Because of the attack halfway and Tang San’s persistence in staying in the competition, Flender and Liu Erlong both stayed in places closest to him, even Ning Fengzhi specially chose a place to stay not far away. Even though it was least probable that anything would happen in Spirit City, they still had no choice but to guard against it.
According to the information from Spirit Hall, the competition would officially begin in three days. The journey was wearying, but these three days of rest were sufficient for the academies to adjust.
Star Luo Empire’s participating academies were arranged to rest on the other side of Spirit City. Imperceptibly, Spirit Hall had already split the participating teams of the two great empires into two camps.
Regarding this, Xue Qinghe only smiled coldly in reply, but didn’t raise any objections.
The Shrek Academy group all kept resting for three days, spending all their time in meditation to cultivate spirit power, to maintain their peak condition as much as possible.
Liu Erlong and Xiao Wu, finally returned the day before the start of the finals.
Part 3 (TL by Bagelson)
For some reason, Liu Erlong’s expression was somewhat monstrous. Xiao Wu successfully obtained her fourth spirit ring, but according to Liu Erlong, she was separated from Xiao Wu at the time.
And Xiao Wu herself said that she encountered an injured spirit beast, and by good fortune, obtained this spirit ring.
The finals were just about to begin, and at this moment, nobody would wonder about this matter.
As Xiao Wu returned, Tang San asked about her fourth spirit ability in order to begin combining it into the final tactics, but at this moment, Grandmaster finally returned.
“Little San, you’re alright.”
This was the first thing Grandmaster said on seeing Tang San.
“Teacher, you knew? I’m alright. This time it’s thanks to the old freak and uncle Ning’s people, otherwise I’m afraid you wouldn’t have seen me.”
Grandmaster sighed,
“It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have let you participate in the tournament. You’ve drawn their attention.”
Tang San smiled slightly, saying:
“Teacher, there’s no need to blame yourself? I’m still alright, it can even be considered an unconventional experience. Only by experiencing a confrontation with true powers do I understand how insignificant my own strength is. Afterwards I will redouble my efforts in cultivation.”
Grandmaster’s face finally revealed a smile,
“You’ve always been so sensible. You’re right, make great efforts in cultivation. As long as I still draw breath, I won’t let people harm you. The finals are on the verge of starting tomorrow. Call everyone over, I’ll give you some simple tactics.”
Having reached the finals, Grandmaster finally acted.
Very quickly, Tang San called all the team members over. Liu Erlong learned that Grandmaster had returned, and also hastily followed.
Grandmaster and Liu Erlong’s gazes met, and Liu Erlong read something in Grandmaster’s eyes. She didn’t speak and only quietly walked over to his side, holding his arm.
Seeing Liu Erlong’s tender appearance, the Shrek Seven Devils and others all couldn’t help having somewhat strange expressions. The tyrant dragon would perhaps only restrain herself like this in front of Grandmaster.
Grandmaster’s gaze swept across everyone, then said:
“The finals are about to begin. I think you might have already forgotten what I said about the competition format before. I’ll repeat it once. The finals have altogether thirty three teams participating. Among them, the three seeded teams are separately selected from each of the two great empires and Spirit Hall. The greatest threat to you is no doubt the team sent by Spirit Hall. They are also the greatest hurdle for you to obtain the final victory.”
“There are altogether five rounds in the finals. Somewhat shorter than the time used for the qualifiers and ranking competition, but because of the intensity of the competition, there’s a day of rest and revision between each round. Before the final and fifth round, there are even three days of rest. In the first round, the three seeded teams will sit out, and the remaining thirty teams will fight for fifteen advancement placements, the losers being directly eliminated. The ruthless knock out competition is bound to make every Spirit Master team put their lives on the line even more. You definitely cannot have the slightest carelessness. At this final hour, the hidden capabilities of all the teams will finally be unleashed, no longer holding anything back. Even the teams you’ve already fought may very possibly give you a ‘surprise’.”
“According to the tournament rules, in the second round, the first ranked teams from the two great empires will sit out. In other words, after we’ve obtained victory in the first round, there will be enough time to rest in the second round. This is also the significance behind the ranking competition. At that time, sixteen teams will fight it out for eight places in the third round. Further adding our two resting teams, there are altogether ten teams. In the third round it’s the second ranked teams that sit out. The remaining eight teams fight for the four places to enter the fourth round together with them. In the fourth round no team sits out. Consequently, only the top two teams from the ranking competition can benefit in the finals. But the earlier you can sit out, the more favorable, because you can avert being eliminated prematurely. In the fifth and final round, there are only three teams entering. The three teams will first use the method from the ranking competition, seven team members conducting circulating elimination, to decide which team has the strongest members. Afterwards the two losing teams will fight a team match, the winner again challenging the winner from before, to decide who will be the final champions. Do you all understand?”
“Yes, understood.”
Everyone had good memory, and now when it was truly time for the finals, their minds were naturally incomparably focused.
