At that moment, the arena was silent, as if crows were flying overhead in the sky.
"Second Spirit Ability: Renewal!"
Instantly, three rays of green light entered Shui Bing'er, Shui Yue'er, and Xue Wu. The three, who had been exhausted from using their spirit power and appeared pale, suddenly felt their depleted energy restored the moment the green light entered their bodies.
"Wow, Su Ming! This spirit ability of yours is amazing. My spirit power recovered in an instant!" Shui Yue'er, now bursting with energy, bounced over to Su Ming's side.
Without hesitation, she clung to Su Ming's arm, showing no sign of disappointment from losing the match. Her boldness left Su Ming a bit embarrassed; the young lady was far too outgoing. They had just finished the match, with so many people watching! Even with Su Ming's thick skin, he couldn't help but blush a bit.
More importantly, he and Shui Yue'er weren't even in a relationship, yet here she was, acting so intimate. What was he supposed to do? If he chose not to resist, he would come across as irresponsible, which seemed too heartless!
Su Ming decided he wasn't that kind of person, so he would just let things flow naturally—heh!
The girls: Ugh, such a playboy!
Everyone was still caught up in the match's excitement, but Shui Yue'er's actions drew all eyes onto them.
On the side, Su Yuntao grinned mischievously and announced the match result, "The match is over! Heaven Dou Academy wins! And congratulations to the captain for winning the lady's heart!"
With that, Su Yuntao gave Su Ming a look as if saying, "You're welcome," and promptly walked away.
Su Yuntao thought: Su Ming, you'd better appreciate my help here.
Su Ming: ...Wait, wait! Does this "Blind Douluo" actually think he's being suave?!
Su Ming could feel the heated, envious glares on him.
"That Su Ming! What makes him worthy of having so many girls around him?!"
"Yeah, exactly! His team already has so many beauties, so why is he going after Tianshui Academy's goddess too?!"
"Damn it, Su Ming! I'll never forgive you!"
To avoid the awkwardness, Su Ming shot a glance at Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu, then led Shui Yue'er off the stage.
He was met by Xiao Wu and the others, each giving him a curious look as if asking, When did you start getting close to Shui Yue'er?
Su Ming sighed inwardly. He didn't even know what was happening himself. Despite having some thoughts in that direction, he hadn't expected this sudden enthusiasm from Shui Yue'er, which caught him completely off guard.
"Ahem… Let's leave first and talk later," Su Ming said, steeling himself to face their curious stares. He then asked Shui Yue'er quietly, "Yue'er, what's with you? We've only met a few times. Are you sure this is okay? Do you… like me?"
Shui Yue'er nodded cheerfully, "Yep! I liked you from the first moment I saw you. Our academy's team leader told us that if you like someone, be brave, take the initiative, and not worry about the outcome—just don't let yourself regret it."
Su Ming: ...I'd love to know exactly who this leader is so I can give them a big thumbs-up. Well done!
Su Ming hadn't expected Shui Yue'er, with her fangirl tendencies, to be this bold. Impressive!
"Ahem, Yue'er, while I do like you too, and I'm happy you feel this way about me, I have to be honest about something," he started.
Before he could finish, Shui Yue'er interrupted, "You're going to say you already have girlfriends, right? And several of them, too?"
Su Ming nodded helplessly. "Yeah, I wanted to make sure that's clear. I know it makes me seem like a player, but I try to be honest."
Shui Yue'er laughed, "Oh, I already figured that out! I may be a bit of a fangirl, but I've got good judgment. All the girls in your team are involved with you, right? Including Princess Ning Rongrong of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and Senior Dugu Bo's granddaughter, Dugu Yan? If they don't mind, then why should I?"
Su Ming: ...Such strong reasoning.
Once they exited the arena and reached the street, Su Ming explained the situation to Xiao Wu and the others as they walked.
Xiao Wu and the others simply gave Shui Yue'er curious looks, not out of jealousy but out of amazement at Shui Yue'er's boldness. They all knew that, despite Shui Yue'er's fangirl personality, Su Ming did have a soft spot for her. They were simply surprised that Shui Yue'er had made the first move.
"Yue'er, be honest with me. Was it really our team leader who taught you that?" Shui Bing'er lightly tapped her sister's head.
"Yep, absolutely! You can ask her when we get back if you don't believe me."
Shui Bing'er: ...
"So, Su Ming, can I be your girlfriend too?" Shui Yue'er asked expectantly.
She was fangirly by nature, but once she fell for someone, her feelings were genuine and focused.
Steeling himself, Su Ming looked around at the girls, then nodded, "As long as none of them object, it's fine by me. I'd rather not have any drama."
The girls, in unison: "We're okay with it!"
Su Ming's eyes widened. Whoa, I was sure at least one of them would object, but it was a unanimous vote?!
He'd planned to try reasoning with anyone who disagreed, but it seemed his "backyard" was unexpectedly harmonious.
"Yay!" Shui Yue'er cheered, giving Su Ming a quick kiss on the cheek, leaving a faint red mark.
Shui Bing'er was embarrassed for her sister; they were out in public, after all. But Shui Yue'er's excitement attracted plenty of stares from the street.
Su Ming had no choice but to hurriedly usher the group away.
Soon, the day's match results came in as Su Ming had expected. The three teams advancing to the finals were Heaven Dou Academy, Thunder Academy, and Spirit Hall.
The third day finally arrived—the day of the finals.
