Tang San Broke Down, My Xiao Wu!

One word.

Silenced the carriage again.

Tang San did not continue asking questions.

He closed his eyes and began circulating the Mysterious Heaven Technique.

Yet no matter how he cultivated, his heart could not regain its calm.

The people who had once surrounded him were leaving one after another.

Ning Rongrong was preparing to join Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Zhu Zhuqing no longer trusted Shrek.

Xiao Wu was gradually growing distant from him as well.

All these changes had begun after Chen Feng appeared.

Night fell.

The convoy stopped beside the plains to rest.

The Imperial Knights set up camp.

The contestants from the various academies stepped out of their carriages to stretch their bodies.

Holding a cup of hot tea, Huo Wu arrived at the Imperial Team's camp.

Dugu Yan spotted her immediately.

"Blazing Fire Academy's camp is on the other side."

"I know."

Huo Wu walked over to Chen Feng.

"I came to seek guidance on fire control."

Chen Feng looked at her palm.

A ball of crimson flame slowly rose.

The edges of the flame retained a rounded shape.

All its heat was condensed within.

"You've improved quickly."

Huo Wu's eyes lit up.

"What other problems are there?"

"Your power is too concentrated."

"Control is not merely about contraction."

Chen Feng raised his right hand.

The crimson patterns on the Azure Lotus Sword faintly glowed.

A wisp of flame flew from the blade.

The flame spread through the air, turning into nine lotus petals.

Every petal was exactly the same in size and temperature.

"Only when you can release and restrain it freely does it count as true control."

Huo Wu looked at the nine flaming lotus petals.

"I understand."

Dugu Yan stepped between them.

"Are you done seeking guidance?"

Huo Wu withdrew her martial soul.

"For today."

"I'll come again tomorrow."

Dugu Yan's brow twitched slightly.

"Doesn't Blazing Fire Academy have teachers?"

"They don't know Azure Lotus Swordfire."

Huo Wu looked at Chen Feng.

"Before the finals, I will master this method of control."

With that, she turned and returned to Blazing Fire Academy's camp.

Dugu Yan watched the red figure walk away.

"Is she planning to come every day?"

"Probably."

"And are you planning to teach her every day?"

"Her talent for fire is quite good."

Dugu Yan sat down beside Chen Feng.

"Yan Yan's talent for poison is quite good too."

Chen Feng looked at her.

"Your Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor has already completed its evolution."

"You need to continue stabilizing your natal venom."

Dugu Yan immediately released her martial soul.

A jade-green serpent phantom coiled behind her.

"Then teach Yan Yan now."

Chen Feng nodded lightly.

"First, compress the poisonous mist to within a three-foot radius."

"Not a single wisp of poison can leak out."

Jade-green poisonous mist emerged in Dugu Yan's palm.

She focused intently on controlling the poison.

Before long, she had forgotten all about Huo Wu.

At the convoy's camp.

Night shrouded the plains.

Chen Feng sat beside the bonfire.

The Azure Lotus Sword floated before him.

Three powers—flame, frost, and life—flowed continuously along the sword's lotus patterns.

The Chat Group panel unfolded before his eyes.

Poison Fairy: [First day on the road to Spirit City.]

Poison Fairy: [I lost five games of chess to Chen Feng.]

Little Witch: [Five times?]

Little Witch: [Sister Yan Yan didn't win even once?]

Poison Fairy: [The last two games don't count.]

Mute Little Sister: [Sister Yan Yan took back her moves.]

Poison Fairy: [Ye Lingling!]

Mute Little Sister: [Lingling is only telling the truth.]

Fiery Chili Pepper: [Chen Feng guided my fire control again today.]

Poison Fairy: [Only for fifteen minutes.]

Fiery Chili Pepper: [We'll continue tomorrow.]

Poison Fairy: [Don't you have your own camp?]

Fiery Chili Pepper: [I do.]

Fiery Chili Pepper: [But my teachers don't know Azure Lotus Swordfire.]

Little Witch: [Does the new little sister go looking for Brother Chen Feng every day?]

