Mid-December, the morning air already carried a chill. Clouds rolled across the horizon, sunlight piercing through their gaps, casting magnificent rays that illuminated the heavens. Yet, the heavy dark patches below remained shrouded in shadow.
"After today's match, once we return to Heaven Dou City, it'll almost be the New Year." Dugu Yan gazed at the sky, her voice tinged with emotion.
"That's right, another month after we return, and it'll be New Year's." Yu Feng murmured.
Perfect timing. First return to Heaven Dou City, then slip away under the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's eyes to obtain my fifth soul ring. If all goes well, I'll return just as the clan's disciples gather for the New Year—and wipe them out in one strike. Yang Yunhai's lips curved in a subtle smile.
"Let's go."
Everyone nodded and followed Yang Yunhai toward the Pope's Hall.
Before long, the wide square in front of the Pope's Hall was bathed in shifting beams of sunlight, the breeze lifting the drifting clouds above.
At a glance, the Spirit Hall battle team was already assembled. Bibi Dong's face was calm, while Ning Fengzhi nodded with a faint smile.
"The finals of the Soul Master Tournament… both teams, please enter the stage." A red-robed cardinal stepped forward, his voice resonant.
Yang Yunhai led his team with steady steps into the arena.
Directly opposite, Tang San wore a cold expression full of pretentious solemnity. Xiao Wu's gaze was sharp and resentful, fixed upon Yang Yunhai. Dai Mubai, Yu Tianheng, Jiangzhu, Tai Long, and Huang Yuan all appeared tense.
Tap, tap, tap—their crisp footsteps echoed as both teams closed the distance in silence.
"Both teams may now release their martial souls and prepare." The referee's voice rang out again.
Soul rings rose beneath their feet, the drifting clouds above casting shifting shadows that made the rings glow brighter.
Rustle, rustle—the hush in the square was absolute, broken only by the sound of leaves brushing against each other. Sunlight flickered, casting mottled patterns across their bodies, carried on the wind. Robes swayed, dust rose from the ground, and particles danced in the shafts of light.
"Begin!" After a full minute, the referee's voice spread across the plaza.
Dust on the ground swirled faster. The Shrek team was the first to move, their formation shifting from three neat rows into a Y-shape. Tang San stood at the forefront, Jiangzhu with her hand on his back, followed by two lines of teammates pressing their palms onto each other's backs.
"Third soul skill, Spider Web Restraint!" Tang San flung out his hand, blue light streaking forward.
Swish, swish, swish—countless vines shot forth, spreading rapidly between Yang Yunhai and his team as they reformed formation behind him.
Creak, creak—the vines intertwined layer upon layer, rising into a towering wall of greenery between the two sides.
'So cautious? It's not like I'll stop you.' Yang Yunhai's lips twitched. In the next instant, his cultivation surged sharply upward.
"A seven-in-one fusion skill!" Yu Xiaogang's face changed drastically from the stands.
Before his eyes, soul rings rose one after another from the bodies of Yang Yunhai's teammates, floating above his head before descending to fuse into him. In just moments, Yang Yunhai stood encircled by layers of rings—first yellow, then purple, then black.
Whether in quality or number, the rings outshone Tang San's seven-in-one fusion. After all, aside from Ye Lingling, the other six were all Soul Ancestors or higher—and two carried 10,000 year soul rings.
On Shrek's side, only five were Soul Ancestors.
"This is bad." Flender's expression turned grim.
"Damn it!" Liu Erlong clenched her fist, frustration flashing in her eyes. "They must have copied the idea after watching us, just like the Godwind Academy did—back when we used it against Skywater Academy in the Heaven Dou preliminaries."
'Wasn't it Canghui Academy who used it first?' Ning Rongrong silently rolled her eyes.
Just then—
Boom, boom, boom!
Thunder roared across the heavens. Ning Rongrong's face paled as she jerked her head up. In the blink of an eye, darkness covered the plaza. Above Yang Yunhai, dark clouds spun rapidly into a vortex, lightning flashing deep within.
'No way…' her beautiful face froze in disbelief. The lightning wasn't random—it was gathering precisely above Yang Yunhai.
Crackle, crackle—golden arcs flickered in Yang Yunhai's eyes, the ground trembling beneath him as stones and dust rose into the air.
Whooo—the cold wind sharpened, tugging violently at their robes.
Boom, boom, boom!
The clouds above thickened into a vast whirlpool, lightning dancing furiously at its core.
In the next moment, Yang Yunhai's hair turned golden, strands lifting in the storm, as though crowned by the thunder vortex itself.
"What the hell is this?!"
At the foot of the Pope's Hall, the watching academies stared skyward in shock. The entire peak was shrouded in thunderclouds, the vortex spreading wider and wider.
"What is this?" In the Worship Hall behind the Pope's Hall, the Spirit Hall elders all rose at once.
"Hmm?" In the Offering Hall, Qian Daoliu's eyes snapped open. His body blurred, vanishing from his seat.
Appearing outside, he looked skyward, astonishment flickering in his gaze. "So this is the boy Xue'er mentioned… Yue Guan truly found himself a remarkable disciple."
A figure appeared behind him. "Elder brother."
Then a second, a third… until seven imposing figures stood together.
"No wonder the Young Master wanted him in the Worship Hall," Golden Crocodile Douluo muttered, eyes shining. "This child is extraordinary."
"I heard he can draw heavenly thunder into his cultivation… I didn't think it was true. But judging from this, he can even wield it as a weapon."
"That Yue Guan really stepped in shit luck, taking in such a genius."
…
"I underestimated him." In the stands, Qian Renxue clenched her jaw beneath her disguise.
"So this is his true trump card?" Hu Liena whispered, fists tightening, disbelief filling her eyes.
"Martial Soul True Body…" Ning Fengzhi's eyes gleamed with sharp light.
Then—
Boom!
A colossal phantom hammer, over ten meters tall, wreathed in blood-red veins, erupted into the sky, lighting the darkness before vanishing just as quickly.
All eyes turned to Tang San, who now gripped the blood-striped, dark-golden Clear Sky Hammer.
"Xiao San, be careful." Dai Mubai's pale face was solemn.
"Brother San." Xiao Wu's eyes brimmed with worry.
"You all, leave first." Tang San's expression was tight, but his voice was resolute.
"Be careful." Zhu Zhuqing spoke simply. She cast a glance at the vines, then turned and left the field.
"Captain, now it's your stage." Yu Feng's voice was confident as he followed suit.
Soon, both teams had exited the arena, leaving only Yang Yunhai and Tang San standing alone in the square.
(End of Chapter)
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