"Brother Zhexian still hasn't come?" Yu Tianheng sighed lightly, unable to conceal the disappointment on his pale face.
Dugu Yan bit down hard on her crimson lips. "Our gap with Spirit Hall's team is far too wide…"
As the one with the highest Spirit Power in the Imperial Battle Team—
She had thought that with her forty-ninth rank, she could stand proud above this tournament.
Yet she had been defeated in just three moves by that girl from Spirit Hall with the Charming Fox Martial Soul.
That chasm-like gap in strength could not be filled with fighting spirit alone. Without Li Zhexian joining the Imperial Battle Team, without his presence to give her confidence…
Dugu Yan's hope for this tournament was already close to despair.
Ye Lingling lowered her eyes, fingertips unconsciously stroking her wrist.
Her wrist had been crushed to powder.
The helplessness and pain of a healer who couldn't heal herself made her face turn pale every time she remembered it.
Yu Feng, Osler, and the Shi brothers were also dispirited, their spirits heavy.
The Imperial Battle Team was Heaven Dou Empire's seeded team. Yu Tianheng and the other six stood in the most prominent first row.
Yet at this moment—
they carried only exhaustion.
No trace of the sharpness that geniuses should bear.
The news of their crushing defeat had already spread through Heaven Dou City.
From the gazes of the other teams, more than a few carried gloating schadenfreude.
At the back of the gathered teams, Dai Mubai crossed his arms and sneered, his evil eyes full of contempt "Defeated trash, with no progress at all."
"Even if they rely on their royal status to reach the finals, it'll just be a one-round exit."
As he spoke, his gaze swept over Imperial Team members, brows furrowing.
"Where is Sword Wine?"
A look of confusion also flashed across Tang San's face, which then turned into a look of regret.
Sword Wine wasn't participating in the Spirit Master Tournament? Then how was he going to teach Sword Wine a lesson?
"Zhuqing, what's going on?" Xiao Wu asked in a low voice.
Zhu Zhuqing furrowed her slender eyebrows and shook her head.
Last night, she had been so full of joy that she hadn't asked Li Zhexian about the Spirit Master Tournament.
Ning Rongrong's gaze was anxiously searching in the direction of the Imperial Battle Team, wanting to find that familiar figure, but she found nothing.
"Is he not participating in the Spirit Master Tournament?"
Seeing Ning Rongrong's absent-minded look, Oscar happily moved closer. "Rongrong, what are you looking at?"
Ning Rongrong shook her head, her pretty face cold, saying nothing.
Meanwhile, Bai Chenxiang, who was on the fringes of the Shrek Seven Monsters, silently observed everyone's reactions, her eyes thoughtful.
"Sigh, without Brother Zhexian, this Tournament loses half its excitement."" Feng Xiaotian, Huo Wushuang, and Hu Yanli felt extremely regretful.
Huo Wu gripped her Blazing Battle Banner tight, her bright and beautiful face filled with indignation.
"Damn that Li Zhexian, how could he miss an event like this?!"
"Everyone else is participating, so what makes you so special?!"
"You're not a good friend at all!"
Just then, a thick, resonant bell chime rang out.
Clang—!!!
The passionate voice of the host pierced through the roaring crowd.
"Now welcoming the teams—into the arena!"
"Let's go." Yu Tianheng tightly held the Imperial Battle Banner and strode toward the entrance of the Spirit Arena..
The Imperial Battle Team was the first to enter.
Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and the others followed with dim expressions.
But just as the teams were moving forward in a crowd, a white-robed young man walked out from the light and shadow of the tunnel.
His robes fluttered elegantly, a smile tugging at his lips, streaks of golden thread embroidered across his chest and hem.
(Captain of the Imperial Battle Team · Li Zhexian)
Yu Tianheng froze in an instant.
Then a flush of excitement surged to his cheeks.
"Brother Zhexian!"
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling's beautiful eyes widened. "Brother Zhexian!" / "Li Zhexian!"
Yu Feng, Osler, and the Shi brothers were even more excited. "Idol! You're finally here!"
