After the convoy passed through the last canyon, the view suddenly opened up before them.
The enormous city was built against the mountain, but what truly awed everyone were the two palaces atop the steep hill in the center of the city—
Halfway up the mountain, the majestic, golden Pope's Palace stands tall, as if cast from pure gold; atop the mountain, the gleaming white Douluo Hall silently overlooks the entire city. Though smaller than the Pope's Palace, it occupies a higher position, symbolizing the final resting place of all Titled Douluo.
One gold and one white, one low and one high, like two deities overlooking the entire city.
Feng Lingtian stood at the front of the car, his gaze slowly moving up the hill. Six main roads stretched straight from the six city gates, eventually converging at the foot of the hill, each road leading to the Pope's Palace. The entire city resembled an open palm, with the Pope's Palace at its center.
"That's the Pope's Palace?" Zhong Yue peeked out from behind the carriage curtain. "It's even more magnificent than the imperial palace in Heaven Dou City..."
" The Heaven Dou Imperial Palace is for humans to live in; this place is for gods to live in," Lu Qing added.
Su Mei'er chuckled lightly, "When did you learn to say things like that?"
Lu Qing didn't answer, but a few muffled laughs rang out in the carriage.
The convoy slowed down in front of the city gate. After the guards of the Spirit Hall verified the official documents and the list of personnel, they allowed them to pass. The white stone-paved road was smooth and solemn, with no shops on either side, only the sound of horses' hooves and wheels rolling over the stone slabs.
Each academy was assigned a location near the foot of the mountain. Godwind Academy was assigned a two-story gray-white building, and everyone moved their luggage and settled in.
Feng Lingtian closed his eyes and regulated his breathing for a moment, circulating his Soul Power twice. The lottery ceremony was early tomorrow morning, and he needed to be in top condition.
Feng Xiaotian didn't leave the room. However, Feng Lingtian knew that his brother must be repeatedly rehearsing every possible battle situation that might occur on the field.
Nothing more was said that night.
The next morning, the group marched to the square in the Pope's Palace. The enormous granite arena was ready, surrounded by tiered stands for the audience.
The three participating teams lined up on the side of the arena, while the eight spectator teams took their seats on the side.
Feng Lingtian scanned the area.
The seven members of the Spirit Hall were wearing dark red team uniforms. The one in front was tall with thick arms and calluses on his hands; he must be Xie Yue.
On Shrek's side, Tang San sat in the front row, his expression unreadable. Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing were chatting and laughing quietly beside him, but Tang San's right hand remained resting on his left wrist on the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges.
Yu Xiaogang sat at the back of the group, his gaze deep. Ning Rongrong and Oscar sat together, but Feng Lingtian glanced at them again— Ning Rongrong had her shoulders hunched, not looking excited, but rather like she was completing a pre-assigned task.
"Everyone, please be quiet."
A figure in a moon-white robe walked slowly to the center of the stage, his face handsome and refined.
He is Ning Fengzhi, the sect leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
"Welcome to Spirit City, all three teams. I, Ning Fengzhi, have been entrusted by the Spirit Hall to preside over this final competition." He nodded slightly. "Now, I will announce the competition rules."
The entire room fell silent.
"This final competition is divided into three stages." Ning Fengzhi's voice was clear and steady. "The first stage, the individual elimination rounds, will be held this morning."
The three teams were drawn to determine their matchups. One team received a bye in the first round, while the other two teams played a one-on-one elimination tournament.
The winners of the first round will then play a second round of individual elimination matches against teams that received a bye. The final winner will directly advance to the final the day after tomorrow.
He paused briefly before continuing, "The second stage will be the revival team battle this afternoon. The two teams that lost this morning will compete in a seven-on-seven team battle, and the winner will secure the second spot in the finals."
"The third stage will be the final team battle the day after tomorrow morning. The two advancing teams will compete to determine this year's champion."
A low murmur arose from the audience. Feng Lingtian nodded slightly; the competition format was exactly the same as in the original story.
"Let's begin the draw." Ning Fengzhi for a waiter to bring over a sealed metal box. "Three jade tokens, two engraved with team names, and one blank—the one who draws the blank token gets a bye in the first round."
