Ling Yuan's Satisfaction! The Finals!

Shui Bing'er looked at everyone around the table.

"For the next three days, everyone should rest and adjust your condition."

"Once we reach Spirit City, training will resume as normal."

Shui Yue'er raised her hand.

"No training tonight?"

Long Tian looked at her.

"Today is a rest day."

"Great!"

Shui Yue'er immediately ran into the courtyard and carried out several jars of fruit wine she had prepared long ago.

"Yue'er knew the captain would definitely agree tonight."

The dean of Skywater Academy looked at the jars of wine and could not help shaking his head.

"You prepared these in advance?"

"I prepared them before the competition even began."

Shui Yue'er placed a jar of fruit wine before Long Tian.

"Yue'er believed the captain would definitely win the championship."

Long Tian opened the wine jar.

A sweet, fragrant scent of wine wafted from its mouth.

"Then everyone may have one cup tonight."

Shui Yue'er held up two fingers.

"Two cups."

"One cup."

"Captain, today is a championship celebration."

Long Tian picked up the wine jug and poured her half a cup.

"You only get half a cup."

Shui Yue'er looked at the fruit wine in her cup.

"Why does Yue'er get less than everyone else?"

Shui Bing'er came to her sister's side.

"Because whenever you get drunk, you run onto the roof and sing."

"The entire camp was woken up by you last time."

Shui Yue'er's cheeks reddened.

"That was just an accident."

"Yue'er definitely will not get drunk tonight."

Long Tian set the wine jug back on the table.

"If you keep bargaining, you will not even get this half cup."

Shui Yue'er immediately cradled the cup in her hands.

"Half a cup it is."

"Yue'er will drink it slowly."

The courtyard soon grew lively.

Xue Wu and the others sat around the stone table, discussing today's matches.

After finishing her half cup of fruit wine, Shui Yue'er hugged the championship trophy and refused to let go.

After offering a few reminders, the dean of Skywater Academy left the camp with two teachers.

Moonlight gradually rose.

Long Tian sat in the courtyard, studying the map of Spirit City on the table.

Three days later.

Skywater Academy would leave Heaven Dou City and officially depart for Spirit City.

Holding a cup of clear tea, Shui Bing'er came over and sat beside him.

"Still looking over information about the finals?"

"I'm familiarizing myself with Spirit City's terrain in advance."

Long Tian spread the map across the stone table.

"After entering Spirit City, we should be assigned to the academy district on the western side."

"The competition venue is located at the foot of Spirit Mountain."

Shui Bing'er lowered her head and studied it for a moment.

"Your Excellency Ling Yuan is in Spirit City."

"You should be able to see her when you return this time."

"Teacher knows I will be participating in the finals."

Long Tian looked toward Pope Hall at the center of the map.

"Once we reach Spirit City, we will naturally meet."

Shui Bing'er nodded softly.

"You once said that Your Excellency Ling Yuan did not have you join Spirit Hall directly because she did not want you dragged into its internal struggles."

"Now that you are leading Skywater Academy to Spirit City, will that bring you trouble?"

"No."

Long Tian put away the map.

"I am Skywater Academy's captain, and I am also Teacher's disciple."

"These two identities do not conflict."

The beautiful woman set down her teacup.

"That is good, then."

Not far away.

Shui Yue'er had already fallen asleep on the stone table.

She still clutched the championship trophy tightly in her arms.

Xue Wu tried twice to take it, but failed both times.

"Yue'er, let go."

"You cannot take the trophy back to your room."

With her eyes closed, Shui Yue'er only hugged it tighter.

"This was given to Yue'er by the captain..."

Xue Wu turned to Long Tian.

"Captain, handle this."

Long Tian walked to Shui Yue'er's side and pressed a hand against the base of the trophy.

"Yue'er."

"The trophy stays in the hall."

The sleeping Shui Yue'er shook her head gently.

"No."

"Let go, and I will reward you with a pastry tomorrow."

Her arms immediately loosened.

Xue Wu swiftly pulled the trophy away.

Several team members around them laughed.

Watching her sister, Shui Bing'er raised a hand to her forehead.

"Is she drunk, or has she been awake all along?"

Long Tian picked Shui Yue'er up.

"Probably half asleep and half awake."

Sensing the familiar presence, the slender figure in his arms immediately wrapped both hands around his white robes.

Her cheek rested against Long Tian's shoulder.

"Captain..."

"Yue'er wants pastries too."

Long Tian looked at Shui Bing'er.

"Where is her room?"

"I'll take you there."

The two left the courtyard.

Shui Bing'er pushed open her sister's door.

Long Tian placed Shui Yue'er, who was in his arms, onto the bed.

Just as he was about to pull his arm back, the hands around his neck tightened again.

"Captain is not allowed to leave."

Standing by the bed, Shui Bing'er gently patted her sister's forehead.

"Yue'er, let go."

"Big Sister is not allowed to steal the captain either."

With her eyes closed, Shui Yue'er curled herself into the bedding.

The room fell quiet for a moment.

Long Tian looked at Shui Bing'er.

"Is she always like this when she gets drunk?"

A flush had already spread across the beautiful woman's face.

