The Penultimate Match

The referee raised his right arm. "Shrek Academy wins!"

Back at the resting place, Wang Xingyu unleashed the Blue Silver Grass, simultaneously connecting with Tai Long, Huang Yuan, Jing Ling, Dai Mubai, and Zhu Zhuqing.

The abrasions on Dai Mubai's arm healed at a visible speed, and Zhu Zhuqing's slightly disordered breathing gradually calmed down.

Tai Long looked down at the Blue Silver Grass wrapped around his wrist and grinned, "I didn't expect to recover like this. The three of us were indirectly involved in this battle, weren't we?" He shook his head, his expression suddenly becoming somewhat subtle. "But why do I feel a little dizzy?"

"Oh, I also absorbed a bit of your Spiritual Power and transferred it to Boss Dai and Zhu Zhuqing," Wang Xingyu replied casually.

Tai Long's expression instantly changed from subtle to horrified.

Wang Xingyu patted him on the shoulder, his tone relaxed. "Don't worry, just a little bit, you'll make up for it after a nap." Tai Long finally breathed a sigh of relief.

That night, Wang Xingyu and Tang San rested in their room.

There was a knock on the door— Dai Mubai pushed the door open and locked it behind him. After locking it, he turned around and checked the cracks in the door twice to make sure no one was eavesdropping before sitting down in front of the two people.

"Tang San, Xingyu. After the competition, you two and Xiao Wu will come back to the Star Luo Empire with me."

Tang San asked curiously, "Why?"

"Tang San, you are in a very dangerous situation right now." Dai Mubai lowered his voice, his expression more serious than ever before. "Your Soul Ring Configuration, Twin Martial Souls, Clear Sky Hammer — the Spirit Hall will never let you go. You either join the Spirit Hall or die."

After the competition ends, Zhu Zhuqing and I will return to the Star Luo Empire. The three of you will come with me. You will help me ascend the throne, and you and Xingyu will be the strategists of the Star Luo Empire.

Tang San did not answer immediately, but turned to look at Wang Xingyu.

Wang Xingyu shook his head, his tone calm yet resolute. "Boss Dai, you're too narrow-minded. Your vision is too limited. A mere strategist, a mere empire, can stop us?"

Dai Mubai was taken aback for a moment, but instead of being angry, he became interested. "Oh? There are even bigger ones?"

Wang Xingyu simply shook his head, a look on his lips that made Dai Mubai both curious and want to punch him. "You'll find out later. It's a secret for now."

Dai Mubai remained silent for a moment, then finally sighed, stood up, and patted the two on the shoulders. "Alright then. But if one day you have to consider which faction to join, be sure to consider the Star Luo Empire first."

"No problem." Wang Xingyu and Tang San nodded simultaneously.

In the next match, Heaven Dou Royal Academy faced off against the Spirit Hall Academy, and Spirit Hall won without any suspense.

After the match, Qin Ming went to Shrek's rest area alone. Flender and Grandmaster personally came out to greet him, and the three of them stood at the door and chatted for a long time.

New Godwind Academy also defeated their opponents.

Thus, Godwind Academy, Spirit Hall Academy, and Shrek Academy have advanced to the final three. The competition will now move to the Pope's Palace for the final three-way battle.

The group walked through the main street of Spirit City. The Pope's Palace stood in the morning light, with gray-white stone pillars soaring into the clouds. The circular arena in front of them was made from a single piece of obsidian, with intricate soul guidance inscriptions engraved on its edges.

There are no spectator seats for the final three matches; only the participants and special guests are present. Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, Xue Qinghe, and Dugu Bo have all taken their seats.

The three teams gathered on the arena, forming three horizontal lines. The main gate of the Pope's Palace slowly opened, and three figures walked out from the high platform.

At the very front stood Bibi Dong. Wearing a golden crown and holding Pope's Scepter, her face was exquisitely sculpted, and her gaze swept across the arena, exuding an imposing aura without anger.

Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo stood to the left and right, one dressed in white and barefoot, the other a ghostly figure in black robes.

Apart from Shrek, the other two teams simultaneously knelt on one knee and said in unison, "Greetings, Your His Holiness the Pope!"

Wang Xingyu was standing at the back of the Shrek team. He had just bent his knee halfway down when he realized that everyone in front of him was standing straight. He immediately snapped his knee back, almost tripping himself in the process.

He glanced around to make sure no one had seen him, and silently muttered to himself, "Why didn't you say so before you were going to kneel?"

Then he saw Ma Hongjun and Oscar in the front row turn their heads to look at him, both with identical gloating expressions on their faces. It seemed that these two had deliberately kept quiet!

How childish!

Wang Xingyu lowered his voice, "You two just wait."

The two turned back without a care. Ma Hongjun subtly tilted his head to the side and whispered, "Brother Yu, is the Pope looking at the Grandmaster?"

Wang Xingyu followed his gaze. Bibi Dong's gaze did indeed fall on the Grandmaster in the waiting area, lingering for a few seconds before shifting away.

Wang Xingyu withdrew his gaze and replied in a low voice, "Perhaps they've never seen the Grandmaster with long hair before."

Next is the announcement of the competition format. The top three will first compete in individual matches, with the winners advancing directly to tomorrow's finals, while the losers will compete in a team match this afternoon to vie for the other spot in the finals.

The Grandmaster, representing Shrek Academy, signaled to the referee. "Shrek Academy voluntarily forfeits the individual competition and will directly enter the loser's bracket."

As soon as the words were spoken, the representative from the Godwind Academy also raised his hand, forfeiting the individual competition as well.

The crowd erupted in uproar—both teams had forfeited their individual matches, meaning the afternoon's loser's bracket team match would directly determine the other finalist spot.

In the afternoon, Shrek Academy faced off against the New Godwind Academy. Wang Xingyu still did not play.

On the arena, Huo Wu and the two Support System Soul Master simultaneously lit up their Soul Ring, activating the Ring Fusion. The three streams of Soul Power converged into a torrent, pouring entirely into Feng Xiaotian's body.

Immediately afterwards, Huo Wu and the two support Soul Master merged into the pillar of light—not a simple transfer of Soul Power, but a four-person fusion technique.

A blinding blue light erupted from Feng Xiaotian's body, and the phantom of the Gale Twin-Headed Wolf expanded to its limit behind him. Before the wind blade was even drawn, the stone slabs on the arena were already cut with fine cracks by the overflowing energy.

On Shrek's side, Ning Rongrong fully activated her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and initiated the Ring Fusion. Colorful light shone beneath her feet, and starting with Oscar, Soul Power began to transfer. Seven-person fusion technique.

Tang San stood at the very front of the formation, raised his left hand, and the Clear Sky Hammer appeared in his palm.

Ghost Douluo trembled all over, "Gah gah gah, the hammer, that hammer!"

The Clear Sky Hammer swelled in the wind, transforming from a single-handed hammer into a colossal, sky-covering phantom. The Clear Sky True Body —the enormous Clear Sky Hammer —carried the combined Soul Power of the seven individuals, descended from the sky.

With a deafening roar, lightning flashed and smoke billowed. When the smoke cleared, all seven members of the New Godwind Academy lay dead at the edge of the arena. A single blow had killed them instantly.

As Wang Xingyu watched the slowly dissipating phantom of the giant hammer in the waiting area, he silently calculated in his mind—if he joined in, could the eight-person fusion skill even reach the level 80 threshold? Probably not.

Hopefully, Feng Xiaotian is satisfied with the trump card he left them.

The referee's voice brought him back to reality. "Shrek Academy wins."

All that's left is the final battle against the Spirit Hall Academy tomorrow.