socalfunplaces Page 153
Page 153
The other person, naturally, was Ning Fengzhi, the honorary elder of the Spirit Hall and the sect master of the Eight Treasure Glazed Tile School, who was standing beside Chen Xin.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Bibi Dong waved her jade hand, and three soul bones, each gleaming with different colors, appeared before them.
The right arm is engulfed in explosive flames.
The left leg that races forward at breakneck speed.
And a 70,000-year-old head bone.
Because the original skull containing the essence of wisdom had already been absorbed in advance when Hu Liena broke through to the fourth ring, in order to absorb the ten-thousand-year soul ring and resist the soul impact.
Afterwards, Bibi Dong had no choice but to withstand the pressure and take out another piece from the Spirit Hall's collection to fill the gap.
Bibi Dong's majestic yet melodious voice echoed in everyone's ears.
"There can only be one winner, and the same goes for the champion! So please give it your all and strive for this honor!"
Thus, the fifth round of the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament officially began.
Chapter 215 Simultaneous Abstention
"This morning will be the individual elimination round for your three teams, with seven players each."
"The remaining teams will have an advantage and will directly enter the championship battle tomorrow, while the other two teams will compete in the loser's bracket in the afternoon for the other final spot."
"Now you can send out your first player."
After announcing the rules, Bibi Dong sat down on the papal throne that had been prepared beforehand.
The other titled Douluo also took their seats on either side of it.
"The first match is between the Heaven Dou Royal Academy team and the Spirit Hall team. Please send out your first players!" the referee, who had been waiting nearby, announced loudly.
The individual elimination tournament format means that each team needs to send out seven players to take turns playing until all seven players on one side are eliminated.
This tests not only individual skill, but also the team's strategic deployment and sustained combat capabilities.
However, after the referee announced the teams for the match, something unexpected happened to everyone present.
Hu Liena from the Spirit Hall team and Dugu Yan from the Royal Fighting team looked at each other for a few seconds before suddenly raising their hands together and speaking to Bibi Dong, who was sitting on the papal throne.
"I choose to forfeit the individual elimination rounds. ×2"
Upon hearing this, Mu Ci couldn't help but look at the two women with a sense of helplessness.
Hu Liena and Dugu Yan both responded with gentle smiles.
The members of the Royal Fighting Team were not at all surprised by this choice.
However, some members of the Spirit Hall team on the other side had different opinions.
Standing next to Xie Yue, Yan looked at Hu Liena, who had raised her hand to signal that she was giving up the match, with disbelief, and said in shock.
"Nana! What are you doing?"
Hu Liena's pretty face immediately turned cold when she was questioned. She turned her head slightly to look at Yan, who was full of shock, and said in a cold voice.
"Yan, you don't need to teach me the specifics of how to do it. Also, please call me Captain!"
Hu Liena's icy voice immediately silenced Yan's words, but soon, as if he understood something, he turned his gaze to the direction of the plant team on the other side.
"Is it because of that...?"
But before Yan could finish speaking, Xie Yue, who was standing next to him, immediately pulled him back, preventing him from continuing.
As one of the few people who know Hu Liena best, Xie Yue knows the position Mu Ci holds in her heart. Ever since she returned from the ceremony at the Medicine King Sect, she has been completely smitten.
If Yan, who doesn't think straight, were to say those words, they might not even be able to remain friends afterward.
"Yan, say less. Nana is the captain, and she has her own considerations!"
After Xie Yue finished speaking, he pulled Yan Chao behind him and nodded slightly to Hu Liena.
"Nana, you're the captain, you should make the decisions!"
Hu Liena's expression softened upon hearing this, and she turned her gaze back to Bibi Dong in the audience, her eyes filled with anticipation.
Bibi Dong hadn't spoken yet about the two team captains' decision to forgo individual battles and directly enter the loser's bracket, but the other team members watching from the sidelines began to whisper among themselves.
Shui Bing'er, Huo Wu, and the other girls exchanged glances, their faces showing an expression of "I knew it," and a hint of helplessness in their beautiful eyes.
If the net is cast wide enough, then this competition becomes their family social gathering.
If it weren't for the fact that there were only three teams in the final round, but instead it were a semi-final, then with the addition of the Tianshui team, all four of the top four would be theirs.
Shrek Team.
Flander suddenly turned to Yu Xiaogang and asked.
"Xiaogang, why do you think they did that?"
Flander was not disappointed at all by Shrek Team's loss in the fourth round; on the contrary, he was extremely happy.
It should be noted that this was Shrek Academy's first time participating in the Continental Elite Tournament of Advanced Soul Master Academies, and they managed to advance to the fourth round.
If it weren't for the overwhelmingly strong Royal Fighting Team, but instead the Star Luo Team, they could have directly entered the finals and advanced to the top three!
Such a victory made Flander extremely happy. He wished he could fly back to Heaven Dou City immediately, make a banner about this incident, and hang it in front of Shrek Academy to spread the news far and wide.
So at this moment, Flander could watch the scenes of the finals with great interest.
