Watching the Final: Five Gazes
--
The plan to leave Heaven Dou City was disrupted.
The team finals were held five days after the individual events.
Nan Feng had planned to leave that very night. Ye Lingling found him the evening before the competition and said that Xiao Wu had sent a message asking him to watch the final.
The two competing teams are Shrek Academy and Spirit Hall Academy, both of whom are favorites to win the championship.
The tickets sold out three days ago.
Xiao Wu didn't say much, only one sentence.
"Tower Simpleton, come here. I have something to tell you."
Nan Feng stood by the window, lost in thought for a long time.
With the Spirit Hall Academy participating in the competition, Chrysanthemum Douluo is very likely to be present. His appearance would be tantamount to delivering himself right under the Spirit Hall's nose.
But Xiao Wu entrusted Ye Lingling, not Tang San. She must have encountered something that has nothing to do with Tang San.
He decided to go, see it, and then leave.
The Great Soul Arena on the day of the finals was ten times more lively than the individual competitions.
The stands were packed with people, and the aisles were also crowded.
Nan Feng used the token Ye Lingling had obtained to enter through the side door and sat down in the corner of the top floor.
This place is far from the arena, Treasure-Appraising Spirit Light is enough to cover the entire area.
He scanned the audience seats and spotted a few points of light in the direction of the VIP passage.
One of them is light gold with chrysanthemum patterns.
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan sat in the front row of the VIP section, his white robe standing out.
A person cloaked in black sat beside him, exuding a chilling aura.
Ghost Douluo: Gui Mei.
The two elders appeared at the final match venue, ostensibly to watch the game, but actually to keep an eye on the players on the field.
Nan Feng turned his gaze back to the center of the arena.
The two teams have already stepped onto the ring.
The Shrek Seven Devils all went into battle. Tang San was at the front, with Xiao Wu beside him, Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Oscar, Ning Rongrong, and Ma Hongjun lined up in a row.
On the Spirit Hall's side, Hu Liena was the leader, with Xie Yue and Yan on either side, and three Soul King leading the team, their levels were significantly higher.
Shrek Academy has Tang San's crowd control and Hidden Weapon, Xiao Wu's explosive power, and Ning Rongrong's amplification.
They might not be without a chance of winning if a fight breaks out.
The referee announced the start of the match.
The two attacked each other on the ring.
The Spirit Hall Academy's tactics were clear: Xie Yue's Moon Blade would suppress Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun from the front, while Yan's flames would restrain Zhu Zhuqing.
Hu Liena provided support from the center, using her charm to disrupt Shrek's formation.
The Shrek Seven Devils coordinated their attacks more precisely. Tang San's Blue Silver Grass spread out from the ground and into the air, controlling the three's path.
Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda amplified the attack from behind, while Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing attacked from both sides.
Nan Feng sat in the audience and watched the whole thing.
Tang San's ability to control the battlefield is now a level above what it was in Nuoding.
The Entanglement and strangulation of the Blue Silver Grass, combined with the throwing of Hidden Weapon, divided the three members of the Spirit Hall into independent battlefields.
Xiao Wu's Soft Bone Rabbit Martial Soul has explosive power; her Teleportation and Waist Bow forced Yan back.
Zhu Zhuqing's Netherworld Shadow Clone attacked from the flank, forcing Hu Liena to divert her Divine Power.
The Spirit Hall Academy's level advantage became apparent in the protracted battle.
Xie Yue's Moon Blade had too wide a range, Dai Mubai couldn't withstand it. Ma Hongjun's flames were suppressed by Yan.
Oscar's sausages continued to be supplied, but Shrek Academy's Soul Power was being consumed even faster.
In the latter half of the fight, Shrek was pinned to a corner of the ring.
Tang San's Blue Silver Grass coverage was compressed by 30%, and Xiao Wu's Teleportation space was mostly blocked.
Just then, Tang San did something that no one expected.
He retrieved the Blue Silver Grass, formed a grass wall around the group, and took out three Hidden Weapon.
Those three Hidden Weapon were more exquisite than those used before, leaving three silver streaks as they flew out.
The silver threads were extremely faint, and they were nailed to the feet of Xie Yue, Yan, and Hu Liena respectively.
The Hidden Weapon landed but did not explode; instead, it emitted a puff of pale yellow smoke from its tip.
By the time the three members of the Spirit Hall reacted, they were already standing in the thick smoke.
Yan's flames became extremely unstable in the smoke, and the surface of the Moon Blade was corroded with pits.
Hu Liena's allure traveled nearly half the distance within the smoke.
Tang San's third Soul Skill, Blue Silver Grass Poison.
He used the Blue Silver Grass Poison in conjunction with Hidden Weapon weapon, and first used it on the final stage.
The three members of the Spirit Hall were restrained by the poison, Shrek Seven Devils launched their final counterattack.
Dai Mubai unleashed his White Tiger Fierce Light Wave and Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Fire Line simultaneously.
Zhu Zhuqing's Netherworld Slash and Xiao Wu's Waist Bow followed, knocking Xie Yue and Yan off the stage.
At the last moment, Hu Liena used her fox tail to wrap around Tang San's waist, trying to drag him off the stage.
