Losing in the preliminary round to Shrek Academy was understandable because they had Dai Mubai, a level fifty-five Soul King, but now they had lost again in the promotion tournament, and neither Dai Mubai nor Tang San had even made a move.
When Huo Wu woke up, she couldn't help but clench her fists. She had once been such a confident girl, but in front of Shrek Academy, her confidence had been completely shattered.
Since childhood, she had always been one of the most gifted among her peers, and almost nothing could trouble her. Yet in front of Shrek Academy, she had been completely defeated.
Feng Xiaotian noticed Huo Wu's unusual mood and went up to comfort her. "Huo Wu…"
Before Feng Xiaotian could finish speaking, Huo Wu's cold gaze turned toward him. "Do you see now? This is the strength of Shrek Academy. We lost without Tang San or Dai Mubai even needing to fight. There are always people stronger than you, and skies beyond the sky."
"I know that when we usually spar, you hold back on purpose. But this time, facing Shrek Academy, even you,how far could you really go?"
Feng Xiaotian opened his mouth but could not speak a word of comfort. He was no longer as confident as before because he had already experienced Shrek Academy's strength during the preliminaries.
After a moment of silence, he stared at Huo Wu's pale but still beautiful face for a long time. Just as she was about to explode, Feng Xiaotian simply turned around and walked away.
His voice came from afar. "You're right, but if I don't give it my all, I won't know whether I can do it or not. Besides, I hate losing."
"Rest well. Leave the rest to us."
Watching Feng Xiaotian's back as he left, Huo Wu was a little surprised by his attitude. Strangely, that guy actually sounded resolute for once.
Huo Wu snorted. "Hmph! I'll just wait and see what you can do!"
The tournament continued. The only teams that still maintained a winning streak were Tianshui Academy, Godwind Academy, and Thunderclap Academy.
But that was only because none of them had faced Shrek Academy yet. With Shrek Academy's current strength, even the remaining three elemental academies were not confident about defeating them.
Still, none of them planned to surrender. Even if they lost, they would lose with dignity.
In the Star Dou Great Forest, Oscar's face was filled with excitement. Something he had wanted two years ago,he had finally gotten it today.
Lying before him was the pierced corpse of a Man-Faced Demon Spider, with a purple thousand-year spirit ring forming above its body.
Judging by the length of its legs, this one was about two thousand years old. Oscar had already cut off its eight spider legs and was holding a spirit bone in his hand that looked like half a spine, still attached to eight short legs.
In the original story, Tang San's first external spirit bone, the Eight Spider Lances, came from a two-thousand-year-old Man-Faced Demon Spider he had killed when obtaining his third spirit ring.
Oscar had once wanted to seize this opportunity from Tang San, and the Eight Spider Lances would have been most suitable for his woman, Dugu Yan. But things hadn't gone as he wished back then, and because of Oscar's own butterfly effect, they hadn't encountered the Man-Faced Demon Spider at all.
So that matter had been left unresolved. Over the past year, Oscar had been cultivating in seclusion at Star Moon Lake. Occasionally, he would go into the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt or help Da Ming and Er Ming subdue other spirit beast tribes. Along the way, he had encountered several small Man-Faced Demon Spider groups, killing the ones that disobeyed.
But unlike before, this time one had actually dropped the external spirit bone he had yearned for day and night two years ago. Oscar was somewhat surprised,could this be fate?
Or was it that only a two-thousand-year-old Man-Faced Demon Spider could drop the Eight Spider Lances?
Or was it because Oscar had slaughtered its entire tribe before its eyes, cutting off its legs one by one, that this bone was produced?
It was well known that there was an unwritten way to increase the chance of a spirit bone dropping,torturing a spirit beast before death. It wasn't humane, but it was effective.
Oscar had only tried it experimentally, and to his surprise, it actually worked.
Looking at the spirit bone in his hand, Oscar swallowed a clone sausage and sent the clone to Sunset Forest immediately.
If the Eight Spider Lances had the same poison and devouring abilities as in the original story, then they would be perfect for Dugu Yan.
