Chapter 48: Champion

Seeing the White Tiger Duke so humiliated by Kong Deming, Starshatter Douluo's eyes blazed with fury. But facing an enemy of Ultimate Douluo level, he dared not act recklessly.

The audience, having just watched their beloved Duke lose both his son and his dignity, erupted into an uproar. Countless people stood and began shouting furiously at Kong Deming on the platform.

"So noisy," Kong Deming said coldly.

In an instant, the entire arena fell silent. Every spectator realized with horror—they could no longer speak.

With the situation on the verge of collapse, Emperor Xu Jiawei could no longer sit still on the royal platform. He knew he had to speak up.

The black-cloaked guard beside him quietly whispered the identity of the old man from the Sun and Moon Empire.

Upon learning who Kong Deming was, Xu Jiawei's pupils trembled. He knew then—there would be no justice today for the deaths of Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu.

Xu Jiawei stood and spoke with a powerful voice that echoed across the arena.

"You must be Kong Deming, the High Priest of the Sun and Moon Empire's Offering Hall. No matter your identity, this is Star Luo City. It is not a place where Sun and Moon citizens can act as they please."

"Oh? So you're the emperor of the Star Luo Empire," Kong Deming replied, his tone mocking. "Then I suppose I've offended you. My apologies."

Though he spoke of apologies, his expression was one of complete indifference.

Xu Jiawei clenched his fists. 'This is happening in front of tens of thousands of Star Luo citizens. If our authority is completely suppressed here, the consequences will be catastrophic. What should I do?'

"The All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament champion title indeed belongs to your Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy," Xu Jiawei said. "But your people killed two of our Empire's most important young talents on the battlefield. The Star Luo Empire demands an explanation."

Even as he spoke, he sent a silent mental message to the cloaked guard: go find Xuan Zi from Shrek Academy. Without a Rank 98 Super Douluo like him, there was no way to control this situation.

Kong Deming burst into laughter, as if he'd just heard the funniest joke in the world.

"Hahahaha… An explanation? Explain what? Didn't every participant sign a life-and-death agreement before entering the competition? Are you saying the lives of the Dai and Zhu clan heirs matter more than those of every other competitor who died in this tournament?"

Every word of Kong Deming's was heard clearly by the audience.

'He's right… If the Dai and Zhu clan heirs are worth more than all the other fallen competitors, then what does that make our sons, our daughters? What kind of joke is that?'

Slowly, the crowd's sympathy began to shift.

Xu Jiawei realized something had gone wrong. 'I misspoke…'

At that moment, the black-cloaked guard returned and whispered urgently in Xu Jiawei's ear.

Upon hearing the news, Xu Jiawei nearly spat blood in rage.

'The Chicken Leg Douluo abandoned the Shrek Academy team here and just went back to the Academy?!'

Seeing the emperor fall silent, Kong Deming smiled faintly.

"Hmph. I won't make things difficult for the Star Luo Empire. I'll just take the tournament trophy and the soul bone rewards for our championship victory now. You take care of yourselves."

To everyone's astonishment, the championship trophy and the three soul bones had already appeared in Kong Deming's hands—items that had been heavily guarded.

"We're leaving."

The members of the Sun and Moon team gathered around Kong Deming, wearing satisfied expressions. They left the stage in a grand, confident flight.

The humiliation was overwhelming, yet Xu Jiawei and the rest of the Star Luo Empire officials could only grit their teeth and swallow it.

If the team's admiration for Huo Yuhao had once been respect, it had now turned into awe.

That ruthless, decisive figure who struck down his opponents without hesitation had carved itself into the minds of every member of the Sun and Moon team.

Huo Yuhao flew silently at the rear of the group. Only Meng Hongchen stayed beside him. The others didn't dare approach him.

Huo Yuhao himself didn't feel the need to explain anything. He wasn't a cold-blooded killer.

But who could truly understand the pain of someone who, while knowing the future like a prophet, had been powerless to stop it—forced to watch his own mother step into the abyss of death?

And so, on the battlefield, facing his greatest enemy, Huo Yuhao had not hesitated in the slightest when he struck down Dai Huabin.

'We're accomplices. Don't carry the burden alone.'

He thought back to what Meng Hongchen had said during their martial soul fusion, when he told her he was going to kill Dai Huabin with his own hands. The memory warmed him inside.

"Senior Kong, by the way, where's the Headmaster?" Ma Rulong asked. He didn't want the team's return to the Sun and Moon Empire to feel too tense.

"Jing Hongchen went to arrange the evacuation of our other Academy teams still in Star Luo territory," Kong Deming replied. "After what we did today, the Star Luo Empire won't let this go. We can't allow them to take revenge on other students of the Sun and Moon Empire."

Ma Rulong nodded silently, impressed by how thoroughly Kong Deming and Jing Hongchen had planned.

"We're champions."

"Yeah… It feels like a dream."

"The first time ever."

The words stirred the atmosphere among the group. The students looked at each other in disbelief and awe.

Hearing their amazement, Kong Deming smiled with satisfaction.

"That's right. You are all heroes of the Sun and Moon Empire. News of our victory will soon reach Radiant City. When it does, His Majesty will personally bestow more rewards and honors upon you."

Excitement spread among the team. A few hours later, they left Star Luo territory without even showing border clearance documents. That was the confidence an Ultimate Douluo gave them.

Soon, they arrived in Radiant City, returning home in triumph. Spirits were high among the Sun and Moon team.

"This… this is home," Huo Yuhao murmured.

"You'll all stay one night at the Grand Radiant Hotel," said Kong Deming. "We've returned early. I'll go report the good news. Tomorrow, we'll hold a welcome ceremony for you. Yuhao, come with me."

Everyone's gaze turned to Huo Yuhao.

'Is he in trouble? For killing the Dai clan's heir and putting the team at risk?'

But none of the students blamed him. They all sensed that Huo Yuhao had his reasons—something deeper and far more painful.

Huo Yuhao gave a gentle smile to reassure Meng Hongchen, who looked at him with concern, then followed Kong Deming out.

(End of Chapter)

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