Grandmaster nodded, saying:
“It’s impossible to tell who our first opponent will be, but at least it won’t be the three seeds. That will avert us encountering them prematurely. However, it will still be the Shrek Seven Devils going out. You haven’t cooperated on the battlefield for a long time already. This first round will be a warmup for you. I won’t provide you with any specific tactics, the ring is still under little San’s control.”
“Little San.”
“Here.”
Tang San hurriedly stepped forward.
Grandmaster gazed at him, saying:
“We’re practically sure to pass the first and second rounds. Therefore, let the opponents learn as little as possible about where our advantages lie in the first round. Do you understand my meaning?”
Tang San nodded:
“You’re saying that even though it’s us seven going up, we must still conceal our strength as much as possible in the first round.”
Grandmaster smiled and nodded,
“However, you still can’t be careless. After all, it’s still possible for you to run into powers from Star Luo Empire in the first round.”
“Yes.”
Grandmaster’s gaze turned to the Shrek Seven Devils as a whole,
“You’ve studied under me for two years. I’m very clear on how much effort you’ve expended over these two years. There’s no need to doubt, you’re all geniuses among geniuses. Even if you encounter opponents more powerful than you, there’s no need for your confidence to wane, because you are the youngest team among all the competitors. Your futures are boundless. I don’t have any requirements that you take the championship, my only hope is that each of you can display your own true strength. Find the best method to rouse your own potential.”
“Yes.”
The Shrek Seven Devils agreed loudly.
As Grandmaster and Liu Erlong left, the Shrek Seven Devils instantly started to cultivate, preparing for the first round of the competition tomorrow.
Liu Erlong pulled Grandmaster straigh
t to her room,
“Xiao Gang, how was it?”
Looking at Grandmaster, Liu Erlong’s gaze was somewhat evasive. She of course knew where Grandmaster had gone, and Grandmaster didn’t keep anything from her.
Sighing, Grandmaster said:
“She’s changed. Without meeting for twenty years, people will always change. Now she’s the Supreme Pontiff. No longer the Bibi Dong of those days. It seems I really shouldn’t have gone to find her.”
A faint stab of pain in his heart made his expression turn somewhat sad.
Liu Erlong inwardly loosed a breath,
“That means, she didn’t tell you the method to cultivate twin spirits?”
Grandmaster smiled ruefully,
“She sent people to dispose of Tang San, fully aware that he’s my disciple. How would she tell me the method to cultivate twin spirits? But so what? I’ve already faintly guessed some things. With the chance, as long as Bibi Dong can be brought to truly show her hand, I can be certain of my ideas.”
At this, Grandmaster took the initiative to pull Liu Erlong into an embrace,
“Erlong, this is Spirit City, it’s her domain. From now on, you can’t be far from my side no matter what, I’m afraid it would be detrimental to me.”
Liu Erlong immediately displayed her proper temperament,
“Let her come, would I still fear her? So what if she’s the Supreme Pontiff, she still hasn’t beaten me. As long as she doesn’t take you away, I won’t fear anything.”
Listening to Liu Erlong’s overbearing speech, Grandmaster couldn’t help showing a faint smile, lowering his head to lightly kiss her forehead,
“Don’t worry, she’ll never take me. We are husband and wife, even if only in name.”
Hearing this, Liu Erlong couldn’t help revealing some grief. Even though Grandmaster no longer ran from her feelings, and the two treated each other like husband and wife, Grandmaster never agreed to be too intimate. That relationship of siblings always stretched between them. Fortunately, even though it was in name only, it was still enough to console Liu Erlong’s heart.
……
For the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament finals, Spirit City had specially opened up a specific area. This area was in the heart of Spirit City. The enormous stage was more than a hundred meters across, made completely out of granite.
This enormous stage was still reinforced with an enormous amount of spirit tools to prevent damage. According to Spirit Hall’s information, this ring could take any attack from Spirit Masters under the Spirit Emperor level without taking damage.
Only an organization as rich and imposing as Spirit Hall could do something like this, at least the two great empires would hate to part with such enormous resources.
In front of this stage was Supreme Pontiff Palace, the distance from here to the hill where the Palace was located was less than a kilometer. Spirit Hall had already announced that the finals between the last three powers would take place just in front of Supreme Pontiff Palace.
At that time, the Supreme Pontiff would appear personally to crown the final champions.
To any Spirit Master, this was an incomparable glory.
At first light, all the competing teams were led to the competition area by special guides from Spirit Hall. Each academy had their own rest area, constructed around the ring. On the opposite side of Supreme Pontiff Palace was the VIP judges’ seating, where the people from the two great empires would observe the battles. Of course, there were still intermediaries from Spirit Hall.
Just as they arrived, without pause, Flender was called up to draw lots.
* * *
[1] (比比东) “Compare East”
Chapter 122: Star Luo Imperial Academy Team
Part 1 (TL by Bagelson)
The first round draw was undoubtedly extremely important. If one could draw a relatively weak opponent, it would be quite an advantage for any team.
Especially to a team like Shrek Academy that would skip the second round. If they could have an easy win in the first round, then they could preserve their energy to unleash it in the third round of the competition. The true contest started from the third round on.
