Chapter 288: Undercurrents Winds Blowing Toward Spirit City
With the day's matches concluded, the results quickly spread among the crowd along with discussions about the battles.
Tang San's second martial soul had finally been recognized after a brief delay, and the revelation spread like wildfire.
It was the Clear Sky Hammer the inherited martial soul of the once supreme Clear Sky Sect. Most commoners weren't privy to the full truth, only knowing that the Clear Sky Sect had remained hidden for many years, seemingly choosing seclusion.
But those more knowledgeable in the ways of the soul master world could sense the turbulent undercurrents beneath the still waters.
Tang San had become the hottest name in the tournament.
A direct descendant of a top sect emerging into the public eye paired with astonishing talent was enough to make many parties restless.
Speculations swirled about how Spirit Hall would react. Then, as if to add to the mystery, news broke out from an unknown source Spirit Hall's Holy Son and the Platinum Bishop had merely reported the matter to Spirit City and taken no further action.
Meanwhile, the tournament proceeded as usual, but some observant individuals noticed that the newly arrived Holy Son of Spirit Hall had once again disappeared from the stands.
Now, only Salas, looking like he had swallowed something rotten, remained in attendance.
For the general audience, none of this mattered they were simply engrossed in the battles, especially now that the preliminary phase had ended and the advancement matches had begun.
The five teams securing a place in the finals were:
Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, Blazing Academy, Divine Wind Academy, Skywater Academy, and Elephant Armored Academy.
Divine Wind Academy, however, had suffered a heartbreaking elimination due to Feng Xiaotian's injuries.
Facing Elephant Armored Academy a team they had never lost to in past sparring matches Divine Wind Academy had been methodically exhausted until they ran out of soul power, resulting in their loss. They ended up finishing sixth, alongside Thunderclap Academy in seventh place.
As the advancement matches began, Han Li, the Holy Son of Spirit Hall, remained absent.
He only made a brief reappearance when Skywater Academy faced Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's second team.
That match saw Zhu Zhuqing take the stage once again.
She didn't say a single word.
With ruthless efficiency, she pulled off another one versus seven victory.
Tang San, the final contestant, didn't even have the chance to unleash his martial soul before being instantly wiped out by her army of shadow clones.
Afterward, Skywater Academy reverted to its regular lineup.
Although their peak combat strength seemed weaker compared to Blazing Academy, Divine Wind Academy, and even Thunderclap Academy, they had one key advantage five Soul Elders.
Or rather, six, but one had just broken through and had yet to obtain a fourth soul ring.
With sheer endurance and attrition tactics, they maintained an undefeated record.
This sparked even more speculation among those paying close attention.
Is the Holy Son of Spirit Hall simply venting his frustrations? Expressing his dissatisfaction?
Even the Crown Prince of Heaven Dou hasn't been seen interacting with him lately…
Suddenly, visits to Yuexuan a place long suspected to be connected to Han Li increased significantly.
The advancement matches proved far more thrilling than the preliminaries.
Every team, whether to secure a favorable ranking for the finals or to ensure better opportunities for their future, held nothing back.
Elephant Armored Academy and Canghui Academy found themselves battered and bruised in nearly every match.
Canghui Academy suffered the worst humiliation.
Their dominance in the group stage had been absolute, but in the advancement phase, they were even bested by a team ranked outside the top ten. The backlash from spectators was fierce.
Yet, rules were rules.
Canghui and Elephant Armored Academy still secured their spots in the finals, whereas Divine Wind and Thunderclap did not.
As spectators, the audience could do nothing but accept it.
Today, Han Li's residence had some unexpected visitors two full teams, Blazing Academy and Divine Wind Academy.
This surprised him.
Neither team had matches scheduled for the next three days, so they had apparently decided to visit together.
"Han, Holy Son, we never got to have that battle we agreed on earlier. You're not planning to back out, are you?"
The moment she stepped in, Huo Wu's voice rang out.
"What are you guys doing here?"
Han Li lazily sat up from his reclined position, stretching as he sent a mental signal to the women training in the courtyard.
"I just told you it's for the match!"
Huo Wu was getting irritated. She was starting to suspect that Han Li had a hearing problem.
"This was prearranged. The academy has already approved it. Besides, we still owe you a favor."
Huo Wushuang stepped in, preventing his sister from making things worse.
At the same time, seeing Han Li's laid back demeanor eased his own anxieties.
Lately, rumors had been running wild.
Speculation was rampant, and Han Li's continued absence from the public eye had made their visit a risky move.
Han Li merely chuckled, not bothering to mention the so called favor.
"How do you want to lose? Same style matchups, or would you prefer to experience different combat styles?"
He straightened his posture slightly, gesturing toward the four women emerging from the training grounds, before looking at the two visiting teams with a smirk.
The moment his words landed, Feng Xiaotian and the others froze in place.
How can someone be this arrogant and still be alive?
Seeing their stunned expressions, Han Li waved dismissively and made the decision for them.
"Alright, you'll get to experience all of them."