As the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament reached its end, it was now time for the final showdown.
Outside the Pope's Hall, two rows of palace guards lined up from the hall's entrance down the mountain, their silver armor and heavy swords adding a solemn grandeur to the atmosphere.
Su Ming was somewhat surprised to discover that, unlike in previous rounds, the Spirit Hall hadn't dismissed the teams that had been eliminated. All participants were allowed to gather in the plaza outside the Pope's Hall.
This was odd because, in the original story, only the three teams that had reached the finals were allowed at the Pope's Hall. Losing teams and regular spectators had no access, as they were not deemed worthy. Bibi Dong likely intended to pressure Tang San by surrounding him with overwhelming force, capturing him if necessary. Besides, the plaza in front of the Pope's Hall couldn't accommodate so many people.
This time, the crowd was only slightly limited. Only those participating in the tournament could gather close to the Pope's Hall, while others had to stand farther out. But Spirit Hall had announced they would project the match in the sky using a special method so everyone could see, which Su Ming found quite intriguing.
Twenty-one contestants stood in silence on the plaza, awaiting the final battle.
Wuhun Hall Academy and Heaven Dou Academy, led by Xie Yue and Su Ming, respectively, seemed the most relaxed. Their confidence radiated from them.
Yet Hu Liena, within the ranks of the Spirit Hall, looked tense. She wasn't sure if her sister Qian Renxue could defeat Su Ming. According to reports from the two elders, Su Ming's true strength was on par with a Titled Douluo, while her sister Qian Renxue was merely a Soul Douluo. She was uncertain how this would turn out.
"Nana, are you doubting me?" Qian Renxue asked Hu Liena with a sly smile.
Hu Liena chuckled awkwardly. "Of course not, Sister Qian Renxue. You wield the divine-level spirit, Six-Winged Angel, and certainly have hidden cards up your sleeve. I'm just a bit...nervous."
Qian Renxue didn't seem surprised by her words; Su Ming's strength was indeed intimidating. She wasn't entirely confident herself and could only hope her Sun Breathing techniques would give her an edge over Su Ming.
Qian Renxue was present in the Spirit Hall ranks in her true form this time. She stood in the third position in the line-up, following Xie Yue and Hu Liena.
Her prominent placement quickly drew the attention of others, particularly from Thunder Academy.
"Look, when did Spirit Hall gain such a beautiful blonde member? She wasn't originally part of their team, right?"
"Yeah, she must be a substitute. But honestly, her aura feels even stronger than Hu Liena's."
"I noticed that too! Hu Liena even seemed to treat her with respect."
In Thunder Academy's area, Tang San's attention was instantly captured by Qian Renxue. Her appearance and aura seemed utterly perfect, surpassing even Xiao Wu.
"Hey, Third Brother, are you staring at that blonde beauty?" Ma Hongjun teased.
Without his previous "distraction," Ma Hongjun's interest in beautiful women had greatly diminished. Now, they were mere eye candy to him—any deeper desire would just add to his frustration.
Startled by Ma Hongjun's words, Tang San snapped back to reality, surprised that he, with his usually strong willpower, had been affected by her allure. He wasn't new to beautiful women—he had resisted the charm of Hu Liena, a master of seduction herself. But with Qian Renxue, he found it...
Tang San turned to his teacher, Yu Xiaogang, for answers. His gaze seemed to ask, Teacher, did you know about this person from Spirit Hall?
Yu Xiaogang frowned and shook his head, silently indicating his uncertainty.
In the Heaven Dou Academy team, Xiao Wu discreetly whispered, "Brother, that stunning woman—is she the sister from Spirit Hall you've mentioned before, the young master?"
Su Ming nodded slightly.
"Since you said she's a Soul Douluo, then she'll be your opponent, right?"
At that moment, a group of twelve red-robed bishops emerged from the Pope's Hall's side entrance. The lead one called out loudly, "His Holiness the Pope arrives!"
The grand doors of the Pope's Hall opened slowly, drawing every gaze.
A breathtaking woman dressed in a dazzling golden gown, crowned with a purple-gold diadem, and holding a scepter, walked out gracefully.
Xiao Wu's eyes fixed on Bibi Dong, as she finally saw her in person! She could sense a faint trace of her mother's presence in Bibi Dong.
Standing behind Bibi Dong, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo whispered something to her. Bibi Dong's gaze fell upon Tang San.
As her gaze bore down on him, Tang San felt as if his very soul was being stripped away, forcing him to activate his Purple Demon Eye technique.
Yet, in the next moment, Bibi Dong's eyes moved from him to Su Ming, standing among the Heaven Dou Academy team.
This was her first time seeing Su Ming. He was indeed an exceptionally talented and handsome young man.
If only Su Ming weren't such a playboy—she might have considered pairing him with Qian Renxue once he joined Spirit Hall.
But since Qian Renxue had accepted him as an adopted brother, she would let nature take its course.
Noticing Bibi Dong's gaze on him, Su Ming politely nodded with a calm smile.
Meanwhile, Tang San heaved a deep sigh of relief. He realized that, within those brief seconds, cold sweat had drenched his back. For a moment, he had feared Bibi Dong might strike him down right then and there.
Bibi Dong: Hmph. You're not even worthy of me personally dealing with you. Besides, Spirit Hall acts with legitimate cause.
Little did Tang San know that so many people had been granted access to the Pope's Hall plaza for this final showdown, all because of him.
When the tournament concluded, his fate would be sealed.
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