Chapter 155: Victory!
The changes on the Soul Fighting Arena were so fast that the spectators could hardly keep up with them.
Once the three from Oakland entered the Elephant Armor Academy's territory, the battle quickly divided into three separate fights.
Dugu Yan had already defeated his opponents. Meanwhile, the battlefields where Feng Qianli and Dai Yuanyi were still engaged in a fierce struggle.
On Feng Qianli's battlefield, his four soul rings shone brightly as he unleashed the full power of his Soul Emperor aura, placing immense pressure on his two opponents.
The Xuanwu Turtle Martial Soul was one of the continent's strongest defensive martial souls, even surpassing the Diamond Mammoth Martial Soul in terms of defensive capabilities. Feng Qianli gritted his teeth and resisted the attacks of the two massive opponents, his turtle shell offering protection while he braced against their assaults.
On Dai Yuanyi's battlefield, despite being a level 39 Soul Sovereign, he was facing two Soul Sovereign-level disciples from Elephant Armor Academy, which put him at a severe disadvantage. Both of them were in a passive position, struggling to hold their ground.
Though they were at a disadvantage, neither of them had the thought of retreating.
Feng Qianli, with his firm and steady demeanor, was giving the impression of a reliable guardian, making it impossible for the two Soul Masters of Elephant Armor Academy to advance, effectively blocking their path to assist Huyan Li.
Meanwhile, Dai Yuanyi's usual casual demeanor had completely disappeared, replaced with seriousness. Since entering the Soul Fighting Arena, he had become entirely focused, as if this Soul Fighting competition held significant meaning for him.
While the two were struggling to hold their ground, Dugu Yan's battle had ended almost as quickly as it had begun. His fighting style had been so intense that it left the entire battlefield stunned. The sight of him single-handedly defeating two Soul Masters and one Soul Sovereign had stunned both sides in the battle.
Immediately afterward, both Feng Qianli and Dai Yuanyi broke into expressions of wild joy.
Dai Yuanyi exclaimed in shock, "What the hell? Is Dugu Yan some kind of monster?!"
His soul rings flickered, and sword energy began to coalesce around him. Shortly after, a burst of red light descended from the sky—this was the amplification effect of the support-type soul master Luo Ling.
As the red light entered his body, Dai Yuanyi's aura surged, reaching the strength of a Soul Emperor. The raging sword energy surged forward, charging at the two Elephant Armor Academy Soul Masters. His soul power erupted fully, reversing the situation in an instant.
"Dugu Yan has already defeated three enemies. As the captain, I can't lose either!" Feng Qianli thought with excitement, releasing his Soul Emperor power without restraint. His third and fourth soul rings activated simultaneously.
In an instant, his turtle shell transformed into a round blade, shining with cold light. He wielded it with great force, making the two Elephant Armor Academy Soul Masters wary.
At the same time, a vast ocean-like wave surged toward Elephant Armor Academy.
Seeing his opponents in a desperate struggle, Feng Qianli even had a fleeting thought that the three of them could defeat Elephant Armor Academy on their own. His gaze crossed the battlefield and locked with Luo Feng's.
As long-time teammates, their cooperation was seamless, needing no words. With just a glance, they knew what the other was thinking.
The piercing tactics had worked. Zhu Zhuqing and Feng Wutong, crouching low, were about to charge into the enemy's ranks to pick off the remaining opponents. But just then, Luo Feng called out to them.
"Zhu Zhuqing, Wutong, don't attack yet. The captain and the other two can handle the Elephant Armor Academy. You two should conserve your strength."
"You are the team's trump cards! Even though we can't match your strength, we will do our best to create the best conditions for you to attack!"
Zhu Zhuqing and Feng Wutong exchanged a glance, both slightly surprised. They hadn't expected Feng Qianli and Luo Feng to be so bold, thinking that the three of them could defeat Elephant Armor Academy, one of the Five Elements Academies. Of course, if Luo Ling's support was counted, that made four of them.
