SWNOVELXO Chapter 154: Chapter 154
"Everyone, your opponent today has arrived—it's Godwind Academy!"
In the heaven dou Lounge, Qin Ming pushed open the door and walked in, his expression grim. Their luck in the Continental Elite Young Soul Master Tournament had been particularly bad with encountering the Five Elements Academy repeatedly.
Moreover, Godwind Academy was the strongest among the Five Elements Academy this year. Was the behind-the-scenes manipulation really this blatant?
The one more frustrated than Qin Ming at this moment was Feng Xiaotian. When fighting against the Emperor Team, Godwind Academy always had to put in extra effort. However, the Emperor Team's winning rate against Godwind Academy was nearly absolute.
Fortunately, the top five teams in the qualifiers would advance to the promotion round, so losing a single match wasn't a disaster. If this were an elimination system, Godwind Academy might as well pack up and leave.
"Godwind Academy? Then for this match, I'll step down and let Gu Ran take my place" Jun Tianlin suggested
"What?" Qin Ming asked in confusion "Xiaotian, Godwind Academy is much stronger than the Elephant Armor Clan. Why choose to step back against them?"
"This isn't retreating. I've already demonstrated my spirit power in the first match. No one will think I'm avoiding Godwind Academy. Besides, Gu Ran needs experience. Since reaching the Spirit King level, he hasn't had a real fight. That won't do." Jun Tianlin explained
"I know Feng Xiaotian. He has a benign mutated martial spirit, the Gale Two-Headed Wolf, and was born with full spirit power. If he hadn't spent so much time developing his self-created spirit skill, the Gale Demon Wolf Thirty-Six Consecutive Slashes, his spirit power wouldn't be much lower than Tian Heng's. Even now, his strength is enough to rival an average high-level spirit master."
"I hope Gu Ran can reach a level where he can face a member of the Spirit Hall's Golden Generation alone in this tournament. Feng Xiaotian is the perfect test for him."
Qin Ming nodded "You're right. We're all part of the Emperor Team, and everyone should have the opportunity to fight for the team. Besides, Gu Ran has already reached the Spirit King level, so I have no doubts about him replacing you. Go ahead, Gu Ran."
"Yes, Boss, Teacher Qin, I won't let you down!" Gu Ran stood up excitedly. He had been unable to play in the last match, which only heightened his anticipation
The second round of the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Tournament officially began
All twenty-eight teams gathered at the venue today. No one could afford to ignore this match. One team was Godwind Academy, the strongest among the Five Elements Academy. The other was the Emperor Team, powerful enough to compete with Spirit Hall Academy. This battle was bound to attract attention.
Everyone wanted to see how the young Spirit King, Jun Tianlin, would perform against Godwind Academy.
But they were destined for disappointment. Jun Tianlin had no intention of playing. He no longer cared much about this tournament. After all, if he fought seriously, even a Spirit Saint might not be able to defeat him. He could effortlessly annihilate the spirits of three Spirit Kings from Spirit Hall.
Rather than waste his time, it was better to give Gu Ran and the others more opportunities to gain experience.
As the seven Emperor Team members stepped onto the stage, Feng Xiaotian was not pleased—in fact, he was furious "What does the Emperor Team mean by this? Are you looking down on Godwind Academy? Where is Jun Tianlin? Let him come up!"
"Brother, isn't Jun Tianlin going too far? He's not even stepping onto the field. Does he think Godwind Academy is weaker than the Elephant Armor Clan?" Huo Wu asked, displeased. Apart from the Elephant Armor Academy, which had already pledged allegiance to Spirit Hall, the other four academies of the Five Elements had always been united. She felt bad for Godwind Academy.
Huo Wushuang gripped the railing tightly "No. I think, in Jun Tianlin's eyes, whether it's Godwind Academy or the Elephant Armor Clan, they are all the same—completely beneath his notice. He only played yesterday to demonstrate his strength and intimidate the other academies."
At Tianshui Academy, Shui Bing'er reached the same conclusion as Huo Wushuang "In other words, the Elephant Armor Clan just happened to encounter Jun Tianlin when he felt like playing. Whether that was lucky or unlucky is debatable."
As murmurs filled the audience, Gu Ran remained silent. Any rebuttal would be meaningless. He needed to prove himself through action.
"Come on, Gu Ran! Let everyone see the strength of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's other future guardian Douluo!" Gu Rong, his master, naturally gave his full support.
"Enough talking, Gu Ran. Make them shut up!" Jun Tianlin crossed his arms, his voice calm but commanding
The ancient skeletal warhorse possessed Gu Ran, and his spirit rings appeared—two yellow, two purple, and one black. There was no doubt—he was a Spirit King-level powerhouse
"Impossible! Besides the Sword King, the Emperor Team has another Spirit King?" Salas was genuinely shocked
Spirit Hall had focused all its efforts on dealing with Jun Tianlin. Who could have expected that the usually inconspicuous Gu Ran would surpass their expectations, reaching the Spirit King level before the captain and vice-captain, Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan? He had even caught up with their Golden Generation.
"Salas, why are you so surprised? The old sword's disciple is a Spirit King, so why can't mine be one too? Are you looking down on me?" Gu Rong asked, feigning offense.
"I wouldn't dare, Your Majesty. Please don't misunderstand me. I was just momentarily shocked. It's a cause for celebration that Your Majesty has such a talented disciple." Salas forced a smile. Though he was a Platinum Bishop, he was still only a Spirit Douluo. Compared to Gu Rong a Titled Douluo, there was an undeniable gap in status.
"We've underestimated the Emperor Team. Even without the Sword King, they are still formidable. Prepare for battle. Leave the Spirit King to me." Feng Xiaotian activated his Demon Wolf spirit, suppressing his earlier frustration. Against such a powerful opponent, he had no right to be angry.
"Then leave Yu Tianheng to me" said a man wielding a long sword beside Feng Xiaotian
This was Godwind Academy's vice-captain. Though his spirit power was on par with Feng Xiaotian's at level 44, he had lost the captaincy to the Gale Demon Wolf Thirty-Six Consecutive Slashes and was relegated to vice-captain.
"Isn't that sword the Wind Sword? Is he from the Wind Sword Clan?" Yu Tianheng speculated, eyeing the long sword wrapped in a breeze.
The Wind Sword Clan was one of the Four Great Clans on the Douluo Continent, alongside the Holy Dragon Clan, the Elephant Armor Clan, and the Black Tiger Clan. Their martial spirit, the Wind Sword, was a superior-grade spirit, albeit not top-tier.
The Shi brothers nodded "That seems to be the case. I didn't expect to meet someone from the Lower Four Clans."
Yu Tianheng smirked "Perfect. Last match, you guys took all the Elephant Armor Clan's heads, and I was furious. This time, the Wind Sword Clan is mine. No one is allowed to steal my kill."
With that, Yu Tianheng activated his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon spirit. Electricity crackled around him, his battle intent surging, its intensity palpable even outside the arena. He was still irritated about not getting a single takedown in the last match.