Flender returned very soon, his expression clearly very good, a smile on his face. Seeing his enormously self satisfied appearance, there was no need to ask, this draw was naturally very good.
Suddenly, Flender’s face turned blank, saying to everyone:
“I have one piece of bad news, and one piece of good news. Which do you want first?”
Everyone stared blankly, and Dai Mubai said:
“Then tell us the bad news first.”
Flender lowered his voice:
“The bad news is, your first round opponent is Blazing Academy.”
“Blazing Academy?”
Everyone indeed frowned. Blazing Academy had been researching methods to deal with Tang San as well as the other students over the fortieth rank ever since the ranking competition. They were already one of the strongest teams on the Heaven Dou Empire side. They weren’t much behind even Godwind Academy.
In the ranking competition it might have looked like an easy win for Shrek Academy, but in the qualifiers they had still suffered a bit.
Of course, Blazing Academy wasn’t enough to block their progress, but encountering such a standard of powerful teams in the first round, still counted as a bad draw.
Tang San couldn’t help saying:
“Why are we running into them in every competition, it’s too kharmic.”
Grandmaster said without batting an eyelid:
“Flender. Then what’s the good news?”
Flender grinned,
“The good news is, Blazing Academy has given up on the finals, they voluntarily forfeited.”
囧...... was the face everyone made.
Liu Erlong said:
“Blazing Academy spent a lot of effort to fight their way into the finals, why would they suddenly forfeit?”
Flender spread his hands, saying:
“Don’t ask me. I don’t know either. It was announced suddenly. But no matter what is said, it’s still a great opportunity for us. We’re skipping the first two rounds.”
Ning Rongrong giggled.
“That’s right. We’ve still entered the top ten without a fight.”
Flender said:
“The competition will start right away. You all watch your opponents carefully. This is an elimination competition, hiding your strength isn’t easy. The biggest advantage of skipping the first two rounds isn’t not fighting, but rather being able to grasp our opponents’ strength even better. The ones able to enter the third round won’t be weaklings, at least not below Blazing Academy’s level.”
The finals didn’t have a big opening ceremony as expected, everything was very simple. One of Spirit Hall’s cardinals went up on stage and declared the start of the finals, simultaneously declaring the list of the battling teams. Conducted by referees specially selected by Spirit Hall, the competition began.
The two sides in the first round weren’t particularly powerful, and the Shrek Seven Devils couldn’t help whispering among themselves in the rest area.
Oscar said:
“These finals don’t appear to be as grand as the qualifiers. There isn’t even an opening ceremony. There are also pitifully few spectators, at most a few thousand.”
Tang San said:
“Even though there are only a few thousand, don’t forget that they’re all Spirit Masters. Moreover, the overwhelming majority should be Spirit Masters belonging to Spirit Hall.”
Spirit Hall should have their reasons for not permitting ordinary people to watch the battles. Didn’t the teachers say that the finals between the final three powers would be held in front of Supreme Pontiff Palace. That was the true climax of the competition. The present dullness was very possibly to prepare for then.
The first match finished very quickly, the second match was Godwind Acad
emy against Star Luo Empire’s Dragon Sunflower Academy.
“What?”
As the Shrek Academy group saw Godwind Academy’s formation, they couldn’t help standing up in shock.
The center of Godwind Academy’s formation had shockingly changed four people, and these for people were unexpectedly from Blazing Academy.
The more than a dozen academies on Star Luo Empire’s side didn’t react, but Heaven Dou Empire’s side exploded. How were Blazing Academy’s team members now in Godwind Academy?
Grandmaster’s brows wrinkled tightly, and Flender couldn’t keep from saying:
“What’s going on here? I’ll go ask the organizational committee.”
Finished speaking, he immediately left with quick steps.
The uproar below didn’t affect the match above. With Huo Wu commanding from the rear, and Feng Xiaotian and Huo Wushuang standing furthest in front, when they suddenly revealed all their spirit rings, the opponents couldn’t help feeling ice cold.
No need to doubt it, the seven people representing Godwind ACademy were all Spirit Ancestors above fortieth rank. The entire match was practically a one-sided massacre. Huo Wu didn’t even have to use Defying Flame Ring.
Dai Mubai asked Grandmaster:
“Wasn’t it said that participating teams can’t change out team members?”
Grandmaster’s eyes suddenly brightened,
“They should be exploiting a loophole. Participating teams can’t change out members, but this doesn’t mean that academies can’t exchange members that are already signed up. This part isn’t explicitly prohibited. Huo Wu’s several team members were originally on the list of people participating in the finals. As long as Spirit Hall agreed, it’s not impossible for them to change academies.”
Xiao Wu said:
“Then couldn’t we do it too?”
Grandmaster shook his head,
“Too late. The competition has already started, the final quota of members participating in the finals of each team has already been set. Moreover they will all compete today, after competing it will already be too late to change academies again. Even more, which academy would give up their own chances in the finals? Blazing Academy has bet a lot this time, I don’t know what they did to have Spirit Hall be so accomodating.”
Douluo Dalu - Volume 18 - Three Spirit Bones Page 4