He reached into the box, took out a jade token, and flipped it over to show it. " Shrek Academy." The second one. " Godwind Academy." The third one was flipped over and was blank.
The Spirit Hall received a bye in the first round, while Godwind Academy and Shrek competed in an individual elimination tournament.
The Spirit Hall remained calm, as if it had been expected. Feng Lingtian breathed a sigh of relief—many things had changed since he came to this world, but at least the framework of the finals hadn't gone astray.
Ning Fengzhi turned to the two teams. " Godwind Academy and Shrek Academy, please prepare for the individual elimination rounds. They will begin in half an hour."
All eyes were on the two teams.
Just then, Feng Xiaotian stood up.
" Sect Master Ning, Godwind Academy is forfeiting the morning's individual elimination matches."
The entire room fell silent for a moment. Ning Fengzhi's gaze fell on Feng Xiaotian's face. "Are you sure?"
"Confirmed." Feng Xiaotian didn't hesitate for a moment. "According to the rules, forfeiting the individual competition means entering the loser's bracket and participating in the afternoon's revival team battle. We accept."
His voice was as calm as if he were announcing something trivial.
On Shrek's side, Yu Xiaogang instantly understood Feng Xiaotian's intention.
Godwind Academy forfeited the individual competition, preferring to fall into the loser's bracket rather than lose a team battle against Shrek. This demonstrates Godwind Academy's confidence in team fights.
But Yu Xiaogang wasn't intimidated by this imposing aura. Almost simultaneously, he began to quickly calculate in his mind—
If Shrek doesn't give up, they'll have to fight the Spirit Hall in an individual elimination tournament. The three people from the Spirit Hall — Xie Yue, Yan, and Hu Liena —are all Soul King- level one-on-one fighters, Shrek won't have an advantage in the individual competition.
Team battles are Shrek's true strength. Tang San's Blue Silver Grass control, Xiao Wu's close-range burst damage, Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun's firepower suppression—the combined combat power of the seven of them far surpasses that of individual combat.
Yu Xiaogang made a decision: rather than fighting the Spirit Hall head-on in the individual competition, it would be better to give up like Godwind Academy and go straight into the team battle. The team battle was the battlefield where Shrek had the best chance of winning.
As for the Seven-in-One Fusion Skill that he had painstakingly researched—since the theory was formed, the Shrek Seven Devils had practiced it many times in private and their coordination was quite proficient, but they had never actually used it in a formal competition.
No one has ever seen the full extent of this trump card, and even he himself doesn't know how much power it can unleash under the pressure of actual combat.
Therefore, the afternoon's team battle was not only the battlefield where Shrek faced off against the Godwind Academy, but also the time when that fusion technique would truly make its debut.
After a thorough psychological assessment, Yu Xiaogang slowly stood up, his voice carrying a forced calm. " Shrek Academy will also forfeit the individual elimination rounds this morning."
The crowd erupted in another uproar.
With both teams forfeiting, the Spirit Hall automatically becomes the winner of the individual elimination round and directly advances to the final. The final spot will be decided in the afternoon's revival team battle between the Godwind Academy and Shrek.
Ning Fengzhi's gaze swept between Feng Xiaotian and Yu Xiaogang before announcing, " Godwind Academy and Shrek Academy forfeit their individual elimination matches, while Spirit Hall Academy automatically advances to the final. This afternoon, Godwind Academy and Shrek Academy will compete in a resurrection team battle; the winner will advance to the final."
The show's over.
The crowd rose to their feet. The three teams passed each other at the entrance of the passage. Feng Xiaotian and Tang San brushed past each other three steps apart, neither of them looking at the other.
Feng Lingtian walked at the very back, his gaze passing over Tang San's shoulder and landing on Ning Rongrong —she was walking next to Oscar with her head down, her fingers twisting her cuffs, half a step between them.
Feng Lingtian withdrew his gaze and glanced at Tang San's back again.
He knew that Shrek would definitely use their Seven-in-One Fusion Skill in the team battle that afternoon. There was no way to avoid it, no way to dodge it, he could only face it head-on. But he said nothing and quickened his pace to catch up with Feng Xiaotian's back.