After a while, Long Xiaoyao waved his hand and said, "Enough, let's not talk further. Since you're here, let's have a match. That way I won't have to go around bullying juniors, and I won't be accused of breaking my word."
"Even better!" Mu En smiled upon hearing that. "I was thinking the same."
"Old fellow, you'd better put up a decent fight! Don't let me beat you to death," Long Xiaoyao said arrogantly, though the concern on his face was genuine and not an act.
"Haha! It's true I'm old, but I haven't reached the point where a single blow would shatter me, right? Hahaha!" Mu En laughed heartily in return.
"Elder Mu, you..." Elder Lin and the others couldn't help showing concern when they heard the exchange. Elder Lin began to speak but couldn't bring himself to say the rest.
Though Elder Lin didn't finish, Zhu Ziyang and the others understood his concern. Mu En naturally knew too. He patted Elder Lin's hand and said warmly, "It's alright. I know my own condition. I won't do anything reckless."
"But..." Xian Lin'er and Cai Meier still looked uneasy. Xian Lin'er even added, "How about I fight in your place, Teacher?"
"What nonsense!" Mu En cut her off sharply. "Take good care of your junior brother instead!"
"Teacher, I have an idea." Although Mu En rejected Xian Lin'er's suggestion, Zhu Ziyang suddenly thought of something and said to Mu En. Then he turned to Long Xiaoyao.
"Uncle Long, you're Teacher's close friend. You know he's unwell. I doubt you'd really want to see your old friend perish. So why don't you two settle this with a wager instead of a real fight? That way your honor stays intact, and you avoid clashing directly — wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"
Zhu Ziyang's suggestion piqued the curiosity of both Mu En and Long Xiaoyao. While they hadn't intended to follow his advice, his words struck a chord. So, there was no harm in hearing him out.
Mu En fell silent, while Long Xiaoyao looked at Zhu Ziyang with interest and said, "Oh? Let's hear it."
Seeing that the two Ultimate Douluo hadn't immediately dismissed him, Zhu Ziyang relaxed slightly. The first step was a success, now came the easy part. He said, "It's simple. Since Uncle Long came here because of me, why not settle this through me? Here's the wager: I'll launch one attack. If you can take it, I'll leave with you willingly. But if you can't, then you must leave willingly. How about that?"
As soon as he said this, everyone was stunned — including Mu En and Long Xiaoyao.
What was this kid saying? Such an outrageously arrogant claim coming from his mouth — was he out of his mind?
"Ziyang, what are you saying?" Cai Meier grabbed his arm in concern. "Your teacher is still here. There's no need for you to be reckless!"
Cai Meier thought Zhu Ziyang had lost his mind from panic. The others had similar reactions.
You couldn't blame them. Zhu Ziyang's words were absurd. He was just a Soul Emperor — even if he had six hundred-thousand-year soul rings, he was still only a Soul Emperor! How could he challenge a Rank 99 Ultimate Douluo? And to say something like "I'll attack once, see if you can take it"? Was he reading from the wrong script?
They understood his desire to help but couldn't agree with how he expressed it.
Unlike the others' shock, Mu En and Long Xiaoyao's reactions were more subdued. They were surprised, yes, but also curious. Mu En, as a teacher who understood his disciple well, knew Zhu Ziyang wouldn't speak without confidence. He must have something up his sleeve.
Long Xiaoyao was simply intrigued. As an Ultimate Douluo, he was always the one who said such things to others. Now, a kid had flipped the script — how amusing. Out of fondness for the brave youth, he felt a surprising willingness to accept. Of course, the terms would need adjusting. He was still the Dragon Emperor Douluo after all — he had to save face.
"Interesting kid," he chuckled.
"I'll accept your wager — but with changes. I don't want people thinking I'm bullying the young. I'll give you three chances. If you can make me retreat even half a step, I'll leave on my own. If not, your teacher will still have to fight me."
