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*****
Tang San planned to deal with Ice Emperor's Wrath on his own.
However, he didn't use any special ability; he simply leaped into the air.
"Fool! How will you dodge while in the air?" Huo Yuhao laughed, swiftly redirecting Ice Emperor's Wrath towards Tang San.
But Tang San wasn't panicking. He wrapped Blue Silver Emperor around his hands and feet, weaving it into a snowboard under his feet.
In a swift flip, he landed on the icy currents of Ice Emperor's Wrath, using the Blue Silver Emperor snowboard to surf on the icy flow, effortlessly gliding towards Huo Yuhao.
"What?" Huo Yuhao was shocked, not expecting Tang San to utilize the icy blast in such a way, sliding along it like snowboarding—or was it surfing?
Boom!
Tang San reached Huo Yuhao, lifted his left foot slightly, then used a touch of soul power to launch himself off the flow. With a twist, he kicked the snowboard into Huo Yuhao's face.
In an instant, Huo Yuhao was sent flying, his Ice Emperor's Wrath abruptly halted.
Bang!
Huo Yuhao collided with one of the ice-producing soul guide devices at the corner of the arena, his body partially embedding into it.
Meanwhile, Tang San landed gracefully, with a fluid motion that exuded calmness and elegance.
"An attack that can't hit its target is useless, lucky boy." The Blue Silver Emperor snowboard shattered beneath Tang San's feet, having been frozen by the icy blast, but it broke in such a way that it seemed like he was walking on petals, each step producing a dazzling display, leaving the entire audience in awe.
This entire sequence happened in a flash, but the smoothness of Tang San's movements was something to be remembered.
"Oh my! I captured it on film!" A female soul master excitedly raised her soul guide camera, shouting, "I'm keeping this as a memento!"
"I'll buy it! I'll give you ten thousand gold soul coins!" Nearby spectators who hadn't captured the scene clamored to buy it.
However, the more experienced soul masters from major factions saw something deeper—they recognized Tang San's extraordinary control over soul power.
It was a highly risky maneuver. Any contact with the icy blast would have frozen him, yet Tang San isolated himself with soul power, and during his descent, the snowboard generated a repulsive force against the icy blast, allowing him to float and slide. Truly incredible.
Moreover, from their observation, the entire sequence—from his initial leap to the final strike—used less than level-20 soul power!
In other words, Tang San wasn't overpowering Huo Yuhao with overwhelming soul power; he was using less soul power to achieve a greater impact.
"Such a genius!" Bibi Dong's eyes sparkled.
As for Huo Yuhao...
What of twin spirits?
He's still a clumsy brute, using soul power so crudely. Besides, his personality had shifted during Zhu Zhuqing's sneak attack—likely the result of a sacrificial million-year soul beast temporarily possessing him.
And it seemed like there was some friction between Tang San and Huo Yuhao...
If she had to choose, Bibi Dong would definitely pick Tang San. A spirit theory master was much more valuable than a lucky kid with a torso bone that looked rather appealing.
Though not suitable for Nana, its age was likely over a hundred thousand years, and it would be fine for Nana to absorb it without any major issues.
In secret, Bibi Dong had already decided Huo Yuhao's fate.
Meanwhile, in the arena.
Tang San waved to his teammates, whom he had pulled off the battlefield, and glanced at Huo Yuhao, who was still embedded in the soul guide device. Then he turned to Ju Douluo, bowed, and said, "Your Grace, can you announce the result now?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo snapped back to reality, cleared his throat, and took to the stage, "I hereby announce that the Tian Dou Royal Team has defeated the Canghui Academy Team, the Heaven Dou Royal Team wins—"
"Wait! I'm not dead yet!" Huo Yuhao suddenly regained consciousness, interrupting Chrysanthemum Douluo's announcement. He pushed off the metal plates at his back, forcibly freeing himself from the ice-producing soul guide.
"Cough!"
