Chapter 156: Total Victory
With the latest match's end, Yu Xiaogang seemed more confident than ever, reveling in his victory through the Seven-in-One Spirit Fusion technique and the power of the Upper Three Sects. With this strategy, they managed to defeat Spirit Hall's Golden Generation, the team on which Spirit Hall had placed high hopes.
Even Ning Fengzhi was visibly pleased. After all, it was clear to everyone that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, wielded by Ning Rong, was the true core of the Seven-in-One Fusion, amplifying Tang San's spirit power to the Spirit Saint level.
Meanwhile, a significant rift was brewing within Spirit Hall.
Inside the Pope's Palace, Bibi Dong sat upon her throne, with Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo standing beside her. The three members of the Golden Generation knelt at the base of the throne, visibly distressed. Among them, only one remained standing: a tall woman with golden hair.
The two seemed to be caught in a fierce argument.
Qian Renxue spoke up first, her voice sharp, "If you hadn't conceded in the morning, our Spirit Hall team had every chance to win."
Bibi Dong replied calmly, "Are you certain you could defeat Yang Potian? Even if we had fought Heaven Dou Team Two, the result would likely have been a mutual defeat, only benefitting Heaven Dou Team One."
Qian Renxue retorted coldly, "While Yang Potian is strong, I would never lose to him."
Bibi Dong seemed to hint at something, "Then why didn't you join the match this afternoon? Had you fought, we would have undoubtedly won."
Qian Renxue scoffed, "Three Spirit Kings losing to Spirit Ancestors of only forty-five ranks or so—pathetic."
The two women continued their heated exchange, eventually parting on bad terms. The others in the hall, particularly the Golden Generation, remained silent, seemingly fearful. They now fully grasped the significance of the mysterious new addition to their team—a figure who dared to openly challenge the Pope. Did she possess a hidden background or unimaginable power? The trio exchanged anxious glances, afraid that they might be privy to a secret too dangerous to keep.
Bibi Dong glanced briefly at Hu Liena's face, sighing faintly. "Dismissed. None of today's events are to be spoken of."
After Hu Liena and the others left, Bibi Dong looked to Chrysanthemum Douluo. "Chrysanthemum Douluo, do you think the Strange Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum could really allow someone to absorb a ten-thousand-year fourth spirit ring?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo's expression shifted slightly before he replied, "Your Grace, the Strange Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum is a legendary immortal herb. Consuming it is said to channel energy through the meridians and strengthen the body to near-invulnerability. It can indeed dramatically enhance one's physical constitution, and I sensed this herb's aura on Yang Potian."
Bibi Dong nodded thoughtfully, "It seems Yang Potian is indeed exceptionally fortunate. No wonder his strength surpasses that of the Golden Generation. You may both withdraw."
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo visibly relaxed as they exited the Pope's Palace.
The following day, the final match of the competition commenced. Everyone knew the outcome would determine the recipients of the three invaluable spirit bones—and likely much more. Heaven Dou Team One represented the Upper Three Sects, while Heaven Dou Team Two represented clans once affiliated with the Clear Sky Sect, the Breaking Clan and the Imperial Clan. The duel carried implications that reached far and wide.
The match drew an enormous crowd. Prince Xue Qinghe appeared restored to his usual noble demeanor, and even the defeated Golden Generation came to watch. Many of Spirit Hall's bishops and officials were in attendance, as well as esteemed figures from various clans and even some from the Star Luo Empire, eager to witness what many saw as a historic confrontation.
A few noted wryly that the final match had essentially become an "internal affair" of Heaven Dou Academy—a rare triumph for the empire.
Both teams took to the arena without any notable changes to their lineups. Heaven Dou Team One fielded the same participants as the day prior, and Heaven Dou Team Two did likewise. As each side summoned their spirits and spirit rings, the referee's shout marked the official beginning of this ultimate showdown for the prized spirit bones.
Heaven Dou Team One immediately repeated their strategy from yesterday: Tang San activated his fourth spirit skill, Blue Silver Prison, enveloping Heaven Dou Team Two in a cage of thick blue-silver vines. Then, they quickly formed the same lineup, preparing to deploy the Seven-in-One Fusion.
But Yang Potian moved like lightning, teleporting to the front of the opposing team with his soul-breaking spear poised directly at Ning Rong's throat. Despite this threat, the Seven-in-One Fusion began to unfold, with the collective spirit power passing through the line toward Xiao Wu.
Seemingly unfazed by Yang Potian's spear, Heaven Dou Team One persisted in their attempt, ignoring the immediate danger.
Yang Potian let out a wry smile, thinking to himself, Interesting. So, you're trying to strong-arm me.
He walked calmly to the edge of the arena and addressed Yu Xiaogang directly, "Master Yu, you seem confident I won't disrupt this Seven-in-One Fusion."
Yu Xiaogang's expression shifted slightly before he replied, "You could certainly break it if you wish, but that depends on your choice."
Hearing this, Yang Potian laughed aloud, his voice reverberating across the arena. When he finished, he responded gravely, "So, you've calculated that I wouldn't dare break it, knowing that if I did, it could cripple all seven of them. With the direct disciples of the Clear Sky and Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clans, talents from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, and even a prince of the Star Luo Empire, such casualties would be catastrophic. Clever. Too bad this plan rests on an overestimation of your strength."
