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Chapter 143: Post-Battle Awards Ceremony
🕑 Added 2025-01-01 14:46:56 +0000 UTCThe match between Heaven Dou Team One and Heaven Dou Team Two was the final match of the last round. After this battle, all the results were determined, and the rankings were finalized.
Heaven Dou Team Two achieved an undefeated record, winning all their matches. Their dominance on the battlefield and their oppressive force against opponents were terrifying, making their first-place position well-deserved.
At this point, Heaven Dou Team Two maintained a perfect 28-win record, ranking first among all the teams.
Sky Water Academy achieved 26 wins and 2 losses, ranking second. Their two losses were against Heaven Dou Team Two and Divinewind Academy. However, due to head-to-head results, they ranked above Heaven Dou Team One.
Heaven Dou Team One secured 26 wins and 2 losses, ranking third. Their two losses were to Heaven Dou Team Two and Sky Water Academy.
Blazing Fire Academy ranked fourth with 25 wins and 3 losses, losing only to the top three teams. Due to head-to-head results, they ranked above Divinewind Academy.
Divinewind Academy achieved 25 wins and 3 losses, ranking fifth. Their three losses were to Heaven Dou Team One, Heaven Dou Team Two, and Blazing Fire Academy.
Thunderclap Academy ranked sixth with 23 wins and 5 losses, losing all five matches to the top five teams.
These six teams became the top six in the Heaven Dou region and qualified for the advancement rounds.
Elephant Armored Academy regrettably ranked seventh, marking one of the rare occasions in recent years that they failed to qualify for the advancement rounds. Hu Yanzhen's face turned black with anger.
Canghui Academy fared worse. Despite possessing a Seven-in-One Fusion Skill, they could occasionally catch strong teams off guard. However, their overall strength was too weak. Once other teams became vigilant, it was difficult for them to execute their strategy.
Adding to their woes, Canghui Academy's team leader, Shi Nian, mysteriously disappeared, causing internal chaos and preventing them from devising effective counter-strategies. As a result, they suffered numerous crushing defeats and were eliminated.
As for the Blue Tyrant Academy, which rose to prominence in the original story as Shrek Academy, they still remained at the bottom of the rankings, winning only a few matches.
After the competition, with the help of healing spirit masters, all members of Heaven Dou Team One gradually recovered. However, Tang San appeared somewhat dejected, with a trace of hatred in his eyes.
Following the competition, the awards ceremony began. It was grand and solemn, with the captains of the top six teams going on stage to participate. The awards were presented by Emperor Xue Ye, Ning Fengzhi, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School Master, and Salas, the Platinum Bishop of the Spirit Hall.
Heaven Dou Team One's captain and vice-captain were Tang San and Yu Tianheng. Heaven Dou Team Two's captain and vice-captain were Yang Podi and Yang Ping'an.Sky Water Academy's captain and vice-captain were Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu. The representatives from the other teams were the standout performers in their respective teams, usually those with the highest spirit power.
Yang Podi, as the captain of Heaven Dou Team Two, was the only one in the entire preliminary round who didn't participate in a single match, drawing the attention of everyone present.
Some spectators even wondered aloud, "Who is this guy, and why is he the captain of Heaven Dou Team Two?"
It was worth noting that Yang Ping'an, the only Spirit King in the Heaven Dou region during the preliminary rounds, was practically in a league of his own, far surpassing others in spirit power and combat ability.
Even the captains and vice-captains of other teams were puzzled. "What qualifies him to be above Yang Ping'an? Could he be even more formidable?"
Throughout the matches, every team rotated players based on their opponents, crafting different lineups and strategies. But Heaven Dou Team Two stuck with the same lineup from start to finish, relying purely on overwhelming strength to crush their opponents.
The lively Huo Wu from Blazing Fire Academy quietly asked Yang Ping'an, "You're not the captain of Heaven Dou Team Two? Then what's so special about your captain?"
Yang Ping'an merely smiled and said, "You'll find out in time. If Big Brother were to step onto the battlefield, there'd be no competition."
Hearing this, everyone around them grew even more serious.
Some had heard rumors that when Yang Podi joined the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy at age 12, he had already reached level 35 spirit power—a seven-year-old piece of information. After seven more years, he might have already reached the Spirit King level. Was this guy even a peer?
Heaven Dou Team Two had been hiding a Spirit King all along. How could other teams even compete? Was their goal solely to prepare for the finals?
News began to spread that Spirit Hall's Golden Generation—heavily promoted by the Spirit Hall—was gradually coming into view. According to reports, the Golden Generation had three Spirit Kings: one at level 51 and two at level 52, with all team members above level 45. This level gap was simply overwhelming.
In the entire Heaven Dou region, aside from Heaven Dou Team Two, only Tang San had reached level 45. The next closest was Feng Xiaotian at level 44, while the highest spirit power among other captains barely reached level 43. This meant that Spirit Hall's regular team members had higher spirit power than the captains of other teams.
