Chapter 235: Shameless Tuoba Xi
The next day, the final match of the Soul Master Competition Grand Finals officially began.
The entire match proceeded without much fanfare. Although both sides appeared serious, employing a dazzling array of skills, the weaker Spirit Masters in the audience felt an inexplicable itch, as if ants were crawling on them.
However, the stronger individuals, those at Spirit Emperor and above, could clearly see that the Shrek Team on stage was not giving their all to win, unlike in previous matches.
Shrek's half-match, half-performance attitude also influenced the Spirit Hall's team, making their fighting style somewhat nonchalant.
Nevertheless, the audience understood. After all, the Shrek Team was an entire major level weaker than their opponents, making it an unwinnable fight, so simply going through the motions was acceptable.
Thus, after both sides had played enough, Shrek's members began to be eliminated one by one, with Spirit Hall ultimately claiming the championship of this competition.
Following this, Supreme Pontiff Bibi Dong ascended the stage to present Spirit Bone rewards to the top three teams and delivered a speech, announcing the complete conclusion of the Advanced Academy Elite Soul Master Competition.
Just as thousands of Spirit Masters from across the continent were about to leave the arena, Bai Yu stepped onto the stage, clapped his hands, and used the wind element to project his voice throughout the entire venue.
“Everyone, please wait a moment. Spirit Hall has some important announcements for the continent, and this is a good opportunity to convey them directly. Allow me to introduce myself: I am Bai Yu, the Spirit Hall Saint Child.”
Upon hearing Bai Yu's voice, everyone who had been preparing to leave sat back down, their expressions tinged with curiosity.
They all wanted to know what new trick this continent's top power was up to.
After all, Spirit Hall seemed to have become increasingly quiet in recent years; their last continent-wide announcement was over a decade ago, when the Spirit Hall Saint Child was appointed.
However, this silence made the various major powers on the continent feel uneasy and sent shivers down their spines.
It wasn't that these powers were masochists who wanted Spirit Hall to cause trouble, but rather, this sudden quietude made them anxious.
After all, if Spirit Hall was stirring things up, they could at least discern some patterns. Their current lukewarm demeanor was truly perplexing.
Seeing everyone in the arena return to their seats, Bai Yu's lips curved upward. He took out a Level Nine Soul Convergence Seal and used his spirit power to make it float above his palm.
“Everyone, please look. This item is called the Soul Convergence Seal, and it is a Level Nine spirit tool.”
“Among those present, if you are well-informed, you should know that Spirit Hall has, over the years, successfully revived the lost art of spirit tools on the continent.”
When Bai Yu finished speaking, many people in the arena showed no surprise; instead, their eyes flickered.
Without exception, these individuals all came from renowned Sects and prominent families on the continent.
This wasn't to say they all had the ability to infiltrate Spirit Hall with spies, but rather, wherever there were people, there were human connections.
Spirit Hall had a vast number of personnel, with all sorts of individuals. The major powers only needed to pay a small price, and they could obtain certain information that wasn't strictly confidential.
For example, spirit tools were something Spirit Hall would inevitably use in the future, so their disclosure was inconsequential.
Bai Yu disregarded the expressions of those present and continued speaking unhurriedly:
“As for the function of this item, I won't keep you in suspense. I will directly invite someone to demonstrate it for you all. Sect Master Tuoba Xi of the Sacred Dragon Sect, please come to the stage!”
As soon as Bai Yu's voice fell, a figure quickly walked onto the stage, then knelt on one knee and respectfully saluted Bai Yu.
“Your subordinate, Tuoba Xi, greets Your Highness the Saint Child!”
Bai Yu's mouth twitched slightly. This Tuoba Xi, as expected of someone who had latched onto Spirit Hall's leg in the original work, was already a Level 90 quasi-Title Douluo, yet he knelt without hesitation. It truly left Bai Yu speechless.
“Sect Master Tuoba, please rise quickly. You have not yet officially joined Spirit Hall, so calling yourself a subordinate right now is not appropriate!”
“Although I informed you in advance, I will ask again now: Sect Master Tuoba, are you willing to demonstrate the function of this Soul Convergence Seal for everyone present?”
After Tuoba Xi rose, he nodded solemnly to Bai Yu, his gaze burning with eagerness as he looked at the Soul Convergence Seal, wishing he could get his hands on it immediately.
“Your Highness the Saint Child, your subordinate is willing!”
He was more than willing, incredibly so!
Originally, his allegiance to Spirit Hall this time was only for two reasons. First, he wanted to see if the Sacred Dragon Sect could use Spirit Hall's influence to ascend to the Upper Three Sects.
Second, he needed a spirit ring for himself. High-grade dragon Spirit Beasts were already difficult to find, and even if found, they weren't necessarily easy to defeat.
So, his second request upon joining Spirit Hall was to have Spirit Hall dispatch personnel to help him acquire a spirit ring suitable for him.
But unexpectedly, a few days ago, His Highness the Saint Child suddenly sought him out and asked him to publicly demonstrate the use of a spirit tool called the Soul Convergence Seal at the end of the Soul Master Competition.
And as compensation for joining Spirit Hall and performing the demonstration, this Soul Convergence Seal would provide him with a 100,000-year dragon spirit ring suitable for him.
When this condition was proposed, he was so shocked he couldn't even speak. A 100,000-year spirit ring, a crimson one! Was he, Tuoba Xi, even worthy of using such a thing?
After verifying the effect of the Soul Convergence Seal, Tuoba Xi immediately agreed without a second thought, and from then on, whenever he saw Bai Yu, he would call him “subordinate.”
As for his pride? What was that worth?
If he were to announce outside that he possessed a 100,000-year spirit ring, and that he would give it to anyone who knelt and called him ancestor, would he be believed that the line of kneeling people could stretch from Spirit City to Heaven Dou City?
Seeing Tuoba Xi still calling him “subordinate,” Bai Yu clicked his tongue and, with some helplessness, handed him the Soul Convergence Seal.
It wasn't that Bai Yu was being prissy; over the past two years, he had gradually adapted to the customs of the continent. Kneeling and calling someone a subordinate was quite normal.
It was just that the number of people present at this moment was truly too great, and they were from various major forces across the continent. Tuoba Xi was to become a Spirit Hall Elder in the future, so wouldn't this be an embarrassment for Spirit Hall itself?
However, at this point, there was no other option. He could only blame himself for not clarifying earlier, as Bai Yu hadn't expected Tuoba Xi's shamelessness to reach such an extent.
After Tuoba Xi received the Soul Convergence Seal, he bowed to Bai Yu again, then turned and looked around.
He noticed that everyone in the surrounding audience seats was looking at him with disdain, their faces displaying mocking expressions.
As one of the Lower Four Sects, the Sacred Dragon Sect also had a considerable reputation on the continent. The Sect Master's demeanor was truly laughable.
Everyone present had already decided that after returning, they would definitely spread the word and give the Sacred Dragon Sect and Tuoba Xi a boost in notoriety!