After thinking for a moment, Yu Xiaogang answered Flander's question.
"Given the relationship between Mu Ci and Dugu Yan, it wouldn't be a problem to consider these two teams as one team."
"Hu Liena of the Spirit Hall team obviously thought of this and directly gave up the individual elimination round. After all, whether they win or lose, their situation is not good."
"So going directly into the knockout stage is actually more advantageous for them, since they can face another team at their peak."
"As for the Royal Fighting Team, Dugu Yan definitely won't fight Mu Ci. Giving up is the best option."
"In this way, it is reasonable for both teams to directly enter the loser's bracket in the second half."
After speaking, Yu Xiaogang reconsidered his analysis and found the logic becoming clearer and clearer. He nodded to Flander.
Flander touched his chin thoughtfully and realized that it seemed to be just as Yu Xiaogang had said.
Although no one knows the upper limit of Mu Ci's combat power, there is no doubt that his level has definitely reached the Soul Saint level.
Therefore, the Spirit Hall team might as well directly defeat the Royal Fighting team in the loser bracket; that might be faster.
Tang San, whose face had been gloomy, suddenly raised his head, glanced at the two of them, and couldn't help but sneer inwardly.
He knew Hu Liena better than anyone, so why was he overthinking things?
It was simply a matter of having someone else in mind, not wanting to fight Mu Ci, and then making a decision after exchanging glances with Dugu Yan.
After giving the two a disdainful look, Tang San scanned the audience seats once more.
"Damn it, is my uncle alright or not? Why hasn't he shown up yet? He hasn't even sent me a message."
Thinking about what would happen after the competition, Tang San's face darkened.
At this moment, many people's eyes were focused on Bibi Dong on the stage, wanting to see how His Holiness the Pope would react.
At this moment, Bibi Dong indeed felt helpless. In fact, both of Yu Xiaogang's and Tang San's guesses were correct.
Whether it's preserving their fighting strength or avoiding a fight with Mu Ci, it's a choice for both of them.
Bibi Dong naturally understood this meaning from Hu Liena's eyes.
Bibi Dong immediately stood up from the papal chair, and a faint burst of soul power, carrying her voice, reached the ears of everyone present.
"Both captains have the right to choose. In that case, the Heaven Dou Royal Team and the Spirit Hall Team will enter the loser's bracket."
"In the first half of the fifth round of the finals, the Plant Team has advanced!"
"To save time, the loser's bracket matches will be held later. Please have the two captains go and prepare on their own."
Chapter 216 Heavenly Fox Howls at the Moon, Black Abyss and White Flowers
Half an hour later, Dugu Yan and Hu Liena led their respective teams onto the Soul Arena, where the loser's bracket matches were being held directly without any actual battles yet.
The two nodded to each other from a distance of several dozen meters.
To be honest, for many team captains, this Elite Tournament, whether it's the team competition or the individual competition, is actually a solo performance by just a few of them.
The Divine Wind Team has Feng Xiaotian, the Heavenly Water Team has Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er, the Blazing Fire Team has Huo Wu and Huo Wushuang, the Royal Fighting Team has Dugu Yan, the Spirit Hall Team has Hu Liena, the Plant Team is alright, and Mu Ci really doesn't want to compete.
Under Mu Ci's butterfly effect, they are in a class of their own, with the strongest among them even able to fight against Soul Douluo.
However, the weakest member of their team is only a Soul Master.
Take Ning Rongrong, for example, who is standing on the field right now in the Royal Fighting Team.
Level 38 Auxiliary Soul Master.
It sounds like it's pretty standard, and its level is even higher than that of many regular members of the team. For a support-type Soul Master to reach this level is indeed quite remarkable.
But in fact, this was the result of Dugu Yan's help.
Because Ning Rongrong is backed by the Eight Treasure Glazed Tile School, Dugu Yan cannot help Ning Rongrong evolve her martial soul without Mu Ci's consent.
But Dugu Yan inherited Dugu Bo's sentimental nature, and couldn't resist Ning Rongrong constantly calling her "Sister Yan Yan".
They had no choice but to give him some elixirs to aid his cultivation during his spare time.
Otherwise, it's still uncertain whether Ning Rongrong can reach level 37.
Therefore, once the two teams start fighting, Ning Rongrong can only use a buff and then go down. Even a Soul Master might not be able to withstand the aftershocks of Hu Liena and Dugu Yan's battle.
Once everyone was ready, the referee immediately made the announcement.
"Game start!"
The moment the referee finished speaking, both teams began to move quickly.
Hu Liena and Dugu Yan stared at each other, their auras and soul power rising.
The nine-tailed fox and the ancient dragon of the abyss possessed him at the same time.
Hu Liena's six spirit rings—one yellow, two purple, and three black—appeared on her six fluffy pink and white fox tails. As the fox tails swayed, the spirit rings also swayed.
Dugu Yan's black dragon scales also appeared immediately. After being propelled by the bloodline of the Azure Bull Python Dragon Clan, the Abyss Ancient Dragon became even more perfect, with smoother and more domineering lines.