NOVEL NEXT Chapter 165: Chapter 165: Tang San's Gamble
Chapter 165: Tang San's Gamble
"Referee, the Spirit Hall Academy team forfeits the individual matches and voluntarily enters the losers' bracket to participate in this afternoon's team battles!"
After the referee declared the outcome, Qian Renxue took a deep breath and announced her decision.
For a moment, it was earth-shattering!
This was the plaza in front of the Supreme Hall of the Spirit Hall, the Papal Palace—a symbol of utmost prestige. To voluntarily forfeit and enter the losers' bracket was tantamount to trampling the Spirit Hall's dignity underfoot.
Yan, with his fiery temper, could not hold back. He stormed to the base of the platform and roared at Qian Renxue, "Who gave you the authority to decide this on your own? We haven't even stepped into the ring yet! We can still fight!"
Qian Renxue didn't even lift her eyelids. She had no intention of wasting words on this rash and brainless man. "You? What good would it do? The only thing waiting for you in the ring is humiliation."
"You—!"
Being so utterly dismissed by Qian Renxue, Yan's fury exploded despite knowing he was no match for her. His spirit power surged, and he transformed into a beast, ready to pounce.
"Yan!"
Hu Liena, not yet blinded by love, maintained her composure. In the face of Qian Renxue's defeat, their strongest fighters were the three newly promoted Soul Kings. Against Xiao Yu, a Soul Emperor far beyond the norm, they had no chance.
Since defeat was inevitable, what was the point of fighting a meaningless battle? Worse yet, injuries sustained in the fight might compromise their performance in the afternoon's team match.
Under her reprimand, Yan, whose mind had been blank with rage, quickly calmed down.
"Referee, the Spirit Hall Academy team has chosen to forfeit. Let the individual matches between Shrek Academy and Nine Stars Academy continue."
In front of the Papal Palace, Bibi Dong, seated at the head of the hall, rose slowly. Though at odds with her daughter, she saw the situation clearly and spoke up.
With the Papal decree, the referee no longer hesitated. "The Spirit Hall Academy team has voluntarily forfeited and entered the losers' bracket. The individual matches will continue. Shrek Academy, please send your next participant!"
"Referee, our Shrek—"
"Teacher!"
Before Yu Xiaogang could announce Shrek's withdrawal, Tang San suddenly interrupted him.
"Xiao San!" Yu Xiaogang looked at his disciple, puzzled.
Tang San's face was firm, and he met Yu Xiaogang's gaze with determination, speaking each word clearly. "Teacher, I want to give it a try."
"Xiao San, are you out of your mind?"
Before Yu Xiaogang could respond, Liu Erlong burst out. "That's a Soul Emperor up there! We all know how strong-willed you are, but you have to recognize the massive disparity in strength!"
Yu Xiaogang added gravely, "Xiao San, you've already used the Seven-in-One Fusion Technique, the pinnacle of my life's research. It's only at its strongest when supported by your Clear Sky Hammer. If you get severely injured in the morning's match, we won't stand a chance in the upcoming battles!"
"Xiao San, don't be impulsive!" Flender also urged.
"Teacher, Teacher Erlong, Dean, I am not acting on impulse." Tang San's voice was resolute.
"The Seven-in-One Fusion Technique is indeed powerful, but it's impossible to use it twice in succession. Both Nine Stars Hall and Spirit Hall have Titled Douluo-level experts. Once they've seen us use the technique, they will inevitably come up with a countermeasure.
Both teams also have Soul Emperors among their ranks. Without the Seven-in-One Fusion Technique, we don't stand a chance against either. That makes now our only opportunity to secure the championship.
After fighting Qian Renxue, Xiao Yu's spirit power must be significantly depleted. With my Clear Sky Hammer and Eight Spider Lances, I might not be without a chance against him. If I can defeat him, I'll inject the venom of the Eight Spider Lances into his body, rendering him unable to participate in tomorrow's finals.
In the afternoon's team battles, we'll use the Seven-in-One Fusion Technique to eliminate Spirit Hall Academy. Without Xiao Yu, the Nine Stars Academy's strength will be greatly diminished, and they'll lose their composure. If we go all out, we might have a shot at victory!"
Flender, Yu Xiaogang, and Liu Erlong were all momentarily silent. After a brief reflection, they had to admit that Tang San's reasoning made sense.
"Shrek Academy, send out your next participant immediately!"
The referee on the stage had grown impatient. His cold gaze swept over the Shrek Academy waiting area as he urged them sharply.
"Teacher, I'll go!"
Tang San stood up, his eyes more resolute than ever as he looked directly at Yu Xiaogang.
Yu Xiaogang sighed and said, "Xiao San, if that's your decision, then go. But you must promise me this: the moment you realize something is wrong, if Xiao Yu still has strength left to spare, you are to immediately concede. The result of the match is far less important than your life."
"I will, Teacher!" Tang San nodded emphatically and strode confidently toward the stage.
"Never thought you'd actually dare to step up!"
Xiao Yu looked at Tang San as he approached, his lips curling into a disdainful smirk. "Let me guess, you're banking on the idea that I've used up a lot of my spirit power and think this might be your chance?"
"Despicable!"
Several voices hissed in disapproval from the audience.
"Battles aren't just about brute strength but also about strategy," Tang San retorted. "I haven't broken any rules. Xiao Yu, you're a dignified Soul Emperor. Are you thinking of conceding to a mere Soul Ancestor like me?"
Tang San's greatest concern at the moment was that Xiao Yu might concede, which would render his plans useless. He immediately employed a taunt to provoke him.
Xiao Yu easily saw through Tang San's ploy and responded calmly, "Your little provocation won't work on me. While it's true that my fight with Xue'er drained a significant amount of my spirit power, dealing with you is still more than manageable."
"Arrogant!"
Tang San shouted in anger. A dark light surged from his left hand as he gripped the Clear Sky Hammer tightly. At the same time, his Eight Spider Lances spirit bone activated. His upper garment tore apart with a loud rip as eight sharp, spider-like limbs burst from his back, extending to over three meters in length. The sinister aura emanating from the venomous tips of the lances chilled the air around him.
"An external spirit bone?"
Bibi Dong, who also possessed an external spirit bone, immediately recognized it and gasped in surprise. Her gaze turned to Chrysanthemum Douluo, who stood nearby, with a look of reproach.
Tang San had already revealed his Eight Spider Lances during the battle with Thunderclap Academy, but Chrysanthemum Douluo's report had mistakenly identified it as a torso spirit bone.
A 1,500-year torso spirit bone wouldn't have caught Bibi Dong's attention. She had even secretly mocked Tang San for his lack of experience, assuming he had foolishly wasted the critical torso slot—the most important among the six major spirit bone types—on a low-quality piece.
However, a 1,505-year external spirit bone was an entirely different story. External spirit bones ranked second only to the legendary 100,000-year spirit rings in a spirit master's list of dreams because of their ability to grow and evolve. Even though Tang San's current external spirit bone was only 1,505 years old, it had the potential to surpass the 100,000-year threshold in the future.
(End of Chapter)
🌟 Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! 🌟
Hello, beloved readers and supporters!
I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you'll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including:
📚 Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn't have to wait!
💬 Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do.
👏 Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey!
Patreon.com/anish_44