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No one knew about Yu Xiaogang's journey to the Hao Tian Sect. Everyone's focus was on the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Competition. As for a fame-seeking Great Soul Master, no one cared much.
After receiving Tang Hao's letter, Tang Xiao trembled uncontrollably.
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To Elder Brother Tang Xiao:
Brother, by the time you read this, I may already be gone. For some reason, I've had an ominous feeling lately, so I wrote this letter and entrusted it to Yu Xiaogang.
If he doesn't find me, he'll come to you.
Brother, Ah Yin and I have a son—Tang San, or Xiao San. He's exceptional, possessing twin martial souls: Blue Silver Grass and the Hao Tian Hammer. I am a sinner of the sect.
I can never repay the clan for nurturing me, so I'll dedicate myself to raising my son to surpass me.
If Yu Xiaogang comes to you, something must've happened to him and Xiao San. Please take care of them.
— Tang Hao
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Tang Xiao recalled how his cup shattered just as he reached for it moments ago. 'My brother… is truly gone.' Guilt overwhelmed him. 'How could I fail so much as an elder brother? I couldn't protect my sister-in-law, my father, or even my own brother.'
"Hao, rest assured. Xiao San is now in my hands. As long as I, Tang Xiao, draw breath, I won't let any harm come to him!"
Tang Xiao whispered, gazing at the horizon where visions of Tang Hao and Ah Yin seemed to materialize. Despite his towering frame, tears streamed down his face.
After composing himself, Tang Xiao turned to the one-legged Yu Xiaogang.
"Master, Xiao San is my nephew. Tell me, how has he been?"
Yu Xiaogang's heart leapt. Finally, he had backing! Xiao Tian Douluo (Tang Xiao) was younger than his father Lei Ting Douluo Yu Yuanzhen and even more talented. With Xiao Tian Douluo supporting him, who would dare speak down to him?
Neither Li Luochen nor Spirit Hall knew of this new alliance—and even if they did, what of it? They wouldn't hesitate to crush him. After all, Li Luochen had killed Tang Hao; he could easily kill Tang Xiao too. The Hao Tian Hammer held no fear for him.
Meanwhile, Bibi Dong trained Hu Liena, hoping her years of guidance would bear fruit in the elite competition. Yet her thoughts wandered—to a golden-haired infant, soft and tiny. Bibi Dong adored her grandson. Perhaps this was the indulgence of generational affection.
Qian Renxue ground her teeth in envy.
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Back to the Soul Master Tournament
Shrek Academy dominated the Tian Dou Empire division, achieving 14 consecutive victories. Among the fifteen teams, Shrek ranked first, securing the best position in the Tian Dou Empire division.
They defeated veteran teams like Blazing Fire, Plant, Tianshui, Thunder, and Godwind Academies, undeniably becoming the strongest soul master academy in the empire. The title of "Strongest Academy Team" was well-deserved—a testament to Shrek's collective effort.
After the match, Emperor Xue Ye delivered another rousing speech. Soon, the finals would begin—the true battle to determine the continent's strongest academy.
As emperor, Xue Ye couldn't leave Tian Dou City. After his speech, he announced that Crown Prince Xue Qinghe would represent him as an imperial envoy for the tournament's judging.
The fifteen Tian Dou teams would travel under his escort to the city at the border of the two empires for the final showdown.
Spirit Hall suddenly changed the venue to their holy city—Spirit City. This fortress-like city belonged almost entirely to Spirit Hall, lying beyond both empires' jurisdiction.
Most importantly, one of Spirit Hall's holiest sites, the Pope's Hall, resided within Spirit City.
Li Luochen steeled himself for Bibi Dong's wrath. Shrek's victory over Spirit Hall's team—before the Pope's Hall—would undoubtedly humiliate her. Though outsiders didn't know of Shrek's ties to Spirit Hall, its higher-ups did: Shrek's leader was one of their elders.
But would that stop Bibi Dong from punishing Li Luochen? No. She'd wanted to beat him for ages. Especially with that perpetually innocent face of his—it made her itch to strike him!
Seated in the Pope's Hall, Bibi Dong plotted. Recently, Yu Luomian, the new patriarch of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, had surrendered his family. Bibi Dong accepted gladly—no need to waste resources crushing them now.
Yu Luomian, a 95th-rank Title Douluo with a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, was invaluable. Clever and resourceful, he stood apart from his dim-witted clansmen. Bibi Dong immediately appointed him as a formal Spirit Elder.
Had she still harbored resentment toward Yu Xiaogang, she might've razed the clan without hesitation. But now, Yu Xiaogang was irrelevant—mere grass beneath her feet, unworthy of her former affections.
As for the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, Bibi Dong left that task to her daughter Qian Renxue, confident she could handle it.
The lower four sects were Spirit Hall's lapdogs—no need to concern herself with them. Her focus remained solely on the Hao Tian Sect, the only faction capable of challenging Spirit Hall's dominance.
Bibi Dong suddenly recalled Tang San—Tang Hao's half-beast offspring. Perhaps she could use Tang Hao's corpse to test the Hao Tian Sect. After all, the current sect leader was Tang Hao's elder brother.
"Gui Mei!" she called.
"Yes, Your Holiness!" Ghost Douluo appeared, his figure flickering without visible soul rings.
"Hang Tang Hao's body at Spirit City's gates. Announce that the traitor who killed the previous Pope has been slain by a Spirit Hall elder.
Tell the continent—Spirit Hall is not to be trifled with. Even the mighty Hao Tian Douluo bleeds!"
With that, Bibi Dong tossed out an object from a storage soul device. A mutilated skeleton appeared in the Pope's Hall—limbless, skull cracked open, torso hollowed out.
Ghost Douluo recognized it as Tang Hao's remains. He sighed inwardly, wondering which elder had accomplished such a feat. 'Impressive.'
"As you command, Your Holiness!" Ghost Douluo bowed, then departed with Tang Hao's corpse.
From that moment, a body hung at Spirit City's gates.
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