At the same time, they realized how sincere the Oakland team was. Although their strength wasn't at the same level, their perseverance and effort moved Zhu Zhuqing and Feng Wutong's hearts. They now saw them as true teammates.
To think that only four of them could defeat a powerful and prestigious academy like Elephant Armor Academy was truly hard to believe.
After hearing the control-type soul master's orders, the two stopped in their tracks. They trusted Luo Feng's judgment.
On the Soul Fighting Arena, Oakland's three battlefields had all gained a huge advantage, and Elephant Armor Academy's defeat was only a matter of time.
The 80,000 spectators were stunned, watching everything unfold.
"Oakland is about to win?!"
"Elephant Armor Academy was defeated by just three people? Their strength is way too weak!"
The audience was buzzing with discussions, and the VIP area was no different.
Ning Fengzhi turned to Emperor Xueye and said, "Your Majesty, it looks like Oakland is going to win."
Emperor Xueye sighed deeply, "Indeed. But Dugu Yan is too strong! Two Soul Masters and one Soul Sovereign, and none of them are a match for him."
"Dugu Yan's strength far exceeds that of other soul masters of the same rank. It's precisely because of this that Oakland was able to execute the spearhead tactic successfully."
Emperor Xueye nodded in agreement, but then he seemed to recall Dugu Yan's punch against Huyan Li, and asked in confusion:
"Ning Zongzhu, when Dugu Yan knocked away the Soul Master from Elephant Armor Academy, I thought about it, and that move didn't seem like a soul skill?"
Ning Fengzhi smiled slightly and nodded, "That's right, Your Majesty. That move wasn't a soul skill from his soul rings, but a self-created soul skill."
"Self-created soul skill?!"
When he heard this, Emperor Xueye was shocked and turned around to face him. Even many powerful soul masters from surrounding academies looked at each other in disbelief.
Emperor Xueye marveled, "A self-created soul skill? Even many Title Douluo don't have one. Dugu Yan, at such a young age, has already created his own soul skill. This is truly astonishing!"
"It's truly impressive how talent keeps emerging. Dugu Yan's brilliance far surpasses our generation. I'm afraid only Haotian Douluo could compare with him."
Ning Fengzhi shook his head with a smile, "Your Majesty, you're over-praising him. Although he's amazing, there's still a distance between him and Haotian Douluo."
Haotian Douluo was the youngest Title Douluo in the soul master world. His ninth soul ring even contained the legendary 100,000-year-old soul ring, and his power was incredible. He defeated the previous Pope of the Martial Soul Hall, Qian Xunjie, when he just entered the Title Douluo rank.
Actually, Tang Hao had a weaker soul power than Dugu Yan at the same age. However, his accomplishments were so earth-shattering that they had left a deep impression on everyone. It was hard for anyone to compare Dugu Yan with him.
On the other side, Saras looked at Huyan Zhen with a wry smile. Though no words were spoken, Huyan Zhen clearly understood the expression and remembered the dismissive words he had spoken about Dugu Yan earlier, causing him to blush in shame.
But given his large frame, the flush of embarrassment couldn't even be seen through the fat.
"sigh..." Huyan Zhen sighed deeply, feeling a tinge of disappointment.
He knew Elephant Armor Academy's defeat was near, and the mission handed to him by the Martial Soul Hall's Title Douluo was also doomed to failure.
"With this, not only will the task fail, but I will have also offended Dugu Yan, a future powerhouse. This is a thankless job."
In the Soul Fighting Arena.
The overwhelming cheers were deafening for Huyan Li, but to him, they were excruciatingly sharp. His eyes were red with rage as he clenched his fists, cracking his knuckles, his teeth gritting in anger.
Looking at his teammates, who were being driven to despair by the Oakland team, his fury surged.
"Elephant Armor Academy can lose, but not in such a pathetic way!"
