The referee's voice still echoed under the dome.
"The victors— Heaven Dou Royal Academy!"
The crowd erupted in belated cheers.
The sound waves crashed against the white jade pillars and the base of the Angel Statue, swirling back and filling the entire venue.
Chen Jieqi is still standing on the ring.
The Heart of the Naaru had dissipated, his left arm hung at his side, and Ye Lingling's Nine-Heart Begonia was shining with a pinkish-white light on his shoulder.
The pain from the bone fracture was gradually suppressed by the healing power, but it had not completely disappeared.
"Fall back."
Qin Ming's voice came from the sidelines.
The members of the Huangdou helped each other walk off the field.
Yu Feng brought up the rear, and even after his Wing Blade retracted, a scorch mark from the Phoenix Fire Wire remained on his left wing.
He kept turning back to look at the stands.
Osler slapped him on the back of the head.
Chen Jieqi walked at the very back of the group.
As he passed Shrek's rest area, his gaze swept over there.
Tang San sat on the very edge of the bench, his hands resting on his knees, his head bowed.
The Clear Sky Hammer had been retracted, but the scab on the web of his right hand hadn't completely dried.
Xiao Wu sat next to him, about a fist's distance away.
Ning Rongrong squatted down in front of her and said something, but Xiao Wu did not respond.
Chen Jieqi looked away.
The podium was set up half an hour later.
A dark red carpet was laid on the obsidian arena, extending from the center all the way to the steps leading to the VIP seating area on the east side.
The sacred flame in the palm of the Angel Statue was turned up to its brightest setting.
The seven regular members of the Imperial Fighting Team stood in a row.
Chen Jieqi stood on the far left, while the most seriously injured were placed on the edge.
Dugu Yan stood beside him, with Yu Tianheng, Shi Mo, Shi Mo, Osler, and Yu Feng lined up in order.
Ye Lingling did not participate in the finals and did not go on stage directly.
Their uniforms were stained with gravel and dried blood, and no one had changed their clothes.
The Shrek Seven stood on the other side of the ring.
Dai Mubai stood but couldn't stand straight; his left knee was still weak, and Zhu Zhuqing supported his arm.
Ma Hongjun remained squatting on the ground until Oscar pulled him up.
Tang San stood in the middle of the group, head down, his black hair covering half his face.
Xiao Wu stood beside him, her hands hanging down, her body trembling slightly, her gaze fixed on the stone surface in front of her.
Chrysanthemum Douluo carried a tray as he descended the steps from the VIP seating area.
The tray was covered with a velvet cloth, on which the champion medals were neatly arranged, gleaming warmly under the Olympic flame.
Bibi Dong walked behind him.
The hem of the Pope robe trailed on the dark red carpet.
With each tap of the scepter on the ground, the entire arena fell silent a little more.
By the time she reached the podium, the 100,000-seat stadium was so quiet that the crackling of the Olympic flame could be heard.
She stood before the members of the Huangdou Clan, her purple eyes scanning them from left to right before she spoke.
" The Spirit Hall has been holding the Continental Elite Tournament of High-Level Soul Master Academy for over a thousand years."
Her voice wasn't loud, but everyone could hear her.
"For thousands of years, countless geniuses have flocked to the Spirit Hall to eradicate Evil Soul Master and protect the continent."
Some became Titled Douluo, some became regional overlords, and some left nothing behind.
Her gaze fell on Chen Jieqi.
"Those who leave behind anything are never the most talented ones."
It's the one that makes the right choice every time.
She reached out her hand, Chrysanthemum Douluo handed her the first medal.
Bibi Dong walked to the far right of the group and presented the ornament to Osler, followed by Shi Mo Shi Mo and Yu Feng.
Every movement was so precise, as if it had been practiced a thousand times.
The team member bowed slightly and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
She did not respond.
She paused when she reached Chen Jieqi.
She looked at the Naaru Brand between his eyebrows.
The brand, imprinted under the sacred flame, gleamed with a very faint white-gold light, the same color as the sacred flame in the palm of the Angel God Statue, but more understated.
"Not even fifteen years old," she said softly, so softly that only Chen Jieqi could hear her.
" Soul King. Holy Light Domain. External Soul Bone "
She picked up the medal from the tray and held it between her fingers.
"Everything you possess deserves an exception from the Spirit Hall."
Chen Jieqi lowered his head slightly, his posture respectful.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the person in the moon-white brocade robe in the VIP section.
Xue Qinghe sat there, his hands resting on the armrests, his face calm, with a perfectly measured smile on his lips.