He coughed up some blood and glared at Tang San with a bruised and swollen face, "I refuse to accept it! Why does this continent have to belong to the Tangs?!"
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Chrysanthemum Douluo's expression darkened. Even with a twin spirit, a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, and soul bones, a mere Soul Elder shouldn't be raising his voice in front of a Titled Douluo.
If it weren't for this being a competition arena with many witnesses, he would've killed the brat and taken that hundred-thousand-year torso bone.
But this was the site of the Continental Elite Tournament.
The entire continent was watching.
As a referee, Chrysanthemum Douluo had to maintain appearances.
"You're in pretty bad shape. You still want to fight?"
"I suggest you surrender and aim for a comeback in the second round," Ju Douluo said, trying to keep the peace. But Huo Yuhao, likely having sustained a concussion from Tang San's earlier blow to his head, seemed determined to take Tang San down, shouting, "I want a life-or-death battle with Tang San!"
Ju Douluo: "..."
Is this guy out of his mind? Losing once means a deathmatch? Does he think this is a gladiatorial arena? As the referee, he couldn't allow such nonsense, and he said, "This isn't a place to settle personal grudges. No life-or-death duels are allowed."
"Your Holiness!"
Out of nowhere, Huo Yuhao turned to the VIP section, shouting, "I want to challenge Tang San to a life-or-death battle, and I hope Your Holiness will permit it!"
The entire arena fell silent.
Everyone thought Huo Yuhao had lost his mind, daring to ask the Pope of the Spirit Hall for permission—who did he think he was? Just a lowly student from Canghui Academy, and he thought he could just ask the Pope for a favor?
Bibi Dong's impression of Huo Yuhao plummeted even further. However, given the public setting, she stood up, her melodious voice resonating throughout the arena as she asked, "What conflict do you have with Tang San? Perhaps I can help mediate."
"I just can't stand his two-faced attitude, simple as that," Huo Yuhao replied, seemingly having lost all sense of reality.
Bibi Dong's expression darkened, and she turned to Emperor Xue Ye and Dai Legao, asking, "The rules of this tournament were agreed upon by the three of us. What should be done about this unruly behavior?"
Dai Legao, maintaining a detached stance, said, "This is an issue between two academies within the Tian Dou Empire. It has nothing to do with the Star Luo Empire. The two of you can discuss it as you see fit."
Emperor Xue Ye's gaze towards Huo Yuhao was also harsh. He thought this kid had talent, but why was he so stubborn? It's just a loss—why make such a big deal out of it? This kind of personality would cause endless trouble in the future.
"Both have hundred-thousand-year soul rings, so a competition isn't a bad idea," Emperor Xue Ye mused, confident that Tang San would be able to handle this hot-headed Huo Yuhao.
"Very well—"
Bibi Dong straightened, her powerful voice echoing throughout the arena thanks to her level-98 soul power: "The competition between the two academies will continue. Falling out of the arena or losing the ability to fight means losing."
She didn't mention anything about a life-or-death duel, just that the match would continue.
Chrysanthemum Douluo chuckled at Huo Yuhao's foolishness, then turned and bowed to the Pope, saying, "Understood, Your Holiness. The match between the Tian Dou Royal Team and the Canghui Academy Team will continue!"
It was tough to reason with someone set on their own destruction.
If Huo Yuhao wanted to be punished, Chrysanthemum Douluo wouldn't interfere—he'd pretend not to hear him if Huo Yuhao tried to surrender quietly. He'd only step in at the last moment if it seemed like Tang San would kill him—after all, as a Titled Douluo, he couldn't let someone die under his watch.
"Doesn't it seem like Huo Yuhao is just asking for trouble?"
The audience chattered among themselves.
"Does he really think a Soul Elder can take on a Soul King like Tang San?"
"Maybe he's into getting hurt. Some people are just like that—they talk big but crumble when it's time to act. They'll go from being bold to being a scaredy-cat."
"Right? But at least he's bold enough to shout at Tang San in person..."
(End of the Chapter)