The next day.
Inside the bustling tournament arena, five matches had already concluded. The next bout was Lanba Team vs. Blazing Team both had already faced in the preliminary round.
Tang Yin chose not to go first, having decided to give the girls more opportunities to gain combat experience before the finals.
The first match featured Huo Wushuang against Zhu Zhuqing. Tang Yin wasn't entirely sure who would win—both were strong talents—but he hoped Zhuqing would pull through.
As the referee signaled the start, Zhu Zhuqing darted forward without hesitation, her shadow flickering like a phantom in motion.
Huo Wushuang unleashed his One-Horned Fire Dragon martial soul. His body surged with power—muscles bulging, veins pulsing, and a layer of crimson scales spreading across his skin in a blazing, draconic pattern.
Seeing Zhuqing close in, his fourth soul ring suddenly lit up with a blinding glow.
"Fourth Soul Skill—Fire Dragon's Body!"
A surge of soul power burst forth as golden-red light blazed from his scales. His body began to expand, claws spurted from his hands, and his crimson scales gleamed doubling his defense.
"Second Soul Skill—Hell Hundred Claw!"
Zhuqing struck with blazing speed, her claws slashing in a storm of attacks—but they barely left scratches. Tang Yin narrowed his eyes. As expected, Huo Wushuang's wuhun was more like a defense system than an attack system.
Seeing her offensive wasn't working, Zhuqing adjusted her approach. She began weaving unpredictably using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, her movements hard to follow.
Zhuqing focused on evasiveness, countering with Mysterious Jade Hand, aiming for a long, drawn-out match of attrition. This was her only chance to defeat Huo Wushuang without using her two most powerful soul skills.
(Tang Yin had previously instructed her not to use her third and fourth soul skills during the preliminary and qualifying rounds.)
After a tough, exhausting exchange, Zhuqing finally took down Huo Wushuang, though not unscathed. She had sustained several scorching burns across her arms and legs.
Tang Yin immediately had her retreat from further matches and signaled Ye Lingling to heal her promptly.
Next up was the matchup between Dai Mubai and a background character—one unnamed in the original story. Mubai won two matches in a row with ease, but his streak ended when he faced Huo Yu, who kept his distance and fully exploited his aerial advantage.
After Dai's loss, Meng Yiran stepped in. She swiftly crushed both Huo Yu and Huo Yun, the Blazing Academy's flight specialists, without breaking a sweat. Tang Yin, satisfied, called her back and sent Tai long for the next fight.
The following match featured another Blazing Academy substitute who went up against Tai Long—and was thoroughly beaten down.
Finally, it was the fight against Huo Wu, who had been itching to fight since the beginning. But the moment the referee gave the signal, Tai Long promptly surrendered, much to her frustration, all in line with Tang Yin's orders.
"Yo! Huo wu, Are you ready? Because here I come" Tang yin teased Huo wu who looked a little hesitant but her pride instantly kicked in as he stomped her leg and gave Tang yin a provocative look.
The host shouted "Begin!"
Huo wu being a control system soul master at once distanced herself from Tang yin to attack with range type soul skills. She knew that in a close-combat she wasn't his opponent.
Seeing this, Tang Yin used his third soul ring to trap Huo Wu as his purple ring lit up brightly.
"Third Soul Skill—Soul Devouring Cage"
A blood-red cage, three times the size of a normal one, burst from the ground, instantly sealing Huo Wu inside. She didn't even flinch—instead, a smug smile played on her lips.
This was an evolved version of Tang Yin's soul skill—painstakingly refined to enhance its strength. When focused on a single opponent, the cage's durability & devouring trait tripled.
Huo Wu raised her hand, a smug smile tugging at her lips, as she effortlessly shattered the Blood-Red Cage.
She flipped her hair confidently and began boasting, her voice filled with glee.
"Wahaha... Tang Yin, you really used this useless trick on me? You've never seen me use this soul skill before, huh? It's adorable you thought it would work. You're just wasting your soul power!"
To Tang Yin, however, it wasn't a threat—it was just another one of her prideful, cute antics.
Though a flicker of surprise crossed his mind—the ability to dismiss soul skills was far more heaven-defying than he'd thought—Tang Yin still found teasing her way more fun.
"Huo Wu," he said with a smirk, "is that soul skill really all that special? Because I saw a girl from Tianshui Academy use the exact same move. Pretty common, if you ask me."
"Hmph! You!—I'll show you just how 'common' it is!" Huo Wu snapped, gritting her teeth in frustration.
She crossed her arms above her chest, her eyes blazing with fury, as four soul rings rose around her—two yellow, two purple, shining with power.
Then, to the shock of the spectators, she began channeling all four rings into one—a technique known as Ring Fusion, a feat so rare that it was said to be possible only for the most gifted talents on the continent.
"Fourth Soul Skill—Brilliant sun!"
"Hmm...? This soul skill is tracking-based—it probably won't stop until it hits me. How troublesome," Tang Yin mused calmly.
Right now, her soul power output is at its peak. She's deliberately suppressing it—to trigger an internal explosion. When it detonates, the soul skill's effect will be amplified... boom! But it still won't harm me.