Fiery Chili Pepper: [Mm.]

Little Witch: [I want to go to the Imperial Team's carriage too!]

Poison Fairy: [The convoy has already departed.]

Poison Fairy: [You're too late.]

Ning Rongrong lifted the curtain of Blue Tyrant Academy's carriage.

She glanced at the golden carriage ahead.

Several groups of carriages separated the two.

Little Witch: [I'll go tomorrow!]

My Cat Is White and Big: [Don't run around while the convoy is moving.]

Loves Carrots: [That's right.]

Little Witch: [Why are you two both stopping me?]

Fragrant Fox: [There are still nine days from Heaven Dou City to Spirit City.]

Fragrant Fox: [Little Witch doesn't need to hurry.]

Hu Liena sat within Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden Palace.

Her full figure was draped in a gold-and-crimson gown.

Documents on every team in the Heaven Dou Division were spread across the table.

The one at the very top was Chen Feng's.

Level fifty-six Soul King.

Martial soul: Azure Lotus Sword.

Soul Ring configuration: four black, one red.

Suspected of possessing a domain ability.

Defeated Shrek's seven members alone.

Broke Gale Demon Wolf Thirty-Six Slashes.

Every piece of information represented formidable strength.

Fragrant Fox: [I am Hu Liena, and I truly look forward to Chen Feng coming to Spirit City.]

Her Holiness the Pope: [Nana.]

Her Holiness the Pope: [You should be studying how to defeat Chen Feng.]

Fragrant Fox: [I've already read the information three times.]

Fragrant Fox: [For now, I haven't found a way.]

Her Holiness the Pope: [Demon Charm cannot suppress the Azure Lotus Sword Domain?]

Fragrant Fox: [It's difficult.]

Fragrant Fox: [Chen Feng's hundred-thousand-year soul skill itself possesses a domain effect.]

Fragrant Fox: [And now he has mastered another pure sword domain.]

Fragrant Fox: [If the two domains unfold at once, Demon Charm's red mist may not take effect.]

Her Holiness the Pope: [You'll only know after trying it yourself.]

I Have No Mother: [Knowing your disciple cannot win, you still want her to try.]

I Have No Mother: [You truly are a competent teacher.]

Her Holiness the Pope: [This is the Soul Master Tournament.]

Her Holiness the Pope: [As Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden, Nana naturally cannot avoid battle.]

Fragrant Fox: [Her Holiness is right.]

Fragrant Fox: [I will give it my all.]

Group Leader: [Just fight with everything you have.]

Group Leader: [Don't force the outcome.]

Seeing the Group Leader's message, Hu Liena felt much of the tension in her heart ease.

Fragrant Fox: [Thank you, Group Leader.]

Bibi Dong sat upon the Pope's throne.

She set aside the intelligence sent from the Heaven Dou Division.

The Group Leader's attitude toward Chen Feng was indeed more familiar than toward the others.

But the Group Leader knew the future.

It was not strange for the Group Leader to know Chen Feng's abilities.

Her Holiness the Pope: [Group Leader.]

Her Holiness the Pope: [Will you personally watch the finals?]

Chen Feng looked at the message.

Group Leader: [I will.]

Her Holiness the Pope: [Will you come to Spirit City?]

Group Leader: [I have always been there.]

Bibi Dong's gaze narrowed slightly.

Those words could be interpreted in many ways.

The Group Leader might possess the ability to observe everyone across space.

Or perhaps the Group Leader had already arrived in Spirit City, yet no one could detect it.

Her Holiness the Pope: [I await your arrival.]

Icefire Yin-Yang Well.

A Yin's leaves unfurled in the night breeze.

She looked at the messages in the group and gently touched the Azure Lotus Sword mark beside her.

My Son Isn't a Bastard: [Dear Group Leader.]

My Son Isn't a Bastard: [A Yin wants to watch the finals too.]

Group Leader: [The Chat Group will provide a live broadcast.]

My Son Isn't a Bastard: [Then A Yin can keep watching you.]

