At this moment, a dense red mist enveloped most of the arena in front of the Pope's Hall.
The spectators were all soul masters, but aside from a few powerful individuals, no one could clearly see what was happening on the field.
However, soon after, six figures shot out from the rolling red mist.
These were Xiao Wu and her group of five, who had consumed Golden Wing Flight Sausages and sprouted golden wings, as well as Ma Hongjun, who could naturally fly through the air.
The control ability of the Spirit Fusion Technique: Charm Demon was extraordinary, but it had a significant weakness. While it suppressed the opponent's mobility, it couldn't completely restrict them. Moreover, the coverage of the red mist was limited. If the opponents escaped its range, the effects of vision obstruction and suppression would naturally disappear.
The simplest and most effective solution was to possess flight capabilities and directly ascend above the mist.
Seeing his teammates escape the red mist, Chu Chengzhou's hands glowed with golden soul power. A radiant golden bow materialized, and he beckoned toward the distant Charm Demon, which was preparing to launch a sneak attack.
"The other five members of the Spirit Hall team are left to you guys. As for me, defeating Charm Demon is enough. You all deserve a chance to shine," Chu Chengzhou thought to himself.
"How can you possibly see us?"
A gender-neutral voice rang out.
Seeing Chu Chengzhou beckon toward their direction, Hu Liena, who was currently controlling the Spirit Fusion Technique: Charm Demon, asked in astonishment.
"Guess?"
Chu Chengzhou smiled.
"I refuse to believe your summons can see us too!"
Upon noticing the golden glow in Chu Chengzhou's eyes, Hu Liena confidently stated.
Perhaps Chu Chengzhou could ignore the red mist's obstruction with the golden light in his eyes, but his summons certainly couldn't.
Hearing this, Chu Chengzhou raised an eyebrow. Hu Liena was right—Big Bear and the others truly couldn't see Charm Demon's figure.
Moreover, their sensory abilities were suppressed by the red mist, making their reactions much slower. For an agile opponent like Charm Demon, the threat posed by Big Bear and the others was significantly reduced.
Of course, if Big Bear managed to land a single swipe, even a transformation-type Spirit Fusion Technique initiated by two Soul Kings would be utterly defeated.
Golden light shimmered in Chu Chengzhou's hands, accompanied by three faint whistling sounds. Three golden streaks of soul-powered arrows shot out at high speed.
Clang, thud, thud—
The soul-powered arrows were incredibly fast, crossing dozens of meters in an instant. Charm Demon only managed to deflect one with its blood-red crescent blade, while the remaining two struck its chest armor.
However, due to the red mist suppressing 50% of the opponent's soul power, the arrows' potency was greatly reduced. Although they managed to pierce the armor slightly, they didn't cause significant harm.
"Brother, it's your turn!"
After being hit by two soul-powered arrows, Hu Liena realized that Charm Demon under her control wasn't a match for Chu Chengzhou. She immediately transferred control of Charm Demon to Xie Yue.
Hu Liena was a spirit-type soul master, and her combat experience was minimal. If Xie Yue's fighting level was at a respectable "Gold" then hers was "Hardstuck Bronze". Though it was still Charm Demon, the difference in performance under different controllers was significant.
Under her control, Charm Demon could easily bully weaker opponents or even take down ordinary Soul Emperors.
But under Xie Yue's control, defeating an ordinary Soul Emperor was effortless, and Charm Demon could even hold its own against a Soul Sage for a short period.
The next moment, Xie Yue took over control of Charm Demon.
Simultaneously, three more golden streaks shot toward him.
Xie Yue's combat experience far exceeded Hu Liena's. Being a close-combat offensive-type soul master, this was his forte.
As the three soul-powered arrows approached, Charm Demon shifted its stance, dodging two of them. Even the third, which couldn't be avoided in time, was deflected using its blood-red crescent blade.
"Oh? So you've got this trick up your sleeve?"
Seeing this, Chu Chengzhou couldn't help but look surprised.
Dodging or deflecting his soul-powered arrows? That was rare indeed!
