Buzz!
Ring after ring of mysterious blue ripples pulsed from a strange crystalline stone, tinting the entire forest with an ethereal glow.
Lin Fan stood before the azure crystal, his face calm and unreadable. Slowly, he lowered his palm and pressed it firmly against the stone.
Buzz!
A wave of energy surged outward, far stronger than before, bathing the entire forest in a pale blue halo.
A faint smile tugged at Lin Fan’s lips.
“So it really is Tidalite!”
The boundless energy radiating from the crystal sent a shiver through his chest. His eyes dropped to the earth beneath his feet.
If there was one piece of Tidalite here, then surely there was more buried below. Perhaps… an entire vein!
Confirmed in his suspicions, Lin Fan rose and clapped his hands.
Instantly, the forest floor trembled. A tide of blackness swarmed forth—Zerg flooding the area like a living sea.
The ground quaked violently as fresh rifts tore open. From each yawning fissure, wave after wave of Zerg units poured forth, converging hungrily on the Tidalite crystal.
Below ground, Drones and Creep advanced in tandem, tearing through soil and stone. Before long, a massive section of glowing blue Tidalite was unearthed, laid bare for the Swarm.
Lin Fan’s eyes gleamed as he swept his gaze across the exposed vein. A rough estimate told him this deposit alone would yield over a hundred million energy points.
His instincts had been correct.
This region truly harbored a special resource… and against all odds, it turned out to be Tidalite!
Ever since returning from Sunset Forest, Lin Fan had been haunted by the memory of the strange blue crystal near the Titan Giant Ape. Its energy had felt eerily familiar.
The corruption of Sunset Forest, its twisted transformation, had to be tied to this mysterious substance.
And now—fortune beyond measure.
As for the Tidalite’s origin, Lin Fan speculated it was akin to the strange minerals within the Xingluo Imperial treasury: drifting from the void of space, pulled down by the gravity of Douluo Star until they crashed upon this continent.
This vein, vast though it seemed, was but a fraction of what true interstellar deposits contained. A single advanced civilization could mine half this volume in a single operation.
As the Swarm continued extraction, the blue shimmer cloaking the forest began to fade.
The hidden pocket dimension dissolved completely, leaving the Tidalite vein naked to the world.
So that was it. The unnatural state of Sunset Forest was the result of the mineral’s influence. With the vein broken open, its stabilizing force collapsed—destroying the pocket realm altogether.
Satisfied, Lin Fan nodded and turned to leave.
Deep beneath the forest floor, however, a titanic Hive Cluster was taking shape.
From hatching spores, fresh Zerg units clawed their way into existence, swarming outward tirelessly to expand the Swarm.
“The Soul Master Tournament begins tomorrow. Are you prepared?”
Bibi Dong sat upon her throne, gazing coldly at the gathered Spirit Masters.
Lin Fan bowed slightly, confidence radiating from his smile.
“Your Holiness, don’t trouble yourself. These children may look young, but even on a true battlefield they would form an elite force without equal.”
His words shocked many Spirit Masters in attendance. Doubt and suspicion clouded their eyes, a few even shaking their heads with open disdain.
Yet Snake Spear Douluo and Golden Crocodile Douluo only nodded calmly, as if what Lin Fan said was nothing more than truth.
Bibi Dong inclined her head.
“Very well. Tomorrow, pay close attention to avoid unnecessary conflict.”
The gathered masters bowed in acknowledgment.
She continued, “Though the tournament opens in Heaven Dou City, the finals will be held here in Spirit City. We must not grow complacent. Strengthen Spirit Hall’s defenses. Let the world see our might.”
A glint flickered in Golden Crocodile Douluo’s eyes as he silently calculated, while the rest exchanged wordless looks, their gazes tinged with fanatic fire.
They knew Spirit Hall’s true ambition. After so long in the shadows, their power was finally about to be revealed.
How could they not be excited?
“Elder Ghost, Elder Chrysanthemum, you two will lead the team into the tournament. Any objections?”
“None,” the two replied in unison.
Bibi Dong then turned her gaze to Lin Fan.
“Tomorrow, you will accompany me. How does that sound, Dean?”
Lin Fan’s eyes glimmered faintly.
“It will be my honor, Your Holiness.”
“Welcome, Soul Masters, to the Heaven Dou Spirit Arena!”
The announcer’s voice, amplified by soul power, rang across the entire city, igniting the crowd.
“I now declare the Continental Soul Master Elite Tournament… BEGIN!!”
“Woooaaahhh!!!”
Thunderous cheers erupted from the stands.
This was the greatest official tournament on the continent, and the participants were all once-in-a-generation geniuses. For common Spirit Masters, watching was the chance of a lifetime.
In the VIP section sat the royals of both Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires, sect leaders, and dignitaries of immense power.
Spirit Hall occupied the central seats of honor.
Ning Fengzhi cast them a cold snort before turning his attention back to the competitors below.
Many nobles and sect masters noted the gesture, eyes flashing as they glanced between him and Spirit Hall, minds racing.
Emperor Xue Ye chuckled politely.
“Your Holiness, was that a misunderstanding I just witnessed?”
Bibi Dong replied coolly, “Nothing serious. Just a minor… disagreement with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. I trust Sect Master Ning will come to understand in time.”
The eavesdropping guests nearly gasped aloud.
Spirit Hall was openly dismissing one of the Upper Three Sects!
Though the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect specialized in support, its strength was not to be underestimated, boasting two Titled Douluo protectors.
Yet Spirit Hall’s disdain implied their power had already surpassed the level of an entire Upper Sect.
The audience lowered their gazes, each scheming silently.
Meanwhile, Lin Fan caught sight of Shrek Academy’s garish green uniforms and nearly laughed aloud.
Still the same old joke. How anyone can wear something so hideous willingly, I’ll never understand.
Then his eyes locked on a particular figure amidst the crowd—Tang San.
A scarlet glint flickered within his gaze.
“Jie jie jie… Tang San. I knew you’d come.”
****
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