Heaven Dou Team Two seemed to have the strength to challenge the Spirit Hall team, boasting two known Spirit Kings and potentially a third in Dugu Yan, who was at level 49. By the finals, they might also have three Spirit Kings on their roster.
Still, many people criticized Heaven Dou Team Two for having three Spirit Elders on their team.
Unexpectedly, one of these Spirit Elders, Yang Tianyue, managed to break through to level 39 during the match against Heaven Dou Team One, after battling Yu Tianheng, Tai Long, and Tang San. This left everyone stunned.
As one of the shining stars of Heaven Dou Team Two, Yang Tianyue's details were gradually revealed. At just 13 years old, he possessed the Breaking Spear martial soul, had an innate spirit power of level 9, and now stood at level 39. At his age, he could participate in the next two tournaments. What level of strength would he reach by then?
Within the Heaven Dou region, Yang Ping'an was now regarded as the number one prodigy, followed by Tang San as the second, and Yang Tianyue as the third. These three were widely recognized as future Titled Douluo candidates.
Heaven Dou Team Two's impressive roster stunned everyone. Even their Spirit Masters seemed destined for greatness, with some speculating that Ye Lingling might become a rare auxiliary-type Titled Douluo—a rarity seen only once every few centuries.
Amid the buzz, the awards ceremony commenced. To everyone's surprise, Emperor Xue Ye himself presented the awards, a task usually delegated to a prince or noble.
After a passionate speech by the host, they announced, "Now, His Majesty, along with Sect Master Ning and Platinum Bishop Salas, will personally present the advancement certificates and monetary rewards to the top six teams."
The reward for qualifying was a handwritten certificate listing the rankings, the names of all team members, and a prize of 10,000 gold coins.
After the presentation, the three awarders gave their speeches.
Emperor Xue Ye, full of smiles, took the microphone first. "Children, first, let me congratulate you. You have successfully earned qualification for the All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament."
"As the supreme ruler of the Heaven Dou Empire, I am proud of you. You represent the future hope of the empire. As captains and vice-captains, your strength played a crucial role in these matches. Therefore, I decree that all 12 of you shall be granted the title of viscount. The other participating members of your academies shall receive the title of baron. After your graduation, the imperial court will allocate lands for your titles."
Everyone noticed Emperor Xue Ye's elation. After all, both first and second place in the Heaven Dou region were secured by Heaven Dou Imperial Academy (technically tied for second, as Heaven Dou Team One had the same record as Tianshui Academy but ranked third due to their loss to them). This was unprecedented in the academy's history.
Of course, many were left speechless. How could Yang Podi, who hadn't competed in a single match, have played a crucial role in the competition?
Platinum Bishop Salas expressed his dissatisfaction. "Your Majesty, this is inappropriate. Such rewards were never part of previous tournaments."
Emperor Xue Ye, clearly displeased with Salas, replied, "Platinum Bishop, the awarding of noble titles is an internal matter of the Heaven Dou Empire and has nothing to do with the Spirit Hall."
He continued, addressing the audience, "Let me make a promise to all participating teams. If any of you emerge as the ultimate victors, your team's titles will be elevated by one rank, and your academy will gain the prefix 'Imperial' along with financial support from the empire."
This announcement left everyone thrilled. According to imperial regulations, viscounts were entitled to their own lands, typically including a small city. If a team secured victory and was elevated to earls, their rewards would be substantial, as earls governed vast territories and held high ranks within the empire.
Platinum Bishop Salas's face darkened, while Ning Fengzhi maintained his usual smile, seemingly unsurprised by the announcement.
Emperor Xue Ye wasn't finished and added, "The advancement rounds will take place in the royal hunting grounds. In these matches, the top three individual scorers will be provided with spirit beasts for their next advancement. The species will be of your choice, with a limit of 30,000 years."
His gaze lingered on Yang Ping'an as he spoke, hinting that the reward was tailored for the only Spirit King in the region. Though it was unclear when Yang Ping'an would advance again, the 30,000-year limit seemed deliberately designed for him.
The audience grew even more excited. Most of the top team members had already reached the Spirit Ancestor level and were preparing for their next advancement to Spirit King.
To Yang Podi, as well as many others, the fifth spirit ring was the most crucial and challenging to acquire. Most spirit masters sought ten-thousand-year spirit rings for their fifth, but finding suitable ones within the range of 10,000 to 12,000 years was incredibly difficult.
Without a ten-thousand-year fifth ring, achieving the rank of Titled Douluo was nearly impossible, and even Spirit Douluo was rare.
Emperor Xue Ye's reward was immensely tempting, especially for spirit masters without the backing of a major power.
Salas and Ning Fengzhi followed with their speeches, filled with efforts to win over the participants, though less overt than Emperor Xue Ye's.
Yang Podi observed all this coldly, aware that tensions between the two sides were escalating, especially after the Tang Hao incident. Yet he had no intention of intervening from start to finish.
