Soul Land V: Rebirth of Tang San

In mid-air, the Heavenly Spirit of light elements behind Xu Anyu radiated dazzling brilliance. On the other side, Jiang Chenchou had already transformed into a gigantic Sunflower, and the sky was instantly enveloped in blinding rays of light. The fierce energy collision erupted in full force in the next moment.

In this battle, Xu Anyu's tactics were somewhat similar to Tang San's earlier approach. Instead of launching any rash attacks on Jiang Chenchou, he relied on his command over the vast light elements to engage in a war of attrition against his opponent.

In mid-air, the light elements and fire elements exploded and collided fiercely, intertwining with each other. Flashes of the most brilliant radiance erupted continuously. With every clash, the air twisted violently, and each collision scattered countless showers of shimmering light. In an instant, the sky resembled the dazzling bloom of fireworks.

Watching this scene, Tang San realized that the outcome of this match had already been determined.

The Immortal Golden Body was indeed an extremely powerful defensive divine tool, and Jiang Chenchou's explosive attacks were also formidable. However, it was unfortunate that he was up against Xu Anyu.

Xu Anyu not only had a cultivation base superior to Jiang Chenchou but also possessed the Dragon Clan's exceptional talent for elemental control, its inherent offensive and defensive capabilities, and the unrivaled bloodline power. As the strongest clan of Demon Monster Land, Xu Anyu's selection by various divisions of the Dragon Clan for contention over the position of Crystal City Master was solely due to his strength. Additionally, the Heavenly Spirit's light elements provided him with near-endless support in gathering light elements. From the very start of the match, he was already at an unbeatable position. For this reason, Xu Anyu adopted the most cautious strategy, avoiding any recklessness, focusing solely on continuous attacks, and engaging in a war of attrition with Jiang Chenchou.

This battle even lasted longer than Tang San's fight against Lan Moqian, spanning a full two hours until Jiang Chenchou was completely drained and could no longer sustain his Immortal Golden Body. Only then did the match come to its conclusion.

The first round of the finals concluded. In the winners' bracket, based on scores and the win-loss sequence, the lineup consisted of Pretty Girl, Tang San, and Xu Anyu.

In the losers' bracket, the contenders were Jiang Chenchou, Lan Moqian, and Ning Chenen.

Tomorrow's matches will feature two battles: Tang San facing Xu Anyu, and the marital duel between Lan Moqian and Ning Chenen.

In the winners' bracket, the victor will have the qualification to challenge Pretty Girl, while the loser will drop to the losers' bracket, awaiting the winner among the challengers from there.

Without a doubt, the three contestants who secured their victory in the first match and entered the winners' bracket now hold an absolute edge in terms of their chances of making it to the top three. Additionally, given such high-level clashes of cultivation bases and powers, after the first round, if not for Tang San's unique identity as a Purple Crystal Coin Warrior, the ranks for the top three would already be clear.

As the competition for the throne becomes increasingly intense, subtle shifts begin to emerge within the atmosphere at the Ancestral Court.

The final six contestants for the championship have been fixed, and the three final positions will undoubtedly come down to these six individuals. Thus, their vested interests have taken on unprecedented importance.

For now, the Rihchen Empire appears to be at a slight disadvantage, with only two and a half contestants entering the semifinals. Among them, Tang San is the sole contender to have secured victory in the first round and joined the winners' bracket.

Jiang Chenchou lost to Xu Anyu, leaving the match between Ning Chenen and Lan Moqian up to how the married couple decides to maneuver their interests. This involves multifaceted considerations of benefits and decisions.

As Tang San previously mentioned to Pretty Girl, the next round's winners' bracket match will be pivotal. Tang San will face Xu Anyu, while Pretty Girl benefits from resting and observing. The losers' bracket, however, will see a participant directly eliminated.

So far, among the contestants representing the Tianyu Empire in the finals, there is one from the Dragon Clan, one from the Behemoth Clan, and Pretty Girl from the Peacock Demon Clan, who holds the top position. Ning Chenen represents the Golden Mammoth Tribe, albeit only partially due to split bloodlines.

