Yan's massive lava fist, which had been raised high and was ready to strike, froze in mid-air.
Under the shocked gazes of everyone present, the Lava Giant opened its magma mouth and let out a deafening roar that was mixed with a desperate sob. "Ahhh! I can't hold it in anymore!"
"I'll confess! I'll confess everything!"
"My name is Yan! I used to wet the bed when I was eight years old! When I was ten, I tried to peek at the neighbor's widow while she was bathing and got chased by her dog for three whole streets!"
"My first wet dream, when I was twelve, was about a portrait of Hu Liena! I even… I did shameful things while looking at it!"
"I've had a crush on Nana for ten years, but I've never even been brave enough to touch her hand! I can only sleep while holding her portrait every night! I even drew little hearts all over it!"
"Just a moment ago! Ye Yin scared me so badly that I almost peed my pants! My crotch is still wet!"
"And when that bastard Xie Yue cut me with his blade, you could smell it, couldn't you?! It smells like pee!"
"Wuwuwu… I'm so miserable! What's the point of me even living…"
The Lava Giant cried and howled, waving its arms wildly as it revealed all of its deepest, most embarrassing secrets. Huge tears made of magma splashed onto the ground, creating an incredibly bizarre scene.
The four members of the Spirit Hall team standing behind him were completely frozen in shock.
Should they attack? Or should they not?
Yan was in the middle of a battle, complaining about his embarrassing childhood and his secret crushes. He was even asking everyone if they could smell urine on him.
How were they supposed to continue this fight?
The jaws of every single person in the audience dropped to the floor in disbelief.
Up on the high platform, Bibi Dong's expression could no longer be described as merely dark. It was a mask of pure fury. Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei's eyelids were twitching uncontrollably. Qian Daoliu simply closed his eyes, as if he couldn't bear to watch the humiliating scene for another second.
Hu Liena, who had been dazed, was shocked awake by the earth-shattering confession. She happened to hear the part about what Yan did to her portrait. Her stunningly beautiful face instantly turned bright red with embarrassment before becoming deathly pale. Her eyes filled with a mixture of shame, anger, and pure disgust.
[Resentment from Hu Liena +99!]
"Enough!"
A furious shriek erupted from the high platform. Bibi Dong truly could not stand it anymore. If this was allowed to continue, Spirit Hall would lose every last bit of its dignity.
[Resentment from Bibi Dong +50!]
"Spirit Hall Academy forfeits!"
Even though she had already announced their surrender, Yan continued his rant, completely lost in his own world. "You don't know, but this one time, I was following behind the Supreme Pontiff, and when I bent down, a gust of wind suddenly blew her skirt up…"
Bibi Dong's face became impossibly dark. With a swift flick of her finger, a tiny burst of energy shot out and knocked Yan unconscious, finally silencing him.
That damned fool!
[Resentment from Bibi Dong +60!]
The members of Shrek Academy slowly gathered together, still trying to process what had just happened.
"So… we won?"
A smile slowly spread across Ye Yin's face.
"Of course, we did!" Dai Mubai nodded his head vigorously, the excited light in his eyes impossible to hide. "Yes, we won! We defeated the Spirit Hall Academy team. We're the champions. We're the champions of the All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament!"
After a short period of recovery, the seven members of the Spirit Hall Academy team were helped away by staff from the Supreme Pontiff Palace. Only the students from Shrek Academy remained standing in the grand square. Each of them wore a proud expression on their face. They were the champions. Yes, they were the ultimate champions.
The Supreme Pontiff and all the Titled Douluo rose to their feet. Bibi Dong, regaining her composure, announced in a calm voice, "The champion of this year's All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament is Shrek Academy. Congratulations to you, talented young Spirit Masters."
The Shrek Seven Devils stood together in a single line. Behind them were Grandmaster, Flender, Liu Erlong, and the Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo. At that moment, the eyes of every Shrek student were fixed on the brocade tray that held the three precious Spirit Bones.
The Supreme Pontiff showed her incredible self-control. She took the tray from a Spirit Hall attendant, her gaze lingering on the three Spirit Bones for a moment with a hint of regret.
The red-robed cardinal who had served as the referee announced loudly, "Will a representative from Shrek Academy please come forward to receive the champion's reward?"
The Shrek members looked at each other, none of them willing to be the first to step forward and accept the prize.
Just then, Yu Xiaogang cleared his throat. "Little San, since no one else is going, you should go."
Tang San coughed, looking a little embarrassed. "Teacher, my contribution was so small. I don't think it would be right for me to go."
"Let Yin Ge go instead," he suggested.
Ye Yin nodded with a look of satisfaction. "I didn't realize you were so self-aware, Little San."
Tang San was speechless.
[Resentment from Tang San +30!]
Ye Yin began to walk, step by step, toward the awards platform where Supreme Pontiff Bibi Dong was waiting. When he finally stood before her, he was struck by how astonishingly beautiful she was. She was noble, elegant, and serene. It seemed like all the most beautiful words in the world could be used to describe her. Although she was no longer in her youth, the passage of time seemed to have left no marks on her face.
The Supreme Pontiff stared at the young man before her, a strange light glinting in her eyes.
"You are outstanding," she said, her voice clear and powerful. "Even more outstanding than I expected. Are you willing to join Spirit Hall?"
As soon as she spoke those words, the entire audience erupted into a commotion. The Supreme Pontiff herself was extending an invitation! What an incredible honor! Countless gazes filled with envy and jealousy shot toward Ye Yin, so intense they felt like they could pierce him.
On the Shrek side, Flender, Yu Xiaogang, Liu Erlong, and the others instantly became tense. The resources and power of Spirit Hall were a temptation that almost no Spirit Master could resist.
Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, and the rest of the team also held their breath. Although they trusted Ye Yin, a personal invitation from the Supreme Pontiff herself carried an enormous amount of weight.
Ye Yin's gentle smile did not change. He bowed slightly, his posture perfect, and his calm, clear voice echoed throughout the entire venue. "Thank you for your high praise, Your Holiness."
"Spirit Hall is a sacred land for all Spirit Masters. Its deep history and power are truly admirable."
He paused, and as everyone watched with tense anticipation, he continued, "However, Shrek Academy is the place that nurtured me, and my companions are the ones who have faced life and death with me. I may not be the most talented, but I understand the meaning of gratitude and loyalty."
"Therefore…" He raised his head, his gaze meeting Bibi Dong's deep eyes without any fear, "for now, I will not be joining Spirit Hall."
Hearing the words "for now," Bibi Dong's flawless eyebrow twitched almost imperceptibly. Flender and the others let out a quiet sigh of relief, but their hearts were still pounding in their chests.
Ye Yin's tone then shifted, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips. "As for the future…"
He deliberately dragged out the last word, letting his gaze sweep over the grim-faced Salas, then over the heavily injured and still unconscious Xie Yue and Hu Liena, and then over the shame-faced Yan. Finally, his eyes returned to meet Bibi Dong's. "The world is an unpredictable place. Who can say for sure what will happen?"
"Perhaps, when Spirit Hall shows enough sincerity, or… when I feel the time is right…"
He didn't finish his sentence, but the unspoken words and the hidden meaning left everyone with a great deal to think about.
Bibi Dong looked deeply at Ye Yin. This young man not only possessed bizarre talents and strange methods, but his mind was also incredibly sharp.
If he could be convinced to join Spirit Hall, it would be for the best.
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