"Yuhao, did you increase your cultivation?" Ning Tian asked, noticing the sudden increase of soul power around him.
Huo Yuhao merely smiled, not answering her straightforwardly. "Something like that." he then turned towards Wang Dong'er and asked, "Ready?"
Wang Dong'er nodded. "Yes, I'm ready." she looked quite excited and a bit flustered.
Xiao Xiao interjected, raising her hand. "Um, what's going on here exactly? Because I feel like you two are going to use some kind of ultimate attack or something." she then giggled, "But there's no way, right? Yuhao, I can imagine, but you're suggesting that both of you are going to unleash an ultimate ability; is it a martial soul fusion? But that can't be right, you two are already monsters and if you can even do something as rare as-"
"Yeah, we can do a martial soul fusion." Huo Yuhao casually admitted, making her and the others look at him in disbelief.
"Wait, what-?!"
Before anyone can properly comprehend what he said, Wang Dong'er spread her arms and hurriedly hugged Huo Yuhao, beginning their martial soul fusion.
"Let's just get this over with," Wang Dong'er muttered, covering her face against his chest.
"Hm." Huo Yuhao nodded and urged his soul power.
In that moment, a pair of gigantic red eyes with three tomoes projected above Huo Yuhao's head. It radiated a cold arrogance that seemed to look down at the world, as if they were otherworldly. While two pairs of beautiful purplish-blue with golden ended butterfly wings spread out from above Wang Dong'er's head. It gave off a gentle and ethereal aura, as if it belonged to a heavenly being.
Red, gold, blue and purple colored soul power erupted from their bodies as their martial souls began to merge, causing a unnatural phenomenon that caused Xiao Xiao, Ning Tian and Wu Feng to get pushed back. A thick icy mist covered Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong'er, hiding them from view.
"W-What is that?!"
Everyone, whether they be the students in the arena or the teachers spectating, were dumbfounded by the sudden surge of incredible soul power. The latter group were especially quite shocked that an energy comparable to something at least six-rings, and it seemed that its power was increasing!
"Hoo? Haha! Looks like there was more than meets the eye to those two students." Elder Xuan chuckled, taking a bite out of the chicken leg.
"IS THAT A MARTIAL SOUL FUSION?!" Wang Yan exclaimed, lookingcompletely astonished as he watched the unfolding spectacle. His eyes widened as he witnessed the merging of Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong'er's martial souls, forming a breathtaking and formidable combination.
The arena was filled with whispers and gasps as the spectators tried to comprehend the enormity of what they were witnessing.
"... You gotta be kidding me!" Xiao Xiao muttered incredulously, backing away from the storm of energy surrounding Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong'er.
Their talent and potential was monstrous enough, but they could even do a martial soul fusion as well?! There was no doubt in her mind that when they mature, they would both become the most powerful and famous power couple in the entire continent. Unrivalled throughout heaven and earth!
Xiao Xiao clenched her hands, 'I don't want to be left behind!' she inwardly vowed.
Ning Tian and Wu Feng shared look of determination and nodded, they too were not going to back down so easily!
He Caitou had his mouth wide open from astonishment, and so was Tang Ya's group of four.
"Raaaa...." The Netherworld White Tiger let out a low growl, the soul power emanating from its body fluctuated between strong and weak.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Raaaah! This was supposed to be my time to shine! ME!! Why are the heavens so unfair!?" Within the Netherworld White Tiger's inner world, Dai Huabin howled in frustration and anger, to the point that he became red.
"Huabin..." Beside him, Zhu Lu looked on in worry. She stretched out her hand to comfort him and her eyes widened, seeing her spiritual form getting more transparent.
Their martial soul fusion form was going to be undone soon.
"Huabin, we-!"
At that moment, the chilly mist surrounding Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong'er dissipated, the power emanating from the fusion was palpable, sending shivers down the spines of those present.
