Chapter 183

The Spirit Hall is willing to put up a 70,000‑year‑old Yinlei Magic Dragon Left Arm Bone as the champion's reward, just to lure itself into this Soul Master Competition.

Instead of cowering, it's better to show one's own strength and appear before them with an absolute stance.

Since you want to use me as a stepping stone for your Spirit Hall's golden generation, then let's see whether you have the ability.

This is Tiandou City; I represent the Tian Dou Royal Academy, which is one source of confidence.

The fourth round of the contest began, and on the VIP seats the Tian Dou Emperor still sat in the front row, with ministers and members of the Imperial House standing beside him.

On the left and right were Ning Fengzhi and the Spirit Hall's White Gold Bishop.

Next to Ning Fengzhi stood Gu Douluo Gǔróng; his massive skeleton made him look unlike ordinary people, yet compared with the one on the VIP seats, Gu Douluo's body seemed rather slight.

"Fengzhi, why did that youngster Hu Yan Zhen also show up?"

"Do you see who Xiang Jia Sect's opponent is today?" Ning Fengzhi said with a faint smile.

Saras narrowed his eyes; the Tian Dou Royal Academy's second team had already suffered three straight losses, and another defeat would truly be a slap in the face of their Imperial House.

"Sect Master Ning, which of these two teams do you think has a better chance?" Saras didn't mind making the slap louder; his voice was unmasked, audible to everyone.

Before Ning Fengzhi could answer, Hu Yan Zhen spoke first.

"A‑li is the most outstanding disciple of my Xiang Jia Sect's younger generation; his talent surpasses mine by several points, and I'm grooming him as the future title Douluo of our Xiang Jia Sect."

When he said that, Hu Yan Zhen was brimming with confidence, also telling everyone that his Xiang Jia Sect could not lose.

Your Xiang Jia Sect can't lose? Then does that mean my Tian Dou Royal Academy will lose?

The Imperial House members' expressions weren't pleasant, and for a moment they didn't know how to rebut, since the academy's Second Team had just endured three straight defeats.

Hu Yan Zhen's move not only provoked the Tian Dou Imperial House but also ignored Ning Fengzhi; Gu Douluo was about to strike him for a lesson, but Ning Fengzhi stopped him.

The breath released in that instant still made everyone present pause.

"Haha, congratulations to Sect Master Hu Yan, but I think the Tian Dou Royal Academy's second team must have prepared."

"Do you mean, Sect Master Ning, that you think my Xiang Jia Sect will lose?"

Ning Fengzhi didn't answer Hu Yan Zhen's question, but looked toward the current arena.

Seven members of the Xiangjia Academy stepped onto the stage at the same time, but the Tian Dou Royal Academy had only one person.

"Damn it, what's going on this time?"

"Give up? Let a never‑seen member step onto the stage—are we letting him fight seven alone?"

"Is this the attitude of the Tian Dou Imperial House Academy? So disappointing."

The audience's clamor grew louder, and in their eyes it was unmistakably a sign of surrender.

Even the referee couldn't help but add a remark.

"This is a Team Soul Battle, not an individual Soul Battle."

"I know."

Hu Yan Li, seeing that only Tie Li was present, felt a bad premonition.

"Xiangjia Team Team Leader, Hu Yan Li, Level 43 Defense‑type Battle Soul Sect."

"Tiandou Royal Team Team Leader, Wan Li, Level 56 Strong‑Attack type Battle Soul King."

"Fifty… fifty‑six? Hu Yan Li's gaze narrowed; even the referee was stunned for a moment before announcing the start of the competition."

They simultaneously released their martial soul and Soul Rings, and the five Soul Rings hovering around Tie Li shone especially brightly at that moment.

No one expected that a Five Ring Soul King would appear in this Preselection.

Two yellow, two purple, one black!

More than eighty percent of the audience present couldn't help but rub their eyes, unable to believe what they were seeing.

"It's… it's a Soul King! My god, the Tian Dou Royal Academy actually sent a Soul King!"

"No wonder he dared to step onto the ring alone, but isn't that too risky, given the other side has seven?"

"He dared to go up, so he must have the strength; we were right to watch."

In the VIP seats, Hu Yan Zhen and Saras rose together, and the sight of five interwoven, flashing Soul Rings truly startled them.

Saras's shock was a bit less; he had already guessed Tie Li's identity.

The remnant of the Fenglei Sect indeed arrived, but such a strong talent is destined to become a stepping stone for the Golden Generation.

Saras sneered inwardly, his gaze toward Tie Li gaining a hint of coldness.

On the arena, Tie Li made his move; the First Soul Ring and Third Soul Ring lit up, and under two Amplification Soul Techniques he swung the Thunder Dragon Hammer at the Xiangjia Team.

Hu Yan Li, shocked in his heart, also tried to comfort himself.

He is a Soul King, but he is alone; seizing the chance, he still has a shot at winning the match.

The seven members of the Xiangjia Team snapped out of their brief shock, tossed off their upper garments, and revealed layers upon layers of flabby flesh.

In the Martial Soul Possession State, the flabby flesh rippled rapidly, turning into exaggerated muscles; a dark‑yellow keratin layer surfaced, glinting metallically, the nose elongated, and two long fangs protruded.

The Thunder Dragon Hammer, brimming with Black Thunder, surged forward with a terrifying momentum, hammering toward one of them.

"Boom"

The clash of force, the Black Thunder striking him, produced a booming roar.

A figure, like a meatball, was ripped away by the massive force; seeing the unfavorable turn, the referee immediately rushed to catch the Xiangjia Team member.

"Sizzle"

The lingering Black Thunder, at the moment of contact, snapped at the referee like a Poison Snake, trying to spew "venom".

The corrosive nature of Black Thunder almost cost the Level 69 Soul Emperor, and before he could react to its horror, another meatball was flung out.

In the VIP seats, Hu Yan Zhen's mouth twitched up and down, silently signaling Hu Yan Li in the match.

"Hu Yan Sect Master, doing this might be improper, right?"

"Hmph, I didn't do anything!" Hu Yan Zhen's expression hardened, and he feigned helplessness.

Heeding the warning, Hu Yan Li faced Tie Li's attack, and his skull underwent a transformation.

Head Soul Bone, also the hint Hu Yan Zhen gave him.

He used the soul bone to block Tie Li's attack, then reorganized the team and launched an effective counterattack.

Tie Li saw Hu Yan Li use the soul bone, and the Black Thunder on the Thunder Dragon Hammer grew violent, the clashing sounds harsh, like thousands of thunderbirds shrieking in the sky.

In that instant, Hu Yan Li was frightened; the momentum emanating from the Thunder Dragon Hammer made him feel dread. Could his own soul bone truly hold it back?

Not only him, even the referee is contemplating whether to intervene in the match.

"The wind tears the nine layers, divine wrath shakes the world; I wonder if Sect Master Hu Yan still remembers this line?"

Hu Yan Zhen's complexion changed upon hearing it; in his haste, he tried to intervene in the match.

"Hu Yan Zhen, you are being far too presumptuous."

Du Gu Bo, appearing above Hu Yan Zhen at an unknown moment, had already become a Soul Power Level 95 titled Douluo.

(End of Chapter)