Gu Yuena used the excuse of being heavily injured from the previous match to avoid participating.
In truth, a more important reason was her uncertainty about whether close contact with the Asura God's Sword might allow the Asura God in the Divine Realm to detect something. Gu Yuena wasn't confident, so she chose not to compete.
As a result, the battle between Shrek Academy and Blazing Academy wasn't as intense as anticipated.
Even though Huo Wu and Feng Xiaotian had a Martial Soul Fusion Technique and ring fusion skills, they still fell far short of the Shrek team.
In just half an hour, Blazing Academy was eliminated, taking out four of Shrek's members before being completely defeated.
There were no vicious curses or declarations of "you've chosen the path to death."
Nor was there any melodramatic scene between Huo Wu and Tang San.
Everything unfolded naturally.
"The match between Shrek Academy and Blazing Academy has concluded. Blazing Academy has been fully eliminated, and the victory goes to Shrek Academy's Shrek team."
The red-robed referee announced the results impartially.
The outcome was both surprising and expected.
Without Gu Yuena, who could take on seven opponents alone, Shrek's victory felt somewhat unearned.
But competitions are full of such unexpected twists—that's what makes them competitions.
At night, Tang Chen, accompanied by two elders and Tang Hao, returned to their residence in Spirit City.
Seeing the disheveled Tang Chen, Tang Hao, and the two elders who looked as if they had lost their parents, Tang San and the others were utterly baffled.
What happened? They went out for a stroll, so why did they look like they were returning from a funeral?
Especially Tang Hao, who kept sighing and hadn't said a word.
"Father, Great-Grandfather, did something happen?" Tang San couldn't help but ask as the Clear Sky Sect members gathered in a room.
"The Second Elder and Seventh Elder… have fallen."
"Hiss—"
Tang San gasped, "That's impossible! Those were Title Douluo!"
He was already shocked when he heard that the Killing Captain managing the Killing City had been killed by a mysterious person.
Now what was going on? Tang Chen, a level 99, led the team, and they still lost two Title Douluo?
Wasn't he secretly an enemy spy who had finally become the boss of the Clear Sky Sect?
Tang Xiao, standing nearby, found it even harder to accept. "Grandfather, what exactly happened?"
"With your strength, how could someone kill two elders under your protection?"
"We encountered the Beast God Di Tian in the Star Dou Forest, and he ambushed us," Tang Chen sighed.
"The Seventh Elder was schemed against by a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. The Second Elder stayed behind to ensure our safe escape, but… alas!"
Tang Chen couldn't continue. After all, they were his blood kin, and they died covering the retreat.
"Indeed, who would have thought hundred-thousand-year soul beasts could be so cunning and set up an ambush?" The Third Elder, somewhat short in stature, spoke with sadness in his tone.
"That's not all," the Fourth Elder, who had been watching over the Seventh Elder, Tang Lie, said with indignation. "They secretly plotted against the Seventh Elder. Old Seven died because of his carelessness."
If they had noticed the Hellfire invading Tang Lie's body from the start, he might not have been killed by the Red King's final move.
"Thankfully, Senior Bo Saixi arrived to save us. Otherwise, I and the Seventh Elder wouldn't have made it to meet the Ancestor," the Fourth Elder said, trembling at the memory of that critical moment.
He had been attacked by a purple-clad woman. If Bo Saixi hadn't arrived in time, he might have died on the spot.
That was a soul beast comparable to a level 96 Title Douluo—truly terrifying.
When Tang Chen, Tang Hao, and the elders went to capture the Red King, the Fourth Elder had stayed behind to care for the gravely injured Tang Lie. They encountered an unknown purple-clad woman, whose true form was an Abyss Demon Dragon.
If Bo Saixi hadn't arrived, causing the Abyss Demon Dragon to sense something and retreat early, the Clear Sky Sect might have lost not just two Title Douluo but possibly three.
Upon learning the truth and that Bo Saixi was a level 99 Limit Douluo, Tang San's expression was one of shock.
Then, his gaze fell on the refined, noble-looking woman standing behind Tang Chen. He stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Thank you so much, Senior Bo Saixi."
"Your kindness to us, Tang San will never forget."
"Tang San, is it?" Bo Saixi nodded, sizing him up.
"You don't need to thank me too much. Your great-grandfather and I are friends, and I'm friendly toward the Clear Sky Sect. I've heard about you from Tang Chen before. You're impressive—twin martial souls with innate full soul power."
"To reach Soul King at such a young age… even Tang Chen and I didn't have such strength at your age."
"You're too kind," Tang San replied, inwardly shocked. What was the relationship between his great-grandfather and Bo Saixi that he would tell her everything?
Close friends, or perhaps a confidante?
Tang San couldn't help but wonder. Moreover, Bo Saixi came from Sea God Island, a force said to be no weaker than Spirit Hall. For both emotional and rational reasons, Tang San knew he had to handle this relationship carefully.
Spirit Hall was the enemy, with a terrifyingly vast influence and power. The Seven Treasure Glazed Sect's apparent alliance with them was strained, causing headaches.
To counter Spirit Hall, forming alliances was essential.
"However…" Bo Saixi's voice interrupted Tang San's thoughts. "Tang San, the level of this soul master tournament seems quite high!"
"Are there even Soul Emperors and Soul Sages present?"
Bo Saixi recalled what Tang Chen had mentioned—that he had given the Asura God's Sword to Tang San. Didn't that mean the tournament was extremely challenging?
"Yes, Great-Grandfather left the Asura God's Sword with me just in case," Tang San nodded.
Bo Saixi walked over, patted Tang San's shoulder, and said, "Don't blame yourself. Even with the Asura God's Sword, Tang Chen might not have been able to save those two fallen Clear Sky Sect elders."
"Indeed, Little San," Tang Chen nodded. "My injuries aren't something the Asura God's Sword can heal. Di Tian's strength can be said to be the greatest in the soul beast world."
Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu had once encountered the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King.
But in terms of combat skills, Di Tian felt far more terrifying than that beast, which only ate when full and slept when sated.
"By the way, I heard your opponent tomorrow is the Spirit Academy team?" Tang Chen's gaze grew deep as he inquired.
"That's right. Spirit Academy forfeited their match against Glazed Academy and entered the revival round directly."
"To win the championship, we need to defeat Spirit Academy first and then face Glazed Academy in the final showdown."
"To be honest, I'm not very confident," Tang San admitted, even with the Asura God's Sword, harboring deep concerns.
The gap in soul power was simply too vast.
Dugu Yan, a level 68 Soul Emperor, was no ordinary Soul Emperor—her strength was extraordinary.
And Qian Renxue, rumored to be the Saintess of Spirit Hall, was an even greater unknown.
Her power might be comparable to Gu Yuena, who had left the Blazing team—a terrifying force, possibly at the Soul Sage level.
"Tang San, do your best!" Tang Chen nodded. "It's good not to be arrogant, but you must also have confidence."
"Give it your all. Tomorrow, Bo Saixi and I will go to the arena to watch the match."