Douluo Continent: Tonight, a Fairy Tale Descends

Needless to say, Snow White, a twelve-year-old Soul Master and captain of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy team, is destined to become one of the most dazzling new stars in the next competition.

And then there's Leah, the little match girl, who's now at Blazing Academy. With her innate talent for full soul power, she'll definitely be competing too.

"It seems it's time to consider using those accumulated resources," Florian decided in his heart.

The system contains many treasures from the fairy tale world. Some can directly enhance strength, some can assist in cultivation, and some can even bring unexpected special effects.

He had been reluctant to use it, feeling that it should be saved for a more critical moment.

But now, it's a critical moment.

If he cannot reach a level within three years that allows him to compete for a spot in the competition, he will miss this opportunity to gain a large amount of reputation points. And if he misses this opportunity, he will have to wait another five years for the next one.

Five years is too long.

Just as Florian was lost in thought, a voice suddenly came from the side.

"Florian?"

It was a woman's voice, soft and with a hint of allure, yet it also carried an indescribable sense of distance.

Florian looked up and saw the person who was speaking.

She was a girl who looked to be seventeen or eighteen years old, tall and curvaceous, wearing a red uniform from the Spirit Hall Academy.

She had long, flowing black hair and an exquisitely beautiful face, especially her eyes, which seemed to be able to captivate and bewitch.

Hu Liena.

The leading figure of the Spirit Hall's Golden Generation, Bibi Dong's personal disciple, and a genius who has now reached the Soul Master realm.

"Senior Hu Liena." Florian nodded slightly and greeted her politely.

He and Hu Liena were not familiar with each other. Although they were both in the Spirit Hall Academy, one was a disciple of the Grand Elder of the Hall of Worship, and the other was a personal disciple of the Pope. Naturally, there was a distance between their positions.

In addition, due to the age and grade difference, they rarely interact.

Hu Liena walked up to Florian, her captivating eyes scanning him up and down, a smile playing on her lips.

"Just came from the Hall of Offerings?" she asked, her voice still soft.

Florian nodded: "Yes, the teacher wants to talk to me about something."

"Grand Elder Qian Daoliu really values ​​you highly," Hu Liena chuckled.

"I heard he's looking for a soul beast for your fourth soul ring, and it's even a ten-thousand-year-old one?"

Florian felt a chill run down his spine.

This information should be kept secret. Qian Daoliu just told him, so how could Hu Liena know?

Seemingly sensing Florian's confusion, Hu Liena explained, "Don't be nervous, I just overheard the teacher mention it. After all, a fourth ring at ten thousand years old is a rare occurrence in the entire history of the Spirit Hall. The teacher is very interested in you."

"His Holiness the Pope is interested in me?" Florian frowned slightly.

“Of course.” Hu Liena took a step forward, closing the distance between them.

Chapter 298 Blazing Academy

A faint fragrance emanated from Hu Liena, a scent that blended floral notes with a uniquely alluring aroma.

"The teacher said that you are the purest light attribute soul master to appear in the Spirit Hall in the last hundred years. You have unparalleled talent and a kind heart. It would be a pity if such a genius just stayed in the Hall of Worship."

Florian took a half step back, distancing himself from Huliena.

"Senior sister is joking. I am the teacher's disciple, so naturally I should stay in the Hall of Offerings." His voice was calm, but his tone carried an undeniable firmness.

A hint of surprise flashed in Hu Liena's eyes, but she quickly regained her languid and charming demeanor.

"What a pity," she sighed.

"My teacher also asked me to ask you if you were interested in visiting the Papal Palace. She said that if you were willing, you could receive instruction from both her and Grand Elder Qian Daoliu at the same time. After all, the opportunity to be taught by two Title Douluos is rare."

Florian's heart skipped a beat.

The guidance of a double-titled Douluo is indeed a very tempting offer.

Although Bibi Dong is the Pope, her strength is beyond doubt, and her experience in cultivating twin martial souls is unparalleled.

If I could receive her guidance, it would definitely be of great benefit to my future cultivation.

But Florian quickly calmed down.

He knew this was no simple invitation. The entire Spirit Hall leadership was well aware of the conflict between Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu.

Her invitation to the Papal Palace was less a sign of appreciating his talent and more a test, or even a means of sowing discord.

He remembered what Qian Daoliu had just said.

“Bibi Dong will not let you go. A disciple of the Grand Elder of the Hall of Worship, a genius with the ultimate light attribute... Bibi Dong will do everything she can to either win you over or destroy you.”

It now appears that the courting has already begun.

“Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty the Pope.” Florian bowed slightly, his posture impeccable. “But I am of dull talent, and I am already very fortunate to have a teacher to instruct me. I dare not ask for more. Moreover, the training plan that my teacher has arranged for me is already very full, and I am afraid I will not be able to find time to study in the Papal Palace.”