With a roar, his soul power erupted, and a yellowish light halo appeared above his head. The powerful aura spread out, making Dugu Yan even take notice.
In the VIP area, Huyan Zhen saw Huyan Li's movements and quickly stood up, his pupils contracting in alarm. He murmured to himself:
"Not good! A Li, don't be reckless! Losing is one thing, but you must never expose the existence of your soul bone!"
He understood what Huyan Li was trying to do, and a trace of fear flashed through his eyes. His lips quivered as he forced out a sound, trying to stop Huyan Li's actions.
Although he had intended to teach Dai Yao a lesson, as per the instructions of the Title Douluo, this did not mean he was willing to expose his soul bone and place his grandson in danger.
The internal competition within the Martial Soul Hall had to be healthy, not a life-or-death struggle.
Using a soul bone would not only fail to guarantee defeating Dai Yao, it would also put him at great risk.
One must understand the preciousness of soul bones. Every single piece is worth an astronomical sum, and even so, few are willing to sell them.
Once exposed, one couldn't know how many people would covet his grandson's soul bone.
In the original story, after Huyan Li exposed his soul bone, Huyan Zhen had a look of deep regret, his face filled with sorrow.
He was the head of the sixth largest sect in the world, yet he was still deeply worried about exposing his grandson's soul bone. This showed just how tempting soul bones were for soul masters.
But Huyan Li merely turned his head, his blood-red eyes glancing at his grandfather for a moment before quickly turning away, his gaze fixed on Dai Yao.
The action of releasing the soul bone did not cease in the slightest.
Hum—
A yellowish helmet appeared on Huyan Li's head, alleviating the pain caused by the hidden force in his body. The powerful aura made both sides on the Soul Fighting Arena feel a sense of dread.
"Dai Yao! The real battle starts now!" Huyan Li said each word slowly.
Looking at the yellowish helmet, countless spectators gasped in shock.
After all, the use of items was prohibited in the Soul Fighting Tournament. This yellowish helmet could only mean one thing: it was a soul bone!
In an instant, everyone understood, and countless greedy gazes were directed toward Huyan Li.
"It's over!"
Huyan Zhen's enormous body seemed to lose all strength. He collapsed into his seat with a loud thud, causing the chair to creak under the pressure.
Saras' eyes gleamed with greed as he glanced at Huyan Zhen but remained silent.
Ning Fengzhi turned his head with a smile, saying, "Congratulations, Sect Master Huyan. Your grandson is so young, and yet he already possesses a head soul bone. Truly a cause for celebration. However, Sect Master Huyan, you should be careful, don't let someone with ulterior motives take advantage of the situation."
Huyan Zhen's face was as cold as water, and with a grunt, he responded, "The disciples of Elephant Armor Sect don't need to worry about such things. Thank you for your concern, Ning Zongzhu."
Watching Huyan Li with the yellow helmet atop his head, Dai Yao smiled faintly. He thought to himself:
"I didn't expect the soul bone, which should have appeared during the battle with Shrek Academy, to show up in this fight with me. Quite unexpected."
This surprise passed quickly, and his face regained its indifferent expression.
"Huyan Li, so what if you have a soul bone? You're just a tougher punching bag!"
"Humph!"
Hearing Dai Yao's words, Huyan Li snorted coldly. He didn't believe that with the soul bone and the tremendous increase in his physical capabilities, he would still be unable to defeat Dai Yao.
The fourth purple soul ring on his body shone brightly, and he roared like an ancient mammoth, swinging its trunk and charging forward.
"Fourth soul skill—Ancient Shatterquake!"
Watching Huyan Li unleash his fourth soul skill, Dai Yao's peripheral vision flicked over to the two disciples of Elephant Armor Academy who had surrounded him. His arm surged with soul power, and a massive roar erupted.
Hum—
It was as if a ringing sound appeared in Huyan Li's and the other two disciples' ears, and they felt a sharp pain in their hearts.
