Upon hearing Bibi Dong's declaration, Lin Jie immediately withdrew his offensive stance. However, Hu Liena seemed unwilling to accept the result—she continued charging toward Lin Jie, though her attacks had clearly lost any real force.
Boom—
She crashed heavily into him.
In truth, Hu Liena had heard her teacher's voice, but she simply couldn't accept the outcome. So, she refused to stop.
That hit almost knocked Lin Jie's soul out of his body… okay, maybe that was an exaggeration.
Steadying Hu Liena with one arm, Lin Jie leaned close and whispered something in her ear. No one heard what he said.
Whatever he told her seemed to help. Hu Liena calmed down a little, though she still looked despondent and lost.
Only after Bibi Dong formally conceded did the referee hesitantly announce the result: Shrek Academy had won.
"We won!" the Shrek team cheered in unison, gathering together and shouting loudly.
Not long after the announcement, seven-colored light descended over the Shrek team—and then, surprisingly, over the six defeated members of Spirit Hall Academy as well.
It was Ning Fengzhi, who had taken the initiative to heal even the Spirit Hall students.
It made sense for him to heal Shrek Academy's team. But assisting Spirit Hall? That was... unexpected.
At Lin Jie's quiet instruction, Zhu Zhuqing stepped forward and administered the antidote to those who had been poisoned by her Eight Spider Lances Spirit Bone.
"Thank you, Sect Master Ning," Bibi Dong finally spoke when she saw him lending aid.
"It's no trouble at all," Ning Fengzhi replied calmly, his gaze steady despite Bibi Dong's composed expression.
He knew that the calmer Bibi Dong looked on the outside, the more furious she was inside. But as the Supreme Pontiff, she would never show it.
After a brief recovery, the six Spirit Hall Academy students were helped off the arena by attendants of the Pontiff's Palace. Hu Liena wasn't seriously injured. She cast one last look at Lin Jie, then at Bibi Dong, her expression complicated, before walking down the platform in silence.
Now, only the members of Shrek Academy remained on the stage.
Every one of them bore proud smiles. They were the champions—yes, the final champions.
Though the result wasn't what Spirit Hall had hoped for, they had no choice but to accept it.
Bibi Dong rose from her seat along with the gathered Titled Douluo. Her face remained calm as she declared:
"The Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament—this year's final champion is… Shrek Academy.
Congratulations, young geniuses."
The twelve members of Shrek Academy stepped forward, forming a neat line on the central platform. Standing beside them were Flender and Yu Xiaogang, while Liu Erlong stood alongside Xiao Wu.
At this moment, all eyes were on the three Spirit Bones suspended above the arena.
But Xiao Wu's gaze was different—hers held a trace of hatred, fixed on Bibi Dong. She trembled slightly, clearly suppressing her emotions, and slowly lowered her head.
Up on the platform, Bibi Dong seemed to sense something. She followed that strange feeling and locked eyes on Xiao Wu. The first glance revealed nothing unusual. On the second, she noticed that a veil of red mist seemed to cloak the girl.
On the third glance, Bibi Dong released a trace of spiritual power, piercing through the red haze and seeing Xiao Wu's true form.
Suddenly, a look of shock crossed Bibi Dong's face. Emotion surged in her heart, and for a moment she even forgot that her team had lost.
To be sure, she looked a fourth time. Confirming what she saw, she inhaled deeply and suppressed her excitement. Her expression returned to calm.
Lin Jie, noticing Bibi Dong's gaze locked on Xiao Wu, immediately felt a sinking sensation.
No wonder his eyelid had been twitching earlier—Bibi Dong had discovered Xiao Wu's identity. No doubt about it.
Lin Jie glanced toward Xiao Wu, his expression complex. He had tried to persuade her not to come to Spirit City—but she had insisted. He couldn't stop her.
In the end, she had begged him to help her hide her identity. Lin Jie had warned her the effect might not last long… and now, it seemed, she had been exposed.
How had Lin Jie hidden Xiao Wu's identity? That had involved a special energy obtained from dual cultivation with Zhu Zhuqing. Lin Jie transferred a portion of it into Xiao Wu's body—though the method of transfer was... well, let's just say it was consensual and a little embarrassing.
He had also given her a rare spiritual herb from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, one whose greatest strength was concealing one's aura. As long as a Titled Douluo didn't pay close attention, she should have been fine.
