Chapter 213: Dai Yao vs. Tang San
Dai Mubai watched the competition with a worried expression. Much like the Shrek Academy's undefeated streak, the Oakland Academy also held an eleven-match winning streak, with multiple one-on-seven sweeps. Currently, only three undefeated teams remained: Oakland Academy, the Godwind Academy, and Shrek Academy.
Despite their matching records, Dai Mubai knew that there was a considerable strength gap between Shrek and Oakland. Facing teams like Blazing Fire Academy and Tianshui Academy had been tough for Shrek, while Oakland Academy had defeated them with ease. While Shrek's team members were individually strong, Oakland's team was on a whole different level.
"Xiao San, we're counting on you for tomorrow's match," Dai Mubai said, his voice heavy with worry. Shrek's Seven Monsters included two support-type spirit masters, forcing them to bring in Tai Long and others, which only made their lineup weaker compared to Oakland. Other than hoping for a one-on-one resolution, they knew they were almost guaranteed to lose.
Tang San replied confidently, "Don't worry. I'll make sure we win tomorrow's match!"
Hearing Tang San's confidence, the team felt a sense of relief settle over them.
Dai Mubai added, "We still need to check if Dai Yao will accept a one-on-one for the final outcome."
Tang San glanced at his teammates, his confidence unshaken. "Rest easy; I've already taken care of it."
The others looked surprised, and Ma Hongjun beamed with admiration. "Third Brother, you're amazing! Handling things quietly without anyone even noticing."
Meanwhile, Xiao Wu sat on the bench nearby, a faint, complicated smile on her face.
The Next Day
For most teams, the battle for promotion had already been decided, so the last few matches became more about preserving their players for the upcoming finals. However, tensions were still running high between Shrek and Oakland Academies.
Two undefeated teams would clash today, and one would walk away with their first loss. Their matchup had captured the attention of all the teams present. Even Emperor Xue Ye, along with Ning Fengzhi, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's Sect Master, and Platinum Bishop Salas, had reappeared to watch.
Officials of their stature, busy with state affairs, rarely remained at the Royal Hunting Grounds for extended periods and only attended the most critical matches. Oakland vs. Shrek was certainly one of those.
"Your Majesty," Ning Fengzhi said with a polite smile, turning to Emperor Xue Ye, "today's match promises to be extraordinary."
Emperor Xue Ye nodded slightly. "You're right, Sect Master Ning. This face-off between the two prodigies of Oakland and Shrek will be particularly interesting. Let's hope it isn't spoiled by the team rotation format, with the two of them missing their chance to face each other."
Ning Fengzhi chuckled. "Your Majesty may not have heard—Tang San and Dai Yao agreed to decide the match through a one-on-one duel."
A spark lit in Emperor Xue Ye's eyes. "Oh, really? It seems even prodigies recognize each other's worth. This will be a good show!"
To the side, Salas wore a darker expression. Tang San's twin spirits were a potential threat that even the current Pope found concerning. Earlier, Salas had told Dai Yao that he could take any measures necessary to kill Tang San in the ring, assuring him that the Spirit Hall would bear the consequences. But Dai Yao had already tried to kill Tang San once, using poison in the preliminaries, which Tang San had managed to neutralize. To kill Tang San through sheer force, however, would be another matter.
The six preceding matches ended, leaving the highly anticipated showdown between Oakland and Shrek for last. As Dai Yao and Tang San stepped into the Soul Arena from opposite sides, murmurs broke out among the crowd.
No one had expected these undefeated teams to settle the match with a one-on-one fight.
Dai Yao was an enigma, his strength seemingly limitless. Without even using his martial spirit, he had managed a one-on-seven victory against a powerhouse like the Blazing Fire Academy. In the final moments, he'd only revealed a fleeting glimpse of his martial spirit, but even that brief sight left countless soul masters stunned and awestruck. Just witnessing it from a distance was enough to inspire a deep sense of dread.
Tang San, on the other hand, was Shrek's core, wielding the Blue Silver Grass and Clear Sky Hammer—two legendary symbols in the spirit world. Compared to the mysterious Dai Yao, Tang San's potential as a twin-spirit wielder made him equally formidable.
