The final five teams had been decided.
Spirit Hall Academy received a bye. Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team One would face Divine Wind Academy, while Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team Two would battle Star Luo Royal Academy Team One.
As for Yin Zhang, he sensed that something felt a little off—but it didn't really matter. A bye meant a full day of rest, which was only beneficial. It also gave him the chance to carefully observe the next two matches.
Qiangu Yunying lifted her chin slightly, her slender neck arched as she watched the fierce battle unfolding on the Spirit Dueling Platform below. She suddenly spoke to Yin Zhang beside her.
"Xiao Zhang… I'm so bored."
She sighed softly, her tone carrying clear disappointment.
"I thought that once I broke through to Spirit Emperor, I'd finally become the center of attention at the Elite Tournament. But now we're already in the final five, and I still haven't had a proper chance to fight…"
Hearing the frustration in her voice, Yin Zhang chuckled.
"Sister Yunying, don't exaggerate things. Worst case, I'll focus on support in the next two matches and let you lead Spirit Hall Academy to a spectacular victory. Wouldn't that be enough?"
Qiangu Yunying let out a light snort and said nothing more.
Tang Zhen had left the day before, taking Qiangu Yuan with him. He planned to hunt Qiangu Yuan's eighth spirit ring along the way. Even though Tang Zhen specialized in defense, hunting a ten-thousand-year spirit beast posed no real challenge for a Titled Douluo of his level.
On the Spirit Dueling Platform, the outcome between Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team One and Divine Wind Academy quickly became clear after the battle began.
In terms of overall strength, Divine Wind Academy was inferior to Heaven Dou Team One—and even slightly weaker than Blazing Academy, another elemental academy. Their earlier success had only come from fortunate matchups against weaker opponents.
At this point, aside from Spirit Hall Academy, which had received a bye, there were four teams remaining.
Among them, only Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team Two truly had the strength to defeat the others.
With the referee's announcement—
"I hereby declare the winner of this soul battle: Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team One!"
Then the second match concluded—
"I declare the winner of this soul battle: Star Luo Royal Academy Team One!"
The next round would be a three-way final between Spirit Hall Academy, Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team One, and Star Luo Royal Academy Team One.
This took place the following day.
Unlike the original arrangements, no confidentiality measures were enforced for the first round. As a result, residents of Heaven Dou City and visiting spectators alike were able to witness everything.
Thus, the final three teams were officially determined.
Meanwhile, Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team Two and Divine Wind Academy—both eliminated—felt they had still gained quite a lot.
After all, their advancement had largely been due to luck. Several teams stronger than them had been eliminated early simply because they encountered Spirit Hall Academy too soon.
Thunder Academy was the most unfortunate example—defeated in under a minute.
At this very moment, Thunder Academy's group, led by Yu Luomian, had rushed back to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan overnight.
Yu Yuanzhen looked at Yu Luomian, who was crying uncontrollably, and fell silent.
"Big brother, you have to stand up for us!" Yu Luomian shouted hoarsely. "Tang Zhen and Dugu Bo went way too far—and that eleven-year-old Yin Zhang is downright vicious! Huiming and the others had no grudge against him, so why did he have to be so cruel?!"
Yu Yuanzhen let out a long sigh.
"Luo Mian, you should understand the gap between the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and Spirit Hall. If we want to regain our dignity, our current strength isn't enough. Have you already forgotten how our father died?"
Before and after Qian Daoliu took power, Spirit Hall carried out a massive purge across the spirit master world.
Anyone who posed a potential threat was eliminated.
Among them were Yu Yuanzhen and Yu Luomian's father, the former elder of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Chen Xin, as well as several reclusive Douluo on the continent.
Yu Luomian fell silent for a long time before finally speaking again.
"But brother… are you really going to let Huiming and the others die for nothing? Huiming was your most beloved nephew! You once said he had the best chance of breaking through to Titled Douluo—he was the clan's only hope!"
Yu Yuanzhen sighed deeply and slowly turned away.
"For now, we endure. Spirit Hall's overbearing actions have already offended many forces in the spirit master world. We'll wait and see… perhaps an opportunity will come."
Yu Huiming himself had already recovered from his injuries.
However, Yin Zhang had become his living nightmare.
Every time he recalled how utterly powerless he had been under the spotlight of the Spirit Dueling Platform, his heart would churn, making it impossible for him to calm down and cultivate.
The other six weren't as badly affected. They had been blasted away by Yin Zhang's Solar Beam and suffered injuries, but nothing compared to Yu Huiming's psychological blow.
Meanwhile, in Heaven Dou City—
Liu Erlong, the headmistress of Blue Tyrant Academy, wandered the streets absentmindedly, her expression troubled.
With the secret backing of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Blue Tyrant Academy—despite its short history—was still a legitimate high-level spirit master academy qualified to participate in the Elite Tournament.
Although her academy had been eliminated in the very first round, she didn't take it to heart. After all, it was only the beginning, and the academy had yet to recruit many students.
A few days earlier, she had spotted a man she deeply despised among the spectators at the Elite Tournament.
That man had abandoned her and her mother the first time, causing her mother to die of heartbreak. The second time, he had appeared at her wedding to Yu Xiaogang, forcing Xiaogang to flee from her. Now, nearly ten years had passed, and after a decade of waiting, she had become a lonely, unmarried woman.
When Liu Erlong first appeared in the original timeline, she was a Spirit Saint nearing forty.
At that time, Tang San was twelve, Qian Renxue was nine years older than him, and Yin Zhang was two years younger than Qian Renxue but seven years older than Tang San.
That meant Liu Erlong was currently in her early thirties.
Unlike the older woman seen later, the present Liu Erlong possessed a unique, captivating charm. In her early thirties, she was both pure and fiery, with a voluptuous figure and a passionate personality.
Although she despised Yu Luomian, she still harbored feelings for her younger brother.
Because of that, she also held deep resentment toward Yin Zhang.
"Qin Ming, placing in the top five at the Elite Tournament is already very impressive," a voice said ahead. "Once the competition ends, come back to Suotuo City with us. I'll have the academy teachers organize a farewell gathering for you."
Suddenly, three figures appeared from around the corner, walking toward Liu Erlong as they spoke.
Why does that voice sound so familiar?
She snapped out of her thoughts and realized the source of that familiar voice was right in front of her.
"Dean Flender, then it's settled," another voice said with a laugh. "Don't be stingy with the money later—it is a farewell party, after all."
"Qin Ming," a third voice added, "once you join Spirit Hall, with Yin Zhang backing you, you'll definitely rise fast. Don't forget to help your Teacher Zhao get his wanted notice removed. Old Zhao is still listed as a fugitive by Spirit Hall, hahaha!"