"Heh, word on the street is that Su Ming and Tang San used to be from the same academy, but they had a falling out, leading to their separation. Plus, Yu Tianheng betrayed the Heaven Dou team and nearly got them killed. So, well, you get the idea..."
"Whoa, sounds intense! This match is gonna be something to watch!"
With the Pope's command, the seven selected members from both Heaven Dou Academy and Thunder Academy stepped onto the battlefield.
Dugu Yan whispered to Su Ming, "Su Ming, what do you think Thunder Academy's strategy is this time? If they don't have a trump card, we'll surely win easily, right?"
Dugu Yan added confidently, "Honestly, you probably don't even need to step in. If I unleash my Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor's poison, I doubt Thunder Academy can last a minute."
Su Ming shook his head. "It's not that simple. Don't forget, Tang San is skilled with poisons; he may have already prepared antidote pills. Even if they can't nullify the poison completely, it might buy them enough time."
Dugu Yan frowned. "But they're not allowed to use external items during the match…"
"Yes, but they could've taken antidotes before stepping onto the field," Su Ming explained calmly. "You'll see. If you try it, their resistance will probably hold, at least for a short while."
Dugu Yan looked dissatisfied but couldn't shake the idea. Knowing Tang San, he'd probably already given his team antidote pills before stepping onto the stage.
She asked, "So, do you think they have any trump cards?"
Su Ming responded, "I have a hunch. You'll find out soon enough. I bet they'll use it right at the start. I'm curious to see just how many swings Tang San can manage at his current level."
He continued, "When they do, I'll go full out like I did against Tianshui Academy, using my Giant Wood Golem and Sage Mode. You and Lingling should be ready to release your poison at my command. I've been waiting to face them for a long time."
Dugu Yan nodded, casting a vengeful glance at Yu Tianheng. Finally, the time for payback had arrived.
As she looked, Yu Tianheng avoided her gaze nervously, looking away.
"Hey, does anyone else find Thunder Academy's formation a bit odd? They're in a single line, with Tang San, a control-type spirit master, at the head. Is he planning to use his Clear Sky Hammer right off the bat?" spectators whispered.
Su Ming transmitted to his teammates, "They're likely going to focus all their power into Tang San—an alternate version of the Seven-in-One Fusion Technique. Just follow my lead."
One of the red-gold bishops announced, "The match begins!"
In that instant, Tang San shouted, "Seven-in-One!"
Starting from the back, Oscar began funneling his spirit power to the next person in line, one by one, until all of their spirit energy surged into Tang San. The moment he received the energy, Tang San summoned his Clear Sky Hammer, which grew larger and more powerful as spirit energy flooded in. His strength surged past Spirit Saint and into low-level Soul Douluo!
"Oscar!" Tang San called out.
Oscar tossed him a Pink Excitement Sausage and a Detoxification Sausage, which Tang San quickly swallowed.
"Good luck, Xiao San," said Dai Mubai as he and the others prepared to step off the field. But suddenly, they found they couldn't move!
"Fifth Spirit Skill: Spatial Lock!"
This was Xiao Wu's first time using her fifth spirit skill in the tournament. It allowed her to trap opponents in a small space, rendering them unable to move while causing tearing pain.
"Ahhhh!" Dai Mubai and the others screamed as Xiao Wu's ability took hold, draining what little spirit power they had left. In no time, their bodies were covered in blood, and the pain continued as long as the skill was active.
"You all better stay put until my brother finishes with Tang San. After that, he'll come for you!" Xiao Wu said with a sweet smile.
Looking at Xiao Wu's cheerful face, Dai Mubai and the others shivered in fear. She was a devil!
Seeing this, Su Ming sighed. Xiao Wu's playful side had emerged again—she was back to being her mischievous, big-sister self.
At the same time, Su Ming activated his Sage Mode, his aura intensifying. He used his third spirit skill, Nurturing Vitality, to double his spirit energy recovery rate, and his fourth spirit skill, Revitalized Growth, to boost his life energy by seventy percent.
"Yan, Lingling, keep releasing your abilities on them. Adjust it so they get the 'ultimate experience,'" he directed.
With a nod, Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling unleashed their twin flower lotus petals and the Jade Phosphor Serpent's poison on Dai Mubai and the others. Ye Lingling's healing kept them alive while they endured the pain from Spatial Lock and Dugu Yan's poison, with the Yin Lotus lying dormant, ready to detonate.
Meanwhile, Tang San, feeling the surge of spirit power, smiled faintly. The six trapped teammates didn't concern him; a bit of pain was worth the sacrifice. Victory in the end was all that mattered.
"True Form of the Tool Spirit!" he shouted.
Tang San and his Clear Sky Hammer fused, and he activated his secret skill, Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique!
"Su Ming, prepare to die!" Tang San roared, swinging the enormous hammer toward Su Ming, who stood unmoved, waiting.
Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue observed, frowning slightly. Su Ming appeared ready to face Tang San's hammer with just his body. Could he truly withstand an attack from the Clear Sky True Form?
Just as the hammer was about a meter away, Su Ming made his move.
"Wood Release: Demonic Bark Shield!"
