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After the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion finished speaking, it emanated a dense, icy aura. The overwhelming energy sent shockwaves through the audience, leaving the assembled Titled Douluo visibly shaken.
If this energy exploded, it would indeed be as devastating as the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion threatened, potentially destroying most of Spirit City.
Bibi Dong hesitated.
If this beast did explode, even if she managed to contain it, the Elder Hall would have all the justification they needed to impeach her. Those old-timers had always been out to get her.
However, Tang San noticed that the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion was bluffing.
The supposed self-detonation was something the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion couldn't actually do. The outer layer of energy was merely an imitation by the spiritual power of the Sky Ice Silkworm, not the genuine source of cultivation energy.
In reality, the Scorpion was far weaker inside.
"Soul beasts transforming into humans requires time; it can't happen instantly. It probably starts from an embryonic stage, like in Douluo II with the Snow Emperor," Tang San thought to himself. "Reversing the transformation process to turn a human back into a soul beast would also take considerable time, but the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion didn't seem to need much time. My Purple Demon Eye revealed that its internal cultivation source is pitifully small, even though its physical body is exceptionally strong, capable of crushing Titled Douluo like Chrysanthemum Douluo."
"So it may look strong on the outside, but it's hollow on the inside. Something must have gone wrong in the transformation process. After all, those two Tianmeng Ice Silkworms have nothing but strong spiritual power; they shouldn't be relied upon for much else."
"More than three hundred thousand years of cultivation, more than half of it has been consumed and wasted."
After confirming the situation, Tang San slowly approached the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion. His Purple Demon Eye pinpointed the weak spot in the spiritual layer. With Heaven's Nine Steps, he closed the distance in an instant.
His left fist clenched, his soul power surged through it, converting via the Haotian Hammer, and concentrated a thread of destructive energy that pierced through the energy shield, striking the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion on the head.
Buzz!
In a flash, the energy layer surrounding the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion dissipated, its destructive force penetrated its brain, shattering the spirits of the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion, Dou yi Tianmeng, Dou er Tianmeng, and Huo Yuhao.
Within three seconds, the Ice Emperor and the two Tianmeng Ice Silkworms' spirits were severely weakened, while Huo Yuhao's spirit completely shattered, vanishing into nothingness.
Tang San was magnanimous; he didn't mind people talking behind his back. But if someone confronted him directly, there would be consequences.
Kindness and ruthlessness are opposites but can coexist in the same person without contradiction.
The moment just now happened between lightning and flint, and even Bibi Dong didn't react. It wasn't until he saw the red soul ring with three golden lines and two white-gold soul rings that he realized that this... The 380,000-year-old soul beast died, and three soul rings exploded.
'Too bad it wasn't me who killed it, otherwise I'd be able to absorb them,' Bibi Dong thought, realizing the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion might have been weaker on the inside, its transformation into a soul beast leaving its inner cultivation far below its outward appearance.
Perhaps Tang San noticed this and decided to strike, eliminating the threat.
However, most soul masters probably don't know this clearly and can only see the surface: Tang San killed a 380,000-year-old soul beast with one punch... In this way, to the entire residents of Spirit City, Tang San He is their savior.
Resourceful and brave!
Remarkable! Yu Xiao Gang, if you had even a tenth of Tang San's ability, you wouldn't be in this state.
"Tang San, by defeating this beast and saving Spirit City, you've earned merit," Bibi Dong declared with a grand tone, aiming to further elevate Tang San's status and bind him to the Spirit Hall. "For your contribution to soul theory and for benefiting the continent, I appoint you as an Honorary Elder of the Spirit Hall, with a rank just below mine. You will have unrestricted access to Spirit City and the Pope's library. What do you think?"
"Thank you, Your Holiness, for the honor," Tang San responded with a slight smile, bowing to accept Bibi Dong's offer.
Being an elder was of little importance to him.
What mattered was having free access to Spirit City and the Pope's library!
That was the key! Next, there was the issue of the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion.
Since he defeated it, its soul rings and soul bones naturally belonged to him.
However, in terms of attributes, none of them were suitable for him.
Electrolux suggested, "Release Wu lin. With my help, she can devour the three soul rings. I have my ways to make those three spirits obedient pets."
