Chapter 153: The Black Soul Ring
A wave of astonished gasps swept through the audience, and countless eyes widened in disbelief. Huyan Li's powerful attack had been easily blocked by Dai Yao.
Dai Yao's body swayed slightly, one hand casually resting behind his back, while the other remained frozen in mid-air, completely still, as though he were a grandmaster. His calm demeanor made it seem like he wasn't even in a match.
"A Four-ringed Soul Master, and such a soul technique was blocked so easily? This is outrageous!"
"I'm sure they're throwing the match! Bishop Salas is watching Oakland closely. Could he have told Elephant Armor Academy to throw the fight?"
"Be careful with what you say, we don't have any proof! Huyan Li's soul technique wasn't weak at all, I don't think it's a fixed match."
"Hmph, maybe Dai Yao is just training in a soul technique that has more show than substance. Didn't expect Huyan Li, this big guy, to have such clever ideas."
While ordinary spectators were voicing their doubts, the soul masters in the VIP section looked especially serious. Having spent years in the soul master world, their vision far exceeded that of the excited young people in the stands.
They knew well that to block Huyan Li's powerful strike required immense strength. What made it even more astonishing was that Dai Yao seemed to treat the attack like it was nothing.
Ning Fengzhi's eyes flickered with surprise: "Dai Yao's physical strength has increased again. I wonder what other surprises he can show."
Huyan Zhen slapped the back of his chair and stood up abruptly, his eyes filled with shock.
As Huyan Li's father, he knew his son's strength better than anyone. While the Diamond Mammoth martial soul was known for its defense, its enormous size and weight meant that its offensive power was slightly inferior to that of the top-tier martial souls.
He would never believe that his son was involved in a fixed match.
Before the tournament began, an elder from the Spirit Hall, a Title Douluo, had specifically approached him, asking him to teach Dai Yao a lesson. As the leader of the Sixth Sect of the World, Huyan Zhen had already established connections with the Spirit Hall.
Dai Yao was part of Salas' faction, which was different from Huyan Zhen's faction. The elder had sent Huyan Li to teach Dai Yao a lesson, partly to showcase his strength to Spirit Hall, and partly to curry favor with the Title Douluo.
"Such a strong physique!" Huyan Zhen's eyes showed a trace of shock, followed by a dark expression. With Dai Yao's displayed strength, not only was he unsure if he could fulfill the elder's request, but even winning the match now seemed uncertain.
On the Soul Fighting Arena, the battle between the two had progressed in the blink of an eye.
After the strike, Huyan Li was forced to retreat, and it was hard to believe that this was the same person who had seemed so imposing just a moment ago.
Looking at his slightly trembling fist, a trace of horror flashed in Huyan Li's eyes, and he couldn't help but glance at Dai Yao in disbelief.
"What terrifying strength! I used my second soul skill, and he didn't even use his martial soul, yet he blocked my attack?"
Seeing Huyan Li's disbelieving expression, Dai Yao smiled faintly, his voice calm as he asked:
"What's wrong? Are you scared?"
His words weren't loud, but they struck Huyan Li's heart like a sharp sword. His eyes briefly lost focus, and then, gritting his teeth, his gaze became as fierce as a beast's.
He knew that he was no match for Dai Yao, but he wouldn't let Oakland win!
"Brothers, release your martial souls!"
As Huyan Li finished speaking, a massive surge of energy erupted from the seven members of Elephant Armor Academy, and with their roaring battle cries, seven giant, mammoth-like human forms appeared in front of them.
The yellow-purple soul rings gleamed brightly in the arena.
Among the seven, the three in the middle had the ideal configuration of two yellow rings and two purple rings, while the four on the sides had two yellow rings and one purple.
Elephant Armor Academy had three Soul Elders!
Their huge bodies seemed to shake the very ground as they all lifted their right legs and stomped forward. A resounding crash echoed, and all the spectators felt a sharp tug in their hearts.
They couldn't help but wonder if Oakland's team would be able to withstand these seven humanoid beasts.
Sensing the overwhelming pressure, Feng Qianli remained calm and said:
"Brothers, let's release our martial souls. Xuanwu Turtle Possession!"
The four yellow and purple rings glowed on Feng Qianli's body, and beside him, Dai Yuan and Feng Wutong each released their own two yellow and one purple rings.
Behind them stood Zhu Zhuqing, Luo Feng, and finally, their support soul master, Luo Ling. Luo Feng and Luo Ling both released their two yellow and one purple rings as well.
Zhu Zhuqing's two yellow and two purple ring configuration attracted a lot of attention, and some were surprised.
They hadn't expected that Oakland's team had a second Soul Elder.
But with only two Soul Elders, could Oakland really be favored by Bishop Salas?
"Whew—"
Standing at the front, Dai Yao took a deep breath, calming his excited emotions.
From this day forward, his name would be known throughout the continent!
Soul power surged, and an invisible wave of energy slowly radiated from him, causing his clothes and hair to whip around wildly. His tightly closed eyes snapped open, revealing tiger-like pupils that made everyone's heart skip a beat.
