Chapter 159

Today Seven Treasure Academy had a bye, meaning they had no match; the remaining fourteen teams paired up to fight, so today there were seven matches in total.

Perhaps because this year's tournament differs from the original, Shilaike Academy directly faced Blazing Fire Academy in the first round, but they are today's last match.

The first six matches were also exciting, but Gu Xuan, sitting in the Seven Treasure Academy rest area, most looked forward to Tang San's appearance; after a month apart, Tang San's soul power had become more solid, and he seemed more confident, giving off an air of superiority.

This meant he had already added a soul ring to his second martial soul, the Clear Sky Hammer, but Gu Xuan still didn't know whether Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer's four soul rings included any of ten-thousand-year level.

The promotion tournament had no elimination; it was just a contest of strength, with final rankings determining advancement.

There were six matches each day, three in the morning and three in the afternoon; after the morning matches ended, Gu Xuan went to Shilaike Academy's rest camp, where everyone already knew him well, and they all warmly welcomed his arrival.

Especially after learning that Gu Xuan had sponsored Tang San with a ten-thousand-year torso soul bone and a Soul-Returning Pill, everyone else at Shilaike Academy was extremely envious.

Even Flender, Liu Erlong, and Zhao Wují were like that, after all, even they, strong beings close to Soul Douluo cultivation, didn't have a single soul bone.

As honorary consultant of Shilaike Academy, and with his granddaughter Meng Yiran also participating in the competition, he and Snake Granny Zhaotianxiang were naturally present as well.

Junior Gu Xuan pays respects to Senior Dragon Lord, Senior Snake Granny, and Dean Flender...

Gu Xuan slightly bowed his hands in greeting to the senior members of Shilaike Academy.

Meng Shu was also very pleased with Gu Xuan, after all Tang San was his granddaughter's husband, so Gu Xuan's sponsorship of Tang San was equivalent to helping him.

Although Tang San was also involved in an exchange, in their view Gu Xuan's action was undoubtedly a huge investment, lacking any sentiment, making it absolutely impossible for him to do so.

At least they couldn't do it.

Although Meng Shu already knew Tang San's identity and was fortunate that his granddaughter had found a good support, it cannot be denied that Gu Xuan's help to Tang San was significant.

"Young friend Gu Xuan, no need for excessive politeness; since you're Xiao San's friend, I'll thicken my skin and call you Xiao Xuan," Meng Shu said with a chuckle.

"This is the junior's honor."

After exchanging pleasantries with Meng Shu and company, Gu Xuan entered Shilaike Academy's main tent, where Tang San personally brewed him a cup of tea.

"Big Brother Gu, thank you for the soul bone and Soul-Returning Pill; otherwise I might really have burst from absorbing the final ten-thousand-year soul ring," Tang San said sincerely.

Hearing this, Gu Xuan raised his eyebrows: "Xiao San, are you saying you absorbed a ten-thousand-year soul ring?"

Tang San smiled and nodded, not hiding anything from Gu Xuan, after all without Gu Xuan there would be no present him, and it would eventually be exposed anyway, so there was no need to conceal it.

"Yes, my Clear Sky Hammer now has four soul rings: three thousand-year and one ten-thousand-year, and my soul power has risen from forty-two to forty-nine because of it," Tang San replied with a smile.

Hearing this, Gu Xuan couldn't help but feel astonished; four soul rings adding seven levels of soul power—indeed Tang San's luck was quite good.

However, although Tang San's soul power grew rapidly, his foundation had become somewhat unstable, because the increase was too fast, leaving him little time to consolidate his soul power cultivation.

Nevertheless, it must be said that his strength had also greatly increased; with a forty-nine soul power level and his Clear Sky Hammer bearing four soul rings of at least thousand-year level, even against a Soul King, Tang San had the power to fight.

Although his foundation was unstable, most Soul Kings were still opponents for Tang San.

Only a genius like Feng Xiao Tian could now match Tang San in strength.

"Congratulations, Xiao San; I estimate it won't be long before you can break through the fifty-level bottleneck," Gu Xuan said with a gentle smile.

Upon hearing this, Tang San smiled from the heart; perhaps he still wasn't a match for Big Brother Gu, but facing Feng Xiao Tian he had full confidence.

Now he and Feng Xiao Tian are both forty-nine level, but the lowest year of the four soul rings on his Clear Sky Hammer are five thousand years; what does Feng Xiao Tian have to fight with? Team battles aside, in a one-on-one Tang San is confident he can take first place in this promotion tournament.

However, Gu Xuan's smile quickly faded as he seriously told Tang San: "Xiao San, remember not to be overly ambitious; your soul power rose too fast, you need some time to consolidate your cultivation, otherwise your later foundation may become unstable."

