Finals

However, not just any combination could secure victory.

The five also varied in strength.

From the Sun Moon Royal Team's perspective, the safest way to guarantee victory in this 2-2-3 Team Battle was one two-versus-two match and one three-versus-three match.

Rather than two two-versus-two matches.

Because of Su Fan.

They were not certain whether the match Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen were guaranteed to win would end up against Su Fan.

Therefore, they had to gather the strongest three among the remaining five and win the final three-versus-three.

As for Su Fan appearing in the three-versus-three?

In Elder Ma's estimation, there was over a ninety percent chance that Su Fan would choose the three-versus-three.

But while Su Fan's abilities were certainly unusual, they were not invincible.

He was merely deeply calculating.

He had only caught the Sun Moon Royal Team off guard by suddenly revealing the mechanics of his abilities.

In a head-on battle, they did not fear Su Fan.

Guzhu Jian and Qian Yuan faced the Sun Moon Royal Team's substitute and their agility-attack Soul Engineer.

Those two paired together were very weak.

Even so, Guzhu Jian and Qian Yuan had needed to put in considerable effort to win this battle.

As they walked down from the arena, both of them let out sighs of relief.

Good thing they had won.

Su Fan had already done everything he possibly could.

The strategic game had succeeded.

If they still lost after that, they really would be sinners.

For the second two-versus-two match, the Dou Ling Team surrendered immediately after both sides took the stage.

There was no need to fight.

As the saying went, sometimes the outcome was already decided once the lineup had been set.

The third match.

Three versus three.

Su Fan and the other two took the stage.

Elder Ma's expression became solemn as he watched Su Fan step onto the arena.

"Can we win this match?"

The instant the battle began, Elder Ma's heart sank.

Because Su Fan immediately used a Soul Skill he had never even considered.

"Ice Toad Poison!"

Meng Hongchen cried out in shock.

She sprang up from her seat in the preparation area, staring fixedly at the icy mist Su Fan had released.

How was that possible?

As she confirmed it, the surrounding members of the Sun Moon Royal Team could no longer remain seated.

It truly was Meng Hongchen's Soul Skill.

Elder Ma's face darkened, and his heart fell completely cold.

How could he not know how troublesome Meng Hongchen's poison was?

During the previous team battle, Meng Hongchen had tried it. She had released only a tiny amount of poison, yet Su Fan had directly Leaped it through his Apertures to the area around their own teammates, making Ma Rulong hold back at every turn.

It was also because Meng Hongchen had been present at the time that she had dealt with that portion of poison.

But now that Meng Hongchen was not there, who could deal with this poison?

It was not only the Sun Moon Royal Team. The Shrek Team was also in an uproar.

"Wasn't his third Soul Skill a state-enhancing ability?"

"Wasn't it control?"

Su Fan's third Soul Skill had previously displayed two different effects. Everyone had assumed that his absorption of a ten-thousand-year third soul ring beyond his level had made the effects of his Soul Skill more comprehensive.

But now that Ice Toad Poison had appeared, no one could still believe it was merely one all-encompassing Soul Skill.

He had copied Meng Hongchen's Soul Skill.

"Could it be Imprint?"

Xuan Zi muttered.

He did know of this kind of Soul Skill.

After all, ten thousand years ago, Oscar of the first-generation Shrek Seven Devils had been best at copying the Martial Soul abilities of others.

Shrek paid close attention to Soul Skills related to copying.

Imprint was one of them.

Although it had not been fully taught to the students, the archives did contain records of the effects of this kind of Soul Skill.

Of course, those were materials from the Inner Court's core archive.

Wang Yan had never seen them.

Thus, when Du Busi mentioned Imprint, Wang Yan looked up at him with a curious expression.

Xuan Zi took a deep breath and told everyone about the effects of the Imprint Soul Skill and the information on the Silver Hero Beast.

"There's actually a Soul Skill like that?"

"Ah, such an incredible Soul Skill was actually snatched away. It would have been great if you could have obtained it, Yu Hao."

Tian Meng chattered frantically in Huo Yuhao's mind.

"A Soul Skill with a spiritual attribute can only be better mastered by a Soul Master with powerful spiritual power. Su Fan's spiritual attribute definitely isn't stronger than yours."

On the arena.

Su Fan released Ice Toad Poison, then had Xiao Feng use the Mystery Pearl to conceal the poison.

The poison spread, yet it was completely invisible.

Sweat began to appear on the foreheads of the opposing three.

They knew perfectly well how terrifying this poison was.

Now, the toxic mist had also gained the ability to hide itself.

There was no solution.

Elder Ma slumped into his seat, his eyes vacant.

How had this happened?

The mechanics had actually defeated the numbers?

To a Soul Engineer, numbers were exceedingly important.

Yet now, despite having the advantage in cultivation, they had lost to mechanics.

How could Elder Ma accept that?

For this eighth-rank Soul Engineer, it felt as though the sky had collapsed.

The others were also somewhat dazed.

Meng Hongchen clenched her teeth.

"It's all my fault. He must have obtained my Soul Skill during that previous team battle."

"It's not your fault." Xiao Hongchen took a deep breath. "The other side was simply too good at hiding things. We still failed to uncover all of their intelligence."

"Still, it's not a major problem. We still have a chance. At the next tournament, you and I will use absolute numbers to show them that all those flashy tricks have nowhere to hide before absolute power."

Xiao Hongchen did not believe that the other side could withstand a Martial Soul Fusion Skill from two Soul Emperors.

Even if his teammates were once again caught in Mirror Lock, the spillover damage would absolutely be enough to deal with Su Fan.

As for his teammates...

The Invincible Barrier could solve that.

The next tournament would be held in the Ming Capital, practically on their home turf. The empire's support would not be insignificant, and it was not impossible for every member to be equipped with an Invincible Barrier.

The semifinals came to an end.

The two teams advancing to the finals were finally decided.

The Shrek Team and the Dou Ling Team!

At the hotel.

"I never expected us to actually make it to the finals."

Guzhu Jian's voice was full of excitement.

The others all felt as though they were walking on air, as if none of it were real.

Su Fan reminded them, "There's still one final match. Don't let your guard down."

"Su Fan, do we really have a chance at the championship?" Guzhu Jian could not help asking.

Su Fan waved his hand.

"You only need to make sure you are at your peak condition. Leave everything to me."

After returning to his room.

Su Fan did not waste a single moment and continued constructing that line within his body.

Electrolux studied the Fixed Soul Guidance Shell and analyzed the principles of the line linking its many Core Arrays in series.

What Su Fan needed to do was replicate that line.

If he could gather the power of his Heavenly Circuit Apertures—no, even if it was only the power of a portion of his Apertures—it would be enough to become a new trump card.

Time passed.

Another two days went by.

At the finals venue.

The place was packed with people, and the entire plaza was impenetrably crowded.

The taller buildings around the plaza were also filled with people watching from afar.

"Dear audience, the most thrilling moment of this Soul Master Tournament is about to begin—the finals!"

"To ensure that the ultimate champion is truly worthy of the title, this final will include all three formats: the individual elimination match, the 2-2-3 Team Battle, and the team battle."

"The order of the matches will be determined by drawing lots."

"Now, representatives from both teams, please come to the stage and draw lots to determine the order of the finals."

Su Fan and Huo Yuhao stepped onto the stage.

The two exchanged a glance.

Each drew a ball.

The numbers on the balls would be added together to determine the format.

"Team battle!"

"2-2-3 Team Battle!"

"Individual elimination match!"

After the three draws, the host's voice rose ever higher.