary, I fully support it."

Huo Chen looked lovingly at his granddaughter, Huo Wu.

"Now, that child Xiaotian has undergone a complete transformation. He is also at His Highness the Holy Son's side, and his future achievements will be beyond imagination. You must seize this opportunity well."

"I understand, Grandfather." Huo Wu's cheeks flushed faintly.

"Enough. Keep today's matter secret for now." Huo Chen waved his hand and removed the barrier. "You may go back first."

The three bowed and took their leave, departing the council chamber with different thoughts in their hearts.

Huo Chen watched their departing backs, a flicker of anticipation passing through his eyes.

Almost at the same time, Element City, Water Family Mansion.

Inside the council hall, Shui Wuyue sat upright in the seat of honor, his expression solemn.

Seated below were his son, Shui Lingfeng, and his two granddaughters, Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er.

Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er were half-sisters who shared the same father.

Shui Bing'er's martial soul had been inherited from the Water Family's Ice Phoenix.

Shui Yue'er's martial soul, meanwhile, had been inherited from her mother's Jadeite Dolphin.

Shui Wuyue got straight to the point, revealing the Water Family and Skywater Academy's decision to pledge allegiance to Spirit Hall's Holy Son.

The three below all showed surprised expressions, clearly caught off guard by the decision.

Shui Lingfeng asked in confusion, "Mother, Skywater Academy has always remained independent. Why would it suddenly choose to align itself with Spirit Hall now?"

Shui Wuyue raised a hand to signal for them to remain calm, then slowly explained the matter.

After Shui Wuyue finished, Shui Lingfeng immediately stated, "I never expected Your Highness to possess such extraordinary means. I support Mother's decision."

"Older Sister! Spirit Hall's Holy Son... couldn't be Ji Xuan, could he?"

Shui Yue'er suddenly widened her eyes as though she had remembered something, grabbing Shui Bing'er's hand.

Prompted by her younger sister, Shui Bing'er also showed a look of realization.

She had thought Ji Xuan carried himself in an extraordinary manner and was clearly no ordinary person. She had never expected his background to be so immense.

Seeing her two granddaughters' reactions, Shui Wuyue asked in surprise, "You know the Holy Son?"

"We ran into him on the street not long ago, and we even had a meal together!" Shui Yue'er nodded excitedly.

A smile flashed through Shui Wuyue's eyes as he looked gently at Shui Bing'er.

"Bing'er, since you share such fate, that is quite rare. His Highness the Holy Son is of noble status and exceptional talent, and the two of you are close in age. If you spent more time together, perhaps..."

"Grandmother, during our conversation over the meal that day, Your Highness mentioned that he already had a fiancée."

Shui Bing'er immediately understood Shui Wuyue's unspoken meaning and softly cut him off.

Shui Wuyue was briefly stunned, then smiled faintly. "So what? On this continent, it is perfectly normal for the strong to have several confidantes."

"But feelings cannot be forced. Besides, he already has an engagement..."

"Oh, come on, Older Sister. You're so outstanding—perhaps His Highness the Holy Son will like you!"

Shui Yue'er said with a giggle from the side.

Although she had a favorable impression of Ji Xuan, having him as her brother-in-law would not be bad either.

"Feelings truly cannot be forced, but Yue'er is right. Spend more time with him. If you are fated, Grandmother will naturally be delighted. If you are not, receiving guidance in cultivation from His Highness would still be a great fortune for you."

"But..."

"Enough. Tomorrow, you will come with me to meet His Highness the Holy Son."

Shui Wuyue directly cut off Shui Bing'er.

Shui Bing'er could only nod gently, though an inexplicable ripple stirred in her heart.

At first, her attitude toward Ji Xuan had purely been because he was from Spirit Hall.

As someone from Skywater Academy, she understood full well the delicate relationship between the academy and Spirit Hall. Naturally, she had needed to keep her distance from him.

But now that the entire Water Family and Skywater Academy had decided to pledge allegiance to him, that issue of stance no longer existed.

She could not help recalling the scene at the tavern that day.

Setting everything else aside, Ji Xuan truly was an impressive young man.

"Older Sister, what are you thinking about?" Shui Yue'er leaned closer, blinking mischievously. "Don't tell me you were thinking about Ji Xuan?"

"Ah... I wasn't."

Shui Bing'er came back to her senses. At her younger sister's words, the tips of her ears could not help turning red.

Seeing this, Shui Yue'er laughed. "Haha, I guessed right! Does that mean he's going to become my brother-in-law?"

"Yue'er, don't be ridiculous!" Shui Bing'er said helplessly.

Shui Wuyue took in Shui Bing'er's reaction, and a glint flashed through his eyes.