"What? We're directly facing Spirit Hall Academy in a winner-takes-all match for the championship? And Star Luo Royal Academy… forfeited?"
Tang San froze, utterly stunned.
Star Luo Royal Academy's forfeit meant yet another match was skipped. Tang San had been looking forward to showcasing himself, to earning the spotlight.
Another forfeit? Did none of these teams have the backbone of Heaven Dou Royal Academy? Even in defeat, it should happen in the arena, not through surrender!
For the first time, Tang San felt a deep disdain for his opponents. He couldn't understand how they could relinquish such a prestigious honor without even putting up a fight. The mere thought infuriated him.
"Smack!"
A sharp sound echoed as Dai Mubai slapped Tang San across the face. Then, nonchalantly cleaning his ear, he said, "Why are you yelling so loudly? So what if the opponents forfeited?"
Tang San clutched his cheek, his eyes filled with bewilderment. Dai Mubai had slapped him again?
Though the strike wasn't heavy, everyone present had seen it. Some even laughed.
Getting smacked by Dai Mubai during regular training sessions was one thing—it was at the request of Tang Hao, his father. But for it to happen at such an important event, where everyone could see?
What would others think of him now? If word of this spread, how would the people of Douluo Continent view him?
Fueled by this thought, Tang San's anger erupted. With a flash of light, the Clear Sky Hammer appeared in his hand. If he didn't fight back now, he'd be unable to lift his head in the future.
As four violet soul rings shone brilliantly around him, Tang San's fury surged to its peak. At the same time, by some twist of fate or sheer emotion, his soul power broke through from Level 49 to Level 50!
One soul ring away from advancing to the Soul King rank.
But the joy of this breakthrough did not reach Tang San's heart. Consumed by rage, he resolved that even if the tournament ended here, he would either severely wound or kill Dai Mubai. He needed to show the world that Tang San was not to be trifled with.
As a disciple of the Tang Sect, vengeance was sacred!
The audience, witnessing this drama, found it immensely entertaining. An internal conflict within Shrek Academy before the match had even begun?
Hu Liena and her team, on the other hand, wore sly smiles. This Tang San was brilliant—yes, just like that! Attack Dai Mubai!
If Dai Mubai was injured or heavily wounded, their chances of victory would skyrocket.
Tang San had just broken through to Level 50, and at this close range, none of Hu Liena's team—be it Xie Yue, Hu Liena herself, or Yan—believed they could dodge or block his sudden assault. Activating their martial souls in time was out of the question.
"Overestimating himself," Qian Daoliu commented, shaking his head with a soft chuckle.
An eighty-level Soul Douluo like Dai Mubai being successfully ambushed by a mere Level 50 Soul King? That would be laughable.
Leaving aside whether Tang San could even break through Dai Mubai's protective energy, his approach was so amateurish that Qian Daoliu felt it insulted his old friend's honor.
He and Tang Chen were men of upright character who disdained such petty sneak attacks.
"Sigh… My entire life has been spotless, except for that disgraceful son," Qian Daoliu muttered bitterly.
Reflecting on the one blemish in his life—Qian Xunji's secret dealings—his sympathy for Tang Chen faded, replaced by pity for himself.
"Boom!"
The clash rang out like a bell, resounding through the arena.
Dai Mubai had caught the Clear Sky Hammer with one hand, holding it steady.
Bathed in a radiant golden light, Dai Mubai appeared like a living statue of gold. Behind him, a glowing phantom figure materialized, resembling Dai Mubai in form but larger and more majestic.
This phenomenon had nothing to do with his martial soul. It was the manifestation of Dai Mubai's Indestructible Vajra Divine Art, which had reached its eighth level, creating the Dharma Image of Heaven and Earth.
Having achieved this stage, Dai Mubai's technique was at a grand completion, only two levels shy of the perfection of the tenth level, the True Indestructible Vajra. Dai Mubai himself wasn't sure how much more energy it would take to reach that pinnacle.
Seeing this, Tang San's pupils contracted. He desperately tried to pull back his Clear Sky Hammer with all his strength, but it wouldn't budge!
"Tang San, are you intent on becoming my enemy?" Dai Mubai asked coldly, his expression blank.
Originally, Dai Mubai had planned to deal with Tang San after the tournament. But to his surprise, Tang San had lost control so quickly.
Dai Mubai's voice carried a mystical echo, ethereal and commanding, resembling that of a true deity.
Tang San opened his mouth, but no words came out. Finally, clarity returned to his mind, and he stared at Dai Mubai in disbelief. How had Dai Mubai become so powerful?
Was Dai Mubai also a twin martial soul user? Was this phantom figure his second martial soul?
Hu Liena and her team were equally dumbfounded.
By all logic, a Level 50 Soul King attacking a Soul Douluo at this distance should have been a guaranteed success.
Yet in mere moments, they were proven wrong.
Not only was Dai Mubai unscathed, but he seemed nearly invincible!
"You're not answering?" Dai Mubai asked indifferently.
"I wasn't planning to concern myself with such a lowly ant, but now I must teach you a lesson!"
Lowly ant? At fifty levels, the rank of a Soul King, he was calling Tang San an ant?
What did that make everyone else?
The Star Luo Royal Academy team fell silent, as did much of the audience and Spirit Hall's Golden Generation.
In Dai Mubai's eyes, were they all ants too?
On what basis—
"Guh…"
Before anyone could process it, Dai Mubai tightened his grip on the Clear Sky Hammer.
Crack!
A chunk of the hammer splintered, breaking into fragments of soul power that dissipated into the air.
The Clear Sky Hammer, lauded as the most powerful Tool Spirit on the continent, was reduced to nothing more than glittering shards in Dai Mubai's golden grasp.
A shudder passed through the crowd.
The Clear Sky Hammer… crushed barehanded! Was Dai Mubai treating it like a walnut?
The hammer, known for its unparalleled durability, was obliterated with no resistance. In Dai Mubai's hands, it might as well have been tofu.
Tang San coughed up blood as the shattered hammer returned to his body. The damage to his martial soul was more severe than physical injury, leaving him incapacitated.
The Pope's Palace fell into complete silence.
Even Qian Daoliu rubbed his eyes, momentarily doubting what he'd seen. No one knew the Clear Sky Hammer better than him.
"Well… this kid Dai Mubai is far stronger than I estimated," Qian Daoliu murmured, his expression grave.
A shattered martial soul was far harder to heal than a wounded body. Even the best healing spirit masters might struggle with such injuries.
For Tang San, this could be a permanent scar on both his body and his spirit.
(Chapter ends)
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