"Yes, Your Holiness," Dai Chengqian answered, neither servile nor overbearing.
Bibi Dong nodded. "You are impressive. The Star Luo Emperor has raised a fine son."
With that, Bibi Dong turned to Tang San, a faint smile appearing on her face as she said:
"Tang San, is it? I've heard reports of several matches you competed in. You have something of your teacher's bearing in his younger days."
Tang San replied, "I wouldn't dare compare myself to my teacher."
Without speaking further to either of them, Bibi Dong walked to the front with her scepter, sweeping her gaze over all the Soul Masters present.
"In you, I see the vibrant vitality of the younger generation.
In today's matches, I hope to see you display all your talent and strength.
For the ultimate victor, I have prepared a generous reward."
As she spoke, Bibi Dong lightly waved her scepter, and three dazzling beams of light burst forth.
The light carried three different objects into view before everyone.
"They're actually soul bones!"
"The prizes for this competition are three soul bones?"
"That's incredibly generous! Spirit Hall really does spare no expense!"
Listening to everyone's exclamations, Bibi Dong smiled faintly and said:
"These three soul bones are a right arm bone, a skull bone, and a left leg bone. The eventual champions will take all three home."
Just then, Ning Rongrong's voice suddenly sounded beside Dai Chengqian's ear.
"Hey, these three soul bones are all top-grade-the finest among soul bones, second only to external soul bones and those produced by hundred-thousand-year soul beasts.
How about a deal? If your team ends up taking first place, sell me one?"
Dai Chengqian replied, "That little confidence? What if your team takes first?"
Ning Rongrong said, "I'm just asking ahead of time to be safe. It doesn't hurt. What if you unleash your might in the end and take down both us and Spirit Hall?"
Bibi Dong continued:
"This morning, each of your three teams will send out seven members to compete in an individual elimination tournament.
The victorious team will advance directly to tomorrow's championship match.
The two losing teams will compete this afternoon for the other place in the team-battle final. Now, I declare the competition officially begun."
Dai Chengqian looked toward Shrek Academy and Spirit Hall Academy, silently considering his options.
Of all the teams present, the Spirit Hall Team was the strongest. They had three experts above rank fifty, giving them a substantial advantage in the individual matches.
Dai Chengqian's team, meanwhile, was at the greatest disadvantage. They had no substitutes, and apart from their support Soul Master, only six members could fight-naturally leaving them one fighter short of the other teams.
I remember that in the original story, Grandmaster had the Shrek Team withdraw from the individual matches. I wonder what he'll decide today.
Dai Chengqian glanced at the women behind him. After a moment's thought, he said to Meng Yiran:
"Yiran, you go first."
Meng Yiran nodded and stepped onto the arena platform.
Spirit Hall sent out a Soul Master in the forties.
Shrek, however, took its time sending anyone out. Finally, Grandmaster strode onto the platform, looked at Bibi Dong, and said:
"Our Shrek Team will forfeit the individual matches and voluntarily enter this afternoon's losers' bracket team battle."
Dai Chengqian looked at Grandmaster, curled his lip, and thought:
That scheming old fox forfeited the individual matches after all.
Grandmaster's reason for forfeiting the individual matches was actually quite simple.
It would keep their trump cards hidden while conserving the team's strength.
Since the Shrek Team had forfeited the individual matches, the remaining two teams did not even need to draw lots.
Spirit Hall's competitor looked at Meng Yiran and said with a smile:
"What? You're not forfeiting?
Just admit defeat and go fight those Shrek cowards this afternoon."
Meng Yiran looked at Dai Chengqian.
A smile curled at the corners of Dai Chengqian's mouth, and he spoke in Bibi Dong's direction:
"With so much manpower and resources invested, and so many spectators here,
how could I have the nerve to admit defeat?
We'll keep competing. We certainly won't let the spectators who came to watch this morning leave empty-handed."
At Dai Chengqian's words, cheers erupted from the crowd like mountains collapsing and seas surging.
Who among those who had bought tickets to watch the finals did not hope to see exciting matches?
The spectators had already been deeply dissatisfied when they heard Grandmaster announce Shrek's surrender.
Now, Dai Chengqian's words spoke straight to their hearts, instantly winning their favor.
"Well said! Just what you'd expect from a prince of the Star Luo Empire!"
"He really sees the bigger picture."
"Go, Black Rose Team! I'm rooting for you!"
"Wow, His Highness Dai Chengqian is so handsome! I'm swooning!"
Hearing the voices from the crowd below, Bibi Dong looked at Dai Chengqian, smiled faintly at him, and said:
"Very good. Then let the competition continue."
The competition began.
In the first match, Meng Yiran fought for over ten minutes before finally losing.
For the second match, Dai Chengqian sent out Dugu Yan. Her opponent had already expended a great deal of soul power, so she defeated him easily.
In the third match, the Spirit Hall Team sent out another Soul Master in the forties, who ultimately defeated Dugu Yan.
Throughout the individual tournament, Spirit Hall used an average of two fighters to defeat each member of Dai Chengqian's team.
In the end, Dai Chengqian was the only one left on his side.
The Spirit Hall Team still had four members remaining, three of whom were Soul Masters above rank fifty.
Looking at the Soul Master on the platform, Dai Chengqian stepped into the arena.
His opponent looked at Dai Chengqian with an utterly calm expression.
Dai Chengqian was the last one remaining on his team.
His own side was different. Even if he lost, the Spirit Hall Team still had its three strongest Soul Masters backing him up.
No matter how strong Dai Chengqian was, surely he couldn't defeat four opponents in a row?
Thus, the Soul Master felt completely at ease. Holding his enormous ring-shaped blade, he said to Dai Chengqian:
"Kid, aren't you going to admit defeat?"
"The match isn't over yet. Why should I admit defeat?"
"You don't actually think you can still win, do you?"
"Let's give it a try. You never know."
As he spoke, Dai Chengqian activated his martial soul possession, and four soul rings-yellow, yellow, red, red-rose in succession.
"Thousand-Flash Thunder Shadow!"
Dai Chengqian seemed to turn into a bolt of purple lightning, instantly appearing before the Soul Master and swinging his tiger claw at his head.
"Third Soul Skill! Sacred Ring!"
His opponent retreated half a step and flung out his enormous blade, forming a spinning ring of light that sliced toward Dai Chengqian.
Dai Chengqian had no intention of dodging.
In a head-on clash with a Soul Master at the same level, he had absolute confidence that he would not lose.
A White Tiger Fierce Light Wave, infused with purple heaven divine thunder, shot toward the enormous blade's ring of light.
The ring held out for only a few seconds before exploding with a thunderous crash.
The White Tiger Fierce Light Wave struck his opponent head-on. The Spirit Hall Team's Battle Soul Ancestor in the forties let out a wretched scream and completely lost the ability to fight.
"Dai Chengqian wins!"
As the announcer declared the result, a wave of cheers erupted from the spectators.
Dai Chengqian looked toward the Spirit Hall Team and said:
"Next. Come on."
Xie Yue, the captain of the Spirit Hall Team, looked at Hu Liena and Yan, then said with a smile:
"Which of us three will go up and finish him off?"
Before you continue