The difference between the previous responses was significant. He could confirm that while it was still the same Charm Demon, the controller had changed. Most likely, the current controller was now Xie Yue.
Of course, Chu Chengzhou also knew that it wasn't because Xie Yue was particularly skilled—it was simply that being inside the red mist inevitably slowed his reaction and movements.
It was like dodging bullets. The key wasn't to outrun the bullet but to avoid the gun's aim.
While dodging three soul-powered arrows was manageable, what about two sets of three, three sets of three, or even more? Could you still dodge them?
The next moment, Chu Chengzhou unleashed his fifteen years of singlehood (his soul was already impure) hand speed. Wave after wave of soul-powered arrows shot out at breakneck speed.
It was only because he had five fingers, four gaps between them on one hand, and the thumb made gripping things awkward that each wave consisted of only three arrows. Otherwise, there would have been many more.
In truth, Chu Chengzhou didn't necessarily need to rely on archery to deal with Charm Demon.
Among his four summons, Xiao Qing, Xiao Bai, and Xiao Hong weren't a match for Charm Demon, while Big Bear's strength was overwhelming. And since Hu Liena was part of his "pond," he didn't want to use excessive force on her, lest he accidentally kill her.
As for his illusion techniques, a dual-person Spirit Fusion Technique had two consciousnesses. Controlling one wouldn't work.
Moreover, Hu Liena's spiritual power was comparable to his, and with the comprehensive amplification of the Spirit Fusion Technique, her spiritual power might even surpass his at this moment.
Fortunately, while in the Spirit Fusion Technique state, they couldn't activate soul skills or soul bone skills. Otherwise, he might have already been locked away in a "black room."
Facing the torrent of incoming soul-powered arrows, Xie Yue was terrified.
Dodging three arrows wasn't difficult—just move around and block with the crescent blade. But when faced with so many arrows, sorry, you overestimated me. I'm just a lowly Soul King; I can't possibly block them all!
Thud, thud, thud, thud—
Before long, Charm Demon's body was riddled with slowly dissipating soul-powered arrows, resembling a giant porcupine.
"Or do you surrender?"
Seeing Charm Demon bristling with soul-powered arrows, Chu Chengzhou stopped firing and tentatively asked.
"Damn it!"
Feeling the significant depletion of soul power within him, Xie Yue cursed inwardly.
The Spirit Fusion Technique: Charm Demon wasn't a physical entity. After sustaining damage, as long as the injuries weren't too severe, it could recover by consuming the soul power of the soul masters. However, with Charm Demon now resembling a porcupine, the soul power consumption far exceeded Xie Yue's initial expectations.
Moreover, Xie Yue realized that under Chu Chengzhou's precise archery, their Spirit Fusion Technique was practically helpless, reduced to passively enduring attacks.
Though the power of a single soul-powered arrow wasn't too great, the sheer number overwhelmed them. If this continued, both he and his sister Hu Liena would soon run out of soul power, forcing them to exit the Spirit Fusion Technique state.
"Brother, don't drag this out anymore. Use our ultimate move!"
Hu Liena transmitted her thoughts to Xie Yue.
"We have no choice!"
The next moment, an eerie light flashed in Charm Demon's eyes as it declared, "Chu Chengzhou, your strength is impressive, but I, Xie Yue, am no pushover. Take this, Full Moon!"
With a mighty shout, Charm Demon moved, leaping into the air. Its eerie body spun like a whirlwind.
In an instant, Charm Demon's figure and the two enormous blood-red crescent blades in its hands seemed to vanish simultaneously, transforming into a massive blood-red disk in midair.
There was no friction or howling wind. At this moment, it seemed as if all sound had been swallowed by the blood-red disk, while the surrounding red mist swirled around it like a vortex.
To defeat Chu Chengzhou and secure the tournament championship, Xie Yue, now in control of Charm Demon, unleashed its strongest attack.
In terms of soul power levels, Xie Yue, Hu Liena, and Yan were roughly equal. Even if Hu Liena didn't have a head-type soul bone, as a close-combat offensive-type soul master, he would still be heavily countered by her mental control abilities.