Gusts of icy wind blew against Xiao Xiao, Ning Tian and Wu Feng, their legs shook from a sudden pressure on them.
"Yu...hao?" Xiao Xiao muttered, looking up in shock.
A figure emerged, taking light soundless steps, but each step he took caused the ground beneath him to crumble and cause spatial rifts to appear.
The figure was a young man in his early twenties with a pale handsome face, long black hair and strands of pink and white mixed in perfectly. He bore a striking resemblance to Huo Yuhao, looking like his adult self. He wore a regal white robe with gold trimmings and black dragon markings all over, making him look like an emperor.
With blue ocean eyes, and several concentric circles all over, the purplish-gold butterflies in each of his eyes began to move, flapping its wings as if it were alive. The aura he exuded was overwhelming, as if he held the power of the heavens within him.
Just the pressure he exuded caused some of the students to tremble in fear, their hearts pounding with the weight of his presence.
"Raaawwr!"
The Netherworld White Tiger let out a defying roar filled, its bloodthirsty eyes was filled with rebellion and determination, its fur bristling with energy as it faced the formidable figure before it.
One of the students, gritting his teeth, yelled out. "Guys! Rally around the giant tiger! These fellows seemed to follow that one student. As long as we get rid of them, we can turn the tide of this battle!"
With determination in their eyes, the students began to take action. Some gathered around the Netherworld White Tiger, ready to support Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu, while others prepared their own martial soul abilities to counter the formidable fusion before them.
"... What now?" Xu Sanshi asked his friends, having quietly regroup together with Xiao Xiao's group behind the... martial soul fusion between Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong'er. "Should we help them? No matter if they have a martial soul fusion, it's still technically one versus a whole damn lot of them!"
Tang Ya smiled and waved her hand. "It's fine. Since Yuhao is confident about this, lets trust them. After all, ever since I have known him, Yuhao has been a miracle worker. Why can't he create another?"
"I agree with your statement, Yaya." Jiang Nannan said, walking up beside her. "But I'm also sure that we could've won this whole competition with just our strength and skill, especially with you and He Caitou here."
"Nannan, I could've contributed a lot to win this competition as well." Xu Sanshi complained, pouting.
Jiang Nannan's eye twitched, kicking his shin. "Shut up!"
"Ah!"
"...Was this also part of the plan, Yuhao?" Xiao Xiao said to herself, looking at the scene unfolding before her with a mix of awe and concern.
"Everyone, charge!" A random fourth-year student shouted as he took the lead. He was a defense-type Soul Elder, and he pushed his arms forward, causing them to immediately expand and become unusually thick. A purple thousand year soul ring around his body flickered, and thick scales began to form on his arms. He strode forward, acting as a shield and battering ram.
Other defense-type Soul Elders came to his side, the Netherworld White Tiger strode behind them with a fierce determination, its massive form inspiring courage in those around it.
"Huo Yuhao" looked at them with indifference, slightly narrowing his eyes in acknowledgement at their attempt to stand against him. With a wave of his hand, a surge of energy rippled through the air, causing cracks to form in the ground beneath their feet.
"Baring arms against me, can you bare the weight of your actions?" his voice echoed with power, resonating through the arena. His eyes focused especially at the Netherworld White Tiger, frozen in its track.
"Huo Yuhao" raised his hand, immense soul power emanated from him and an enormous vertical red eye, with three tomoes, and two-pairs of beautiful butterfly wings appeared above him, casting an imposing golden presence over the arena.
"Divine Punishment."
The clouds above them parted and a fusion of blue, red, purple, and gold formed a massive vortex, crackling with energy. Lightning danced within its depths, and the air around it seemed to vibrate with power. A pillar of golden light descended upon the arena with a deafening roar, targeting the Netherworld White Tiger and its allies.
"Ahhh! Teachers, help!"
"I don't want to be a part of this anymore! Waaah!"
Just as the golden light was about to strike them, Elder Xuan appeared above the students and looked up with a frown.
