"Congratulations on your final victory. Especially you, Zhang Fan—you're truly a monstrous genius. Students and teachers of the Blue Star Academy team, you should be grateful to Zhang Fan. Without his hundred-thousand-year soul ring and its heaven-defying soul skill, you'd likely have had to endure another tough battle!"
Bibi Dong smiled at Zhang Fan as she spoke. She didn't seem the least bit upset. In fact, she was pleased to see Zhang Fan win.
Although this slightly damaged Spirit Hall's reputation, it was a victory Zhang Fan earned through his own strength. That honor absolutely belonged to him.
Meanwhile, the members of the Spirit Hall Academy team were helped up one by one.
Everyone from Blue Star Academy was visibly thrilled. After all, they were the final champions.
Zhang Fan was tossed into the air by his teammates, the arena bursting with joyous energy.
Cheers echoed endlessly, and everyone's faces radiated happiness.
Soon after, the Pope and several Titled Douluos stood up.
Bibi Dong wore a gentle smile, while Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin furrowed their brows slightly.
Even Elder Chrysanthemum and Elder Ghost looked surprised. The Spirit Hall Academy had lost, yet the Pope seemed genuinely happy.
They couldn't quite make sense of it.
Then, the Pope took out three soul bones, soared into the air, and flew directly in front of the Blue Star Academy team's captain—Zhang Fan.
Zhang Fan stood tall and straight, a smile on his face as he watched Bibi Dong approach. Her stunning figure and enchanting smile were truly captivating.
The audience was stunned. No one expected the Pope to be so magnanimous after the Spirit Hall Academy lost.
Instead, she graciously approached Zhang Fan in person.
Liu Erlong and Flender stood behind Zhang Fan and his team.
All eyes from Blue Star Academy were fixed on the three soul bones.
"These three soul bones are the prize for winning the Continental Advanced Elite Soul Master Tournament. Take good care of them…"
Bibi Dong handed them to Zhang Fan, her eyes soft.
Everyone else from Blue Star Academy was visibly envious.
Zhang Fan received the three soul bones with a smile, locking eyes with Bibi Dong.
"You are the most outstanding youth I've ever seen—unprecedented and unparalleled." Bibi Dong patted Zhang Fan's shoulder, admiration and joy gleaming in her eyes.
Her gaze was intense.
No one expected Bibi Dong to speak to Zhang Fan so gently.
It left everyone in shock.
Zhang Fan could feel the immense energy within the three soul bones—especially the one shimmering with a pale blue glow, the Wisdom Skull of Spiritual Condensation. It seemed to have an irresistible pull on him.
Many greedy eyes swept over the scene.
Any soul master who saw a soul bone couldn't help but desire it.
"I'll take the skull soul bone." Zhang Fan said calmly. "As for the other two— Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong—who wants them?"
"I don't want any!" Xiao Wu shook her head.
"Then the Swift Pursuit Wind-Chasing Left Leg Bone goes to Zhu Zhuqing. As for the Blazing Explosion Flame Right Arm Bone, if no one wants it, I'll take it too." Zhang Fan said evenly.
"I want it!" Ma Hongjun felt it suited him perfectly.
"You barely contributed. Do you really think you deserve it?" Zhang Fan responded calmly.
"Alright…" Ma Hongjun was shut down. He had indeed contributed very little.
So even speaking up took some nerve.
"Zhang Fan, don't you already have a soul bone? Another Wisdom Skull?" Liu Erlong walked over and asked.
"Yeah, Dean Erlong—are you suggesting I give it to Rongrong?" Zhang Fan looked at Liu Erlong.
"Yes, Rongrong really needs a Wisdom Soul Bone." Liu Erlong replied considerately.
"Alright, then I'll give it to her." Zhang Fan pulled out a Wisdom Skull from his storage space and handed it to Ning Rongrong.
Ning Rongrong was ecstatic and trembling with excitement as she took the dazzling, rainbow-colored skull.
"Alright, now that the rewards have been distributed, the award ceremony is officially over!" Bibi Dong smiled and addressed Zhang Fan, then the others.
Her gaze finally rested on Zhang Fan as she sent him a voice transmission: "Now that the tournament is over, where will you go? Join Spirit Hall, or return to the Heaven Dou Empire?"
Of course, Bibi Dong hoped he would join Spirit Hall, but she wouldn't force him.
She liked Zhang Fan, but she wouldn't force him to stay.
He was free to go wherever he pleased.
"Me? I'm not planning to join Spirit Hall for now. I'll head back to the Heaven Dou Empire. Maybe later, I'll visit the City of Slaughter." Zhang Fan looked up at Bibi Dong as he spoke.
"Hmm, the City of Slaughter… With your strength, you should be able to earn the title of Killing God quite easily." Bibi Dong nodded in agreement.
Zhang Fan was the most outstanding genius of any generation.
She truly admired him.
"Then good luck!"
"Mhm!" Until next time.
Zhang Fan nodded and smiled at Bibi Dong.
Then he led the group away.
They returned to the hotel.
Everyone rested for half a day.
Then they gathered for a celebratory feast.
Afterwards, Zhang Fan returned to his room and pulled out the fifty-thousand-year Wisdom Skull.
He immediately attempted to modify the "fifty" thousand-year Wisdom Skull to "one hundred" thousand years.
"Ding! Modification failed. Please try again." Of course it failed—he expected that.
So he tried again and changed it to "ten" thousand years.
"Ding! Modification successful."
"Buzz…" The fifty-thousand-year Wisdom Skull instantly became a hundred-thousand-year one.
Then he immediately began absorbing it.
"Buzz…" The absorption process completed quickly, and his soul power surged to level 60.
Liu Erlong gathered everyone together.
"The Advanced Soul Master Tournament has concluded. You've all successfully graduated from Blue Star Academy!" Liu Erlong sat at the table, looking at Zhang Fan and the others, visibly reluctant to let go. "You can now return to your sects and families. As your dean, I'm deeply saddened by this moment of parting. I will always remember you."
"We're leaving? But I don't want to be apart from Brother Fan!" Xiao Wu's eyes reddened. She clung to Zhang Fan's arm and spoke earnestly.
"Yeah, I don't want to be separated from Brother Fan either." Ning Rongrong grabbed his other arm.
Even Zhu Zhuqing didn't want to leave Zhang Fan. "Me neither!"
"There are meetings and partings—no banquet lasts forever." Liu Erlong told them solemnly. She didn't want them to part either, but they had already become some of the most outstanding youths on the entire continent.
Blue Star Academy was proud because of them.
"Hmm, Tang San, come with me!" A middle-aged man in tattered clothes suddenly flashed in front of Tang San.
"Dad!" Tang San was excited to see his father, shocked that he had come to Spirit City.
"Your Majesty Clear Sky!" Yu Xiaogang respectfully bowed when he saw Tang Hao.
"I… I'm a little reluctant to leave, Teacher…" Tang San hadn't expected his father to show up so suddenly.
"Whoosh!" Tang Hao grabbed Tang San and vanished in a flash, completely ignoring Yu Xiaogang.
(End of Chapter)