After sending the message.

A Yin realized that those words could easily raise questions from the others.

She immediately added another message.

My Son Isn't a Bastard: [I mean, I can keep watching the matches.]

Little Witch: [Sister A Yin supports Brother Chen Feng too?]

My Son Isn't a Bastard: [Mm.]

My Son Isn't a Bastard: [Chen Feng helped me leave the cave. Naturally, A Yin hopes he wins.]

Poison Fairy: [Then we all support Chen Feng.]

Fiery Chili Pepper: [I support him winning the championship.]

Fiery Chili Pepper: [However, if Blazing Fire Academy faces the Imperial Academy, I will still give it my all.]

Ice Snow Princess: [Tianshui Academy will do the same.]

My Cat Is White and Big: [A match should be fought with all one's strength.]

Loves Carrots: [Understood.]

Messages continued scrolling through the Chat Group.

Chen Feng raised his head and looked into the distance.

In the direction of Spirit City, a faint glow was already visible.

Ten days later.

Outside Spirit City.

Towering city walls appeared before everyone.

The entire city was built against the mountain.

Different martial spirit emblems were carved into each of its six walls.

The Papal Palace stood at the highest point of the city.

Golden sunlight fell upon the white buildings, making all of Spirit City appear solemn and majestic.

The convoy slowly came to a halt.

The Imperial Knights and Spirit Hall's palace guard knights completed their handover.

The various academies entered the city gates in succession.

Chen Feng stepped down from the carriage.

A golden robe draped over his white team uniform.

Azure Lotus Sword patterns extended upward from his cuffs.

The Spirit Hall soul masters around him all turned their gazes toward the white-clad figure.

"Level fifty-six Soul King."

"He is Chen Feng."

"Twenty-seven victories without defeat in the Heaven Dou Division."

"His fifth Soul Ring is even a Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring."

Dugu Yan came to Chen Feng's side.

"You were recognized by everyone the moment you entered Spirit City."

Chen Feng looked toward the distant Papal Palace.

"That's normal."

Yu Tianheng led the other members of the Imperial Team down from the carriage.

"The Imperial Academy's accommodations have already been arranged."

"Once we finish registration, we can go rest."

A gold-and-red figure approached from within the city gates.

Hu Liena led several Spirit Hall soul masters to the various teams.

Her smooth long hair cascaded behind her shoulders.

Her gold-and-red gown outlined her curvaceous figure.

Her alluring eyes soon settled on Chen Feng.

"Welcome, everyone, to Spirit City."

"I am Hu Liena, the Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall."

"Next, I will be responsible for leading the participating teams from the Heaven Dou Empire through registration."

Members of the various academies bowed in greeting.

Chen Feng nodded lightly.

"Thank you for your trouble."

Hu Liena examined the white-clad man before her.

Only after meeting him in person did she realize that even the descriptions in the files had been incomplete.

Chen Feng had not taken the initiative to release his soul power.

Nor had the Azure Lotus Sword appeared.

Yet the soul masters around him still instinctively kept their distance.

It was sword intent naturally formed through long years of sword cultivation.

Hu Liena recalled the discussions in the Chat Group.

The Chen Feng whom the group members mentioned every day now finally stood before her.

"You are Chen Feng, captain of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"

"Correct."

Her Holiness the Pope has already reviewed your match records."

"She is looking forward to your performance in the finals."

Chen Feng looked toward the Papal Palace atop the mountain.

"I am also looking forward to seeing the strength of Spirit Hall's Golden Generation."

Hu Liena smiled lightly.

"See you in the finals."

Dugu Yan stepped forward.

"We will be waiting for you in the finals."

Hu Liena glanced at the purple-haired woman.

Spirit Hall had also received intelligence regarding the evolution of the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor.

"I hope the Imperial Team can make it to the end."

Huo Wu led Blazing Fire Academy to the registration area.

When she saw Hu Liena speaking with Chen Feng, she immediately quickened her pace.

"Chen Feng."

Hu Liena turned toward her.