"This attack is a bit... tricky." He clicked his tongue, his body began to swell; causing his shirt to be ripped apart, showcasing the many golden runes appearing all over his body, then his complexion began to look healthier and younger, and a pair of curved back horns protruded from his head. An overwhelming pressure emanated from him as his soul rings appeared; yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, and red.
A hundred thousand year old soul ring! Almost everyone who saw his soul ring configuration gasped in shock. It was an unprecedented sight, as it was one of the most rarest things to get in the world!
Even "Huo Yuhao" couldn't help but be in awe.
Although he himself had a four hundred thousand year old soul ring, it was still amazing to see another one.
He was even more amazed about Elder Xuan's prowess, after all, a hundred thousand year old soul beast could easily equal a Titled Douluo. Didn't that mean that Elder Xuan already had the power of a Titled Douluo when he was just a Soul Douluo? That is, if he hunted it by himself.
Elder Xuan grunted and cracked his neck, he then waved his arm across the air in a swift motion.
Swish
A space-time rift opened up above the arena, revealing a glimpse of the void beyond their world. The rift was wide enough to envelop the whole Divine Judgement, letting in the pillar of golden light and redirecting its destructive energy harmlessly into the void. Elder Xuan's mastery over space-time manipulation was on full display, as he effortlessly neutralized the powerful attack.
Unbeknownst to everyone, preoccupied by the incredible scene before them, an invisible purplish-golden line hit straight towards the Netherworld White Tiger's forehead, without making a sound, its eyes then began to dim.
As the golden light dissipated into the void, the arena fell silent once more, the tension thick in the air. The students and spectators watched in awe as Elder Xuan closed the rift effortlessly, his aura slowly began to retract.
"Hoo! That was a close one," Elder Xuan remarked with a grin, reverting back to his bum state, even his clothes were back.
'Strange. That attack had the aura of the full attack power of a Super Douluo, yet its force was just around seven-rings. Hm. I did hear that the boy was well versed in illusions, it might make sense that their martial soul fusion skill could mess with a person's sense of perception. It works well as a bluff against strong opponents.' he mused silently, his gaze flickering with understanding as he glanced at "Huo Yuhao".
He let out a sigh, raising his hand, he enveloped the students that were beneath him with his soul power and brought them out of the arena.
'Hm? This is...' He frowned, sensing was wrong with the Netherworld White Tiger, it wasn't responding!
A moment later, the Netherworld White Tiger shone and separated into the figures of Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu.
To his shock and horror however, almost the entire half of Dai Huabin's body, his left, looked almost completely burnt, all the meridians and nervous system within that half were severely damaged. Zhu Lu, on the other hand, looked pale and weak, barely able to stand on her own.
Elder Xuan's expression darkened, glancing back towards "Huo Yuhao". 'That boy is so vicious!' he quickly brought both towards to Elder Li to heal them.
Just as he was about to go back to the arena and have a talk with a certain someone, someone clothed entirely in black appeared in a swirl of shadows from behind him. That person knelt and greeted him, cupping his hands.
"Hm? What happened? It's rare for one of you guys to be here, was another spy discovered?" Elder Xuan asked, turning to the mysterious figure.
The figure in black shook their head. "It's something far worse, Elder Xuan. Dai Yueheng and his caretaker has been arrested, and his younger brother, Dai Huabin, is to be brought along as well."
"What?! Why?"
"... They have been charged with attempted murder and tampering with evidence! They are to be put to trial, immediately!"
"Huo Yuhao" looked towards Elder Xuan's direction and smiled.
'Everything is going smoothly.'
........
AN: The second part of the "Future Possibility" side-story/omake is being written right now and would be posted soon on my p.a.t.r.e.o.n. Btw, the new event on Genshin Impact is making me relive my time playing piano tiles. Any of you made it to 100% on Pro or the Oni King? You're a legend if you do!
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