He signaled to Shui Bing'er, who nodded in response and led both teams toward the training grounds.
As for Huo Wu she was being carried there, her mouth covered by Huo Wushuang, while Feng Xiaotian helped him drag her along.
All the while, she thrashed about, baring her teeth and glaring at Han Li, as if she wanted to slice him apart with her gaze alone.
Han Li didn't follow them to the training grounds. About fifteen minutes later, both teams returned, looking utterly defeated.
The worst off was Feng Xiaotian his expression carried a hint of fear as he glanced at Xiu'er, and his left arm still hung limply, clearly having taken a serious hit.
Huo Wu had a thin layer of frost on her eyebrows, her entire demeanor numb.
Huo Wushuang was slightly better off his sleeve was half gone, and half of his hair had been burned away, leaving him with an uneven buzz cut.
The members of both academies still had disbelief written across their faces.
In just fifteen short minutes, they had been utterly dominated by all four women. Aside from facing Zhu Zhuqing, where they managed to hold out a bit longer, against the other three, they had no chance to fight back.
Especially against Xiu'er.
Whenever their eyes met hers, they instinctively avoided her gaze.
They had never imagined that someone their age could endure their attacks head on, charge straight up to them, and smack them into the ground one by one.
Facing Feng Xiaotian, Xiu'er had even allowed him to execute his entire Gale Demon Wolf Thirty Six Consecutive Slashes before ending it with a single slap.
There was still a perfect crater on the training ground floor in the exact shape of Feng Xiaotian.
"Done with the match. How do you feel?"
Han Li channeled his soul power, releasing a wave of life energy toward them to heal their superficial wounds.
He needed to make sure that when they left, no one could tell they had been through such an ordeal.
It was the best he could do compared to Ye LingLing, his healing abilities were far from sufficient.
"Good thing you guys aren't competing," Huo Wu muttered after a long silence, looking thoroughly dejected.
"Don't compare yourselves to them. They're outliers, not reference points."
Han Li didn't say much more but added, "But I can say for sure you guys won't be able to keep up in the finals."
This time, it was Feng Xiaotian who hung his head in defeat.
At least Blazing Academy had made it to the finals his misjudgment had cost Divine Wind Academy even the chance to qualify.
"You should consider discussing with your academy heads about merging your teams. Combining your strengths would be ideal you already have complementary attributes.
The tournament only restricts participants from switching teams after registration, not merging teams."
Han Li spoke with clear intent, directing his words at Huo Wushuang.
The fact that both teams had come here today already implied something.
He was merely returning the gesture, pointing them toward a decision they likely would have reached on their own anyway after all, even in the original timeline, the two academies had eventually merged.
He was simply expediting the process and helping them solidify their stance.
"Wouldn't that be…"
Feng Xiaotian's voice trailed off.
He noticed the spark of interest in his teammates' eyes, and truthfully, he was tempted as well.
"It's up to you. If you're worried about appearances, just say you're repaying your favor to me."
Han Li chuckled indifferently.
Everyone was testing him anyway why not stoke the fire a little more?
If he didn't add fuel to the rumors, their courage wouldn't grow.
"Fix your appearance and head back. Whether you talk about what happened here or not is up to you."
Han Li made a dismissive gesture, signaling them to leave.
The two teams exchanged glances but followed his instructions, tidying themselves up before making their way back to their academy lodgings.
They had to consult their superiors.
At Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, after finishing his training, Tang San found a letter placed on his desk.
Upon reading it, his eyes lit up with excitement, and he swiftly left the academy, heading toward a place in Heaven Dou City called Yuexuan.
Meanwhile, at the gates of Spirit City
Dust covered and weary, Yu Xiaogang stepped through the entrance, gazing at the city he hadn't set foot in for over twenty years.
Stepping aside from the main road, he stood at the roadside and looked toward the Pope's Palace in the distance.
Unconsciously, his fingers brushed against his belt.
Before leaving, Tang Hao had given him back his old token.
It was the only thing that might grant him an audience with Bibi Dong.
I wonder how little San is doing…
By his estimation, the advancement matches should be nearing their end.
Yu Xiaogang sighed, lowering his head in thought.
He had traveled here in a hurry, not wasting any time.
Spirit City still carried no real signs of change after all, with the tournaments in both empires still ongoing, the real tension hadn't surfaced yet.
"Tomorrow. I'll meet Bibi Dong tomorrow. No matter what happens, since I've come this far, I have to try."
Encouraging himself, he scanned his surroundings and walked into an inn that seemed respectable enough.
He needed rest and to freshen up.
Outside the Pope's Palace
A guard, having received permission, stepped inside and respectfully placed a report before Bibi Dong.
Her gaze swept across the document until it landed on a particular name.
Yu Xiaogang.
Her fingers tightened slightly as she picked up the report, scanning it carefully.
A long silence followed.
She set the document back on the desk.
Quietly, almost to herself, she murmured
"Xiaogang…"
The grand hall remained deathly still, no further sound breaking the silence for a long time.
(End of Chapter)
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