Chapter 462: Challenges and Defending the Ring, Mo Yu Takes the Stage
"Are you two trying to destroy Ten Thousand Serpent Island?"
As soon as the elegant middle-aged man in black from the Xuan family and the red-armored Sea Tribe powerhouse appeared, the fierce clash between Qingzhi and Ao Guang was immediately interrupted.
"It's the Xuan family's Xuan Guang Sovereign! He's a two-star Dou Zun. I can't believe he came to Ten Thousand Serpent Island."
"And that's Lin Zhan Sovereign, the leader of the royal guard of the Sea Tribe's Linjia Branch. He's also a two-star Dou Zun."
"This time, the top forces of the South Sea Region have sent many strong warriors. Could there be something special about this opening of Ten Thousand Serpent Island?"
"With the Xuan family and Linjia Branch taking action, the battle won't happen after all. Too bad! A Dou Zun-level fight is something few can witness."
...
With the appearance of the two two-star Dou Zun powerhouses, the surrounding bystanders started whispering to each other, realizing that the long-awaited Dou Zun battle would not take place.
"Hmph, Xuan Guang, Lin Zhan, do you two want to fight me as well?" Ao Guang's face darkened as he saw the two standing in his way.
"If you want to fight, find an uninhabited island somewhere. Ten Thousand Serpent Island is a restricted area for the top forces of the South Sea Region. Fighting here is absolutely not allowed," the middle-aged man in black, Xuan Guang, said calmly, shaking his head slightly.
"Xuan Guang Sovereign is right," the red-armored Lin Zhan added. "Ten Thousand Serpent Island is of great importance. If it were to be destroyed, even your Twin-Headed Flood Dragon Clan couldn't bear the consequences."
Hearing this, Ao Guang narrowed his eyes, while the Jiao Prince's face twisted in uncertainty. Although the Twin-Headed Flood Dragon Clan ruled the South Sea Region, the Xuan family and Linjia Branch were no weaker. Now that these two forces had spoken up, even the Twin-Headed Flood Dragon Clan had to tread carefully.
"Hmph! Fine. For now, I'll spare your Shui family. But once Ten Thousand Serpent Island closes, I'll settle the score with you. This sea will always belong to my Twin-Headed Flood Dragon Clan!" the Jiao Prince snarled toward Mo Yu's direction, his face filled with a menacing grin.
"I'll be waiting," Mo Yu replied calmly.
Though the intervention of the Xuan family and Linjia Branch was unexpected, Mo Yu wasn't particularly fearful of the Twin-Headed Flood Dragon Clan even without their interference.
Seeing Mo Yu's indifferent attitude, the Jiao Prince's eyes burned with fury. However, having received warnings from the Xuan family and the Linjia Branch, he had no choice but to suppress his rage.
"Damn brat, no matter what your background is, I will make you pay!" the Jiao Prince cursed inwardly.
...
After diffusing the tension between the two sides, Xuan Guang Sovereign and Lin Zhan Sovereign gave a brief warning to Mo Yu. Then, with the preliminary sparring rounds coming to an end, the true martial arts tournament officially began.
The audience held their breath, knowing that the real show was about to start.
"According to the usual rules, there are only ten spots to enter Ten Thousand Serpent Island. Previous tournament losers may challenge this year's titleholders. If they win, they take the spot; if they lose, they'll have to wait for the next chance. No need for further explanation. Let the tournament begin," Xuan Guang Sovereign announced from the referee's seat.
With that, a loud voice echoed across the arena.
"In that case, I, Huang Shi of the Huang family, will start the tournament. I choose Qian Jin of the Crab Claw Branch as my opponent!"
With these words, a large figure leaped onto the stage. Huang Shi, a tall man clad in yellow, had a rather unattractive appearance, making him hard to look at. However, he seemed accustomed to such reactions and remained unfazed, his cold eyes locked onto the Crab Claw Branch's direction.
"Huang Shi? I remember he narrowly lost to Qian Jin of the Crab Claw Branch in the last tournament. Looks like he's back for revenge."
"Yeah, back then Huang Shi was an eight-star Dou Zong, while Qian Jin was a nine-star Dou Zong, so the loss wasn't surprising. But I heard Huang Shi reached the nine-star Dou Zong level two years ago. This time, he might succeed."
"Either way, it's going to be an exciting battle!"
...
As Huang Shi entered the stage, the spectators buzzed with anticipation. Mo Yu raised an eyebrow, scanning the arena. He could sense that the top factions had sent their most powerful fighters below the Dou Zun level for this tournament.
While Mo Yu no longer viewed non-Dou Zun warriors as a threat, it was still interesting to observe his potential opponents. As his eyes roamed the arena, he suddenly felt a wave of cold malice directed at him. He turned his gaze and saw the Jiao Prince glaring at him with vicious intent.
In response, Mo Yu merely smirked coldly.
If the Jiao Prince really provoked him further, Mo Yu wouldn't hesitate to deal with him quietly once Ten Thousand Serpent Island opened.
"Haha, Huang Shi, I didn't expect you to challenge me. It seems your defeat last time was hard to swallow. But too bad, your Huang family is going to lose its spot again this time," said a short, sinister-looking man stepping forward from the Crab Claw Branch.
