The news of Shrek Academy being attacked by Evil Soul Masters had caused a stir, but as the finals began, the discussions gradually died down.
They had come to Star Luo City for the sole purpose of witnessing the birth of a champion.
Now that the finals had started, their attention naturally returned to the competition.
The finals had no redundant ceremonies; the matches began at ten in the morning.
The first match was in the one-on-one format.
Under the host's enthusiastic introduction, the competition officially began.
With Xu Tianhao providing backup, the first person to step onto the stage for the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy was Ye Guyi.
As expected from the Clear Sky Sect team, their first participant was Tang Tian.
Tang Tian was the strongest member of the Clear Sky Sect team, with a spirit power Rank as high as sixty-eight, three Ranks higher than Ye Guyi.
However, Xu Tianhao still favored Ye Guyi because, in addition to her own formidable strength, she was also equipped with spirit tools.
While Tang Tian's strength was also top-tier among those of the same Rank, he lacked the enhancement of spirit tools.
In this era, spirit tools were of little use to existences above Divinity, but on this Douluo Continent, they were a powerful aid that could not be ignored.
Jing Hongchen, at the Realm of Rank ninety-three spirit power, dared to go head-to-head with Xuan Zi, which showed just how massive the strength boost from spirit tools was for a Spirit Master.
Even if Xuan Zi was the weakest Rank ninety-eight, he was still a genuine Rank ninety-eight.
It was said that for Titled Douluo, every single Rank of difference was like the distance between heaven and earth.
Between Jing Hongchen and Xuan Zi, there were a full five such massive gaps, yet he could still bridge that distance relying on spirit tools.
Now that there was only a three-Rank difference between Ye Guyi and Tang Tian, Xu Tianhao did not believe Ye Guyi would lose.
Similarly, on the Clear Sky Sect team's side, they also did not believe Tang Tian would lose.
In their eyes, spirit tools were external objects and nothing to be feared.
Moreover, Tang Tian's spirit power Rank was three full Ranks higher than Ye Guyi's.
While both sides were full of confidence in their respective teammates, Ye Guyi and Tang Tian faced each other on the Soul Fighting Platform.
Tang Tian raised his hand with a beckoning motion, and a majestic Clear Sky Hammer appeared in his grasp.
On the surface of his body, six spirit rings—two yellow, two purple, and two black—rhythmically pulsed together, creating a daunting Aura.
Before this, Tang Tian's strongest opponent had only been at Rank sixty-two, which truly failed to pique his interest.
The Clear Sky Sect's journey to the finals had been incredibly easy for them.
Even without substitute members, they still felt no pressure.
Aside from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, which had entered the finals with a continuous winning streak, there was the Clear Sky Sect.
One could say that at this moment, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy and the Clear Sky Sect team were meeting at the true Peak.
Tang Tian looked at Ye Guyi, a flash of admiration passing through his eyes; Ye Guyi was very beautiful, not at all inferior to their Young Lord.
Unfortunately, Ye Guyi belonged to Xu Tianhao's side.
Tang Tian spoke slowly: "The preeminent battle hammer, the majestic Clear Sky Sect. It has been ten thousand years; today, by defeating your Angel with the Clear Sky Hammer, I shall live up to the glorious reputation of my ancestor, Tang San."
Hearing this, countless spectators who knew the history finally remembered: wasn't it ten thousand years ago that the Sea God Tang San crushed the Angel God Qian Renxue?
Now that the Clear Sky Hammer was fighting the Angel again, it truly could be called inheriting the ancestor's glorious name.
In the Douluo Continent, Divinity was the heavens.
Even though Shrek Academy's reputation was currently in the gutter, mentioning the Sea God's name still drove countless people into a frenzy.
Facing the cheers and shouts of the audience, Ye Guyi's face remained expressionless: "Who is strong and who is weak will be known after a battle."
As her words fell, Ye Guyi released her Angel Martial Soul, and an inviolable, holy radiance blossomed outward.
On the surface of her body, six spirit rings—two yellow, one purple, and three black—slowly rose and pulsed.
Compared to Tang Tian's optimal spirit ring configuration, Ye Guyi had one more ten-thousand-year spirit ring.
"Ye Guyi, Spirit: Holy Angel, Rank sixty-five attack system Battle Spirit Emperor, please advise."
Tang Tian's eyes narrowed: "Tang Tian, Spirit: Clear Sky Hammer, Rank sixty-eight attack system Battle Spirit Emperor, please advise."
As soon as they finished speaking, they moved before the referee could even open his mouth.
The fifth spirit ring on Ye Guyi's body lit up, and an Angelic Sacred Sword quietly appeared in her hand.
Gripping the sacred sword, Ye Guyi stopped using any other Spirit Abilities.
