With less than a month left until the Spirit Master Tournament preliminaries, and with the complicated matters of registration, settling in, and getting familiar with the environment, some of the far-flung academy teams have already started their journey.
Lately, on the tens of thousands of main roads leading to the Heaven Dou Empire, merchant caravans and mercenary groups always encounter boys and girls in uniform academy attire. They are all in high spirits, their destination all pointing straight for that bustling imperial capital where the wind and clouds converge—Heaven Dou City.
...
Blazing Fire Academy.
Scarlet warhorses neighed with heads held high, their hooves treading upon roaring flames.
At the front of the formation stood the leading teacher and the captain Huo Wushuang, with vice-captain Huo Wu.
In Huo Wu's hand, a crimson banner snapped in the wind, embroidered in blazing golden script with the character "Blazing," dazzling under the sun.
"The Spirit Master Tournament… it's finally about to begin!"
Huo Wushuang's slightly plain face was now full of heroic spirit, and his eyes blazed with fierce fighting intent.
"That monster, Sword Wine…"
Even in Blazing Fire City, news had spread of the annihilation of the Strength Clan.
Huo Wu was still as strikingly beautiful as ever.
Her fiery red curls were tied back with a ribbon.
"Sword Wine's sword must have grown even sharper.
But these past months, we haven't been idle either.
I said before that I would break his sword techniques—I will not let that fellow look down on us."
At her words, the Blazing Fire Team members responded in unison.
The teacher gave the order:
"Set out!"
The team surged forward like a crimson torrent, galloping toward the direction of the Heaven Dou Empire.
...
Godwind Academy.
Feng Xiaotian reined in his horse and cast one last glance back.
Behind him, the silhouette of the city shrank and blurred in the distance.
Drawing his gaze forward again, he spurred his horse, catching up with the academy's formation.
Above them, the banner embroidered with azure wind patterns streamed straight in the galloping gale, snapping with sharp whistling sounds.
"My Thirty Six Successive Chops is now perfected, and I've even comprehended a hint of sword intent!
"Even the Dean said that my self-created Spirit Ability has just barely touched the threshold of the third realm of Sword Dao!"
"Sword Wine…"
Feng Xiaotian muttered under his breath.
Unbidden, the image arose of that youth in white robes, pinning him to the wall with a single strike.
As well as the tale spread by storytellers in Godwind City—
"'A Warmed Cup to Nail Xiaotian'."
Gazing at the winding road ahead—
A searing battle light flashed in his eyes.
"This time!"
"I will surely wash away my humiliation!"
...
Northern Border of the Heaven Dou Empire.
A land of eternal ice and snow.
Here lay one of the Five Element Academies—Skywater Academy, situated within Skywater City.
This city of ice, built from pure frozen marrow, stood on the edge of a vast snowbound forest.
Beyond, to the far north, stretched a mysterious land even Titled Douluo dared not tread lightly—the Extreme North.
Whoosh—
Whoosh—
On the frost-hardened streets,
Rows of icy fortresses stood tall on either side.
A dozen cold-aura girls skimmed over the ice on specially-crafted sleds, bodies leaning low, arms and legs working in fluid rhythm—like arrows loosed from the string, gliding dozens of meters in a heartbeat.
"Sister!" a beautiful girl with short blue hair asked with a grin, surrounded by the tall, slender young woman in the middle.
"Can we get into the top three in the Spirit Master Tournament?!" Her tone was relaxed, overflowing with complete confidence in her team's strength.
The one she called "Sister Bing'er" was none other than Shui Bing'er, captain of the Skywater Team.
Although Shui Bing'er was the youngest on the team, she was called "Big Sister" by her teammates because of her matchless strength.
Her long, water-blue hair cascaded down to her hips, fading paler toward the tips—
Until the ends turned snowy silver.
A fitted white uniform, traced with faint snowflake motifs,
And a collar trimmed with soft fur,
Framed her already delicate features, making her seem all the more lovely.
Yet—
In the steadiness of her brows,
And the calm that lingered in her sapphire eyes—
Was a trace of aloofness.
"Too many variables. Hard to say."
Shui Bing'er's voice was like ice beads striking jade, crisp and clear.
"Yue'er, don't be blindly optimistic."
"On paper strength alone, the Spirit Hall team should be first."
"As for Heaven Dou Imperial, Star Luo Imperial, and our Five Elemental Academies—there is no certainty."
"Besides, there's no guarantee that a dark horse won't appear out of nowhere."
As she spoke, Shui Bing'er's graceful eyebrows furrowed.
"Because of our distance, Skywater Academy didn't attend the pre-tournament exchanges.
But Godwind, Blazing, and Elephant Armored have already gone to Heaven Dou City.
When our teachers sought news of the exchanges, those three academies refused to speak."
A pale-faced girl with long black hair interjected:
"Could it be they lost to Heaven Dou Imperial?"
Shui Bing'er thought a moment, then shook her head.
"Hard to say.
Godwind's Feng Xiaotian, Blazing's siblings Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu, and Elephant Armored's seven battle Spirit Masters—all are formidable.
Our teachers often cite them as role models.
Could the Heaven Dou Imperial Team really have defeated all three in a row?
I think… their behavior seems strange, not like an ordinary loss.
More as if some unexpected event occurred in Heaven Dou City."
Having laid out her analysis, her voice cooled back into its usual calm.
"No matter our opponents' strength, the Skywater Team will go all out.
Yue'er, Xue Wu!"
"Here!"
"Once we leave the North, unfurl the banner of Skywater Academy.
On the road to Heaven Dou City, let it declare to the whole continent—
to deter petty interference, and to showcase the spirit of Skywater."
"Understood!"
At her words—
Blue light shimmered from the spirit tool ring on Shui Bing'er's finger.
A banner, as though carved of solid ice, appeared out of thin air.
Shui Yue'er, Xue Wu, and two others stepped forward, each grasping a corner.
The team skimmed across the snow on their sleds—
Transforming into streaks of icy blue light,
Streaming out from the endless white wilderness, racing toward Heaven Dou City.
...
Nuoding City.
Shrek Academy.
The Shrek team too was prepared to set out.
With Dean Flender, Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang, and Liu Erlong personally leading.
"Dean, these uniforms are too ugly!"
Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong tugged at the shit-green uniforms, plastered all over with advertisement logos, voicing their fifth protest.
"You should be glad you have uniforms at all! Do you even know how much it costs to keep this academy running?!"
Flender shot back irritably.
Then he turned his head, eyes complicated, gazing toward the academy gates.
There stood a pale, gaunt boy.
"Hongjun… you really won't go to Heaven Dou City?"
The thin youth was Ma Hongjun.
Once plump, he was now wasted and frail.
With the Evil Fire destroyed, his foundation was damaged, his Spirit Power stagnating at rank nine, never to advance again.
"I'm not going."
His voice rasped, high and hoarse.
At the mere mention of "Heaven Dou City," a flash of fear and hatred twisted deep within his clouded eyes.
"I… won't be competing anyway."
I'll just stay at the academy and look after Teacher Zhao Wuji."