**Chapter 140: Confiscating the Power**
Zhao Ling nodded and accepted Bone Douluo's challenge. Emperor Xue Ye hadn't expected Zhao Ling to agree so readily. Still, since the royal worshiper was willing to demonstrate his strength, Emperor Xue Ye was eager to witness it firsthand.
With a wave of his hand, Emperor Xue Ye directed everyone to the royal exclusive training ground.
Upon arrival, he ordered the guards to strictly control all entrances and exits, forbidding anyone else from entering. He also issued a firm command that nothing witnessed at the martial arts arena today was to be publicized.
Zhao Ling couldn't help but find this amusing. Does Emperor Xue Ye really think I'll lose to Bone Douluo and embarrass myself?
The thought alone was laughable. Zhao Ling knew the power he possessed: his three- to four-hundred-thousand-year spirit rings, his full spirit bone state, and his Purple Crystal Behemoth Spirit Bone, unmatched in close combat. Add to that his six-fold physical fitness bonus from his intermediate wild combat body, and losing wasn't even a remote possibility.
As the group gathered, Bone Douluo stepped into the arena, his deep-set eyes burning with fighting spirit. Zhao Ling, in contrast, wore a calm smile as he floated lightly onto the stage, his composure unshaken.
Bone Douluo wasted no time, instantly releasing his martial spirit: the Bone Dragon. Behind him, a colossal bone dragon materialized, exuding a majestic and oppressive aura that spread across the arena.
Nine soul rings—two yellow, two purple, and five black—rose around him, signifying his prowess as a Titled Douluo.
However, Zhao Ling still didn't release his martial spirit. He merely stood there, his gaze filled with indifference and mild amusement.
Bone Douluo's eyes narrowed. Zhao Ling's refusal to release his martial spirit felt like an insult—as if he didn't deem Bone Douluo worthy of his full strength.
Feeling humiliated, Bone Douluo's first soul ring lit up, activating his soul skill, Bone Dragon Stab. The phantom of the massive bone dragon charged toward Zhao Ling at lightning speed.
But Zhao Ling didn't even flinch. He casually clenched his fists and stepped forward. When the phantom collided with his body, it vanished instantly without causing him any harm.
The spectators' eyes widened in disbelief.
Before Bone Douluo could process what had happened, Zhao Ling had already closed the distance, now standing less than two meters away.
Reacting quickly, Bone Douluo activated his second soul skill, Bone Dragon Armor, which increased his defense fivefold. He was confident that no ordinary attack could break through his fortified defenses.
The bone dragon's phantom shifted, transforming into a set of shimmering armor that enveloped Bone Douluo entirely. His defenses soared to their peak.
Just then, Zhao Ling's fist connected. Bone Douluo crossed his arms to absorb the blow, relying on his enhanced defense to endure the attack.
But the moment the punch landed, an immense, earth-shattering force erupted from Zhao Ling's fist.
"Bang!"
Bone Douluo was sent hurtling out of the arena like a ragdoll. His body spun through the air, crashing into a stone wall thirty meters away with a dull thud. Dust billowed up, leaving the arena in stunned silence.
The spectators were speechless.
"What... What just happened?"
Bone Douluo—one of the most formidable Titled Douluo—had been smashed into a wall with a single punch. And Zhao Ling hadn't even released his martial spirit. Was such a thing even possible?
As the dust settled, Bone Douluo found himself embedded three inches into the wall, his entire body aching from the impact. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he groaned.
"How... How is this possible?" he muttered, his voice laced with disbelief. This guy didn't even use his martial soul or soul power, yet he knocked me back with raw physical strength alone.
Bone Douluo tried to free himself from the wall but struggled to move. His arms, which had taken the brunt of the punch, felt broken, and sharp pain radiated from his ribs. He shuddered to think what might have happened had he not activated Bone Dragon Armor to boost his defenses.
"I misjudged... I thought I could challenge a freak like this. What a mistake."
Just then, Sword Douluo Chen Xin entered the dust-filled arena. After locating Bone Douluo, he carefully began to pull him free. However, when his hand touched Bone Douluo's arm, the older man let out a sharp hiss of pain.
"Don't... Don't move me carelessly!" Bone Douluo growled weakly. "My arms are broken, and I've got several cracked ribs."
Chen Xin's expression turned serious. The force behind that seemingly casual punch had done so much damage?
Quickly, Chen Xin signaled for Emperor Xue Ye to summon the royal family's healing soul masters. Moments later, attendants brought in a stretcher to carefully carry Bone Douluo away.
As they tended to him, Zhao Ling walked over and scratched his head awkwardly. "Bone Douluo, I'm sorry. My strength has grown too quickly these past years, and I rarely spar with others. I didn't realize how strong I've become... I couldn't hold back."
Bone Douluo let out a dry cough, still lying motionless. "Cough, cough… Don't apologize. You... You're just a monster."
The spectators, including Chen Xin and Emperor Xue Ye, were left in awe. Zhao Ling's overwhelming physical power and calm demeanor proved that he was no ordinary Titled Douluo. He was, indeed, a freakish powerhouse.
The royal healing soul masters quickly began treating Bone Douluo's injuries, their hands glowing with soul power. Emperor Xue Ye watched the scene unfold with a mix of shock and satisfaction.
The first royal priest of the Tiandou Empire had exceeded every expectation.
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(End of Chapter)