"Blazing Fire Academy, Huo Wu?"

Huo Wu nodded lightly.

"Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden, Hu Liena."

The two recognized each other.

Dugu Yan stood between them, her gaze moving back and forth between the two women.

The Fragrant Fox from the Chat Group.

The Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall in reality.

Her identity was already perfectly clear.

However, everyone tacitly refrained from mentioning the Chat Group.

Ning Rongrong also ran over from the Blue Tyrant Academy team.

"Brother Chen Feng!"

She came to Chen Feng's side.

Her pale green dress swayed gently with her steps.

"Rongrong finally found you."

Dugu Yan looked at the people gathering around them.

"You all came running over the moment we arrived in Spirit City."

Ning Rongrong wrapped her arms around Chen Feng's other arm.

"Rongrong hasn't seen Brother Chen Feng for ten days."

"Of course I had to come over first."

Huo Wu folded her arms before her chest.

"I came to ask whether we will continue practicing flame control today."

Hu Liena looked at Chen Feng.

She finally understood why someone in the Chat Group argued over Chen Feng every day.

At the highest point of the Papal Palace.

Bibi Dong stood on a broad balcony.

Her purple papal robe fluttered gently in the wind.

Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo stood behind her.

"Your Holiness."

"The participating teams from the Heaven Dou Empire have all arrived."

Bibi Dong's gaze passed over the streets of Spirit City.

She quickly spotted the white-clad man at the registration area.

"That is Chen Feng?"

Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded lightly.

"Level fifty-six Soul King."

"Four Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Rings and one Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring."

"According to intelligence sent by Salas, he also possesses two domain abilities."

Ghost Douluo looked into the distance.

"The Azure Lotus Sword's martial spirit quality is likely no weaker than the Clear Sky Hammer or the Seven Kill Sword."

Bibi Dong raised her hand and lightly tapped the railing.

"No wonder the Group Leader values Chen Feng so highly."

"I want to see just how far he can go in the finals."

That night.

Spirit City held a simple banquet for the various academies.

The Imperial Team's residence.

Chen Feng sat by the window.

The Chat Group had already become lively.

Little Witch: [We finally arrived in Spirit City!]

Poison Fairy: [Someone had barely gotten out of the carriage before running over to hug Chen Feng.]

Little Witch: [What's wrong with a hug after not seeing him for ten days?]

Fiery Chili Pepper: [Hu Liena kept looking at Chen Feng too.]

Fragrant Fox: [I was merely confirming the identities of the participants.]

Poison Fairy: [Does confirming identities require looking for that long?]

Fragrant Fox: [Chen Feng is more handsome than in the photos from the files.]

Little Witch: [Sister Fox really does have feelings for Brother Chen Feng!]

Fragrant Fox: [It is only natural to admire the strong.]

Her Holiness the Pope: [Nana.]

Her Holiness the Pope: [Do not forget your mission.]

Fragrant Fox: [Rest assured, Your Holiness.]

Fragrant Fox: [I will not hold back during the matches.]

I Have No Mother: [Someone is too scared to enter the arena herself, so she has started urging her disciple again.]

Her Holiness the Pope: [This is the Soul Master Tournament.]

I Have No Mother: [I know.]

I Have No Mother: [That is why I said you can only sit up there and watch.]

Her Holiness the Pope: [If you come to Spirit City, I can personally spar with you.]

I Have No Mother: [I have no interest.]

Bibi Dong's expression darkened rapidly as she looked at Qian Renxue's reply.

Group Leader: [The finals begin tomorrow.]

Group Leader: [All participating members, get some proper rest.]

Group Leader: [The Chat Group will broadcast all matches simultaneously.]

Ice Snow Princess: [Understood.]

My Cat Is White and Big: [Understood.]

Loves Carrots: [Xiao Wu will compete seriously.]

Fiery Chili Pepper: [Blazing Fire Academy will not admit defeat so easily.]

Poison Fairy: [The championship belongs to Heaven Dou Royal Academy.]

Fragrant Fox: [The Golden Generation will not back down either.]