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"Mubai, fuse!"
The shattering of the Batwing Rebound left Tang San both shocked and enraged. He knew he stood no chance against Ning Tian, nor did the rest of the Shrek team. With Zhu Zhuqing's immunity to poison and Ye Lingling's ability to heal any wound, their odds were even slimmer. Their only hope of defeating Ning Tian lay in executing a martial soul fusion skill.
Without hesitation, Tang San unleashed his martial soul, Blue Silver Grass, merging it with Dai Mubai, who had already completed his White Tiger possession. In a burst of vibrant green light, the two transformed into a colossal green tiger, stretching seven meters long and towering two meters high. Tang San's soul power now outstripped Dai Mubai's, granting him control over the fusion. With Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track guiding his steps, Purple Demon Eyes blazing, and Mysterious Jade Hand enhancing his front claws, he charged at Ning Tian with ferocious intent.
Ning Tian didn't flinch. His fourth soul ring ignited.
Crackle!
A deafening thunderclap echoed as golden arcs of electricity surged around him, weaving into a dense, ten-meter-wide lightning net that ensnared the oncoming green tiger. The beast let out a pitiful roar, its martial soul fusion skill collapsing under the assault. Dai Mubai and Tang San reemerged, their bodies charred black, twitching helplessly on the ground.
Silence gripped the arena. Even Yu Tianheng and the Shrek team lost their fighting spirit. They had long known Ning Tian's strength rivaled at least a level sixty soul master, yet watching him dismantle a fusion skill from two Spirit Ancestors in a single strike left them dumbfounded. In this Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, Ning Tian shone as the brightest star. He was unstoppable.
Flender, witnessing the scene, recognized their defeat was inevitable. After a brief pause, he stepped forward. "The Shrek team concedes," he declared. No sooner had he spoken than Ning Fengzhi rose beside him, activating his Seven Treasure Avatar to heal the gravely injured Tang San and Dai Mubai.
Xiao Wu, heeding Ning Tian's earlier instructions, had secured the Acacia Broken Heart Red and kept her distance from Tang San, preserving her hidden identity. But Ning Tian knew this tranquility was merely the prelude to a storm.
As Ning Fengzhi tended to the wounded, he too sensed something off. His gaze darted between the Pope, Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo, and the two teams on the stage. Despite the presence of prodigies like Ning Tian and Tang San, a twin martial soul wielder, Spirit Hall remained eerily inactive. The stillness unnerved him, stirring an inexplicable fear.
Bibi Dong stood, flanked by Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo, and Sword Douluo. With a graceful wave, she summoned a red-robed bishop bearing a tray adorned with three soul bones. Her voice was steady as she proclaimed, "In the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, this year's final champion is the New Heaven Dou Battle Team from Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. Congratulations, young genius soul masters."
Ning Tian, Zhu Zhuqing, Ye Lingling, Ning Rongrong, the Shi brothers, and Yufeng lined up in front. Behind them stood Zhu Qing, Mona, Osler, and Huang Jia. All eyes from the New Heaven Dou Battle Team, except for Ning Tian and Zhu Qing were glued to the soul bones on the tray. The master and disciple, however, fixated on the Crypt Demon Spider soul bone fragments scattered on the ground, shielded by the golden glow of the Sacred Heart Begonia.
The referee, a red-robed bishop, called out, "Please have the representative of the New Heaven Dou Battle come forward to receive the championship reward."
Ning Tian strode forward confidently. Standing before Bibi Dong, he was struck by her beauty up close, it was far surpassing what he'd seen from afar. Every detail, from her statuesque figure to the flawless texture of her skin, was perfect. Yet it was her commanding presence as Pope that stoked a fierce desire within him.
Unaware of his thoughts, Bibi Dong studied Ning Tian's striking features, her mind drifting to Yu Xiaogang. Both had begun with half a level of innate soul power and a useless martial soul, yet Ning Tian had risen to a height that astonished even her. He'd bested the twin martial soul heir of the Clear Sky Clan, Spirit Hall's Golden Generation, and every young soul master on the continent.
'If only Yu Xiaogang had found a mentor like Master Zhu Qing.' After a moment, she spoke, "You are exceptional, truly exceptional. Worthy of being Master Zhu Qing's disciple. Would you join Spirit Hall? I offer you the position of Holy Son."
Ning Fengzhi's heart clenched. He trusted Ning Tian's loyalty, certain he wouldn't betray them, but the title of Holy Son, gateway to becoming the next Pope as a temptation few could resist. Even his confidence wavered.
Ning Tian, momentarily surprised, delivered his rehearsed reply, "I'm honored by Your Holiness's generosity, but I've sworn brotherhood with Prince Xue Qinghe of the Heaven Dou Empire. My allegiance lies with His Highness and the empire."
Relief washed over Ning Fengzhi. He shared a look with Sword Douluo, their admiration for Ning Tian deepening. To reject the Holy Son position was a rare act of loyalty in this world.
Bibi Dong's calm demeanor held firm. "Very well. I wish you swift progress and a future as a Title Douluo," she said, passing him the tray. Ning Tian stowed it in his storage soul tool without a glance, then turned to Zhu Qing.
Zhu Qing stepped forward with a nod. "Your Holiness, I must protest. The Shrek team violated tournament rules during our match."
The crowd erupted, eyes swiveling to the Shrek team. Such an accusation was unprecedented in the tournament's history.
Flender, flustered, pleaded, "Your Holiness, Tang San's hidden weapons were just fragments of his external soul bone. That's not against the rules, is it?" Guilt shadowed the Shrek team's faces, except for Xiao Wu's.
Tang San, sensing disaster, dove for the fragments, desperate to erase the poison and evidence. Bibi Dong ignored Flender, her gaze locking onto Zhu Qing. "Please present your evidence."
"This is the evidence," Zhu Qing declared, pointing at Tang San, who was frantically gathering the fragments of his Crypt Demon Spider external soul bone. "As far as I know, Tang San's external soul bone comes from the Crypt Demon Spider, which is non-venomous. Yet, these fragments of his soul bone are laced with deadly poison. It's obvious where that poison came from."
Bibi Dong didn't waste a moment. With a gentle lift of her hand, she summoned the last remaining soul bone fragment, one that Tang San hadn't yet retrieved into her grasp. She examined it closely and nodded. "Indeed, it contains potent poison. Shrek Team, what do you have to say for yourselves?"
As she spoke, Bibi Dong's piercing gaze swept over the Shrek Team.
Flender turned to Ning Fengzhi, his eyes pleading for support, but Ning Fengzhi could only shake his head helplessly. The evidence was undeniable; even if he wanted to defend Shrek, there was no way to argue against it. Worse still, Shrek had targeted the New Heaven Dou Battle Team, which represented Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. Defending Shrek now would mean crossing the Heaven Dou Empire.
Bibi Dong's voice rang out, sharp and authoritative: "Shrek Team, due to your academy's cheating in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, a severe violation, from this day forward, all members of the Shrek Team, including teachers and students, are banned for life from participating in the tournament. Furthermore, all rankings achieved by the Shrek Team in this competition are hereby nullified."
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