The man's short stature contrasted sharply with Huang Shi's tall frame, making him look almost like a dwarf. However, no one in the arena dared underestimate this small man, for his oversized golden crab claws were fearsome weapons that seemed capable of crushing anything.
As Qian Jin entered the stage, Huang Shi's eyes narrowed, showing no interest in small talk. He clenched his fist, and a massive black hammer appeared in his hand.
The hammer radiated powerful energy, giving off a weighty presence as if it could shatter mountains. If struck, even high-level Dou Zong experts would be seriously injured.
Boom!
Blue energy surged from Huang Shi's body, causing his hair to float as his power continued to rise. His face, though ugly, grew increasingly fierce and ghostly.
It was clear that Huang Shi was going all out from the start, taking Qian Jin seriously.
Facing Huang Shi's overwhelming display of strength, Qian Jin's face darkened. Although he had defeated Huang Shi in the previous tournament, it had been due to his superior cultivation. Now that they were both nine-star Dou Zong, he had to be cautious.
The enormous crab claws on Qian Jin's hands opened slightly, drawing in the energy of the heavens and earth. The air around him trembled as his claws snapped open and shut, displaying terrifying power.
Mo Yu watched the formidable crab claws and couldn't help but feel a bit serious. Clearly, this was the Crab Claw Branch's trump card. Though the Crab Claw Branch wasn't the strongest of the Sea Tribe's eight branches, it still ranked in the upper middle tier—stronger than the Wu Tail Clan. Huang Shi's choice to challenge them was a bold move.
"Let's settle this with one move!" Huang Shi roared as the energy around him swelled. His body glowed with a radiant blue light, and the gathered water energy caused massive waves to rise from the sea, creating a truly terrifying sight.
However, instead of attacking Qian Jin, the waves surged toward Huang Shi, gathering around him.
Boom! Boom!
As the water energy converged on him, Huang Shi's power grew to its peak. Clutching his black hammer, his eyes flashed with water energy as his face twisted in fierce concentration.
The torrential water wrapped around the hammer, layer upon layer, forming what looked like a giant meteor. The sheer power gathered on the hammer was so immense that it distorted the air around it.
Onlookers grew tense, sensing that Huang Shi was preparing a devastating attack.
Even Qian Jin, his opponent, felt a wave of fear as he realized the danger. He couldn't afford to wait any longer.
Before Huang Shi could fully charge his attack, Qian Jin leaped forward, his massive crab claws snapping open like a hungry beast's jaws, clamping down on Huang Shi with destructive force.
Boom!
Seeing Qian Jin's swift attack, Huang Shi hesitated briefly. Tightening his grip on the hammer, his eyes flashed with determination. In the next moment, his fingers shattered as he held the hammer, blood splattering across it, dyeing the weapon red.
The sea water swirling around the hammer turned crimson, as a terrifying aura of violence rose.
This sudden surge of savage energy left many spectators in shock. Even high-level Dou Zong experts felt a chill as they witnessed Huang Shi's drastic move.
Though his fingers were broken, Huang Shi didn't release the hammer. Instead, he raised it with all his strength, preparing to throw it.
The air seemed to freeze.
"Water Dance Annihilation Hammer!"
Boom!
The massive water hammer collided with Qian Jin's crab claws in an earth-shattering explosion. For a brief moment, the world seemed to pause.
Then, a deafening explosion shattered the silence, the force of the impact shaking the entire mountain. A beam of crimson light shot out, too fast for most to see, carving a deep rift in the ground.
The battlefield was split in two by a massive chasm, leaving the arena scorched.
Xuan Guang Sovereign, frowning at the destructive scene, lightly waved his hand, sending out a protective barrier of mystical light. The shield contained the aftermath of the fight, preventing the energy from spilling out of control.
The violent water currents raged within the barrier, obliterating everything inside. Huang Shi's desperate attack had unleashed incredible power.
As the loud crashes and shockwaves died down, the battlefield was finally revealed. The outcome was clear.
Huang Shi stood hunched over, blood covering his body, his face twisted in exhaustion. But his opponent, Qian Jin, lay unconscious on the ground, severely injured.
The victor was obvious.
"Yellow Family wins the challenge against the Crab Claw Branch and secures a spot on Ten Thousand Serpent Island," Xuan Guang Sovereign announced, his face calm.
The Yellow family's side erupted in cheers, while the Crab Claw Branch hung their heads in defeat.
After witnessing this success, the remaining factions prepared for their own challenges. However, aside from the Yellow family, only Wu Mang of the Wu Tail Clan managed to narrowly defeat the Luo family, claiming the last spot. All other challengers failed.
With the challenges complete, all eyes turned to the Shui family.
After the death of their former patriarch, the Shui family had declined, often ranking last in recent tournaments. But with their powerful new ally, many were curious if they could change their fortunes this time.
Not only the spectators but also the Yuan family, the Wu Tail Clan, and the Twin-Headed Flood Dragon Clan turned their attention to the Shui family, their gazes filled with amusement, scrutiny, and disdain.
Amidst the countless stares, something surprising happened. The silver-eyed youth, Mo Yu, stepped forward.
The Shui family's challenger was Mo Yu!?
(End of Chapter)
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