As the curtain fell on today's matches, the top ten teams in the Soul Master Tournament had been decided.
The tournament would continue using the system of two teams receiving byes to narrow the field to six.
Once six teams remained, there would be no more byes. Teams would be paired off by drawing lots.
The final top three would be determined through both team battles and individual elimination matches.
"Bad news, Boss! Our team and Spirit Hall's team both got byes in the next round."
That night, Yu Feng and the other two came running back in a panic.
"Isn't that a good thing? We can get a proper rest tomorrow."
Yu Tianheng didn't even look up, paying the matter no mind.
What kind of opponent he faced, or who he faced sooner or later, made little difference to him.
The result would be the same anyway.
"But how did we get a bye with the points we have?"
Shi Mo stroked his chin with great "wisdom."
Seeing that the three of them couldn't come up with an answer, Yu Tianheng casually offered one.
"Someone must not want us running into the teams under them."
The Heaven Dou Empire, the Star Luo Empire, and Spirit Hall had always taken turns hosting the Soul Master Tournament.
It was obvious who could have done this.
"Has everything been arranged?"
In Heaven Dou City, inside a castle used specifically to receive distinguished guests.
A somewhat plump elder asked the question.
"Rest assured, Elder, everything has been arranged. But the Heaven Dou Team really is a bit outrageously strong."
The hidden guard before him knelt prostrate on the ground as he replied.
"It doesn't matter. Tell Dai Weisi and the others to be ready. When the time comes, it would be best if they could cripple those Heaven Dou Team contestants!"
At that, an icy killing intent flashed through the elder's eyes.
To display such terrifying strength at such a young age.
And there was more than one of them.
He absolutely could not allow people who could threaten the Star Luo Empire in the future to grow and flourish.
"Tian Heng! Get up! Get up!"
"Brother Tian Heng, the sun's already shining on your backside!"
Early that morning, the three women had arrived at the door to Yu Tianheng and the others' quarters.
Ye Lingling hadn't spoken, but her hand hadn't stopped knocking on the door for a moment.
Yu Tianheng was sitting cross-legged on his bed, resting with his eyes closed, his mind lost in itself.
He was completely unaware of the commotion outside.
Before long, Shi Mo and the other two were roused from their sleep by the noise.
The three of them had spent the previous night discussing the looks of the female contestants on each team.
They had been planning to get a good rest today, only to be forced awake early in the morning.
"Boss, Sister Yan and the others are here for you."
Shi Mo gently patted Yu Tianheng on the shoulder as he spoke.
After who knew how many calls, Yu Tianheng suddenly opened his eyes.
At the sight, Shi Mo nearly burst into tears on the spot.
"Boss, please go see what Sister Yan and the others want. The three of us are dying for sleep."
Following Shi Mo's words, Yu Tianheng noticed the weary looks on Yu Feng and Shi Mo's faces.
They were sitting wrapped in their blankets, their heads bobbing as though they were tapping wooden fish.
It looked as if they would fall asleep the next second.
Seeing Shi Mo's nearly pleading gaze as well, Yu Tianheng smiled and nodded.
After washing up, he pulled open the door, and the sight before him left him stunned.
All three women were wearing the new clothes they had bought while shopping a couple of days ago.
A sense of freshness welled up in Yu Tianheng's heart for no apparent reason.
"Why are you here so early?"
Yu Tianheng asked in puzzlement.
But the three women had no intention of explaining.
They simply dragged and pulled Yu Tianheng outside.
"You're not planning to sell me off, are you?"
Perhaps to avoid giving anything away, Ye Lingling and Ning Rongrong kept their little faces taut.
They looked strangely comical.
"Of course not. We found a nice place when we went shopping that day."
Dugu Yan was being all mysterious, and that was all she said the entire way.
A little later, the four of them arrived atop a small hill.
There was a vast open space on the summit, and from there they could look out over all of Heaven Dou City.
Yu Tianheng noticed some things resembling tents set up not far away.
"Surprised? We prepared all this especially for you. I heard the stars look especially beautiful from here. I've never seen them before."
Dugu Yan sprawled on the grass nearby, her arms and legs spread in the shape of the character 大.
She seemed to be enjoying the relaxation nature brought.
"Brother Tian Heng, you must have been tired these past few days. Rongrong can massage your shoulders!"
Ning Rongrong lifted her chin, looking every bit a proud little princess.
"Oh? Then I'll have to see just how good it feels."
Yu Tianheng sat down on the ground as well.
Even Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo probably hadn't received this kind of treatment.
Ning Rongrong rolled up her sleeves and began massaging Yu Tianheng's shoulders, copying what she had seen others do.
Fine beads of sweat gradually appeared on her forehead.
"Mm, Rongrong, you're really good at this."
Noticing that Ning Rongrong's hands were applying less and less pressure, Yu Tianheng offered her a word of praise.
As soon as he finished speaking, Ning Rongrong was fired up as though she'd been injected with chicken blood.
She couldn't wait to put all her strength into it.
Ye Lingling, meanwhile, sat quietly beside them.
A faint smile graced her face.
"Are you hungry?"
Dugu Yan suddenly sat up and asked.
At that, Ye Lingling and Ning Rongrong were momentarily taken aback.
Usually, they were so caught up in cultivation that they hardly noticed.
But now that Dugu Yan had mentioned it, their stomachs began to protest.
Just as Yu Tianheng was wondering whether to find something to eat,
he suddenly noticed a group of people slowly approaching in the distance.
"Xiao Wu, don't dwell on what happened before. Just relax."
Huo Wushuang was worried that Huo Wu's outward calm was all an act.
He and his teammates had brought her out especially for some recreation.
The group moved quickly, setting up a barbecue grill on the grass in no time.
They took out the ingredients they had prepared beforehand and began grilling them.
"Brother, don't worry. I'm perfectly fine, and these are all things I loved eating when I was little."
Huo Wu rolled her eyes at Huo Wushuang.
She had explained it who knew how many times already, but her sister-obsessed brother simply wouldn't believe her.
"Xiao Wu, I'll definitely settle the score for you when the time comes."
A handsome young man in a lewd team uniform suddenly came over.
He spoke in an incomparably gentle voice.
But when Huo Wu saw him, the look of disgust on her face grew even stronger.
"Feng Xiaotian, I've already told you I don't like you. Can you stop bothering me?"
It was bad enough that Feng Xiaotian usually showed up every now and then, sticking to her like taffy.
And he had even declared that he would defeat Yu Tianheng?