Tang San's Ambition, the Finals Begin!

Tang San's Ambition, the Finals Begin!

Three days later.

The competition venue prepared for the finals in Spirit City.

Teams from numerous academies entered one after another. Their team leaders went to draw lots, while the rest waited in the rest area.

There were only a few thousand spectators in the venue, but every one of them was a Soul Master. Not a single civilian was among them.

At the lot-drawing area, a red-robed cardinal was overseeing the draw. He seemed unconcerned that the finals were being held on a far smaller scale than the preliminaries in Heaven Dou City.

After all, the final three matches would be held in front of Pope's Palace.

The subdued atmosphere now was all in preparation for the climax of those final three matches.

Flender had already told Tang San the rules for the finals. Sitting in the rest area and watching everything unfold, Tang San's eyes occasionally flashed with resentment.

But the resentment came and went quickly, hidden just as fast.

At that moment, the people from Heaven Dou Royal Academy approached the Shrek Academy group.

Yu Tianheng looked grave as he walked straight up to Tang San.

When Tang San saw Yu Tianheng standing before him, his expression returned to normal. He once again looked like someone whose true thoughts were impossible to discern, even for those closest to him.

"Tang San, long time no see!" Yu Tianheng greeted him warmly.

Tang San gave a quiet acknowledgment. "It's been a while. Are you here because of Teacher?"

Yu Tianheng did not deny it.

After a moment's silence, he said each word carefully. "In the finals of this Spirit Master Tournament, our Tiandu Royal Team and your Shrek Team are bound to be rivals."

"Even though we're rivals, I still hope you can win the championship. I hope you'll save my second uncle!"

Yu Tianheng spoke with sincerity. As the captain of Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team, he did not immediately ask Tang San to throw a match.

Still, the hope in his eyes that Tang San would win the championship was impossible to hide.

"Your Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team has a chance to win, too. You can try for the championship. I'm sure you could make a request then as well," Tang San said.

Yu Tianheng smiled bitterly. "Tang San, I don't think you know how strong the Martial Soul Team is. As far as I know, three of their members have already reached Soul King."

"Beating the Martial Soul Team won't be easy, but I believe you're the kind of person who can create miracles, Tang San!"

Tang San narrowed his eyes slightly. Just as he was about to answer Yu Tianheng, his gaze suddenly shifted to the elevated platform behind the competition grounds.

Qian Renyu emerged from the rear of the platform, his expression indifferent.

Seeing Qian Renyu's lofty bearing, Tang San swallowed the words he had been about to say.

"I understand. No matter how strong the Martial Soul Team is, for Teacher and Dean Er Long, I'll give everything I have to win the championship!"

"I hope you really can do it!"

Yu Tianheng sighed heavily. He wanted to say more, but Qin Ming had finished drawing lots and was signaling for him to return.

Tang San watched Yu Tianheng lead the Heaven Dou Royal Team back, then turned his gaze to Qian Renyu on the elevated platform once more.

"Even without Yu Tianheng saying that, I would have gone for the championship!"

"If I win, I'll make sure this Qian Renyu fellow loses face!"

"And with so many people watching outside Spirit City, he'll have no choice but to release Teacher and Dean Er Long. After that, we'll just have to flee far away!"

Tang San mused to himself.

His slightly narrowed eyes flickered with all kinds of strange expressions.

"Once we've escaped, Xiao Wu and the others and I will have enough time to grow. We'll just have to wait until our plans come to fruition, then we can settle things with Spirit Hall!"

"With the advantage of my Twin Martial Souls, once I truly become a Titled Douluo, I'll have what it takes to do that!"

"Spirit Hall did so much to Dad back then, too. I can settle old and new scores all at once!"

Tang San's thoughts raced.

His emotions, which he had kept under control, began to slip.

Seeing this, Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, and the others hurried over.

"Third Brother, are you all right?" Xiao Wu asked with concern.

Dai Mubai looked worried as well. "Xiao San, make sure you control your emotions. If you lose your focus before the match, you'll fall right into Spirit Hall's trap."

Tang San let out a long breath and brought his emotions back under control. "Xiao Wu, Boss Dai, don't worry!"

"I was just thinking a little too much, but I'm fine now. Let's stick to the plans we've made over the past few days for the finals!"

"To keep the Martial Soul Academy Team from catching us off guard, we should have Jiang Zhu and Big Brother Tai Long compete unless absolutely necessary."

"As for the real Seven Monsters, we should wait for the best moment to enter the competition. That way, we can turn the tide all at once!"

Xiao Wu and the others had no objections. Dai Mubai nodded along.

They did not say much more or question Tang San's arrangements.

They had already come to regard Tang San as their backbone and followed his every word.

They all admitted they were no match for Tang San when it came to brains. In short, listening to him was always the right choice!

On the elevated platform.

Qian Renyu looked down over the competition grounds.

His cold gaze swept from the platform to the rest area, finally settling on Tang San and the other Shrek students.

He saw Tang San speaking quietly with Dai Mubai and the others, and how readily they followed his lead. His expression did not change.

After giving them a brief glance, he put them out of his mind and turned his attention to the red-robed cardinal, who had finished overseeing the lot draw.

The cardinal bowed to Qian Renyu from below, then dutifully stepped aside.

Qian Renyu did not speak right away. He silently surveyed everyone beneath the platform with an imposing gaze, including the Soul Masters watching from the rest area and the members of the various academy teams.

A moment later, the lofty words befitting a pope emerged from his lips, one sentence at a time:

"You have made it this far from the qualifiers. Every one of you is an outstanding student from one of the many advanced Soul Master academies."

"I am gratified to see you all fighting for your dreams, and equally gratified that so many gifted young talents have emerged in the Soul Master World!"

"Many of you may think these finals seem rather bare, even less impressive than the qualifiers!"

"I am Qian Renyu. In the name of the Pope, I solemnly announce that the final three matches will be held in front of Pope's Palace!"

"I will await the final teams there, and I will personally preside over the coronation of the champions!"

"Now, I hereby declare—"

"The finals officially begin!"