The Teams Enter Spirit City; Yu Xiaogang's Absolute Confidence!

The teams enter Spirit City; Yu Xiaogang's absolute confidence!

Half a month later.

Near Spirit City.

An endless stream of convoys raced toward Spirit City.

The convoys were divided into many groups. Each bore a different emblem, corresponding to the crests of the various Advanced Soul Master Academies.

Inside the Shrek Academy convoy, Tang San sat quietly in a carriage, gazing out at the scenery with a grave expression.

Liu Erlong sat opposite Tang San, Dai Mubai, and the others, with Xiao Wu nestled in her arms.

Liu Erlong gently stroked Xiao Wu's cheek. Looking at Tang San's somber face, she said in a low voice, "Xiao San, Xiao Gang said the finals won't be easy. Be sure to stay cautious!"

"The finals are where the real fighting begins!"

Tang San gave a quiet assent and nodded before replying solemnly, "Dean Er Long, don't worry. I'll lead the team through!"

"No matter what abilities our opponents have, we'll do everything we can to claim first place!"

He spoke with absolute certainty.

After saying this, Tang San silently added in his heart: The strength I showed in the preliminaries wasn't my full power. I still have plenty of trump cards I haven't used.

I'll definitely claim the championship in the finals!

Seeing Tang San full of fighting spirit, Liu Erlong showed a faint, relieved smile. But it soon vanished.

In its place came an uncomfortable feeling, as if a fish bone were stuck in her throat.

"Dean Er Long, is there anything else you'd like to remind me?" Tang San asked thoughtfully.

Liu Erlong drew a deep breath. "There's nothing else to remind you of. The finals will be difficult, but they're also an opportunity for you."

She paused, thinking of how Yu Xiaogang had reached Spirit City ahead of them and had even requested an audience with Bibi Dong.

When rivals met, their eyes burned with enmity.

Liu Erlong couldn't feel cheerful at all.

Keeping her voice low, she did her best to sound calm. "Xiao Gang arrived in Spirit City ahead of us. He's prepared a big surprise for you here."

A big surprise?

Something his teacher had prepared?

Tang San grew interested, his eyes filling with eager anticipation.

He couldn't figure out what kind of surprise Yu Xiaogang had prepared for him, and was just about to ask when—

Suddenly, the carriage came to a halt.

"Dean Flender, Dean Liu Erlong, something terrible has happened!"

One of the Shrek Academy teachers who had traveled with them spoke urgently. "Grandmaster... he's been hung from the walls of Spirit City!"

What?!

Liu Erlong sprang out of the carriage.

The next moment, Tang San, Dai Mubai, and the others rushed out after her.

They were still some distance from Spirit City, but they could already make out what was happening on its walls.

Before their eyes, Yu Xiaogang hung from the city wall, his hands bound with thick hemp rope.

Liu Erlong's mind went blank.

Tang San's mind went blank too.

His neck stiffened. Tang San looked at Liu Erlong in disbelief.

In a daze, her words from the carriage echoed in his ears.

There's nothing else to remind you of. The finals will be difficult, but they're also an opportunity for you.

Xiao Gang arrived in Spirit City ahead of us. He's prepared a big surprise for you here.

Dean Er Long, was this the big surprise you meant?

Could this really be called a surprise?!

On the city wall.

Yu Xiaogang was utterly listless.

He had been hanging from the wall for half a month.

At fixed times, someone brought him food so he wouldn't starve to death.

The rest of the time, he was left hanging there.

Yu Xiaogang had no idea how he had endured the past half month. He had to eat, drink, and relieve himself while suspended.

After half a month of torment, he could smell the foul stench coming from his own body.

Exposed to wind and sun, his lips had turned as pale as snow and cracked into countless crevices.

"Why haven't Xiao San and the others arrived yet? If this goes on, I won't be able to take much more!"

Yu Xiaogang kept repeating this to himself. Knowing he had no way to escape, he pinned all his hopes on Tang San and the others.

He constantly counted the time in his head. The hope he'd felt at first had slowly turned to despair.

"Is that the Shrek Academy crest?"

"Xiao San! Xiao San and the others are here!"

Yu Xiaogang had nearly given up hope. As he did every day, he looked toward the distant road leading to Spirit City and saw numerous convoys approaching.

He barely managed to make out the Shrek Academy crest, and delight immediately shone in his despairing eyes.

"Xiao San and the others are here! I can be rescued!"

"After all, I'm part of Shrek Academy!"

"And surely His Excellency Haotian came along with Xiao San, right?"

"As long as His Excellency Haotian is here, this living hell will finally be over!"

Yu Xiaogang cried out, his heart pounding with excitement.

He recalled how Tang Hao had gone to find Zhao Wuji late one night at Shrek Academy in Suotuo City and stood up for Xiao San.

At the time, Zhao Wuji had seemed to get something out of it, but in truth, he had still been beaten with a hammer. There was no doubt about that.

Thinking of this, Yu Xiaogang became even more certain of his deduction.

The Spirit Master Tournament finals were taking place at the heart of Spirit Hall's territory. Yu Xiaogang didn't believe Tang Hao would really let Tang San come here alone.

Firm in this belief, Yu Xiaogang's breathing grew unsteady, and his spirits lifted. He hardly seemed like someone who had been hanging there for half a month.

Meanwhile.

Inside Pope's Palace, Yue Guan bowed at the foot of the steps.

"Your Holiness, the teams that advanced from the preliminaries have all arrived in Spirit City!"

"Shrek Academy, the team Yu Xiaogang belongs to—the one Your Holiness took charge of half a month ago—has also arrived outside the city!"

"Your Holiness, do you think we should take any action in response?"

Qian Renyu sat quietly on the papal throne.

As he listened to Yue Guan's report, he looked toward the outskirts of Spirit City with interest.

"Let things take their course. There's no need to do anything deliberately!"

"The sky over Spirit City won't change!"

Yue Guan accepted the order. Knowing what kind of person Qian Renyu was, he left Pope's Palace after delivering his report without another unnecessary word.

Watching Yue Guan leave, Qian Renyu unhurriedly walked out of Pope's Palace.

He slowly rose into the air and stood alone at the very top of the palace. His eyes, which had once only been able to look out without seeing through the distance—

Now gazed toward the outskirts of the city from far away.

"Tang San, Shrek Academy, Spirit City—"

"You are most welcome!"