"Martial Soul Possession!"
With a roar, an overwhelming pressure suddenly descended upon the arena. It was the suppression of all martial souls by a divine-level martial soul. Everyone felt as though a heavy stone had been placed on their chest.
Yellow, purple, purple, black...
Four soul rings floated around his body, rising and falling with a slow, mesmerizing motion. The fourth black soul ring was much larger in diameter than the other three, emitting a haunting glow.
Purple lightning flickered on the soul ring, adding to its terrifying presence.
The black soul ring seemed to contain some kind of magical power. As soon as it appeared, the entire arena went silent. Everyone held their breath, and then, an eruption of astonished shouts filled the air!
All the spectators stood up in unison, their mouths agape, staring at the black soul ring in disbelief.
"Is that... a ten thousand year soul ring?" one person muttered uncertainly.
The person next to them swallowed nervously and replied, his voice hoarse: "No, you're not mistaken. That's definitely a ten thousand year soul ring!"
"A ten thousand year soul ring can only be absorbed by a Soul King. How did he manage to do it?"
...
The audience erupted into a frenzy, and the VIP section was no different. Many soul masters and nobles jumped up, losing their composure just like the ordinary spectators, staring in awe at the figure whose soul ring moved without wind.
These soul masters, some of the highest-ranking figures in the soul master world, understood just how terrifying it was for Dai Yao to have a ten thousand year soul ring on his fourth ring.
At that moment, Jackson struggled to contain his excitement, trying hard not to break into laughter. He pressed his lips together, enjoying the envious looks from the other academy heads.
Although he hadn't played a major role in Dai Yao's growth, having such a genius soul master at Oakland Academy was enough to make it a flagship institution.
Before long, many young soul masters would surely flock to Oakland because of Dai Yao.
Ning Fengzhi, equally stirred, clenched his hands on his knees, his heart racing. Even though he had anticipated this, seeing the black soul ring in person still left him in awe. He sighed deeply, his thoughts fleeting:
"I didn't expect you to really do it. A true miracle. It's just a pity... you and Rongrong..."
Meanwhile, Huyan Zhen's expression was a complete storm of emotions, his eyes wide in disbelief.
"No, this is impossible! How could it be a ten thousand year soul ring?!"
Salas, with a faint smile, watched the reaction. His eyes gleamed with admiration. As a bishop of the Spirit Hall, he had already known that Dai Yao's fourth soul ring was a ten thousand year soul ring. This was why he had such high hopes for Dai Yao.
"A ten thousand year soul ring?" The Snow Night Emperor's eyes flashed with light. Though his emotions surged, as a ruler, he quickly concealed his surprise. He turned to Bishop Salas and asked:
"Bishop, is this the reason you're so confident in this team?"
Salas stroked his beard, his half-closed eyes gleaming with joy: "Your Majesty, exactly."
"Oh? Could it be that this person is from the Spirit Hall?"
Emperor Xue Ye smiled as he spoke, but a flicker of shadow passed through his eyes. Such a prodigy—if he belonged to the Spirit Hall, it would spell trouble. The Spirit Hall already boasted the Golden Generation, and now with Dai Yao, their young talents could completely overshadow the two great empires.
Salas smiled faintly and said,
"Although he hasn't officially joined the Spirit Hall yet, he has promised to travel to Spirit City after the tournament to become part of the Spirit Hall."
Emperor Xue Ye nodded with a smile, but a sharp glint flickered in his eyes.
Ning Fengzhi, standing nearby, gave the emperor a warm smile and interjected,
"Your Majesty, this Dai Yao has a certain connection to you."
"Oh? A connection to me?"
Emperor Xue Ye was puzzled but knew that Ning Fengzhi wouldn't make baseless remarks. He waited quietly for him to elaborate.
"Your Majesty, consider his surname."
"Dai Yao? The surname Dai... Could it be..."
Emperor Xue Ye suddenly turned, his expression showing shock and even a hint of killing intent.
"This man is from the Star Luo Empire..."
Ning Fengzhi smiled and clarified,
"Indeed, he is the fourth prince of the Star Luo Empire. However, he has already severed ties with them."
"Your Majesty, you are aware of how brutal the competition for the throne is in the Star Luo Empire. Dai Yao, being out of favor from a young age and subjected to bullying, had no choice but to escape from the empire."
Emperor Xue Ye's expression turned contemplative, the pieces falling into place.
He was deeply wary of the Star Luo Empire's succession practices, having studied them extensively.
The brutal competition ensured that the victor was always a ruler of exceptional talent. It was this system that had enabled the Star Luo Empire to keep the Heaven Dou Empire suppressed for much of their shared history.
However, the Heaven Dou Empire couldn't replicate such a system. Unlike the Star Luo royal family's powerful White Tiger martial soul, the Heaven Dou royal family inherited the Swan martial soul, which lacked offensive prowess.
Trying to mimic the Star Luo Empire would only lead to failure.