"If you neglect your foundation, later you could suffer severed meridians at best, or a bursting body at worst."

Hearing Gu Xuan's heartfelt words, Tang San felt warmed; he had also considered this issue, and now he daily consolidates his cultivation, and within three months he could fully master his newly surged strength. Yet hearing it from Gu Xuan's mouth still felt refreshing.

"I understand, Big Brother Gu."

After a while of idle chat, Gu Xuan left, giving Tang San some time to consolidate his cultivation, after all the afternoon's final match was Shilaike Academy versus Blazing Fire Academy.

Time flew by, and soon it was the afternoon's final match; Shilaike Academy's first combatant was not Tang San, but Dai Mubai.

Tang San also wanted to show off, but since Dai Mubai and company had already revealed their Soul Ancestor cultivation, there was no need to hide it, so Flender decided to give Dai Mubai and company more experience.

Yu Xiaogang had already gone to Wu Hun City ahead of time because Tang San had prematurely added soul rings to his Clear Sky Hammer; this was much earlier than in the original, since in the original Yu Xiaogang went to Wu Hun City only after the promotion tournament ended.

However, before leaving, Yu Xiaogang had already drafted a rough plan for the Shilaike team; Flender now proceeded to deploy troops according to Yu Xiaogang's plan.

Of course, the battle order was decided by Tang San himself, which also served as his training.

The first combatant of the Blazing Fire team was team captain Huo Wushuang, also Huo Wu's brother, a forty-three-level Strength Attack System Soul Ancestor, martial soul: Single-Horn Fireburst Dragon, his strength ranking among the top of the fifteen academy teams in the Tian Dou region.

Dai Mubai and Huo Wushuang took the field, each releasing their martial soul.

"Dai Mubai, martial soul: White Tiger, forty-two-level Strength Attack System Soul Ancestor."

"Huo Wushuang, martial soul: Single-Horn Fireburst Dragon, forty-three-level Strength Attack System Soul Ancestor."

After both released their martial souls, the referee's voice sounded: "Promotion tournament first round sixth match, Shilaike team versus Blazing Fire team, match……begin!"

As the host's voice faded, Dai Mubai and Huo Wushuang moved, each using their own enhancing soul skill; they immediately engaged in close combat, the most direct fighting style for Strength Attack System Soul Masters.

Their fighting styles were similar, to the delight of the watching Royal Knights.

However, this time Dai Mubai lacked the boost from immortal-grade herbs; although full of fervor and ambition, he was quickly completely suppressed by Huo Wushuang.

Dai Mubai's heart burned with indignation: Why? Why was he inferior to Huo Wushuang? Clearly the opponent's soul power was only one level higher than his own.

Why did he lack a twin martial soul? Tang San's martial soul was merely Blue Silver Grass, yet now he possessed an additional world's top tool martial soul, the Clear Sky Hammer.

Clearly his soul power level equaled Tang San's, yet Tang San had now reached forty-nine; clearly he was the captain, so why was the spotlight stolen by Tang San? Clearly he was a prince, so what gave Gu Xuan the right to act as if he couldn't see him? He had repeatedly shown goodwill, only to be brushed off by Gu Xuan's smile.

That aside, what did it mean that he was giving Zhu Zhuqing sly, furtive glances? Not knowing why, constantly being suppressed, Dai Mubai began to feel somewhat agitated, expending his soul power recklessly, yet he remained continually suppressed by Huo Wushuang.

Perhaps with a slight smile: "Dai Mubai, let's settle this!"

Only see Huo Wushuang's body surface purple fourth soul ring light up, his arms transforming into a pair of burning fierce flame dragon heads.

"Fourth soul skill: Fireburst Dragon Fist!"

Dai Mubai not to be outdone, likewise released his fourth soul skill: "Fourth soul skill: White Tiger Meteor Shower!"

Their fourth soul skills collided; Dai Mubai's fourth soul skill had a wide attack range, but its power was somewhat lacking.

In the end Huo Wushuang defeated Dai Mubai; in the first captain's clash between Shilaike Academy and Blazing Fire Academy, Blazing Fire won outright.

Because Huo Wushuang still had combat ability, while Dai Mubai had fainted from exhausted soul power, his injuries not light, likely making it hard for him to fight for the next few days.

Tang San slightly frowned; Dai Mubai's hotheadedness disrupted his plans, after all if Dai Mubai couldn't fight in the coming days, Shilaike Academy would effectively lose one Soul Ancestor's combat power.

However, it doesn't matter; in the end he will also take action.

PS: typo, will correct later.

(End of chapter)