Tang Tian likewise used no Spirit Abilities, and the hammer and sword suddenly collided.
The sacred sword was incomparably sharp, while the great hammer was heavy and powerful.
Every collision between the two was accompanied by the sound of clashing metal and flying sparks.
Although such a pure battle was simple and unadorned, it still drew waves of cheers from the audience.
Facing the cheers of the audience, Tang Tian's expression was heavy.
He had originally thought that with his strength, he would be enough to overpower Ye Guyi.
But after truly exchanging blows, he discovered that not only were Ye Guyi's Moves sharp, but her strength was also not inferior to his in the slightest.
This left Tang Tian quite alarmed.
But Tang Tian was battle-hardened after all; though shocked by Ye Guyi's strength, he made an adjustment in an instant.
He still didn't use spirit power, but after every collision of the Clear Sky Hammer, the power of his next strike would increase.
Ye Guyi naturally felt Tang Tian's abnormality and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow: "Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Method."
The Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Method was not an exclusive secret of the Clear Sky Sect, but rather a sophisticated hammering technique; several famous Divine Craftsmen of the current age also knew this skill.
But one thing was undeniable: in the hands of others, the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Method would at most make them a master blacksmith of a generation.
But in the hands of someone possessing the Clear Sky Hammer Spirit, it was a supreme technique, enough to allow one's strength to exceed normal limits.
However, Ye Guyi was not surprised; facing Tang Tian's Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Method, she already had a way to counter it.
During the three days of rest, Xu Tianhao had already analyzed the secret techniques that the members of the Clear Sky Sect might know for his teammates.
To break the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Method, one only needed to interrupt the opponent's continuous accumulation of force.
If the timing was controlled well, one could even make the Disorder Splitting Wind backfire on the user.
Therefore, upon discovering Tang Tian was using the Disorder Splitting Wind, Ye Guyi began her own setup.
One strike, two strikes... eight strikes... fifteen strikes... twenty-five strikes...
When Tang Tian's Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Method reached twenty-five strikes, Ye Guyi found it somewhat difficult to hold her ground without using other Spirit Abilities.
So Ye Guyi did not hesitate at all and directly took out a spirit tool longsword from her storage tool that looked identical to the Angelic Sacred Sword.
Rank seven spirit tool: Holy Sword of Light.
Wielding dual swords, Ye Guyi once again engaged in battle with Tang Tian.
Twenty-six strikes, twenty-seven strikes... thirty-five strikes... fifty-three strikes...
When Tang Tian's Disorder Splitting Wind reached fifty-three strikes, Ye Guyi once again felt a bit strained.
And Tang Tian was also surprised by Ye Guyi's strength.
Without using other Spirit Abilities and only using one spirit tool, she had fought him to fifty-three strikes with dual swords.
In Tang Tian's eyes, Ye Guyi's strength was already no weaker than his own.
But he was confident in the power of the Disorder Splitting Wind.
As long as he swung the eighty-first strike, it would be enough to decide the match.
Fifty-four strikes, fifty-five strikes... sixty-three strikes...
When Tang Tian's Disorder Splitting Wind reached sixty-three strikes, Ye Guyi finally used a Spirit Ability.
"Third Spirit Ability: Angel's Praise."
This was an enhancement Spirit Ability that could give a certain boost to all aspects of Ye Guyi's abilities.
Under the effect of Angel's Praise, Ye Guyi, wielding her dual swords, possessed an overbearing Aura, her swords dancing even more rapidly.
Seeing this, Tang Tian smiled coldly: "I'll see how long you can hold out."
Ye Guyi turned a deaf ear, her dual swords striking out together with great sharpness.
If it weren't for the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Method getting stronger with every strike, Ye Guyi's dual-sword technique alone would have been enough to make Tang Tian struggle to cope.
In the resting area, Ji Juechen looked at Ye Guyi wielding the dual swords and couldn't help but praise repeatedly:
"Miss Ye's attainment in the Dao of the sword is quite deep; this dual-sword technique can be called the best among those of the same Rank."
Xu Tianhao smiled upon hearing this and asked, "Brother Ji, what do you think are Guyi's chances of winning?"
Ji Juechen said with certainty, "She will definitely win."
"Oh?" Xu Tianhao raised an eyebrow, "Brother Ji thinks so highly of Guyi?"
Ji Juechen also smiled: "It's not that I think highly of Miss Ye, but rather that Miss Ye has never used her full strength."
"I also use the sword, so I naturally feel more than others. Although both Miss Ye and that Tang Tian have almost not used Spirit Abilities, Miss Ye's sword has never been used with full power."
"If it were purely for offense, Miss Ye's sword would surely be sharper. She wouldn't even need to use Spirit Abilities; relying solely on the dual swords in her hands would be enough to deal with this Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Method."