"The Star Luo Empire is filled with geniuses, yet they've let such a prodigious soul master slip through their fingers—and now he's fallen into the hands of the Spirit Hall. However..."
As an emperor, Xue Ye knew well that promises alone were unreliable. The only trustworthy thing was interests. Whether Dai Yao had joined the Spirit Hall or not was irrelevant—he could still be swayed with enough wealth, beautiful women, or even precious soul bones.
If Dai Yao could be recruited into the Heaven Dou Empire, any condition could be met.
"In that case, send Qinghe to approach him," the emperor decided.
In the VIP area, many were stunned. But even in the resting area, the teams waiting to compete were equally astonished. Crowding together, they discussed the match with growing excitement.
As there was only one opening match, the remaining teams had no games and focused on observing their potential opponents.
Yu Tianheng stared at Dai Yao on the field, gritting his teeth in frustration. However, when the black soul ring appeared, he was momentarily dumbstruck.
The teams from Thunderclap Academy, Godwind Academy, Blazing Academy, and Tianshui Academy all felt a sinking feeling. They realized they now faced a team no weaker than their own.
"What a terrifying figure! The competition for the qualifying rounds is getting fiercer by the day," someone lamented.
Shrek Team Resting Area
Dai Mubai stared at Dai Yao's figure on the field, trembling uncontrollably. He felt an overwhelming sense of relief that Dai Yao had left the Star Luo Empire. Otherwise, he wouldn't have stood a chance against Davis in the competition for the throne.
Oscar let out an incredulous shout,
"Boss Dai, your brother is amazing! A ten-thousand-year fourth soul ring! If he joined our Shrek Seven Devils, we'd be unstoppable!"
Without the serendipity of the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot, Tang San didn't have the ability to absorb a ten-thousand-year soul ring. Moreover, with Dai Yao having taken the Eight Spider Lances soul bone, Tang San's physical condition had significantly deteriorated.
As a result, Tang San's fourth soul ring was merely a thousand-year Earth Fiend Spider soul ring.
Dai Mubai stared blankly at Dai Yao, then sighed. Hearing Oscar's comment, he turned around, grabbed Oscar's shoulder tightly, and grinned mischievously,
"What? You think I'm not impressive?"
Feeling the pain shoot through his body, Oscar yelped in agony,
"No... Of course not, Boss Dai... I was wrong!"
Tang San waved his hand to mediate,
"Alright, Boss Dai, let him go. Still, why does it seem like there's such a strange dynamic between you and your brother? You act like strangers."
Dai Mubai sighed deeply, jealousy flashing in his eyes as he looked at Dai Yao.
"Although we're brothers in name, in reality, we're mortal enemies," he said.
Hearing this, the Shrek Seven Devils, along with the newly joined Tai Long and others, were momentarily stunned. Tang San quickly understood and offered words of comfort:
"Boss Dai, don't lose heart. You still have us."
Dai Mubai seemed to come to terms with something, smiling with newfound clarity,
"That's right, I have all of you. No matter how strong Dai Yao is, he's just one person. And while his talent is remarkable, it can't compare to yours, Tang San."
Hearing this, the Shrek Seven Devils all smiled knowingly.
Indeed, what did it matter if Dai Yao had obtained a ten-thousand-year fourth soul ring? Tang San possessed twin martial souls! His second martial soul was none other than the world's greatest tool martial soul, the renowned Clear Sky Hammer.
Once Tang San ascended to Title Douluo, he could attach soul rings to his second martial soul, each one surpassing fifty thousand years in age. At that point, he would far outshine Dai Yao.
Their laughter brought a smile to Tang San's face as well. He humbly said,
"Even though I have twin martial souls, I can't match Dai Yao's diligence. Otherwise, I might have also gained a ten-thousand-year fourth soul ring."
After arriving in Heaven Dou City and experiencing numerous extraordinary events—including forming a friendship with Title Douluo Dugu Bo—Tang San learned from Dugu Bo that Dai Yao also knew him.
This prompted Tang San to start investigating Dai Yao.
What he found, however, left him with a strange feeling. Dai Yao's experiences bore too many similarities to his own, as if he were living in Dai Yao's shadow...
In the Arena
The seven members of Elephant Armor Academy froze in shock upon seeing Dai Yao's black soul ring. The sight left them deeply shaken.
Hu Yan Li's gaze toward Dai Yao grew grave. He called out, and the seven members of Elephant Armor Academy advanced toward Team Auckland in perfect unison.
Their massive bodies, each weighing three to four hundred pounds, stomped the ground with thunderous impact. The earth trembled beneath their charge, their momentum like an unstoppable mountain moving toward Auckland.
The sheer force of their charge subdued much of the audience's astonishment over Dai Yao's ten-thousand-year fourth soul ring.
Watching the incoming Elephant Armor Academy team, Dai Yao smiled faintly as his third soul ring lit up.
Suddenly, an overwhelming aura burst forth.
"Third Soul Skill—White Tiger Dark Gold Transformation!"
(End of Chapter)
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