Chapter 53: Chapter 53: The Grand Finals
The All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament spanned a long period, projected to last nearly a month.
The tournament was divided into three stages: the elimination rounds, the round-robin, and the grand finals. St. Freya Academy demonstrated overwhelming strength in the first two stages.
In every match, they swept aside their opponents as swiftly as autumn leaves falling.
After all, when a team boasts Spirit Sage level powerhouses, most participating teams find it difficult to contend. Against absolute strength, resistance appears futile.
Lu Jingming also realized that St. Freya Academy, with its two Spirit Sage level powerhouses, participating in this All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament was undoubtedly a dimension-shattering strike.
In a competition where a Spirit King was already considered top-tier combat power and Spirit Emperors numbered no more than five, virtually no one could pose a substantial threat to Keqing and Zhang Lexuan.
What's more, these two were no ordinary Spirit Sages; both possessed top-tier martial spirits and were adorned with various soul tools.
In clashes of the same rank, though not invincible, they were certainly in a league of their own.
This tournament was distinctly different from the one the Sun Moon Empire would host in the future.
At that time, due to relaxed sect restrictions and rule changes, a large number of Spirit Emperor-level powerhouses emerged, and even four Spirit Sages made astonishing appearances.
Yet, even if the current St. Freya Academy were placed in that tournament hosted by the Sun Moon Empire, they would still stand out, let alone in this one.
As expected, St. Freya Academy advanced triumphantly, successively defeating numerous renowned academies, including even the Star Luo Empire's Royal Academy.
This made Xu Jiujiu look at Lu Jingming with a hint of resentment.
Although she didn't participate, she was there as a reserve team member of the Star Luo Royal Academy.
After St. Freya Academy defeated Dio Academy and Shrek Academy defeated the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, the tournament gradually approached its end, ushering in the grand finals.
"Sixth Spirit Ability, Soul Shackles!" Han Ruoruo's crimson lips parted, and she let out a tender shout.
Her martial spirit, the Shaking Gold Rope, instantly transformed into mental energy chains, precisely locking onto Keqing.
Keqing reacted swiftly. Her first spirit ring flashed brightly, instantly activating her first spirit ability, "Starfall Sword," transforming her into a bolt of lightning and teleporting to a pre-marked Lightning Stiletto.
However, Han Ruoruo's sixth spirit ability was a mental attribute, directly locking onto Keqing's soul.
As an invisible rope silently entwined, Keqing felt her mental power being heavily suppressed by an invisible large hand. Simultaneously, her sixth spirit ability, which she was about to release, was also shackled, rendering it unusable.
This was the terrifying aspect of Han Ruoruo's sixth spirit ability, Soul Shackles: it could transform the Shaking Gold Rope into mental energy chains, directly attacking the target's soul.
If the target's mental power was lower than hers, they would fall into a mental shackles state, unable to use spirit abilities for thirty seconds.
Even if the opponent's mental power was higher than hers, they would still be restricted for five seconds, unable to use spirit abilities.
Keqing's mental power was undoubtedly superior to Han Ruoruo's, yet she still couldn't escape, her actions restricted.
Although it was only a brief five seconds, in the rapidly changing flow of combat, these five seconds were enough to be fatal.
Han Ruoruo's Shaking Gold Rope martial spirit, as a top-tier control-type martial spirit, fully displayed its formidable power.
"Ming'er!" Han Ruoruo, seeing that she had successfully controlled Keqing, immediately shouted loudly.
"Sixth Spirit Ability, Corona Ring!" Wu Ming grew splendid fiery wings on her back, her body ablaze with the scorching Golden Crow True Flame, like a blazing sun descending upon the world. She hovered in mid-air, unleashing her strongest spirit ability without hesitation.
A brilliant ring of sunlight slowly coalesced above her head. In an instant, scorching heat surged outwards like a wild tide, spreading in all directions. Wherever it passed, the air seemed to ignite, emitting sizzling sounds.
Terrifying high-temperature energy continuously gathered and compressed within the Corona Ring, as if intending to converge all the world's heat there, brewing destructive power.
"Boom—" A golden beam of light, condensed from flames and carrying extreme high temperatures, roared forth, surging towards Keqing.
"Did you forget about me?" Just at this critical moment, Zhang Lexuan's cold voice suddenly rang out.
In an instant, the silver moon hung high, casting down its clear, cold light.
Zhang Lexuan's fifth spirit ring shone with black light, and her entire being seemed to merge with the moonlight, exuding a sacred and inviolable aura.
"Fifth Spirit Ability, Grand Yin Extinction Divine Light!" Following her low cry, a terrifying chill spread rapidly outwards from her like ripples. Wherever it reached, the high temperature brought by Wu Ming's Golden Crow True Flame was instantly dispelled, vanishing without a trace as if ice and snow had met the scorching sun.
Immediately after, silver moonlight rapidly condensed in front of her, forming a silver beam of light carrying extreme cold. With lightning speed, it struck first, catching up to the surging Corona Light.
"Boom—" When the ultimate light and heat, cold and chill, collided, time itself seemed to stand still.
The powers of the sun and moon fiercely clashed, erupting with tremendous energy, forming a massive ball of light imbued with destructive aura.
With a deafening explosion, dazzling light swept outwards like surging ocean waves. The intense glare made all the spectators instinctively close their eyes, not daring to look directly.
"Third Spirit Ability, Sword Flash Like Me!" Just as the light raged, Keqing's crisp voice penetrated the glare, clearly reaching everyone's ears.
She transformed into a brilliant bolt of lightning sword light, moving with lightning speed, and instantly delivered several sharp slashes around Wu Ming.
"Ugh!" Wu Ming let out a muffled groan. She had just finished releasing her sixth spirit ability and hadn't even had time to catch her breath. Facing Keqing's ghostly swift attack, she had no time to react.
She only felt a sharp pain in her back as her wings were instantly severed. Immediately after, her entire body was paralyzed by powerful lightning, losing control, and she fell straight down from the air like a kite with a broken string.
Seeing this, Han Ruoruo wanted to fly forward to rescue Wu Ming, but she dared not move an inch at this moment.
This was because seven moon wheel sword shadows, radiating a cool moonlight, had silently positioned themselves at her vital points. Should she make any slight movement, she would immediately face a fatal blow.
Han Ruoruo looked up and saw Zhang Lexuan with the silver moon suspended above her head, her body radiating a sacred glow, as if a moon goddess had descended to the mortal world.
A bitter smile appeared on Han Ruoruo's lips. She then looked at Wu Ming, kneeling in front of Keqing, looking disheveled, and her other teammates who had already fallen and were unconscious. Her voice was dry, filled with endless desolation and helplessness as she declared: "We surrender!"