Pope Hall, audience chamber.
Pope Bibi Dong sat at the main seat, with Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo at her sides. Before them stood the seven Spirit Hall Academy team members.
Xie Yue, Yan, and Hu Liena stood at the front.
While Emperor Battle planned for the finals, Spirit Hall was also busy.
"Did you all understand what I just said?" Bibi Dong spoke calmly.
"Understood, Your Holiness," the three, despite being the Golden Generation, answered respectfully.
Bibi Dong said coldly, "Today Jun Tianlin faced the Clear Sky Hammer Avatar and still won, but he must be feeling it. Tomorrow, his threat will be much less. As long as you follow the plan and restrict him, you should win. As for the others, in terms of true strength, they're not your match, including that Soul King, Gu Ran."
"Yes," the seven answered.
Ghost Douluo's gloomy voice sounded: "You know what this match means. It's not just your chance for fame, but also determines the ownership of three soul bones. Spirit Hall is the host. If you lose, we can't take back the soul bones. With so many top academies watching, we can't go back on our word. This is your reward, but also your pressure. If you lose, you know the consequences."
The seven shivered. They knew how ruthless Ghost Douluo could be. If they lost, they'd suffer even if they didn't die.
Both academies were determined not to lose, spending a gloomy night.
The next morning, after breakfast, everyone gathered at the hotel entrance. Qin Ming looked over the seven who would play. "I trust your abilities, but remember, if things go wrong, safety first."
"Yes, don't worry, Teacher Qin. Emperor Battle will win!"
"Good, let's go." Qin Ming led his best team to the final battleground.
Sunlight gave the Pope Hall a golden glow. Everyone's faces grew serious as Emperor Battle's eleven climbed the stone steps. The air seemed heavy.
The Pope, Ning Fengzhi, and several Title Douluo were already seated; the three soul bones lay quietly on a red brocade plate.
The Spirit Hall team stood silently, a chilling murderous aura facing Emperor Battle. Even under this pressure, Emperor Battle did not falter. Would they fear Spirit Hall Academy? The match had not begun, but the confrontation had.
"Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament Finals, both teams prepare. The match will begin in one quarter hour!"
After the referee's announcement, the teams prepared.
Spirit Hall sent their strongest lineup—the Golden Generation.
But Emperor Battle's lineup was a surprise.
Vice-captain Dugu Yan did not play; neither did the two agility attackers, Oslo and Yu Feng.
Aside from Yu Tianheng, Gu Ran, and Tianlin at the front, only the Shi brothers guarded Huan Yin and Ye Lingling.
People were puzzled—this was not Emperor Battle's strongest lineup. What use was the barely-forty-level Huan Yin? Why give up Dugu Yan, who could fuse with Yu Tianheng?
And no agility attackers—weren't they going to harass the back row? Spirit Hall's back row was no joke; the Radiant Gold Scepter rivaled the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!
"What arrogance! Do they think we're like their previous opponents?" Yan said angrily.
"Don't rush, Yan. If Emperor Battle wants to give up, we'll oblige them," Xie Yue's eyes were cold.
The Golden Generation released their martial souls: all two yellow, two purple, and one black. Three Soul Kings, two at level 53, Hu Liena above 54, and all backup members above level 46, showing Spirit Hall's strength.
"Surrender? Before you talk big, look carefully! Guys, awaken your martial souls!" Yu Tianheng shouted.
Emperor Battle was not outdone—everyone activated their martial souls. The three at the front, Gu Ran and Yu Tianheng, had two yellow, two purple, and one black, while Tianlin had one yellow, two purple, and two black—also three Soul Kings, even more, dazzling than Spirit Hall.
"How is this possible? Yu Tianheng just broke through to level 50 two days ago. He hasn't even left Spirit City. Where did his ten-thousand-year soul ring come from?" the audience questioned.
Spirit Hall Academy couldn't believe it.
"Calm down! How he got the ring doesn't matter—he's just a fresh Soul King, still below us," Hu Liena said coldly.
Indeed worthy of being the Pope's disciple—three Soul Kings on the other side didn't faze her.
Others were surprised by Yu Tianheng, but the Title Douluo were completely shocked by Tianlin.
Including Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo and Bibi Dong—the day before, they noticed Tianlin's real soul power was not level 52 as Salas said, but faintly above 56. His concealment couldn't fool those above level 95.
Now, with his full strength revealed, they saw his soul power was already at peak 58, almost 59.
His talent far exceeded the Golden Generation.
The Golden Generation was nearly six years older than him. When Tianlin reached their age, he'd probably be a Soul Sage.
Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan felt despair. They thought themselves peerless, only to be overshadowed by someone even more terrifying.
He could dominate their whole era—they were born in the wrong time.