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Most people were already accustomed to Yu Xiaogang's shamelessness, but this time, the Pope's sudden intervention left everyone feeling immensely satisfied.
After all, bullying a Soul Grandmaster would usually result in losing face—but if it was the female Pope doing it, no one would dare say a word. How dare Yu Xiaogang defy the Pope? He deserved to die.
The small interruption ended, and the members of the Tian Dou Imperial Team gradually left the arena, leaving only the Spirit Hall Academy team and the Shrek Academy team on the field.
"Your Eminence, this Elder Yu clearly wants our two academies to exhaust ourselves so that his team can seize the championship later.
It's a bit clever, but not overly so. The Shrek Academy team forfeits and enters the loser's bracket."
Li Luochen spoke with a smile, his voice carrying over to where the Pope's Palace stood.
Upon hearing this, Yu Xiaogang's face immediately darkened. His carefully thought-out plan had been exposed so quickly.
"Since Elder Li is in such high spirits, I naturally agree. I hereby declare the Spirit Hall Academy team the victor of the three-way free-for-all.
The Shrek Academy team and the Tian Dou Imperial Team will now compete in a team match. The winner will advance to tomorrow's final."
Bibi Dong slammed her Pope's scepter, her voice echoing to every corner of the arena.
The Spirit Hall Academy team exited the field, while the seven members of the Shrek Academy team remained. They didn't need to leave since their match would begin immediately.
The Tian Dou Imperial Team, who had just left the field, returned. Tang San's expression grew solemn as he faced the incredibly powerful Shrek Academy team.
Ma Hongjun and Oscar were insurmountable mountains for him. Ma Hongjun's flames especially countered his Blue Silver Grass, and Oscar somehow managed to use Ma Hongjun's abilities as well.
Even Yu Xiaogang, the "theoretical master," couldn't understand how a food-based spirit could possess combat capabilities.
And now, the strength of the Shrek Academy team was undeniable.
Captain: Oscar, Level 59
Vice Captain: Ma Hongjun, Level 62
Member: Yu Tianxin, Level 49
Member: Yang Wu, Level 51
Member: Ning Rongrong, Level 48
Member: Zhu Zhuqing, Level 49
Member: Ye Lingling, Level 48
This was the strongest lineup of the Shrek Academy team. Yang Wu had been fortunate enough to break through to the Soul King level at the start of the promotion matches, and the academy's teachers had immediately taken him to the Star Dou Forest to hunt for soul rings.
While others assumed the Shrek Academy team had only one Soul Emperor and one Soul King, they actually had one Soul Emperor and two Soul Kings.
Yang Wu, the strongest genius of the younger generation of the Breaking Clan, was a late bloomer. Previously unremarkable, he was now ready to shine. Originally, the Breaking Clan had potential candidates to reach Title Douluo—Clan Leader Yang Wudi and Young Clan Leader Yang Pojun—but now Yang Wu could be added to that list.
Li Luochen's strongest lineup emphasized pure offense! In the face of overwhelming attacks, all defenses were meaningless!
With Yang Wu's attack power, anyone below the Soul Sage level wouldn't be able to withstand his strikes.
Yu Tianxin was more versatile—strong in attack, speed, and defense. Without considering god-level spirit weapons like the Six-Winged Angel, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon might be the most balanced spirit weapon in Douluo.
Aside from lacking auxiliary capabilities, it had almost no flaws.
Zhu Zhuqing currently seemed inconspicuous, but that was precisely what an assassin needed—to remain unnoticed until delivering the fatal blow!
As for Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling, don't mistake their auxiliary roles as weaknesses. Anyone targeting them would suffer greatly—they each carried several Mirror Sausages made from Yu Tianxin's blood.
Dare to target them? Beware the wrath of the Blue Lightning Divine Dragon!
As for Oscar and Ma Hongjun, they were the team's obvious aces, and they hadn't even used their spirit bones yet. Li Luochen trusted them completely. Aside from Hu Liena being somewhat troublesome, the rest were minor threats.
On the other hand, the Tian Dou Imperial Team was under immense pressure.
Their strongest member, Tang San, had reached the peak of Level 46 and was about to break through to Level 47. His rapid progress was thanks to the Sixth-Rank Green Lingzhi, though he mostly used it for healing.
As for the other team members, Shi Mo and Shi Mo were at Level 43, Osler, Yu Feng, and Tai Long were at Level 42, and Ru Si Yi was at Level 41.
Compared to the Shrek Academy team, they were completely outmatched. Aside from Tang San, who wasn't intimidated, the rest of the team felt apprehensive about facing the Shrek Academy.
After all, they had already been defeated by the Shrek Academy in their first match when they weren't even at full strength. Victory seemed bleak.
Aside from Tang San, the entire team lacked fighting spirit.
Tang San knew his teammates' morale was low, so he decided to take a gamble. He suddenly came up with an idea!
Black-purple Blue Silver Grass appeared in Tang San's right hand, and eight spear-like spider legs suddenly emerged from his back—his external spirit bone, the Eight Spider Spears.
"Oh? This is interesting," Li Luochen muttered upon seeing Tang San's Eight Spider Spears. It surprised him because the original Eight Spider Spears were on Zhu Zhuqing. Even after intercepting them, Tang San still possessed a set? Truly, his luck was something else.
Zhu Zhuqing, watching Tang San's Eight Spider Spears, was momentarily stunned. She then recalled the piece of Eight Spider Spears she possessed, though hers had evolved beyond the spider leg form into Dark Spears.
"How intriguing. So you also have an external spirit bone, Tang San?"
Oscar suddenly sneered. A blade abruptly extended from his right arm—his external spirit bone, the White Jade Arm Blade!
"Hehe, if that's the case, then let me show off too."
Ma Hongjun chuckled as well. A red-gold eagle claw materialized on his right hand—his external spirit bone, the Flame Eagle Claw, originating from a forty-five-thousand-year-old Flame Cloud-Piercing Eagle.
Seeing her two older brothers in the front row reveal their external spirit bones, Zhu Zhuqing hesitated. Should she reveal hers too? But as a qualified assassin, shouldn't she minimize her presence?
While Zhu Zhuqing hesitated, she glanced at Li Luochen on the Pope's Palace platform. Li Luochen noticed her gaze and nodded slightly.
After all, this kind of dramatic, face-slapping scene was exactly what he enjoyed. After years of hard cultivation, couldn't he indulge in some entertainment?
With Li Luochen's approval, Zhu Zhuqing revealed her external spirit bone as well. Eight pitch-black spears suddenly emerged from her back—dark, deep, and eerie, embodying the essence of darkness.
Three external spirit bones! The soul masters on the field were astonished. External spirit bones were as valuable as hundred-thousand-year spirit bones because they could grow alongside the soul master.
If a soul master possessed an external spirit bone, theoretically, they could cultivate it to the hundred-thousand-year level.
At this moment, Tang San had originally intended to use his Eight Spider Spears to gain an advantage and boost morale. However, their morale only sank further as they realized the opposing team had three external spirit bones!
Tang San felt a deep sense of despair. How could they possibly win against one Soul Emperor and two Soul Kings? Unless he used hidden weapons—but against opponents of this caliber, would hidden weapons even work?
If he used them, there was a risk of being detected by the Title Douluos on the platform. What should he do?
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