However, the reason Xie Yue was considered the leader of the "Golden Generation" was because of this self-created skill.
Self-created soul skills differed from regular soul skills and soul bone skills. Under certain conditions, such as during a Spirit Fusion Technique, as long as the form was suitable, self-created soul skills could still be used.
Before Hu Liena obtained her head-type soul bone and her strength skyrocketed, Xie Yue, while in the Charm Demon state, had personally defeated a teacher at Level 68. This victory earned him the title of the strongest among the younger generation of the Spirit Hall.
Aside from his own self-created techniques, the only other true self-created soul skill Chu Chengzhou had seen was Feng Xiaotian's infamous Simp Wolf Thirty-Six Consecutive Slashes.
Back then, Feng Xiaotian had used this move to claim the first kill against Xiao Bai.
But compared to Xie Yue's current "Full Moon," Feng Xiaotian's paled in comparison.
While in the Spirit Fusion Technique state, Xie Yue's strength far surpassed Feng Xiaotian's. Regardless of the power of their self-created soul skills, the frequency of attacks from Xie Yue's "Full Moon" was unmatched.
The blood-red full moon hovering in midair was created by Charm Demon, under Xie Yue's control, spinning its two blood-red crescent blades at an astonishing speed. If not for Chu Chengzhou's keen eyesight, it might have appeared stationary.
This was the most powerful self-created soul skill Chu Chengzhou had ever seen among his peers.
Of course, Tang San's Chaotic Wind Hammer Technique was undoubtedly stronger. Perhaps he could now execute the "Nine Nines into One" technique and unleash a black dragon. However, to avoid exposing his second martial soul, Tang San hadn't used it in the tournament.
The next moment, the rapidly spinning blood-red full moon shot toward Chu Chengzhou.
Chu Chengzhou's expression tightened. Under his control, Xiao Qing's dense vines surged forward to meet the descending blood-red full moon.
Hiss, hiss, hiss—
The moment the dense vines touched the blood-red full moon, they were instantly shredded into pieces, as if Xiao Qing's resilient vines were no different from common Blue Silver Grass found by the roadside.
After breaking through the vine blockade, the blood-red full moon continued descending toward Chu Chengzhou.
Seeing this, Chu Chengzhou lightly tapped his feet. Activating his movement technique: Divine Light Step, he left behind a residual image and reappeared behind Big Bear, as if teleporting.
"With Big Bear protecting me, let's see what your so-called self-created soul skill can do!"
Two Soul Kings initiating a Spirit Fusion Technique, even with the addition of a somewhat ingenious self-created soul skill, stood no chance against a twenty-thousand-year-old Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear unless they were cheating!
Seeing Chu Chengzhou hide behind the Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear, Xie Yue gritted his teeth in frustration. However, with the arrow already on the string, there was no turning back. He could only brace himself for a direct confrontation with Big Bear.
Instantly, the blood-red full moon sliced through the air, heading straight for Big Bear.
Although Big Bear's vision was obstructed, it still retained some sensory abilities. Opening its massive jaws, it activated its innate soul skill: Dark Golden Terror Claw. Two claws, larger than Chu Chengzhou's entire body, gleamed with dark golden light as they met the descending blood-red full moon.
Like a grinding wheel on a cutting machine, the rapidly spinning blood-red full moon collided with Big Bear's terrifyingly sharp and immensely hard claws.
Boom—hiss, hiss, boom—
Sparks flew everywhere. The blood-red full moon and Big Bear's claws clashed for less than three seconds before shattering into pieces. The blood moon disappeared, and Xie Yue, spitting blood, along with Hu Liena, whose face had turned deathly pale, fell from the sky.
Forces acted mutually. When the rapidly spinning blades encountered Big Bear's razor-sharp and extremely hard claws, it was obvious that the blades would give way first, not Big Bear's claws.
The crescent blades in Charm Demon's hands were Xie Yue's martial soul. Upon shattering, Xie Yue immediately suffered backlash from his martial soul. With one side incapacitated, Hu Liena alone couldn't maintain the Spirit Fusion Technique.
What was overestimation? This was overestimation!
