Champion!!! Puni!

Above the elevated platform in Spirit Hall.

Bibi Dong stood quietly before the railing.

Her luxurious papal robes flowed over her nearly perfect figure, accentuating her full, shapely curves to stunning effect.

Her long, straight legs were faintly visible beneath her skirt, exuding an air of mature nobility.

Yet there was not a trace of languor in her gaze now.

She stared without blinking at the young man standing proudly amid the ruins below.

A dazzling smile slowly spread across Bibi Dong's usually cold and elegant face.

This young man had not disappointed her.

A God-Level Martial Soul.

It had to be a God-Level Martial Soul.

"Your Holiness..."

Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, standing beside her, seemed about to say something.

Bibi Dong raised a hand slightly, cutting him off.

Her voice was so low that only Yue Guan and Gui Mei, standing nearby, could hear her.

"This boy..."

"Truly has limitless potential."

Yue Guan and Gui Mei bowed respectfully, but the shock in their eyes had yet to fade.

Down on the field, the referee, who had been standing there dumbfounded, finally came to his senses.

He nervously wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and hurried to the shattered center of the arena.

He took a deep breath and raised his right hand high.

"The grand finals of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament!"

"The winner—"

"Spirit Hall Academy!"

As the referee's voice faded into the distance, Gu Sheng pushed open the heavy door at the end of the passage.

The room backstage was spacious, yet it felt a little crowded.

Ning Fengzhi stood in the most prominent spot, dressed in elegant white robes.

Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong stood silently behind him, one on each side like guardian deities.

Chen Xin's right hand had never left the hilt of his Seven Kill Sword.

Gu Rong's gaze, like a dry well, remained fixed on Gu Sheng.

Ning Fengzhi stepped forward, his eyes sweeping from Gu Sheng's shoulders all the way down to his toes.

He nodded slightly, a look of admiration flashing in his eyes.

"Great heroes emerge in youth."

"To have such strength at such a young age is truly impressive."

Ning Fengzhi smiled, but deep in his eyes lingered a trace of worry that was difficult to dispel.

Chen Xin said nothing, but when Gu Sheng drew near, his eyelid twitched slightly.

At close range, the absolute suppression from the difference in Martial Soul ranks was even clearer than it had been from the stands.

He could feel the Seven Kill Sword inside him giving off a series of muffled, mournful cries.

It was something he had never experienced in all his years of renown.

Standing behind them, Gu Rong gently rubbed his withered hands together.

"The fluctuations of this little fellow's Soul Power are truly strange."

Gu Rong pondered to himself, the curiosity in his eyes growing stronger.

Behind them, the accompanying disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect could no longer resist whispering among themselves.

"That's him—the one who beat Shrek all by himself."

"This is more than impressive. He's a monster."

"With him around, no one will be able to challenge Spirit Hall for the next hundred years."

Their voices were quiet, but Gu Sheng heard every word.

His expression remained calm. He merely gave Ning Fengzhi a slight nod and said nothing.

The atmosphere in the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's resting area was heavy.

Emperor Xue Ye sat in an ornate wooden chair, his usually ruddy complexion now tinged with green.

Shrek Academy represented the Heaven Dou Empire, yet today they had been utterly crushed by Spirit Hall.

For Emperor Xue Ye, who had always valued the royal family's dignity, it felt as though his face were burning.

But he was a ruler who had weathered countless battles. He took a deep breath and suppressed his displeasure.

He stood and walked over to Gu Sheng.

Emperor Xue Ye's gaze was complicated, holding admiration, wariness, and a deep sense of helplessness.

"The Heaven Dou Empire will always welcome young talents like you."

At those words, the officials of the Heaven Dou Empire around them all changed expression.

The emperor had actually extended an invitation to Gu Sheng in front of everyone from Spirit Hall.

It was undoubtedly a challenge to Spirit Hall's authority.

But as the officials looked at Emperor Xue Ye's imposing profile, not one of them dared speak up in protest.

Emperor Xue Ye raised his hand and gave Gu Sheng a firm pat on the shoulder.

"Prepare well for the upcoming awards ceremony."

"Your future is limitless."

With that, Emperor Xue Ye turned and strode away, surrounded by his guards.

Xue Qinghe, who had remained behind, now stepped forward.

He wore the pale gold robes of the Heaven Dou Crown Prince, and his face bore a perfectly polished, impeccably courteous smile.

"Congratulations, Captain Gu."

"That match was truly magnificent."

Xue Qinghe held out his right hand.

Gu Sheng looked at his exquisitely disguised face, a smile flickering in his eyes, unnoticed by anyone else.

"Thank you for your praise, Your Highness."

Gu Sheng held out his own hand and shook Xue Qinghe's.

As their palms met—

Gu Sheng gently hooked his index finger and secretly traced a circle in Xue Qinghe's warm palm.

The corner of Xue Qinghe's eye twitched involuntarily.

A flash of embarrassment and alarm crossed his otherwise calm gaze.

But in front of everyone else, he had to maintain the crown prince's composure.

Xue Qinghe pressed his lips together, forcibly suppressing the smile that was almost spilling out.

He leaned slightly toward Gu Sheng and, as they brushed past each other, muttered in a very low voice beside his ear.

"You're really good at putting on an act."

"Standing up there just now, did you feel like the most impressive person in the world?"

Gu Sheng remained where he was, his expression still cool and businesslike.

"Why would Your Highness say that?"

"I simply gave it everything I had."

Xue Qinghe let out an annoyed snort.

He withdrew his hand and resumed his dignified, refined bearing as the Heaven Dou Crown Prince.

"I meant that you fought well."

"I hope you'll be just as lucky next time."

Their eyes met in midair.

Xue Qinghe blinked playfully.

Gu Sheng raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly and blinked back.

Xue Qinghe turned and hurried out of the room, followed by the remaining officials of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.

The door opened again.

A strange, fragrant breeze drifted in.

Bibi Dong entered first, carrying the Nine-Headed Serpent Emperor Scepter, symbol of the pope's authority.

Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei followed at her sides.

The two Titled Douluo wore expressions stern enough to frighten anyone.

Yet the corners of their eyes kept darting toward Gu Sheng.

Bibi Dong stopped in front of Gu Sheng.

Today she wore an exquisite papal ceremonial robe.

Below her long neck, the robe clung tightly to her full curves, outlining a breathtaking figure.

Her long, straight legs, clad in black stockings, were faintly visible through the slit in her skirt, exuding the allure of a mature woman.

Yet her bearing was so noble and sacred that no one would dare harbor the slightest blasphemous thought.