The only problem was that Dugu Yan had already reached level sixty and become a Soul Emperor. At her current level, a mere two-thousand-year Eight Spider Lances wouldn't be very impactful.
But this was only a temporary problem,external spirit bones could evolve along with the spirit master's strength. As long as Dugu Yan fully merged with the Eight Spider Lances, it would greatly increase her strength in the future.
Aside from its poison and devouring abilities, the Eight Spider Lances' mobility was also exactly what Dugu Yan currently needed.
Having finished everything, Oscar stepped on his flying sword and sped back to Star Moon Lake. By now, hardly any spirit beast in the forest dared to provoke him.
He was just a step away from level sixty. His sixth spirit ring was already chosen, and soon he would become a Soul Emperor himself.
Back at the tournament, today's victory against Blazing Academy had been expected. Huo Wu had guessed Tang San's plan, but in fact, Tang San had anticipated her guess and arranged his lineup accordingly.
His Blue Silver Emperor was naturally restrained by Blazing Academy's fire attribute, so he had placed himself last but one in the order. Dai Mubai, on the other hand, was the opponent every genius wanted to challenge.
It could be said that the entire match against Blazing Academy had been under Tang San's control. His opponents were indeed talented, but his goal was to crush those geniuses.
Shrek Academy had defeated them without even using their full power. That alone said it all.
On the eighth day, Shrek Academy faced Thunderclap Academy.
Facing a team whose members all possessed lightning power, Tang San still used the same lineup as against Blazing Academy. His Blue Silver Grass was also restrained by lightning,though not as badly as by fire,so he had little room to perform.
Among the Four Elemental Academies, all of them restrained Tang San's Blue Silver Emperor to some degree. So Tang San chose to hold back.
Besides, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Tailong were more than enough to deal with the troublemakers. He and Dai Mubai were happy to rest.
The match was the first one in the morning.
Shrek Academy's Jing Ling was first to fight, against Thunderclap Academy's Thunder Leopard Spirit Master. Jing Ling was only level thirty-six, so he was at a disadvantage. But to everyone's surprise, his Skeleton Spirit was non-conductive, meaning his opponent's biggest advantage was gone.
So even though the opponent's spirit power was two levels higher, the match ended in a draw.
Second up was Huang Yuan. His luck was not as good,his Yellow Wolf Spirit had no such resistance. Still, his opponent was only level thirty-seven, just one level above him.
After a month of intense special training with Flender, Zhao Wuji, and Liu Erlong, Huang Yuan had improved greatly despite no increase in spirit power. In the end, he fought to a draw at the cost of injuries.
This result darkened Yu Tianxin's face. His team had higher spirit power, yet both of the first two matches were only draws?
In the third match, Thunderclap Academy's vice-captain Lei Hong entered the field. He was level forty-two, with the Thunder Eagle Spirit.
Tailong showed no fear despite being a level lower. His only problem was that his opponent could fly. Tailong's strength could easily crush Lei Hong, but it was hard to hit him.
But Tailong was no fool. Flender, a Spirit Douluo-level flying master, had taught them specifically how to deal with flying opponents.
Both released their spirits,two yellow and two purple rings each.
Lei Hong did not fly immediately, but charged straight at Tailong. Seeing the contempt on his face, Tailong snorted.
"Looking down on me? Then I'll show you true strength!"
The two clashed physically without spirit power. Lei Hong's claws slashed for Tailong's face, but Tailong didn't dodge and punched forward.
Bang!
The fist and claw collided. Tailong stood firm, while Lei Hong staggered back three steps.
"What power!" Lei Hong was shocked but did not slow down. His first spirit ring lit up, coating his claws with lightning.
Tailong activated Rock Body, increasing his strength and defense, then punched again.
This time Tailong was forced back one step, his fist slightly numb and scorched, but Lei Hong retreated four steps.
"Again!" Tailong roared.
His second spirit ring lit up, using Explosive Strength, further boosting his power. He charged forward and punched at Lei Hong's chest.
