The moment Yu Tianheng admitted defeat, the crowd below erupted into an uproar.
Nan Feihuang's decisive victory over Yu Tianheng was an unexpected twist for everyone.
Xue Ke gazed at her fiancé standing proudly on the stage, her eyes gleaming with admiration. Although she hadn't fully fallen in love with Nan Feihuang yet, it was impossible for her not to be drawn to him. Whether in terms of looks, strength, or temperament, this fiancé of hers was truly remarkable.
Moreover, the two shared a common idol—her elder brother, Xue Qinghe.
She couldn't help but think that in a political marriage, having such an outstanding and like-minded partner might just be a stroke of luck.
"Hmm, such powerful attack strength! Tianheng's Thunder Shield was shattered in an instant!" Zhilin stroked his chin, looking quite astonished.
As the most powerful beast martial spirit, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon was known for its balance of attack and defense. Though its defense wasn't on par with a defense-type spirit like the Black Tortoise, it certainly wasn't weak. For a Spirit Elder to break it in one hit was rare.
But Nan Feihuang had done just that.
"Something's off... that Half-Moon Slash, while strong, shouldn't have been powerful enough to shatter Tianheng's defense like that," Dream God Machine murmured thoughtfully. As the chief of the academy's teaching committee, his theoretical knowledge was vast and on par with the leaders of other major forces.
Yet even he hadn't immediately discerned how Nan Feihuang had managed it.
Only one person saw through it—Xue Qinghe. Her eyes widened in realization. What Nan Feihuang had just done reminded her of one person: her mother, Bibi Dong.
"Ignoring defense... true damage!" Xue Qinghe muttered to herself.
Nan Feihuang's strike didn't break through Yu Tianheng's defense with sheer power; instead, it bypassed it entirely.
This attack was similar to Bibi Dong's "Eternal Creation."
Had Yu Tianheng chosen to counterattack instead of defending, perhaps the battle wouldn't have ended so quickly.
But the key issue was that Bibi Dong's "Eternal Creation" was a ten-thousand-year spirit ability, acquired through her second spirit. Even if it wasn't quite at the hundred-thousand-year mark, it was close. Nan Feihuang's Half-Moon Slash, on the other hand, was merely his first spirit ability—a skill from a century-old spirit ring—yet it bore the same additional effect as Bibi Dong's near ten-thousand-year spirit ability.
This wasn't just about the spirit ring anymore; it was about the martial spirit itself. The quality of Nan Feihuang's Fangtian Halberd likely surpassed the category of top-tier martial spirits altogether.
"I must have this boy!" Xue Qinghe—no, Qian Renxue—smiled under her mask. She was confident in her assessment. On this continent, her Seraphim spirit was undoubtedly the strongest, but Nan Feihuang's Fangtian Halberd could very well rival for second place.
Nan Feihuang stepped forward and extended his hand to Yu Tianheng. "Senior Yu, thank you for your guidance. I hope you will look out for me in the future."
"Not at all. Today, I lost fair and square. But Nan, remember this: I may have lost, but the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon has not. My failure was due to my own shortcomings," Yu Tianheng reminded, clearly protective of his clan's reputation.
"Of course. No matter how proud I may be, I would never dare belittle the prestige of your clan's martial spirit, renowned as the continent's strongest beast spirit. My mother often speaks highly of Thunderclap Douluo, your clan's patriarch, praising him as one of the finest assault-type Title Douluo, a man of integrity and honor." Nan Feihuang smiled, allowing his "virtuous" side to shine through. At moments like these, delivering a few well-placed compliments came effortlessly to him.
And, naturally, such words were the most effective.
Upon hearing this, Yu Tianheng's opinion of Nan Feihuang improved dramatically. "Your mother is too kind. My grandfather has always held her in high regard, calling her one of the greatest talents of our time. I hope I'll have the opportunity to spar with the halberd techniques she passed on to you. Also, welcome to the Huangdou Battle Team. As promised, I will let you take the position of captain."
Nan Feihuang waved his hand casually. "No need for that, Senior. I've just joined and am unfamiliar with everyone's martial spirits and fighting styles. I wouldn't be able to lead the team effectively. The responsibility of being captain should remain yours."
Yu Tianheng chuckled. "As you wish."
Clap, clap, clap!
Suddenly, applause echoed from the audience. It was Qin Ming and the three deans. Spurred by their lead, thunderous applause filled the arena.
Though many of the students were pampered nobles, they couldn't deny the prowess of the two young men on the stage. Yu Tianheng's strength was enough to rival mid-level Spirit Elders, and Nan Feihuang's abilities were even more profound.
Most importantly, both displayed exemplary sportsmanship—one was humble in victory, and the other gracious in defeat.
This was the true essence of friendship through martial prowess.
"Haha, it looks like the next three years at our academy are going to be very exciting," Baibaoshan said with a smile.
Zhilin, however, sighed. "It's a pity that we only have three years. After that, Feihuang will return to the Gulei Royal Academy and won't be able to represent us in the Spirit Master Elite Tournament."
"So what?" Dream God Machine chuckled. "To teach such a talent, even for just a day, is an honor for any teacher. As long as he's here, even for one day, he's our student. Why should we be fixated on a single tournament?"
Indeed, the three deans were truly kind-hearted.
While most in the crowd celebrated, there were two individuals who couldn't share in the joy.
One was Osro, who had collapsed on the ground in despair. Nan Feihuang's victory meant his crushing defeat in the betting pool.
Although more people had bet on Yu Tianheng, their wagers were relatively small. The money couldn't cover the massive payouts for those who backed Nan Feihuang.
And then there were the three who placed significant bets—Xun Yu, Xue Ke, and Xue Qinghe. Altogether, he owed them a staggering 1.44 million gold coins. Selling his entire estate wouldn't cover such a sum. He could already imagine his parents' fury when he returned home, bankrupt and disgraced.
Yufeng, seeing Osro's plight, smirked. "Didn't Qin Ming say it before? The more you gamble, the more you lose. Serves you right for not listening to him."
Apart from Osro, another person's expression remained dark. His displeasure had nothing to do with losing a bet but stemmed from watching Nan Feihuang on stage.
That person was none other than the true overseer of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy—Prince Xue Xing.
Nan Feihuang's excellence made Xue Xing uneasy. What's worse, he was Xue Ke's fiancé, and everyone in the empire knew how close Xue Ke was to her elder brother, Xue Qinghe.
Prince Xue Xing supported the second prince, Xue Beng, and the stronger Xue Qinghe's allies became, the more it irked him.
His mind raced, contemplating strategies. "Such talent and strength... This Nan Feihuang must be eliminated. At the very least, I must destroy his engagement with Xue Ke. I cannot allow someone like him to align with Xue Qinghe."
If Nan Feihuang joined Xue Qinghe's side, it wouldn't just be about him alone—it would also mean adding the power of the Gulei Kingdom and the formidable Ice Douluo to Xue Qinghe's faction. That would drastically tip the balance of power.
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