The Imperial Battle Team, which had been so dejected just a moment ago, was instantly injected with a powerful vitality, becoming completely new in an instant.
This scene made the other teams click their tongues in shock.
At Shrek Academy's side—
Dai Mubai snorted, his gaze thick with loathing and killing intent.
Tang San's face was calm and showed no ripples. It's better that Sword Wine came.It's a good time to settle our scores.
"I knew it—he would never miss this." Zhu Zhuqing looked at Li Zhexian, who had become the focus of the entire crowd, a trace of brilliance appearing in her beautiful eyes.
In her heart, a prodigy like Li Zhexian could only truly shine in the Spirit Master Tournament.
Looking at the handsome young man who had revitalized the gloomy Imperial Battle Team just by appearing, a trace of daze flashed across Ning Rongrong's pretty face. "Brother Zhexian… really has changed…"
..
"Of course Brother Zhexian wouldn't stay silent."
"In the end, he came!"
"Hah, seeing us fight so fiercely, he must have itched to join all along!"
From their own teams, Feng Xiaotian, Huo Wushuang, and Huyan Li all broke into smiles.
Huo Wu pouted, flicking her Blazing Battle Banner through the air. "Now this Spirit Master Tournament is going to be interesting!"
Behind the Blazing Team was the Skywater Team area.
Shui Bing'er held her Frost Banner, her clear eyes falling on that youth, flashing with knowing clarity.
"As I expected."
"Sword Wine is the Imperial Team's hidden trump card."
"This Spirit Master Tournament is truly full of crouching tigers and hidden dragons."
As the host continued the introductions—
Yu Tianheng gripped the Huangdou war banner with both hands and held it out toward Li Zhexian.
On his pale face, a relieved smile appeared.
"Captain Zhexian, please take the flag."
Li Zhexian swept his gaze over Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and the others.
Without hesitation,
he reached out and accepted it.
With a flick, the battle banner unfurled,
blazing with dazzling brilliance.
From this Tournament forth—Li Zhexian was the captain of the Imperial Battle Team.
"Let's go!"
The plaza, like a giant bowl, stretched out in all directions. The deafening cheers made one's blood boil.
In the very center, a VIP platform made of jade stone stood majestically.
Behind the platform, eighty thousand seats rose like terraced fields, forming a sea of people.
The circular arena, with a diameter of over two hundred meters, was laid out between them, waiting for the teams to enter.
Countless gazes burned toward the tunnel entrance.
Awaiting the young geniuses' appearance.
At this moment, on the VIP platform, Emperor Xue Ye wore a gold-and-crimson robe, the Golden Diamond Crown gleaming on his head.
However, his pale face faded some of his imperial majesty.
To his right were the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's Sect Master, Ning Fengzhi, and beside him was Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.
To his left was the Platinum Bishop, Salas, wearing a five-pointed crown.
In Spirit Hall's hierarchy, beneath the Pope and Titled Douluo, stood only the four Platinum Bishops—holding immense authority.
And at this moment, the atmosphere in the VIP section was a bit subtle.
"I hear that yesterday the geniuses of the Imperial Team were crippled and sent back."
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, do you still have faith in the Imperial Baltte Team?"
At those words,
Emperor Xue Ye's pale expression grew darker still.
On his other side, Ning Fengzhi gave the emperor a subtle shake of his head.
Only then did Xue Ye's expression ease somewhat.
A flicker of anger flashed in Xue Qinghe's eyes—the fury of youth—
yet bound by the role of Crown Prince, she suppressed it at once.
Although the status of a Platinum Bishop was honorable, no one knew that she was a spy in the Heaven Dou Empire except for Spirit Hall's Titled Douluo.
As for the dead soldiers she had trained to attack her and Li Zhexian last time, they could no longer be called human.
So, Salas's words were just to show how powerful Spirit Hall was. They held no deeper meaning.
Just as Xue Qinghe was about to respond, she saw the white-robed young man leading the Imperial Battle Team, out of the tunnel.
The surprise and unexpectedness that burst forth from her eyes this time could not be faked in the slightest.
Her lips curved into a smile.
"Of course I have faith."
"Faith like never before."