But Bibi Dong noticed anyway. That would complicate things.
Looking at Xiao Wu once more, Lin Jie sighed.
I just hope she'll be alright…
By now, Bibi Dong had regained her composure. She accepted the brocade tray from one of Spirit Hall's attendants, her gaze lingering on the three Spirit Bones within.
The red-clad Cardinal standing nearby called out loudly:
"Would Shrek Academy's representative please come forward to accept the championship reward!"
The Shrek team looked at one another, then collectively turned toward Lin Jie.
Dai Mubai stepped up and said,
"Lin Jie, this honor belongs to you.
I may be the team captain, but everyone knows—without you, we would not be standing here today. You've always been the heart and soul of Shrek Academy."
"Yeah, this honor is yours," Ma Hongjun added.
"That's right, Lin Jie," Ning Rongrong said.
Zhu Zhuqing gave him a gentle look and nodded, "Go on."
Seeing the sincere admiration in everyone's eyes, Lin Jie nodded silently and stepped forward.
As he approached Bibi Dong, her image etched clearly into his mind:
A noble purple-silver robe, a nine-curved purple-gold crown on her head, elegant jade fingers holding the ornate tray. Her skin was snow-white, her eyebrows graceful like spring mountains, and her pale violet eyes shimmered with mystery beneath them. Her straight nose, rosy lips, and dark violet hair strands brushing past her ears—all of it came together to form a woman of supreme beauty, elegance, nobility, and composure.
Though no longer young, time had left no trace on her features.
Lin Jie stared into her eyes, and his heart stirred with a strange emotion.
Bibi Dong noticed his bold gaze, but her expression didn't change.
"You are impressive—far more than I expected.
Would you consider joining Spirit Hall?"
She already knew that Hu Liena had previously approached Lin Jie. She also knew what he had said about Martial Souls.
And for someone this talented, Bibi Dong was eager to recruit him.
Hearing her words, Lin Jie's expression twitched. He had once considered joining Spirit Hall—but being asked so directly, he didn't know how to respond.
He simply stared at her, speechless.
Bibi Dong frowned slightly as he remained silent.
Lin Jie's eyes flickered with light, but he still said nothing.
Seeing this apparent disrespect, some of the surrounding Spirit Hall members grew visibly irritated.
But then, Bibi Dong's expression eased. She studied Lin Jie thoughtfully, a trace of curiosity in her gaze.
Finally, Lin Jie gave a faint smile.
"Thank you for the offer, Your Holiness.
I will seriously consider it."
Bibi Dong's lips curled slightly.
"In that case, I hope to see you achieve even greater accomplishments—and one day, enter the Douluo Hall."
She extended the tray toward him.
The three Spirit Bones on the tray pulsed with immense energy. Lin Jie's heart trembled. Even though he already possessed two Dragon King Arm Bones, the blue-glowing head bone drew his eyes irresistibly.
He reached out to take the tray—but perhaps due to excitement, he moved a bit too far forward.
His hand landed directly on Bibi Dong's delicate hand.
Startled, he instinctively pressed and then quickly released her hand, taking the tray properly.
Bibi Dong glanced at him but said nothing, assuming it was an accidental gesture in his excitement.
As Lin Jie accepted the tray, greedy gazes from all directions locked onto the three Spirit Bones. Who wouldn't covet such prizes—especially when they were all over ten thousand years old?
Returning to the Shrek team under countless watching eyes, Lin Jie held the Spirit Bones before them.
The moment he arrived, every pair of eyes lit up. These were three Spirit Bones—who wouldn't be tempted?
But Xiao Wu was the first to speak:
"I'll pass. None of these are suitable for me."
She glanced up at Bibi Dong, then lowered her head again.
Dai Mubai's eyes flashed. "I'll pass too. None of them are compatible with my attributes."
Oscar chimed in as well. "I'm a food-type Spirit Master. These Spirit Bones obviously aren't suited for me either. I'm out."
Despite the heat in their eyes, Huang Yuan, Tai Long, Jiangzhu, and Jing Ling all stepped back—they knew these rewards were earned through the others' blood and sweat.
Then Ning Rongrong said,
"Only the head Spirit Bone fits me.
But… I already have one. I'll pass."
"You already have a head Spirit Bone?" The others turned to her in surprise. No one had known.
That was because Lin Jie had told her to keep it a secret, and she had obeyed until now.