But her other hand hung at her side, clenched into a fist, and was trembling slightly.
He looked away.
"I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's favor."
However, I have yet to repay the kindness shown to me by His Highness the Crown Prince.
If I were to seek refuge elsewhere now, the world would likely accuse me of being unjust."
Bibi Dong looked at him.
There was no anger, no disappointment, no surprise in her purple eyes.
She smiled, but the smile was devoid of warmth.
" The Heaven Dou Crown Prince has always had excellent judgment."
She pinned the medal to his chest.
I pressed my fingertips against the back of the medal through the velvet glove, making sure the pin was fastened securely.
Then she leaned forward slightly and lowered her voice.
"However, the doors of the Spirit Hall are always open to those who are capable."
She straightened up and turned to walk towards Dugu Yan.
Chen Jieqi stood there. The metal edge of the medal on his chest was digging into his clothes, and it felt a little cold.
In the VIP section, Xue Qinghe let go of her hand.
The four crescent-shaped marks on my palm, dug in by my fingernails, are still turning white.
The awards ceremony continued.
Bibi Dong presented medals to Dugu Yan, Yu Tianheng, Shi Mo, and Shi Mo in turn.
Everyone wore their medals neatly, and everyone's "Thank you, Your Majesty" was brief.
As she walked back to the center of the stage, she turned around and faced the audience.
The scepter tapped gently on the stone platform.
Immediately, three Spirit Bone appeared in front of her, instantly drawing everyone's attention like a black hole.
Even Titled Douluo are no exception.
Bibi Dong pointed to the first piece.
It was a skull that was pure white and emitted a faint golden light. Its surface had fine lines that looked like some kind of ancient script slowly flowing.
"The first piece Spirit Condensation Wisdom Skull. It is produced by Soul Beast with over 50,000 years of cultivation and can greatly enhance spiritual power and Soul Power perception."
As soon as the words were spoken, the entire audience gasped, and even the temperature seemed to drop significantly.
Bibi Dong pointed to the second piece.
It was a section of dark red right arm bone, with flame-like patterns on its surface, and faint heat emanating from it.
"The second piece, the Explosive Burning Flame Right Arm. Fire attribute, 30,000-year level."
Some of the fire-type Soul Master in the audience were immediately filled with enthusiasm, their Soul Power stirring, eager to seize it as soon as possible.
Bibi Dong pointed to the third piece.
It was a section of blue-green left leg bone, with wind patterns on its surface, as light as a feather.
"The third piece, the Swift Advance Wind-Chasing Left Leg. Wind attribute, also 30,000 years."
Without thinking twice, Chen Jieqi stepped forward and took the three Spirit Bone at once, immediately feeling as if there were thorns pricking his back.
Upon seeing this, Bibi Dong's lips curled into a cryptic smile.
"This concludes the Continental Elite Tournament of Advanced Soul Master Academy..."
She didn't finish her sentence; her voice trailed off.
The Rakshasa Divine Sense within her body caused her eyes to sweep towards the other side of the arena.
It landed where the Shrek Seven Devils were standing, and on the black-haired girl next to Tang San.
The entire room fell silent instantly, a stillness tinged with unease, with instinct, a stillness where even breathing seemed to have forgotten to cease.
Bibi Dong looked at Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu's body stiffened; her head remained lowered, her long hair obscuring her face.
But her shoulders were trembling slightly, first with an instinctive fear seeping from her very bones, a fear that felt as if she were locked in by heaven and earth.
Tang San raised his head, looking at Bibi Dong, then at Xiao Wu beside him.
His brows furrowed, and he leaned forward slightly, standing between Xiao Wu and Bibi Dong.
Bibi Dong spoke, her voice not loud, but every word was like a nail driven into wood.
" Shrek Academy, the girl with the scorpion braid."
She smiled slightly.
"May I have your name."
All 100,000 eyes in the audience turned to Xiao Wu, but she did not answer.
Her lips were trembling, and her fingers were clenching the hem of her clothes, round and round.
Tang San took half a step forward, completely shielding Xiao Wu behind him. He looked at Bibi Dong with a serious expression.
"She is my sister. Your Majesty, if you have any questions, you can ask me."
Bibi Dong didn't look at him.
Her gaze passed over Tang San's shoulder and landed on that slightly trembling figure.
Rakshasa Divine Sense surged within her body, Death Spider Emperor, like a trapped beast that had been locked up for too long and finally smelled flesh and blood, howled incessantly.
She didn't need Xiao Wu's answer; she already knew the answer.