Chapter 197: An Unexpected Gain
On the stage, the crimson light had faded. Xie Yue and Hu Liena separated, ending their Martial Soul Fusion.
Xie Yue's tone carried disappointment.
"What a pity… Zhu Zhuyun actually survived."
When Zhu Zhuyun had guided the Netherworld White Tiger out of the red veil, both she and Dai Weisi had fallen to the ground, powerless to resist.
He had wanted to strike again then—but that would have been far too blatant.
His two Moon Blades had been unleashed with power equivalent to that of a Spirit Emperor.
The Netherworld White Tiger's spirit energy had barely reached a level of fifty-five at most.
And since one blow had already been spent to crush Yan, the second should have finished them both.
Yet surprisingly, one of them lived.
He glanced at her lifeless eyes, regret flickering inside him, before turning his gaze toward the Gemstone Academy's resting area.
His Moon Blades gleamed faintly red as he swung them lazily once through the air.
"I'll be waiting for you," he murmured quietly.
Hu Liena also looked toward Dugu Feng.
"You humiliated Spirit Hall once before," she said coldly, "but this time, you'll pay the price."
Their provocation drew the eyes of the entire arena toward Dugu Feng, but he remained composed, his expression flat.
He simply nodded.
That calm gesture deflated them both. They had intended to provoke a reaction, but Dugu Feng's indifference left them powerless.
Across the other platforms, matches were ending as well. Gemstone Academy advanced smoothly into the fourth round after defeating their opponent.
By then, only six teams remained from the original thirty-three.
The favorites to win were, without question, Spirit Hall's team—followed by Gemstone Academy, with Godwind Academy and Tianshui Academy behind them.
The remaining two teams were unknown and served mainly as filler—lucky survivors who had slipped through due to too many powerhouse clashes among stronger competitors.
In the fourth round, fortune no longer favored them.
This time, the draw produced no surprises.
Spirit Hall and Gemstone Academy each faced one of the weaker teams, while Godwind drew Tianshui.
This round carried no suspense—the outcomes were inevitable and the matches concluded quietly, setting the stage for the long-awaited finals.
That night, Feng Xiaotian, Huo Wushuang, Huo Wu, and Shui Bing'er visited Dugu Feng's quarters.
"Brother Feng," Feng Xiaotian began earnestly as they settled in his suite, "tell us honestly—where exactly does your strength stand now? Have you absorbed your fifth spirit ring?"
The four sat surrounding him.
"With the match three days away, we'll be opponents soon," Dugu Feng replied with a smirk. "Are you here to scout the enemy?"
Feng Xiaotian gave an awkward laugh. In truth, they had defeated Tianshui Academy to reach the finals, but he understood well—they were no match for him.
"Don't joke, Brother Feng. With our strength, we can't threaten you. I've decided to withdraw from the championship fight," Feng Xiaotian said evenly.
Neither Huo Wu, Huo Wushuang, nor Shui Bing'er seemed surprised—they had already agreed upon this plan.
"Even if we give up the title, we can still do our part.
Between the individual elimination match and the final team battle, if you need us, we'll burn some of Spirit Hall's strength first."
The individual round consisted of twenty-one warriors—seven from each team—fighting consecutively until only one remained standing. Whoever that survivor represented would earn their team a berth in the championship match.
The other two teams would then face each other once more for the second finals spot.
Dugu Feng blinked in mild surprise.
In the original course of events, Godwind Academy had unexpectedly forfeited, clashing with Shrek Academy instead in the losers' bracket.
But this time, they were serious—their withdrawal was genuine.
He thought about it briefly. It did simplify matters.
He would skip the distractions and head straight for the final confrontation against Spirit Hall.
"I appreciate your intentions," he said with calm confidence, "but this time, we'll win fairly and openly. Godwind can forfeit directly."
Feng Xiaotian exchanged glances with the others and laughed. "I told you! Brother Feng doesn't need our interference.
With his strength, the title's already decided."
He cupped his fists. "Then allow me to wish you victory ahead of time."
"It's been many years since the Heaven Dou Empire claimed a championship," Shui Bing'er added warmly. "We're all looking forward to changing that."
Huo Wu smiled as well. "We'll be cheering for you."
"Since you're confident," Huo Wushuang said as they stood, "we won't disturb your rest any longer."
Dugu Feng nodded and saw them to the door.
Once alone, he closed it gently behind them, a faint, knowing smile drawing across his lips.
The bond between the four elemental academies had developed rapidly during this journey.
The reason was simple: the growing feud between the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Clear Sky Sect, coupled with the first clan's increasing alliance with Spirit Hall.
War could break out anytime.
Neither Gemstone, Godwind, Blazing Fire, Tianshui, nor even Thunder Academy—the one linked to Blue Lightning's side branch—wanted to be entangled in that chaos.
Though nominally connected to the Blue Lightning family, their goal remained cultivation and education, not politics.
Gemstone Academy's rise and the Dugu Clan's tradition of quiet neutrality provided a safer, independent path.
In times like these, unity offered survival.
That peace among the five elemental schools—his elemental alliance—was Dugu Feng's true hidden victory.
He smiled faintly.
"But I won't repeat the Blue Lightning Clan's mistake—creating a loose alliance with no true loyalty," he thought. "When crisis comes, fair-weather friends scatter.
In time, I'll merge the Five Elements Alliance into one—Supreme Academy.
Uniting all elemental spirit masters under one banner, gathering alumni from past generations, forging a massive power base.
That will be my legacy."
Leaning back against the sofa, Dugu Feng closed his eyes, his mind tracing future upheavals across the continent.
The more he imagined them, the clearer his path became.
"If chaos is coming," he murmured softly, "then let it come. The Dugu Clan will rise through the storm."
Before long, the three-day intermission between the fourth and fifth rounds passed.
At sunrise on the day of the finals, the three remaining teams gathered beneath the Pope's Palace.
The teachers from the academies and Heaven Dou's delegation—led by Xue Qinghe—lined the grand square to witness the final event.
The envoys of Star Luo had already departed Spirit City, retreating home in outrage after their crown prince's death.
Thus, the tournament's final showdown had become a battle between Spirit Hall and the Heaven Dou Empire.
More than twenty spirit masters stood beneath the towering main hall, their faces solemn.
Even the Godwind team, having planned its withdrawal, stood in grim silence—as if awaiting combat.
In truth, they were ready to give Spirit Hall one last, unexpected surprise.
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Bankai10