Hu Yan Zhen scratched his head, puzzled by the turn of events, but he remained entirely unshaken.
He had dared to face the Sea God's Trident with his head—how could some "youngster" like Li Si possibly pose a threat to him, an 89th-ranked Spirit Douluo?
Even ordinary Titled Douluo found it difficult to breach his defenses, which were as much about overwhelming strength as unyielding resilience. That was the terror of his martial spirit.
Gu Yuena's gaze flicked toward Hu Yan Zhen, her killing intent momentarily flashing before vanishing. She didn't say anything, allowing Li Si to hold her as they walked toward the edge of the arena grounds.
A mere Spirit Douluo. His courage was commendable, if not foolhardy.
Xiao Wu blinked in surprise, quickly catching on. Another chance to see Li Si fight? Her drowsiness vanished in an instant, replaced by eager anticipation.
The commotion drew the attention of most of the spectators. They had witnessed Hu Yan Zhen inviting Li Si to join the Elephant Armored Sect, only for Li Si to refuse. Hu Yan Zhen's killing intent had been clear.
But instead of cowering, Li Si had invited him to fight immediately!
Hu Yan Zhen was the master of the Elephant Armored Sect, one of the lower four sects. Who was this young man to challenge him so confidently?
Thousands of spectators followed in their wake, heading toward the outskirts of the venue. After all, a fight between powerful individuals was far more exciting than any tournament match.
The competitors still battling in the arena: "…"
The mass exodus left the Spirit Hall staff responsible for maintaining order in a bind. Managing a small number of spectators was manageable, but dealing with thousands all leaving at once multiplied their workload tenfold.
The situation was technically beyond Spirit Hall's jurisdiction. Spectators could come and go as they pleased, and the staff couldn't exactly stop them.
"What's going on?"
Even someone as composed as Ning Fengzhi found himself momentarily at a loss. He hadn't expected Li Si to clash with Hu Yan Zhen, let alone see them leave the camp to settle things in private.
"That boy… does he no longer see Hu Yan Zhen as a threat?"
Dusting (Sword Douluo) wore a grim expression.
Dusting knew Hu Yan Zhen's strength well. While breaking through his defense would take some effort, it wasn't impossible for someone like him. However, that didn't make Hu Yan Zhen weak.
If he were weak, the Elephant Armored Sect would never have secured its position among the lower four sects. On the contrary, Hu Yan Zhen's strength was nearly unparalleled among Spirit Douluos. He had singlehandedly built the sect's reputation.
"Fengzhi, should we go take a look?" Dusting transmitted the thought to Ning Fengzhi. As his protector, Dusting couldn't stray far from his charge.
Ning Fengzhi sighed. "Sword Uncle, let's wait for the spectators to clear out first."
He was one of the tournament judges, after all. For him to abandon the event midway—even if the audience had already done so—would likely cause an uproar. Still, it wasn't as though Spirit Hall couldn't handle the situation.
Li Si left the camp unhurriedly, with no one daring to stand in his way. Who would stop someone bold enough to challenge a Spirit Douluo to a duel?
The Golden Generation of Spirit Hall discreetly followed. Today wasn't their match day, so they had nothing better to do.
"Nana, you were right. These people aren't to be trifled with," Yan muttered, swallowing nervously.
"???"
Hu Liena gave Yan a strange look. She distinctly remembered saying only that the woman wasn't to be trifled with. She hadn't paid much attention to Li Si before.
Though, on reflection, how could someone of mismatched strength dare to hold someone like Gu Yuena?
After about twenty minutes, the group arrived at an open battlefield.
This was a site on the border between the Star Luo and Heaven Dou Empires, a region often embroiled in skirmishes. A barren battlefield wasn't an uncommon sight.
The field was vast enough to accommodate thousands of spectators without feeling crowded.
"This place will do, Sect Master Hu Yan," Li Si said calmly.
Gu Yuena and Xiao Wu stood off to the side, showing no concern. They didn't want to interfere with Li Si's performance.
Hu Yan Zhen's expression darkened slightly. To be watched by so many spirit masters while accepting a duel from a young challenger—it was a bit humiliating.
"Young man, I'll give you one last chance. Join the Elephant Armored Sect, and the terms remain unchanged!"
Li Si: "???"
Why did this sound so familiar? Wasn't this the same line Qian Xunji had said to Tang Hao back then?
Hu Yan Zhen wasn't quick to jump into combat. For all his ferocity, he was desperate for talent. Li Si's appearance and bearing alone made it clear that he was no ordinary individual, which was why Hu Yan Zhen extended his offer once more.
"Sect Master Hu Yan, joining your sect is impossible. However, why don't I start my own sect? You could always bring the Elephant Armored Sect under my banner," Li Si replied with a faint smile.
Hu Yan Zhen nearly lost his composure.
"Bold words!" he roared. He had extended an olive branch, only to be counter-invited to subordinate his entire sect. Who did this kid think he was?
"Hmph! Young man, don't blame me for what happens next. You've brought this on yourself!"
Li Si rolled his eyes. Couldn't these people learn some manners? One "young man" after another—it was getting tiresome.
Even so, he maintained decorum, addressing Hu Yan Zhen respectfully as "Sect Master." After all, Hu Yan Zhen was someone he admired. If only he had the Sea God's Trident, he could recreate another iconic moment.
"Diamond Mammoth, possess!"
Hu Yan Zhen's martial spirit was the Diamond Mammoth, second only to the Armored Rhinoceros in defensive capabilities. Unlike the Armored Rhinoceros, however, the Diamond Mammoth also boasted considerable offensive strength, blending the traits of brute force and unyielding resilience.
Two yellow, two purple, and four black spirit rings emerged around Hu Yan Zhen, and his body began to swell.
From an already imposing height of nearly three meters, he grew to about five meters tall.
"Hiss…"
The audience gasped in awe. The aura emanating from Hu Yan Zhen after activating his martial spirit was nothing short of terrifying.
"And that's it?" Li Si's voice rang out, unbothered.
(Chapter Ends)