Upon hearing this, Tang San released Wu Lin, the little ice-blue figure opened her mouth wide and sucked in the three soul rings, then removed the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion's trunk bone, swallowing it whole.
The sight left everyone astonished—
Was this how soul rings were absorbed?
Or was it some sort of storage technique? Was that blue-haired little girl a storage space?
Bibi Dong was a bit curious and asked, "What is this about?"
Tang San consulted with Electrolux before answering, "This might be Wu Lin and Wu Tong's unique trait—they can store soul rings and soul bones, but only those with corresponding attributes: ice and fire."
"Though I haven't fully figured out how they do it, they can indeed store soul rings indefinitely. Perhaps when my strength grows in the future, I could seal soul rings even if I wasn't the one who defeated the soul beast. However, Wu Lin and Wu Tong can probably only store ice and fire soul rings."
As a woman, Bibi Dong's intuition told her Tang San wasn't telling the whole truth. It annoyed her, but given the public setting and that she was prying into someone else's abilities, it was understandable if he wasn't entirely transparent. She sighed, saying, "That is indeed quite interesting. You could start a business selling soul rings."
"You know, Your Holiness, you might be onto something. If I could understand the underlying principles and create a soul tool that could store soul rings with specific attributes, it would mean some powerful families wouldn't need to hunt soul beasts—they could just buy soul rings."
Seeing Tang San considering this, Bibi Dong raised an eyebrow. She had merely made an offhand remark, but Tang San seemed to be taking the idea seriously.
Selling and storing soul rings? If that became a reality, it could indeed be a lucrative business.
Afterward, the body of Huo Yuhao/Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion was taken away by Spirit Hall staff, and Tang San was given a purple-gold card containing ten billion gold soul coins, valid across the continent. It was Spirit Hall's payment for the body of the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion.
Even without soul rings or soul bones, the 380,000-year-old beast's incredibly durable body was a rare and valuable resource for research.
"Captain, you really made a name for yourself, defeating a hundred-thousand-year-old transformed soul beast," said Yu Tianheng and his teammates, approaching Tang San with expressions of awe.
"Stay calm. I was just lucky; I couldn't have broken through its defense otherwise," Tang San replied, indicating for them to quiet down. He then raised his left hand, "I used my left hand."
The others understood. They had all experienced the death arena and knew the power contained in Tang San's left hand, thanks to the Haotian Hammer.
Nevertheless, they were still impressed!
After all, Tang San had weathered the icy tornado storm without activating any soul power and even forced the true form of the hundred-thousand-year-old soul beast to emerge.
Moreover, Tang San hadn't used any of his soul power yet!
That was proof of strength!
The team leader, Qin Ming, came over to check on Tang San, concerned about his condition. When he heard that Tang San had used his left hand's power, he breathed a sigh of relief.
He had thought Tang San could really punch a hundred-thousand-year-old soul beast to death.
If that were the case, there wouldn't be any point in continuing the competition; they might as well hand the championship to Team Heaven Dou Royal.
As they were leaving the arena, Tang San scanned the audience, pausing for a moment on Mu Tian, Wang Chen, and Xu Xing.
It was both a warning and a declaration:
Don't mess with me!
Or else!
Even in a crowded setting, there are ways to eliminate you!
Mu Tian's heart raced, fear taking over. "Tang San is untouchable right now. It's best to wait until I'm stronger before challenging him again."
Wang Chen, however, had given up, astonished by Tang San's power and feeling numb. "We're both time-travelers, but Tang San is just too lucky. I'd better stay on good terms with Qian Renxue... Now that I think about it, I don't really have any conflict with Tang San. I might have provoked him a bit, but he hasn't come after me. I should just stick to sucking up to Qian Renxue. Besides, it seems like Tang San and Wuhun Hall might not have major conflicts."
Xu Xing's eyes, on the other hand, narrowed in thought. "Tang San's growth is terrifying. He's unbeatable for now, but my martial spirit isn't weak. Once I reach Soul Sage level and awaken my Celestial Constellation Field, I'll be invincible!"
Compared to the other two, Xu Xing's realization of his martial spirit's potential had inflated his ego.
However, he needed time to grow...
---
Because of the damage to the arena, it had to be rebuilt, which required some time. The second round's second match had to be postponed for seven days.
This was unavoidable.
But it also gave other academy teams a chance to understand Tang San's tremendous power and time to strategize and analyze.