The two warriors now stood on opposite ends of the Soul Arena, gazing steadily at one another. The crowd seemed to feel the tension, going silent as they focused on the approaching clash of titans.
"Salute!" the referee announced.
On the stage, their eyes locked, Dai Yao and Tang San each saw the fierce determination in the other's gaze.
Dai Yao cupped his fists. "Oakland Academy Vice-Captain, Dai Yao, Level 45, Assault-type Battle Soul King, Spirit: Sacred White Tiger!"
As he spoke, a brilliant white light flared around him, his body swelling with power. The regal "king" mark on his forehead glowed, and his presence was like that of a human dragon. White wings unfurled behind him, exuding a peaceful aura that seemed to calm the soul.
The crowd of soul masters watching instinctively took a step back, faces pale with fear and awe.
"Amazing… I'm a Beast Spirit Master myself, but seeing that Sacred White Tiger in action makes the trip worth it," said one of the audience members in awe.
Tang San responded with equal resolve. "Shrek Academy Vice-Captain, Tang San, Level 42 Control-type Battle Soul King, Spirits: Blue Silver Grass, Clear Sky Hammer."
With a surge of soul power, a faint black light gathered in his left hand, and a small, pitch-black hammer materialized. The crowd collectively gasped. That tiny hammer was an awe-inspiring sight, the most powerful Tool Spirit in existence—the Clear Sky Hammer!
This wasn't just a duel between Tang San and Dai Yao; it was a showdown between the most powerful Tool Spirit and the most elite Beast Spirit.
Though standing several meters apart, they held each other's gaze, neither in a rush to make the first move.
Tang San met Dai Yao's eyes and spoke in a low voice, his tone sharp, "Dai Yao, you were behind Xiao Wu's strange behavior yesterday, weren't you?"
Dai Yao raised an eyebrow, then smirked. "Oh, so what if I was?"
Inside, he felt a flicker of triumph—the bet was as good as won.
Tang San's expression darkened, his fingers tightening around the Clear Sky Hammer. He knew Dai Yao wasn't to be underestimated, but he hadn't anticipated Dai Yao's willingness to go so far.
"Do you think I'd let you manipulate her without consequence?" Tang San's voice dropped to a growl, his intense gaze fixed on Dai Yao.
But Dai Yao only laughed in response, his tone mocking. "Is that so? Then show me what you're capable of."
Their words were cut off as the referee signaled the start.
Dai Yao couldn't directly control the outcome of this bet, but Tang San's hypocritical tendencies had played perfectly into his hands. He had successfully planted a seed of doubt between Tang San and Xiao Wu, a seed he intended to nurture with careful attention so that one day it might grow into a towering tree of suspicion.
Tang San's gaze turned even colder, the silence between them thick with hostility.
"If you were to leave the Spirit Hall, I might consider sparing you. But unfortunately, you've crossed the line and harmed Xiao Wu," Tang San declared icily. Dai Yao's actions had repeatedly pushed him to his limit. If he had the right materials on hand, Tang San would have already crafted an extreme hidden weapon, perhaps one like the King's Mark, capable of turning Dai Yao to dust in an instant.
The match had officially begun, yet neither of them moved. The tension hung in the air, heavy and unbroken. Those watching felt the piercing chill of their standoff and instinctively held their breath.
The pressure continued to build, and Tang San knew that he couldn't allow Dai Yao to gather any more momentum. He had seen firsthand the devastating power of Dai Yao's ten-thousand-year spirit skill, an attack level comparable to that of a Spirit Douluo. Even with his Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique, victory wasn't guaranteed.
At last, unable to endure the tense standoff any longer, Tang San was the first to strike.
Dragging the Clear Sky Hammer across the ground, he carved a deep groove into the arena floor with each step, his footfalls leaving small, distinct impressions in the ground. Then, with terrifying momentum, he swung the hammer toward Dai Yao. As the weaker opponent, he had no choice but to go all-out from the very beginning, using his strongest skill—Disorder Splitting Wind!
Watching this display, Sword Douluo Chen Xin's gaze sharpened, recognizing something familiar in Tang San's movements. Memories of a long-forgotten figure flickered in his mind. "That hammer technique… could it be…?"