And as the Spirit Fusion Technique: Charm Demon was broken, the red mist covering most of the arena began to dissipate rapidly.
"Tsk," seeing the dire state of his future brother-in-law, Chu Chengzhou shook his head.
The next moment, a green streak of light shot out from Xiao Qing and entered Xie Yue's body.
As for Hu Liena, she hadn't sustained any physical injuries. However, the mental strain from forcibly exiting the Spirit Fusion Technique state couldn't be healed by Xiao Qing's innate healing ability and required rest.
Subsequently, Chu Chengzhou surveyed the entire battlefield and found that Xiao Wu and the others had already finished their battles, waiting for his side to determine the victor.
Indeed, with the combined strength of Xiao Wu and the others, the Spirit Hall team, now without Xie Yue and Hu Liena, couldn't last long.
Just Xiao Wu's second soul skill, Charm, was an insurmountable obstacle for Yan and the other members of the Spirit Hall team.
"So we've lost after all?"
Seated in front of the Pope's Hall, Bibi Dong sighed inwardly, her face solemn.
Although the referee hadn't officially announced the result yet, anyone with eyes could see that the Spirit Hall team had lost.
In fact, after witnessing the strength of Chu Chengzhou's Big Bear during the individual elimination matches yesterday morning, Bibi Dong realized that this year's soul master tournament championship was unlikely to go to the Spirit Hall.
It wasn't that the Spirit Hall team lacked strength. In terms of raw power, this year's Spirit Hall team was arguably the strongest in decades.
The reason they hadn't won was simple—their opponents were stronger.
Who could stand against Chu Chengzhou with a Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear whose strength rivaled that of a ten-thousand-year spirit beast? Remember, the age limit for participants in the soul master tournament was 25 years old.
After composing herself, Bibi Dong transmitted a message to the referee.
"I declare that Lan Ba Academy has defeated the Spirit Hall Academy team. Congratulations to Lan Ba Academy for winning this year's soul master tournament championship!"
Upon receiving the transmission from the Pope herself, the referee quickly stepped forward to announce the match results.
"You've won, but next time, we won't lose again!"
After the referee announced the results, Xie Yue, captain of the Spirit Hall team, felt a wave of disappointment. However, he quickly reignited his fighting spirit and defiantly said to Chu Chengzhou.
"Mm-hmm, Big... Brother Xie Yue, keep it up!"
Chu Chengzhou nodded with a smile, nearly slipping and calling him "Big Brother-in-Law."
"Big Xie Yue?"
Xie Yue was puzzled.
However, he didn't dwell on it. Supporting each other, he and Hu Liena walked off the field.
"Nana, I won this time, but I promise that next time we meet, you can pin me down, okay~", Chu Chengzhou transmitted a message to Hu Liena.
Hu Liena froze, then turned back to glare fiercely at him.
"We've won! Haha, Boss Chu, we're champions!"
An excited voice rang out. Turning around, Chu Chengzhou saw Ma Hongjun running toward him with open arms, ready to embrace him.
However, Chu Chengzhou had no interest in hugging Ma Hongjun. Dodging swiftly, he greeted Xiao Wu and the other three girls instead.
After hugging his three girls individually, Chu Chengzhou finally turned to Ma Hongjun with a look of disdain and said, "Fatty, I understand your excitement, but I have zero interest in your flabby body!"
Ma Hongjun: "..."
More than half an hour later, the award ceremony for the soul master tournament finals began.
Led by personnel from the Spirit Hall, the three teams that had advanced to the fifth round—except for Xie Yue, who was severely injured—reentered the square in front of the Pope's Hall.
This segment didn't exist in the original storyline. Chu Chengzhou believed it was likely related to Xiao Wu's identity as a transformed spirit beast being exposed, the merging of God Wind Academy and Blazing Fire Academy raising suspicions of cheating, and the entire Spirit Hall team being too injured to attend the ceremony.
After all, with a transformed hundred-thousand-year spirit beast delivered to their doorstep, followed by Tang Hao's antics nearly destroying the Pope's Hall, the Spirit Hall probably didn't have the mood for an awards ceremony.