They clutched their chests in agony, and then looked up toward Dai Yao, their faces filled with horror.
Dai Yao, like before, struck a fist pose. But this time, his aura was completely different, far stronger than last time.
The air around his arm began to distort.
"It's coming!"
In the Shrek resting area, Dai Mubai's face instantly turned grave. He was very familiar with this move of Dai Yao's. It had been this very technique that had defeated him in Star Dou Forest.
He had spent countless hours thinking about how to counter it, but he had never found an answer.
Dai Yao's fist rumbled, his steps heavy as he charged forward to meet Huyan Li, who had unleashed the Ancient Shatterquake.
Boom—
A tremendous crash resounded as their fists collided.
The ground beneath them seemed to buckle under the impact, sinking downward in a circular pattern, centered around the two of them.
The Soul Fighting Arena's floor was made of granite, incredibly hard, yet the shockwaves from the collision were enough to cause a terrifying effect on the ground.
Their clash didn't directly touch the ground. The shockwave alone caused enough destruction to ripple across the arena.
The two disciples of Elephant Armor Sect who had been following Dai Yao were even less fortunate. The gusts from the collision sent them flying backward, their bodies completely enveloped in dust.
The spectators craned their necks, trying to see what was happening amidst the dust.
But the next moment, a massive figure flew out of the smoke. With a loud whoosh, it crashed against the outer wall of the spectator area.
The wall collapsed with a thunderous noise, and rubble buried the figure beneath. The massive body was unmistakably that of Huyan Li.
Seeing Huyan Li's pitiful state, many spectators broke out in a cold sweat.
How strong was Dai Yao really?
Huyan Li was the pride of the Elephant Armor Sect, known for his defensive abilities, and even with the protection of a soul bone, he was still knocked out with a single punch by Dai Yao?!
On the VIP side, Huyan Zhen was speechless, unable to comprehend what he had just witnessed.
As the leader of the Elephant Armor Sect, he knew Huyan Li's defensive strength all too well, but he never imagined it would still fall short against Dai Yao.
A helpless smile spread across his face.
"Your Holiness, it seems you've recruited a true genius into the Hall of Souls!"
Saras smirked, stroking his beard. "Oh, not at all. Your grandson is impressive too. At such a young age, he already has four soul rings and a soul bone. He's surpassed expectations. In the future, his achievements might even exceed those of Tian Xiang."
At these words, Tian Xiang's forehead twitched.
Saras was ostensibly praising Huyan Li, but he was actually praising Dai Yao. By lauding Huyan Li's strength, wasn't he indirectly admitting that Dai Yao, who had knocked him out with one punch, was even more impressive?
At this moment, Dai Yao, powered up by his White Tiger Dark Gold Transformation, had reached a terrifying level of physical power. With his Double Compression Eight Extremes Burst, the impact was devastating.
It was no surprise that a single punch sent Huyan Li flying.
As Dai Yao's eyes scanned the remaining six disciples of Elephant Armor Sect, the six felt a chill run down their spines, as though they were prey under the gaze of a top predator.
Huyan Li struggled to rise, the rubble falling off him. His eyes were filled with unwillingness.
But when he thought back to Dai Yao's punch, he couldn't help but shudder in fear.
With a helpless sigh, he turned to the referee and said, "Referee, we concede."
Upon hearing this, the referee declared:
"The first match of the first round: Oakland Academy wins!"
As the referee's voice echoed, the entire Soul Fighting Arena erupted into a frenzy. No one had expected the relatively unknown Oakland Academy to so easily defeat the mighty Elephant Armor Sect of the Five Elements Academy.
Moreover, three members of the Oakland team hadn't even participated in the battle yet.
The cool and elegant Zhu Zhuqing and the fiery, noble Feng Wutong. Though they had not fought, anyone with even a bit of strength could feel the pressure emanating from their martial souls.
All the academies realized that a dark horse had emerged in this Soul Master Tournament!
(End of Chapter)
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