Hu Liena stared at Florian for a few seconds, a hint of coldness flashing in her captivating eyes, but it was quickly masked by a smile.

"That's a real shame." She shook her head. "But it's alright. The teacher said this invitation is valid indefinitely. If you change your mind, you can come find me anytime."

Having said that, she didn't linger and turned to walk towards the Papal Palace. The hem of her red uniform swayed gently in the wind, outlining her alluring curves.

Florian stood there, watching Hu Liena leave, until her figure disappeared around the street corner, before slowly exhaling.

The brief conversation just now, seemingly calm, was actually fraught with tension. Every word Hu Liena spoke was a probe, every expression an observation. And I had to be careful, not showing any emotion that could be interpreted as wavering.

“The Papal Palace…” Florian murmured to himself.

He knew that from this day forward, he had been completely drawn into the vortex of this power struggle. Bibi Dong had already noticed him, and there would likely be more tests, attempts to win him over, and even threats to come.

But he had no way out.

He is Qian Daoliu's disciple, an undeniable fact. Moreover, deep down, he also identifies more with the Hall of Worship's ideals of protecting the Angel God and maintaining the purity of the Spirit Hall.

As for Bibi Dong...

Florian recalled some rumors about this pope. She was ruthless and decisive, and had managed the Spirit Hall very well over the years, but the atmosphere within the hall had become increasingly oppressive. More importantly, she made no secret of her hostility towards the Hall of Offerings and had been trying to weaken Qian Daoliu's influence.

"I can't waver." Florian clenched his fist. "I must become stronger as quickly as possible."

Only those with sufficient strength can protect themselves in such a complex situation and have the right to choose their own stance, instead of being passively manipulated by others.

With that in mind, Florian quickened his pace and headed towards the Spirit Hall Academy.

He needed to return to his dormitory, enter the system space, and carefully plan how to use the accumulated reputation points.

……

Blazing Fire Academy, Central Martial Arts Arena.

The huge circular arena is made of dark red refractory rock, with fine patterns on its surface, which are traces left by years of high temperature.

The audience seats, arranged in a circle around the ring, were completely full.

Almost all the teachers and students of Blazing Fire Academy gathered here to witness the birth of a new team and, most importantly, the competition for captaincy.

The air was so hot it felt like it was about to burst into flames.

On the arena, two figures faced each other from afar.

On the left, Fire Dance.

The seventeen-year-old girl was dressed in a fiery red outfit that accentuated her slender figure.

Her long hair, like burning flames, moved without wind under the surge of soul power. Her beautiful face was tense at this moment, and her rose-red eyes flashed with solemnity and fighting spirit.

Beneath her feet, three spirit rings—yellow, yellow, and purple—slowly swirled, releasing their level 36 spirit power fluctuations without any concealment.

As the daughter of the dean of Blazing Academy, Huo Wu's talent is beyond doubt.

Reaching level 36 at the age of seventeen, he was among the best in the five major elemental academies.

More importantly, she is a control-type Soul Master. In team battles, control-type Soul Masters are often the true core.

On the right, Lia.

Compared to Mai Shiranui, Lia was much slimmer. The twelve-year-old girl wore a neat training uniform, and her long, smooth brown hair was tied into a neat ponytail at the back of her head.

Her face was pale, but her amber eyes were surprisingly bright, as if two flames were burning within them.

She also had three spirit rings—yellow, yellow, and purple—under her feet, but her spirit power fluctuations were noticeably weaker, at only level thirty-four.

Two levels of soul power difference, a five-year age difference.

To anyone, this was an unequal match.

But no one in the audience dared to underestimate Lia. Not long ago, this seemingly frail girl defeated the level 38 powerful attack-type battle spirit, Venerable Fire Warrior, in front of everyone.

Huo Wushuang, Huo Wu's older brother, was originally the designated team captain for Blazing Fire Academy.

That battle was not easy for Leah; in fact, it was extremely close.

But she won. In a way no one expected, with her unparalleled fire control skills, ingenious tactical arrangements, and a chilling combination of soul skills.

Now, it's Huo Wu's turn.

"Junior Lia," Huo Wu said, her voice clear yet carrying a fiery heat.

"You defeated my brother, which surprised me. But control-type and power-type are different. You won't have such a good chance against me again."

Chapter 299 Leah VS Fire Dance

Lia watched her quietly, her amber eyes reflecting the flames dancing around Huowu.

She didn't speak, but simply bowed slightly, performing a standard Soul Master salute in battle.

Then, she raised her right hand.

Sizzle

A soft sound, like a match being struck, rang out.

A flickering flame rose in her palm, and at the core of the flame was a tiny, fiery matchstick martial spirit composed of pure fire elements.

Almost simultaneously, Huo Wu also released her martial soul. A ball of rose-red flame condensed in her palm, constantly changing shape, eventually transforming into a slowly rotating fire ring. This was her mutated martial soul, Fire Shadow.