"Yue'er does not usually say such things."

"It must be the fruit wine tonight."

Long Tian gently removed those arms.

"Starting tomorrow, she is forbidden from drinking."

"I agree."

Shui Bing'er tucked a thin blanket around her sister.

The two quietly left the room.

Outside in the corridor.

Moonlight fell across Shui Bing'er's long aqua-blue hair.

Shui Bing'er stopped walking and suddenly reached out to grasp Long Tian's sleeve.

"Do you still remember what you promised me at the arena?"

"I remember."

Long Tian turned around.

"Has Bing'er decided on her request?"

The beautiful woman nodded gently.

"In three days, we will be heading to Spirit City."

"Until the finals end, you will remain with Skywater Team, right?"

"I am the captain. Naturally, I will not leave."

Shui Bing'er lifted her eyes toward those nine-colored pupils.

"That is not what I mean."

"Then what do you mean?"

Her delicate hand slowly slid down his sleeve before finally taking Long Tian's hand.

"Walk with me tonight."

"Just with me."

Long Tian clasped that slender jade-like hand in return.

"Alright."

The two figures walked side by side through the corridor.

Laughter from the Skywater Team members still drifted through the courtyard.

Three days later.

Skywater Academy would set out.

Their destination was Spirit City.

Three days later.

Outside Heaven Dou City.

The Royal Knights stood in orderly formation, escorting the academy teams qualified for the finals to Spirit City.

Skywater Academy's carriage was positioned in the middle of the convoy.

Blue banners hung from both sides of the carriage, their Ice Phoenix emblems unfurling in the wind.

Long Tian leaned against the carriage window, holding the competition materials for Spirit City.

Shui Bing'er sat opposite him, confirming the lineup for the finals.

"Captain, there is very little information on the Spirit Hall Team."

"Apart from Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan, the other four also have Soul Power above rank forty."

Long Tian closed the materials.

"The only ones we truly need to watch out for are the Golden Generation."

"Xie Yue and Hu Liena possess a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, while Yan has both fire and earth attributes."

Shui Yue'er poked her head out from the side.

"They're all Soul Kings."

"The captain is only level forty-eight. Do we really not need to plan our tactics in advance?"

Long Tian raised a hand and tapped her forehead.

"The tactics were decided long ago."

"You'll handle the other four."

"The Golden Generation will be left to Bing'er and me."

Shui Bing'er nodded gently.

"After being refined over this period of time, the Annihilating Ice Phoenix Dance can now be used steadily."

"Even against Soul Kings, it is enough to pose a threat."

Xue Wu looked out the window.

"The Spirit Hall Team has won the championship for several consecutive years."

"If Skywater Academy can defeat them, then this tournament will hold no regrets."

Long Tian looked at the six teammates inside the carriage.

"We didn't come to Spirit City to leave behind regrets."

"The championship can only belong to Skywater Academy."

The team members nodded together.

The carriage continued onward.

More than ten days later.

Spirit City appeared at the end of the official road.

Its towering walls were built from solid stone, and its six gates corresponded to six powerful Martial Souls.

At the center of the city, Spirit Mountain rose straight into the clouds.

Pope Hall and Douluo Hall stood atop the mountain. Sunlight fell upon them, bathing vast stretches of buildings in golden radiance.

After entering the city gates, the various academies were led separately to their lodgings.

Skywater Academy had only just arrived at its residence when crimson firelight descended from the sky outside.

Ling Yuan withdrew her Martial Soul, her red gown swaying lightly in the wind.

Though the aura of a nine-ringed Titled Douluo was not deliberately released, the Spirit Hall Soul Masters responsible for reception immediately bowed.

"Greetings, Your Grace Ling Yuan."

The woman in red ignored everyone else and walked straight toward Long Tian.

"My good disciple."

"After just a few months apart, you're already level forty-eight?"

Long Tian stepped forward and bowed.

"Teacher."

Ling Yuan raised her jade-like hand and placed it on Long Tian's shoulder.

Soul Power entered his meridians.

His cultivation at the peak of level forty-eight became clear to her senses.

What surprised Ling Yuan even more was his body, tempered by two drops of True Dragon Blood.

Even an ordinary Soul Emperor might not possess a physique comparable to Long Tian's.

"Your first two soul rings have been raised to the thousand-year level."

"Your fourth soul ring is still one hundred thousand years."

"I was gone for only a few months, yet you've accomplished quite a few major things."

Long Tian smiled faintly.

"As long as I haven't disgraced you, Teacher."

"It's far more than merely avoiding disgrace."

Ling Yuan reached out and adjusted his collar.

"Right now, all of Spirit City is talking about Long Tian of Skywater Academy."

"Even Her Holiness the Pope has reviewed records of your matches."

Shui Bing'er led the team forward.

"Greetings, Your Grace Ling Yuan."

Ling Yuan looked at the Ice Phoenix Soul Master.

"Level forty-three."

"It seems you've improved quite a bit during this time as well."

Shui Bing'er nodded softly.

"It is thanks to Long Tian's help."

"The life element of the Rainbow Dragon can accelerate the recovery of Soul Power."