"Mm-hmm!" Before Zhu Ziyang could reply, the others instinctively nodded. Now this was the proper way for a story to unfold! The peerless master gives the young genius three chances, and the youth earns the master's respect — so inspirational! Not like what Zhu Ziyang initially proposed, where he gave the master a chance. That had sounded all wrong.
"Uh..." Zhu Ziyang hesitated as if grappling with a difficult decision. This made Elder Lin and the others even more anxious, while Mu En began to sense that something surprising was brewing.
So he encouraged him, "Ziyang, since your Uncle Long is willing to give you a chance to show your strength, what are you waiting for? I'm here no matter what."
"Alright, I agree!"
With Mu En's reassurance, Zhu Ziyang no longer hesitated. His reluctant expression drew amused looks from the Sea God Pavilion elders behind him.
"Hehe, do you need to prepare?" Long Xiaoyao smiled. He, too, was curious to see what kind of caliber his friend's final disciple possessed — was this youth really worth all the fuss?
"No need, Uncle Long," Zhu Ziyang replied with a calm smile.
"But you'd better be careful."
"Ziyang, you got this! Senior Sister is rooting for you!" Xian Lin'er cheered from behind. "Whether Teacher needs to fight or not — it all depends on you."
"Leave it to me, Senior Sister!" Zhu Ziyang stepped forward to a position one meter in front of Mu En — close enough that Mu En could protect him instantly, in case someone tried something sneaky. But then again, who would dare play dirty in front of two Ultimate Douluo?
"Uncle Long, I hope you can withstand this one strike," Zhu Ziyang said cheerfully, almost like a warning.
At the time, no one took it seriously. A Soul Emperor posing a threat to an Ultimate Douluo? Ridiculous.
They all thought he was just trying to hype himself up.
But what happened next, none of them would ever forget.
The Stillness Fate Ending Scythe appeared in Zhu Ziyang's hands. Yellow, purple, purple, black, black, red — six soul rings shimmered behind him. Long Xiaoyao's eyes showed a flicker of surprise. Zhu Ziyang grasped the scythe with both hands. Then the six rings began to flash rhythmically.
As the rings flashed in unison, the yellow soul ring slowly merged into the first purple ring.
Everyone noticed the change instantly. Long Xiaoyao's casual expression shifted to slight seriousness. He murmured, "Ring fusion?"
"This is ring fusion?" Even Xian Lin'er and the others were shocked. They hadn't expected Zhu Ziyang to master such a rare skill. If he could fuse his rings, then maybe... just maybe, he really could force Long Xiaoyao back a step!
At this point, only three soul rings remained behind Zhu Ziyang. The merged first three rings were now being fused into the fourth, and the fourth into the fifth. This technique, known as "Ring Fusion," resembled his self-created One-Origin Recollection Style. But unlike ring fusion, which could transfer soul power to others, this technique only empowered Zhu Ziyang himself. It was more efficient, consuming less soul power than traditional ring fusion.
Soon, only one massive red soul ring remained behind him — stretching across half the sky. Its aura alone was intimidating.
To the onlookers, that was his final attack. But Zhu Ziyang knew — the true killing move hadn't even come out yet.
The energy of the Holy Law Demiplane surged into his body. In that instant, Zhu Ziyang felt like he could blot out the sky with one hand. The elemental laws granted him an unprecedented clarity of understanding toward the light element.
Wasting no more time, he raised the Stillness Fate Ending Scythe. The hundred-thousand-year red soul ring shone brilliantly. The Holy Law Demiplane in the sky radiated divine brilliance.
Zhu Ziyang slashed down.
A massive blade of light, radiant and laced with divine rhythm, tore through the air toward Long Xiaoyao.
The moment it appeared, everyone felt the crushing pressure. Mu En and Long Xiaoyao's expressions changed instantly, their eyes full of disbelief.
Because from that blade, they felt something they had longed for but never attained.
(End of Chapter)
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