Xiao Wu's scorpion braid swung from the side, wrapped around Hu Liena's wrist, and was pulled off.
The referee blew his whistle.
Shrek Academy wins.
A Soul Master in blue robes in the front row stood up and clapped, and others around him shouted along.
Over at the VIP section, Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded.
Nan Feng sat in the corner, watching the seven people huddled together.
Tang San was lifted up by Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun, while Xiao Wu clapped and jumped around beside him.
Shrek Academy won.
He stood up to leave, but Xiao Wu ran down from the arena.
She ran very fast, her pink figure weaving through the aisle and past the cheering crowd.
Before the Nan Feng even stirred, Xiao Wu had already rushed in front of him.
Her face was covered in sweat, her scorpion braid was mostly undone, and a few stray hairs clung to her forehead.
The team uniforms were covered in dust and fragments of Hidden Weapon.
She stopped, took a couple of breaths, and then buried her face in his chest, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"Tower Simpleton, we won!"
The sound was muffled in his chest, accompanied by panting, but every word was clear.
Nan Feng stood still.
Xiao Wu's hair brushed against his chin, carrying the scent of sweat and grass.
Her arms were wrapped around his waist, with even more force than when she kicked him in the back hills of Nuoding.
Nan Feng raised his hand and patted her on the back.
Xiao Wu's shoulder trembled slightly in his palm.
Then he sensed those gazes.
Tang San stepped down from the arena and stood at the entrance of the corridor. His blue team uniform was covered in debris, and his face was flushed.
His gaze swept across the crowd, landing on Nan Feng and Xiao Wu, pausing for a moment before returning to his own.
He didn't come over, nor did he call out. His expression was calm, Nan Feng noticed that his fingers tucked into his sleeve.
Ye Lingling sat in the middle of the audience, her plain white dress standing out in the crowd.
Her perception covered the entire Great Soul Arena. From the Xiao Wu ran off the stage, she locked onto the direction of Nan Feng.
She sat in her seat, her light amber eyes looking across half the space.
Her senses paused on him for a moment, then receded.
Dugu Yan stood behind a pillar next to the VIP passage, her purple ponytail visible as she swung it.
She leaned against the pillar with her arms crossed, a slight smile playing on her lips.
Her gaze lingered for a moment on Xiao Wu Wu's arm around Nan Feng's waist before shifting away.
Hu Liena walked down from the ring, passing through the audience aisle.
She paused half a step beside Nan Feng and Xiao Wu, her pale golden eyes sweeping over Xiao Wu's arm wrapped around Nan Feng's waist before looking up at his face.
The corners of her mouth curved slightly, a very faint smile.
She didn't speak, just nodded, and turned to walk into the Spirit Hall's rest area.
Huo Wu sat in the audience seats of the Blazing Fire Academy.
She saw Xiao Wu hug Nan Feng, straighten up from her seat, put her hands on the railing, and stare at them for a few moments.
Then she sat back down, crossed her arms, and gave a slight smirk.
Nan Feng stood in the corner, with Xiao Wu still wrapped around his waist.
Five pairs of eyes fell on him at the same time.
Beneath Tang San's calmness lay a hidden inquiry. Beneath Ye Lingling's indifference lay a hidden confirmation. Beneath Hu Liena's playful expression lay an assessment. Beneath Huo Wu's Huo Wu lips lay a hidden resentment.
Dugu Yan leaned against a pillar, her purple ponytail swaying.
Only Xiao Wu, the pink figure held in his arms, embodied the excitement and dependence that followed their victory.
Xiao Wu let go of his hand and looked up at him.
Her big eyes still shone brightly, her wispy hair clung to her cheeks, and two prominent canine teeth were visible.
"Tower Simpleton, I saw you in the ring just now. You were sitting in that corner."
Nan Feng looked at her.
Xiao Wu's breathing hadn't calmed down yet; her chest was heaving, and her eyes were bright.
"You sent me here just so I could see you win?"
Xiao Wu tilted her head.
"Yes. I won, and I wanted you to see it."
She took a step back, dusted off her team uniform, and leaned closer to him, lowering her voice.
"You're leaving, right?"
The Nan Feng paused for a moment.
"Ye Lingling told me," Xiao Wu said in a low voice, "Chrysanthemum Douluo is giving you three days. You leave tonight. I didn't tell Tang San. I want you to see me finish this battle before you leave."
She took a step back after she finished speaking.
Nan Feng noticed something beneath the light in her eyes; it was faint, but definitely there.
Xiao Wu didn't cry, didn't make a fuss, and didn't stop him.
She won a final match, ran over and hugged him, telling him she had won.
Nan Feng stood in the corner, Xiao Wu stood in front of him, the two looking at each other across a step.
The crowd was still cheering, the Shrek Seven Devils were still celebrating, and the people from the Spirit Hall were leaving one after another.
Chrysanthemum Douluo's white robe flashed and disappeared at the VIP exit.
Nan Feng lowered his head and put his right hand into his pocket.
The deep black Soul Ring in his palm pulsed against his skin, echoing the blue light emanating from the crack at the bottom of the tower.
He's leaving Heaven Dou City tonight.
Xiao Wu knows, Ye Lingling knows, Dugu Yan knows, only Tang San doesn't know.