"My Ice Phoenix has also completed an advancement under the nourishment of Ultimate Ice."

Ling Yuan gave the two of them a satisfied glance.

"Your combined soul skill can already be used steadily?"

"It can."

Shui Bing'er answered seriously.

"The power of the Annihilating Ice Phoenix Dance is enough to threaten a Soul Emperor."

Hearing this, Ling Yuan's eyes gained a hint more approval.

"The Golden Generation has three Soul Kings."

"Hu Liena and Xie Yue's Martial Soul Fusion Skill in particular once defeated a Soul Emperor head-on."

"If you encounter the Spirit Hall Team in the finals, you must not underestimate them."

Long Tian looked toward Spirit Mountain.

"Rest assured, Teacher."

"I will personally claim this year's championship."

Ling Yuan gently patted his shoulder.

"Good."

"Teacher will wait to watch you defeat the Golden Generation."

The next day.

Central Plaza of Spirit City.

The teams from the various academies entered one after another.

After the preliminary and advancement rounds, every team able to stand here was a top academy from its respective division.

The moment the Skywater Team entered the plaza, it immediately drew countless gazes.

The figure in white walked at the front.

His soul ring configuration of purple, purple, black, and red had long spread across the continent through the matches in the Heaven Dou Division.

Quite a few teams took the initiative to make way.

"So that's Long Tian?"

"A fourteen-year-old level forty-eight Soul Ancestor."

"I heard he can simultaneously control four elements: fire, ice, lightning, and life."

"Skywater Academy used to have only ice attributes. Now that they have the Rainbow Dragon, they're completely different."

Listening to the discussion around them, Shui Yue'er puffed out her chest.

"Captain, they're all looking at you."

Long Tian did not slow his pace.

"Once we enter the finals, they'll be looking even more."

On the other side of the plaza.

Seven figures dressed in golden-red battle attire approached at a leisurely pace.

The woman at the front had long golden hair.

Her exquisite features carried a seductive air, and her eyes were a faint pink.

Hu Liena's gaze passed over the crowd and landed directly on Long Tian.

The charm brought by the Rainbow Dragon clashed subtly with the charm of her Demon Fox Martial Soul.

The moment the two spiritual forces made contact, Hu Liena felt her sea of consciousness sink.

The light in her pink eyes immediately dimmed somewhat.

Xie Yue came to his sister's side.

"Nana, what's wrong?"

Hu Liena withdrew her gaze.

"Long Tian's spiritual power is very strong."

"My Demon Fox Charm has no effect on him."

Yan looked at the distant white-clad figure, his expression darkening.

"He's just an auxiliary-type Soul Ancestor."

"If we meet in the arena, I'll deal with him personally."

Hu Liena did not respond.

At that moment, the Nine-Colored Double Pupils looked over as well.

Their gazes met across the plaza.

Long Tian gave him only one glance before calmly looking away.

That disregard made Yan's fists clench tightly.

"He actually dares to ignore us."

Xie Yue raised a hand to stop Yan.

"This is the opening ceremony for the finals."

"If you want to fight, wait until the arena."

Above them, on the high platform.

The gates of Pope Hall slowly opened.

Bibi Dong emerged from the hall carrying the Pope's scepter, accompanied by Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo.

All the competing teams fell silent at once.

The Pope's scepter lightly struck the ground.

Golden Soul Power spread across the plaza.

"The finals of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament officially begin."

Spirit City Finals.

First round.

Skywater Academy versus Canghui Academy.

The instant Canghui's seven members unleashed their Seven-in-One Fusion Skill, Long Tian released the Life Divine Domain and directly severed the Soul Power connection between them.

Shui Bing'er's Ice Seal covered the arena in a single move.

The match lasted less than a quarter of an hour.

Every member of Canghui Academy was eliminated.

Second round.

Skywater Academy versus Plant Academy.

Vast numbers of vines covered the field, intending to use sheer quantity to restrain the Skywater Team.

Long Tian merely took a step forward.

His fourth soul ring lit up.

The Life Divine Domain descended.

All plant Martial Souls immediately lost control and drooped of their own accord before the Nine-Colored Divine Dragon.

Shui Yue'er charged into the opposing formation with the others and quickly ended the match.

Third round.

Skywater Academy versus Star Luo Royal Academy.

Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun unleashed the Hell White Tiger.

The enormous phantom of the White Tiger had only just appeared when it suffered bloodline suppression under the True Dragon Pressure.

Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu joined forces to release the Ice and Snow Domain.

The Hell White Tiger's speed dropped drastically.

Long Tian used the Myriad Thunder Soul-Fusing Seal to stack five layers of lightning marks in succession, shattering the Martial Soul Fusion Skill head-on.

Skywater Academy won once more.

Semifinals.

Skywater Academy versus the joint team formed by Kamikaze and Blazing Fire.

Feng Xiaotian unleashed the Gale Demon Wolf Thirty-Six Consecutive Slashes.

Huo Wu gathered all the fire-attribute Soul Power of her teammates and condensed the Fire Dance Radiant Sun once again.

Azure wind blades and a blazing white fireball descended upon the Skywater formation at the same time.