The spectators understood the situation. Yang Potian, with his level of power, could indeed disrupt the fusion, but doing so could devastate the seven participants. The repercussions would be profound, with potential conflicts with the Upper Three Sects, akin to the outcome of the Canghui Academy team.
Yang Potian then reappeared at the forefront of his team as his teammates broke through the Blue Silver Prison, preparing to launch an attack on Tang San.
He spoke softly to his six teammates, "You can stand down now. Leave the rest to me."
His sister, Yang Tianyue, looked frustrated. "Big brother, why should we be afraid of the Upper Three Sects? Worst case, we go down together."
Yang Potian smiled warmly at her, reassuring her, "Tianyue, don't worry. If I decide to win, there's no doubt I will. Now, all of you leave the arena so I can work unimpeded."
Obeying his words, the six teammates leapt out of the arena.
Meanwhile, Tang San had completed the Seven-in-One Spirit Fusion, activating the Full Body Spirit manifestation, and now stood gripping the colossal Clear Sky Hammer, looking invincible. Yang Potian, however, only scoffed. Behind him, two massive silver wings unfolded, each spanning over three meters. With a few powerful flaps, he ascended effortlessly into the air.
The spectators were in an uproar. Yang Potian's wings were clearly an External Spirit Bone—a priceless treasure that none had expected him to possess.
From high above, Yang Potian looked down upon Tang San and Yu Xiaogang with a disdainful expression, as if they were insignificant insects. "Let's see how you plan to win," he said indifferently. "Show me what you're counting on."
Holding the Clear Sky Hammer in his hands, Tang San radiated a sense of overwhelming power, seemingly unmatched. But Yang Potian, now airborne and far out of Tang San's reach, neither attacked nor approached, leaving Tang San rooted on the platform.
As time dragged on, cracks began to show in the Seven-in-One Fusion. While the Full Body Spirit form of the Clear Sky Hammer was undoubtedly powerful, it also devoured spirit power at an alarming rate. The technique's greatest flaw was its dependency on the energy linkage among all seven participants. Tang San couldn't stray too far from his teammates; without their combined spirit power, he couldn't maintain the form of the Clear Sky Hammer.
Furthermore, the Clear Sky Hammer was primarily known for its brute force and close-range prowess; it was unsuited for long-range combat and lacked ranged spirit skills. To make matters worse, Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer had no spirit rings, depriving it of any long-distance capabilities.
Gradually, the strain became evident on Tang San. His expression grew pained, his face contorted, and blood trickled from the corners of his mouth. Even his skin began to crack under the pressure. Yet despite all his strength, he was too far away to touch Yang Potian, who hovered out of reach, serenely flapping his wings and watching the scene unfold below.
Desperate, Tang San clenched his teeth and activated his Purple Demon Eye, attempting to lock onto Yang Potian. In a last-ditch effort, he hurled the massive Clear Sky Hammer with the technique of a hidden weapon. But Yang Potian easily dodged, his wings beating gracefully to the side, avoiding the lumbering projectile.
Though Tang San's hidden weapon skills were precise, using a hammer weighing a thousand pounds as a concealed weapon made stealth impossible; it moved with the speed of a tortoise. For Yang Potian, evading it was child's play.
As Tang San and his teammates continued to deteriorate, they faced increasing danger; it was only a matter of time before their own technique left them incapacitated without Yang Potian lifting a finger.
Recognizing the severity of the situation, Yu Xiaogang finally turned to the referee. "Referee, we surrender."
But with the team's current condition, even the referee hesitated to intervene, unwilling to break the precarious energy balance. Meanwhile, Yang Potian watched with a detached curiosity, waiting to see how they would resolve the predicament they had created.
At that moment, Tang San seemed to receive some sort of signal. He hastily forced his spirit power to retract the Clear Sky Hammer, though the cost was apparent. Once the hammer was withdrawn, the seven slumped to the ground, pale and visibly injured.
With a few controlled flaps, Yang Potian descended to the stage.
In this entire match, Yang Potian had done nothing more than dodge and maintain his distance. He wasn't genuinely threatened by the Clear Sky Hammer's Full Body Spirit Form. With his current strength, he could easily overwhelm a Spirit Sage and even rival a Spirit Douluo. But intervening risked accusations of deliberately injuring his opponents, which was forbidden under the tournament rules.
Even without his intervention, all seven lay heavily injured. Had he chosen to act, he could likely have defeated them in mere seconds.
The referee glanced at Yang Potian, then at the seven fallen on the stage, and finally declared, "The champion of this year's Spirit Master Tournament is Heaven Dou Team Two!"
A collective gasp rose from the crowd. Never before had a tournament final ended like this; Heaven Dou Team Two hadn't used a single spirit skill, yet they had emerged victorious with almost no energy spent.
Among the audience, the Golden Generation of Spirit Hall looked particularly sour. Yang Potian's approach demonstrated a glaring flaw in the Seven-in-One Spirit Fusion: if Spirit Hall's team had avoided direct confrontation with Tang San and spread out strategically, they could have won with ease.
The audience's attention turned back to Yu Xiaogang, who had lauded the Seven-in-One Fusion Technique as a masterstroke. Yet in practice, it had proven unimpressive. People who had previously held him in high esteem now viewed his strategy with skepticism, questioning whether it was all just empty talk.
(End of Chapter)