Chapter 202: Assault

In the upcoming Promotion Match, Tie Li's appearance order remains seventh, but there are few teams that can trouble the Tiandou Royal Team.

Since Lei Ying lost to Feng Xiaotian, Yu Tianxin has reappeared in the Thunder Team.

In contrast, Lei Ying's figure has vanished.

"Father, I lost."

Lei Ying dares not meet the eyes of the middle‑aged man before him; with the power of a Soul King, he lost to the four‑ring Feng Xiaotian, and he does not know how to face his father.

The two are not in the barracks, but on a plain.

The middle‑aged man looks at the adopted son he has carefully cultivated, feeling both disappointment and relief.

The Soul King lost to the Soul Ancestor, and it was a Soul King nurtured by the sect; this outcome sparked several different voices within the sect.

The middle‑aged man knows that, given Lei Ying's temperament, he is destined to suffer a huge loss in the future, possibly at the cost of his life; the consolation is that he stumbled badly in the Soul Master Competition, and by paying the price of a match's outcome, it made him see reality.

That price is small, so it is worth celebrating.

"You must understand, behind you stands the sect. Our sect's foundation need not be inferior to the Clear Sky Sect or the Fenglei Sect."

The middle‑aged man says the profound words, and Lei Ying nods heavily after hearing them.

"First, come back with me for a while."

"But father... I want to continue in the Soul Master Competition, I..." Lei Ying does not finish, but his eyes reveal his answer.

Lei Ying waited a long time before finally seeing the middle‑aged man nod.

As the Promotion Match nears its end, guaranteeing a good ranking for the Grand Finals, Tie Li does not appear in the remaining Promotion Matches, giving the Second Team members more room to perform.

Even when finally facing the Shenfeng Team and the Thunder Team, Tie Li still does not appear.

Nevertheless, Tie Li continues to follow the competition status of all major teams.

The previously unremarkable Ma Hongjun surprised Tie Li with his combat power when facing the Botanical Academy Team once.

Having lost the celestial spirit herb, his strength not only did not drop but rose; judging from his displayed suppressive power, he is probably three points stronger than Dai Mubai.

His Evil Fire bears raging and explosive attributes, fully showcasing the formidable power a fire‑type Soul Master should have.

Later, during the Slyke Team's battle against the Tiandou Royal Team, Ma Hongjun fought Gu Qi.

Facing the Evil Fire Phoenix Soul Master, Gu Qi's suppression was no less than when he faced Shui Bing'er before.

The phoenix's suppression of bird‑type martial souls, combined with higher‑level flame suppression in rank, doubly suppressed Gu Qi, who quickly fell.

Because Tie Li did not appear, this victory belongs to the Slyke Team.

Tang Lie is very disappointed; he had been looking forward to the clash between Thunder Dragon Six Tones and the Haotian Nine Absolutes.

The Grand Finals are held in Wu Hun City; after the Promotion Match ends, they must reach Wu Hun City within three days.

The Empire dispatched troops specifically to protect the participating teams on their way to Wu Hun City.

On the road to the Spirit Hall, each competing team has its own carriage.

"Senior Du Gu Bo."

Tie Li sees Du Gu Bo among the party for this journey.

"On this trip to Wu Hun City, there may be ambushes along the way," Du Gu Bo says, pulling Tie Li to his side and reminding him.

Tie Li knows that the Spirit Hall will act against Tang San; once his Clear Sky Sect identity was exposed, the Spirit Hall took notice.

He cannot guarantee whether the Spirit Hall will act on him; although the chance is small, Tie Li dares not gamble, and staying by Du Gu Bo's side is safest.

Nowadays Du Gu Bo is no ordinary title Douluo.

"The Spirit Hall intends to use you as a stepping stone for the golden generation; this ambush may not strike you, but accidents may still happen,"

While speaking, Du Gu Bo looks toward the Slyke Team's direction; among the Slyke ranks is an elder of the Clear Sky Sect.

With the Imperial army escorting, everything seems safe, but at that moment countless rocks tumble down the hillsides like rain.

The Imperial army immediately takes action, demonstrating its might by forming an iron wall with their shields to block the falling stones.

All major teams sense something amiss; this does not look like an accident.

With the Imperial army escort, which faction would be blind enough to strike them?

The teams' teachers and students all enter combat mode.

"Shh"

A whistle sounds, and thousands of Black‑clothed People surge from both sides of the hills, charging down at astonishing speed.

"They're coming, be careful," Du Gu Bo warns.

The Black‑clothed People coordinate with each other, and their strength is not weak; using their numerical advantage, they cause great trouble.

Among these Black‑clothed People, at least thirty are powerful Soul Masters with five rings or more.

It appears to be an all‑sided assault, but the real target is the Slyke group.

Facing the Black‑clothed People, the Slyke side's Black‑clothed People are clearly stronger.

"Bang"

A cracking sound; three Black‑clothed People each bear eight Soul Rings.

They suddenly attack Tang San among the crowd; faced with this sudden eruption, Fulangde and the others are too late to defend.

"Dare to strike my Clear Sky Sect, you are courting death."

Unable to hold back, Tang Lie strikes, two yellow, two purple, five black, a title Douluo wielding the Haotian Hammer, whose strength surpasses ordinary title Douluos.

Facing three Eight Ring Soul Douluos, his gaze holds contempt.

Mere Soul Douluos!

"Boom"

A booming blast; the three Soul Douluos are heavily wounded, their bodies flung backward, their chests marked with dark red blood.

"You all retreat; I'll handle this man."

Clad in white, his voice carried a feminine softness; he concealed his face, but Du Gu Bo recognized his identity at first glance.

"The Spirit Hall's Juhua Pass, I didn't expect them to send him out," Du Gu Bo whispered.

Du Gu Bo did not intervene in their battle, keeping a constant eye on Tie Li.

"Hahaha, Juhua Douluo, so very good!"

Tang Lie's voice was thick with hatred, and his strike from the Clear Sky Sect onto the Juhua Douluo grew threefold heavier.

"Fifth Soul Technique, Cold Heroic Convergence!"

The Chrysanthemum Douluo's martial soul is the celestial‑grade spirit grass Sky‑Piercing Chrysanthemum; facing the Heavenly Hammer, he is confident.

Not every Haotian Hammer Soul Master is Tang Hao!

The second and Fifth Soul Rings on Tang Lie lit up!

Second Soul Technique, Hammer Soul Control!

Fifth Soul Technique, Gravity Control!

"Boom"

The clash of the two titled Douluos generated an extremely violent shockwave.

The three Soul Douluos previously severely wounded by Tang Lie fixed their gaze on Tie Li.

"Is it the Fenglei Sect remnant, shall we act?"

"We cannot kill him; keeping him still has use."

"But we can grievously wound him; he possesses power that threatens the Golden Generation. Letting him be injured would be safer."

The three Soul Douluos concealed their aura, thinking they could deceive the heavens.

"You are far too contemptuous of this old man," Du Gu Bo's voice exploded in their ears.

(End of Chapter)