This time, it is unexpected that the Phoenix Demon Clan, which currently boasts two Emperors, failed to have any contestants in the final round. However, this outcome makes it relatively more acceptable for both the Monster Clan and the Spirit Clan. If the Phoenix Demon Clan were to produce another Emperor in the finals, it would likely trigger targeted opposition.

Among the six remaining contestants, who will claim the throne most acceptable to both sides?

This question has become exceedingly critical.

No doubt, the Dragon Clan is fully committed this time. Li Zhaopeng's unexpected withdrawal due to backlash from the Bead of Misfortune has left Xu Anyu as their sole representative, yet he has the highest chances of success. The Dragon Clan currently only has the Dark Demon Great Demon Emperor among its ranks of Emperors, and his ranking isn't particularly high. Such a situation is extremely rare in the Dragon Clan's history. This has further propelled the Dragon Clan to go all out in this competition to ensure they secure yet another Emperor. Although Xu Anyu's strength cannot compare to the previous Crystal Great Demon Emperor, it is crucial for the Dragon Clan to ensure there are at least two Emperors, as Demon Monster Land's strongest lineage. Publicly and privately, the Dragon Clan has vowed to spare no expense to secure victory. Crystal City simply cannot be lost.

Next comes the Behemoth Clan. Jin Anguo's failure to enter the finals was equally surprising, particularly as he was ultimately eliminated by Ning Chenen—a relative by marriage from a allied race. Among the contestants, only Lan Moqian advanced to the finals. The question now arises: can the Behemoth Clan still secure another Emperor seat?

From the perspective of other clans, apart from the Dragon Clan and Behemoth Clan themselves, no one wishes for these powerful lineages to produce more Emperors, which adds invisible pressure.

The stronger the clans, the more disruptive they become to the balance if they yield more Emperors.

Xu Anyu's case is comparatively less contested—one reason being the Dragon Clan's dominating influence, and another tied to the vacant position left by the fallen Crystal Great Demon Emperor. Losing Crystal City is too significant for the Dragon Clan, and opposition to Xu Anyu ascending to the throne is relatively softer. On the other hand, Lan Moqian faces greater pressure.

Ning Chenen, in comparison, is more easily accepted, as he carries the legacy of the bloodline of the deceased Diamond Elf King Emperor.

Following the Ancestral Court's tradition, when an Emperor's position is vacated, candidates from the deceased's lineage have the strongest right to succeed and encounter minimal resistance.

Thus, Ning Chenen's opposition is weaker than Lan Moqian's. Unfortunately, Ning Chenen lost in the first round and ranks as the lowest-scoring participant. If he hopes to make it into the top three, he will have to defeat every opponent in his path, climbing higher one step at a time.

Among the Monster Clan, the contestant experiencing relatively less pushback is Pretty Girl.

One reason is her sheer display of overwhelming strength in the tournament, with her unbeaten record in the round-robin matches earning her the highest score, coupled with her victory in the first round. She already has one foot in the top three and the throne. Another reason is her status as a City Lord, combined with the longstanding rivalry between the Peacock Demon Clan and the Phoenix Demon Clan. The Peacock Demon Clan hasn't produced an Emperor for many years, yet Pretty Girl possesses bloodlines of the White Tiger Great Demon King, further reducing opposition to her claim. Within the Ancestral Court, the Monster Clan's sole concern about her status comes from her human bloodline. However, the martial arts tournament itself serves to resolve this predicament. As long as she selects a husband after the tournament, all opposition will vanish, and even the Great Demon Emperor Heavenly Fox will support her ascension. Strategically speaking, for the Monster Clan, having more Emperors aligns with their interests.

Under the current circumstances, it appears that within the Tianyu Empire, the odds of Pretty Girl and Xu Anyu becoming Emperors are extremely high.

On the other hand, the Rihchen Empire's Jiang Chenchou now leads the losers' bracket in points and still has a chance at redemption. However, he must first defeat the loser between Tang San and Xu Anyu in order to advance and possibly enter the top three. This is contingent upon his ability to first overcome the victor of the battle between Lan Moqian and Ning Chenen.