The Expected Champion

These words immediately caused a huge uproar.

"They abstained?"

"The Sun Moon have abstained!"

"Doesn't that mean..."

Huang Jinxu was also taken aback.

But he quickly realized what was happening, took a deep breath, channeled his Soul Power into the megaphone, and shouted loudly:

"Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy... forfeits the individual elimination round!"

Shrek Academy wins the individual competition!

"Two consecutive victories in the team competition and the individual elimination rounds!"

"The ultimate champion of this Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament is Shrek Academy!"

Star Luo Plaza was in complete uproar.

Cheers, screams, and stomping blended together as tens of thousands of spectators stood up simultaneously, creating a deafening roar that nearly lifted the dome off the stage.

In the VIP section, after a long while, he stood up and applauded, a hint of relief on his lips.

She lost to a team like that, it's not unfair.

On the other side, the eliminated contestants from various colleges also stood up.

Dugu Shangshan and Huang Heyun from the Star Luo Imperial Academy exchanged a glance and shook their heads; the gap was too great.

The Diao Academy players had complex expressions. They hadn't even made it past the semifinals, being defeated by Sun Moon. And Sun Moon Academy was so thoroughly crushed by Shrek in the finals...

The prestige of this competition's champion is ridiculously high.

Dai Huabin stood in front of the players' seats, the cheers of the audience filling his ears, but he didn't react in any particular way.

We won the championship.

The result was as expected.

He simply turned around, walked over, and squatted down next to the ice cocoon.

Ma Xiaotao's face appeared exceptionally calm behind the ice. Gone was her usual arrogant and domineering expression, gone was her usual volatile temper; she simply lay there quietly.

"It's over," Dai Huabin said softly. "You can now focus on recovering."

No one responded to him. Ma Xiaotao, inside the ice cocoon, obviously couldn't hear him.

But Dai Huabin felt that she could hear him.

Zhu Lu walked over and stood next to him.

"Mmm," she responded softly.

Nothing more needs to be said.

Both of them knew that the final victory was so decisive because everyone had given their all. And the moment Ma Xiaotao blocked the Sword of Judgment...

That was the turning point of the entire game.

"Huabin! We've won!" Ning Tian rushed over from behind, his face flushed with excitement.

Xiao Xiao and Cui Yajie followed, and Cui Yajie jumped up immediately. "We won!"

Dai Yueheng calmly patted Dai Huabin on the shoulder:

"Great job, bro, that was a brilliant play."

Xixi strolled over from the side:

"We really benefited from this."

Ling Luochen, Chen Zifeng, Yao Haoxuan, Gongyang Mo, and the others were all very happy.

Dai Huabin stood up from beside the ice cocoon and glanced back at the still excited crowd.

The joy of winning the championship is real, but for him, the questions raised in this match are more important than the honor.

Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire.

The fusion of the dark power of the Sword of Judgment and the Evil Fire.

This is not something that can be resolved in a short time.

"Let's go," he said to Zhu Lu. "Let's receive the award first, then go back. I have ideas about Sister Xiaotao Tao's matter."

Zhu Lu glanced at him and nodded slightly.

Across the arena, Ma Rulong was being helped by Xiao Xiafeng towards the rest area.

He walked slowly, his knees trembling with every step. When he reached the center of the ring, he paused and looked in Shrek's direction.

Dai Huabin happened to turn his head as well.

The two men stared at each other for a moment, separated by most of the arena.

Ma Rulong opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just nodded slightly.

Then continue walking forward.

A loss is a loss.

He didn't lose because of equipment or tactics, but because of the absolute dominance of that Domain of Eternal Freeze. The sword strike he unleashed with Level 8 Soul Tool and a blood sacrifice did wound his opponent, but that was all.

The opponent's counterattack ended the game.

Meng Hongchen supported her brother, glancing out of the corner of her eye towards Shrek Academy. Her lips moved, but she said nothing.

She remembered the note she had left for Dai Huabin before the competition. "See you in the finals."

I met you.

Then it got run over.

She hoped that their next meeting wouldn't be in the ring.

The awards ceremony began soon after.

The Star Luo Empire's ceremonial officials carried up the trophy and medals, followed by a squad of royal guards. As is customary, the champion team would receive Soul Bone provided by the Star Luo Imperial Family.

When Dai Huabin led his team onto the podium, another wave of cheers erupted from the audience.

But he noticed that there was one more person in the highest VIP seat.

A middle-aged man dressed in a golden robe and wearing a crown.

Emperor of the Star Luo Empire.

"The Star Luo Emperor," Zhang Lexuan whispered from behind.

Dai Huabin nodded, his expression unchanged.

The award ceremony was quick; Dai Huabin received the Soul Bone, and that was it.

After a long while, he walked over from the side after the awards ceremony.

"Congratulations." She nodded slightly to Dai Huabin. "Just as I expected."

"You flatter me," Dai Huabin said politely.

Xu Jiujiu, he glanced at the ice cocoon being protected by Xue Qingyao and asked, "How is your captain?"

"It will be handled."

"If you need the royal pharmacy, just ask." After saying this, Xu Jiujiu didn't linger any longer and turned to leave with his attendants.

As Dai Huabin watched her departing figure, he remembered this favor.

It was already evening when we got back to the Star Emperor Hotel.

Snow Empress maintained the ice cocoon throughout, and Ma Xiaotao was safely returned to her room.

Ice Empress assisted from the side, and the two took turns using their icy power to maintain the stability of the ice cocoon.

In Shrek's suite, everyone's emotions gradually shifted from excitement to calm.

They won the championship, but until Ma Xiaotao's injury heals, no one can be truly happy.

Dai Huabin sat on the sofa in the living room, deep in thought.

Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire cannot be dealt with in a short time. The dark power of the Sword of Judgment has reacted with the Evil Fire, and to deal with it first, we may have to rely on Elder Yi."

"I need to go back and look into Sister Xiaotao's problem." Dai Huabin stood up. "Everyone, get some rest tonight. Tomorrow, you can do whatever you want in Star Luo City; all expenses will be covered."

Ning Tian was the first to jump up. "Really?! Brother Huabin, you keep your word!"

"You keep your word."

Cui Yajie grabbed Xiao Xiao's hand and shook it. "Xiao Xiao, let's go to the Starlight Auction House tomorrow! Brother Huabin has the highest authority!"

Xiao Xiao: "Calm down."

Dai Yueheng leaned back on the sofa. "With the champion's prize money plus your ultimate license, I think your wallet is going to bleed a lot."

"It doesn't matter." Dai Huabin walked towards the room. "We should celebrate if we win."

Zhu Lu followed behind him, and the sound of their footsteps gradually faded away in the corridor.

As we approached the room door, a small head peeked out from around the corner.

Di Lingxi stood there, hugging a cushion, looking utterly aggrieved.

"Brother Huabin..."

"Um?"

"The barbecue you promised me..."

Dai Huabin stopped and looked at the Auspicious Beast, who could only watch from the sidelines the entire time and hadn't even participated once. He couldn't help but reach out and ruffle her hair.

"Tomorrow, at the best barbecue restaurant, I'll grill it for you myself."

Di Lingxi then grinned.

Zhu Lu peeked out from behind and glanced at it, but didn't say anything.

Dai Huabin pushed open the door, went inside, and then closed it behind him.

The room fell silent.

He walked to the window, sat down, closed his eyes, and let his consciousness sink into the Eye of Life.

Golden light shone in the darkness, and an ancient and profound will slowly awakened.

"Elder Yi," Dai Huabin spoke in the spiritual world, "I need your help."