Lei Hong realized Tailong's strength far exceeded his own despite having higher spirit power. He stopped trying to clash head-on and spread his wings, flying high into the sky.
A pair of lightning wings flapped, sending two bolts of lightning at Tailong.
Tailong smashed one apart with his fist. Though his hand was scorched, he was unharmed.
Lei Hong circled high above, then dove toward Tailong, activating his second spirit skill, Eagle's Vision, which locked onto Tailong and exposed all his weak points.
But Tailong stood still, arms open as if inviting attack.
Could he really be that foolish?
Lei Hong hesitated, then pulled back at the last second, climbing back into the sky.
Tailong stayed in the same pose, even smirking mockingly.
In the VIP stands, Emperor Xue Ye frowned. "Sect Master Ning, what is that Shrek Academy student doing? He's completely exposing himself to danger. One mistake and he'll lose."
Ning Fengzhi's eyes gleamed. "Your Majesty, that child is very clever. Sometimes what appears to be a weakness is actually bait."
"He looks relaxed, but his legs are tense. I'm almost certain that if his opponent dives, he will counter with his strongest attack at the last moment."
Emperor Xue Ye nodded slightly, but Platinum Bishop Salas sneered. "Sect Master Ning, even if you're right, how could a level-forty-one Soul Sect withstand the attack of someone stronger than him?"
"Flying Spirit Masters can hit much harder than power-attack types. That's the advantage of flight."
Ning Fengzhi only smiled. "Bishop Salas, you know that child's spirit, yes?"
Salas nodded. "Vigorous Orangutan. The inheritance spirit of the Strength Clan. Specializes in power."
Ning Fengzhi chuckled. "Then you should know just how terrifying his power can be."
"If Lei Hong were fighting anyone else, he would be invincible. But against someone who specializes in strength and is waiting for a counterattack,how much chance do you think Lei Hong really has?"
Salas fell silent for a moment, then snorted. "We'll see."
Dustheart gave Salas a cold glare, making him break out in a chill and sit upright in silence.
Lei Hong rose to thirty meters in the air. His fourth spirit ring lit up, summoning a giant thunder eagle. Lightning wrapped around his entire body, fusing him with the eagle.
"If you're that confident, then taste my strongest attack!" Lei Hong shouted. "Divine Might Thunder Eagle!"
The giant eagle dove at supersonic speed, leaving a streak of lightning in the air.
Tailong narrowed his eyes, hearing Flender's teachings echo in his mind. Suddenly, he closed his eyes. When Lei Hong was less than ten meters away, he pulled back his arms, crouched slightly, and both his purple spirit rings lit up.
"Third Spirit Skill: Berserk Giant Ape!"
"Fourth Spirit Skill: Source of Strength!"
Tailong's body swelled with even more power. Using all his strength, he gathered it into one punch, his fist glowing brownish-yellow.
With one punch, all that power erupted. The lightning eagle was torn apart.
Lei Hong screamed as he was sent flying like a ragdoll, landing outside the arena and spitting blood.
He had never expected that despite his higher spirit power and speed advantage, he could not even withstand a single punch.
Everyone was stunned. Only Tang San felt something strangely familiar in that punch.
At that instant, it was as though he saw his father. The movement, the force,if Tailong had been holding a hammer…
Tang San shook his head. It seemed unlikely. He knew that the Strength Clan had once been a subordinate clan of the Clear Sky Sect, but what did that have to do with him or his father?
Tailong slowly withdrew his fist. His upper garments had been reduced to dust by the lightning, revealing his muscular torso. His eyes shone with confidence.
"So this is what Master meant by 'strength breaks all techniques.' I think I've finally understood how to use it."
This was his first time using the special technique his master had taught him. Even Tailong had not expected it to unleash such terrifying power.
The referee's voice rang out. "Promotion Tournament, Round Six, First Match,Shrek Academy's Tailong versus Thunderclap Academy's Lei Hong,Tailong wins! Shrek Academy gains one point, Tailong gains one point!"
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