Round 24.
Qianyu Academy vs. Blazing Academy — Blazing Academy Defeated.
Qianyu Academy wins and gains 24 points.
Shrek Academy vs. Godwind Academy — Godwind Academy Defeated.
Shrek Academy wins and gains 24 points.
Round 25.
Qianyu Academy vs. Shrek Academy — Shrek Academy Defeated.
Qianyu Academy wins and gains 25 points.
Round 26.
Qianyu Academy vs. Godwind Academy — Godwind Academy Defeated.
Qianyu Academy wins and gains 26 points.
Three consecutive rounds.
Li Yu had originally been all fired up, ready for some intense battles.
However...
Every time Qianyu Academy faced another team, they all just Defeated and surrendered.
Even the long-anticipated battle between Shrek Academy and Godwind Academy ended with Godwind decisively choosing to forfeit.
By this point, everyone was certain of making it into the top five and didn't want to waste their stamina...
Or worse, reveal their trump cards at such a critical stage.
Now, only one round remained, and the rankings had more or less stabilized:
1st: Qianyu Academy, 26 points.
2nd: Shrek Academy, 25 points.
3rd: Godwind Academy, 24 points.
4th: Skywater Academy, 23 points.
5th: Blazing Academy, 21 points.
5th: Thunderclap Academy, 21 points.
7th: Elephant Armor Academy, 20 points.
...
Then came the interesting twist.
Final round, Round 27, the closing battle — Qianyu Academy would face Thunderclap Academy.
The other top academies would be facing clearly weaker opponents and were guaranteed wins.
Which meant:
Except for Qianyu and Thunderclap, all other top seven teams would gain one point in the final round.
If Thunderclap lost to Qianyu, they would remain at 21 points, tied with Elephant Armor Academy — and would miss out on the top five.
If Thunderclap defeated Qianyu, they would reach 22 points...
Matching Blazing Academy's current score and forcing a tiebreaker match to determine the final advancement spot.
But here's the twist — Thunderclap Academy had already lost to Blazing Academy in a prior match.
Which meant...
Their only path to qualification was virtually sealed off.
Whether it was Qianyu or Blazing, both were insurmountable mountains in their way.
However...
Thunderclap Academy was one of the five major elemental academies.
There had never been a single tournament where they failed to make it into the finals!
What's more...
Behind Thunderclap Academy stood the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!
And how could that prestigious clan possibly allow them to forfeit?
Especially...
When Thunderclap Academy's captain, Yu Tianxin, was a member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan — he absolutely could not let such a disgrace occur.
So now...
Thunderclap Academy was in the most painful situation of all.
This sort of half-hope, half-desperation — being given a glimpse of hope only to have it shackled — was maddening.
In fact, some of them even envied Elephant Armor Academy, who at least knew for certain they were out of the top five — at least that pain was straightforward.
The joys and sorrows of different people are not the same.
Blazing Academy, on the other hand, had no such worries.
After witnessing Li Yu combat strength, they were convinced Thunderclap had no chance of beating Qianyu.
So these past couple of days, they had been in great spirits.
In fact...
During these few rounds of preliminaries, when Huo Wushuang and his group saw members of Qianyu Academy, they greeted them enthusiastically.
Their greetings — passionate and non-stop!
As if the two academies had some deep, long-standing friendship.
Previously, Li Yu didn't quite understand it.
But now — he did.
Well, well, so you like to play it this way, huh?!
"Qianyu Academy vs. Thunderclap Academy. Both teams, please enter the arena!"
The referee's voice rang out.
Qianyu Academy and Thunderclap Academy were both undoubtedly top-tier teams, and so they were scheduled to fight on the central main stage.
Naturally, that meant they drew even more attention.
Li Yu led Zhu Zhuqing and the others toward the arena.
On the way...
As expected, they once again ran into Huo Wushuang and the rest of Blazing Academy.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Princess!"
Huo Wushuang greeted warmly.
As for Huo Wu...
Had it not been for the inappropriate setting, she probably would've gone up and hugged Li Yu out of excitement.
Li Yu elemental affinity was simply too strong!
To the point that — as long as he didn't emit hostility — Spirit Masters with elemental-type Martial Souls instinctively felt a natural closeness to him.
Not just Blazing Academy.
Even Skywater, Godwind Academy — and even members of Thunderclap Academy — would feel a subtle affinity when encountering Li Yu.
However...
Different mindsets led to different expressions of that affinity.
Like now — Thunderclap Academy, while not openly hostile, certainly didn't have any warm feelings toward Li Yu.
So...
When they met Li Yu, their attitude was naturally cold.
And so, Li Yu didn't show them any goodwill either.
As a result, the Thunderclap members, watching Li Yu casually chat and joke with other elemental academies, couldn't help but feel they were looking at "a pack of scheming little villains."
They didn't realize...
It was their own attitude that created this distance.
"Greetings."
Li Yu still wore his veil.
And now that he held the identity of the Crown Princess, he would never allow himself to embarrass Qian Renxue.
As Huo Wushuang and the others greeted him, Li Yu also nodded with a polite smile — his etiquette impeccable.
But at the same time, he kept a cool and aloof demeanor, without a trace of extra emotion.
Which, ironically...
Was the most attractive quality of all.
What you can't have always stirs the heart.
Huo Wushuang and his group all felt their heartstrings plucked.
Unfortunately...
This flower was already taken, and none of them dared to harbor any inappropriate thoughts — they could only admire from afar.
Soon...
All teams arrived at their respective arenas.
Li Yu stood in formation with Zhu Zhuqing and the rest, facing the visibly tense Yu Tianxin and his six teammates across the stage.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Princess."
Yu Tianxin, despite his tightly wound nerves, still gave a respectful bow.
This wasn't just due to Li Yu title — but out of respect for his strength.
Like the others, they too knew that Li Yu had not gone all-out in the battle against Skywater Academy.
That water-element domain...
Their academy's teachers weren't blind — and more importantly, they heard what Sword Douluo Chen Xin said that day.
So they understood — the ability Li Yu displayed back then was a Domain.
But...
Water can't restrain lightning!
In fact — it could even amplify lightning!
And they refused to believe that one person could comprehend multiple domains at the Spirit Ancestor (four-ring) level.
So — they still walked onto that stage with conviction.
They knew this was their only chance!
Li Yu gave a cold nod, but didn't speak — his icy demeanor made it clear he would show no mercy.
"Match begin!"
The referee, seeing no further exchanges, immediately declared the start.
Spirit rings appeared.
On Thunderclap's side, every member wore grim expressions, eyes locked onto Li Yu.
On Qianyu Academy's side, spirit rings were revealed in turn.
Li Yu "Still Waters, No Ripple" Domain instantly unfolded.
"Brothers — move!"
Yu Tianxin's eyes lit up as he shouted.
The next moment, all seven members of Thunderclap Academy poured their lightning power into the ground!
Zzzt zzzt—
Electric light crackled all over the stage, and Li Yu let out a startled cry, as if frightened.
Then came a panicked voice:
"We surrender! We surrender — we admit defeat!"