Chapter 249: The Bone Dragon and the Roar of Defeat
Du Weilun was speechless after being rebuked by Ning Tian. After she said her piece, he finally recalled that ten thousand years ago, Tang San was aided by the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Back then, the sect had two Super Douluos—Sword and Bone. The latter, Bone Douluo, possessed the Bone Dragon as his martial soul.
Yet now, Du Weilun had rashly declared that the Bone Dragon was exclusive to evil soul masters. Didn't that mean the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect of that time was an evil soul master sect? And if so, would Tang San have accepted help from such a sect?
By his own logic, he had just declared Tang San—a figure revered for millennia—a genius among evil soul masters.
"Well, the one who helped Tang San couldn't possibly be an evil soul master," Du Weilun muttered weakly, trying to save face. "But this person… he gives off a sinister aura. He's clearly a standard evil soul master!"
"You're slandering my brother, Du Weilun. I've been giving you face, haven't I?" Xiao Qiang's expression darkened as a trace of spiritual pressure surged from him. Du Weilun, a Soul Douluo, didn't even last a second under the crushing force before collapsing to his knees. Xiao Qiang strode over and, without ceremony, grabbed Du Weilun and hurled him into the center of the competition venue.
"Ah Sheng, forget sparring with your nephew—teach this guy how to be a proper man," Xiao Qiang said, releasing his pressure.
"Understood, brother," Xiao Sheng nodded.
"Don't get cocky! I admit I can't beat you, but what makes you think a mere Soul Saint like him can beat an eight-ring Soul Douluo like me?" Du Weilun retorted angrily. As he spoke, he released his martial soul—the Fiery Spirit Lion. Two yellow, two purple, and four black soul rings coiled around him in an ideal configuration.
This soul ring combination had always been a source of pride for Du Weilun. But now, being forced to fight a Soul Saint who looked barely eighteen, he felt thoroughly insulted.
"Another one with the classic configuration. Ah Sheng, show him your ratio," Xiao Qiang said casually.
At his words, black, black, black, black, red, red, red—seven dazzling soul rings rose from Xiao Sheng's body. Though he had one less ring than Du Weilun, the momentum he exuded crushed him entirely.
"This soul ring configuration…" Ning Tian's eyes widened in disbelief. From the fifth ring onward, they were all at the hundred-thousand-year level. Even the weakest among the seven was at least ten thousand years old. This was not just powerful—it was outrageous. Xiao Sheng's talent already surpassed Bone Douluo's from ten thousand years ago.
And it wasn't just Ning Tian. As Xiao Sheng's rings gleamed in the arena, the crowd fell into stunned silence.
Only Xiao Hongchen was gritting his teeth bitterly as he stared at Xiao Qiang.
"The fifth ring's already a hundred-thousand-year one? Just how much have you been hiding?"
"Nothing much," Xiao Qiang said with a shrug. "Ah Sheng just had some lucky encounters—got a few top-tier soul bones that improved his physique. Nephew, if you break through to level 50 in two years, you might be able to absorb a hundred-thousand-year soul for your fifth ring too. It's not out of reach."
"Three hundred-thousand-year soul rings… Is this even a soul?" Xiao Xiao stared, eyes filled with envy. She was a four-ring soul master, and among her five rings, she didn't even have a single ten-thousand-year one. Though Shrek had promised her a top-tier soul ring after developing soul spirit technology, her trust was beginning to waver.
In the past two years, Shrek had failed to provide the high-quality soul bones they'd promised. Worse yet, they even asked her to infiltrate the Soul Palace to steal their secrets. After that plan failed, they offered some compensation, but Xiao Xiao couldn't shake the feeling that Shrek's promises were paper-thin.
"Did I make the wrong choice…? But Shrek has a ten-thousand-year legacy. It can't be that all their success depended solely on talented students, right?"
The entire arena was stunned by Xiao Sheng's overwhelming display of power. But no one was more shaken than Du Weilun.
As a level 88 Soul Douluo facing Xiao Sheng head-on, he felt the true might of those hundred-thousand-year soul rings.
Ordinarily, a Soul Saint would crumble within five rounds against him. With martial soul avatar and his eighth soul skill, even three rounds would be generous. But Xiao Sheng was different. His soul ring skills, martial soul body, and soul bones weren't just on par—they were superior. The Bone Dragon far outclassed the Fiery Spirit Lion, and Xiao Sheng's physique was noticeably stronger.
Instead of Du Weilun suppressing Xiao Sheng with his soul power advantage, it was the other way around—he was the one being pushed back.
"Don't underestimate me!" Du Weilun roared. His eighth soul ring lit up, unleashing his strongest skill—Lion King's Roar.
But Xiao Sheng was ready. The soul bone embedded in his skull flared, and he countered with his Dragon Roar in the Sky.
The lion's roar clashed with the dragon's cry, echoing like thunder across the field. Du Weilun had hoped that his superior soul power would overwhelm Xiao Sheng, but Xiao Sheng's soul core—condensed in his head—gave him a decisive edge in spiritual clashes. Combined with his high-grade martial soul and powerful soul bones, it was no contest.
Du Weilun fell in defeat, battered and broken.
But as he lay on the ground, what filled his mind wasn't pain—it was dread.
Against Xiao Qiang, Shrek's future competitors stood no chance. Even if they tried to sneak in an old man disguised as a student, it would be futile.
There was no longer any hope of Shrek taking first place in the next All-Continental High-Level Soul Master Competition.
But what about second?
Could they even manage second place?
Could any of Shrek's representatives defeat a youth who had just crushed an eight-ring Soul Douluo?
Du Weilun quickly reviewed Shrek's upcoming roster in his mind. Long Aotian from the Body Sect, the prodigies Beibei and Xu Sanshi, the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's support—they were the best Shrek had to offer. He'd once thought that this lineup would secure second place.
But now… against Xiao Sheng's combat strength, which rivaled that of a Titled Douluo…
If Xiao Qiang added Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen to the mix, could Shrek even remain in the top three?
"Could it be… Shrek can't even take second place?"
"What are you mumbling about?" Xiao Qiang sneered. "You think not getting first is your only problem? Both Mingde Hall and the Soul Palace will be joining the next All-Continental High-Level Soul Master Competition."
He paused and smiled coldly.
"Forget second—you won't even make the top four."
"What did you say!!!" Du Weilun's voice cracked in despair.