Soon, the twenty members of the three teams lined up neatly on the square.
At this moment, the seven individuals seated on the golden chairs in front of the Pope's Hall stood up. Bibi Dong, her expression calm, announced, "The winner of this year's Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament is—Lan Ba Academy. Congratulations to the young soul masters of Lan Ba Academy!"
Pausing briefly, Bibi Dong turned to the members of Huangdou Academy and the Spirit Hall team, saying, "Although the champion is Lan Ba Academy, it doesn't mean the other two teams aren't excellent.
You're all still young, and the future of this continent will be shaped by your brilliance!"
After offering words of encouragement, Bibi Dong nodded slightly toward the red-robed bishop who had served as the match referee.
"Please send representatives from the three teams to receive their rewards!", the red-robed bishop announced loudly.
"Everyone gets a prize?"
Hearing this, Chu Chengzhou raised an eyebrow.
Actually, Chu Chengzhou had misunderstood. Teams that performed well in the preliminary and advancement rounds received rewards, and the finals were no exception.
Otherwise, if the second and third-place teams received no rewards, wouldn't that imply they were inferior to teams that performed well in earlier rounds but were eliminated before the finals?
The three soul bones and the promise of becoming the Pope's personal disciple in this iteration were special rewards offered by the Spirit Hall, the host of this final round.
Subsequently, Yu Tianheng, representing Huangdou Academy, stepped forward to receive the prize.
Chu Chengzhou's sharp eyes caught it clearly—a gold coin card with a denomination of ten thousand gold spirit coins.
After Yu Tianheng received his prize, Hu Liena, representing the Spirit Hall team, stepped forward.
Though Hu Liena also received a gold coin card, the denomination was significantly higher. The leading "1" had changed to a "3," indicating a reward of thirty thousand gold spirit coins for second place.
"Please welcome the representative of the champion team, Lan Ba Academy, to receive their prize!"
the red-robed bishop called out.
"How much could it be? Fifty thousand, or perhaps a hundred thousand?"
Chu Chengzhou wondered as he stepped forward to claim the prize.
Soon, upon receiving the gold coin card with a denomination of one hundred thousand gold spirit coins awarded to the champion team, Chu Chengzhou nodded in satisfaction.
Compared to Ning Fengzhi, who spent money like water, a hundred thousand gold spirit coins wasn't much—it was equivalent to the price Tang San sold ten sets of hidden weapons to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect for, slightly more than half the price of the fox-eared girl at the Tian Dou Grand Auction.
But in reality, a hundred thousand gold spirit coins was quite substantial. Several months' living expenses for an average family of three in the continent amounted to just one gold spirit coin. Even if this standard only ensured basic sustenance, it highlighted the generosity of the Spirit Hall as the tournament organizer.
Of course, wealth in the Douluo Continent was highly concentrated. The wealthy were exceedingly rich, and for a powerful organization like the Spirit Hall, a hundred thousand gold spirit coins was merely pocket change.
At this moment, Bibi Dong glanced at Ning Fengzhi beside her, then focused on Chu Chengzhou, who was receiving the award. A flicker of appreciation crossed her eyes as she said, "Chu Chengzhou, I've observed your performance throughout the tournament. Might you consider joining the Spirit Hall?"
The special reward promised to the champion team before the fifth round wouldn't be reneged upon.
However, Bibi Dong valued her dignity. Instead of directly offering to take him as a disciple, she extended an invitation to join the Spirit Hall.
After all, Chu Chengzhou was close to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and appeared to be Ning Fengzhi's prospective son-in-law. It was unlikely he'd accept her as his master.
Of course, if Chu Chengzhou expressed interest in joining the Spirit Hall, she could then propose taking him as her disciple.
As soon as Bibi Dong finished speaking, Ning Fengzhi's expression changed slightly, and he looked at Chu Chengzhou.
Not only Ning Fengzhi—all eyes in the arena were now on Chu Chengzhou.
The special reward for the champion team had long been promised. Anyone with half a brain could understand the subtext of Bibi Dong's words.
The question now was: How would this youth, nicknamed the "Great Demon King," choose?
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