In that same moment, Dai Yao's spirit rings flared to life, floating in rhythm around him. The assembled soul masters looked on, astonished, as the deep black of a ten-thousand-year ring appeared—a ring normally far beyond the reach of anyone below Spirit King rank. Yet, Dai Yao was still just a Spirit Elder!
It shattered their understanding of what was possible. However, those from the Heaven Dou Empire teams remained composed. Having witnessed this in the qualifiers, they could relate to the disbelief of others now seeing it for the first time.
Dai Yao's third ring lit up immediately.
"White Tiger Dark Golden Transformation!"
Already formidable, Dai Yao's body swelled even more. His muscles rippled like finely carved marble, stretching the fabric of his loose, moon-white robes taut. The bare skin at his chest gleamed with a dark golden hue, radiating a fierce aura that made onlookers tremble. He no longer seemed human but rather an imposing, untamed beast.
As Tang San charged forward, Dai Yao's eyes held a flicker of caution. To face Tang San, he would need the utmost care. Bracing himself, he crouched, his body coiling with power like a drawn bow. With an explosive sound, the ground beneath him cracked as he propelled himself forward, charging like a cannonball.
"Eight Extremes Burst!"
With a roar, Dai Yao's iron-hard fist collided head-on with Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer.
Boom!
The impact sent both fighters flying back under the sheer force of their clash. Dai Yao was forced back three steps, while Tang San staggered ten—a testament to their difference in physical strength.
Staring at Dai Yao in disbelief, Tang San realized that, without the Blue Silver Grass to redirect the impact, he would have been sent even farther back. But what shocked him more was that Dai Yao dared to meet the Clear Sky Hammer with his bare fist! How could flesh and bone stand up to the Clear Sky Hammer without being crushed?
Yet he quickly shook off his surprise, shifting into Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. Utilizing the recoil, he spun around, channeling that force into his next swing. With a shrill whistle, he launched his hammer at Dai Yao once more.
Ning Fengzhi shot to his feet, exclaiming in awe, "The Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique! What skill, what control! At such a young age, he can already wield the Clear Sky School's secret technique so deftly."
Standing behind him, Sword Douluo Chen Xin looked on with a trace of melancholy. "A Clear Sky Hammer… so this is the power of the Clear Sky School. It seems we Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School may never claim the title of the world's top sect."
Emperor Xue Ye, however, only frowned, reigniting his simmering frustration toward Prince Xue Xing.
Meanwhile, the frigid gleam in Salas' eyes intensified. A commoner with twin spirits? Unacceptable. And the Clear Sky Hammer no less—a potential future threat to the Spirit Hall that must be eliminated!
In this moment, Tang San shed all reservations. For the sake of Dai Mubai, Xiao Wu, and himself, he needed to defeat Dai Yao, or better yet, eliminate him. Under the relentless might of the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer, few could withstand the final blow. Though Tang San's limit was only forty-eight strikes, it was more than enough for Dai Yao.
Everyone watching seemed to share this sentiment. The Clear Sky Hammer, renowned throughout the world, was like a towering mountain, an unstoppable force. They were certain that not even someone as enigmatic as Dai Yao could survive the assault of the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique.
Dai Yao continued to counter Tang San's strikes with his Eight Extremes Burst technique. As the third hammer blow struck, many in the audience began to think he was running out of options, barely managing to hold his ground. Yet Dai Yao once again raised his fists in the stance of Eight Extremes Burst.
Watching Tang San's approaching figure, excitement flared in Dai Yao's eyes.
"So, this is the Disorder Splitting Wind?"
He had prepared for this battle for a long time, and finally, the moment of truth had come.
With a thought, his soul power surged like a flood, pouring from his core and racing through his meridians into his right arm.
Buzz—
The force of Tang San's repeated hammer strikes had tempered Dai Yao's right arm, allowing him to condense his soul power there faster and with greater intensity. As Tang San launched his fourth hammer strike, Dai Yao's Double Compression Eight Extremes Burst was finally complete.
The Eight Extremes Burst couldn't be compressed all at once but had to be built up gradually, much like the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique. Premature compression would risk injuring his meridians under the sudden force.
Finally, before the eyes of everyone watching, their fist and hammer clashed once more.
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