Chapter 126: Ridiculous!

Hearing this explanation, everyone immediately understood. Group battles in the Arena of Souls calculate the team's combat level and spirit power level based on the highest-ranking member. In other words, having one member at the Gold Spirit Badge level means the entire team must participate in Gold-level battles.

And now, their entire team had reached Gold Spirit Badge status, with Yun Feng even at the rare Purple-Gold level.

"It seems earning too many points all at once might not be such a good thing after all," someone muttered.

While the group was worried, Director Ao had a different perspective.

"You have nothing to worry about," Director Ao said with a wry smile, looking at the group.

"Frankly, it's not just about Gold-level battles—even finding Silver-level teams to compete against you might be a challenge, unless another team like the Emperor Battle Team shows up."

"Why is that?" someone asked curiously.

Director Ao thought for a moment before explaining:

"Typically, gaining points is a gradual process, and consistent winning streaks are rare. I've been working here for years, and this is the first time I've seen such rapid progress like yours."

"Normally, spirit masters around level thirty would only achieve Iron or Bronze badges. Silver badges are practically unheard of at that stage. It's only when they surpass level forty, with increased strength and spirit abilities, that they develop a clear advantage over their peers and accumulate enough points to reach Silver or even Gold."

"But reaching Gold at level thirty? I've never heard of it before. And as for a Purple-Gold badge… that's even more absurd."

"In the Heaven Dou Empire, all the spirit arenas combined don't have a second thirty-level Gold Spirit Badge team. There may be a handful of Silver teams, but they're extremely rare. And I doubt any are stronger than the Emperor Battle Team. Simply put, within your level, you're unmatched."

No opponents?

The Shrek team burst into laughter. After all, the oldest among them was only fifteen. As spirit masters, who wouldn't feel a surge of pride at being called the strongest?

A shared thought rose in their hearts:

I'm a member of a Gold Spirit Badge team!

Even after leaving the spirit arena, the reality of their accomplishment felt surreal.

After changing back into their regular clothes in a quiet restroom, the group split up. Yun Feng was dragged off by Ning Rongrong and the others to explore the night market. Meanwhile, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, Dai Mubai, and Tang San exchanged glances before parting ways with amused smiles.

Meanwhile, the Emperor Battle Team members were making their way back to their hotel, helping each other along. Though their injuries had been healed by Ye Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia, the effects of Yun Feng's techniques left their bodies weak and sluggish.

But more than their physical wounds, the mental toll of their crushing defeat weighed heavily on them. The seven of them walked in silence, their spirits low.

Ye Lingling supported Dugu Yan, while Oslo helped Yu Tianheng. The Windbell Bird spirit master, Yue Feng, who was in the best condition, supported the Shi brothers. Together, they looked like a defeated, ragged army.

As they neared the hotel, a figure suddenly appeared, blocking their path.

"Tianheng, do you still recognize me?"

The deep, somewhat peculiar voice caught Yu Tianheng off guard. He looked up, squinting to make out the figure in the moonlight. After a moment of hesitation, his eyes widened in shock.

"You… you're… Uncle? What are you doing here?"

The person standing in their way was none other than Yu Xiaogang.

Yu Xiaogang walked up to Yu Tianheng and stood before him.

"Let's talk alone."

Yu Tianheng, temporarily forgetting the sting of defeat, nodded quickly and gestured for his teammates to head back to the hotel. The Emperor Battle Team members, upon hearing that this man was Yu Tianheng's uncle, didn't linger and continued toward their lodgings.

"Uncle… why are you here?" Yu Tianheng asked, his voice trembling slightly.

Even though Yu Xiaogang had left the family years ago, Yu Tianheng still remembered the uncle who used to hold him as a child, his face not yet hardened by time. Back then, his father was busy with clan duties, leaving his uncle to fill the role of a father figure during his early years.

For a long time, Yu Tianheng had viewed his uncle as a father figure.

Yu Xiaogang's gaze softened. He patted Yu Tianheng's shoulder gently.

"It seems you've grown. Level thirty-nine already… Little Tianheng has grown up."

Yu Tianheng's eyes reddened. After enduring the sting of defeat earlier, seeing a family member brought a sense of solace. His voice cracked as he said,

"Uncle, come home with me. Grandfather misses you… Father, too."

Yu Xiaogang's expression shifted briefly as if wrestling with inner turmoil. He sighed softly before saying,

"Your grandfather may be the clan leader, but the family doesn't revolve around him alone. I was expelled from the clan long ago and erased from the family registry. How could I return?"

"How are your grandfather and father doing?" he asked after a pause.

Yu Tianheng nodded.

"They're fine. Grandfather has stepped back from managing affairs, leaving most responsibilities to Father. Uncle, I've seen Grandfather looking at your portrait and sighing. He… he must want you to return."

"Enough!" Yu Xiaogang snapped suddenly, his voice sharp with emotion. His body trembled as he struggled to calm himself. Yu Tianheng wisely fell silent, though his gaze carried a mix of admiration and sorrow.

After a long pause, Yu Xiaogang finally spoke again, his tone softer.

"Tianheng, perhaps we'll meet again soon. Don't let today's loss weigh on you."

"Defeat isn't the end; it's failing to learn from it that's truly tragic. Your team is strong, but today's battle revealed that you haven't fully tapped into your potential."

Yu Tianheng's expression shifted as understanding dawned.

"Uncle, you watched our group battle earlier? I've brought shame to the clan."

(End of Chapter)