Tang yin was confident but more so troubled how to avoid this attack without drawing Salas suspicion? Hmm why don't I use the same strategy as Tang san? I will be able to have Huo wu's confession at the same time hehe..
With his plan in mind, Tang Yin hastly weaved through the arena, dodging the blazing energy sun that pursued him relentlessly. Huo Wu watched with a smug smile, certain about her soul skill inevitability.
But then, Tang Yin smiled calmly—and in a flash, his Blue Silver King shot forward, coiling tightly around Huo Wu's waist. Startled, she gasped as she was suddenly pulled into his embrace carrying her in a princess carry Infront of everyone.
"W-What are you doing?!" she snapped, struggling—not out of fear, but from the sheer embarrassment. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't break free.
"Your soul skill really is a double-edged sword, Huo Wu," Tang Yin said with a charming smirk.
"Since I can't outrun it… how about we endure it together? Or, if you'd rather not risk it, you can always cancel it."
Huo Wushuang gasped in horror, eyes wide as he watched his sister about to be struck by her own attack. Blazing Team members were also stunned by Tang yin's action.
Nearby, Shui Yue'er stood frozen in disbelief. From the stands, she watched Tang Yin's seemingly ruthless actions unfold—unable to accept what she was seeing.
After all, he had promised to give his all against them, a promise made at her stupid sister's insistence."Are you really going this far? I… I can't believe it," she whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and unwillingness.
Seeing the fear in her sister's eyes, Shui Bing'er sighed—she knew she wasn't a match for Tang Yin either. But then, as her gaze fell on Huo Wu in Tang Yin's embrace, a sudden idea struck her.
Huo Wu didn't struggle anymore, eyes closed as the blazing orb rushed toward both of them. With a sharp breath, she wrapped her arms around Tang Yin and clung tightly to him.
"Hmph! I know even Ring Fusion won't be enough to defeat you," she muttered, her voice trembling with both pride and defiance.
"But I want everyone to witness that even you, Tang Yin, can't walk away after defeating my Blazing Team. Just this once... I'll count it as my win."
Suddenly, she felt her body tilt to the side.
Opening her eyes in confusion, she saw Tang Yin shielding her with his own body, arms wrapped around her protectively, wearing that same irresistible smile he always did—calm even in the face of danger.
His violet eyes met hers for a heartbeat before he leaned in and gently kissed her forehead.
"You reckless girl... your pride really gets in the way," he murmured under his breath.
Her eyes widened—first in shock, then in rising worry. Her heart pounded, not from fear, but from something far more complex.
"No!—don't!" Liu Erlong and the other girls cried out in worry as they watched Tang Yin shield Huo Wu, taking the attack head-on.
"Third Soul Skill—Soul Devouring Cage!"
The Blood-Red Cage had shielded both him and Huo Wu. But to keep its true defensive potential hidden, Tang Yin retracted it mid-explosion,as he took the brunt of the blast himself without care.
His passive energy absorption kicked in at once, effortlessly neutralizing the explosion's heat & impact. Huo Wu remained unharmed, save for a single strand of her hair that had been scotched.
As the dust settled, his upper robe had been blown away, revealing a chiseled, Hercules-like physique. Broad shoulders, a sculpted chest, and sharply defined eight-pack abs—every muscle line carved like a piece of art.
The crowd fell silent—until the collective gasp of dozens of girls broke through the silence like a wave. Their eyes sparkled with stars, cheeks flushed, completely love-struck by the scene.
Countless girls remained utterly infatuated, captivated by the sight of their hero saving the beauty. Shui yue'er also sighed dreamily,
"How romantic, ahh…"
Qian Renxue's eyes lingered on his abs, a faint blush on her cheeks. As she wiped away her drool, she quickly snapped out of it, mentally scolding herself for losing control.
Even Huo Wu, still cradled in his arms, flushed bright red and looked away—though she didn't struggle to get free.
Tang Yin gently helped her to her feet, a smile tugging at his lips as he praised her fierce determination and unwavering will.
"Honestly, I'm impressed by your courage. But please, don't be so reckless—you really make people worry," he said, shaking his head as he stumbled weakly, pretending to be exhausted.
Huo Wu caught Tang Yin as he stumbled, then immediately raised her hand in surrender. Without hesitation, she carried him straight toward the Lanba team's stands.
Ye Lingling rushed to meet them, stepping in front of Tang Yin and activating her healing skill—but froze in surprise. Her soul power hadn't been used at all.
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously, only to catch Tang Yin cunningly blinking back at her. Instantly, she knew he was faking his injury.
"Hmph… Rogue Tang Yin!" Lingling muttered under her breath, then sighed in relief, realizing he was completely fine.
Huo wu remained at Tang yin's side clutching his arms in worry as ye lingling pretended to heal him though she didn't know why he was pretending to be injured. She didn't ask.
Feng Xiaotian's grip tightened at the sight of Huo Wu in Tang Yin's arms, but then he loosened it again, recalling his humiliating defeat at Tang Yin's hands. Finally, he exhaled a weary breath, letting go of his obsession.
Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er came over to check on Tang Yin. Seeing them, he chuckled playfully and teased Shui Bing'er with a smile, "What? Is Miss Bing'er worried that I won't be at my best against you?"
Shui Bing'er blushed but admitted, "Hmph. I admit defeat—my attacks don't work on you. But I'll figure something out by the finals. See you then, Tang Yin. And stay safe."
She glanced back at him once more before walking away. Shui Yue'er said nothing, her eyes locked on his exposed abdomen. Dugu Yan hissed at her in annoyance and quickly covered him up with a towel.
Tang yin chuckled as he was crowded with the girls who really cared for him basking in their love. Huo wu finally left after making sure he was safe not before she pecked him in cheeks before storming back to her Team.
In the days that followed, the Lanba Team maintained their dominant streak, winning every match they faced. Tang Yin refrained from participating, letting the girls take the lead, with Dai Mubai and Tai Long stepping in only when needed.
They secured eleven consecutive victories before their twelfth match against the Tianshui Team. As promised, Shui Bing'er voluntarily forfeited the match, claiming she had a new strategy prepared for Tang Yin in the finals.
Tang Yin returned to the lineup for their team's thirteenth match against the Godwind Team, where he once again thoroughly defeated Feng Xiaotian without mercy.
Coincidentally, Dai Mubai's soul power jumped from level 38 to 40 during the match against Godwind Team. At his own insistence, Flender took him to the Sunset Forest to obtain his fourth soul ring—a very short journey.
In the sunset forest,
Flender and Dai Mubai soon came across a female tiger-type soul beast with an unusually docile nature, emitting nothing more than a soft, purring sound.
Strangely, Dai Mubai felt as though she was calling out to him. Flender introduced the Soul beast as "Catfish Tiger"—A Soul beast known for one peculiar ability: luring out male tigers through mating instincts.
At first, Mubai scoffed at the soul beast's unimpressive appearance. But the longer he looked, the more beautiful she seemed—almost as if fate had led him to her.
What he had once found distasteful—her ability to "catfish" male tigers—suddenly felt like a calling. He could already imagine himself using that skill to seduce & dominate majestic Tiger type beast and opponents.
Dai Mubai suddenly felt lucky to have found a rare, four-thousand-year-old soul beast for his fourth ring and pressured Flender to hunt it down. Flender was left speechless at first, seriously questioning whether his student had a few screws loose, and declined immediately.
Finally, Flender relented, and Dai Mubai absorbed the Soul Ring, gaining a powerful auxiliary skill with an aphrodisiac effect only effective on male tigers but it also had a side effect on it's user.
(Tang Yin, of course, had absolutely nothing to do with it—definitely. He had been planning a way to get Dai Mubai out of the game for a long time, and had been searching for a female tiger soul beast whose only specialty was luring powerful tigers into mating. This information was found in one of Yu Xiaogang's archives.)
Lanba Team vs Thunderclap Team,
Tang Yin also stepped in for the final match against the Thunderclap Team, leading Lanba to a commanding victory—securing the title of Undisputed Champion in the Qualifier Round.
All fifteen teams from the Qualifying Round stood before the Emperor, who rose to deliver his congratulatory speech, flanked by both Ning Fengzhi and Salas. As he stood, his voice was amplified by a soul tool, echoing clearly across the arena.
Tang San and the main team from the Imperial Academy—aka the Emperor's Team—were present as well. Tang San listened to the Emperor's speech with genuine excitement; after all, in his previous world, emperors and kings were revered almost like gods creation.
Emperor Xue Ye didn't hold back on his praise.
"After several days of intense competition, the fifteen teams of the Tian Duo Empire have all shown remarkable performance. Special congratulations to Lanba Academy, who have once again claimed the Undisputed Title by winning all 14 matches."
"Great! Awesome! Not bad!"
Cheers and applause erupted as the Lanba Team was being showered with praise and recognition from the other teams.
The Emperor then introduced the crown prince "For this year's Continental Elite Tournament, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe will serve as the empire's envoy and sit on the jury."
Everyone clapped, showing their loyalty to the Empire as they caught their first glimpse of the crown prince. Tang Yin met Xue Qinghe's gaze and flashed a mischievous grin, mouthing,
"Your Highness," while giving an exaggerated, theatrical bow which earned him a genuine heartfelt chuckle from Qian Renxue.
While she was undeniably amused by Tang Yin's charisma, grace, and talent, a faint sense of guilt lingered beneath her smile—for the lies she carried, and for deceiving someone like him who thought of her as a true friend.
She wasn't ready to abandon her plans for the sake of friendship… or whatever these growing feelings were. But she also wasn't ready to let go. So, for now, she chose to stay in this fleeting happiness, even if it meant sinking deeper into a lie she wasn't ready to escape.
Emperor Xue Ye, who already knew about their little "friendship," simply smiled to himself—pleased to see such a friendly bond between Tang Yin and future successor of the Empire.
He loudly announced to the students below, "Additionally, Royal Cavalry unit of 500 strong will be assigned as an escort. I hope all of you will make the empire proud!"
The crowd erupted in response. Everyone was eager to earn the empire's praise and bring glory to their academy, their cheers rising in a deafening wave of support.