First

Early the next morning, Huo Wu strode up to Xiaofei in front of everyone and said domineeringly, "Xiaofeizi, you'd better forget what happened yesterday. If you dare spread it around, do you believe I'll break your legs? No matter what you think, I won't take responsibility for you!" Then she turned her head away and left with a proud expression.

Everyone around them looked at the bewildered Xiaofei strangely, leaving him with nothing but a wry smile.

The competition continued afterward, and the three of them returned to their usual selves.

One day, while Xiaofei and the other two were walking down the road, they unexpectedly ran into Flender, Yu Xiaogang, and the Shrek Seven Devils. Thinking of certain things from their school days, Xiaofei had no choice but to go over and greet them. "Master, Tang San, Xiao Wu, hello. It's been a long time."

The three of them greeted Xiaofei as well. "Hello, Xiaofei."

Xiaofei pointed to Huo Wu and Huo Wushuang beside him. "These two are my classmates, Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu."

Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu also greeted them. They were all students participating in the Spirit Master Tournament, so they had more or less dealt with one another before. Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu were major stars of the tournament, while Shrek was its dark horse.

After thinking for a moment, Yu Xiaogang said to Xiaofei, "Xiaofei, are you free now? Why don't we sit down and talk?"

Xiaofei thought about it and agreed. The group then went to a nearby tavern. Yu Xiaogang, Xiaofei, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Flender sat together, while the others took another table and chatted among themselves.

Yu Xiaogang said, "Xiaofei, how have you been these past few years at Blazing Academy? I noticed that you don't seem to have competed in the Spirit Master Tournament yet."

Xiaofei smiled. "That's the teachers' arrangement. I probably won't compete in the finals either."

Flender cut in, "Student Xiaofei, I can see that you have good talent. Why didn't you consider coming to Shrek Academy back then? If you had come to Shrek, you definitely would have received focused training."

After thinking for a moment, Xiaofei said, "Dean Flender, my Martial Soul is related to the Fire Element. When it comes to studying the Fire Element, no academy should be better than Blazing Academy. Tang San and Xiao Wu have performed very well in the Spirit Master Tournament. That should be thanks to Shrek's training."

The two sides exchanged a few more lukewarm remarks.

Suddenly, Flender seemed to think of something. He said to Xiaofei, "Student Xiaofei, may I ask you a question? If it's inconvenient, forget it."

Xiaofei said, "Dean Flender, if you have a question, just ask. I used to ask Master for advice many times too."

Flender said, "I have a student whose Martial Soul is also a Fire Phoenix. There is a great deal of Evil Fire inside him, and he has always been troubled by it. Have you ever encountered Evil Fire?"

Xiaofei thought for a moment. "Actually, I had Evil Fire when I first began cultivating as well. If the Phoenix Fire's flames are impure, some Evil Fire will be mixed within them. I was troubled by it at first too. My solution back then was to train and study desperately. If I trained until I was utterly exhausted every day, the Evil Fire's effects would be much weaker."

"Also, when absorbing Soul Rings, try to absorb Fire Attribute Soul Beasts with a Phoenix Bloodline. My third and fourth Soul Rings both came from Earth Fire Lizards. After absorbing those two Soul Rings, the Evil Fire affected me much less. Blazing Academy also does more research on flames, and since it is located beside a volcano, that is beneficial for controlling Evil Fire as well."

At that moment, Yu Xiaogang muttered from the side, "By absorbing Fire Attribute Soul Beasts, especially those with a Phoenix Bloodline, the Phoenix Flame within the body can become stronger and purer, allowing one to take control of the flames inside. And using a volcanic environment as well—indeed, that is a good method."

Yu Xiaogang suddenly stood up and said to Xiaofei, "Student Xiaofei, I am very sorry about inviting you to Shrek Academy in the past. Your understanding of Martial Souls is extremely profound, perhaps even deeper than mine. Thank you for today."

Flender also pulled Ma Hongjun over and said to Xiaofei, "Thank you for sharing your experience. Consider this a favor I owe you. If you encounter any trouble in the future, you can come find me anytime."

Xiaofei smiled. "To resist Evil Fire, the most important thing is to have a firm will."

The two sides chatted for a few more moments before parting ways. Huo Wu suddenly asked Xiaofei, "Xiaofeizi, is that all your experience in dealing with Evil Fire?"

Xiaofei shook his head. "That is only part of it. But no matter what, personal willpower and physical strength are the foundation for dealing with Evil Fire. That little fatty actually has decent talent. If he took Dean Huo Tianchen as his teacher, the Dean would probably have a way to help him solve his blood-fire problem."

Huo Wushuang asked strangely, "Why didn't I know Grandpa could deal with Evil Fire?"

Xiaofei laughed heartily. "When it comes to understanding flames, the Dean should be the strongest in the world. Mere Evil Fire would be no challenge for him."

The following matches grew even more intense. In order to fight for the five advancement slots, many teams brought out their trump cards. Skywater Academy used Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu's Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Hu Yanli of Elephant Academy used his Head Soul Bone, and Yu Tianxin of Thunder Academy displayed an impressive Dragon Transformation technique.

Of course, the most eye-catching moment came when Tang San used the Clear Sky Hammer. Once Tang San revealed the Clear Sky Hammer, his secrets as a wielder of Twin Martial Souls and a disciple of the Clear Sky Sect could no longer be concealed. The Clear Sky Hammer still possessed its reputation as the world's number one Tool Martial Soul, and many people sought to recruit him. Naturally, quite a few also viewed him with hostility. Salas of Spirit Hall, for example, always spoke in a strange tone.

Xiaofei felt that undercurrents were surging now, and things would probably descend into chaos before long.

With the eruption of Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer, Shrek Academy won several crucial battles, including one against Canghui's Seven-in-One Fusion Skill and another against Thunder Academy.

After twenty-eight rounds of competition, the top five were finally decided: Blazing Academy, Godwind Academy, Skywater Academy, Shrek Academy, and Thunder Academy. Elephant Academy, meanwhile, suffered an upset elimination.

Finally, Xue Ye personally presented the awards.

The top five teams went to the VIP seating platform to receive their qualification certificates. The ceremony itself was not complicated. At the host's announcement, the captains and vice-captains of the five top-ranked teams stepped onto the platform.

Next, Xue Ye, Sect Master Ning of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and Platinum Bishop Salas personally awarded advancement qualification certificates and prize money to the five teams entering the advancement round.

Finally, Xue Ye gave a speech. "I have decided to confer upon the ten of you the title of viscount. The other participating students from your five academies will receive the title of baron. Once you graduate, the doors of the imperial royal family will always stand open to you. Your fiefs will be distributed collectively after your graduation."

At the same time, Xue Ye encouraged the students. Outstanding participants in the advancement round and finals would receive all kinds of rewards, including academy subsidies and assistance in hunting Soul Rings. Moreover, if any team won the final competition, the entire team's noble rank would rise by one level, while their academy would gain the prefix "Royal" and receive imperial financial support. These rewards nearly made the people present drop their jaws. Meanwhile, Salas, the Platinum Bishop of Spirit Hall, traded barbs with Xue Ye, and the smell of gunpowder was thick in the air.

Just like that, even Wang Xiaofei, who had not competed at all, inexplicably became a baron.

And the conflict between Spirit Hall, the Heaven Dou Royal Family, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect seemed to have grown even greater.