Many of the seasoned spectators felt a familiar phrase arise as they watched the legendary Clear Sky True Form unfold: "The mighty Clear Sky Hammer, the towering Clear Sky Clan!" They couldn't help but wonder—would Heaven Dou's captain, Su Ming, truly be able to withstand this blow?
Strangely, most people present were already in awe of the Clear Sky True Form's power, doubting that Su Ming could hold his ground against Tang San's immense might. Due to Tang Hao's legacy, the Clear Sky Hammer seemed almost invincible to many, especially since Tang San was rumored to be Tang Hao's son.
With a thunderous crash, Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer struck Su Ming's newly summoned shield—a wooden, fang-like construct with a greenish hue. The onlookers held their breath, their eyes glued to every detail on the battlefield.
As the impact cleared, a cloud of white dust enveloped the stage. Many of the higher-ranking spirit masters immediately activated their spiritual senses and exchanged glances, shaking their heads in disbelief—there was only dust, no damage.
With a wave of her hand, Bibi Dong dispelled the smoke, revealing the scene to all. There it was: Tang San's golden-glowing Clear Sky Hammer…and Su Ming's wooden shield, unscathed!
Everyone was puzzled—Su Ming hadn't even called upon his giant wood golem from the last match, yet he had blocked the True Form's hammer strike so effortlessly. This was beyond belief.
"Is that it, Tang San?" Su Ming smirked, mockingly. "So, that's your Clear Sky True Form? Doesn't look all that powerful, does it? Take a look—your so-called might isn't even enough to make me or my teammates flinch!"
Tang San could feel his spiritual energy draining quickly. He thought he heard his father's voice in his mind:
"Xiao San, you aren't strong enough yet. Using the Clear Sky True Form pushes your mental limits. You'll be able to swing only five times, at most seven."
He mulled over this. If his first strike couldn't even force Su Ming to summon the giant wood golem, would the sevenfold power-up be enough?
If possible, Tang San wished to avoid using the Burst Soul Pill, as it would leave him incapacitated for three days after the effects wore off, rendering him useless.
"Hmph, don't get too smug, Su Ming. You've only blocked my first strike. If you couldn't handle even that, I'd be disappointed!"
"Heh, go ahead, then. Let's see if you can break through this wooden shield. If you can't manage that, I won't even need to use my trump card. You're simply too weak!"
The crowd was rapt with excitement, relishing the banter. They had also gained a deeper respect for Su Ming's strength.
Just then, someone gasped, "Hey, have any of you noticed? Su Ming's used more than six spirit skills so far in the tournament!"
"Yeah, I'm from Heaven Dou City, and I've heard that Su Ming's skills include Wood Spikes, Wooden Beam Wall, Tree World Shield, Silent Binding, Great Tree Technique, Storm Lance, Wood Dragon, Giant Wood Golem, and now this Fang Shield technique!"
"What? Su Ming only has six spirit rings, which should limit him to six spirit skills. Are these additional moves his own creations?"
"Exactly! When Su Ming used this shield, I didn't see any corresponding spirit ring appear."
The realization spread like wildfire, shocking everyone present. Even Yu Xiaogang and Tang San were taken aback.
They had forgotten Su Ming's unique talent—his ability to create his own techniques. Upon realizing this, Tang San's face twisted. His Clear Sky Hammer couldn't even break through one of Su Ming's self-created abilities?
Why did Su Ming get this talent while he, Tang San, did not?
Su Ming thought, Ahem, it's not really talent, just Wood Release techniques. True self-created skills aren't this easy.
Clearing his mind of doubts, Tang San channeled all his spirit power and mental focus, hammering down onto Su Ming's wooden shield with relentless determination.
The second strike.
The third strike.
The sixth strike.
The accumulated power of his Clear Sky Hammer was now at mid-level Spirit Douluo strength. Yet, Su Ming's shield remained intact, pushing Tang San to the edge of despair.
On his fifth swing, Tang San had managed to chip a small crack in Su Ming's shield, leading him to believe the next strike would shatter it. But to his frustration, the shield promptly healed itself.
The spectators gazed at Su Ming in awe—his life force seemed unbreakable!
The Titled Douluo, including Bibi Dong, noticed the truth. Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer wasn't weak—Su Ming was simply that strong.
With her sharp senses, Bibi Dong had seen that the shield had sustained a tiny crack as early as Tang San's second blow, but it had instantly repaired itself, as if unscathed.
If Bibi Dong hadn't witnessed it herself, she wouldn't have believed Su Ming possessed such dense life force. As the inheritor of the Rakshasa God's power, her perception was crystal clear.
The crowd gasped in astonishment as Su Ming yawned dramatically, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. "Tang San, could you hurry up? I'm getting bored over here."
The audience was left speechless—Su Ming's indifference was almost infuriating.
Tang San's reaction, however, surprised them all—he appeared calm, eerily so.
Even Su Ming raised an eyebrow. Then again, this was Tang San; his patience was well-known.
Taking a deep breath, Tang San prepared himself. He had anticipated that Su Ming would be tough, but he hadn't expected him to be this resilient.
One other thing was troubling him: his Blue Silver Grass spirit had been "itching" to come out since the match began, as if it wanted to bow before Su Ming. What was going on?
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